+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

FBI Director asked Justice Department to reject Trump's wiretapping claim - they haven't listened

Mar 6, 2017, 03:52 IST

FBI Director James Comey testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on &quotGoing Dark: Encryption, Technology, and the Balance Between Public Safety and Privacy" in Washington July 8, 2015. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

FBI Director James Comey told the US Justice Department on Saturday to reject President Donald Trump's baseless claim that President Barack Obama ordered the wiretapping of Trump's phones, according to The New York Times.

Advertisement

Comey argued that Trump's claim is false and has no supporting evidence, The Times reported, citing senior US officials. The Justice Department has yet to release a statement, however.

Trump made his stunning allegation Saturday morning, apparently referencing an article from the conservative news site Breitbart. The president raised the stakes on Sunday by calling for Congress to investigate his claim as part of its probe into Russian interference during the 2016 election.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the White House will not comment on the allegations "until such oversight is conducted."

Meanwhile, Trump's request could put Republican lawmakers in an uncomfortable position.

Advertisement

"I've never heard that allegation made before by anybody. I've never seen anything about that anywhere before," Sen. Marco Rubio said on "Meet The Press" on Sunday. "The president put that out there, and now the White House will have to answer as to exactly what he was referring to."

Earlier this week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from investigations involving connections between Trump's team and Russia. His recusal leaves few people in the Justice Department with the power to release a statement on Trump's wiretapping claim,= according to The Times.

Read the New York Times report here »

NOW WATCH: Sessions recuses himself from future investigations into Trump campaign

Please enable Javascript to watch this video
You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article