GOP senator: Trump owes explanation for wiretap claims

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Sunday said President Trump owes the American people an explanation for his accusations that former President Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower.

“I don’t know the basis for President Trump’s assertion, and that’s what I wish he would explain to us, on the Intelligence Committee and to the American people — and I do believe he owes us that explanation,” Collins told NBC’s “Meet the Press,” when asked if the accusations were true. 

Trump, without evidence, earlier this month accused Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower before the November election. A spokesman for Obama denied that the former president or any White House official called for surveillance.

{mosads}Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, on Friday said he was satisfied with the documents provided by the Department of Justice related to the wiretapping allegations. The information contained in the documents was not immediately released. 

Collins, who sits on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said Sunday she has not seen any evidence of Trump’s claims.

“I have seen no evidence supporting that statement, and what we need is evidence. If the president has evidence of that, I would encourage him to turn it over to the House and Senate intelligence committee,” she said.