By Maxwell Tani
The Daily Beast
December 31, 2018
It was not long ago that Judge Andrew Napolitano was among the cable news stars least likely to be viewed as an anti-Trump truth teller.
The Fox News judicial analyst caused a minor diplomatic incident weeks after President Trump took office by claiming on air that British intelligence officials wiretapped Trump at the behest of the Obama administration.
The assertion was parroted by the White House and the president himself, garnering media attention and infuriating British officials (who vehemently denied Napolitano’s claim). Critics blasted Fox News for carrying Trump’s water by uncritically perpetuating unverified claims. Fox ultimately suspended Napolitano, and the network’s consummate newsman Shepard Smith rebuked the unsubstantiated claim on air.