The U.S. Secret Service said Monday it doesn’t have any copies or transcripts of tapes recorded inside the White House, according to a report.
The Wall Street Journal filed a Freedom of Information Act request May 15 asking for recordings or transcripts made within the White House since Trump assumed the presidency Jan. 20.
The agency, which handles recording systems within the White House, told the Wall Street Journal “there are no records pertaining to your request that are referenced in these indices.”
However, the Wall Street Journal said the Secret Service’s response doesn’t mean recordings weren’t created by another entity.
The existence of tapes containing White House discussions has been a question since Trump suggested on Twitter last month he may have recorded conversations with former FBI Director James Comey. The White House hasn’t said whether tapes of recorded conversations exist.
Tapes could help clear up a dispute between Trump and Comey on their conversations in the White House. Comey testified last week that the president asked him to end the bureau’s investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
Trump, however, refuted the former FBI director’s testimony and told reporters Friday he would have more to say about whether he has taped conversations “sometime in the very near future.”
Spicer was asked about the existence of tapes — and whether they would be released — during the daily press briefing Monday and said only that Trump “would have an announcement shortly.”
“He’s not waiting for anything,” Spicer said. “When he’s ready to further discuss it, he will. He laid out his position very clearly on Friday.”
