Photo ReutersThe White House asked the US Congress on Sunday to examine whether the Obama administration abused its investigative authority during the 2016 campaign, as part of an ongoing congressional probe into Russia's influence on the election. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump and administration officials would have no further comment on the issue until Congress has completed its probe, potentially heading off attempts to get Trump to explain his accusations. An Obama spokesman denied the charge, saying it was "a cardinal rule" that no White House official interfered with independent Justice Department investigations. The White House offered no evidence on Sunday to back up Trump's accusation and did not say it was true. Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary under President Obama, said the president did not have the authority to unilaterally order a wiretap of a US citizen.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 05, 2017 20:13 UTC