DEVIN NUNES/GOP/INTELLIGENCE/ROBERT MUELLER/RUSSIA INVESTIGATION/TRUMP PEOPLE: “In a newly leaked audio recording, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, a California Republican, suggests that his party needs to retain control of the House of Representatives to protect President Donald Trump from special counsel Robert Mueller…The remarks appear to be a blunt assessment from Nunes, a top Trump ally in Congress who Democrats accuse of trying to help the White House with the Russia probe, that Republicans must keep their House majority in the midterm elections to shield Trump from the special counsel investigation. Jack Langer, a spokesman for Nunes, downplayed the comments in a statement to CNN, saying ‘it’s unsurprising to see the left-wing media spin Chairman Nunes’ routine observations as some nefarious plot, since these same media outlets spent the last year and a half touting non-existent Russia collusion conspiracy.’ Maddow said on Wednesday that the audio, which MSNBC described as a ‘secret audio recording,’ was obtained by a progressive group called Fuse Washington after one of its members paid to attend a private fundraiser held last week for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a member of House GOP leadership.”
–Clare Foran, “In leaked recording, key House Republican suggests GOP must keep House to protect Trump from Mueller,” CNN politics, CNN.com, August 9, 2018 4:49 pm