Senate committee asks for evidence over Trump’s claim on wiretapping
THE US House Intelligence Committee has asked the Executive Branch for any evidence that would support President Donald Trump’s claim his phones were tapped at Trump Tower during last year’s election.
A senior congressional aide said the committee has asked that the information be provided by this evening.
The aide said the request came in a letter sent by the committee chairman, Devin Nunes of California, and the panel’s ranking Democrat, Adam Schiff of California. Other politicians have made similar requests.
Mr Trump has said his predecessor Barack Obama had the phones tapped.
He has not provided evidence to support his claim and has asked Congress to investigate.
The news came after Mr Trump praised the US Secret Service for doing a “fantastic job” in apprehending a “troubled person” who climbed a fence at the White House while the President was inside the executive mansion.
It was the first known security breach at the White House since Mr Trump took office nearly two months ago.
Washington DC police identified the intruder as Jonathan Tran, 26, of Milpitas, California.
When approached by a Secret Service officer on the south grounds on Friday night and asked whether he had a pass authorising him to be in the restricted area, Tran replied: “No, I am a friend of the President. I have an appointment,” the police report said.
Authorities found two cans of Mace on Tran, including one inside his jacket pocket, according to a criminal complaint filed in US District Court. Tran was also carrying a US. passport, an Apple laptop computer, a book written by Mr Trump and a letter he had written to the president, the complaint said.
“Secret Service did a fantastic job last night,” Mr Trump said from his golf club in Northern Virginia. He described the intruder as a “troubled person” and the situation as “very sad”.
In the letter found on Tran, he mentioned “Russian hackers” and said he had information of relevance, according to the criminal complaint. He alleged he had been followed, that his phone and email communica-