Pierson's briefing was not well received by either Trump or House Republicans who were present, sources tell CNN. When Trump learned of it, he seemed most frustrated that House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, a Democrat who has been a prominent critic, was included in the briefing, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Trump believed that Schiff in particular would use the information to try and undermine him over the coming months as he runs for election, the person said, and Trump blamed Maguire for the information getting to Schiff.
On Wednesday, Trump announced he was
naming Richard Grenell, a staunch loyalist and current US ambassador to Germany, as acting DNI despite him not having experience in intelligence. A source familiar with internal discussions said White House officials saw Grenell as a good stopgap solution for the acting DNI vacancy as time was running out on Maguire's time in the position and because of Trump's dissatisfaction with Maguire due to the intelligence briefing.
Grenell was already being considered for other White House positions when filling the DNI position became a pressing need, the source said.
James Clapper, who served as director of national intelligence under President Barack Obama, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on "The Situation Room" Thursday evening that it is "quite predictable" Russia would again try to interfere in the election.
"This is not a big surprise, but it illustrates the tremendous challenge that the intelligence community has where they're teeing up facts that our President doesn't want to hear, and with a result that the messenger got shot in the form of Joe Maguire being asked to leave," Clapper said.
John Bolton Breaks Silence: Impeachment ‘Grossly Partisan,’ Testimony ‘Would Have Made No Difference’
