White House officials continue to back House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes’ review of potential improper surveillance from the Obama era and his separate investigation of Russian cyberactivities, press secretary Sean Spicer said Wednesday.
“We support that review,” Spicer said. “They’re undergoing an investigation.”
Spicer encouraged critics to allow the House Intelligence Committee to continue its work without prejudging the outcome.
“I believe that we want this over as much as I think some of you,” Spicer said. “But we recognize that there’s a process that has to take place.”
Nunes has faced questions about why he met with an intelligence source on White House grounds, and the White House has struggled to answer questions about how Nunes accessed the premises.
“I have asked some preliminary questions, I have not gotten answers yet,” Spicer said of Nunes’ arrival at the White House.
But he defended Nunes’ decision to use the secure facility on White House grounds.
“To the extent that they are gathering the appropriate documents … then that’s part of the process,” he said.
The White House has long lamented what officials see as unfair coverage of Russian-related allegations. Spicer echoed that frustration on Wednesday amid growing questions about Nunes’ investigation.
“We’re damned if we do and we’re damned if we don’t on this stuff,” Spicer said, noting that the White House is being criticized both for not knowing information about Nunes’ investigation and for being too close to Nunes’ investigation.
