The request from Comey comes after Trump tweeted claims on Saturday, without evidence, that Obama had ordered the FBI to tap the phones at Trump Tower in New York. On Sunday, the White House asked Congress to investigate the allegation, despite James Clapper, Obama’s director of national intelligence, saying nothing matching Trump’s claims had taken place. Spicer said the White House wants the congressional committees to “exercise their oversight authority to determine whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016”. House judiciary committee Democrats plan to send a letter to White House counsel Donald McGahn noting the contacts were inappropriate. The Democrats cited reports of the White House contacting the justice department and FBI asking them to knock down reports of communications between Trump associates and Russians during the campaign.

Source: The Guardian March 06, 2017 03:35 UTC