# Trump accuses Obama of wiretapping him **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 4, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384 "2017-03-04T15:07:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/21 "2017-03-04T18:59:21Z")
The fact that wiretap requests were made by the FBI from FISA (and possibly granted) during Obama presidency were published by the Guardian in January. It came from the earlier report: > **[Entertainment - MarketWatch](https://www.marketwatch.com/entertainment?reflink=heatst)** > > Entertainment and media news coverage from MarketWatch. I am not sure of full Presidential powers in this, but I believe if Trump wanted to he could see those FISA warrants. Could be that is what prompted the tweets. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/22 "2017-03-04T19:11:01Z")
I read an interesting conversation on another board. The claim was put forth that by publicly announcing the existence of a FISA warrant, Trump has declassified it, and therefore a FOIA request can be used to obtain transcripts. This assumes of course that there is a tap. I’m skeptical. It seems to me that at most, he’s declassified the existence of the warrant (if that), but not the results of that warrant. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/23 "2017-03-04T19:20:22Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I’m wondering if this is a planned distraction. > > It’s all MSNBC is talking about and there seems to be a new right-wing talking point about how _this_ could be worse than Watergate. This is most likely exactly what it is. When a possibly unpleasant topic starts heating up too much, 45 throws a fit about something else to draw the media attention away. Rinse. Lather. Repeat. Clearly the Russia questions have been making him uncomfortable and building support for hearings. He doesn’t want that so he starts flinging lies on Twitter. The attempts to smear Schumer and Pelosi for public meetings with the Russian ambassador weren’t getting traction so he shifted gears and started spewing this nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/24 "2017-03-04T19:27:28Z")
These attempts at distraction say it all. If you’re innocent, why try to deflect? If you’re innocent, you should be demanding, and fully cooperating with, a full unbiased investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/25 "2017-03-04T20:01:47Z")
It’s a lousy attempt at deflection. The wiretaps were in support of investigations regarding the Trump campaign’s associations with what now? Oh, that’s right - Russia. Even if people talk about this for a bit, it will only lead back to Russia. Russia. Russia. Russia. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/26 "2017-03-04T20:18:59Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Just under 47 more months of waiting for this fucker to grow up Let’s say for a moment that he had a legitimate complaint. Is this really the most mature response he can muster? His colossal ego is so fragile that he has to come out like gangbusters at the slightest hint of an insult. Jesus, Donald. Why don’t you worry about why the FBI would feel the need to seek out a warrant? He’s had 70 years in which to grow up already. I don’t think he’s going to accomplish that in a mere 47 more months. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/27 "2017-03-04T20:27:08Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > This is most likely exactly what it is. When a possibly unpleasant topic starts heating up too much, 45 throws a fit about something else to draw the media attention away. > > Rinse. Lather. Repeat. > > Clearly the Russia questions have been making him uncomfortable and building support for hearings. He doesn’t want that so he starts flinging lies on Twitter. The attempts to smear Schumer and Pelosi for public meetings with the Russian ambassador weren’t getting traction so he shifted gears and started spewing this nonsense. When there’s constantly unpleasant topics heating up and he’s constantly tweeting some outrageous stupidity, I’m not sure you can safely say one is due to the other. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/28 "2017-03-04T20:30:10Z")
This isn’t aimed at the general public. This is aimed at the True Believers. They now “know” that Trump is innocent and won the popular vote. They also “know” that Hillary Clinton committed a number of felonies, Barack Obama was born in Kenya, Weapons of Mass Destruction were found in Iraq, and Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/29 "2017-03-04T20:34:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > This isn’t aimed at the general public. This is aimed at the True Believers. They now “know” that Trump is innocent and won the popular vote. They also “know” that Hillary Clinton committed a number of felonies, Barack Obama was born in Kenya, Weapons of Mass Destruction were found in Iraq, and Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War. Clean coal for everyone! Now let’s go get that extremist muslim terrorist oil… ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/30 "2017-03-04T20:36:01Z")
> [@computergeek](#): > > Everyone was praising him for his “State of the Union” speech and acting presidential, but there were quite a few who knew it wouldn’t last long Yes, this latest actually makes me feel relieved that he can’t keep up that act very long. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/31 "2017-03-04T21:34:34Z")
> [@computergeek](#): > > More than likely. Trump obviously listens to and parrots so many conspiracy sites. He’s friends with Alex Jones for crying out loud. He’s so full of conspiracy theories, it’s scary. > > Everyone was praising him for his “State of the Union” speech and acting presidential, but there were quite a few who knew it wouldn’t last long I was wondering if the media was using the “good dog!” approach. There are reports that the best way to get Donald to behave is to praise him. Maybe they thought it would work. Hopefully, after falling for it so many times, the next time he manages to be “presidential” for a minute, they will ignore it. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/32 "2017-03-04T21:54:28Z")
> [@OwnRules](#): > > [\*\*How news works: > > Thursday: Conservative radio show says Obama sought Trump wiretap > > Friday: Breitbart reports this > > Saturday: Trump tweets it\*\*]([x.com](https://twitter.com/matthewchampion/status/837993016883302400)) > > Move right along. Nothing to see here. I wish. The very, very obvious danger is a sequence like this in the near future: Thursday: Conservative radio show says country X is invading and attacking an American military base in friendly to America nation Y. \* Friday: Breitbart reports this Saturday: Trump orders strikes, country X demonstrates to their allies how unfair the strike was and all retaliate. Move right along. Nothing to see here after the nuclear missiles start to fly… - Decades after, the government of the few city states that survived conclude that the invasion forces were actually soccer fans that vandalized a statue of Colonel Sanders at a KFC in country Y. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/33 "2017-03-04T22:09:42Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > The fact that wiretap requests were made by the FBI from FISA (and possibly granted) during Obama presidency were published by the Guardian in January. It came from the earlier report: > > [Entertainment and Media - MarketWatch](https://heatst.com/world/exclusive-fbi-granted-fisa-warrant-covering-trump-camps-ties-to-russia/) > > I am not sure of full Presidential powers in this, but I believe if Trump wanted to he could see those FISA warrants. Could be that is what prompted the tweets. Sorry to call you out, but you seem to be the only Trump supporter that I recognize that has responded to this thread. I still have these questions for you and other supporters: 1. Is this the right way to make such a serious allegation? 2. Do you think an investigation will happen? 3. Do you think there will be wrong-doing on Obama’s part found? ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/34 "2017-03-04T22:18:27Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > 1. Is this the right way to make such a serious allegation? > 2. Do you think an investigation will happen? > 3. Do you think there will be wrong-doing on Obama’s part found? 1. There is no “right way”. If the allegation is true (that the FBI or some other agency, under Obama presidency, was tapping Trump tower), this is as effective a way to introduce it as any. 2. The extent of the investigation would be to get the FISA warrants and read them. 3. I am sure Obama was either completely removed from those warrants or has enough deniability so no wrong-doing on his part is ever found. In fact, there may be no wrong-doing on anyone’s part, if it was all done with all the legalities observed. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/35 "2017-03-04T22:30:59Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > 1. There is no “right way”. If the allegation is true (that the FBI or some other agency, under Obama presidency, was tapping Trump tower), this is as effective a way to introduce it as any. > > 2. The extent of the investigation would be to get the FISA warrants and read them. > > 3. I am sure Obama was either completely removed from those warrants or has enough deniability so no wrong-doing on his part is ever found. In fact, there may be no wrong-doing on anyone’s part, if it was all done with all the legalities observed. 1. Interesting you think that. Personally, I would have thought a press conference or something more formal like that would be more appropriate if you’re going to accuse the previous president of a Watergate-level conspiracy. Trump’s own cabinet seems to be in the dark on what the source of the accusation is. 2. Would that be the FBI getting the FISA warrants? They probably ordered them in the first place. The Justice department? Who is carrying out the investigation? 3. So, if no wrong-doing by Obama himself will likely ever be found, is it still responsible to call him out by name the way Trump did? Do you think Trump has better information on this than his own Justice department? ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/36 "2017-03-04T22:39:16Z")
I would be more surprised if someone one Washington said someone was NOT wiretapping something. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/37 "2017-03-04T22:42:27Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > 1. Interesting you think that. Personally, I would have thought a press conference or something more formal like that would be more appropriate if you’re going to accuse the previous president of a Watergate-level conspiracy. Trump’s own cabinet seems to be in the dark on what the source of the accusation is. It depends on whether it is a formal accusation or not. This does not seem to be. > [@](#): > > 1. Would that be the FBI getting the FISA warrants? They probably ordered them in the first place. The Justice department? Who is carrying out the investigation? The article I cited said it was the FBI. Well, a particular branch of the FBI. > [@](#): > > 1. So, if no wrong-doing by Obama himself will likely ever be found, is it still responsible to call him out by name the way Trump did? Do you think Trump has better information on this than his own Justice department? Why not? There is no wrong-doing on Trump’s part (or Sessions’ part for that matter) in respect to Russia, and they are “called out by name” by the neo-McCarthyites all the time. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/38 "2017-03-04T22:42:30Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > These attempts at distraction say it all. If you’re innocent, why try to deflect? If you’re innocent, you should be demanding, and fully cooperating with, a full unbiased investigation. Where would you find one, though? Example: I think at this time only the batshittiest of the crazies could still claim that Hillary wasn’t innocent of any wrongdoing around Benghazi. She was investigated, and fully cooperated, how many times? How did that go for her? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/39 "2017-03-04T22:44:19Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > I’ve read several articles about this and I can’t find the cite now, but one of them suggested that IF Trump was given classified information about wire tapping and he spoke about it publicly like this, then the information may be subject to FOIA now. Not being a lawyer or FOIA expert, I don’t know if that’s true. But I imagine if it is lots of FOIA requests are being drafted right now. > > This is a very serious allegation, so the press should probably treat it seriously. But Trump obviously has a habit of throwing around baseless allegations, and this does seem to me to just be a diversionary tactic. I would be disappointed if the press diverted resources from real issues to go on another Trump inspired snipe hunt. I’m pretty sure it’s this: > [@OwnRules](#): > > [\*\*How news works: > > Thursday: Conservative radio show says Obama sought Trump wiretap > > Friday: Breitbart reports this > > Saturday: Trump tweets it\*\*]([x.com](https://twitter.com/matthewchampion/status/837993016883302400)) > > Move right along. Nothing to see here. I don’t think it’s an attempt to divert attention. He’s just an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/40 "2017-03-04T22:50:13Z")
Two thoughts: 1. Could this be used as an excuse to sideline Trump pending a forced psychiatric evaluation and possible removal from office? 2. Seeing as nothing has been heard from the White House in the 12 hours or so since this series of tweets, maybe he broke into the liquor cabinet last night and is sleeping it off now? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384.md?page=3)