This is infuriating. During a press conference this morning Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told reporters that he will not subpoena President Trump's tax returns. How can he possibly state that BEFORE the actual investigation? The answer? It appears that Chairman Nunes will do anything and everything to neuter his committee's Trump/Russia investigation and protect the president. Below, from Salon.com, are some of the blatantly partisan, sometimes contradictory, eye-popping statements and claims made by Rep. Nunes in his press conference earlier today. Comments in parentheses are mine: Rep. Nunes -- - Downplayed claims that the White House had asked members of the CIA and FBI to squelch reports of contact between Russia and members of Trump’s presidential campaign, saying that there was “nothing wrong” with what he characterized as attempts to have a better working relationship with the press. (Similar attempts by Richard Nixon to impact an ongoing intelligence investigation into his misdeeds is what led to his impeachment.) - Said that the House Intelligence Committee wanted evidence of any American citizens who may have talked to Russian officials, implicitly broadening the issue beyond the Trump campaign and administration. (Is Nunes trying to create a deliberate distraction to take the focus off of Trump, his campaign staff and any White House staff under investigation?) - Characterized the FBI as being “very upfront” with his committee about what they know about Trump’s potential connections with Russia, although he admitted that he’d like to know more. (If you don't know everything, you can't make assessments. Why do I have to point that out to the head of the House Intelligence Committee?) - When asked if they have any evidence of contacts specifically from the Trump campaign, Nunes replied: “It’s been looked into and there’s no evidence of anything there. Obviously we’d like to know if there is.” (Huh? The Russians have already ADMITTED that there were contacts between the Trump campaign and their representatives.) - Dismissed concerns that Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had violated the Logan Act as “ridiculous” and said that they would not subpoena Trump’s tax returns. (How can any responsible leader of an investigation say they won't subpoena materials BEFORE they actually investigate? And how does he know Flynn didn't violate the Logan Act before his committee investigates?) - Insisted that both he and the White House were simply trying to be “transparent” and claimed to be confused as to why the Trump administration providing his phone number to a reporter would be a news story. (Playing dumb will not make Rep. Nunes' inappropriate, partisan behavior go away.) - Repeated his earlier statements about wanting to avoid “McCarthyism” and “witch hunts” based on reports that Americans may have connections to the Russian regime. (A witch hunt means there is no evidence to begin an investigation. There's already PLENTY of evidence that the Trump team had worrisome contacts with Russia prior to being elected.) I think Rep. Nunes needs to hear from the public. Please call or fax and ask him to: 1) Run a FAIR AND NON-PARTISAN House Intelligence Committee investigation on any Trump/Russia ties. 2) Subpoena President Trump's tax returns. 3) Recuse himself from the House Intelligence Committee investigation of Trump/Russia if he doesn't publicly retract his statement that "there's no evidence of anything." Rep. Nunes contact info: Washington, D.C Main: (202) 225-2523 Fax: (202) 225-3404 Visalia, CA Main: (559) 733-3861 Fax: (559) 733-3865 Clovis, CA Main: (559) 323-5235 Fax: (559) 323-5528 And please continue to share our petition, "We Want to See Trump's Taxes!"