The "top intelligence offical" cited in this story is a Barrack Obama appointee and a member of the president's administration. He resigned his position shortly after Trump won the election. James Clapper is famous for having lied, under oath, to Congress in 2013 about the NSA's surveillance activities on US citizens. 

He can say whatever he likes at this point, and in this case it's clear that he's saying what his boss wants him to say. He proved himself willing to lie to the American people before, and he no longer has to answer for anything he says as the Director of National Intelligence.