CIA and foreign intelligence agencies illegally targeted 26 Trump associates before 2016 Russia collusion claims: report
New York PostFeb 14
Report: US Asked Allies to Spy on Trump Campaign
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The Facts
US intelligence sources have reportedly told journalists that agencies, including the CIA, during the Obama administration asked other members of the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance — the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand — to contact and manipulate Trump campaign advisors as early as 2015.
Obama's CIA Director John Brennan reportedly "identified 26 Trump associates for the Five Eyes to target" as early as March 2016, with Five Eyes operatives being sent around the world. The UK's MI6 agency was also "working at an intelligence school they had set up."
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
This proves that at the behest of the Obama administration, the entire Western intelligence apparatus was spying on Trump. Not only has the FBI's investigation been proven corrupt, but we now know the intelligence agencies were willing to break the law for political reasons. This raises concerns about politicized, weaponized surveillance.
Pro-establishment narrative
Once again fringe members of the media are blowing out of proportion an issue related to the intelligence agencies' investigation of the Trump campaign. The special prosecutor in charge of investigating flaws in the system hasn't recommended any change to FBI policy or the prosecution of individuals. This issue has long been settled.