Grassley, CNN host spar over Trump wiretap claims

CNN host Chris Cuomo and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Tuesday fiercely debated President Trump’s claim former President Barack Obama wiretapped him last year.

“You know there’s absolutely no proof of the president’s allegation right?” Cuomo asked the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman on CNN’s “New Day.”

“I know that there’s no proof yet that the administration was talking to the Russians as well,” Grassley responded.

{mosads}Cuomo and Grassley then sparred over links between Trump’s wiretapping allegations and possible collusion between the president’s election campaign and Russia last year.

“But what does one have to do with the other?” Cuomo asked. “One was made by the president, and I’m asking you whether or not he should own the falsity of that accusation?”

“And you’re putting them together and I’m saying you’re wrong for putting them together,” Grassley retorted.

Cuomo was pressing Grassley on whether Trump should apologize to Obama following FBI Director James Comey’s House Intelligence Committee testimony Monday.

Comey said during Monday’s hearing the Department of Justice (DOJ) has “no information” supporting Trump’s tweets earlier this month that Obama wiretapped Trump Tower in New York City last year.

The FBI director also confirmed that his bureau is investigating Russia’s meddling in the 2016 race, including links between Trump’s election campaign and Moscow.

The White House on Monday asserted there is “no evidence” that Trump’s associates colluded with Russia before Election Day.