Schiff: Trump wiretapping allegations ‘patently false’

The ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee on Sunday said President Trump’s claims that former President Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower are “patently false.”

“We are at the bottom. There is nothing at the bottom,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told NBC’s “Meet the Press,” disputing a claim by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) that lawmakers must get to the bottom of Trump’s claims.

Schiff said he expects FBI Director James Comey, who will testify Monday about the probe into Russia’s interference in the United States presidential election, will definitively put an end to Trump’s allegations.

{mosads}Trump, without evidence, on March 4 accused Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower before the November election. Obama, through a spokesman, denied that he or any White House official ordered surveillance.

“What the president said was just patently false, and the wrecking ball it created now has banged into our British allies and our Germany allies,” Schiff said Sunday.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer last week accused the United Kingdom of aiding Obama in surveilling Trump Tower, reiterating a claim  from a Fox News analyst. A spokesperson for Britain’s GCHQ intelligence agency dismissed the allegation.

“It’s continuing to grow in terms of damage, and he needs to put an end to this,” Schiff added.