Nunes calls out Pentagon over plagiarism

By David Taub, Senior Reporter

Published 7 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.

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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