Politics

‘SPYGATE’: Trump Takes More Shots At James Clapper

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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President Donald Trump once again took aim at former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper alleging that he confirmed a confidential informant who was used to gather information on his 2016 campaign.

The president has been particularly incensed with Clapper after the former DNI’s recent appearance on ABC’s “The View,” where he claimed that Trump should be grateful that the FBI had an informant in his campaign. Clapper insisted that the FBI was not spying on the Trump campaign, saying, “What they were trying to do was protect our political system and protect the campaign.”

He then added, “They were spying — a term I don’t particularly like — on what the Russians were doing, trying to understand, were the Russians infiltrating?” When pressed by ABC as to why Trump is not supporting the FBI’s action, Clapper said, “Well, he should be.”

Trump is generally reacting to recent revelations that an FBI informant made contact with several members of his campaign and efforts by conservative lawmakers to review documents relating to the probe. These efforts will come to fruition Thursday when several members of Congress will be allowed by the Department of Justice to review the documents after months of oversight efforts.