Dear Editor,

The complete lack of conviction that the Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee have displayed in regards to investigating Trump and his staff’s possible involvement with Russia and Trump’s accusation of wiretapping is stunning. 

During the open hearing on March 20, the Republicans concentrated on leaks instead of Trump and his staff. Two days later, Rep. Nunes (R-California), majority chairman of the committee, held two press conferences to report he had received and read intercepts (the source of which did not appear to come through the usual channels) that Trump’s transition team had been victims of incidental surveillance collection. Between the two press conferences, Nunes met with Trump to relay this information.

The minority chairman, Rep. Schiff (D-California), was made aware of the intercepts at the same time the press was informed. The significance of this revelation is that the Intelligence Committee is supposed to be investigating Trump and his staff, rather than acting as a surrogate for them. 

In addition, Nunes most certainly should have shared the intercepts with the Intelligence Committee instead of Trump and the press. Nunes’ actions shreds the credibility of the committee he is supposed to lead. Oh, and by the way, Nunes was on Trump’s transition team.

During “Watergate” Nixon did “stonewall” the investigation against his administration, but the Congress worked in a bipartisan manner to investigate him. It is disheartening that so many of our elected officials appear to choose loyalty to their political party instead of to their country.  This investigation appears to be anything but “Bipartisan.”

Rene Payne

Stanford