Trump praises Nunes as ‘a very courageous man’

President Donald Trump on Monday praised Rep. Devin Nunes — who is aggressively pushing the Justice Department for sensitive documents related to the Russia probe — as a "very courageous man."

In remarks delivered before he swore in Gina Haspel as CIA director, Trump diverted from the focus of the event to offer encouraging words to Nunes, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.


“And a very courageous man. He's courageous, Congressman Devin. Thank you very much for being here. I appreciate it,” the president said of Nunes.

Nunes has been facing off with the DOJ after he and other House Republicans pressed the department for details about a source believed to have aided the FBI and special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Trump campaign contacts with Russians ahead of the election.

The Justice Department has denied Nunes’ request, claiming it would risk national security and potentially endanger lives. However, the California Republican and his allies have dismissed those claims and have insisted that they’re interested in the source's role in Mueller’s probe and not the identity of the source.

On Sunday, Nunes said he will not meet with Justice Department officials to reduce tensions until he receives documents about the source.

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Nunes had previously threatened to urge lawmakers to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions in contempt of Congress for not handing over classified documents related to the sprawling Russia investigation.

Apart from the Nunes aside, Trump mostly stuck to his prepared remarks during the ceremony. He praised Haspel as the first female CIA director, adding that she is assuming her role at a crucial moment in United States history.

“We are reasserting American strength and American confidence, and by the way, America is respected again,” he said.

The president joked before Haspel was sworn in that if anyone didn’t agree with her nomination, they should let him know before it was too late. Haspel, however, was later met with applause, to which Trump said: “That means we’re keeping her, right?”

Trump also more directly touched on the controversial nature of Haspel's nomination, which was opposed by some senators because of her views on torture and her role in the CIA’s George W. Bush-era interrogation program.

“It took courage for her to say yes in the face of a lot of very negative politics, and what was supposed to be a negative vote,” Trump said. “But I'll tell you, when you testified before the committee, it was over. There was not much they could say. There was nobody more qualified than you, and you are going to do a fantastic job, Gina.”

Haspel said she takes “tremendous pride” in becoming the first female director, and praised “the remarkable courage and dedication displayed by generations of OSS and agency women in roles both large and small who challenged stereotypes, broke down barriers and opened doors for the rest of us.”

In addition, Haspel said she hopes to add more foreign language proficiency, strengthen partnerships overseas and in the U.S., and deploy more officers to the foreign field.

“We must learn from the past, but we can't dwell in the past. We must constantly learn, adjust, improve and strive to be better,” Haspel said. “We demand it of ourselves, and America deserves nothing less.”