Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 24 May 2018

Seething over Russia probe, Trump tears into 'spygate'

By MARY CLARE JALONICK Trump has told confidants
and JONATHAN LEMIRE in recent days that the
Associated Press revelation of an informant
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- was potential evidence
dent Donald Trump has that the upper echelon of
branded his latest attempt federal law enforcement
to discredit the special has conspired against him,
counsel's Russia investiga- according to three people
tion as "spygate," part of a familiar with his recent con-
newly invigorated strategy versations but not autho-
embraced by his Repub- rized to discuss them pub-
lican colleagues to raise licly. Trump told one ally
suspicions about the probe this week that he wanted
that has dogged his presi- "to brand" the informant a
dency since the start. "spy," believing the more
Trump now is zeroing in on nefarious term would reso-
— and at times embellishing nate more in the media
— reports that a longtime and with the public.
U.S. government informant He went on to debut the
approached members of term "Spygate" on Wednes-
his 2016 campaign during day, despite its previous as-
the presidential election in sociations with a 2007 NFL
a possible bid to glean in- scandal over videotaping
telligence on Russian efforts coaches.
to sway the election. Democrats say the briefing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein addresses attendees at the Bloomberg Law Leadership
Forum Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in New York. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump declined
Trump's latest broadsides — held as special counsel to say whether he has confidence in Rosenstein, who is overseeing the special counsel's Russia
set the stage for an un- Robert Mueller investigates investigation, after the White House negotiated rare access to classified documents for Trump's
usual decision by the White Trump's campaign and congressional allies. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
House to arrange a brief- whether it was involved in
ing about classified docu- Russian meddling in the U.S. classified material. by Trump and brokered the FBI has been caught in
ments for just two Republi- election — is highly inap- Some Senate Republicans by the White House. Ex- a spy "scandal."
can House members, both propriate and should be have asked to be invited to pected attendees are FBI He tweeted: "Look how
Trump allies, in a meeting given to a bipartisan group the meeting as well, saying Director Christopher Wray, things have turned around
expected Thursday, as of congressional leaders, they should be included. National Intelligence Direc- on the Criminal Deep State.
Trump and his supporters in as is customary with many Senate Judiciary Commit- tor Dan Coats, Justice De- They go after Phony Collu-
Congress press for informa- classified matters. Sen- tee Chairman Chuck Grass- partment official Edward sion with Russia, a made up
tion on the outside infor- ate Democratic Leader ley of Iowa, South Carolina O'Callaghan, House Intel- Scam, and end up getting
mant. Chuck Schumer and House Sen. Lindsey Graham and ligence Committee Chair- caught in a major SPY scan-
It remains unclear what, Democratic Leader Nancy Texas Sen. man Devin Nunes and dal the likes of which this
if any, spying was done. Pelosi wrote to the Justice John Cornyn made that re- House Oversight and Gov- country may never have
The White House has giv- Department on Wednes- quest to White House Chief ernment Reform Chairman seen before! What goes
en no evidence to sup- day and said the GOP-only of Staff John Kelly on Tues- Trey Gowdy. around, comes around!"
port Trump's claim that the meeting is "completely im- day. Nunes, an ardent Trump Former FBI Director James
Obama administration was proper in its proposed form Cornyn, the No. 2 Repub- supporter, has been de- Comey, who was fired by
trying to spy on his 2016 and would set a damaging lican in the Senate, said manding information on Trump last year, tweeted
campaign for political rea- precedent for your institu- Wednesday evening that an FBI source in the Russia Wednesday morning that
sons. It's long been known tions and the rule of law." they had not yet received investigation. And Trump the agency's use of secret
that the FBI was looking White House press secre- a response. He said he took up the cause as the informants was "tightly reg-
into Russian meddling dur- tary Sarah Sanders said no thought Democrats should White House tries to com- ulated and essential to pro-
ing the campaign and that Democrats were invited be briefed as well. bat the threat posed by tecting the country."
part of that inquiry touched because they had not re- "I think that would be a Mueller's investigation. "Attacks on the FBI and ly-
on the Trump campaign's quested the information. good idea," Cornyn said. Trump escalated his efforts ing about its work will do
contacts with Russian fig- In fact, Democrats have The meeting scheduled for to discredit that investiga- lasting damage to our
ures. asked to be shown the Thursday was encouraged tion Wednesday, saying country," he said. q