President Trump launched Thursday morning another attack against former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former FBI director James Comey, and what the president has described as an alleged spying effort waged by the previous administration against his 2016 campaign.
“Clapper has now admitted that there was Spying in my campaign.” Trump tweeted. “Large dollars were paid to the Spy, far beyond normal. Starting to look like one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history. SPYGATE – a terrible thing!”
Clapper has now admitted that there was Spying in my campaign. Large dollars were paid to the Spy, far beyond normal. Starting to look like one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history. SPYGATE – a terrible thing!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2018
Trump’s comment is the latest in a line of barbs traded between him and the former DNI.
Clapper appeared on CNN Wednesday afternoon to deny having “sort of admitting” the spying took place, which the president had accused Clapper of doing when he appeared on ABC’s “The View” Tuesday.”
On Wednesday, Clapper told Jake Tapper that the president had distorted his Tuesday comment that he should be “happy” that his campaign was allegedly under watch.
“I had an aversion to the use of the term [spying],” he stated. “Thought I made that clear.”
Shortly after criticizing Clapper, Trump also went after Comey and former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe Thursday, tweeting that it’s not surprising “the GREAT Men & Women of the FBI are starting to speak out against … all of the political corruption and poor leadership found within the top ranks of the FBI.”
“Comey was a terrible and corrupt leader who inflicted great pain on the FBI!”
Not surprisingly, the GREAT Men & Women of the FBI are starting to speak out against Comey, McCabe and all of the political corruption and poor leadership found within the top ranks of the FBI. Comey was a terrible and corrupt leader who inflicted great pain on the FBI! #SPYGATE
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2018
