CONYERS: Chairman Nunes Should Be Disqualified

It Is Past Time for an Independent Investigation into Russia and the Trump Campaign

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Chairman Devin Nunes of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence told reporters that, “on numerous occasions, the intelligence community incidentally collected information about U.S. citizens involved in the Trump transition.”  Chairman Nunes then traveled to the White House to share his findings with President Donald Trump.  FBI Director James Comey recently confirmed that President Trump and his associates are the subject of an ongoing counterintelligence investigation. Later in the evening, CNN reported that the FBI may be in possession of evidence that indicates direct collusion between President Trump’s team and Russian officials, possibly to coordinate the release of information damaging to Hillary Clinton’s campaign. 

House Committee on the Judiciary Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. released the following statement in response to these developments:

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“An after-the-fact apology is not enough. With his reckless behavior, Chairman Nunes has disqualified himself to lead any legitimate investigation into the actions of the Trump campaign.  Despite what evidence he may have, he is not entitled to share that information with President Trump before briefing his colleagues on the intelligence committee.  President Trump is the potential target of an ongoing federal investigation.  This is more than a breach of protocol – it is a direct threat to the work of the FBI.

“The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee cannot be a surrogate of the White House.  At a minimum, this investigation must be taken out of Chairman Nunes’ hands.

“If indeed the FBI has evidence of collusion or communication between President Trump and the Russian government, then we can wait no longer.  It is past time for Congress to establish a bipartisan, independent panel to uncover the full scope of the President’s allegedly treasonous actions.”

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©