House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., said certain Justice Department and FBI officials won’t find the reprieve they’re hoping for during the August recess, as they can expect to be deposed over the remainder of the summer.
“I have news for them,” Nunes said Wednesday during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. “They are still going to get to come in and give depositions. They may think they are not going to, but they are going to be coming in to give depositions throughout the summer.”
Rep. @DevinNunes: “If the Democrats get control, they’re going to drop all of this investigation.” #Hannity pic.twitter.com/CNF08wtNoo
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 19, 2018
The individuals Nunes said would likely get deposed are among the 42 people connected to the Russia investigation he has referred to the joint task force of House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., and Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., for testimony in an “open setting.”
A contentious fight is playing out between Republicans and the Justice Department and FBI over document requests, and Nunes on Wednesday repeated his accusation that top officials in the federal law enforcement apparatus are purposefully slow-walking full compliance with subpoenas seeking information related to the investigations into Russia interference in the 2016 election and Hillary Clinton’s private email server.
He further accused the leadership of the DOJ and FBI of a plot to wait things out, “banking on” Republicans losing the 2018 midterm elections so that Democrats get control of Congress because “they are going to drop all of this investigation.”
Trump and his GOP allies in Congress have for months sought out evidence to support their suspicions about an effort to undermine Trump’s campaign. Meanwhile, Democrats have accused them of attempting to interfere with the federal investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.
