Gaetz asserts gov't held evidence from FISA court in Trump-Russia probe

During an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” show, Florida congressman Matt Gaetz (R) fueled the existing fire that the recently concluded Russian collusion investigation was tainted from the very beginning.

According Gaetz, "most compelling" evidence in the Trump-Russia collusion investigation is days, if not weeks away,” and that former Trump aide George Papadopoulos’ assertion denying any illegal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign was never presented to the FISA court.

"I believe we are days if not weeks aways for the most in compelling evidence in the biggest political scandal in American history," Gaetz said.

"There was western intelligence sent to spy on Papadopoulos and there's a recording and transcript of the conversation. And there, Papadopoulos denies any illegal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia. So, they had evidence presumably that was against Papadopoulos and for him. What they will wont be able to defend is that they never presented that evidence to the FISA court."- Rep. Matt Gaetz

According to Fox News, “Former congressman Trey Gowdy made mention of such transcripts during an appearance on Fox News' “Sunday Morning Futures,” suggesting it is likely the FBI would have transcripts of discussions between informants and Papadopoulos and calling them game-changing if made public.

Gaetz said that this information is what Attorney General William Barr spoke about last week with Fox News' Bill Hemmer.

"This is what Attorney General Barr means when he talks about them putting their thumb on the scale. The government has an obligation before a secret court with no defense attorney to present all of the exculpatory evidence that they are provided, all of the exculpatory evidence," Gaetz said.

Gaetz continued, elaborating on the degree of importance the evidence carried.

"Here they only presented evidence that would cast people associated with the Trump campaign in a bad light without their multiple professions of innocence," Gaetz said.

"Now, Comey and Clapper and Brennan are all going to say Papadopoulos might've known he was being surveilled when he said none of this stuff was actually happening. But there is still no excuse for why they didn't go before court."