Changes

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>"[https://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>"[https://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 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>"[https://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>"[https://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 its disgraced 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.<ref>"[https://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>

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>"[https://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>