Just a day after President Trump tweeted — without evidence — that former President Obama personally ordered a wiretap on Trump during the 2016 campaign, the White House on Sunday called for Congress to investigate the previous administration’s actions.
Obama, through a spokesperson, denied Saturday that he — or anyone at the White House — ever ordered surveillance of any U.S. citizen. But a Trump spokesperson appearing on ABC’s This Week questioned Obama’s statement, saying Sunday that the former president is not a “clean and credible source.”
After host Martha Raddatz asked, “Does President Trump not believe [Obama]?” Trump spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders replied, “I think they don’t have the best track record… to pretend this is a clean and credible source, coming from — I’m sorry I’m just not buying that.”
WH spokesperson on Obama's denial of unsubstantiated wiretap claim: "They don't have the best track record" https://t.co/NuoesDJVNJ pic.twitter.com/sikKER94ye
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 5, 2017
Sanders also said she “could not speak for the president,” on whether Trump believes that Obama ordered the alleged phone tap. Trump’s tweet Saturday stated it as fact.
How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017
Several people Sunday suggested that Trump’s tweets against the former administration were an attempt to distract voters from the ongoing allegations that Trump’s administration has ties to Russia and that Russia was involved in the presidential election.
Sanders comments came as White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted the White House was calling for an investigation and that “neither the White House nor the President will comment further until such oversight is conducted.”
The White House also released a statement to that effect.
