House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes' actions in "the interests of Donald Trump" call into question his leadership role on the committee, according to Democrat Rep. Jim Himes.
But whether he keeps the job, he added, is up to House Speaker Paul Ryan.
"Devin, as much as I appreciate him and consider him a friend, has demonstrated on multiple occasions that he will often serve the interests of Donald Trump," the Connecticut Democrat said Friday on CNN's "New Day."
Nunes went to the president Wednesday with his claims that U.S. intelligence inadvertently gained surveillance on President Trump's transition team and briefed the president before telling Democrats on the panel about it.
Himes, who is also a member of the committee, said Nunes' actions calls into focus the need for a commission that operates independently.
"As much as I have sort of a friendship with Congressman Nunes, it was just a couple of weeks ago that he and Sen. (Richard) Burr, the chairman on the Senate side, admitted to working with the president to knock down stories they didn't like in the media. This has been a persistent problem," Himes said.
"As long as there isn't an outside commission, we're the only game in town," Himes said, and added some praise for Nunes. "On the inside, he has been very, very constructive with us. And we worry a little bit about, if he is removed, who do we get now and do we get someone who is going to be less constructive than Congressman Nunes."
The congressman said that he and other Democrats would not stand by if the committee's investigation were compromised.
"We will not, for one minute, remain part of an investigation that is blocked in any one of its avenues, that is used as a whitewash. We will walk out the door in a second if that happens . . . as the American people know, the more we work, the more things we uncover that suggest a heavy body of circumstantial evidence that this investigation is warranted."
Nunes said Thursday that he felt it was his "duty and obligation" to go to Trump with the information.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.