CONFLICT OF INTERESTS/INTELLIGENCE: “House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes continues to be a powerful force in the House’s Russia investigation, despite his promise that he was stepping aside as the head of the probe as he came under scrutiny himself from the House ethics committee.
The latest example came Wednesday [5-31-7] afternoon, when Nunes issued three subpoenas targeting documents regarding former Obama administration officials in his own probe of unmasking — without getting sign-offs from the House Democrats. Those subpoenas were issued in the same batch as the first subpoenas from the Russia probe, which had bipartisan support.
Two weeks ago, Nunes took a trip to the CIA headquarters to review intelligence related to Russia as well.
Behind the scenes at the Capitol, a struggle played out between lawmakers on the House Russia investigation in the leadup to the issuing of the first subpoenas, CNN reported last week. Democrats have pushed Nunes to relinquish his power over subpoenas — the strongest tool they have to use in their investigative toolbox — and instead hand the power to the new leader of the House Russian probe, Rep. Michael Conaway, R-Texas.”
-Tom LoBianco, “Nunes remains powerful force in House Russia probe, despite promise to step back,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, June 1, 2017 10:42am