Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Trump expects to nominate woman to replace Ginsburg next week Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral MORE on Tuesday offered a detailed explanation of how the Obama administration handled evidence of Russian interference leading up to the 2016 presidential election, arguing it was a tricky situation and it's easier to say in hindsight that more could have been said.

“The bottom line was it was tricky as hell. It’s easy now to say, ‘Well, maybe we should’ve said more,’” Biden said during an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Initial intelligence community reports showed that Russia was attempting to delegitimize the United States’ electoral process, Biden said. Then-CIA Director John Brennan John Owen BrennanJournalism or partisanship? The media's mistakes of 2016 continue in 2020 Comey on Clinton tweet: 'I regret only being involved in the 2016 election' Ex-CIA Director Brennan questioned for 8 hours in Durham review of Russia probe MORE suggested issuing a bipartisan warning to Russia in response, Biden said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We went up and [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Trump expects to nominate woman to replace Ginsburg next week Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral MORE — who I get on with well, smart guy — wanted no part of having a bipartisan commitment that we would say essentially, ‘Russia is doing this, stop.’ So it couldn’t be used as a weapon against a Democratic nominee of a president trying to use the intelligence committee,” Biden said.

Previous reports have stated that McConnell opposed releasing the intelligence and would have viewed the release by the White House as a partisan attack.

The intelligence community concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election in an attempt to help President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE win the White House. Multiple congressional committees are currently conducting investigations to determine the scope and effects of Russian meddling.

The Obama administration faced criticism for not taking a stronger stance or notifying the public of Russian interference prior to the election.

“There was this constant tight rope was being walked here as to what would we do,” Biden said Tuesday.

In the weeks leading up to the election, Biden said, then-President Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Warning signs flash for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina Majority of voters say Trump should not nominate a Supreme Court justice: poll MORE faced a difficult choice about whether to speak out. If Obama publicly declared Russia was attempting to influence the election, Biden worried he’d be accused of “unilaterally” trying to tip the vote in Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Warning signs flash for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina MORE’s favor.

“Can you imagine if the president of the United States called a press conference in October with this fella, and [Stephen] Bannon and company, and said ‘tell you what, the Russians are trying to interfere in our elections and we have to do something about it,’” Biden said.

“What do you think would have happened?” Biden continued. “Would things have gotten better, or would it further look like we were attempting to delegitimize the electoral process because of our opponent.”

Biden is considered a potential Democratic nominee for president in 2020. He has indicated he may launch a campaign, but has not definitively said if he’ll run.