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| Britain's GCHQ agency denies wiretapping Donald Trump | Britain's GCHQ agency denies wiretapping Donald Trump |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Britain's communications intelligence agency GCHQ has issued a statement denying it wiretapped Donald Trump during the US presidential campaign. | Britain's communications intelligence agency GCHQ has issued a statement denying it wiretapped Donald Trump during the US presidential campaign. |
| The unusual move by the agency came after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer cited claims first made on US TV channel Fox News earlier this week. | The unusual move by the agency came after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer cited claims first made on US TV channel Fox News earlier this week. |
| GCHQ responded by saying the allegations were "nonsense, utterly ridiculous and should be ignored". | GCHQ responded by saying the allegations were "nonsense, utterly ridiculous and should be ignored". |
| Mr Trump has claimed that Trump Tower in New York was under surveillance. | Mr Trump has claimed that Trump Tower in New York was under surveillance. |
| But he has provided no evidence for the claim. | But he has provided no evidence for the claim. |
| A Senate committee on Thursday concluded that there were "no indications" Trump Tower was under surveillance by the US government before or after the election. | A Senate committee on Thursday concluded that there were "no indications" Trump Tower was under surveillance by the US government before or after the election. |
| The claims of GCHQ involvement were initially made by former judge Andrew Napolitano. | The claims of GCHQ involvement were initially made by former judge Andrew Napolitano. |
| Mr Spicer quoted Mr Napolitano as saying: "Three intelligence sources have informed Fox News that President Obama went outside the chain of command. | Mr Spicer quoted Mr Napolitano as saying: "Three intelligence sources have informed Fox News that President Obama went outside the chain of command. |
| "He didn't use the NSA, he didn't use the CIA, he didn't use the FBI and he didn't use the Department of Justice, he used GCHQ." | "He didn't use the NSA, he didn't use the CIA, he didn't use the FBI and he didn't use the Department of Justice, he used GCHQ." |
| A GCHQ spokesman said: "Recent allegations made by media commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano about GCHQ being asked to conduct 'wiretapping' against the then president-elect are nonsense. | A GCHQ spokesman said: "Recent allegations made by media commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano about GCHQ being asked to conduct 'wiretapping' against the then president-elect are nonsense. |
| "They are utterly ridiculous and should be ignored." | "They are utterly ridiculous and should be ignored." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Gordon Corera, BBC security correspondent, in Washington | |
| It is unusual for GCHQ to comment directly on a report about its intelligence work, normally preferring to stick to the policy of neither confirming nor denying any activity. | It is unusual for GCHQ to comment directly on a report about its intelligence work, normally preferring to stick to the policy of neither confirming nor denying any activity. |
| The phrase "utterly ridiculous" is also very unusual for the agency. | |
| But it's a sign of just how seriously they take it. The allegations are so sensitive that the agency clearly felt they could not let them go unchallenged. | |
| Donald Trump's claim that the Obama administration had ordered surveillance on him has generated enormous attention but with so far no evidence to back it up. | Donald Trump's claim that the Obama administration had ordered surveillance on him has generated enormous attention but with so far no evidence to back it up. |
| And British intelligence is clearly determined to avoid being drawn into what is an increasingly toxic row in Washington. | And British intelligence is clearly determined to avoid being drawn into what is an increasingly toxic row in Washington. |
| On Thursday Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Richard Burr dismissed Mr Trump's claim his phones were tapped. | On Thursday Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Richard Burr dismissed Mr Trump's claim his phones were tapped. |
| Mr Trump had accused his predecessor Barack Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower during the presidential race. | Mr Trump had accused his predecessor Barack Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower during the presidential race. |
| Mr Spicer said Mr Trump stuck by his allegations. | Mr Spicer said Mr Trump stuck by his allegations. |