ROBERT GATES: Tillerson’s ties to Putin are a ‘completely false narrative.’

Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson’s reputed friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin is “a completely false narrative” that shouldn’t hurt his nomination, according to former Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

“I think it’s a mistake to think that because Rex Tillerson successfully did business in Russia that he’s best friends with Vladimir Putin,” Gates told PBS’ Charlie Rose on Thursday. “I think that’s just a completely false narrative.”

Gates, who served under President Obama and George W. Bush and is now a partner in a consulting firm that advises ExxonMobil, first recommended Tillerson for the Cabinet position after President-elect Trump failed to settle on a secretary of state nominee.

Dems: So Putin got to Gates, too!