Republican House Intelligence Committee chair Devin Nunes abruptly canceled today's open hearings on Trump's Russia involvement without notice or reschedule. Democrats and press are furious and are calling for independent commission. Nunes essentially blew up the investigation because he realized the scope of what he negotiated with Schiff could actually threaten Trump. Holy obstruction of justice.
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The ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff, claims its Republican chairman has cancelled an open hearing into Russia's involvement in the 2016 election.
Adam Schiff tweeted that Devin Nunes had "cancelled open Intelligence Committee hearing with Clapper, Brennan and Yates in attempt to choke off public info", referring to former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, Director of the CIA John Brennan, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, all former Obama administration officials.
In a separate development, Donald Trump’s former campaign chair Paul Manafort has voluntarily agreed to be questioned by the committee regarding alleged ties to Moscow, according to Representative Nunes.
Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Mr Nunes said that Mr Manafort will be questioned by the committee but would not say whether the session would be open or closed.
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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-a7648546.html
To quote some analysts on this.
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1.) source says Nunes never told committee members he was canceling March 28 open hearing. Members didnt find out until Nunes presser today
2.) House Intel Dems are livid -- calling this second obstruction of the investigation this week by Nunes
3.) Speier tells @jeremyherb that Nunes has to step down
1.) Schiff gives chronology of week: Monday hearing (Comey confirms probe), Tues-Wed Nunes "dead of night excursion" gets docs & keeps private
2.) Schiff: Nunes' actions were "wholly inappropriate" and "cast grave doubts into the ability [of HPSCI] to run a credible investigation."
3.) Schiff says Dems "welcome at any time bringing" Comey and Rogers back for a closed session, but oppose public hearing cancellation.
4.) Schiff: Dems asked Repubs to have C+R brief in open session Tues and do closed hearing if necessary. Says Nunes rejected.
5.) Schiff: "We strongly object to the cancellation of this hearing. We would still urge the majority to reconsider."
6.) Schiff: "I don't know" if WH orchestrated Wednesday's events and leaked docs to Nunes. Says he's disturbed Nunes won't rule it out.
7.) Schiff: "We really do need an independent commission here." Public needs confidence someone has done thorough probe "untainted" by politics.
8.) Schiff: Best option is for us to keep working but set up that independent, 9/11-comission-style body.
9.) Schiff: Nunes doing presser outside WH "important in terms of understanding what's going on here." (Wow.)
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https://twitter.com/tomlobianco/stat...92709589999616
https://twitter.com/ericgeller/statu...96736243535872