Editor’s Note: The following is a transcript of NBC TV’s ‘Meet the Press’ news program on March 5.
The following is a key excerpt from the interview by journalist Chuck Todd with former U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper:
CHUCK TODD:
Let me start with the President’s tweets yesterday, this idea that maybe President Obama ordered an illegal wiretap of his offices. If something like that happened, would this be something you would be aware of?
JAMES CLAPPER:
I would certainly hope so. I can’t say– obviously, I’m not, I can’t speak officially anymore. But I will say that, for the part of the national security apparatus that I oversaw as DNI, there was no such wiretap activity mounted against– the president elect at the time, or as a candidate, or against his campaign. I can’t speak for other Title Three authorized entities in the government or a state or local entity.
CHUCK TODD:
Yeah, I was just going to say, if the F.B.I., for instance, had a FISA court order of some sort for a surveillance, would that be information you would know or not know?
JAMES CLAPPER:
Yes.
CHUCK TODD:
You would be told this?
JAMES CLAPPER:
I would know that.
CHUCK TODD:
If there was a FISA court order–
JAMES CLAPPER:
Yes.
CHUCK TODD:
–on something like this.
JAMES CLAPPER:
Something like this, absolutely.
CHUCK TODD:
And at this point, you can’t confirm or deny whether that exists?
JAMES CLAPPER:
I can deny it.
CHUCK TODD:
There is no FISA court order?
JAMES CLAPPER:
Not– not to know my knowledge.
CHUCK TODD:
Of anything at Trump Tower?
JAMES CLAPPER:
No.
