Some Republican lawmakers on Sunday platformed the administration's recent claims that Obama-era officials waged a Russia-related conspiracy against President Trump — but stopped short of endorsing the president's allegations of "treason.

A spokesman for former President Barack Obama issued on Tuesday a rare rebuke of President Trump, calling Mr. Trump’s pledge to use the Justice Department to go after his predecessor for treason “ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”

Obama's debt to Trump in the current president's mind? That the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that presidents have immunity for official acts.