Trump demands inquiry into spying ‘at Obama’s behest’

DONALD TRUMP yesterday announced he would instruct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate whether his 2016 presidential campaign was spied on by the FBI for political purposes, and whether the Obama administration was behind it.

The declaration came after a series of tweets last night revealed his frustration with the investigation led by Robert Mueller into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

He lashed out at “the world’s most expensive witch hunt” and also dismissed a new report in The New York Times that said an emissary representing the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates offered help to Mr Trump’s 2016 campaign.

“I hereby demand, and will do so officially tomorrow, that the DOJ look into whether or not the FBI/DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump campaign for political purposes – and if any such demands or requests were made by people in the Obama Administration!”

The New York Times and Washington Post reported on Friday that the FBI sent an informant, an “American academic who teaches in Britain”, to speak to several Trump campaign advisers about possible ties to Russia.

Mr Trump declared last week that, if true, the news would be a scandal “bigger than Watergate”.

But Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trump’s lawyer, said neither he nor the president knew for certain if there was a spy.

Mr Trump’s demand for an investigation drew immediate criticism that he was breaking an unwritten rule, adhered to by successive administrations, that the FBI was allowed to work independently of political pressure.

Mr Trump’s latest criticism of Mr Mueller comes after The New York Times reported that Donald Trump Jr met with Erik Prince, a private security contractor; George Nader, the former head of Blackwater; an emissary for princes in Saudi Arabia and UAE; and Joel Zamel, an Israeli social media specialist, during the campaign.

The newspaper alleged that help was offered in the hope of getting Mr Trump elected and suggested the scope of Mr Mueller’s investigation was going to countries beyond Russia.

It is illegal for foreign governments or individuals to be involved in American elections. All those identified have denied any wrongdoing.