If Trump cannot provide evidence of Illegal Obama Wiretap?

[Nous]

What is wrong with you people??? You recognize that Trump has published a libelous lie and you want the Congressional investigation into it to stop? Why, why, why?? No, no, no!! We want Congressional hearings, we want people in the administration testifying under oath, we want a report stating in black-and-white that it is one big lie from the psychotic moron in the White House.

President Obama might want to sue. The Congressional investigation and report will help him collect.

 

[Stevicus]

Presidents don't go to jail.

It's possible. Nixon might have gone to jail if he had not been pardoned. Maybe that's what Trump can do. He can just pardon Obama and leave it at that.

 

[Revoltingest]

It's possible. Nixon might have gone to jail if he had not been pardoned. Maybe that's what Trump can do. He can just pardon Obama and leave it at that.

Of course it's possible.
But I just don't see it happening.
High ranking pols (even ex-pols) are much like royalty.
Unless he's caught putting bodies in a car trunk, he'll avoid the slammer.

 

[suncowiam]

It doesn't seem too relevant at this time, since Obama is gone and Trump is president.

Timing has little to do with this.

As @Revoltingest mentioned, it's about the facts. If Obama somehow initiated the wiretap then let's prosecute. If he didn't then Trump is wrong but he should be punished for making false accusations.

I think we can all agree about simply knowing the truth whether we're left or right.

 

[leibowde84]

Do you remember the conversation that you and I had a while ago about feeding this Troll who just so happens to be Commander In Chief? This is what I was talking about.

The entire nation is on alert because of a f*cking Tweet that this grumpy old man fired off early one morning... There have already been hundreds of hours paid into this distraction by reporters, Congressmen, pundits, and forum-goers alike - all because of a thing that someone said on Twitter.

Really let the absurdity of it all sink in...

We are talking about a Congressional investigation into a non-event started by someone's online conspiracy theory ramblings...

People like Trump can be mitigated by simply giving them the attention that they deserve - none.

I disagree. If we don't hold him accountable, every time he has bad press, he will just accuse Obama of something. Letting this go is = to letting Trump get away with it.

 

[leibowde84]

I'm not sure. If I understood it correctly, Trump's accusation was based on something reported in Breitbart, so perhaps that would be the place to start the investigation. They could question the reporter and ask them to reveal their sources. Courts have sometimes compelled reporters to reveal their sources, sometimes by putting them in jail for contempt until they comply.

Trump has not stated that this accusation was based on a Breitbart article (which is the same as basing a claim on an article in the national enquirer, btw). So, he would have to admit that first. Short of that, congress cannot compel a reporter from the publication to provide any information.

If this is based on nothing more than a Breitbart article, Trump should admit it.

 

[leibowde84]

It doesn't seem too relevant at this time, since Obama is gone and Trump is president.

Trump made it relevant. He should be held accountable for making a baseless criminal claim against his predecessor, don't you think?

 

[leibowde84]

America's first black president goes to jail?

At this point, it seems far more likely that Trump would be prosecuted for Libel, as there hasn't been any evidence of Trump's claim being accurate thus far.

 

[Revoltingest]

Timing has little to do with this.

As @Revoltingest mentioned, it's about the facts. If Obama somehow initiated the wiretap then let's prosecute. If he didn't then Trump is wrong but he should be punished for making false accusations.

I think we can all agree about simply knowing the truth whether we're left or right.

Making a reckless accusation isn't really prosecutable.
It's politics as usual.
But were it to be done, Trump's defense could prove discomforting for Obama & others.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Last I knew, false reporting is a serious offense.

 

[leibowde84]

If there is no evidence forthcoming there needs to be a statement from the President stating clearly that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Barack Obama. It is not acceptable for the President of the United States to make an accusation like this and then just go silent on it. This needs to be clarified, one way or the other.

I agree, but Trump doesn't have the respect for the American people necessary, to be honest about this.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Trump's defense could prove discomforting for Obama & others.

What defense? That he literally does not have a grasp of this thing called "reality?"

 

[leibowde84]

I know....I wasn't asking one.

Either or both Trump & Obama could be lying.
I don't know if we'll ever know.

If Trump doesn't provide his "evidence", we will know he was lying. Pretty simple.

 

[leibowde84]

Making a reckless accusation isn't really prosecutable.
It's politics as usual.
But were it to be done, Trump's defense could prove discomforting for Obama & others.

It's different when it is stated as "fact" without any reasoning or evidence.

 

[Revoltingest]

At this point, it seems far more likely that Trump would be prosecuted for Libel, as there hasn't been any evidence of Trump's claim being accurate thus far.

It's different when it is stated as "fact" without any reasoning or evidence.

Prosecution for libel here is extremely rare.
United States defamation law - Wikipedia
And there's no requirement to provide evidence when making an accusation, even if some interpret it to be the proffering of a fact.
So I wouldn't count on it prosecution.

 

[leibowde84]

Prosecution for libel here is extremely rare.
United States defamation law - Wikipedia
I wouldn't count on it.

That, I agree with. But, Trump should be held accountable for claims of criminal activity against a US President.

 

[Revoltingest]

What defense? That he literally does not have a grasp of this thing called "reality?"

If any action were taken, it would most likely be in tort (civil court).
If Obama pursued this, it would be extremely expensive, & Trump would be able to delve
into many of Obama's & his administration's actions. This is where discomfort could come in.
This is the reality of the situation.

 

[Revoltingest]

If Trump doesn't provide his "evidence", we will know he was lying. Pretty simple.

I see room for complexity.

 

[leibowde84]

If any action were taken, it would most likely be in tort (civil court).
If Obama pursued this, it would be extremely expensive, & Trump would be able to delve
into many of Obama's & his administration's actions. This is where discomfort could come in.
This is the reality of the situation.

I'm not sure about that. Trump made a very specific claim. Obama's attorney's could use that to their advantage. Only information relevant to his specific claim would be admitted.

 

[leibowde84]

I see room for complexity.

What other reason could there be for Trump not providing any evidence?