DOJ Confirms Trump Lied in “Wiretap” Tweets

The Department of Justice confirmed in a court filing on Friday evening that neither the DOJ nor the FBI have any records supporting President Trump’s tweeted assertion that Trump Tower was “wiretapped.”

In a Motion for Summary Judgment in American Oversight’s FOIA lawsuit, lawyers for the government stated that neither the National Security Division (NSD) nor the FBI have any records of the wiretaps President Trump in his March 4, 2017 tweets.

Declaration from G. Bradley Weinsheimer, National Security Division, Department of Justice

Declaration from David M. Hardy, FBI

Statement from American Oversight Executive Director, Austin Evers:

“The FBI and Department of Justice have now sided with former Director Comey and confirmed in writing that President Trump lied when he tweeted that former President Obama ‘wiretapped’ him at Trump Tower. As the president and his legal team continue their smear campaign against Mr. Comey, Special Counsel Mueller and others investigating him, this filing confirms that even Trump’s own Department of Justice does not believe he has credibility on a key element of the Russia investigation. With Special Counsel Mueller’s team closing in – and reportedly investigating attempts by Mr. Trump to mislead the public on Russia – this filing serves as further proof that the president’s words simply cannot be trusted.”

In the March 4 tweets, President Trump asserted that former President Obama had placed wiretaps on Mr. Trump and entities or associates in Trump Tower for improper purposes during the course of the 2016 presidential campaign.

Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my “wires tapped” in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017

Is it legal for a sitting President to be “wire tapping” a race for president prior to an election? Turned down by court earlier. A NEW LOW!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017

I’d bet a good lawyer could make a great case out of the fact that President Obama was tapping my phones in October, just prior to Election!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017