Nunes Memo

“...What does Page have to do with the rest of the Trump/Russia story and the investigation into it? Does Page have anything to do with Paul Manafort’s alleged money laundering? Does he have anything to do with Russia’s contacts with Papadopoulos? Does he have anything to do with Russia’s hacking into Democratic email systems to aid the Trump campaign? Does he have anything to do with Michael Flynn’s contacts with the Russian ambassador, about which he lied to the FBI? Does he have anything to do with Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner and Manafort’s meeting with a group of Kremlin-connected Russians to obtain dirt on Hillary Clinton? Does he have anything to do with President Trump’s firing FBI Director James B. Comey, which Trump himself admitted was done for the purpose of hindering the Russia investigation? Does he have anything to do with all the other ways Trump may have obstructed justice? The answer to all those questions is no. Page is a peripheral figure at best. Even if the memo did depict what it sets out to depict about the surveillance of Page, it wouldn’t change a thing about the overall Russia scandal. But the memo doesn’t even do that.” (The Nunes memo is out. It’s a joke and a sham).

“...The Republican document mischaracterizes highly sensitive classified information that few Members of Congress have seen, and which Chairman Nunes himself chose not to review. It fails to provide vital context and information contained in DOJ’s FISA application and renewals, and ignores why and how the FBI initiated, and the Special Counsel has continued, its counterintelligence investigation into Russia’s election interference and links to the Trump campaign. The sole purpose of the Republican document is to circle the wagons around the White House and insulate the President. Tellingly, when asked whether the Republican staff who wrote the memo had coordinated its drafting with the White House, the Chairman refused to answer...”  (House Intelligence Committee Minority Response to Release of Chairman Nunes’ Misleading Memo).