Ryan backs Gowdy on FBI’s use of informant to contact Trump associates

Speaker Paul Ryan dealt another blow to President Donald Trump’s "Spygate" theory Wednesday, saying he’s seen "no evidence" to support claims that the FBI spied on Trump’s 2016 campaign for political purposes.

Ryan, speaking to reporters at the Capitol, endorsed what he called an "initial assessment" by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), who said last week that the FBI acted appropriately when it deployed an informant to make contact with Trump campaign associates. Ryan was one of four Republicans, including Gowdy, briefed last month by the Justice Department on the informant.

“I think Chairman Gowdy’s initial assessment is accurate,” said Ryan, who was one of a handful of lawmakers, including Gowdy, briefed by the Justice Department on the FBI’s use of an informant. “I have seen no evidence to the contrary of the initial assessment Chairman Gowdy has made.”

Trump has claimed repeatedly, without evidence, that the FBI placed a spy in his campaign for political purposes, dubbing it “Spygate." On Tuesday evening, he cited an internet conspiracy theory to suggest the spying began in 2015, months prior to the FBI’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election began.

Ryan emphasized that there are still questions for the Justice Department to answer. And he criticized the department for slow-walking efforts by the House to obtain documents, suggesting that there’s still a need to reach a "final answer" on these questions.

Ryan also echoed recent comments by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in suggesting Trump "shouldn’t consider pardoning himself, despite the president’s recent tweet suggesting he has the "absolute right" to do so.

“No one is above the law,” Ryan said.

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