Schiff: I have 'grave concerns' over Nunes' Russia investigation leak to Trump

The Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee today leaked information to President Donald Trump about the ongoing investigation into whether Trump’s campaign collaborated with Russia to swing the election to his favor.

Devin Nunes (R-CA 22nd District) is Chairman of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA 28th District) appeared on CNN this afternoon with stern condemnation of Nunes’ extraordinary act.

Schiff said he expressed his “grave concerns” directly to Nunes that his behavior made it difficult to conduct “a credible investigation.” Schiff said he now believes only a non-political, independent investigation like the 9/11 Commission can now be trusted with investigating Trump.

Schiff (L) and Nunes (R)

Schiff’s complete statement:

Snip:

“If accurate, this information should have been shared with members of the committee, but it has not been,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the top Democrat on Nunes’ committee. “Indeed, it appears that committee members only learned about this when the chairman discussed the matter this afternoon with the press.”

Nunes said he felt Trump and his team should know that his staff and perhaps Trump himself were “unmasked” when they should not have been, since the former Obama administration already apparently knew.

Zac Petkanas, a senior adviser at the Democratic National Committee, called Nunes’ public statement a “pathetic charade.”

“Former Trump transition member Devin Nunes blew what little credibility he had left with this pathetic charade,” he said. “This isn’t an investigation; it’s a protection racket for Donald Trump and his fragile ego.”

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) said on MSNBC Nunes’ actions were “highly irregular and probably inappropriate.”

Speaking on CNN about the leak, Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT 4th District) said it offers a “tiny fig leaf” to Trump’s nutty claims that President Obama “wiretapped” Trump Tower (Obama did no such thing), but now creates grave concerns about the integrity of the investigation.

Trump can use the information Nunes leaked, namely that Trump was caught up in the spying intercepts, to deflect attention from the shame of the scandal — and try to pass the horrible repeal-and-replace health care act in the House tomorrow.

Nunes’ dirty trick is seen by Trump as a win.

Does Trump feel vindicated, a reporter asked him?

“Yes, I have to say that I somewhat do. I very much appreciated that they found what they found.”