Obamagate

            The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns a question: Can the federal government constitutionally wiretap anyone they choose whenever they choose? The answer is a definite “no.” Any surveillance must be approved by a court.

            When Donald Trump accused Barack Obama of observing what went over the lines in Trump Tower, he was basically accusing the former president of a felony. The next question is: Did he have a court order to do so? President Trump asked Congress to investigate what is now known as Obamagate to determine constitutionality of whatever took place.

            Fred Lucas at The Daily Signal reports on several other options. A former Justice Department attorney named J. Christian Adams suggests that a congressional investigation would not go anywhere because “Congress does not have the skill set to do anything about this.”            

           Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, says, “President Trump is onto something. The Obama-connected wiretapping and illegal leaks of classified material concerning President Trump and Gen. Flynn are a scandal.” Judicial Watch filed “a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the CIA, the Justice Department, and the Treasury Department” in attempt to get to the bottom of the controversy with Gen. Flynn and the Russian Ambassador.

            Michael Mukasey, a former Attorney General who served under George W. Bush, says, “I think [Trump is] right in that there was surveillance and that it was conducted at the behest of the attorney general – at the Justice Department…. It means there was some basis to believe that somebody in Trump Tower may have been acting as an agent of the Russians for whatever purpose. Not necessarily the election, but for some purpose.”

            Mark Levin, a radio talk show host, a constitutional attorney and former chief of staff to former Attorney General Edwin Meese III during the Reagan administration, cited several media and news reports when he was interviewed on Box News. He says, “The issue isn’t whether the Obama administration spied on the Trump campaign or transition of surrogates; the issue is the extent of it.

            So, is Obamagate a bigger scandal than Watergate? Barack Obama cannot be forced to resign from office as was Richard Nixon, but he can be tried for treason. I hope we still have enough honest, law-abiding, Constitution-loving people left in the federal government to get to the bottom of the situation and fix it, so that our nation can moved forward to greatness once again.