James Clapper: “There was no such wire tap activity amounted against” Donald Trump. #MTP pic.twitter.com/eNGFKe0vxY
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) March 5, 2017
On Sunday’s Meet the Press, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said he would’ve been aware if there had been FISA court-approved wiretapping on Trump or his campaign. And no, there’s wasn’t one, at least that he was aware of.
“I can deny it,” he told Chuck Todd. Clapper said as DNI, he would’ve been aware of any warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA).
“But I will say that for the part of the national security apparatus that I oversaw as DNI, there was no such wiretap activity mounted against the president-elect at the time, as a candidate, or against his campaign,” Clapper said. He served as Obama’s DNI from the middle of 2010 to Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
Then again, he did say he would’ve been unaware of any investigation done by another agency, including state and local officials.
President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that his predecessor had his communications wiretapped during the campaign.
Is it legal for a sitting President to be “wire tapping” a race for president prior to an election? Turned down by court earlier. A NEW LOW!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017
How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017
However, he didn’t explain how he obtained that information. An Obama spokesperson denied the former president ordered any such surveillance of Trump.
Statement just in from @BarackObama spokesman on Trump wiretap claims pic.twitter.com/U8QakCzR4K
— David Mack (@davidmackau) March 4, 2017
The New York Times reported in January that law enforcement agencies led by the FBI are looking into intercepted communications between Russian officials and Trump associates. It was unconfirmed if this is linked to Trump himself, or part of the long-running allegation that Russia helped him win the election. As Professor Jonathan Turley pointed out, though, an investigation would be unlawful if done for political reasons.
Click here to read our analysis on the legality of such wiretapping.
[Screengrab via NBC]
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