Quigley to Chairman Nunes: Let Someone Else Do This
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, spoke with Chris Jansing on MSNBC, where he discussed the future of their investigation. Watch the interview here or see excerpts below.
On Record of Distraction
"Well I think what you're seeing is the first few bricks are being laid in the White House bunker. It's very clear that they don't want this investigation to move forward. The first public hearing on it was extraordinarily embarrassing for them. Where Director Comey said there is an investigation. He said that the Russians attempted to help the Trump campaign and hurt Mrs. Clinton's. He made it clear that there was no evidence of wiretapping in Trump Tower. So how would a second public meeting help in any way, shape or form? You're seeing a pattern of obstruction and distraction. There's the wiretapping, cancelling the meeting, Mr. Nunes' visit to the White House, and now cancelling additional meetings and talking about Mrs. [Sally] Yates in the way that we're now hearing, that they clearly don't want her to testify. It's further bad news for them."
"I believe that we'll eventually get all the information we need – I don't care where it comes from. I never expected this investigation to be easy, I thought that this would be a fight. The White House is literally fighting for its political life. They are going to make this as difficult as they possibly can. I don't care how, what means we use, legal opportunities here, but we will do whatever needs to take place. We've got to follow the facts wherever they take us."
On Chairman Nunes
"I believe that what [Chairman Nunes] should have done is take that information immediately and shared it with the Ranking Member and the staff and the rest of the Republicans and Democrats on the Committee. He is showing that he can't serve two masters. Going to the White House shortly after learning that they're the investigation of the Russia-Trump probe is beyond the pale. I ask him with the greatest respect – let someone else do this. No one is making you quit being the Chairman of the Committee, but it's apparent you can't serve both masters, and you should recuse yourself at this time."
On Sally Yates
"I want to know exactly what [Sally Yates] told the White House about Mr. Flynn. I think there is a score of additional information she is willing to share. I'm excited about the opportunities to talk to Mr. Brennan and Mr. Clapper. Again, this is just the beginning of this investigation, and already we've had the bomb shells that we have had and seen take place. I encourage the American public to encourage all their lawmakers to move forward and press for the White House to cooperate and not try to stall what we're trying to do."