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US House Intelligence Committee Asks Trump for 'Wiretapping' Evidence

© REUTERS / Jim Lo Scalzo/PoolU.S. President Donald Trump is applauded after delivering his first address to a joint session of Congress from the floor of the House of Representatives iin Washington, U.S., February 28, 2017
U.S. President Donald Trump is applauded after delivering his first address to a joint session of Congress from the floor of the House of Representatives iin Washington, U.S., February 28, 2017 - Sputnik International
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The list of those asking US President Donald Trump to please present some evidence of the wiretapping he alleged his processor subjected him to is growing and now includes the US House Intelligence Committee.

The committee has requested some evidence by Monday, a senior aide said March 11, AP reported. The request was made in a joint letter from Committee Chairman Representative Devin Nunes and the committee's ranking Democrat, Representative Adam Schiff.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., leaves a closed-door GOP policy luncheon at the Capitol in Washington - Sputnik International
McCain Demands Evidence of Trump's Wiretapping Allegedly Ordered by Obama

Schiff said in an interview March 12 that he doesn't expect any proof to be produced.

"I don't expect we're going to see any evidence of this either," Schiff told ABC's This Week.

"There are one of two possibilities here. Either the president quite deliberately for some reason made up this charge or, perhaps more disturbing, the president really believes this," Schiff said.

The president's accusations are damaging his own credibility, and the country's, he said. "If six months from now the president should say that Iran is cheating on the nuclear agreement, if he's making that up, it's a real problem. If he's not making it up and it's true, it's an even bigger problem because the question is, would people believe him."

The Trump administration has a history of making claims and failing to provide evidence. Trump and his surrogates have complained of "massive" voter fraud during the presidential election, have alluded to a wave of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, and seem to have made up or wildly overstated terrorist incidents around the world.

Schiff said the committee will ask FBI Director James Comey to address some of Trump's wiretapping allegations when he comes to an open hearing March 20.

"We're going to be able to ask the director of the FBI among others is there any truth of this? Have they seen any evidence of this? They would be in a position to have to know. And I think on March 20th, if not before, we'll be able to put this to rest," he said.

Schiff pointed out that he doesn't believe the allegations, which many in the previous administration have flatly denied. "I don't think anyone really has any question about this, George. The only question is why the president would make up such a thing."

FILE - In this Monday, May 9, 2016 file photo, Jennifer Riley-Collins, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, center, speaks in Jackson, Miss., about a lawsuit the group filed against the state over House Bill 1523, which would allow workers to cite their own religious objections to same-sex marriage and deny services to citizens. - Sputnik International
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Comey himself has reportedly asked the Justice Department to publicly deny Trump's allegations.

The president made the allegations over Twitter last week, saying "Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my 'wires tapped' in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!" 

He continued in the same vein for a few more tweets. He has not withdrawn his allegations, and his administration has defended them.

Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham have both asked Trump to produce some kind of evidence for the explosive accusations, as have hosts of Democrats.

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