WH Takes Sean Hannity's Word Over Their Own Intelligence Committee Chairmen

...over their own intelligence agencies who briefed the legislators:

Sean Spicer press briefing, 3/16/2017

Q So, Sean, the day before yesterday you said you were extremely confident that the House and Senate Intelligence Committees would ultimately vindicate the President's allegation that Trump Tower was wiretapped. As I'm sure you have now seen, the Senate Intelligence Committee has said they see no indications Trump Tower was the subject of surveillance. That seems to be a pretty blanket statement. What's your reaction?

MR. SPICER: Well, I think there's several things. It's interesting to me that, just as a point of interest, that when one entity says one thing that proves -- that claims one things, you guys cover it ad nauseam. When Devin Nunes came out and said, I think it's very possible -- yesterday -- it was crickets from you guys. When Devin Nunes came out and said there was no connection that he saw to Russia -- crickets. When Tom Cotton said the same. You don't want to cover the stuff --

Q Devin Nunes said he saw no evidence of wiretapping at Trump Tower.

MR. SPICER: No, no, hold on -- actually --

Q Now you've had the House Intelligence Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee --

MR. SPICER: No, no, actually here’s his quote, Jonathan. No, here’s the direct quote: “I think it’s very possible.”

That's what he said when he said the President’s communications could have been swept up in collection.

So again --

Q He said there was no -- "I saw no indication of wiretapping" -- no evidence of wiretapping.

MR. SPICER: I understand that. And I think the President has been very clear when he talked about this -- and he talked about it last night -- when he talked about wiretapping he meant surveillance, and that there have been incidents that have occurred. Devin Nunes couldn’t have stated it more beautifully. But you choose not to cover that part.

You chose not to cover when Tom Cotton went out, when Richard Burr went out, when others -- Chairmen Nunes and others -- and said that there was no -- hold on --

Q Well, the Senate Intelligence Committee is saying point blank -- they say no evidence of surveillance.

MR. SPICER: I understand that, Jonathan. And where was your passion, and where was your concern when they all said that there was no connection to Russia? Where was it then? Crickets from you guys.

Because at the end of the day when --

Q So you're saying the President stands by his allegation that President Obama wiretapped the Trump Tower?

MR. SPICER: No, no, no, hold on. Hold on. I’m making a point. The point is this: Number one, that it’s interesting how when evidence comes out and people who have been briefed on the Russia connection come out and say that there was nothing that they have seen that proves a connection, you choose not to cover that, you don't stop the narrative, you continue to perpetuate a false narrative.

When he came out yesterday and said, “I see no evidence that this happened”; when he said, “I think it’s very possible, but like I said, we should know later,” you don't cover that part. You only cover the parts that -- but let’s go through what we do know. Okay?

Q I want you to respond to the Senate Intelligence Committee.

MR. SPICER: Hold on, hold on, let me -- and I am trying to answer your question, Jonathan, if you can calm down...

...the spokesman for the president of the United States then proceeded to flip off his own intelligence agencies, instead citing MEDIA accounts to justify his claims, including these jaw-dropping 'sources' that Spicer offered as proof:

Spicer:

Sean Hannity went on Fox to say...

Last, on Fox News on March 14th, Judge Andrew Napolitano made the following statement...

On March 3rd, Fox News chief anchor Bret Baier said...

...imagine the threat of war with Trump citing his 'sources' over our own intelligence agencies. Imagine Trump rallying the nation to war over something 'Sean Hannity' said.

"Calm down."