Here’s what the Ukraine report reveals about Devin Nunes’ shady role in the scandalon December 4, 2019
By Cody Fenwick, AlterNet
- Commentary
While the House Intelligence Committee’s Ukraine report, released Tuesday, is primarily an indictment of President Donald Trump’s conduct, it also includes stunning details about the committee’s top Republican: Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA).
Nunes and his allies have argued, in defense of Trump, that committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) is somehow the subject of a conflict of interest in the impeachment inquiry because his staff spoke to the intelligence community whistleblower who first exposed the Ukraine scandal. But in reality, it seems that Nunes is much more deeply implicated in the facts of the case, raising serious questions about his own conflicts of interest and potential misconduct.
For example, the report found that, while reporter John Solomon was publishing claims from a Ukrainian official against former Vice President Joe Biden — claims exactly like those that Rudy Giuliani and President Donald Trump would push Ukraine to investigate as part of the scandal — Nunes appeared to be in the loop on some related conversations:
Over the course of the four days following the April 7 article, phone records show
contacts between Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Parnas, Representative Devin Nunes, and Mr. Solomon.
Specifically, Mr. Giuliani and Mr. Parnas were in contact with one another, as well as with Mr.
Solomon. Phone records also show contacts on April 10 between Mr. Giuliani and Rep. Nunes, consisting of three short calls in rapid succession, followed by a text message, and ending with a nearly three minute call. Later that same day, Mr. Parnas and Mr. Solomon had a four minute, 39 second call.
Lev Parnas, referenced here, is one of the two Giuliani associates who have been indicted by the Southern District of New York as part of a campaign finance conspiracy. The charges against them are linked, in part, to the campaign to oust former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, which eventually Trump carried out.
Phone records included in the report from this time show five calls between Nunes and Giuliani, three of which appear to have been successful. They also show four calls between Nunes and Parnas, only two of which were apparently successful; one call was eight minutes, 34 seconds long.
A lawyer for Parnas recently told CNN that his client claims Nunes met with a disgraced former Ukrainian prosecutor to dig up dirt on Biden. Though the claims have not been confirmed, travel records suggest the trip could have occurred. Nunes has aggressively lashed out at CNN’s report, calling it “demonstrably false” and saying he would sue, but he did not contest any specific claim.
But the lawyer claimed that Nunes and Parnas began communicating around the time of the trip, and the Ukraine report seems to confirm at least the fact that they have been in direct communication.
The report also said that, on May 8 — while Giuliani was public discussing a trip to Ukraine to push for the investigations Trump wanted — he had a call with Derek Harvey, a Nunes aide. It continued:
Call records also show that around midday on May 10, Mr. Giuliani began trading aborted calls with Kashyap “Kash” Patel, an official at the National Security Council who previously served on Ranking Member Devin Nunes’ staff on the Intelligence Committee. Mr. Patel successfully connected with Mr. Giuliani less than an hour after Mr. Giuliani’s call with Ambassador Volker. Beginning at 3:23 p.m., Eastern Time, Mr. Patel and Mr. Giuliani spoke for over 25 minutes. Five minutes after Mr. Patel and Mr. Giuliani disconnected, an unidentified “-1” number connected with Mr. Giuliani for over 17 minutes Shortly thereafter, Mr. Giuliani spoke with Mr. Parnas for approximately 12 minutes.
During the public hearings, witnesses also suggested that Patel may have been briefing Trump privately on Ukraine, though it wasn’t a part of his formal role. The report said that Dr. Fiona Hill claimed Patel “maintained a close relationship with Ranking Member Nunes after leaving his staff to join the NSC.”
It’s not clear yet what all these facts add up to yet. But when asked on Tuesday about what they mean, Schiff expressed concern.
“I’m going to reserve comment,” he said, before adding that it is “deeply disturbing that, at a time when the president of the United States was using the power of his office to dig up dirt on a political rival, that there may be evidence that members of Congress complicit in that activity. Now, there’s a lot more to learn about that, and I don’t want to state that that is an unequivocal fact. But the allegations are deeply concerning. Our focus is on the president’s conduct first and foremost. It may be the role of others to evaluate the conduct of members of Congress.”
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Experts: House impeachment report spells ‘deep, deep trouble’ – for Devin Nunes12/4/2019
By David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement
As journalists and legal experts wade through the 17-plus pages of the executive summary and the 300 pages of the full House Intelligence Committee report released Tuesday afternoon, it’s increasingly clear the report is quite damning for the President – which we already knew – and for that committee’s Republican Ranking Member and former chairman, Devin Nunes, who is mentioned at least 48 times in the report.
Nunes over the past few years has led the charge to defend President Trump, from a late-night visit to the White House to obtain what he wrongly claimed was damning evidence of criminal activity surrounding FISA warrant unmasking – to his more recent conspiracy theories, including the lie that Ukraine and not Russia attacked the 2016 U.S. election. There’s also his latest lawsuit: after suing an imaginary cow and others, Rep. Nunes is now suing CNN for $435 million.
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All that aside, let’s look at how the experts are weighing in on just how much “deep, deep trouble” Congressman Nunes may be in, as law professor and former Special Counsel at the Dept. of Defense Ryan Goodman suggests:
Looks like Devin #Nunes is in deep, deep trouble.
Comprehensive list of call records listed in #ImpeachmentReport
Nunes/senior aide Derek Harvey calls
with
Giuliani and indicted Lev Parnas, who were engaged in disinformation campaign and Ukraine dirt on Bidens. pic.twitter.com/n0bKgBnpIX
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) December 3, 2019
Attorney for indicted Giuliani “henchman” Lev Parnas points to information from Politico’s National security correspondent Natasha Bertrand:
Devin Nunes, you should have recused yourself at the outset of the #HIC #ImpeachingHearings. #LetLevSpeak
https://t.co/HeG8kFEDwl — Joseph A. Bondy (@josephabondy) December 3, 2019
CNN’s Manu Raju says Nunes “could be tied to effort to dig up Biden dirt”:
Just tried to ask Devin Nunes to react to being named in the Dems’ impeachment report – and he ignored my question. Here are details on phone records suggesting Nunes could be tied to effort to dig up Biden dirt:
https://t.co/RMedUXkU56 — Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 3, 2019
CNN’s Jake Tapper points to Nunes’ “contacts with Giuliani and others”:
Many of the references to @DevinNunes in here are about his contacts with Giuliani and others — not his role as ranking GOPer on the committee
https://t.co/M25weA0eMu — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) December 3, 2019
Just Security editorial director Kate Brannen points to passages about calls between Nunes and Giuliani and others – including possibly the president – that could also spell big trouble:
There is news in this House Intel report.
It contains new evidence of phone calls between Giuliani and Nunes back in April. pic.twitter.com/veEeY2chaC
— Kate Brannen (@K8brannen) December 3, 2019
The House Intelligence Committee obtained phone records that shed new light on possible coordination between Giuliani, Nunes, his staff, Kash Patel (his former staffer), John Solomon, Parnas and possibly the president. pic.twitter.com/19Mm4l0qaw
— Kate Brannen (@K8brannen) December 3, 2019
Talking Points memo writer Nicole Lafond: “Nunes was in contact with Giuliani during key parts of Giuliani’s campaign to attack Yovanovitch”:
The phone records cited in House Intel Dems’ report shows that Nunes was in contact with Giuliani during key parts of Giuliani’s campaign to attack Yovanovitch and while Giuliani prepped to travel to Ukraine
https://t.co/O9WyR29k7d — Nicole Lafond (@Nicole_Lafond) December 3, 2019
Courthouse News reporter Adam Klasfeld:
Chairman Schiff’s presser ends with a bang.
Asked about the report’s findings about Rep. Devin Nunes, Schiff notes: “There may be members of Congress who were complicit in that activity,” referring to this passage detailing Nunes’ contacts with Giuliani, Parnas and Solomon. pic.twitter.com/vdgmME4sKt
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) December 3, 2019
Program director at Campaign Legal Center Brendan Fischer:
There are a crazy number of phone calls between Lev Parnas and Devin Nunes–many of them on April 12, the same day Victoria Toensing signed a retainer to rep the corrupt Ukrainian prosecutor Lutsenko in meetings with US officials. pic.twitter.com/uieCHMe0K2
— Brendan Fischer (@brendan_fischer) December 3, 2019
Republican political strategist Rick Wilson sums up Nunes’ actions with one of Giuliani’s indicted henchmen in this colorful tweet:
I guess Devin Nunes was too busy suing imaginary cows to mention to the committee but he was having late night “Love you! Love you more! You hang up first. No you hang up first” calls with Lev Fucking Parnas.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) December 3, 2019
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Devin Nunes tells Fox News he doesn’t ‘recall’ Giuliani associate Lev Parnas — they spoke at least 4 timesRaw Story
12/4/2019
By Sarah K. Burris
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he doesn’t “recall” Lev Parnas, the recently indicted associate of Rudy Giuliani, Washington Post reporter Felicia Sonmez tweeted.
Hannity was outed for having coordinated with President Donald Trump, Giuliani and Donald Trump Jr. to take down former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, in the House Intelligence Committee report, released Tuesday.
But in a conversation with Nunes, the two men were all laughs about the serious allegations they face.
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On "Hannity" just now, Devin Nunes was asked about the call logs. He says of one of his calls with Giuliani: "We were actually laughing about how Mueller bombed out." He also claims he doesn't recall Lev Parnas' name, although it's "possible" they spoke.
— Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) December 4, 2019
“We were actually laughing about how Mueller bombed out,” Nunes said of the report showing Trump obstructed justice at least 10 times.
While Nunes said that he doesn’t “recall” speaking to Lev Parnas, he explained that it is “possible” that they did speak.
Call logs show they not only spoke, but they did so four times.
"It's possible"
https://t.co/4ioOFSOH3H pic.twitter.com/lGgemuBLlP
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) December 4, 2019
Trump also claimed that he didn’t know Parnas or his associate Igor Fruman, but the men were photographed with Trump and his GOP allies dozens of times and seen in multiple videos.
It’s something that raises serious ethical questions, according to former acting-FBI Director Andrew McCabe, who spoke to CNN’s Chris Cuomo about Nunes late Tuesday.
While Nunes was speaking to Hannity, the hashtag #NunesGotCaught was trending nationally on Twitter.
Watch part of the interview below:
Hannity: Did you ever talk to this guy Lev Parnas?
Devin Nunes: You know it’s possible but I haven’t gone through all my phone records. I don’t really recall that name. pic.twitter.com/NY8PXPdUC9
— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) December 4, 2019
“They shouldn’t be listening to someone who has been indicted” says the man who has repeated calls listed in the call logs with the indicted person pic.twitter.com/wuVfXM2wR0
— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) December 4, 2019
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Mike Pence was implicated — and Fox News just threw him under the busRaw Story
12/4/2019
By Sarah K. Burris
Fox News revealed on the lower-third of their screen Tuesday night that the Intelligence Committee report implicates Vice President Mike Pence, as “The Weekly List’s” Amy Siskind captured.
This chyron 💜💙💜💙#PresidentPelosi pic.twitter.com/AD7v0HiBwP
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) December 4, 2019
Indeed, Pence was implicated in the damning report released Tuesday afternoon, though Fox News has been implicated in coordinating with President Donald Trump to get rid of the Ukraine ambassador and perpetuate conspiracy theories that protect Russia.
As Yahoo News reporter Mike Isikoff pointed out, the report alleges that Pence was “either knowledgeable of or active participant” in the impeachable offenses committed by the president.
First big takeaway from House intel report: It concludes that VP Pence– who would become POTUS if Trump is removed– was "either knowledgeable of or active participant" in conduct that is basis for impeachment. pic.twitter.com/Ty5eQtYDAx
— Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff) December 3, 2019
Fox personality Sean Hannity was implicated for working with Giuliani Trump and Donald Trump Jr. to tear down Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch
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‘Rudy is cut off from Fox News’: Giuliani benched after Republicans ‘had to do something’Raw Story
12/4/2019
By Bob Brigham
President Donald Trump’s television lawyer has reportedly been benched from the president’s favorite cable television network.
“For more than a year, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump have been part of a chorus of West Wing advisers telling Donald Trump that he needs to fire Rudy Giuliani,” Vanity Fair reported Tuesday. “But as Giuliani’s legal woes mount, Trump is coming around to his advisers’ view that Giuliani is a liability, three Republicans close to the White House told me.”
Giuliani is apparently so counter-productive that Trump has had to bench him.
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“The relationship has grown so strained that Trump has even directed Giuliani not to appear on Fox News,” the magazine reported, citing “a Republican briefed on the conversations.”
“A Fox source said Giuliani has declined producers’ requests to appear on the network in recent days,” Vanity Fair added.
“Rudy is cut off from Fox News,” the Republican said.
“We had to do something, we don’t want Rudy out there. Every time he talks it’s bad for Trump,” another Republican explained.
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Even Lindsey Graham refuses to buy into Trump’s Ukraine conspiracy theories: ‘Russia interfered’Raw Story
12/4/2019
By Sarah K. Burris
While Sens. Ron Johnson, John Kennedy and other GOP leaders have decided that Ukraine is to blame for 2016 election meddling, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is refusing to play into the conspiracy theory.
Speaking with a group of reporters, including Mediaite, at the Capitol Tuesday, Graham said “It was the Russians. I’m 1,000 percent confident that the hack of the DNC was by Russian operatives, no one else.”
“The Ukraine — they had zero to do with the hacking of the DNC and the stealing of the emails,” Graham continued, refuting a key talking point of President Donald Trump. “Whether or not people from the Ukraine met with DNC operatives, I don’t know. All I’ve seen is press reports and nobody’s validated those reports. I have no knowledge that the Ukraine did anything to interfere with our elections other than press reports and to suggest that we know that I think would be a stretch because I don’t think anybody knows that.”
“I’ve got no doubt that it was the Russians who stole the DNC emails,” Graham told CNN after a follow-up question. “It wasn’t Ukraine. Russia was behind the stolen DNC emails and [John] Podesta and all that good stuff.”
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Lindsey Graham floats censure with Trump in London: Senate trial will be too ‘traumatic’ on ‘the country’Raw Story
12/4/2019
By David Edwards
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) suggested on Tuesday that President Donald Trump might be censured to prevent the country from going through a “traumatic” impeachment trial in the Senate.
Graham, who has been Trump’s biggest defender in the Senate, made the suggestion when he was asked about a possible censure, according to CBS journalist Alan He.
“Who am I to advise my Dem colleagues about what to do,” Graham reportedly said. “Censure would probably gain some bipartisan support… the country going through an impeachment trial would be traumatic and I think we should avoid that if possible.”
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Q. Censure better outcome than impeachment?
GRAHAM: “…Who am I to advise my Dem colleagues about what to do. Censure would probably gain some bipartisan support…the country going through an impeachment trial would be traumatic and I think we should avoid that if possible…”
— Alan He (@alanhe) December 3, 2019
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Adam Schiff reveals the three Trump Cabinet members who remain under investigation: ‘There’s a lot we still have to learn’Raw Story
12/4/2019
By Bob Brigham
The chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence revealed three Cabinet-level officials in the Trump administration who are still being investigated in after the impeachment inquiry report was transmitted to the House Judiciary Committee.
Rep. Adam Schiff (R-CA) was interviewed by MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell on “The Last Word” on Tuesday.
“What can you tell us about the possible continued elements of your investigation that might be continuing beyond this point?” O’Donnell asked.
“Well, there’s a lot that we still have to learn about the conduct of others,” Schiff replied. “We know, I think, very well what the president did that he withheld this military assistance, that he withheld this meeting in the White House, to coerce Ukraine into doing investigations to help his re-election campaign.”
The former federal prosecutor identified three such individuals: Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Mick Mulvaney, the director of the Office of Management and Budget who is also serving as acting White House chief of staff.
“But how much involvement did the Secretary of State have in this?” Schiff wondered. “We know he was in the loop from the documentary evidence and testimony of Ambassador [Gordon] Sondland. We know the vice president was aware of the conditionality of the military aid on these political investigations. We certainly know Mick Mulvaney was deeply involved in this.”
“There’s more to learn about their role,” he said. “There’s also more to learn about when this whole scheme began, because there are indications it started far earlier than we expected, that indeed some elements of this go back to when the prior president of Ukraine, [Petro] Poroshenko was in office, efforts to get that president and his attorney general, [Yuriy] Lutsenko, to engage in his sham investigations to help Donald Trump.”
“One thing we know already — without a doubt — and that is this president will do it again. Indeed, he’s never stopped inviting foreign interference in our election, and for that reason we really cannot delay,” Schiff explained.
Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcbk_S69yLo&feature=emb_title************
Watch Rachel Maddow summarize the impeachment report in 78 words — spoken in 46 secondsRaw Story
12/4/2019
By Bob Brigham
MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow on Tuesday briefed her viewers on the contents of the 300-page impeachment inquiry report released by the House Intelligence Committee.
In addition to her summary, Maddow said Americans seeking to educate themselves on the report could also check out the “short, readable executive summary.”
If the 22-page executive summary is too much, there’s also a four-page preface.
Maddow also noted that people could just read the sub-headlines from the executive summary and learn a great deal in only 78 words.
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Here are the sub-headlines that Maddow put on on a graphic — and read in less than a minute:
The President’s Request for a Political Favor
The President Removed Anti-Corruption Champion Ambassador Yovanovitch
The President’s Hand-Picked Agents Began the Scheme
The President Froze Vital Military Assistance
The President Conditioned a White House Meeting on Investigations
The President’s Agents Pursued a “Drug Deal”
The President Pressed President Zelensky to Do a Political Favor
The President’s Representatives Ratcheted up Pressure on the Ukrainian President
Ukrainians Inquired about the President’s Hold on Security Assistance
The President’s Security Assistance Hold Became Public
The President’s Scheme Unraveled
The President’s Chief of Staff Confirmed Aid was Conditioned on Investigations
Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW_eyv5F55Y&feature=emb_title*****************
Trump frequently refuses to believe intelligence briefings: Fired intelligence official Sue GordonBy Matthew Chapman
Raw Story
12/4/2019
On Tuesday, former Deputy Director of Intelligence Sue Gordon said that while she worked for President Donald Trump, he consistently refused to believe the findings of intelligence officials.
Trump, said Gordon in her speech to the Women’s Foreign Policy Group, has two responses to intelligence information: “One, ‘I don’t think that’s true,’. The one is ‘I’m not sure I believe that, and the other is the second order and third order effects. ‘Why is that true? Why are we there? Why is this what you believe? Why do we do that?’ Those sorts of things.”
Trump forced the resignation of Sue Gordon after firing Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats in August, which allowed him to directly appoint counterterrorism official Joseph Maguire as acting head of the agency.