Trump aide: 'Nothing has changed' in Russia hearing
WASHINGTON — The White House played down confirmation Monday that President Trump's campaign is under investigation over possible contacts with Russians who sought to influence last year's election, while continuing to defend Trump's disputed claim that predecessor Barack Obama had him wiretapped.
Hours after Trump tweeted that accusations of a relationship between his campaign and Russia are "fake news," press secretary Sean Spicer said there is no evidence tying Trump's team to Russians involved in hacking Democrats close to nominee Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election.
"Following this testimony, it's clear that nothing has changed," Spicer said, despite FBI Director James Comey's revelation that the Trump campaign has been under FBI investigation since July.
"Investigating it and having proof of it are two different things," Spicer said.
Spicer did note that the committee discussed evidence there have been leaks of classified information targeting Trump and aides, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Spicer also echoed past statements that, when Trump claimed "wire tapping" by Obama earlier this month, he was referring to surveillance in general, and that an investigation into that issue is just getting under way.
The Trump press secretary briefed reporters hours after Comey delivered a one-two punch to the White House over Russia, an issue that has hovered over the administration since it took office two months ago.
Citing Justice Department authorization, Comey testified that the FBI "is investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts."
Comey also said that, because the investigation is classified and ongoing, "I cannot say more about what we are doing and whose conduct we are examining."
As for Trump's claims against Obama, Comey said: "With respect to the president's tweets about alleged wiretapping directed at him by the prior administration, I have no information that supports those tweets and we have looked carefully inside the FBI."
Most of this was reported before Monday, but had not been confirmed on the record until the FBI director's testimony before the House Intelligence Committee.
Trump himself, using the official POTUS Twitter account, offered interpretative commentary on the hearing.
In one message, Trump said "the NSA (National Security Agency) and FBI tell Congress that Russia did not influence electoral process."
Actually, the leaders of those organizations said there is no evidence the Russians tampered with voting machines or the vote tally; they did seek to influence the campaign by leaking information hacked from Democratic Party officials.
Trump, who argued that the hearing should focus on news leaks of classified information, said in another tweet that "NSA Director (Mike) Rogers tells Congress unmasking individuals endangers national security."
Read more:
Here's what we know from the House hearing with FBI Director James Comey
FBI's Comey says Obama did not order wiretapping of Trump's New York office
While questioning FBI's Comey, Gowdy brings up Obama team as potential leakers, with no proof
The president did not respond to reporters' questions about the hearing during a pair of photo opportunities with the prime minister of Iraq. (His guest, Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, did grab the president's arm at one point and joked, "We had nothing to do with the wiretap.”)
Trump also did not mention the Russia investigation during a political rally Monday night in Louisville.
During his White House news briefing, Spicer said that while the investigation is ongoing, there is no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the election.
As for the wiretapping claim, Spicer said: "There's a lot of areas that still need to be covered. There's a lot of information that still needs to be discussed."
There have been associates of Trump who had contacts with Russians last year. Spicer dismissed that aspect of the probe, saying these individuals were either "hangers-on" or played "limited" roles in the campaign, though the group includes one-time campaign chairman Paul Manafort.
Trump seemed to preview the House Intelligence Committee hearing earlier in the day by denouncing the allegations surrounding him, his campaign and Russia.
"(Former national intelligence director) James Clapper and others stated that there is no evidence Potus colluded with Russia," Trump tweeted. "This story is FAKE NEWS and everyone knows it!"
In a later tweet, Trump said: "What about all of the contact with the Clinton campaign and the Russians? Also, is it true that the DNC would not let the FBI in to look?"
California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, responded right before he used the hearing to lay out aspects of the ongoing investigation into whether Trump or campaign associates had contacts with Russians involved in hacking information about Clinton's campaign.
"Mr. President, the Russians hacked our election and interfered," Schiff saiid. "No one disputes this now, but you. This is what is called 'fact.'"
