Paul Ryan rejects Trump's 'Spygate' claims


Speaker of the House Paul Ryan agreed with Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) that the FBI acted appropriately in using an informant while investigating the Trump campaign's alleged ties to Russia, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
After a May intelligence briefing regarding the FBI's actions, Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor who led the House investigations into Benghazi and Hillary Clinton's emails, said that the agency did what was right. On Wednesday Ryan agreed, saying that Gowdy's "assessment is accurate."
Trump has dubbed the FBI's investigation "Spygate," making unfounded claims on Twitter that it was a politically motivated conspiracy. The president said that the routine use of an informant to investigate an issue at his request constituted an embedded spy. Ryan said there is "more digging to do" regarding Trump's surveillance claims, but dismissed the accusation of a federal-level conspiracy.
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.
In another break with the president, Ryan warned Trump that he shouldn't pardon himself, even though Trump said he has the "absolute right" to. "No one is above the law," said Ryan. Read more at The New York Times.
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
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US