The spokesman for Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, issued a jazzy but meaningless statement Tuesday responding to reports that the FBI obtained two separate warrants to wiretap Manafort before, during, and after the 2016 election. CBS News, which confirmed the wiretapping story separately from CNN, writes:
"If true, it is a felony to reveal the existence of a FISA warrant, regardless of the fact that no charges ever emerged," Manafort spokesman Jason Maloni said in a statement released Tuesday. "The U.S Department of Justice's Inspector General should immediately conduct an investigation into these leaks and to examine the motivations behind a previous administration's effort to surveil a political opponent. Mr. Manafort requests that the Department of Justice release any intercepts involving him and any non-Americans so interested parties can come to the same conclusion as the DOJ – there is nothing there."
Yeah, right. Under no circumstances is the Justice Department going to release anything, so Manafort’s sudden call for transparency rings a little hollow. Also, Manafort reminds us, this leak could be a felony. That’s where investigators should really be spending their time—the leakers!