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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Trump stands by unverified wiretap claim | Trump stands by unverified wiretap claim |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| US President Donald Trump has stood by his unsubstantiated claim that Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower last year. | US President Donald Trump has stood by his unsubstantiated claim that Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower last year. |
| He told Fox News a "wiretap covers a lot of different things" and hinted more could emerge in the coming weeks. | He told Fox News a "wiretap covers a lot of different things" and hinted more could emerge in the coming weeks. |
| Mr Obama has denied the charge and former spy chiefs and several lawmakers have said they have seen no evidence. | Mr Obama has denied the charge and former spy chiefs and several lawmakers have said they have seen no evidence. |
| The latest senior figure to cast doubt on the allegation was the Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee. | The latest senior figure to cast doubt on the allegation was the Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee. |
| Devin Nunes said on Wednesday he doesn't believe "there was an actual tap of Trump Tower". | Devin Nunes said on Wednesday he doesn't believe "there was an actual tap of Trump Tower". |
| Earlier this month, Mr Trump tweeted that President Obama had wiretapped his phones during the presidential campaign. | Earlier this month, Mr Trump tweeted that President Obama had wiretapped his phones during the presidential campaign. |
| In a series of tweets, he accused his predecessor directly, asking: "Is it legal for a sitting President to be 'wire tapping' a race for president?" | In a series of tweets, he accused his predecessor directly, asking: "Is it legal for a sitting President to be 'wire tapping' a race for president?" |
| Talking to Fox News in an interview that was broadcast in full on Wednesday night, the president made his first comments about the wiretap accusation he made two weeks ago. | |
| He said: "Wiretap covers a lot of different things. I think you're going to find some very interesting items coming to the forefront over the next two weeks." | He said: "Wiretap covers a lot of different things. I think you're going to find some very interesting items coming to the forefront over the next two weeks." |
| Despite repeated requests from reporters, the White House has not provided any evidence to support the president's claim. | Despite repeated requests from reporters, the White House has not provided any evidence to support the president's claim. |
| White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has said Mr Trump "used the word 'wiretap' in quotes to mean broadly surveillance and other activities". | White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has said Mr Trump "used the word 'wiretap' in quotes to mean broadly surveillance and other activities". |
| And he was not accusing Mr Obama personally, Mr Spicer said. | And he was not accusing Mr Obama personally, Mr Spicer said. |
| Mr Trump asked Congress to examine the allegation as part of an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in last year's election. | Mr Trump asked Congress to examine the allegation as part of an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in last year's election. |
| Senator Lindsey Graham, who is leading the Senate Judiciary Committee's investigation of allegations of Trump-Russia ties, has pressed the FBI to come forward with more details of its own probe into the issue. | Senator Lindsey Graham, who is leading the Senate Judiciary Committee's investigation of allegations of Trump-Russia ties, has pressed the FBI to come forward with more details of its own probe into the issue. |
| Mr Graham said on Wednesday he would use a court order to force FBI Director James Comey to submit details on its Russian investigation and whether there was any evidence of Mr Trump's phones being wiretapped. | Mr Graham said on Wednesday he would use a court order to force FBI Director James Comey to submit details on its Russian investigation and whether there was any evidence of Mr Trump's phones being wiretapped. |
| No evidence of wiretapping, according to: | No evidence of wiretapping, according to: |
| Mr Comey promised on Wednesday to provide answers in a classified briefing. | Mr Comey promised on Wednesday to provide answers in a classified briefing. |
| US intelligence agencies found that Russia conducted cyber-attacks against the Democratic Party as part of an effort to influence the election in Mr Trump's favour. | US intelligence agencies found that Russia conducted cyber-attacks against the Democratic Party as part of an effort to influence the election in Mr Trump's favour. |
| Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement. | Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement. |
| Mr Trump has been dogged by claims that his advisers and staff had ties to Russian officials, but there has been no evidence of any collusion between his campaign and Moscow. | Mr Trump has been dogged by claims that his advisers and staff had ties to Russian officials, but there has been no evidence of any collusion between his campaign and Moscow. |