Rep. Devin Nunes returns to the Valley amid controversy in Washington
FRESNO, California (KFSN) -- Embattled Valley congressman Devin Nunes (R) California is in Fresno on Friday, speaking to a group of agricultural bankers.
Congressman Nunes is expected at Tornino's Banquet Hall in Fresno for the annual agriculture lenders meeting. His audience will be a group of bankers and others involved in financing agricultural businesses.
Hundreds of protesters lined the street outside the banquet hall where Nunes was addressing a group of agriculture lenders. Many protestors see Nunes as trying to protect President Trump from scrutiny over alleged Russian influence.
"Devin Nunes behavior, he's not working for the people," protester Betsy Cambareri said. "He's working for the President and that's not his job, he's here for us and I feel his complicity in what's going down."
What many feel is going down is an alleged attempt to cover up President Trump's potential Russian connections, and it's something Nunes denies.
Before the meeting, Action News reporter Gene Haagenson spoke with Nunes about the Russia investigation.
Gene Haagenson: "When will your committee get back in business?"
Rep. Devin Nunes: "We haven't stopped. We haven't stopped, that's what I'm saying. This is not... that is not a true statement. We have had investigators working every single day on this issue."
The congressman is at the center of a political hurricane. As chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, he's accused of stalling and diverting attention from the investigation into the Trump administration's potential ties to Russia.
The New York Times revealed on Thursday that high White House officials provided Nunes with information about incidental monitoring of Trump campaign officials by intelligence agencies.
Nunes had described the people he received the information from as brave whistleblowers, however, it appears they are actually high officials -- adding fuel to the controversy that Nunes is simply trying to cover for the White House.
The congressman has refused to recuse himself as chair of the House Intelligence Committee which many of his colleagues have urged him to do, however, he has canceled further intelligence committee hearings.
But as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Nunes has canceled meetings of the committee, and a call from most of these protestors was Nunes should remove himself from the proceedings.
"Yes I do, I do, it's a fallacy he thinks he can be impartial for his committee," constituent Sharon Burtao said. "He's already shown his ties to the white house are more important."
The congressman's meeting with the banking group was closed to the public, but those who attended said he talked about the investigation, and water the Valleys water issues.
But many of the protestors on the street said they wished Nunes would hold a town hall meeting and talk to them.
The Senate intelligence committee in the meantime began hearing testimony on Thursday about alleged Russian interference in the U.S. election process.
