Trump taunt over Comey tape draws disbelief - CNN Politics

Win McNamee/Getty Images

U.S. President Donald Trump departs the White House June 7, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump is scheduled to travel to Cincinnati today to address his administration's infrastructure plan.

Now playing

01:31

Trump has a history of teasing information

CNN

Now playing

01:24

Trump: I'm 100% willing to go under oath

CNN

Now playing

01:31

Trump on Comey: He's a leaker

Alex Wong/Getty Images North America/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 09: U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions waits to be introduced during a Bureau of Prisons Correctional Worker's Week Memorial Service at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial May 9, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Bureau of Prisons held the event to pay tribute to the agency's fallen heroes.

Now playing

02:30

Jeff Sessions scrutinized in Russia probe

CNN

brooke baldwin panel

Now playing

02:25

Panel spars over Comey, Trump conversations

CNN Illustration/Getty Images

Now playing

02:11

Trump: Comey confirmed what I said about him

Moscow residents react to Comey hearing sebastian lok_00004321.jpg

Now playing

01:47

Russians react to Comey hearing

Alex Brandon/AP

Former FBI director James Comey is sworn in during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Washington.

Now playing

01:42

Over and over Comey says Trump statements weren't true

Pool

Now playing

03:55

Comey: I need Americans to know this truth ...

James Comey Loretta Lynch matter investigation queasy_00000000.jpg

Now playing

02:06

Comey: Lynch request gave me queasy feeling

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Former FBI Director James Comey testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill June 8, 2017 in Washington, DC. Comey said that President Donald Trump pressured him to drop the FBI's investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and demanded Comey's loyalty during the one-on-one meetings he had with president.

Now playing

01:34

Comey testimony lights up Twitter

CNN

trump supporters tuchman 2

Now playing

01:13

Trump voter: Comey lied about Trump

Andrew Harnik/AP

Former FBI director James Comey takes his seat at the beginning of the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Washington.

Now playing

01:24

GOP downplays obstruction charges

CNN

James Comey hearing meeting details sot_00003516.jpg

Now playing

00:45

Comey: I took notes because Trump might lie

Pool

Now playing

02:18

Trump lawyer: Comey is a leaker

Story highlights

The White House press secretary declined Monday to answer whether Trump has a taping system

But nearly a dozen people told CNN they suspect it's merely Trump bluster

(CNN) —

Of all the piercing questions hanging over the West Wing, one of the most pressing is whether President Donald Trump has a taping system that captured his conversations with James Comey.

But to many inside the White House, in other parts of government as well as to several close associates of the President, there is far less urgency or mystery. Nearly a dozen people from all of those walks of life told CNN they suspect it’s merely Trump bluster and there’s no such taping mechanism.

01:06 - Source: CNN

Collins: Trump should give yes or no on tapes

“It’s all hot air,” one person inside the White House said, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe internal water-cooler conversations. “Unless he had a recorder in his pocket, this didn’t happen.”

The President has played coy. The White House press secretary declined again Monday to answer. Yet the final word won’t come until Trump steps up and produces evidence or explains why none exists.

Never mind the political or legal consequences of making such a claim – the people CNN interviewed all said they didn’t assume such a recording device existed.

The Technical Services Division of the Secret Service is charged with sweeping the White House premises for listening devices. Stray audio equipment left behind by camera crews is known to draw suspicion, so it would be difficult for a formal recording system to go unnoticed.

01:18 - Source: CNN

Trump: I'm 100% willing to go under oath

’Just having a little fun’

A government official familiar with the operation told CNN that no recording device existed – to their knowledge – unless the President or one of his close aides used an iPhone or recorder on their own.

One person who has worked with Trump in the past declared there was “no chance” he had actually taped his conversations with Comey. He’s “just having a little fun,” this person said of Trump’s tape antics.

CNN asked Sen. Lindsey Graham, who sits on the judiciary committee, if he personally thinks the White House tapes exist.

“I don’t think so,” he said, before taking a pause. “If there are, I’m on ‘em!”

Yet others interviewed by CNN took it as the latest indication Trump is out of his depth in Washington.

“I don’t think they exist,” said one Republican on Capitol Hill, who – like many other Republicans – was perplexed by the President’s decision to float the idea in the first place. “I think that was a miscalculation on his part.”

Even if the tapes were real, the GOP aide added, they would probably prove Comey’s side of the story and undercut the President’s version of events.

“I’m pretty sure Comey wasn’t lying here,” the aide said.

Another Republican close to the White House said Trump’s tape comments appeared similar to the hard-nosed tactics he took when his company was facing litigation.

“The tape thing is a total Trump real estate developer comment,” the Republican said. “You just make it up, and you say that as a way of intimidating the other side.”