What we know about Trump’s unsubstantiated wiretapping …
President Trump has sparked a firestorm by accusing then-President Obama of wiretapping communications in Trump Tower during the 2016 presidential campaign, without providing any evidence for his claim.
But former Obama administration officials are hitting back, saying Obama did not order any wiretap. Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said he was not aware of any foreign-intelligence court order authorizing a wiretap.
The White House hasn't given any more details about what Trump was referring to.
Here's what we know (and what we don't) about Trump's unsubstantiated wiretapping allegations:
In a series of tweets early Saturday morning, Trump alleged that Obama had the phones in Trump Tower in New York wiretapped before Election Day.
Trump hasn't provided any more detailed information about his allegations, so it's unclear if he's referring to a FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) Court order; a criminal case wiretapping warrant; some kind of rogue extragovernmental action; something he read, saw on television or heard on the radio; or none of the above.
What Trump is saying: Trump's tweets say he "just found out" about "the fact that President Obama was tapping my phones in October" not adding any qualifiers. Trump hasn't offered any evidence to support his claim.
What the White House is saying: White House communications staffers have struggled to defend Trump's allegations in television appearances over the last 48 hours. Press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted that Trump "is requesting ... the congressional Intelligence committees ... determine whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016" and wouldn't comment further. But on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, ABC News' Martha Raddatz asked White House deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about the claim. "All we're saying is let's take a closer look. Let's look into this. If this happened, if this is accurate, this is the biggest overreach and the biggest scandal," Sanders said. "If, if, if, if," Raddatz replied, pointing out Trump asserted it as a fact. "I will let the president speak for himself," Sanders continued. "He's talking about could this have happened? Did this happen?" On "Good Morning America" today, Sanders told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that Obama's administration "could have done this" and Trump is asking only "that we allow the House Intelligence Committee to do its job."
What other officials are saying: The most pointed refutation of this claim came from Clapper on Sunday. Asked whether he would be aware of any wiretapping of Trump's phones or any FISA Court order authorizing it, Clapper told NBC's "Meet the Press" he "absolutely" would "know that." Then asked whether he could confirm or deny that Trump's phones were wiretapped, Clapper said, "I can deny it." He continued that "not to my knowledge" was there any FISA Court order of anything at Trump Tower. A statement from Obama did not deny any wiretapping of Trump's phones denying only that the White House "ordered" it or "interfered" with any Justice Department investigation. Former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau highlighted that distinction, tweeting, "I'd be careful about reporting that Obama said there was no wiretapping. Statement just said that neither he nor the WH ordered it."
What we don't know: Clapper has denied any "wiretap activity" against Trump from "the part of the national security apparatus that I oversaw" but admitted he "can't speak for other Title III authorized entities in the government or a state or local entity." Neither Obama nor any current Department of Justice official has unequivocally denied that there was any wiretapping. And because any wiretap would be protected under the highest levels of classification, it's not clear how many officials would be in a position to know about it. However, multiple former senior intelligence officials told ABC that in almost every circumstance, Trump would have the authority to ask and find out if he had been wiretapped. The only real circumstance in which he might not be privy to that info is if a warrant was focused on him.
What Trump is saying: In four tweets, Trump directly ties Obama to the alleged wiretapping, saying "Obama had my 'wires tapped'" and "Obama was tapping my phones." Trump hasn't offered any evidence to back those claims.
What the White House is saying: On "Good Morning America" on Monday, Sanders backed off the assertion that Obama was personally responsible, telling ABC News, "Whether it was directly ordered by this president specifically, his administration could have done this." On "This Week" on Sunday, she said "there certainly could have been" a FISA order that Obama did not order. She pointed to thenAttorney General Loretta Lynch's meeting with former President Bill Clinton on a tarmac during a Justice Department investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a personal email server as evidence that Obama "got directly involved" in other investigations. (Lynch and Bill Clinton denied discussing the email case.) Sanders added that even if Obama wasn't involved, it "would have fallen under this administration and this past president."
What Obama is saying: A spokesperson for Obama said, "No White House official ever interfered with any independent investigation led by the Department of Justice," in a statement on Saturday. "Neither President Obama nor any White House official ever ordered surveillance on any U.S. citizen. Any suggestion otherwise is simply false." The statement did not rule out that wiretapping was initiated by the Department of Justice. Former national security adviser Ben Rhodes tweeted a similar sentiment in a response to Trump, writing, "No President can order a wiretap. Those restrictions were put in place to protect citizens from people like you."
What other officials are saying: FBI Director James Comey asked the Justice Department to publicly refute Trump's assertion that Obama ordered a wiretap of Trump's phones before the election, government sources told ABC News. Comey was concerned the president's tweets which he believes are inaccurate created the impression that the FBI acted improperly, and he wanted to set the record straight, the sources said. The FBI and Department of Justice declined to comment.
What we don't know: While Obama has denied any order or involvement and Comey asked his superiors for a public refutation, it's not clear whether it's possible a Justice Department investigation may have existed independently of Obama's influence or whether these top officials may be choosing not to publicly confirm the existence of such a highly classified and sensitive investigation. And while Clapper has denied the existence of a FISA Court order, we don't know whether there may have been a criminal wiretap warrant outside of a foreign intelligence-related investigation or if a state or local agency was involved.
What Trump is saying: Trump asked via Twitter, "Is it legal for a sitting President to be 'wire tapping' a race for president prior to an election?" He added that Obama was allegedly "turned down by court earlier." He compared the alleged action to "Nixon/Watergate." Trump hasn't offered any evidence supporting his claim.
What the White House is saying: On "This Week," Sanders told Raddatz that if this wiretap happened, "this would be the greatest abuse of power and overreach that's probably ever occurred in the executive branch." And Monday on "Good Morning America," Sanders asserted to Stephanopoulos more generally that "the administration was wiretapping American citizens" and "the fact that it was being done is a fact that we should be talking about." A spokesperson for Obama said, "No president can order a wiretap." The FISA Court has approved over 10,000 requests for electronic surveillance from the Justice Department since 2009.
What other officials are saying: Former Obama senior adviser David Axelrod tweeted, "If there were the wiretap @realDonaldTrump loudly alleges, such an extraordinary warrant would only have been OKed by a court for a reason."
What the law says: A wiretap order on Trump could have been legally obtained from the FISA Court, a secret tribunal with legal authority to grant warrants for electronic surveillance against suspected spies or terrorists. The court made up of 11 federal judges serving seven-year terms and selected by the chief justice of the United States meets in private, sometimes in the middle of the night. FISA targets are highly classified. A FISA Court order is not the only way to authorize a wiretap: Nonintelligence, criminal wiretap warrants can be obtained but require that the individual under surveillance is using the device in connection with a past or possible future crime.
What we don't know: While Clapper has said he's not aware of any foreign-intelligence-related court order and would be aware if there was one and Obama denied ordering a wiretap of Trump, we don't know whether a criminal wiretap order remains sealed or if Trump is alleging as with Richard Nixon and Watergate some kind of extragovernmental group working illegally.
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What we know about Trump's unsubstantiated wiretapping ...
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