House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes said Democrats are unsatisfied with congressional probes into Russia because they believe only an independent commission will come to the conclusion Hillary Clinton was cheated, according to a report published Tuesday.
“The Democrats don’t want an investigation on Russia. They want an independent commission. Why do they want an independent commission?” Nunes said at the Tulare County Lincoln Dinner on April 7, the day after he recused himself from the committee’s investigation, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“Because they want to continue the narrative that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are best friends, and that’s the reason that he won, because Hillary Clinton would have never lost on her own; it had to be someone else’s fault,”
The California Republican made the comments freely, telling any media in the room he did not fear his comments being made public.
“They have tried to destroy this Russia investigation, they’ve never been serious about it, and one of the great things now that I’ve stepped aside from this Russia investigation, I can actually say what I want to say. I know that there’s probably media in here, you can write it but just try to get it right when you do,” Nunes added.
Nunes stepped down from the select committee’s probe after he unexpectedly visited the White House to privately discuss information about it with President Trump.
Nunes told the LA Times reporting his comments nearly two months later was an example of “fake news.”
“For the LA Times to tout comments I made in front of 700 people, which attendees broadcasted on Facebook Live and which reflected themes I’ve discussed repeatedly this year, as some sort of unique revelation is the epitome of lazy reporting and fake news,” Nunes said.
