Trump suggests FBI infiltrated campaign

WASHINGTON:US President Donald Trump has alleged, without proof, the FBI had “implanted” an informant in his campaign, joining a chorus of conservative voices in a concerted attempt to discredit the Russia probe that has dogged his presidency.

The president made the allegations in tweets on Friday without citing sources or evidence. “There was indeed at least one FBI representative implanted, for political purposes, into my campaign for president. It took place very early on, and long before the phony Russia Hoax became a ‘hot’ Fake News story. If true - all time biggest political scandal!,” he wrote.

Conservative lawmakers and commentators have demanded the FBI and the department of justice for documents about the operation.

The FBI had indeed used an informant — a retired American professor who has been described as a known figure in Washington DC and had worked in Republican administration — but to follow up evidence about contacts between members of Trump team and Russians, but not to spy on the campaign, US media outlets reported citing unidentified officials.

The informant had contacted members of Trump’s campaign in 2016 and the number of officials contacted variesin the media reports. His identity has not been disclosed at the request of US intelligence as to not endanger his life or compromise other investigations he worked on.

He made contacts with Trump campaign advisers Carter Page and George Papadapoulos.