The US Department of Justice will investigate whether FBI agents spied on President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign for “inappropriate purposes”.
In a tweet, Mr Trump said he wanted to know whether his predecessor’s administration ordered such a move.
The call comes after US media reports suggesting the FBI had an informant meeting campaign aides.
US Deputy Attorney-General Rod Rosenstein said action would be taken if any infiltration was found.
“If anyone did infiltrate or surveil participants in a presidential campaign for inappropriate purposes, we need to know about it and take appropriate action,” Mr Rosenstein said in a statement.
What is the scope of the investigation?
There is already an investigation into all aspects relating to Mr Trump’s campaign for the 2016 election and whether Russia tried to influence the outcome.
Mr Trump’s latest demand came amid a series of tweets on Sunday denouncing a “witch hunt” that, he said, had found no collusion by his campaign with Russia.
I hereby demand, and will do so officially tomorrow, that the Department of Justice look into whether or not the FBI/DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump Campaign for Political Purposes – and if any such demands or requests were made by people within the Obama Administration!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2018
This refers to the ongoing investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 US election, whether there was any collusion between the Kremlin and Mr Trump’s election campaign and whether the president tried unlawfully to obstruct the inquiry.
Mr Trump has constantly attacked the inquiry.
Was there a mole inside the Trump team?
Mr Trump first made the accusation that the FBI had sent a spy into his campaign team on Friday.
Reports are there was indeed at least one FBI representative implanted, for political purposes, into my campaign for president. It took place very early on, and long before the phony Russia Hoax became a “hot” Fake News story. If true – all time biggest political scandal!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2018
“It took place very early on, and long before the phony Russia Hoax became a ‘hot’ Fake News story,” Mr Trump tweeted, adding: “If true – all time biggest political scandal!”
The New York Times followed with an article that suggested there was, indeed, an FBI informant – whose identity it did not reveal – who had been sent to speak to campaign aides but only after the FBI had received reports of “suspicious contacts linked to Russia”.
The informant – an American academic working in the UK – had made contact with George Papadopoulos and Carter Page.
The Washington Post reported a similar account.
What’s likely to happen next?
Law enforcement officials have refused to provide evidence to Congressional leaders over the issue.
They have argued that doing so would put the informant’s life – or that of his
contacts – in danger.
Mr Trump could order the US Department of Justice – which has oversight over the FBI – to release the documents.
What is the informant’s connection to Mueller?
According to the Washington Post, the informant has been aiding the Russia investigation since before Mr Mueller’s appointment a year ago. The FBI opened the inquiry in the middle of the election campaign in July 2016.
But it remains unclear how the informant first came by the information that led to his meetings with Mr Papadopoulos and Mr Page – and his wider role as an FBI informant.
As for Mr Mueller, the former FBI head has so far charged 19 people. Mr Papadopoulos has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the timing of meetings with alleged go-betweens for Russia.
But Mr Trump and his supporters have multiplied their attacks on the special counsel’s work.
Without providing any evidence on Sunday, Mr Trump demanded a stop to the inquiry – that he said was nearing $20m in costs and was composed of 13 “angry and heavily conflicted Democrats”. Mr Mueller is a Republican.
….At what point does this soon to be $20,000,000 Witch Hunt, composed of 13 Angry and Heavily Conflicted Democrats and two people who have worked for Obama for 8 years, STOP! They have found no Collussion with Russia, No Obstruction, but they aren’t looking at the corruption…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2018
…in the Hillary Clinton Campaign where she deleted 33,000 Emails, got $145,000,000 while Secretary of State, paid McCabes wife $700,000 (and got off the FBI hook along with Terry M) and so much more. Republicans and real Americans should start getting tough on this Scam.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2018
Source: BBC