• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
LeadershipPolitics

‘Treason!’ Trump Says His Campaign Was Spied On and Threatens Long Jail Sentences

By
Terrence Dopp
Terrence Dopp
and
Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Terrence Dopp
Terrence Dopp
and
Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 17, 2019, 9:05 AM ET
President Donald Trump Delivers Remarks On Modernizing U.S. Immigration
U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the Rose Garden of the White House, after unveiling a new legal immigration proposal, which would prioritize high-skilled immigrants and restrict family-based migration, on Thursday, May 16, 2019. (Photo by Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto NurPhoto via Getty Images

President Donald Trump threatened long jail terms over what he’s called politically motivated “spying” on his 2016 campaign, despite testimony from his own FBI director that he wasn’t aware of any improper surveillance.

“My Campaign for President was conclusively spied on. Nothing like this has ever happened in American Politics,” Trump said Friday on Twitter. “A really bad situation. TREASON means long jail sentences, and this was TREASON!”

My Campaign for President was conclusively spied on. Nothing like this has ever happened in American Politics. A really bad situation. TREASON means long jail sentences, and this was TREASON!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 17, 2019

Trump has said he’s in favor of Attorney General William Barr’s decision to investigate the origins of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump denied that he ordered Barr to launch the investigation, though he has repeatedly encouraged it in public remarks.

Trump has insisted that the Russia investigation was politically motivated and concocted from false allegations to spy on his campaign and ultimately undermine his presidency.

But FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before a Senate panel last week that he wasn’t aware of any improper spying, a comment Trump said he found “ridiculous.”

“That��s not the term I would use,” Wray told senators when asked about whether there was spying.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—Omarosa Manigault Newman joins collective action against Trump campaign

—Beating Trump in 2020: What the electability conversation misses

—The highs and lows of Donald Trump’s approval rating

—The questionable future of Donald Trump’s Department of Justice

—Get up to speed on your morning commute with Fortune’s CEO Daily newsletter

About the Authors
By Terrence Dopp
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Bloomberg
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.