Nunes' Intelligence Came From White House Officials: Report

The New York Times, citing anonymous government officials, reports it knows where Rep. Devin Nunes got those classified intelligence reports that allegedly show President Trump and associates were caught up in American surveillance of foreign officials. The Times names two White House officials as the source of the reports: Michael Ellis, a lawyer in the White House Counsel's Office, and Ezra Cohen-Watnick, the senior director for intelligence at the National Security Council. Nunes has refused to identify his sources for the reports, which officials say mostly show foreign officials and ambassadors trying to gain contacts inside Trump's family and associates.

If the officials in the Times story are telling the truth, it contradicts statements Nunes has made about his sources, the Washington Post reports. Nunes has claimed his sources weren't White House staff and also said the reports didn't come from anyone who would have an interest in backing up Trump's evidence-free claims about wiretapping at Trump Tower. White House staff would have such an interest. According to the Atlantic, Nunes has also previously said the White House wasn't aware of the information in the reports. It's unclear why Nunes would have rushed to brief Trump on information that originated at the White House, which is what got him in trouble in the first place. Meanwhile, the AP reports Sean Spicer has invited intelligence leaders from both parties to view material related to surveillance involving Trump associates. He wouldn't say if it's the same intelligence Nunes has seen. (More Devin Nunes stories.)