It has been something of a mystery, the whereabouts of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes on the day before his announcement last Wednesday that he saw information suggesting that communications of then-President-elect Donald Trump and his advisers may have been swept up in surveillance of other foreign nationals.
The California Republican confirmed to CNN in a phone interview Monday he was on the White House grounds that day -- but he said he was not in the White House itself. (Other buildings, including the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, are on the same grounds.)
Nunes went to the building because he needed a secure area to view the information, he told CNN. He said he didn't believe the President nor any of his West Wing team were aware he was there, and the White House said Monday it learned of Nunes' visit through media reports and directed any questions to the congressman.
Nunes said he was there for additional meetings "to confirm what I already knew" but said he wouldn't comment further so as to not "compromise sources and methods."
A government official said Nunes was seen Tuesday night at the National Security Council offices of the Eisenhower building which, other than the White House Situation Room, is the main area on the complex to view classified information in a secure room. The official said Nunes arrived and left alone.
Nunes' disclosure that Trump's own communications may have been picked up in "incidental" collections by domestic spies -- and decision to speak to the press and White House before informing the Democrats on the Intelligence Committee -- infuriated Democrats and led him to apologize to his colleagues on the panel. Trump has said he feels "somewhat" vindicated by Nunes' findings.
Some Democrats have said Nunes' actions mean he can't conduct an impartial investigation into potential Trump-Russia ties, though House Speaker Paul Ryan said Monday he has "full confidence" Nunes can oversee the probe.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat who also sits on the Intelligence Committee, accused the White House Monday of "obstructing" the panel's investigation and called for an independent commission to review the matter.
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