Former DNI Clapper Debunks Trump's Wiretap Conspiracy Theory

Trump's Conspiracy That Obama Wiretapped Him Comes From Breitbart And Right-Wing Media

From the March 5 edition of NBC’s Meet the Press:

Video file

CHUCK TODD (HOST): Let me start with the president's tweets yesterday, this idea that maybe President Obama ordered an illegal wiretap of his offices. If something like that happened, would this be something you would be aware of?

JAMES CLAPPER (FORMER DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE): I would certainly hope so. Obviously, I can't speak officially anymore, but I will say that for the part of the national security apparatus that I oversaw as DNI, there was there no such wiretap activity mounted against the president-elect at the time or as a candidate or against his campaign. I can't speak for other Title III authorized entities in the government or a state or local entity.

TODD: I was just going to say, if the FBI, for instance, had a FISA court order of some sort for surveillance, would that be information that you would know or not know?

CLAPPER: Yes.

TODD: You would be told this?

CLAPPER: I would know that.

TODD: If there was a FISA court order?

CLAPPER: Yes.

TODD: On something like this.

CLAPPER: Something like this, absolutely.

TODD: And at this point you can't confirm or deny whether that exists?

CLAPPER: I can deny it.

TODD: There is no FISA court order?

CLAPPER: Not to my knowledge.

TODD: Of anything at Trump Tower?

CLAPPER: No.

TODD: Well that’s an important revelation at this point.

Related:

BuzzFeed: Trump Repeats Talk Radio Rumor That Obama Wiretapped Him During Election

Previously:

Right-Wing Media Latch On To “Shadow Government” Conspiracy To Absolve Trump From Russia Controversy

Trump Embraces Fringe Conspiracy That Equates Chuck Schumer Eating Krispy Kreme Donuts With Allegations Trump's Campaign Had Ties To Russia