Washington (CNN) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that he "does not believe there is a deep state" at the State Department or the CIA -- contradicting President Donald Trump's repeated assertion that there are forces within the government conspiring against him. Just hours after Trump tweeted about the existence of a "criminal deep state" within the government seeking to sabotage his presidency, Pompeo was asked point blank by lawmakers on the House Foreign Affairs Committee whether believes there is a deep state at the State Department. "I don't believe there is a deep state at the State Department," Pompeo responded, adding that he had not seen the President's comments. Pompeo was also asked if a "deep state" existed at the CIA where he formerly served as director. "You know this term 'deep state' has been thrown around.

Source: CNN May 23, 2018 18:33 UTC