This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-47884252

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Trump urges investigation of FBI actions Trump urges investigation of FBI actions
(30 minutes later)
President Donald Trump says he has spoken to the US attorney general about tracing the origins of the inquiry that cleared him of colluding with Russia.President Donald Trump says he has spoken to the US attorney general about tracing the origins of the inquiry that cleared him of colluding with Russia.
Mr Trump described the investigation by former FBI director Robert Mueller as "an attempted coup".Mr Trump described the investigation by former FBI director Robert Mueller as "an attempted coup".
Attorney General William Barr meanwhile told lawmakers he believes the Trump campaign was spied on by the FBI.Attorney General William Barr meanwhile told lawmakers he believes the Trump campaign was spied on by the FBI.
US intelligence officials have previously said they were spying on the Russians, not the Trump campaign.US intelligence officials have previously said they were spying on the Russians, not the Trump campaign.
What did Trump say?What did Trump say?
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday morning, the Republican president railed against the Department of Justice inquiry into whether the Trump campaign had conspired with the Kremlin to sway the 2016 election.Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday morning, the Republican president railed against the Department of Justice inquiry into whether the Trump campaign had conspired with the Kremlin to sway the 2016 election.
The investigation cleared him and his aides of collusion, making no determination on whether they had tried to obstruct justice.The investigation cleared him and his aides of collusion, making no determination on whether they had tried to obstruct justice.
Mr Trump said: "This was an attempted coup. This was an attempted take-down of a president. And we beat them. We beat them.Mr Trump said: "This was an attempted coup. This was an attempted take-down of a president. And we beat them. We beat them.
"So the Mueller report, when they talk about obstruction we fight back. And do you know why we fight back?"So the Mueller report, when they talk about obstruction we fight back. And do you know why we fight back?
"Because I knew how illegal this whole thing was. It was a scam."Because I knew how illegal this whole thing was. It was a scam.
"What I'm most interested in is getting started, hopefully the attorney general, he mentioned it yesterday."What I'm most interested in is getting started, hopefully the attorney general, he mentioned it yesterday.
"He's doing a great job, getting started on going back to the origins of exactly where this all started."He's doing a great job, getting started on going back to the origins of exactly where this all started.
"Because this was an illegal witch hunt, and everybody knew it. And they knew it too. And they got caught. And what they did was treason.""Because this was an illegal witch hunt, and everybody knew it. And they knew it too. And they got caught. And what they did was treason."
What did the attorney general say?What did the attorney general say?
While Mr Trump was flying off to Texas, America's top law official was appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee.While Mr Trump was flying off to Texas, America's top law official was appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee.
William Barr was asked whether spying occurred on the Trump campaign during the 2016 White House race.William Barr was asked whether spying occurred on the Trump campaign during the 2016 White House race.
"I think spying did occur," said the attorney general. "The question is whether it was adequately predicated."I think spying did occur," said the attorney general. "The question is whether it was adequately predicated.
"I'm not suggesting it was not adequately predicated, but I need to explore that.""I'm not suggesting it was not adequately predicated, but I need to explore that."
Mr Barr praised the "outstanding" FBI as a whole, but told the panel: "I think there was probably a failure among the group of leaders."Mr Barr praised the "outstanding" FBI as a whole, but told the panel: "I think there was probably a failure among the group of leaders."
He added: "I feel I have an obligation to make sure government power is not abused."He added: "I feel I have an obligation to make sure government power is not abused."
Was the Trump campaign spied on?
President Trump and his conservative allies have repeatedly suggested the Obama administration planted a mole in his presidential campaign to undercut his candidacy.
The former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was asked on ABC in May last year if the FBI had indeed snooped on the Trump team.
He replied: "No, they were not. They were spying on - a term I don't particularly like - but on what the Russians were doing.
"Trying to understand were the Russians infiltrating, trying to gain access, trying to gain leverage and influence which is what they do."
The same day in an interview with CNN, Mr Clapper said: "The objective here was actually to protect the campaign by determining whether the Russians were infiltrating it and attempting to exert influence."
According to the New York Times last year, the FBI sent an informant, an unnamed US academic who teaches in the UK, to speak to two low-level Trump aides, George Papadopoulos and Carter Page, after the agency became suspicious of the pair's Russian contacts.