(Reuters)
Washington Post: House Intelligence panel does not reveal whether documents substantiate Trump’s wiretap claim
The House Intelligence Committee did not reveal on Friday night the answer to the question of whether Justice Department documents substantiate President Trump’s claim that he was wiretapped by the Obama administration.
The committee had asked for copies of any warrants, applications or court orders relating to a wiretap of Trump or his surrogates and affiliates in advance of a Monday hearing at which the directors of the FBI and the National Security Agency are expected to testify about alleged connections between the Trump team and Russian authorities.
Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) avoided the big question by releasing a statement late Friday that said his panel is “satisfied” that Justice “has fully complied” with its request related to “possible surveillance” of Trump and his associates.
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WNU Editor: We do know that someone or someones leaked intercepted communications between Trump officials and Russian diplomats to the press during last year's presidential campaign .... and even during the transition that resulted in the firing of National Security adviser Michael Flynn. This also continued after the inauguration .... when phone conversations between President Trump and the Australian Prime Minister and Mexican President were leaked to the press. We also know (if the press is to be believed) .... that there were two FISA requests during the Obama administration to conduct a surveillance operation on then candidate Trump's team .... with the first request happening after he had sewed up the Republican nomination. If there was ever a red blinking light that tells me that there was an interest to know what the Trump team was doing .... especially when he became the Republican Presidential candidate .... I would say this was it. As to what has happened since that first FISA request ... it appears that those who are responsible for monitoring the communications of foreign officials and governments came across a treasure trove of conversations of these officials with Trump officials .... was this deliberate or an accident is something that I do not know .... but the temptation to use that intel was more than enough that someone(s) made the decision to make part (if not all of it) public to influence media and public perception during the campaign .... during the transition .... and after the inauguration. I predicted a few months ago that once the Trump administration has moved in and key people placed in sensitive positions .... coupled with purging Obama appointees and transferring others to less sensitive areas .... these leaks will mostly stop .... and not surprisingly .... they have. Will we ever learn the true details behind these leaks .... probably not. Should we be concerned .... definitely. The temptation for governments and their officials to use this type of intelligence against their opponents must be overwhelming .... and my gut is telling me that in view of how these leaks broke out .... and how much of it has now stopped .... tells me that key people in the Obama administration made the decision to do just that. But there is no smoking gun ..... and with no evidence I doubt that this story will ever be resolved. In the meantime .... the campaign of denials (especially from officials who are now leaving the intel community such as soon to be retired NSA Deputy Director Richard Ledgett) keep on coming in .... Top NSA official ridicules allegation Britain spied on Trump (Reuters).
Update: On Monday Congress will be holding hearings where the directors of the FBI and the National Security Agency are expected to testify about alleged connections between the Trump team and Russian authorities.. I do not expect any surprises.
