No evidence found on Trump’s wiretap claims: FBI

March 21, 2017

Business, Topnews

New York [U.S.], Mar. 21 : FBI Director James Comey has called out U.S. President Donald Trump over his claims of being wiretapped by his predecessor Barack Obama, saying that there was "no information" whatsoever to support his allegations.

Comey also publically confirmed for the first time that the bureau is investigating whether there was any coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow while Russia was interfering in the presidential election, reports CNN.

"That includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts," Comey said in his opening statement to the committee.

Comey also asserted that he had no information to support claims by Trump that he was wiretapped by Obama.

"I have no information that supports those tweets," Comey told the committee, adding that the Justice Department, along with the FBI, had no information to support Trum's allegations.

The FBI Director also noted that no president could order a wiretapping operation against a specific American citizen.

Trump tried to shift the attention away from the wiretapping claims in a series of Monday morning tweets.

Trump had drawn parallels to Watergate and McCarthyism and said Obama was a "Bad (or sick) guy!" for ordering surveillance of his New York residence.

Meanwhile, Democrats have jumped on Comey's statements to up the ante on Trump, asserting that the President's conduct had "severely damaged" his credibility.

"President Trump owes the American people and President Obama more than just an explanation, but an apology.

He should admit he was wrong, stop the outlandish tweets, and get to work on behalf of this country," said Democratic Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer.

Trump's steady failure in providing evidence for his wiretapping accusation has tied up the White House in knots, as cries are rising for an explanation for his explosive claims.

Source: ANI