Eugene Daniels
Presidents Can't Order Wiretaps (And Other Things To Know About FISA)
The process is handled by the Justice Department, not the White House.
LEARN MOREMarch 20, 2017
FBI Director James Comey hit Capitol Hill for a hearing on Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election, but part of the hearing focused on unproven claims of presidential tweets.
"So President Obama could not unilaterally order a wiretap of anyone?" Congressman Adam Schiff asked.
"No president could," Comey answered.
"I have no information that supports those tweets, and we have looked carefully inside the FBI," Comey said at a congressional hearing Monday.
President Donald Trump pushed the unproven claim that former President Barack Obama illegally wiretapped Trump Tower during the election — without providing any evidence. A wiretap like that would be a felony.
The Trump administration then demanded an investigation into the president's claim. And Monday, Comey undercut the president completely by finally putting the issue to rest.
It's a big deal that the FBI director had to so publicly undercut unproven claims by a president. And the whole saga has caused issues within Trump's own party. Despite that, it doesn't seem like the president will be backing down on his claims.
"As far as wiretapping, I guess, by this past administration, at least we have something in common, perhaps," Trump said Friday during his press conference with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel.
