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FBI Asks Justice Department to Reject Trump’s Wiretapping Claim

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  • FBI Asks Justice Department to Reject Trump’s Wiretapping Claim

FBI Director James Comey has asked the Justice Department to publicly refute President Donald Trump’s explosive, unsubstantiated accusation that Barack Obama tapped his phone during last year’s election campaign, US media reported on Sunday.

Comey’s extraordinary measure questioning the president’s truthfulness provides an indication of the implications of Trump’s incendiary claim about his predecessor. The department has not made any statement.

Trump’s aides were scrambling on Sunday to limit the political fallout of Trump’s accusation 24 hours after it was made — admitting it was still unproven, and calling on Congress to investigate.

Citing still undefined “reports” of “politically motivated investigations,” press secretary Sean Spicer said Trump was calling on Congress to “determine whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016.”

Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders echoed those comments.

“If this happened,” she told ABC, “this would be the greatest abuse of power, and overreach, that has ever occurred in the executive branch.”

Trump, who has returned to Washington from a weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, has not publicly commented further on his allegations.

On Saturday, he tweeted, “How low has President Obama gone to tap my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!”

He provided no evidence to back up the claim.

Watergate is the generic term for the scandal that brought down president Richard Nixon in 1974. It began with the revelation of a secret wiretap in the offices of the Democratic National Committee at Washington’s Watergate Hotel.

Obama, via a spokesman, denied Trump’s new allegation as “simply false.”

US presidents can’t legally order such wiretaps, which require the approval of a federal judge and reasonable grounds for suspicion.

Obama’s director of national intelligence James Clapper told NBC there was “no such wiretap activity mounted against the president-elect at the time as a candidate or against his campaign.”

– President ‘furious’ –

Trump’s comments appear to have been based on unverified claims made by the right-wing Breitbart News outlet. His chief strategist, Steve Bannon, used to run it.

The New York Times, citing senior US officials, first reported that Comey believes Trump’s claim to be false.

The FBI director made the request on Saturday because “there is no evidence to support it, and it insinuates that the FBI broke the law,” the paper reported the officials as saying.

Previous media reports have indicated that US prosecutors investigated communications between a server registered to the Trump Organisation and a Russian bank.

In his roles as a reality TV showman and presidential candidate, and now as president, Trump has repeatedly embraced conspiracy theories, including the suggestion that Obama was not born in America. Obama was born in Hawaii, a US state.

Trump leveled the latest charges in a string of tweets early Saturday, at the end of a week in which his administration was battered by controversy over links between his advisors and Russian officials.

Trump was said to be furious that good reviews of his maiden speech to Congress on Tuesday were overtaken by a series of revelations about aides’ meetings with Russian officials.

The president was also said to be angry that Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from any campaign or Russia-related investigations.

Sessions’ recusal came after it emerged that, speaking under oath during his Senate confirmation hearings about campaign contacts with Russia, he failed to disclose two meetings with Moscow’s ambassador in Washington.

Amid that and several other revelations of Trump aides holding meetings with Russian officials, the White House has denied allegations of collusion.

– Diversionary tactics –

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a campaign to meddle in last November’s presidential election in a bid to tilt it in Trump’s favour.

Former CIA director Leon Panetta on Sunday accused Trump of diversionary tactics.

“They are trying to obfuscate and trying to cover up. They are trying to somehow raise other issues,” he told CBS.

“In the end, it is going to be the truth that will determine what is involved here, and not tweets, but the truth.”

However, the Republican chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Devin Nunes, said his panel would look into Trump’s claims.

“The Committee will make inquiries into whether the government was conducting surveillance activities on any political party’s campaign officials or surrogates, and we will continue to investigate this issue if the evidence warrants it,” he said in a statement.

Democrats and a growing number of Republicans in Congress have called for the appointment of a special prosecutor and a bipartisan inquiry to look into the Russia issue.

With approval ratings already low, Trump could do without another scandal in his young presidency.

Republicans have largely stood behind him, hoping he will enact tax cuts and other policies they favor.

But some Republican lawmakers appear to be losing patience with the drama of Trump’s presidency.

“We are in the midst of a civilization-warping crisis of public trust,” Senator Ben Sasse said, adding that Trump’s allegations of wiretapping “demand the thorough and dispassionate attention of serious patriots.”

AFP

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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I Knelt Down, Begged Wike for Peace to Reign in Rivers – Fubara Reveals Amid Tension 

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Siminalayi Fubara

Amid the growing political tension and upheaval in Rivers State, Governor Sim Fubara, has revealed that he has done everything possible for him to prevent the current panicking situation in the state.

According to him, he practically knelt down for his estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike and begged him to let go of their feud, but the former governor rebuffed his pleas.

While speaking on a television political programme, Fubara went into memory lane on how he had strived to please the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, saying he (Fubara) kept all understanding with Wike.

The governor said he has been showing understanding in order not to expose the state to violence but added that the minister thwarted his good intentions for the state, hence the violence that has enveloped Rivers.

According to him, “There is nothing I have not done on this earth for peace to reign. I can tell you the number of times I have knelt to beg that let’s allow this issue to go. I have done everything.”

He therefore urged Wike, his predecessor, to allow peace to reign in the state by letting go of Rivers State.

Fubara stated that the current troubling situation in the riverine state has gotten to a point where Wike needs to let go and allow peace in the state.

Investors King had reported that Rivers was thrown into crisis on Monday, a day after the swearing-in of 22 winners of the controversial Saturday local government elections in the state.

The swearing-in of the chairmen from other political parties other than the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, had enraged Wike’s camp as hoodlums began attacking local government council secretariats, burning office equipment, files, chairs and tables, and equipment.

Disturbed by the ugly development, President Bola Tinubu had directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to secure Rivers State’s local government secretariats following the arsons.

Meanwhile, Olabode George, former deputy national chairman of the PDP, urged Wike to allow Fubara to work.

In a statement, George said asked Wike to leave Fubara alone and allow him to fastrack dividends of democracy for his people.

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One Feared Killed, Property Destroyed as Hoodlums Set Rivers LG Secretariats Ablaze

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In an alleged move to prevent the newly elected Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State from resuming offices, hoodlums went on a rampage across council secretariats in the state, setting them ablaze and destroying property.

At least, one person was reportedly killed as sporadic shooting rented the air in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of the state on Monday after some hoodlums stormed the premises.

Recall that protests had rocked some local government areas over the order of the police to unseal the Secretariats of the 23 LGs of the state which have been under lock and key since July.

Sequel to the relocation of police personnel stationed at the 23 council offices, it was gathered that the new chairmen, who had been sworn in by the state governor, Sim Fubara, made attempts to resume their offices on Monday.

However, there was tension as some protesters armed with guns and dangerous weapons besieged the secretariats and started torching the building and other property in sight.

They started shooting while people started running in different directions.

In a similar pattern, violent protests occurred at other LGs where some youths took over the council headquarters in Emuoha and Ikwerre LGs.

In Ikwerre LG, protesters who invaded the secretariat in Isiokpo set fire to a section of the secretariat, preventing the workers from assessing the place.

It was gathered the situation prevented the newly sworn-in Chairman of Ikwerre from going in to inaugurate his councilors.

Gunshots were heard at Ikwerre LG Secretariat in a video obtained by Investors King as some people were screaming for help amid the fire.

A source said the police later moved in to quell the riot while the fire was put out, though some parts of the council headquarters were damaged.

In Emuuoha LG, protesters prevented the newly sworn-in chairman from assessing the council headquarters in Isiokpo.

The protesters claimed that the candidate of the Action Peoples Party which they termed an unpopular and unknown party does not have what it takes to win the just concluded election.

The protesters were said to have blocked the main entrance to the secretariat.

They were said to have taken control of the administrative building, saying they would not allow the Chairman, David Omereji, to assume office.

Their supporters insisted that they recognised the immediate past KG Chairman, Dr Chidi Lloyd, as the duly elected chairman and demanded that he be allowed to complete his tenure as extended by the state House of Assembly.

The PDP Emohua Council Chairman, Morrison Jim, addressed the public, reaffirming the party’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

He said despite not participating in the recent election due to a court order, the PDP remained strong and united.

Earlier on Monday, protesters invaded the Eleme LG secretariat and set it on fire, destroying several buildings and cars, including a police vehicle inside the council premises.

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Wike’s Camp Dares Fubara After Swearing in LG Chairmen From Another Party as PDP Govs’ Forum Reacts

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Siminalayi Fubara

The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), loyal to the FCT Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nyesom Wike, has declared fresh ‘war’ against the state governor, Sim Fubara for swearing in the newly elected local government chairmen from another party.

The local council election, held last Saturday, saw the Action Peoples Party (APP) winning 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions, while the Action Alliance (AA) secured one.

Additionally, the APP claimed victory in 314 out of 319 councillorship seats across the 23 local government areas (LGAs) of Rivers State.

Following the election, Fubara swore in the newly elected council chairmen on Sunday. It is understood that after losing control of the PDP to Wike, Fubara’s supporters shifted their allegiance to the APP.

Reacting, PDP Publicity Secretary, Kenneth Yowika expressed the party’s intention to take legal action, stating that the camp didn’t recognize Sunday’s swearing-in ceremony.

Yowika emphasised that the party had long maintained that the election was illegal, citing a Federal High Court ruling by Justice Peter Lifu, which prohibited the conduct of the council election.

He stressed that the state government’s decision to proceed with the election was a violation of that judgment.

Reiterating the party’s stance on adhering to the rule of law, he described his camp as law-abiding, promising not to engage in physical confrontation with the governor.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed, has said that his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Fubara has proven himself a true democrat.

Mohammed said Fubara has against all odds, pushed through with decisions and actions to deepen democracy.

Mohammed further said Fubara has done so by being proactive with an open mind and deploying his democratic instincts with strategies to carefully deliver democratic governance at the local government level, irrespective of party allegiance or consideration.

Mohammed, who is also the Governor of Bauchi State, made the remark shortly after he witnessed the swearing-in of 23 democratically elected Rivers State Local Government Council Chairmen at the Executive Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt on Sunday evening.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi, in Port Harcourt on Monday morning and sent to newsmen.

The PDP Governors’ Forum chairman affirmed that Rivers State is a PDP State, even if the just sworn-in local government chairmen and councilors are of different political parties.

He bemoaned the situation, describing it as the problem that they have found themselves both as a party and as governors.

However, Mohammed said Fubara, who is the Vice Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, is still an avowed member of the PDP even though other parties constitute the body of elected officers at the local government level.

Mohammed pointed out why it is inadvisable to ignore a sitting governor at the sub-national level because of the role he plays and the following he commands.

This is why, he insisted, the effrontery to undermine the office and person of Sir Siminalayi Fubara as the Governor of Rivers State is largely not acceptable.

Responding to how soon the PDP will resolve its festering crisis and achieve the desired unity, Governor Mohammed assured that it may seem prolonged but quickly added that true reconciliation was in view.

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