Donald Trump has asked Congress to examine whether Barack Obama ordered the tapping of his phones during the election campaign.
The White House request comes a day after the US President accused his predecessor of ordering a wiretap of the phones at Trump Tower - his New York residence and campaign headquarters - the month before the country went to the polls.
The statement regarding the news that President Trump was requesting an examination into "whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016" was released by Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
Mr Trump has not offered any evidence to support his claims, and Mr Obama has rejected the allegations, saying they are "simply false".
Earlier today, a senior Republican, Ben Sasse, stated that Donald Trump should reveal what he knows about claims Barack Obama ordered his phones to be tapped before November's election.
Sasse called the US President's surveillance allegations serious and says the public deserved more information.
(1/4) Reports concerning potentially politically motivated investigations immediately ahead of the 2016 election are very troubling.
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) March 5, 2017
(2/4) President Trump is requesting that as part of their investigation into Russian activity, the congressional intelligence committees
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) March 5, 2017
(3/4) exercise their oversight authority to determine whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016.
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) March 5, 2017
(3/4) exercise their oversight authority to determine whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016.
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) March 5, 2017
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