U.S. Justice Department Requests More Time to Respond to Congress Regarding Trump's Wiretap Claims

The U.S. Department of Justice has informed Congress that it needs more time to respond to inquiries from representatives regarding statements made by Donald Trump, alleging that his conversations were wiretapped at the direction of Barack Obama. On March 5, Trump accused the former president of ordering the wiretapping during the election process through several posts on his Twitter account. A spokesperson for Obama called this accusation 'absolute nonsense' and denied it. Nevertheless, reactions to this issue have reached the U.S. Congress. Two senators from both the Republican majority and the Democratic minority have requested evidence related to this matter from the Department of Justice. The House Committee on Security also sent a letter to the Department of Justice requesting documentation by Monday (U.S. time). Republican Senator John McCain, on March 13, asked Trump to provide evidence regarding his claims about Obama's order to wiretap his conversations or retract the accusation. The latest response from the U.S. Department of Justice has been made in connection with these requests. A spokesperson for the department stated on March 14 that the agency still needs more time to 'review requests in accordance with official positions in the government and to conclude regarding the existence of relevant documentation, if any.' Reuters reports that the House Committee on Security has also requested a response by March 20 - the date of the congressional Q&A session. According to Reuters, the committee's statement raises the possibility that representatives may issue subpoenas if the documents are not received. Sean Spicer, the White House spokesperson, stated that Trump's original remarks on Twitter, alongside the wiretapping, referred to other methods of surveillance and spying. Spicer said, 'The President has spoken very clearly about this issue, that wiretapping has occurred, which can involve various methods. The security committees in the Senate and Congress will investigate this matter and provide reports.' In Trump's original post, he stated, 'What level has President Obama descended to that he is wiretapping my phones during the very sacred election process? This is Nixon/Watergate level scandal. Bad (or sick) guy!' The Watergate scandal involved Richard Nixon's administration, where some of Nixon's associates illegally entered the Democratic Party's office in the Watergate building in 1972 and planted microphones there. According to U.S. law, the President cannot personally order wiretaps, and for this, the federal government must request official authorization from judicial authorities by providing documentation and evidence.