WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, sent a letter to Chairman Nunes requesting formal, written responses to questions about White House involvement in the compilation of the Majority memo. During the Committee’s Business Meeting on Monday, Rep. Quigley asked a series of questions about the potential role of the White House in a classified memo authored by the Majority staff, and Chairman Nunes declined to answer. Click here to read the letter or see below.

February 1, 2018

The Honorable Devin Nunes

Chairman

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

U.S. House of Representatives

HVC-304, U.S. Capitol

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Nunes:

During the Committee’s Business Meeting of January 29, 2018, I asked you a series of questions about the potential role of the White House in a classified memo authored by the Majority staff—a version of which, as you know, the Majority’s Members then unanimously voted to release publicly, pursuant to House Rule 10, clause 11(g).

The exchange was as follows:

MR. QUIGLEY: When you, as the majority, conceived of doing this memo for release to the body and to the public, the preparation, the thought of doing it, the consultation of it, was any of this done after/during conversations or consultations with anyone in the White House?

Did they have any idea you were doing this? Did they talk about doing this with you? Did they suggest it? Did you Suggest it to them? Did you consult in deciding how to go forward before, during and after this point right now?

THE CHAIRMAN: I would just answer as far as I know, no.

And I would also say that we are well aware that the minority has not wanted to conduct this investigation by the public opposition to the subpoenas that we issued back in August that were clearly looking into matters of FISA abuse and other matters.

MR. QUIGLEY: Mr. Chairman, does that mean that none of the staff members that worked for the majority had any consultation, communication at all with the White House?

THE CHAIRMAN: The chair is not going to entertain—

MR. QUIGLEY: I yield.

THE CHAIRMAN: —a question by another member.

Respectfully, I must disagree with your suggestion that Committee Members cannot pose questions to the Chair. Moreover, I was particularly troubled by your refusal to answer questions central to the Majority memo’s inception and preparation.

Answers to them have become all the more urgent and necessary, given President Trump’s well-documented, nakedly political desire to discredit the Department of Justice and the FBI, as well as Russia investigations conducted by the Special Counsel and Congress—along with President Trump’s reported intention to concur in the memo’s release as quickly as possible.

I thus respectfully request your formal, written response to the following questions:

At any time, did you coordinate, communicate or consult with any member of the White House staff before, during or after the preparation of the Majority’s classified memo? At any time, did any member of your staff—Committee or personal—communicate or consult with any member of the White House staff before, during or after the preparation of the Majority’s classified memo? At any time, were you or any member of your staff—Committee or personal—directed, encouraged or influenced by anyone at the White House—including President Trump—to prepare and release the Majority's classified memo?

I eagerly await your response to these questions, by no later than the close of business on Monday, February 5, 2018 .

Sincerely,

Mike Quigley