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Line 124: − + − + − Prompted by a ''Breitbart'' article summarizing Levin's broadcast,<ref>"[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/03/03/mark-levin-obama-used-police-state-tactics-undermine-trump/ Mark Levin to Congress: Investigate Obama’s ‘Silent Coup’ vs. Trump]", ''Breitbart'', 3 Mar 2017.</ref> Trump posted a series of tweets on March 4:+ − <blockquote>"How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is [[Nixon]]/[[Watergate]]. Bad (or sick) guy!"<ref>https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump, March 4, 2017</ref></blockquote> − and − <blockquote>"Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my "wires tapped" in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is [[McCarthyism]]!"</blockquote> − − Members of the mainstream media called Trump's wiretapping claim an, "astonishing and reckless accusation."<ref name=wiretap>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-trump-experiment-may-come-to-an-early-tipping-point/2017/03/05/87d38b3a-0055-11e7-99b4-9e613afeb09f_story.html?utm_term=.edb071c61986|title=The Trump Experiment may come to an early tipping point|first=EJ|last=Dionne Jr.|work=Washington Post|date=March 5, 2017|accessdate=}}</ref> In particular, the suggestion that Obama was personally involved provoked a furious backlash. Yet this suggestion is supported by earlier reporting, including the ''Times'' account of January 20.<ref>"[http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2017/03/05/new-york-times-trashes-its-own-reporting-on-obama-admin-wiretapping/ New York Times Trashes Its Own Reporting on Obama Admin Wiretapping], ''Breitbart'', 5 Mar 2017.</ref> − −
→Wiretapping the 2016 election
:"I win an election easily, a great "movement" is verified, and crooked opponents try to belittle our victory with [[Fake news|FAKE NEWS]]. A sorry state! … Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to ‘leak’ into the public. One last shot at me. Are we living in [[Nazi Germany]]?”<ref>http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-intel-20170111-story.html</ref>
:"I win an election easily, a great "movement" is verified, and crooked opponents try to belittle our victory with [[Fake news|FAKE NEWS]]. A sorry state! … Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to ‘leak’ into the public. One last shot at me. Are we living in [[Nazi Germany]]?”<ref>http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-intel-20170111-story.html</ref>
On January 17, 2017 ''McClatchy News'' reported that an informal, interagency group had been working for months on the issue of Russian attempts to influence the the election. The group included representatives of the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the Justice Department, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the office of the director of national intelligence.<ref>"[http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article127231799.html#storylink=cpy FBI, 5 other agencies probe possible covert Kremlin aid to Trump]", ''McClatchy,'' January 18, 2017.</ref> The day before inauguration ''The New York Times'' reported that the White House was directly involved in the investigation: “… wiretapped communications had been provided to the (Obama) White House.”<ref>"[https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/NY-Times-FP-012017.jpg Wiretapped data used in inquiry of Trump aides; Examining Russian Ties; Business dealings of Campaign Advisers are investigated]." ''New York Times'', January 20, 2017. On the NYT website, the headline is given as “[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/politics/trump-russia-associates-investigation.html Intercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry Into Trump Associates].”</ref>
On January 17, 2017 ''McClatchy News'' reported that an informal, interagency group had been working for months on the issue of Russian attempts to influence the the election. The group included representatives of the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the Justice Department, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the office of the director of national intelligence.<ref>"[http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article127231799.html#storylink=cpy FBI, 5 other agencies probe possible covert Kremlin aid to Trump]", ''McClatchy,'' January 18, 2017.</ref> The day before inauguration ''The New York Times'' reported that the White House was directly involved in the investigation: “… wiretapped communications had been provided to the (Obama) White House.”<ref>"[https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/NY-Times-FP-012017.jpg Wiretapped data used in inquiry of Trump aides; Examining Russian Ties; Business dealings of Campaign Advisers are investigated]." ''New York Times'', January 20, 2017. On the NYT website, the headline is given as “[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/politics/trump-russia-associates-investigation.html Intercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry Into Trump Associates].”</ref><ref>"[http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2017/03/05/new-york-times-trashes-its-own-reporting-on-obama-admin-wiretapping/ New York Times Trashes Its Own Reporting on Obama Admin Wiretapping], ''Breitbart'', 5 Mar 2017.</ref>
On March 1, the ''Times'' reported that the FBI was in the midst of a "wide-ranging investigation" of "links between Mr. Trump’s associates and the Russian government."<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/01/us/politics/obama-trump-russia-election-hacking.html Obama Administration Rushed to Preserve Intelligence of Russian Election Hacking]," ''New York Times'', March 1, 2017.</ref> Although Trump had been president for six weeks at this point, the FBI was still being run by Director [[James Comey]], who had been appointed by Obama.
On March 1, the ''Times'' reported that the FBI was in the midst of a "wide-ranging investigation" of "links between Mr. Trump’s associates and the Russian government."<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/01/us/politics/obama-trump-russia-election-hacking.html Obama Administration Rushed to Preserve Intelligence of Russian Election Hacking]," ''New York Times'', March 1, 2017.</ref> Although Trump had been president for six weeks at this point, the FBI was still being run by Director [[James Comey]], who had been appointed by Obama.
On March 2, 2017, talk radio host Mark Levin denounced the wiretaps and accused Obama of attempting a "silent coup" against Trump. Levin was chief of staff of the Justice Department during the Reagan administration. Earlier liberal reporting on the issue emphasized Trump's alleged links to Russia and used the wiretapping to support the idea that the intelligence community took these accusations seriously. Levin shifted the focus to malfeasance by the intelligence community.
On March 2, 2017, talk radio host Mark Levin denounced the wiretaps and accused Obama of attempting a "silent coup" against Trump. Levin was chief of staff of the Justice Department during the Reagan administration. Earlier liberal reporting on the issue emphasized Trump's alleged links to Russia and used the wiretapping to support the idea that the intelligence community took these accusations seriously. Levin shifted the focus to malfeasance by the intelligence community.<ref>"[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/03/03/mark-levin-obama-used-police-state-tactics-undermine-trump/ Mark Levin to Congress: Investigate Obama’s ‘Silent Coup’ vs. Trump]", ''Breitbart'', 3 Mar 2017.</ref>
Obama and his director of national intelligence [[James R. Clapper Jr.]] as well as the head of the FBI have denied that this happened.<ref name=wiretap/> "There was no such wiretap activity mounted against the president, the president-elect at the time, or as a candidate, or against his campaign," Clapper told NBC.<ref>Kailani Koenig, "[http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/former-dni-james-clapper-i-can-deny-wiretap-trump-tower-n729261 Former [[DNI]] James Clapper: ‘I Can Deny’ Wiretap of Trump Tower]", NBC News, MAR 5 2017</ref> In turn, Trump called for a congressional investigation of the alleged wiretapping.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/03/05/statement-press-secretary|title=Statement from the Press Secretary|date=March 5, 2017|accessdate=}}</ref>
Obama and his director of national intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. as well as the head of the FBI have denied that this happened.<ref name=wiretap/> "There was no such wiretap activity mounted against the president, the president-elect at the time, or as a candidate, or against his campaign," Clapper told NBC.<ref>Kailani Koenig, "[http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/former-dni-james-clapper-i-can-deny-wiretap-trump-tower-n729261 Former [[DNI]] James Clapper: ‘I Can Deny’ Wiretap of Trump Tower]", NBC News, MAR 5 2017</ref> In turn, Trump called for a congressional investigation of the alleged wiretapping.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/03/05/statement-press-secretary|title=Statement from the Press Secretary|date=March 5, 2017|accessdate=}}</ref>
On March 6, 2017, deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that Trump does not accept FBI Director James Comey’s conclusion that former President Barack Obama did not order a wiretap at Trump Tower.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nypost.com/2017/03/06/trump-wont-accept-comeys-conclusion-about-obama-wiretap-claim/amp/|title=Trump won’t accept Comey’s conclusion about Obama wiretap claim|work=New York Post|date=March 6, 2017|accessdate=}}</ref>
On March 6, 2017, deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that Trump does not accept FBI Director James Comey’s conclusion that former President Barack Obama did not order a wiretap at Trump Tower.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nypost.com/2017/03/06/trump-wont-accept-comeys-conclusion-about-obama-wiretap-claim/amp/|title=Trump won’t accept Comey’s conclusion about Obama wiretap claim|work=New York Post|date=March 6, 2017|accessdate=}}</ref>