washington u.s. department justice say monday ask time respond request lawmakers evidence president donald trump allegation then-president barack obama wiretapped 2016 election campaign early month without offer evidence republican president accuse democratic predecessor wiretapping charge obama spokesman kevin lewis say simply false response leaders house intelligence committee send letter justice department request proof allegation monday department spokeswoman say need time review request compliance govern legal authorities determine responsive document may exist committee reply statement want response time plan hear march 20 suggest would use subpoena happen committee receive response committee ask information march 20 hear may resort compulsory process question continue go unanswered spokesman say justice department require respond representatives request evidence meet deadline trump decline comment monday ask reporters wiretapping issue white house spokesman sean spic say trump original statement release twitter refer type surveillance besides wiretapping president clear tweet wiretapping span whole host surveillance type options house senate intelligence committees look provide report back say fact trump refer wiretapping tweet read low president obama go tapp phone sacred election process nixon/watergate bad sick guy u.s. law presidents direct wiretapping instead federal government ask court authorize action must provide justification republicans distance president issue republican senator john mccain sunday call trump provide evidence allegation retract representative adam schiff top democrat committee say plan question fbi director jam comey trump wiretapping charge comey call justice department deny allegation accord law enforcement source issue may also come hear set wednesday senate judiciary committee subcommittee methods use russia authoritarian governments undermine democracies throughout world chairman subcommittee crime terrorism republican lindsey graham senior democrat sheldon whitehouse write comey act attorney general dana boente last wednesday ask warrant applications court order redact necessary protect intelligence source methods may compromise disclosure protect ongoing investigations relate wiretap president trump trump campaign trump tower justice department seek time trump wiretap evidence