Sean Spicer Refuses To Deny That President Trump Records White House Conversations

WASHINGTON, DC — Press Secretary Sean Spicer would not deny that the president is recording conversations in the White House Friday in a bizarre and tense briefing with reporters. He was addressing President Trump's tweets Friday morning in which he suggested that he may have recordings of his conversations with James Comey, warning the fired FBI director to think about that before leaking information to the press. The president also threatened to end White House press briefings altogether.

Spicer returned to the press room after time away this week spent at Navy Reserve duty. In the meantime, a lot has happened — including a major public relations debacle surrounding Comey's termination. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who filled in for Spicer while he was away, could only watch as the president destroyed the narrative she had delivered to the media about how and why Comey was fired. (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch for daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Asked about Trump's claim Comey should hope that there are not "tapes" of their conversations, Spicer said the president had no more comments on the matter. Asked if it was appropriate to threaten someone like Comey not to speak, Spicer denied that it was a threat. He would not say if there were recording devices in the White House, even when asked repeatedly.

"The president has nothing further to add on that," he said. "The tweet speaks for itself."

James Comey better hope that there are no "tapes" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017

Spicer said he is not aware of any recordings of Trump's conversation with Comey.

After the tweet was sent, top congressional Democrats, including Michigan's Rep. John Conyers, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee and Maryland's Rep. Elijah Cummings, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter to the White House formally requesting any recordings it might have on the matter. It also asks for "all documents, memoranda, analyses, emails, and other communications relating to the President’s decision to dismiss Director Comey—a decision which the President declared yesterday he planned to make 'regardless of [the Deputy Attorney General’s] recommendation'—and all discussions with Director Comey.”

Meanwhile, CNN reported that a source said, "If there is a tape, there's nothing [Comey] is worried about."

One reporter asked what the president could do to improve its communications, given Trump's tweet that you can't expect "perfect accuracy" from the person behind the podium. Spicer said there was a lot of "dismay" about how members of the press are conducting themselves at the briefings.

Referring to Trump's tweet that the Russian investigation is a witch hunt, Spicer said that while the investigation into Russian intelligence is clearly important, implications that Trump's campaign was involved have been "debunked" by intelligence officials. However, this is not true. And investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence is ongoing.

Asked to respond to assertions that Trump is "out of control," Spicer said that "is frankly offensive."

On the topic of Trump's claims that former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates' warning that Michael Flynn was potentially compromised, which Trump has said did not seem like an "emergency" at the time, Spicer said the administration needed to take the time to give Flynn due process before he was terminated.

Spicer also accused former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper of changing his story on whether or not there was collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence. Clapper said earlier on Friday that he was not aware of any evidence of collusion, but he might not be aware of the evidence the FBI may have on the matter. This is inconsistent with the president's characterization of Clapper's remarks, because Trump said Clapper said there was no collusion.

Contrary to Spicer's accusations, Clapper's statements have not changed. Clapper has consistently said only that he has no evidence of collusion, not that no collusion occurred. Trump incorrectly described Clapper's words, but Spicer would not admit that.

National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster spoke first, detailing the itinerary of an upcoming Middle East trip for the president. McMaster refused to answer questions about the recent controversy surrounding the firing of Comey.

Asked about potential plans to increase troop levels in Afghanistan, McMaster said, "We are working with our allies to figure out what more we can do to have a more effective strategy on Afghanistan."

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