Congresswoman Jackie Speier Demands Once Again that House Intelligence Chair Nunes Resign from Committee

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14) called Thursday for House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes to immediately resign his post, or to be removed by Speaker Paul Ryan if he refuses to do so. Her statement comes in light of The New York Timesreport that the chairman received information from two White House staffers in an attempt to justify the President’s accusations that he was wiretapped by the Obama Administration during the 2016 election. 

“If this proves to be true, Chairman Nunes has made a mockery of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House of Representatives, and the separation of powers laid out in the Constitution itself. The only way that the committee can move forward with the confidence of the American public is if Chairman Nunes resigns immediately, or is removed from his chairmanship by Speaker Ryan. Today’s revelations confirm my worst fears, as well as what I’ve been saying since the Chairman went on his wild goose chase last week - this was clearly a calculated campaign orchestrated by the White House to discredit the House investigation into White House ties with Russia. The White House has used the legislative committee of oversight to push their propaganda, and the Chairman has let himself be used. It is irrelevant whether the Chairman was unaware of the manipulation or was complicit in the Administration’s actions. Either way, this proves that Chairman Nunes is ill suited to lead this investigation and appears to lack the independence and objectivity to serve on the committee any longer. If we continue down this path towards autocracy, we will look more like Russia and less like America.”

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