By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Donald Trump’s attorney repeatedly denied the president is under investigation before saying twice “he’s being investigated” and then denying he said it moments earlier during a contentious interview on “Fox News Sunday.” 

Confused?

So was host Chris Wallace, whose refusal to let the attorney, Jay Sekulow, get away with contradictory statements about the investigation led to a tense back-and-forth.

Sekulow, who set out Sunday to deny the president is under investigation, said Trump fired FBI Director James Comey last month “based on numerous events, including recommendations from his attorney general and the deputy attorney general’s office.”

“So, he’s being investigated for taking the action that the attorney general and deputy attorney general recommended him to take, by the agency who recommended the termination. So that’s the constitutional threshold question here,” Sekulow said.

When Wallace pointed out that Sekulow had just contradicted himself by acknowledging Trump was under investigation, the president’s attorney accused the host of “putting words in my mouth, when I’ve been crystal clear that the president is not and has not been undeyinvestigation.”

Wallace noted that the “tape will speak for itself.”

The contradictions really began Friday, when Trump tweeted, “I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director! Witch Hunt!”

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Border Patrol agents have long abided by an informal agreement to allow migrants to seek medical attention at a camp in the Arizona desert to prevent more deaths of people crossing the border.

But that has changed under the Trump administration after 15 trucks and about 30 agents raided the camps and detained four immigrants Thursday, the Associated Press reports. 

The crackdown prompted volunteers with the aid group, No More Deaths/No Mas Muertas, to say the “staged military siege” endangered the lives of undocumented immigrants.

‘‘The type of operation they are doing, for me, is unprecedented,’’ said Catherine Gaffney, a longtime volunteer for the group.

Although the group asked Border Patrol for more time to treat immigrants with heart-related illnesses, agents swarmed the camp anyway.

One of those captured had a prior felony conviction for drug possession and had previously been deported.

‘‘They didn’t need 30 agents to apprehend four sick people,’’ Gaffney said.

Border Patrol said the four men were taken to the hospital but were in good condition. 

Christopher A. Wray

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Even after President Trump nominated Christopher Wray for the new FBI director post, the attorney continues to work as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s personal attorney in connection with the Bridgegate investigation, trial and aftermath.

Wray, whose law firm has collected $2.1 million from New Jersey taxpayers, never stopped his legal work seven months after two of the governor’s former aides were found guilty of conspiring to shut down George Washington Bridge access lanes, the Asbury Park Press reports. 

Trump nominated Wray on June 7 after the president fired James Comey as the FBI’s director.

A hearing has yet to be set on Wray’s confirmation.

Wray is collecting $340 an hour.

Christie, a Trump adviser, has a close relationship with Wray and said the attorney who “would provide great leadership at the FBI.”

But Christie continues to evade questions about his role in Wray’s nomination.

“I don’t talk about what advice I give to the president of the United States,” Christie said.

Newt Gingrich

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a longtime aide to Donald Trump, provided no evidence but suggested that former FBI director James Comey “may be under investigation.”

Gingrich, who is promoting his new book, “Understanding Trump,” made the comments on “This Week” Sunday, saying, “If you have an obstruction case, Comey has got to be one of the major witnesses.”

Gingrich also questioned the integrity of an investigation that involves special counsel Robert Mueller, but appeared to contradict himself on the investigation.

“Special counsel happens to be a close friend of Comey, which is weird, because, under Justice Department rules, Mueller can’t investigate Comey.”

ABC host Marth Raddatz responded, “Comey isn’t under investigation.”

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Rep. Jason Chaffetz was the chairman of the House Oversight Committee.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the oversight leader of Congress with just two weeks left in office, slammed President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions in an interview with Sinclair Broadcast Group. 

“The reality is, sadly, I don’t see much difference between the Trump administration and the Obama administration,” the chairman of the House Oversight Committee said over the weekend.

The Utah Congressman, who announced his resignation last month, said Sessions is “worse” than Obama’s attorney general, Loretta Lynch, when it comes to transparency.

“The attorney general has not changed at all. I find him to be worse than what I saw with Loretta Lynch in terms of releasing documents and making things available,” Chaffetz said. “That’s my experience, and that’s not what I expected.” 

Read the full interview here.