On Monday, the House Intelligence Committee extended a March 13 Department of Justice deadline by one week, until March 20, to produce any evidence to substantiate President Donald Trump's claim that former President Barack Obama was wiretapping Trump Tower in Manhattan during the 2016 presidential race. The first Trump wiretapping evidence deadline was characterized as being "missed" by 680 News.
U.S. Senator from South Carolina Lindsey Graham, who serves on a crime and terrorism subcommittee for the Judiciary Committee, has stated that he wants to know "whether a warrant was issued allowing the Obama administration to tap Trump’s phones during the campaign." Speaking about the situation surrounding the president and the existence of Trump wiretapping evidence, John Iadarola, with The Young Turks, observed that Trump has "lost almost all of his former defenders."
Republicans forced to defend their boss
A recent TYT video characterized Republican politicians as being put in an awkward situation where they have to explain their "boss lied about wiretapping," and in this case, the boss is the president.
Republican California Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, appeared flustered as he stated that he didn't have "any evidence" and that he "didn't believe" that an "actual tap" occurred at Trump Tower.
TYT also offered the comments of the leading Democrat, California House Member Adam Schiff, who said that he had seen "no basis for" Trump wiretap claims, "whatsoever." He expressed an expectation that the Department of Justice will respond to the House Intelligence Committee's request for evidence, and reiterated the new March 20 deadline. The Democrat expressed that, should March 20 come, and no evidence refuting the president's wiretapping claims is presented, he should "explain himself." Mr.
Schiff offered that Trump needs to either offer an explanation or retraction, if no evidences surfaces by March 20. He also underlined national security concerns surrounding President Trump's tweets.
Could the FBI have obtained a warrant to wiretap Trump Tower?
TYT's Cenk Uygur noted the possibility that the FBI, during Barack Obama's administration, had legally obtained a warrant, or attempted to obtain one, to wiretap Trump Tower, which the TYT founder called "very interesting," because it would stand to reason that the FBI suspected someone of serious crimes, inside Donald Trump's campaign headquarters.
Mr. Uygur described Mr. Trump as being "too stupid" to realize the seeming Pandora's box he has opened, as well as the fact that, as the president, he has the authority to learn the truth whether or not the former president, or law enforcement authorities, were conducting surveillance of his presidential campaign.
John Iadarola cited a poll showing that, among Republicans, 60 percent believed that Obama wiretapped President Trump, despite little support for the position from Republican politicians.
A clip featuring Senator Graham was featured where he stated "I want an answer." When asked what will happen if he doesn't get one, Graham said that Congress will "flex its muscle," and "issue a subpoena." He also suggested that the nomination of President Trump's nominee for deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, could be "held up."
