Sanders parrots Trump's lie, saying he knows the Mueller probe is a "witch hunt" because "it was based on a false and unverified and discredited dossier."
Sanders claims that Trump's tweet calling the Russia probe "all a big hoax" was not calling the Russia probe a big hoax but rather that he was "referencing the collusion component" he did not mention.
Sarah Sanders asked about Trump continuing to air grievances about coverage of the Putin meeting: That's because "you guys continue to obsessively cover it."
You may recall that Trump complained that the media wasn't covering it enough.
You may recall that Trump complained that the media wasn't covering it enough.
Sanders says they're looking at revoking security clearances from ex-officials Comey, Clapper, Hayden, Rice and McCabe, complaining that they're giving false allegations about Trump and Russia "inappropriate legitimacy."
Question: Does Trump still deny he had a relationship with a woman named Karen McDougal?
Sanders: "The president maintains that he's done nothing wrong...I'd refer you to Rudy Giuliani."
Sanders: "The president maintains that he's done nothing wrong...I'd refer you to Rudy Giuliani."
Why is Trump considering revoking ex-officials' clearances? "Because they've politicized and in some cases actually monetized their public service...making baseless accusations...about Russia...against the president is extremely inappropriate."
Sanders: You can't accuse the president of "treasonous activity" when you have a top-level security clearance.
Because it's 2018, "we'll destroy Iran if Iran says one more threat" was one of several topics briefly addressed at this briefing. Not a lot of clarity.
James Clapper on the phone with CNN: "This is kind of a petty way of retribution, I suppose, for speaking out against the president...born out of genuine concerns about President Trump." "The security clearance has nothing to do with how I" feel about the president.
Clapper says he doesn't get classified briefings or anything. Says the clearance is more of a courtesy, has "no bearing" on his views. "I think this is just a very, very petty thing to do."
