Nunes calls out Pentagon over plagiarism

By David Taub, Senior Reporter

Published 8 years ago on

November 17, 2016

House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes (R-Fresno/Clovis/Visalia) called out Pentagon officials in a hearing today over lifting information from Wikipedia for a report about building the Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex at Croughton Air Base, 70 miles northwest of London.

At the hearing today (Thursday), Nunes wanted to know whether James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, Robert Work, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and Marcel Lettre, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence were aware that information in that report specifically about a military facility in the Azores were plagiarized from Wikipedia.

The trio denied knowing about it and deflected most questions.

“I am just alarmed that we would rely on Wikipedia, free online encyclopedia, that is famously known for most high school students plagiarizing their homework, that the Department of Defense would even use Wikipedia to provide information to Congress,” Nunes chided Work.

“Is it appropriate to take information off of Wikipedia and provide it to the Congress?” Nunes asked.

“I would say I am surprised this comes directly form a Wikipedia page,” Work responded.

The full video of the hearing can be viewed here.

E-mail David Taub

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Republicans’ Trust in Media Increases Following Trump’s Return to White House

DON'T MISS

Jeanine Pirro to Be Interim US Attorney for DC, Trump Says

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Catch Fleeing Gang Member Who Tossed Gun Over Fence

DON'T MISS

Suit Challenges New Rules on Children in Federal Custody Who Crossed Into US

DON'T MISS

Fresno Mayor Dyer Bullish on Growth, Calls on Newsom for $200 Million

DON'T MISS

Rejoicing Peruvians See Pope Leo XIV as One of Their Own After His Many Years in Peru

DON'T MISS

FEMA’s Acting Administrator Is Replaced a Day After Congressional Testimony

DON'T MISS

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Leads Missile Test, Stresses Nuclear Force Readiness, KCNA Says

DON'T MISS

Shohei Ohtani Could Have Landed 15-Year Deal, Agent Says, but He Didn’t Want to Risk Skills Decline

DON'T MISS

White House Overhaul of Troubled US Air Traffic Control System Will Cost ‘Lots of Billions’

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Plan 10-Hour Bicycle, Pedestrian Safety Operation for Saturday

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Xzavier Isaha McGee

UP NEXT

Fresno Author Teams Up With Valley Children’s to Help Kids Know More About Epilepsy

UP NEXT

Looking for a Perfect Companion? Mittens Is One Handsome Kitten

UP NEXT

Catholic Cardinals Signal With Black Smoke There Is No New Pope Yet

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested Again on Child Sex Crime Charges, Investigators Say

UP NEXT

Madera County Teen Revived With Narcan After Overdose, Ahwahnee Man Faces Felony Charges

UP NEXT

State Center Trustees Turn Deaf Ear to Backers of Downtown Student Housing

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Douglas Kindle

UP NEXT

Finding New Uses for Farmland in the Heart of Ag Country Is a Daunting Task

David Taub,

Senior Reporter

Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email