During an appearance on CNN’s New Day this morning, former Republican Congressman and current Trump adviser Pete Hoekstra downplayed President-elect Donald Trump’s reluctance to accept intelligence assessments that Russia was involved in hacking the election.

Speaking to co-host Don Lemon, Hoekstra answered a question about Trump distancing himself from President Barack Obama’s plans to punish Russia — Obama would impose the sanctions later in the day — by stating that he himself would like a “clearer definition” from the intelligence community over what Russia did.

When Lemon pressed him on whether it was smart for Trump to be “second-guessing” intelligence agencies considering he has to work with them, Hoekstra claimed it was healthy for him to do so.

“Oh, I think it’s very, very healthy for the president,” Hoekstra said. “I think it’s healthy for the intelligence community, uh, to be skeptical, and put pressure on the intelligence community to make sure that they put forward great information.”

Hoekstra, who once chaired the House Intelligence Committee, also called on the intelligence agencies to brief Congress while highlighting times the intelligence community has gotten things wrong.

Watch the exchange above, via CNN.

[image via screengrab]

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