The intercepted communications included conversations “that sparked concerns among investigators that [Paul] Manafort had encouraged the Russians to help with the campaign." | Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo Ex-Trump chairman to DOJ: Release any intercepted conversations with non-Americans

President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman on Tuesday called on the Justice Department to release any information on his conversations with non-Americans that was obtained through surveillance.

CNN reported that investigators had wiretapped Paul Manafort “under secret court orders” before and after the Nov. 8 presidential election.


“If true, it is a felony to reveal the existence of a FISA warrant, regardless of the fact that no charges ever emerged,” Jason Maloni, a spokesman for Manafort, said in a statement in response.

“The U.S Department of Justice’s Inspector General should immediately conduct an investigation into these leaks and to examine the motivations behind a previous Administration’s effort to surveil a political opponent,” Maloni continued. “Mr. Manafort requests that the Department of Justice release any intercepts involving him and any non-Americans so interested parties can come to the same conclusion as the DOJ — there is nothing there.”

The intercepted communications included conversations “that sparked concerns among investigators that Manafort had encouraged the Russians to help with the campaign,” CNN reported, citing three sources familiar with the investigation. Two of the network’s sources, however, said the evidence wasn’t conclusive.

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Special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading an FBI probe into possible collusion between Trump associates and Russian officials during the 2016 campaign, reportedly has access to details of Manafort’s communications.

Maloni testified for two-and-a-half hours on Friday before a grand jury probing potential collusion.