Former CIA operative and current congressional candidate Valerie Plame said Monday that FBI surveillance of President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE's 2016 campaign was not spying.

"I absolutely do not [believe spying occurred]. These are professionals in our intelligence community, both in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and in the CIA. I have to believe that what happened was that there was real cause. And the bar is extremely high to collect information, particularly on a U.S. citizen," Plame, a Democrat running for a House seat in New Mexico, said on CNN's "New Day."

"So I don't know all the details of what led to that, but I think Attorney General Barr's rather casual assessment that the FBI spied on candidate Trump is a little too loose with the facts," she continued.

Former CIA officer Valerie Plame: "I think Attorney General Barr’s rather casual assessment that the FBI spied on candidate Trump is a little to loose with the facts" pic.twitter.com/xUyvFrY9Bz — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 13, 2019

During congressional testimony last month, Attorney General William Barr Bill BarrHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Hillicon Valley: DOJ proposes tech liability shield reform to Congress | Treasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities | House Republican introduces bill to set standards for self-driving cars McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE called the FBI’s surveillance of members of Trump's 2016 campaign "spying." Trump has also used the term.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Justice Department's inspector general is now reviewing whether the FBI followed correct procedures in applying for a warrant to surveil former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

Republicans have said the FBI improperly relied on details from the dossier compiled by ex-British intelligence agent Christopher Steele when applying for the warrant.

The surveillance activity was part of the early investigation into Russian election interference that eventually spawned special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's probe into potential coordination between Trump's campaign and Moscow.

Mueller ultimately did not find evidence of collusion.

Plame's cover as CIA operative was blown by George W. Bush administration officials in a widely publicized scandal in the run-up to the Iraq War.