President Donald Trump's claims about wiretapping in Trump Tower could have been referring to "incidental collection," according to Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla.
"There are some theories out there that this is what's called incidental collection, where there's collection of a foreign individual who calls into the United States, and they happen to gather up U.S. persons on that, as well," Lankford told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" on Thursday. "But there are even some problems even in that theory. If there's incidental collection, you have to minimize Americans that are in it, to make sure the U.S. citizens are protected in their rights."
Lankford explained private citizens' identities must be kept safe in such investigations.
"There are very strict rules of trying to minimize that information of a U.S. person, and clearly, not ever get their name out there," the Oklahoma senator said.
"That is a criminal offense, to be able to release out the name."
If someone from the previous administration released intelligence information for political purposes, that would be a crime.
"That's a very critical part of this investigation," he said.
The senator said he did not know what information Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey has that he will testify about Monday before the House Intelligence Committee.
"We'll be glad to be able to get that information from him," he said.
His committee is asking the White House to provide evidence on its claims.
"They feel very strongly they have some of this information," Lankford said. "Obviously, it's going to come from the FBI and from the CIA."
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said intelligence gathering has not yet backed up Trump's claims.
"We're still looking," Manchin said.
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