Well it seems our dear leader President Donald Trump still doesn’t realize why everyone is so concerned about this Russian thing. He said he was innocent, why aren’t we believing him?
In a Friday morning Twitter tirade, he complained to everyone on the internet:
When James Clapper himself, and virtually everyone else with knowledge of the witch hunt, says there is no collusion, when does it end?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017
The problem with that statement is the timing. The comments that Clapper made, the one Trump is referring to, was in reference to an interview he gave months ago. FactCheck explains:
“(Sarah Huckabee) Sanders wrongly claimed that former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said there was ‘no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians.’ Clapper said he was not aware of any evidence, but added that he was not privy to the FBI’s ongoing investigation.”
In fact, here’s what Clapper actually said in an interview with Chuck Todd:
“…At the time, we had no evidence of such collusion. This could have unfolded or become available in the time since I left the government.”
After all, James Clapper is the former Director of National Intelligence. In the months since he left the job, a lot more investigating has happened. It is worth reading Clapper’s May 8 testimony about why he didn’t have such information:
“When the intelligence community obtains information suggesting that a U.S. person is acting on behalf of a foreign power, the standard procedure is to share that information with the lead investigatory body, which of course is the FBI. The bureau then decides whether to look into that information and handles any ensuing investigation if there is one. Given its sensitivity, even the existence of a counterintelligence investigation’s closely held, including at the highest levels.
During my tenure as DNI, it was my practice to defer to the FBI director, both Director Mueller and then subsequently Director Comey, on whether, when and to what extent they would inform me about such investigations. This stems from the unique position of the FBI, which straddles both intelligence and law enforcement. And as a consequence, I was not aware of the counterintelligence investigation Director Comey first referred to during his testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee for Intelligence on the 20th of March, and that comports with my public statements.”
You see, it wasn’t Clapper’s job to know. It was the FBI Director.
James Comey. See where I’m headed?
Clapper explains here:
Featured Image: Screenshot Via YouTube Video.
