Trump's 'spygate' campaign has had a really rough week
The Fox News giveth, and the Fox News can taketh away.
President Trump's most-cited cable news network has been a primary platform for echoing and expounding on his argument that the FBI spied on his campaign for political reasons — he dubbed it "spygate" — but starting Tuesday afternoon, Fox News has led the way in undermining Trump's conspiracy. First, news anchor Shepard Smith dismantled Trump's claims, then House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), one of just nine lawmakers briefed on the FBI's use of an informant, said on Fox News that the FBI acted properly and to America's benefit in approaching Trump campaign advisers. He expanded on his defense of the FBI's conduct on CBS Wednesday morning, saying they had "an obligation to run it out."
Normally Trump-friendly Fox News legal analysts Alan Dershowitz and Andrew Napolitano backed up Gowdy, and Napolitano doubled down on Wednesday evening.
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.
"Legal experts and Trump critics say the defections have exposed cracks in the president's narrative and undermine his attempts to discredit the FBI investigation into Russian contacts with his campaign as a partisan, 'deep state' attack on his presidential bid," Politico says. "And notably, a slew of Trump's congressional allies who have been active purveyors of what the president dubbed 'spygate' — including Reps. Jim Jordan, Matt Gaetz, and Lee Zeldin — were silent Wednesday."
Trump's allies aren't giving up — on Fox News Wednesday night, Laura Ingraham tried to neutralize Gowdy's comments with help from NRA TV personality Dan Bongino — though that attempt faltered when Ingraham turned to former U.S. prosecutor Daniel Goldman. On CNN Wednesday night, Anderson Cooper took a third swing at debunking "spygate," this time with Gowdy's quotes in his arsenal.
So maybe "spygate" isn't going to be a thing after all. On the other hand, it's only Thursday.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in 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.
-
7 drinks for every winter need possible
The Week Recommends Including a variety of base spirits and a range of temperatures
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
'We have made it a crime for most refugees to want the American dream'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Was the Azerbaijan Airlines plane shot down?
Today's Big Question Multiple sources claim Russian anti-aircraft missile damaged passenger jet, leading to Christmas Day crash that killed at least 38
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Putin says Russia isn't weakened by Syria setback
Speed Read Russia had been one of the key backers of Syria's ousted Assad regime
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Georgia DA Fani Willis removed from Trump case
Speed Read Willis had been prosecuting the election interference case against the president-elect
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Democrats blame 'President Musk' for looming shutdown
Speed Read The House of Representatives rejected a spending package that would've funding the government into 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdown
Speed Read House Republicans abandoned the bill at the behest of the two men
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdown
Speed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Luigi Mangione charged with murder, terrorism
Speed Read Magnione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ex-FBI informant pleads guilty to lying about Bidens
Speed Read Alexander Smirnov claimed that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter were involved in a bribery scheme with Ukrainian energy company Burisma
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
South Korea impeaches president, eyes charges
Speed Read Yoon Suk Yeol faces investigations on potential insurrection and abuse of power charges
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published