National Security

Intel Dem blasts decision to cancel public hearing

by Katie Bo Williams

The ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee on Friday denounced the cancellation of an open hearing related to the panel’s investigation of Russian interference in the presidential election that was expected to occur Tuesday.

Several former senior Obama administration officials were set to testify.

“We don’t welcome cutting off public access to information,” Rep Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told reporters immediately after the chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), announced the cancellation.

{mosads}Nunes said that the hearing had been nixed to make room for a closed-door briefing with FBI Director James Comey and NSA head Michael Rogers — not because Monday’s open hearing with those officials was potentially politically damaging for Republicans.

Earlier this week, Nunes bypassed the committee to brief President Trump about intelligence collected on his transition team, drawing rebukes from both sides of the aisle. Asked if Nunes should be removed as the chairman for his actions, Schiff said, “That’s a decision for the Speaker to make.”
 
But, he said, the events of this week “are not encouraging.”

National Security