Over the last week, another curve ball has been thrown into the growing scandal at the White House. As the issue heats up, White House Press secretary Sean Spicer is showing clear signs of frustration.
Spicer clash
Ever since Donald Trump was elected president, the headlines news has been dominated by allegations and reports linking the president to Russia. Whether it's his past and current associates having ties to the Kremlin, or additional information adding to the scandal, the former host of "The Apprentice" has been forced to deflect the topic of conversation into other areas.
Earlier this month, Trump took to Twitter and accused former President Barack Obama of wiretapping his office in Trump Tower, though he's failed to provide any credible evidence to back up his claim. Since then, two stories have intertwined with the allegation. House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes broke protocol by bypassing his committee members during an investigation over Russia to reveal information to the president, while former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn offered his testimony on the issue in exchange for immunity. These topics were discussed with Sean Spicer during the March 31 press briefing at the White House.
"What he did, what he saw and who he met with was 100 percent proper," @PressSec says of Rep. Devin Nunes' WH visit: https://t.co/H9n7JKbYS7 pic.twitter.com/nOMJbPlrRI
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 31, 2017
As Sean Spicer was taking questions from the press on Friday afternoon, he quickly became irritated over so much focus being put on the aforementioned issues involving Michael Flynn and Devin Nunes.
When one reporter asked how Nunes was able to find his way into the White House during a late-night meeting with high-ranking officials last week, Spicer was not pleased. "What he did, what he saw and who he met with was 100 percent proper," Spicer claimed. As the reporter continued to push the issue, asking Spicer is Chief of Staff Reince Priebus knew about the meeting, the press secretary showed signs of being triggered into anger.
"No one knew he was coming to speak to the president," @PressSec says of Rep. Devin Nunes' WH visit: https://t.co/H9n7JKbYS7 pic.twitter.com/PU8iZgl4F2
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 31, 2017
"OK...OK. You are playing cute there! You are doing two things," Sean Spicer said. "One is you are talking about the Oval Office, and the other is the campus," he continued, before adding, "No, the chief of staff does not know every single person that is on the 18 acres at any given time!" Not stopping there, Spicer continued to lash out at the press.
"I don't know!" he said of the meeting, while noting, "Again. You asked two questions and you melded them together. No one knew he was going to speak to the president."
On Flynn
Later on during the press briefing, Sean Spicer was asked about Michael Flynn's willingness to testify. Spicer claimed that Donald Trump was being supportive and encouraging of the retired general's decision, saying "do what you have to do." At this point, the press secretary quickly deflected from the issue, and attempted to tie Hillary Clinton and her old campaign back to Russia, while accusing the media of ignoring the alleged link between both sides.