Overnight Cybersecurity: Comey, Trump at odds on wiretapping | Obama advisers press Trump to act on cyber

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Overnight Cybersecurity: Comey, Trump at odds on wiretapping | Obama advisers press Trump to act on cyber

 By Joe Uchill - 03/06/17 06:31 PM EST 

Welcome to OVERNIGHT CYBERSECURITY, your daily rundown of the biggest news in the world of hacking and data privacy. We're here to connect the dots as leaders in government, policy and industry try to counter the rise in cyber threats. What lies ahead for Congress, the administration and the latest company under siege? Whether you're a consumer, a techie or a D.C. lifer, we're here to give you ...

 
THE BIG STORY:

--PUSH BACK: An FBI source tells CNN that FBI head James Comey feels that "institutionally he has to push back on" claims Donald Trump made without evidence that former President Barack Obama bugged Trump Tower during the campaign. Comey had reportedly pushed the Department of Justice to immediately refute the claims, which appear to have originated with a right-wing radio host parsing a number of news stories into a wider theory. The CNN story comes hours after Trump surrogate Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Good Morning America that she did not believe Trump accepted the FBI director's denial and "firmly believes" the claims. "Does [Comey] know of possibility there might be a confrontation and be fired by the President? Sure," CNN's source said. "Does he worry about it? No."

--WOULD HE CIRCUMVENT THE DOJ TO PROTECT THE FBI? Right now, reports CNN, Comey is still trying "to figure an appropriate channel for the FBI and DOJ to formally come out and say the allegations are not true." If Comey believes he needs to act publicly to protect the FBI's integrity, it won't be the first time. During the campaign, he held a press conference to explain why he wouldn't recommend prosecution for Hillary Clinton.

 And in another incident, shared a letter to Congress to announce the FBI found new emails in their Clinton probe. Both of those actions though subjected him to fierce criticism and charges of partisanship from lawmakers.

--AMONG THE PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY HAVE NOT SEEN EVIDENCE THAT OBAMA WIRETAPPED TRUMP: House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah). Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) - who headed up the Benghazi panel. Senate Intelligence Republicans Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Tom Cotton (Ark.). Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper outright denied the allegation.

--HOMELAND CHIEF BELIEVES TRUMP HAS 'CONVINCING' EVIDENCE: Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told CNN Monday evening he had seen no evidence, but was sure the president wouldn't have said anything without proof. "If the president of the United States said the, he's got his reasons to say it, he has some convincing evidence it took place."

--REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SHRUG OFF TRUMP CLAIMS: Rank-and-file Republicans writing an ObamaCare repeal bill insisted they wouldn't be distracted or thrown off message by Trump's comment of the day. "We can walk and chew gum at the same time," Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee that is playing a critical role in drafting the legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, told The Hill. "We are laser-focused and won't be distracted by sideshows," added one GOP lawmaker close to leadership.

To read the rest of this piece, click below.

http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/overnights/322601-overnight-cybersecurity-comey-to-fight-back-wiretap-claims