USA : Pressure Builds On Donald Trump To Back Off Wiretap Accusations
WASHINGTON: US lawmakers from both parties said Sunday they had seen no evidence to support Republican President Donald Trump's claim that his predecessor, Barack Obama had wiretapped last year, adding pressure on Trump to explain or back his repeated assertion.
Several Republicans last week urged Trump to apologize for the accusations he made in a series of tweets March 4. The vortex also caused tensions with major US allies and is likely to distract Republicans from campaign promises about Health care and taxes.
"I do not know the basis for the statement from Trump's President," Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, told NBC "Meet the Press." "I think you have that explanation."
Collins has said he supports Trump as president, but would not take sides for him if "misrepresenting what the facts are."
FBI director James Comey should be asked about Trump's claims when witnessing a rare public hearing on Monday in Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 presidential elections Russia denied the claim has been involved in hacked emails and other attempts Of influencing the race.
Rep. Adam Schiff, the highest ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee's hearing, called Trump's claims "clearly false" and said he expected Comey to say so much on Monday.
The Justice Department on Friday delivered the documents to congressional committees to help clarify whether the Obama administration spied on Trump.
Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, who heads the House intelligence panel, said after receiving the material, that he has seen no evidence of espionage.
But Nunes, who served the transition team Trump, joined the White House in an attempt to divert attention from the controversy by calling for investigations into media leaks.
Nunes said in "Fox News Sunday" that comes from the press about former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn were criminals and that his panel has been investigating whether other names have leaked.
Trump has been pursued on allegations that his employees had ties to Russian officials. Flynn dismissed last month after reports that he had discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador before Trump took office, saying other White House officials.
"What we know of the crime that was committed consists of: the escape of someone's name," said Nunes. "Were there any other names that have been leaked ...?"
Nunes also said before Monday's hearing that he had seen "no evidence" of collusion between Russia and the Trump team. But Schiff, the Democratic leader of the panel, said there were not enough "circumstantial evidence" that he still had questions.
Do not go back
Meanwhile, the White House did not back down on Trump surveillance applications.
The administration was forced to reassure Britain's key ally after the White House, press secretary Sean Spicer repeated a statement from a Fox News analyst that the British intelligence agency helped Obama listen to Trump's telephone. The British government has strongly denied.
The issue has given rise to an embarrassing moment Friday at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel when Trump was asked about the closure demands by a German journalist.
Trump said he and Merkel had "something in common," apparently referring to relations during the Obama administration that the Merkel phone was hampered. The joke has left the German leader looking bewildered.
Republican Rep. Tom Cole told reporters on Friday that Trump had apologized Obama. Representatives Charlie Dent and Will Hurd, including Republicans, have made similar comments.
"I do not see any indication that this is true," Cole intercepted cargo.
Unless Trump produces convincing evidence, Cole added, "President Obama owes an apology."
Comments
Post a Comment