Velazquez on Nunes Recusal

Washington, DC - Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) commented today on news that Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, has recused himself from the Committee's investigation of Russia's involvement in the 2016 election:

"Mr. Nunes' decision to step aside is long overdue. Unfortunately, due to his repeated inappropriate actions and coziness with the Trump Administration, the House Intelligence Committee's investigation has become a sad farce.

"The American people need confidence that their democracy is intact and that requires an independent, unbiased and thorough investigation. It is time for the Department of Justice to appoint a Special Counsel who can unearth all the facts related to Russia's involvement in the election and the Trump Administration's ties to that country."

In December of 2016, in a letter to outgoing Attorney General Lynch, Velázquez was the first Member of Congress to call for a Special Counsel to investigate. She repeated that request when news broke that Attorney General Sessions may have misled Congress during his confirmation hearings about his own meetings with Russia.

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