President Donald Trump tweeted that Trump Tower had been wiretapped by the Obama administration prior to the election. Claiming “McCarthy-ism,” Trump questioned the legality of a sitting president to take such action. He was soon called out by California representative Ted Lieu.
Mr. President: If there was a wiretap at Trump Tower, that means a fed judge found probable cause of crime which means you are in deep shit. https://t.co/i7dUMtHXmo
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 4, 2017
Leiu said that if Trump Tower was indeed wiretapped, there was likely probable cause for it, and Trump could be in very deep trouble. He then suggested that Trump obtain the services of a lawyer. Dan Rather, former anchor of CBS News, posted on his Facebook page that Trump’s claim of wiretapping is characteristic of a “cornered animal” who is facing a tidal wave of scandal.
If wiretap was on Trump Tower, that means fed judge found probable cause phone lines used by agents of foreign power https://t.co/1f1366A3jI
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 4, 2017
Rather added that Trump is feeling pressure as the media and the world become more aware of his probable ties to Russia. He also wrote that Trump was isolated, emotionally volatile, unprepared to be president and quickly descending into paranoia.
Either @realDonaldTrump is paranoid like Nixon, or judge found probable cause of crime for #wiretap. Either way our President is in trouble.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 4, 2017
An Obama spokesperson told NPR that Trump’s claim was untrue. If he were being investigated in any way, it would be handled by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The Obama administration had a strict rule that stated it would not interfere in any DOJ investigation and would not put surveillance on any citizen.
Statement from @BarackObama Spox: pic.twitter.com/cIth6KXGlK
— Susan Davis (@DaviSusan) March 4, 2017