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[webfact]

Lawmaker suggests U.S. surveillance of foreigners picked up Trump calls

By Patricia Zengerle

REUTERS

 

Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes (R-CA) questions FBI Director James Comey and National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers during a hearing into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 20, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives intelligence committee said on Wednesday some of President Donald Trump's personal communications may have been caught up in "incidental" surveillance involving a foreign power in the months after the election.

 

Representative Devin Nunes said the information which he said was obtained from a source he did not identify in any way, was collected legally in November, December and January - from the Nov. 8 election to Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration - but the names of some Trump officials involved had been "unmasked" and the communications widely disseminated within spy agencies.

 

Democrats and some Republicans have been sparring over Trump posting on Twitter on March 4 that his New York home Trump Tower was "wiretapped" by his predecessor, President Barack Obama. Through a spokesman, Obama denied the accusation.

 

White House officials, and Republicans including Nunes, have since said that Trump meant general surveillance instead of what Nunes referred to as "physical" wiretapping.

 

Trump said on Wednesday that he felt "somewhat" vindicated by Nunes' announcement.

 

Nunes made his announcement at a news conference two days after the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James Comey, confirmed to a hearing of his committee that it was conducting a criminal investigation of potential links between Trump associates and Russia, as Moscow sought to influence the 2016 U.S. election to benefit Trump.

 

"I recently confirmed that on numerous occasions the intelligence community ... collected information about U.S. citizens involved in the Trump transition," said Nunes, who was a member of Trump's transition team.

 

"It's all classified information," Nunes told reporters.

 

The news conference seemed tied to Trump's contention about being "wiretapped" as well as a line of questioning from Republicans during Monday's hearing about the importance of identifying and prosecuting those responsible for intelligence leaks.

 

Republicans have also focussed much of their discussion of the issue on the release of the names, or "unmasking" of Trump associates in the investigation. Trump fired his former national security adviser, General Mike Flynn, after the revelation that he had spoken to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

 

House intelligence committee Democrats said they were not consulted about the information before the news conference.

 

"I want to be clear, none of this surveillance was related to Russia or the investigation of Russian activities or of the Trump team," Nunes said.

 

However, Nunes said later he could not be sure that other information existed elsewhere related to Russia.

 

U.S. intelligence agencies have accused Russia of seeking to influence the presidential election in Trump's favour against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton by hacking computer systems and spreading disinformation. Russia denies the allegations.

 

The leaders of the main House investigative committee said separately on Wednesday they had asked the White House and FBI for documents regarding Flynn's foreign contacts with Russia, Turkey and others.

 

A U.S. government source said it was logical, if not normal, that communications from Trump aides would have been incidentally intercepted by U.S. agencies after his election, given that they would have an interest in talking to foreign governments.

 

Nunes said he was "very concerned" about whether U.S. intelligence agencies were spying on Trump. He briefed Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan before the news conference and went to the White House to share the information there afterwards.

 

Nunes held his news conference just before Trump spokesman Sean Spicer gave his daily news briefing at the White House.

 

Spicer read some of Nunes' statement during the briefing.

 

"I do think it is a startling revelation, and there's a lot of questions that need to get asked," Spicer said.

 

Admiral Mike Rogers, the director of the National Security Agency, was asked by Republicans at Monday's hearing about the agency's policies for "unmasking" the names of Americans whose communications were incidentally collected under foreign surveillance programs.

 

After briefing Trump, Nunes told reporters outside the White House, "I think the president is concerned, and he should be."

 

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, additional reporting by Dustin Volz, Doina Chiacu, David Alexander, Mark Hosenball and Tim Ahmann; editing by Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-23

[selftaopath]

Nunes is not impartial, but yet another FAKE President "lackey." 

[craigt3365]

Quote

Nunes said he was "very concerned" about whether U.S. intelligence agencies were spying on Trump.

Shouldn't he be very concerned about whether members of the Trump campaign were working with the Russians?  Something that's already been proven to be true?  That is the reason Manafort was fired.  Along with Flynn.

Quote

 

Spicer read some of Nunes' statement during the briefing.

 

"I do think it is a startling revelation, and there's a lot of questions that need to get asked," Spicer said.

 

Lots of questions need to get asked.  Sadly, Spicer isn't interested in the important ones.  Seems they are just trying to divert attention away from the document proving Manafort was helping Putin.

 

 

[kamahele]

I notice Trump supporters online and on the news today think this story somehow benefits Trump, but actually this is horrible news for his camp. This does not prop up his story that he was wiretapped by Obama in Trump tower but instead shows that his staff was in contact with the Russians during the election and were recorded by our intelligence agencies who had the Russians under surveillance. His good buddy John McCain who Trump said wasn't a hero because her was shot down over Vietnam is calling for a special panel to investigate because the Congressional Intelligence Committee (the chairman Nunes being the leaker) can't handle the job. 

[Godolphin]

As was quoted above:

 

"You don't take information that the committee hasn't seen and present it orally to the press and to the White House before the committee has a chance to vet whether it's even significant," U.S. Representative Adam Schiff told a news conference.

 

This is brazenly partisan and political and grandstanding. Nunes has put himself above Congress and decided to usurp democratic processes. Another little step towards authoritarian rule imo.

 

He wouldn't be trying to take the heat of his reckless, floundering leader, (described by Wall Street Journal  yesterday as acting like a chronic alcoholic) would he?

 

We will no doubt find out what his motives are soon. Or will we? One thing we do know is that this guy cannot be trusted.

 

The whole issue is getting more bizarre by the minute

 

 

Edited March 23, 2017 by Godolphin
misspell

[craigt3365]

Breaking news.  Worth a read and a watch of the video.  Sad times for the US.

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/22/politics/us-officials-info-suggests-trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians/index.html

Quote

The FBI has information that indicates associates of President Donald Trump communicated with suspected Russian operatives to possibly coordinate the release of information damaging to Hillary Clinton's campaign, US officials told CNN.

 

[Langsuan Man]

2 hours ago, kamahele said:

I notice Trump supporters online and on the news today think this story somehow benefits Trump, but actually this is horrible news for his camp.

Must have been one of these:

 

 

 

[Godolphin]

4 minutes ago, Langsuan Man said:

Must have been one of these:

 

 

 

Ha! Good one.

[USPatriot]

6 hours ago, selftaopath said:

Nunes is not impartial, but yet another FAKE President "lackey." 

Just because the truth is starting to come out. He is a lucky   I didn't like Obama but as a us citizen he was my president. Saying I voted for the other person is realistic.

 

Like it or not he is the president

[blazes]

This whole hysteria about the Russians is of course total <deleted>, caused by the shrieking "progressive" realization that ownership of the "swamp" has changed for the time being.

Really, why should it be considered in some way treasonous for a transition team to be in contact with foreign powers (the nitwit Logan Act of 1799).  In over 200 years of the young republic's life, only one person has been indicted  under this law (and no one found guilty!!).  And yet, here we are in 2017 using an ancient and useless law to point accusing fingers at an incoming administration for attempting to get normal political business (for a new administration) sorted out.

Meanwhile, the airwaves are saturated with shrieks worthy of 1690s Salem, Mass.

[Andaman Al]

So here is the crux of the matter. IF during an intercept of a foreign diplomat under a FISA warrant the intelligence gathering agency hears that the other party on the call is a US citizen, they MUST scrub the call/surveillance, UNLESS what is being discussed contains information that would indicate the US citizen is acting illegally, then the surveilling may continue. All of these calls that have been recorded and transcribed clearly fall into the latter category. So if Trump and his team have been surveilled talking to Russians then they should be very worried indeed, as the only reason the surveilling agency can continue to monitor is if they believe the content of the call contained information exchange that was illegal or detrimental to the US. I think some people in the transition team will now be changing their underwear on a very regular basis - or they should be! One of them will be first to break as the pressure continues and they will be scurrying to do an immunity deal in exchange for information. -----------Popcorn please!

[Andaman Al]

9 minutes ago, blazes said:

This whole hysteria about the Russians is of course total <deleted>, caused by the shrieking "progressive" realization that ownership of the "swamp" has changed for the time being.

Really, why should it be considered in some way treasonous for a transition team to be in contact with foreign powers (the nitwit Logan Act of 1799).  In over 200 years of the young republic's life, only one person has been indicted  under this law (and no one found guilty!!).  And yet, here we are in 2017 using an ancient and useless law to point accusing fingers at an incoming administration for attempting to get normal political business (for a new administration) sorted out.

Meanwhile, the airwaves are saturated with shrieks worthy of 1690s Salem, Mass.

See my post above. It is clear that the calls were not an attempt to get 'normal political business sorted out'.

 

By the way unless the Logan Act is repealed it is law. The US has had  200 years to repeal it and never did. Only one person has so far been indicted because nobody else broke it.

[blazes]

2 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

So here is the crux of the matter. IF during an intercept of a foreign diplomat under a FISA warrant the intelligence gathering agency hears that the other party on the call is a US citizen, they MUST scrub the call/surveillance, UNLESS what is being discussed contains information that would indicate the US citizen is acting illegally, then the surveilling may continue. All of these calls that have been recorded and transcribed clearly fall into the latter category. So if Trump and his team have been surveilled talking to Russians then they should be very worried indeed, as the only reason the surveilling agency can continue to monitor is if they believe the content of the call contained information exchange that was illegal or detrimental to the US. I think some people in the transition team will now be changing their underwear on a very regular basis - or they should be! One of them will be first to break as the pressure continues and they will be scurrying to do an immunity deal in exchange for information. -----------Popcorn please!

Under the Logan Act (1799), even talking about the weather with a foreign person could be deemed treasonous.  There is no issue here, other than the squawking of the military/industrial complex worried that their control of cold war sentiments is being threatened.

[Thaidream]

There was never any surveillance ordered by President Obama and the latest comment by Nunes has no bearing on the lie Trump is trying to pass off as the truth.

What the real investigation needs to focus on is whether anyone in Trump's entourage had contacts with Russia and discussed Russian interfering in the election and hacking systems that would affect the outcome. Then there would be the question if true did Trump know and when did he know it.

The only way to get to the truth is the apointment of a special investigator who has no bias and cannot be coerced by either party.

Until this issue is settled- Trump and his minions will always be under suspicion and much of it is their own doing because they continue to lie; insist on 'alternate facts' and are generally incompetent.

[Scott]

An inflammatory post has been reported and removed.   Continue with the disrespectful style of posting and you will find yourself suspended.  

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, blazes said:

Under the Logan Act (1799), even talking about the weather with a foreign person could be deemed treasonous.  There is no issue here, other than the squawking of the military/industrial complex worried that their control of cold war sentiments is being threatened.

You've got to be kidding me. The military/industrial complex is jumping for joy with their budgets and freedoms dramatically increased.

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, Thaidream said:

There was never any surveillance ordered by President Obama and the latest comment by Nunes has no bearing on the lie Trump is trying to pass off as the truth.

What the real investigation needs to focus on is whether anyone in Trump's entourage had contacts with Russia and discussed Russian interfering in the election and hacking systems that would affect the outcome. Then there would be the question if true did Trump know and when did he know it.

The only way to get to the truth is the apointment of a special investigator who has no bias and cannot be coerced by either party.

Until this issue is settled- Trump and his minions will always be under suspicion and much of it is their own doing because they continue to lie; insist on 'alternate facts' and are generally incompetent.

Agree, but is not going to happen. The republicans do not want a special prosecutor on this.

[Thaidream]

I am sure you are correct- but if there is a real story here- someone will eventually talk and come forth with the 'proof' and while this is happening the United States will remain embroiled in controversy and it will be difficult for anyone's genda to move forward. 

I believe trump will eventually be impeached or resign or possibly removed under the provisions of the 25th Amendment.

[colinneil]

We love you Donald.    

[Godolphin]

1 hour ago, blazes said:

 

Meanwhile, the airwaves are saturated with shrieks worthy of 1690s Salem, Mass.

As opposed to the quiet, reasoned and fair conduct of the Tea Party movement, Fox News, et al, who were accepting of President Obama for eight years. They didn't shriek much did they?

 

Are you advocating that people who are genuinely concerned about the state of the nation should just shut up?  Labeling opposition to the absolutely unprecedented actions of this odd Presidency as "shrieking" doesn't offer much to the debate imo.

[craigt3365]

1 hour ago, Godolphin said:

As opposed to the quiet, reasoned and fair conduct of the Tea Party movement, Fox News, et al, who were accepting of President Obama for eight years. They didn't shriek much did they?

 

Are you advocating that people who are genuinely concerned about the state of the nation should just shut up?  Labeling opposition to the absolutely unprecedented actions of this odd Presidency as "shrieking" doesn't offer much to the debate imo.

Well put!  The media treated Obama terribly, as did the opposition political party.  Change is desperately needed in the American political system.

[blazes]

2 hours ago, Godolphin said:

As opposed to the quiet, reasoned and fair conduct of the Tea Party movement, Fox News, et al, who were accepting of President Obama for eight years. They didn't shriek much did they?

 

Are you advocating that people who are genuinely concerned about the state of the nation should just shut up?  Labeling opposition to the absolutely unprecedented actions of this odd Presidency as "shrieking" doesn't offer much to the debate imo.

So there....

Yes, I would characterize the normal conduct of American public life (as portrayed by the MSM) as shrieking (perhaps "squawking" would be a better word.)

 

The Romans called it bread and circuses.  Not sure about the "bread" in America's case, but there is much in US political reporting (no matter who is in power) that is of the circus mentality.  The various "stars" (Megyn, Jake, O'Reilly, Hannity etc etc) are the hucksters who divert attention (and ensure good ratings) from the real business of "opposition", which is to ask the question: what kind of society do we really want in the US?  

The nearest this has come to being an issue is via the campaign of Bernie Sanders (God alone knows what would have happened if he had actually won the nomination AND won the election...but we can be relatively confident that the "establishment" would have been just as nervous with him in the WH as they are with the present chump.)

So, the "common cry of curs" enjoy the circus, baying for the balls of the nonentity in the WH.

 Meanwhile, the process of government goes on in the background with no one really knowing the full extent that they are, as individuals, controlled like puppets.  (Thank you, Edward Snowden, for revealing the total lack of privacy enjoyed by American citizens -- not to mention the privacy of all the foreign citizens!)  

All that "opposition" means in the US is a never-ending ad hominem attack on the person inhabiting the WH.  It is as useless to attack Trump as it was Obama or any of the puppets before them.

Last question:  how many banker CEOs ended up in jail post-2008 as a result of their deception of the American people?  None.  Why not?

[Andaman Al]

30 minutes ago, blazes said:

Last question:  how many banker CEOs ended up in jail post-2008 as a result of their deception of the American people?  None.  Why not?

They were being saved so they could take up the present positions they now hold in Trumps Administration.

[Godolphin]

1 hour ago, blazes said:

So there....

Yes, I would characterize the normal conduct of American public life (as portrayed by the MSM) as shrieking (perhaps "squawking" would be a better word.)

 

The Romans called it bread and circuses.  Not sure about the "bread" in America's case, but there is much in US political reporting (no matter who is in power) that is of the circus mentality.  The various "stars" (Megyn, Jake, O'Reilly, Hannity etc etc) are the hucksters who divert attention (and ensure good ratings) from the real business of "opposition", which is to ask the question: what kind of society do we really want in the US?  

The nearest this has come to being an issue is via the campaign of Bernie Sanders (God alone knows what would have happened if he had actually won the nomination AND won the election...but we can be relatively confident that the "establishment" would have been just as nervous with him in the WH as they are with the present chump.)

So, the "common cry of curs" enjoy the circus, baying for the balls of the nonentity in the WH.

 Meanwhile, the process of government goes on in the background with no one really knowing the full extent that they are, as individuals, controlled like puppets.  (Thank you, Edward Snowden, for revealing the total lack of privacy enjoyed by American citizens -- not to mention the privacy of all the foreign citizens!)  

All that "opposition" means in the US is a never-ending ad hominem attack on the person inhabiting the WH.  It is as useless to attack Trump as it was Obama or any of the puppets before them.

Last question:  how many banker CEOs ended up in jail post-2008 as a result of their deception of the American people?  None.  Why not?

I'm with you on Bernie Sanders. I think the "powers that be" would have gone into top gear and kept the foot down with him. Especially as he was the only candidate pointing to Wall Street and the corporate elite as the real cause of the meltdown of 08 and its consequences.

 

As for "no one really knowing the full extent that they are, as individuals, controlled like puppets," have you had more than a casual glance at Bannon and his agenda? Have you looked at who Trump has appointed and their track records in government and business?

 

Bread and circuses eh? I've heard it said that government is the entertainment sector of big business. This is so the case today.

 

"It is as useless to attack Trump as it was Obama or any of the puppets before them."  I think the opposite blazes. I think it is incumbent on every single person to attack this dangerous, unstable man, a man who has as we speak, the nuclear war codes at his fingertips. I believe his agenda, orchestrated by his "puppet masters" as you say is one of authoritarian rule and the dumping of democratic norms.

 

Evil happens when good men say nothing.

[iReason]

Rep. Cummings: Nunes should be investigated

 

"Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings on Thursday called for an investigation into House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes, who on Wednesday personally briefed President Donald Trump and announced publicly that a source showed him evidence that the Obama administration had inadvertently collected surveillance on members of the Trump transition team."
 

“What he has done is he’s scuttled, and put a cloud over, his own investigation, and he has become the subject —basically, he should be — of an investigation,” Cummings said on CNN Thursday morning. “It’s a real problem.”

 

"Cummings criticized Nunes for not informing other members of the House Intelligence Committee of the evidence Nunes said he had obtained, and said Nunes’ conduct threatened the integrity of the investigation into the Trump campaign's possible relationship with Russian intelligence."

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/devin-nunes-trump-surveillance-elijah-cummings-react-236406

[iReason]

Nunes apologizes after going directly to White House with monitoring claims

 

"House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes apologized to members of his panel Thursday for not informing Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat, before going public with allegations that Trump transition messages were inadvertently intercepted by U.S. intelligence agencies."

 

"A committee aide said that Nunes apologized "for not sharing information about the documents he saw with the minority before going public” and that “he pledged to work with them on this issue.” 

 

"Schiff blasted Nunes for briefing the White House on his claims before telling his own committee, which is conducting a wide-ranging investigation into Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election."

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/nunes-apologizes-after-going-directly-to-white-house-with-monitoring-claims-236415

 

Remove this partisan hack.

[selftaopath]

On 3/23/2017 at 1:52 PM, Thaidream said:

There was never any surveillance ordered by President Obama and the latest comment by Nunes has no bearing on the lie Trump is trying to pass off as the truth.

What the real investigation needs to focus on is whether anyone in Trump's entourage had contacts with Russia and discussed Russian interfering in the election and hacking systems that would affect the outcome. Then there would be the question if true did Trump know and when did he know it.

The only way to get to the truth is the apointment of a special investigator who has no bias and cannot be coerced by either party.

Until this issue is settled- Trump and his minions will always be under suspicion and much of it is their own doing because they continue to lie; insist on 'alternate facts' and are generally incompetent.

I believe Fake President only cares about the enormous amount of money he, his family, and other super wealthy can get in a short time. I bet it's an enormous amount... perhaps right out of corrupt Putin's book. 

[Godolphin]

18 hours ago, iReason said:

Nunes apologizes after going directly to White House with monitoring claims

 

"House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes apologized to members of his panel Thursday for not informing Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat, before going public with allegations that Trump transition messages were inadvertently intercepted by U.S. intelligence agencies."

 

"A committee aide said that Nunes apologized "for not sharing information about the documents he saw with the minority before going public” and that “he pledged to work with them on this issue.” 

 

"Schiff blasted Nunes for briefing the White House on his claims before telling his own committee, which is conducting a wide-ranging investigation into Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election."

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/nunes-apologizes-after-going-directly-to-white-house-with-monitoring-claims-236415

 

Remove this partisan hack.

It's like an arsonist crying sorry after burning a building down.

[Andaman Al]

2 hours ago, Godolphin said:

It's like an arsonist crying sorry after burning a building down.

Correct. It is easy to do the dirty deed then say sorry, especially when there are almost no consequences. He did what he intended and now should be removed as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, he made his choice, an impartial investigation or to be the Presidents man, he chose the latter. Just another disgrace and there are so many now we are becoming desensitised to them, almost accepting of them. Think on it, Nunes gave out what is considered classified information to the President and the press BEFORE he sat and discussed with the Intelligence committee, and Nunes was AWARE of that.

[selftaopath]

10 hours ago, Andaman Al said:

Correct. It is easy to do the dirty deed then say sorry, especially when there are almost no consequences. He did what he intended and now should be removed as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, he made his choice, an impartial investigation or to be the Presidents man, he chose the latter. Just another disgrace and there are so many now we are becoming desensitised to them, almost accepting of them. Think on it, Nunes gave out what is considered classified information to the President and the press BEFORE he sat and discussed with the Intelligence committee, and Nunes was AWARE of that.

Is jail time appropriate? I think so/hope so.