A top House Democrat is trying to turn the tables on Trump's 'spygate' conspiracy


Democrats can demand leak investigations, too. On Thursday, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray asking them to investigate who leaked the name of a confidential FBI and CIA informant who approached advisers to President Trump's campaign in 2016, apparently to find out if Russia was trying to use the aides to influence the election. These reports are the basis for Trump's "spygate" conspiracy and the extraordinary briefings on the informant the FBI and Justice Department gave to House Republicans then the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" on Thursday.
On Friday's New Day, Nadler laid out what Trump and his allies did improperly for CNN's Alisyn Camerota. First, Trump "demanded information which he had no right to have; two, he set up this meeting for his own benefit; No. 3, they outed a classified informant. ... I'm not sure who did. Whoever did ought to pay a price at law — it's a crime to do that." He pointed out that Wray told Congress last week "the day that we can't protect human sources is the day the American people start becoming less safe."
"The demand for a criminal investigation into the outing of a confidential government source could echo loudly in Washington," NPR says. The outing of the source, reportedly an American academic in Britain, "is unacceptable," Nadler wrote Wray and Rosenstein. "It is a breach of the duty we owe to these men and women, who serve our country at great risk and trust us to protect their identities." The informant's name was first floated at The Daily Caller and spread across conservative media before making its way to major national newspapers.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Gavin Newsom mulls California redistricting to counter Texas gerrymandering
TALKING POINTS A controversial plan has become a major flashpoint among Democrats struggling for traction in the Trump era
-
6 perfect gifts for travel lovers
The Week Recommends The best trip is the one that lives on and on
-
How can you get the maximum Social Security retirement benefit?
the explainer These steps can help boost the Social Security amount you receive
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department