Sen. Mark Warner said Nunes’ trip to the White House is “more than suspicious” as he had to have been escorted to meet a source on White House grounds. | AP Photo Warner: Nunes’ meeting on White House grounds 'more than suspicious'

Sen. Mark Warner, the leading Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Monday blasted Republican House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes’ conduct as the leader of the House’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Nunes met a source on “White House grounds” before claiming last week that Trump transition aides were surveilled, a Nunes aide confirmed Monday.


Warner said Nunes’ trip to the White House is “more than suspicious” as he had to have been escorted to meet a source on White House grounds.

“Who is he meeting with?” Warner said. “Was it a source or was it somebody from the administration? And then he goes through this, what appears to be a charade, where he comes out the next day and briefs the president before he tells the Democrats.”

Warner said the Senate Intelligence Committee is not aware of what Nunes was talking about. He added that the committee has queried the intelligence community, which Warner said is also unaware of what Nunes was describing.

Although Republican Sen. John McCain has joined some Democrats in calling for an independent investigation, Warner said he was confident the Senate would be able to investigate in a bipartisan way.

To form an independent investigation, a law would have to be passed and signed by the president, Warner said. He added he was concerned both parties would try to stack an independent investigation with partisans.

“And that would push off this investigation for maybe close to a year,” Warner said. “I think the American people deserve answers a lot sooner.”

The Senate Intelligence Committee will announce its first public hearing later this week, Warner said, and has interviews scheduled.

