© Aaron P. Bernstein / ReutersHouse Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Ranking Member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
He added that the Congressional panel, which is investigating accusations of Russia's interference in the 2016 US election, was also investigating whether the names of other Trump aides were leaked to the press. Nunes, who has previously stated that no evidence of Trump-Russia collusion has been identified by the committee, confirmed this was still the case going into the first public hearing on Monday of the investigation into "Russian active measures."
FBI Director James Comey and NSA Director Mike Rogers are both scheduled to testify at the hearing.
The committee chair also addressed Trump's recent allegation that his predecessor, Barack Obama, wiretapped Trump Tower just before the Republican's election victory in November, with Nunes stating that no evidence of this has been found, either. Nunes noted that, as far as he is aware, there was no FISA warrant issued for this purpose.
Obama has denied the allegation, though the White House called on Congress to investigate the alleged abuse of executive power.
Comment: Is this insane? News outlets should somehow be accountable for what they publish and promote, as in having proof-in-hand or sources thereof. But, even with this stipulation in place, truth versus implication depends upon how something is presented, what is included/left out, the relevancy and so on. The goal has become less for accuracy in reporting and more to create a smooth line of distortion upheld by deception management. The "Russians hacking US election" scenario is one supreme example of purposefully shaping a story to a particular conclusion and selling it to the people. No facts needed. There is now to be a public hearing...on nothing.