Devin Nunes says a reporter ‘stalked’ him. No, he stonewalled legitimate questions
Rep. Devin Nunes got caught during the weekend in an impromptu interview, and the questions he was asked were legitimate.
Lee Fang, a journalist working for The Intercept, an online news source, found the Tulare Republican at a GOP fundraising event in New York City. In a video posted by The Intercept, Fang is shown calmly walking up to Nunes. Fang waits for Nunes to finish a conversation with a man, then asks, “Hey, congressman Nunes, I just wanted to ask you really quickly, what were your calls about Lev Parnas about?”
Nunes is the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, a key congressional oversight panel. Lev Parnas has been indicted for campaign finance violations. He is now embroiled in the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, and new phone records released by Democrats on the Intelligence Committee showed Nunes made phone calls to Parnas last spring — calls Nunes had not previously disclosed to his colleagues.
Critics of Nunes theorize he was working with Parnas to dig up dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden, a possible Democratic contender for president in the 2020 election. Nunes has long been a leading Trump supporter in Congress.
One way or another, Nunes has a duty to explain to congressional colleagues, as well as the American people, what the calls were about. But getting him to address this issue has been nearly impossible. Is he spending his time in Washington representing constituents and their interests, or doing questionable errands for the president?
The not-happening interview
Back to Fang’s question: Nunes has yet to say what he talked to Parnas about, so Fang asks, “Were you asking about the effort to investigate Hunter Biden?” Hunter Biden is the son of the former vice president and once sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company. Trump is accused of telling Ukraine’s president he would release aid to the country if it promised a corruption investigation into the company.
Fang asks the question as Nunes is walking through a hotel lobby. Nunes picks up the pace and gets ahead of Fang; not once does he acknowledge the reporter. Nunes then approaches some men across the way, leaving Fang in his wake.
“Tried to ask him if he would talk about his calls to Lev Parnas,” Fang tells his camera operator, ”if he was part of the effort to investigate Hunter Biden.”
The Intercept’s video then shows Nunes walking back to Fang, the congressman’s right arm extended as he holds out his cellphone to photograph or video Fang. “Hey, Congressman Nunes, I just wanted to ask you about ...”
Then Fang chuckles as Nunes closes in on him, cellphone in hand. “I’m a reporter from The Intercept. I wanted to ask you about your calls to Lev Parnas? What was the content of those calls?” Nunes remains silent but continues shooting.
Nunes swings his arm over toward The Intercept’s camera operator, then back to Fang. “Were you part of this effort to pressure the Ukrainian government to investigate Hunter Biden?” At that, Nunes turns and walks away from Fang. “Thank you, congressman,” Fang says.
Nunes never says one word.
So much for how one of the most powerful representatives in Congress deals with legitimate questions.
How did Nunes portray the encounter? He suggested that he was being “stalked.” Anyone watching the video will see that is a gross exaggeration.
Answers, please
Fang sought answers to relevant questions because House Democrats, stunned by the revelation that Nunes had phone conversations with Parnas, are now considering whether to discipline the congressman. The questions are legitimate because Nunes may have been working with the Trump administration to impugn Biden and thus weaken a political opponent.
Nunes has said he cannot remember the calls.
Nunes no longer grants interviews to mainstream media reporters. And he has not spoken to The Bee or even acknowledged its emails for more than a year.
Who does Nunes grant interviews to? Conservative talk show hosts. Nunes is a regular on Sean Hannity’s and Laura Ingraham’s Fox News shows.
The Intercept bills itself as “an award-winning news organization dedicated to holding the powerful accountable through fearless, adversarial journalism.” Its website reflects a liberal bent. Fang’s bio on The Intercept’s website reveals his orientation toward liberal causes. But at least his background is explained there.
Members of Congress face questions everywhere they go. In the Capitol, reporters chase them down the hall, grab them on the stairs, catch them coming off the train. They’re bombarded by journalists’ questions. They always have the option of not answering.
That said, trying to interview Nunes in a hotel lobby is not the ideal way to get information. But it is very nearly the only avenue left, given his constant stonewalling of anyone asking a tough question.
How democracy works
Like any representative or senator, Nunes must be accountable for his actions and associations, fundraising and votes. That is how democracy works — schoolchildren learn that principle in basic civics.
Right now, Nunes’ secret phone calls to a man under scrutiny in the impeachment proceedings are in question. So The Bee adds its voice and asks: Congressman Nunes, what did you talk about with Mr. Parnas? Your constituents, and indeed Americans, are waiting for your answer.
While you are at it, when will your next Valley town hall be?
This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Devin Nunes says a reporter ‘stalked’ him. No, he stonewalled legitimate questions."