Presidential candidate Ben Carson accused Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton on Wednesday of permitting the Obama administration to access National Security Agency records to spy on Israeli government officials.
“No doubt President Obama’s former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton knew of the administration’s spying efforts on Israel. It is shameful that she participated in undermining the U.S.-Israeli relationship,” the former neurosurgeon said in a statement. “Once again, she has shown that her experience in government is merely an indication that she is unfit to lead.”
On Tuesday, news broke that the NSA gave phone records of Israeli officials speaking with members of Congress to the White House in 2013. Top U.S. officials claimed the Obama administration then used that information to learn how Israel was convincing American lawmakers to oppose the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal.
Carson also denounced President Obama for focusing on matters that were not of urgent national security.
“Instead of focusing on deterring the Iran nuclear threat and fighting against the Mullahs who chant ‘Death to America,’ President Obama has treated Israel, our staunch, democratic ally in the Middle East, as his real enemy. Not only did he not curtail surveillance on our close friend, he has once again proven himself to be a president that our enemies need not fear and our friends cannot trust,” added Carson, ranked ninth in the Washington Examiner’s presidential power rankings.
If elected, Carson said one of his first acts in the Oval Office would be to revoke the U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement.
