There’s still no evidence — but an investigation into President Trump’s wild wiretapping claims might happen anyway.
The White House on Sunday demanded that Congress look into Trump’s groundless accusations of former President Obama spying on him — and some Republicans seemed receptive to it.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department remained silent, even after a report that FBI Director James Comey asked the agency to publicly shut down Trump’s demands.
In a cryptic statement, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer asked for answers to “reports” of the Obama administration allegedly abusing its powers before the 2016 election.
“Reports concerning potentially politically motivated investigations immediately ahead of the 2016 election are very troubling. President Trump is requesting that as part of their investigation into Russian activity, the congressional intelligence committees exercise their oversight authority to determine whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016. Neither the White House nor the President will comment further until such oversight is conducted,” the statement said.
The announcement came a day after Trump dropped explosive allegations of Obama ordering surveillance on Trump Tower before the election. But Trump delivered no evidence to back up his claim.
Comey believed the assertion was phony and asked the Justice Department to release a statement this weekend saying so, according to The New York TImes. But the department, led by Trump loyalist Jeff Sessions, has yet to say anything.
Trump came through on Sunday with no new evidence or statements about his baseless bombshell.
But at least three Republicans sitting on intelligence committees said they’d follow Trump’s newest whims.
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said the group will look into the claims as part of its wider probe into Russia’s alleged hacking of the campaign.
“One of the focus points of the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation is the U.S. government’s response to actions taken by Russian intelligence agents during the presidential campaign,” Nunes said in a statement.
“As such, the Committee will make inquiries into whether the government was conducting surveillance activities on any political party’s campaign officials or surrogates, and we will continue to investigate this issue if the evidence warrants it.”
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, admitted on “Fox News Sunday” he had seen “no evidence” of Trump’s allegations, but said his colleagues will look into it anyway.
“We are going to review allegations of any kind of improper contacts between Russian officials and campaign officials or other American citizens. I’m sure that we will be reviewing any allegations such as this,” Cotton said.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who sits on the same committee, told CNN he was “not sure what it is (Trump) is talking about” but that the committee would “gather the facts.”
https://twitter.com/CNNSitRoom/status/841416927318822912
https://twitter.com/RawStory/status/841417359265013760
The media is keeping this alive, when they should be going after #45 & his non-existent tax returns and ties to RUSSIA !
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/841416710964011010
https://twitter.com/3ChicsPolitico/status/839225116059910145
https://twitter.com/CAPAction/status/839206774532104192
https://twitter.com/CAPAction/status/839205706641338370
https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/839172858467258368
https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/839174271683411969
https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/839174555293859846
https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/838923309878239240
https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/838926129872404480
https://twitter.com/Kiddo63SK/status/838909010665488385
He is so right. Plus chimp is insanely jealous of our Beloved REAL President Obama!
https://twitter.com/justinjm1/status/838742718302064640
https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/838779843852570624
https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/838780492854013952
https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/838780171767459842
https://twitter.com/politico/status/838787769241645062
Amy Kremer’s on @CNN saying day after day there is something negative about Trump. He brought this on himself accusing President Obama of a bald face lie. Where do they get these loons?
Trump’s TIES TO RUSSIA, THO!
https://twitter.com/factcheckdotorg/status/838787769161904129
https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/838786167961088000
https://twitter.com/thinkprogress/status/838786257744343040
https://twitter.com/AriMelber/status/838584940455419904
https://twitter.com/DavidCornDC/status/838755956834111488
https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/838736163837968384
https://twitter.com/Dorofcalif/status/838775822156713984
https://twitter.com/Truthbuster/status/838775947671175168
https://twitter.com/3ChicsPolitico/status/838774896440279040
https://twitter.com/RawStory/status/838771330153611264
https://twitter.com/AriMelber/status/838568739805212674
https://twitter.com/SopanDeb/status/838642049587036160
https://twitter.com/ezlusztig/status/838639944050540544
Thanks for providing a place we can vent. If Congress brings in Obamas staff to testify I’ll be furious. It can’t be cheap to hire a lawyer and they haven’t been making big bucks in government.
Say whatever you feel, CarolMae.
Thank you. I am so frustrated. Don’t think I’m the only one.
You’re not. This is so disturbing. He’s causing so much pain and chaos and no one will put him in check. Where are the checks and balances?
He’s dysfunctional and we can’t walk away from it because he is President. 😏
https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/838587816904802304
#45 is fishing for information they might have on him, so he can counter with LIES, LIES, AND MORE LIES.
DON’T COME AFTER INTEL, UNLESS THEY SEND FOR YOU, MOFO
Breitbart, y’all. SMGDH
https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/838468992469725184
https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/838503456562425859
https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/838559402370207744
https://twitter.com/StephenKing/status/838081028929519617
https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/838570833115250688
https://twitter.com/ABC/status/838399750252552192
I like Josh Earnest.
https://twitter.com/JordanUhl/status/838514667949551616
I haven’t seen Rudy’s dumb ass since he was gloating about the Muslim ban.
https://twitter.com/k18c79/status/838574002788569088
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/838576533253963776
https://twitter.com/SenBlumenthal/status/838524104693145601
https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/838577879151689728
Does Rubio even seem relevant?
Once again MY President comes up smelling like a rose. While chimp makes monkey sounds. Sometimes I feel dumbed down observing and hearing about his antics.
I know, Vitamin. If anyone smeared him with a lie, he’d sue.