Replies

unrelated, but worth noting - Brennan in front of a very friendly media crowd, by the sounds of the laughter/applause. Woodruff does seems a little concerned about the FBI talk. Brennan doesn’t really respond to her on that score:

VIDEO: 1:01:27: CFR: John Brennan on Transnational Threats to Global Security
Past Event — June 29, 2016
WOODRUFF: Hello, everybody, and welcome to the Council on Foreign Relations. I am Judy Woodruff of the PBS “NewsHour,” and I am delighted to introduce our speaker this afternoon. I don’t think there could be a better time or moment for us to hear from the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Without further ado, please welcome Director John Brennan. (Applause.)...

WOODRUFF: And here in the U.S., with the Orlando attack, which you just mentioned, with what happened in San Bernardino, do you feel you’ve learned something from those two incidents that puts you in a better position to understand what to do to prevent or to get into the minds of these young people—mainly young men—who are carrying out these ISIS-inspired—what appear to be ISIS-inspired— ...
(scroll down)
BRENNAN: I have tremendous respect for the FBI’s capabilities. I interact with Jim Comey on a regular basis...

WOODRUFF: And what is the CIA’s role in working with the FBI on that? Because you’re right, it’s a domestic challenge. But the CIA, I mean—

BRENNAN: Well, the CIA, working with our other partners, NSA, Homeland Security, as well as the National Counterterrorism Center, I think we do a very good job of sharing as much data information as possible, all the puzzle pieces. And so any lead we may have from overseas collection or access, we make sure it’s shared with our partners...

Q: Sir, I’m David Ensor with the Atlantic Council.
An old journalist kind of question: When do you start briefing Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton? (Laughter.) And—

WOODRUFF: You took my question.

Q: And how do you expect that to go?

BRENNAN: I knew — on these things, we always go one question too long. We really do. (Laughter.)
It is up to the president and then the Director of National Intelligence to make that offer, as they’ve done in the past, to the candidates of the two principal political parties after the convention formally nominates them. And so the Director of National Intelligence takes the lead on that. And so the timing, as well as the willingness and interest of the candidates, is something that will be determined as a result of engagement with their respective staffs.

WOODRUFF: But you won’t do that briefing personally, will you?

BRENNAN: I fulfill my CIA responsibilities to the best of my ability. And if there is a need for me to be personally involved in this, I will — I will try to carry out my responsibilities. (Laughter.)

WOODRUFF: Please thank—

BRENNAN: And if there’s not a need, I will not. (Laughter.)
https://www.cfr.org/event/john-brennan-transnational-threats-global-security