Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Top Obama adviser to Trump: 'No president can order a wiretap'
thehill.com ^ | 3/4/17 | Brooke Seipel

Posted on 03/04/2017 9:43:14 AM PST by ColdOne

A former policy adviser to President Obama is firing back at President Trump's claim that Obama wiretapped Trump Tower, saying it didn't happen — at least not under Obama's orders.

"No President can order a wiretap. Those restrictions were put in place to protect citizens from people like you," Ben Rhodes tweeted Saturday morning.

He also said "only a liar" could make the case, as Trump suggested, that Obama wire tapped Trump Tower ahead of the election.

No President can order a wiretap. Those restrictions were put in place to protect citizens from people like you. https://t.co/lEVscjkzSw

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: benrhodes; itgate; obamafisa; trumpgate; trumptowertapped; watergate2
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160161-172 next last
To: Cementjungle
BEST BOL of the morning!

“Honest your honor, I couldn’t have robbed the bank because bank robbery is illegal”

141 posted on 03/04/2017 11:42:59 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Why do Obama lovers and faux conservatives hate Trump for using Twitter to get his message out?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: leftcoaster

I think maybe Trumps tweets left him open for the parsing that is going on. As l said they are using a split hair denial and for the moment it’s letting them turn it back on Trump a bit. It’s going to take more ammunition, it’s game on now.


142 posted on 03/04/2017 11:43:07 AM PST by gibsonguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 129 | View Replies]

To: ColdOne

President Trump is good on a level we’ve never seen before. The recusal of Jeff Sessions was widely seen as weakness, but it turns out it was the opening salvo against King Dummy. It told him, “You know that guy you took out of the line of succession? He’s back in and we’re on to you.” And now the Democrats are being systematically exposed for their ties to the Ambassador, and the President publicly exposed King Dummy for his illegal activities (and this is the tip of the iceberg). And, in this one move, he’s smoked out this idiot Ben Rhodes who, until now, we could only speculate was a key operative in this silent coup. Silent no more!

Oh, and in his tweets, the President has labeled King Dummy with the left’s favorite smears: McCarthyism and Watergate! I was a little upset when I first saw the term “McCarthyism,” since that’s an old leftist smear, but then I realized he’s painting them with their own palette. Amazing!


143 posted on 03/04/2017 11:43:24 AM PST by Rastus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rastus
Oh, and in his tweets, the President has labeled King Dummy with the left’s favorite smears: McCarthyism and Watergate! I was a little upset when I first saw the term “McCarthyism,” since that’s an old leftist smear, but then I realized he’s painting them with their own palette. Amazing!


144 posted on 03/04/2017 11:46:31 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Why do Obama lovers and faux conservatives hate Trump for using Twitter to get his message out?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: ColdOne

There are a lot of things Obama cant do, but he did them anyway, and don’t you say nufin you racists.


145 posted on 03/04/2017 11:55:56 AM PST by Old Yeller (Auto-correct has become my worst enema.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: After Hours

Great question and maybe link to Trumptowergate:

Hmmm! I’m not sure they needed a FISA warrant to get information on the Trump campaign. The democrats had 4 IT specialists (Awan brothers)working for members of the intelligence committee. They were fired/resigned
when computers went missing, data was sent off site, etc., They would have to have high security clearances just to be there much less have the ability to access information.

I would sure be interested in seeing a timeline on their
employment, security clearances, etc. in relation to the leaks that have occurred. Wondering .......

For those not familiar with the Pakistan IT thugs working for the rats in congress go to the itgate link below:

http://freerepublic.com/tag/itgate/index


146 posted on 03/04/2017 11:56:19 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Why do Obama lovers and faux conservatives hate Trump for using Twitter to get his message out?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 103 | View Replies]

To: Professional

Good points. Thanks for enlightening me.


147 posted on 03/04/2017 11:58:07 AM PST by HotHunt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 111 | View Replies]

To: chris37
Louise Mensch is no friend of Trump's. She reportedly published that article when she was all but certain that Trump would lose!!! She said as much on Twitter but the comment can't be accessed. See top article.

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?s_it=sb-top&s_chn=prt_bon&v_t=comsearch&q=Louise+Mensch+thought+trump+would+lose

148 posted on 03/04/2017 11:59:25 AM PST by Sons of Union Vets (Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: ColdOne

I knew this was going to be the defense. Technically, it has validity. Obama himself didn’t do the vast majority of what he is accused of. He did very little to harm our country. I don’t believe he even gave orders for stuff. Very few things can be traced back to Obama. What he did do, was he very brilliantly created a team that he knew would wreak his devilish agenda without Obama having to say much at all. If my understanding of what happened is correct, it’s all very chilling.


149 posted on 03/04/2017 12:00:52 PM PST by JimSp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ColdOne

Dude’s a smug little queen.


150 posted on 03/04/2017 12:02:46 PM PST by Stentor (A day without illegals is like a day without food poisoning.--Salamander)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave

Great analysis. Which is why very few of these devilish atrocities can ever be traced back to Obama.


151 posted on 03/04/2017 12:03:14 PM PST by JimSp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: JimSp

“I knew this was going to be the defense. Technically, it has validity.”

This is how see it. They are attacking the EXACT charge within the tweet.
I hope Trump has more ammo ready because this strategy along with a more than willing MSM and no help from his own party could end up making Trump look a little ridiculous. Pelosi had her “Deflector in chief” line loaded and ready to go this morning. Did she know this was coming..another leak?


152 posted on 03/04/2017 12:14:29 PM PST by gibsonguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 149 | View Replies]

To: Chewbarkah
Remember CBS News reporter and investigative journalist Sheryl Atkisson who claimed that her computers were hacked - possibly by Obama operatives???? She also claimed that many her stories were not being published/aired at CBS.

Former CBS News Reporter Sharyl Attkisson Claims Existence of Obama Enemies' List

11:00 PM PST 11/3/2014 by Paul Bond

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cbs-news-reporter-sharyl-attkisson-745982

___________________________

Ben Rhodes was Obama's National Security Advisor at the same time his brother David Rhodes was President of CBS and worked with Atkisson.

Now check out the following.

CBS Says Network President Didn’t Influence Coverage Of Brother’s Benghazi Email

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/01/david-rhodes-benghazi-ben-rhodes-white-house_n_5248063.html

________________________________

Media Buzz

Sharyl Attkisson vs. CBS: Reporter first tried to quit a year ago

By Howard Kurtz ·

Published March 13, 2014

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/03/13/sharyl-attkisson-vs-cbs-reporter-first-tried-to-quit-year-ago.html

153 posted on 03/04/2017 12:23:26 PM PST by Sons of Union Vets (Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: RummyChick

Lewis quite is semantically correct. Any investigation WH interfered with wasn’t an ‘independent’ one. And so any WH or Obama orders were part of a different, not ‘that,’ practice. Lewis could repeat it under oath without perjury. Hillary’s husband IS proud of his successors.


154 posted on 03/04/2017 2:30:09 PM PST by JohnBovenmyer (Waiting for the tweets to hatch!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: JohnBovenmyer

quite = quote


155 posted on 03/04/2017 2:32:39 PM PST by JohnBovenmyer (Waiting for the tweets to hatch!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 154 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau

We better screen shot that CNN story before it disappears,


156 posted on 03/04/2017 2:46:24 PM PST by captmar-vell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: captmar-vell

I snipped it.


157 posted on 03/04/2017 4:28:29 PM PST by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]

To: ColdOne

What is the date that President Trump ceased being a ‘private citizen’? Legally speaking...


158 posted on 03/04/2017 4:58:10 PM PST by Just mythoughts
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ColdOne

Drawing on sources including the New York Times and the Washington Post, Levin described the case against Obama so far, based on what is already publicly known. The following is an expanded version of that case, including events that Levin did not mention specifically but are important to the overall timeline.

June 2016: FISA request. The Obama administration files a request with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA) to monitor communications involving Donald Trump and several advisers. The request, uncharacteristically, is denied.

July: Russia joke. Wikileaks releases emails from the Democratic National Committee that show an effort to prevent Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) from winning the presidential nomination. In a press conference, Donald Trump refers to Hillary Clinton’s own missing emails, joking: “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 e-mails that are missing.” That remark becomes the basis for accusations by Clinton and the media that Trump invited further hacking.

October: Podesta emails. In October, Wikileaks releases the emails of Clinton campaign chair John Podesta, rolling out batches every day until the election, creating new mini-scandals. The Clinton campaign blames Trump and the Russians.

October: FISA request. The Obama administration submits a new, narrow request to the FISA court, now focused on a computer server in Trump Tower suspected of links to Russian banks. No evidence is found — but the wiretaps continue, ostensibly for national security reasons, Andrew McCarthy at National Review later notes. The Obama administration is now monitoring an opposing presidential campaign using the high-tech surveillance powers of the federal intelligence services.

January 2017: Buzzfeed/CNN dossier. Buzzfeed releases, and CNN reports, a supposed intelligence “dossier” compiled by a foreign former spy. It purports to show continuous contact between Russia and the Trump campaign, and says that the Russians have compromising information about Trump. None of the allegations can be verified and some are proven false. Several media outlets claim that they had been aware of the dossier for months and that it had been circulating in Washington.

January: Obama expands NSA sharing. As Michael Walsh later notes, and as the New York Times reports, the outgoing Obama administration “expanded the power of the National Security Agency to share globally intercepted personal communications with the government’s 16 other intelligence agencies before applying privacy protections.” The new powers, and reduced protections, could make it easier for intelligence on private citizens to be circulated improperly or leaked.

January: Times report. The New York Times reports, on the eve of Inauguration Day, that several agencies — the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Treasury Department are monitoring several associates of the Trump campaign suspected of Russian ties. Other news outlets also report the exisentence of “a multiagency working group to coordinate investigations across the government,” though it is unclear how they found out, since the investigations would have been secret and involved classified information.

February: Mike Flynn scandal. Reports emerge that the FBI intercepted a conversation in 2016 between future National Security Adviser Michael Flynn — then a private citizen — and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. The intercept supposedly was part of routine spying on the ambassador, not monitoring of the Trump campaign. The FBI transcripts reportedly show the two discussing Obama’s newly-imposed sanctions on Russia, though Flynn earlier denied discussing them. Sally Yates, whom Trump would later fire as acting Attorney General for insubordination, is involved in the investigation. In the end, Flynn resigns over having misled Vice President Mike Pence (perhaps inadvertently) about the content of the conversation.

February: Times claims extensive Russian contacts. The New York Times cites “four current and former American officials” in reporting that the Trump campaign had “repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials. The Trump campaign denies the claims — and the Times admits that there is “no evidence” of coordination between the campaign and the Russians. The White House and some congressional Republicans begin to raise questions about illegal intelligence leaks.

March: the Washington Post targets Jeff Sessions. The Washington Post reports that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had contact twice with the Russian ambassador during the campaign — once at a Heritage Foundation event and once at a meeting in Sessions’s Senate office. The Post suggests that the two meetings contradict Sessions’s testimony at his confirmation hearings that he had no contacts with the Russians, though in context (not presented by the Post) it was clear he meant in his capacity as a campaign surrogate, and that he was responding to claims in the “dossier” of ongoing contacts. The New York Times, in covering the story, adds that the Obama White House “rushed to preserve” intelligence related to alleged Russian links with the Trump campaign. By “preserve” it really means “disseminate”: officials spread evidence throughout other government agencies “to leave a clear trail of intelligence for government investigators” and perhaps the media as well.

In summary: the Obama administration sought, and eventually obtained, authorization to eavesdrop on the Trump campaign; continued monitoring the Trump team even when no evidence of wrongdoing was found; then relaxed the NSA rules to allow evidence to be shared widely within the government, virtually ensuring that the information, including the conversations of private citizens, would be leaked to the media.

Reddit


159 posted on 03/04/2017 5:00:07 PM PST by combat_boots (God bless Israel and all who protect and defend her! And please, God, bless the USA again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: combat_boots

Paul Ryan Confirming that the Obama Administration Wiretapped Trump

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpzzhm9XTAE


160 posted on 03/04/2017 5:01:37 PM PST by combat_boots (God bless Israel and all who protect and defend her! And please, God, bless the USA again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 159 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160161-172 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson