Former House Intel Counsel: ‘I’ve Got to Believe That Other Members of the Committee Are Horrified’
In what has become a stunning and unprecedented turn of events, Republican House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes Wednesday afternoon held a press conference announcing the U.S. intelligence community captured Trump team communications post-election. Rep. Nunes also told reporters that because it is about the Trump team, they must be told.Â
The seven-term Congressman then headed to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump, who may himself be under counterintelligence investigation by the FBI and other intelligence agencies, rather than meet with FBI Director James Comey or other intelligence officials.
Many are outraged.
After speaking with the President, Rep. Nunes held another press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Asked by a reporter about President Trump’s lie that President Barack Obama wiretapped Trump’s phone, Nunes replied, “That did not happen. I’ve said this for many, many weeks.â€
Also asked if Obama “ordered any kind of surveillance,” rather than stating that a president cannot order surveillance, Nunes, who served on the Trump transition team, said “we don’t know.”Â
Despite this statement, President Trump immediately announced that he feels somewhat vindicated:
It’s unclear why.
Nunes also stated, “I think the President is concerned and he should be.â€
And, more interference for the Trump team:
Former Chief Counsel of the House Intelligence Committee Jeremy Bash, a former CIA and Pentagon Chief of Staff told MSNBC, “in the 40 years of the committee’s existance, since the post-Watergate era reforms… I have never heard of the Chairman of an oversight committee going to brief the President of the United States about concerns he has about things he’s red in intelligence reports.”
Bash added the committee’s job is to oversight of the White House, not tip them off.
“I’ve got to believe that other members of the committee are horrified.”
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