Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Gavin Newsom’s Redistricting Plan Is on Its Way to Voters. What You Need to Know

16 hours ago

CARB Executive Leader Rips Trump’s EPA for Seeking to Kill Proven Climate Science

19 hours ago

California Lawmakers Advance First Two Bills in Democrats’ Redistricting Plan

19 hours ago

Judge Rules Alina Habba Was Unlawfully Appointed as US Attorney in New Jersey

19 hours ago

Trump Say He Will Go on Patrol in Washington With Police, Military

22 hours ago

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Latest Role Is Social Media Troll

1 day ago

California Supreme Court Paves the Way for Democrats’ Redistricting Plan

1 day ago

Why COVID Is Spreading Again This Summer

2 days ago

Most Americans Believe Countries Should Recognize Palestinian State, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

2 days ago
Will Controversial MSNBC Audio Affect Nunes-Janz Race?
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 7 years ago on
August 9, 2018

Share

Rep. Devin Nunes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, talked about the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the Republican effort to impeach a top Department of Justice official, according to audio recordings revealed Wednesday by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow.
Now Andrew Janz, his Democratic opponent in the November election, is calling him corrupt.
“The corruption in Washington is rampant, and Nunes is at the heart of it. My job is to make sure that this is Nunes’ last term in Congress so that we can move the Central Valley forward,” Janz said in a statement.
A staunch Janz supporter, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles), called on Nunes to resign Wednesday night.


But Fresno County Republican Party chairman Fred Vanderhoof said that the audio will help Nunes, not harm him, in the congressional race.
“I don’t think Nunes’ statements will change anything,” Vanderhoof said. “The harassment of Nunes by the national media will cause more people to vote for him and President Trump.”
Nunes reportedly made the comments at a private fundraiser in Spokane, Wash., for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers on July 30.
(Watch the clip from Maddow here).
Maddow said she obtained the recording from a Seattle-based progressive group called Fuse Washington.

Impeaching Rosenstein

In Spokane, Nunes answered a question from an audience member about a Republican plan floated before the summer recess to impeach Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. He oversees the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russians in the 2016 presidential election.
In his answer, Nunes said that considering such an impeachment may interfere with the confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
“So if we actually vote to impeach, OK, what that does is that triggers the Senate then has to take it up. Well, and you have to decide what you want right now because the Senate only has so much time,” Nunes said on the audio clip.
“Do you want them to drop everything and not confirm the Supreme Court justice, the new Supreme Court justice? The Senate would have to drop everything they’re doing … and start with impeachment on Rosenstein. And then take the risk of not getting Kavanaugh confirmed,” Nunes said, as transcribed by NBC News. “So it’s not a matter that any of us like Rosenstein. It’s a matter of, it’s a matter of timing.”

Keeping the House

The audio also revealed Nunes’ desire for Republicans to retain control of the House of Representatives.
“So therein lies, so it’s like your classic Catch-22 situation where we were at a … this puts us in such a tough spot. If (Attorney General Jeff) Sessions won’t un-recuse and Mueller won’t clear the president, we’re the only ones,” Nunes said. “Which is really the danger. That’s why I keep, and thank you for saying it by the way, I mean we have to keep all these seats. We have to keep the majority. If we do not keep the majority, all of this goes away.”
Nunes’ spokesman Jack Langer told The Hill, “These are sensible ideas, I’m glad Chairman Nunes talked about them.”
Said Vanderhoof: “Nunes is trying to drain the swamp, and the swamp is fighting back. No collusion has been proven after a year and half of this investigation. … If anything, this will encourage more people, including Democrats and decline-to-states to vote for them. At high levels, we have corruption. Nunes and others are trying to root it out. We need to support him.”

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

Highway 99 Stop in Fresno Leads CHP to Big Marijuana Bust, DUI Arrest

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Anthony Mark Lowry

DON'T MISS

Powell, Citing Jobs Risk, Opens Door to Cuts but Doesn’t Commit

DON'T MISS

FBI Agents Search Ex-Trump Adviser Bolton’s Home, Source Says

DON'T MISS

Gaza City Officially in Famine, With Hunger Spreading, Says Global Hunger Monitor

DON'T MISS

Gavin Newsom’s Redistricting Plan Is on Its Way to Voters. What You Need to Know

DON'T MISS

Singer Lil Nas X Arrested After Charging at Officers, Police Say

DON'T MISS

Fresno Doctor on Bubonic Plague: It’s Rare But It’s Out There. Prevention Is Key

DON'T MISS

My Friend Joseph Castro, Former Fresno State President and CSU Chancellor, Is Receiving Hospice Care

DON'T MISS

More Americans Applying for Refugee Status in Canada, Data Shows

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Anthony Mark Lowry

UP NEXT

Powell, Citing Jobs Risk, Opens Door to Cuts but Doesn’t Commit

UP NEXT

FBI Agents Search Ex-Trump Adviser Bolton’s Home, Source Says

UP NEXT

Gavin Newsom’s Redistricting Plan Is on Its Way to Voters. What You Need to Know

UP NEXT

Fresno Doctor on Bubonic Plague: It’s Rare But It’s Out There. Prevention Is Key

UP NEXT

My Friend Joseph Castro, Former Fresno State President and CSU Chancellor, Is Receiving Hospice Care

UP NEXT

More Americans Applying for Refugee Status in Canada, Data Shows

UP NEXT

US Supreme Court Lets Trump Cut Diversity-Related NIH Grants

UP NEXT

CARB Executive Leader Rips Trump’s EPA for Seeking to Kill Proven Climate Science

UP NEXT

California Lawmakers Advance First Two Bills in Democrats’ Redistricting Plan

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

FBI Agents Search Ex-Trump Adviser Bolton’s Home, Source Says

36 minutes ago

Gaza City Officially in Famine, With Hunger Spreading, Says Global Hunger Monitor

39 minutes ago

Gavin Newsom’s Redistricting Plan Is on Its Way to Voters. What You Need to Know

16 hours ago

Singer Lil Nas X Arrested After Charging at Officers, Police Say

16 hours ago

Fresno Doctor on Bubonic Plague: It’s Rare But It’s Out There. Prevention Is Key

17 hours ago

My Friend Joseph Castro, Former Fresno State President and CSU Chancellor, Is Receiving Hospice Care

17 hours ago

More Americans Applying for Refugee Status in Canada, Data Shows

18 hours ago

US Supreme Court Lets Trump Cut Diversity-Related NIH Grants

18 hours ago

CARB Executive Leader Rips Trump’s EPA for Seeking to Kill Proven Climate Science

19 hours ago

California Lawmakers Advance First Two Bills in Democrats’ Redistricting Plan

19 hours ago

Highway 99 Stop in Fresno Leads CHP to Big Marijuana Bust, DUI Arrest

A California Highway Patrol stop on Highway 99 in Fresno early Thursday led to the arrest of a driver on suspicion of DUI and drug charges a...

18 minutes ago

A California Highway Patrol stop on Highway 99 in Fresno early Thursday, August 21, 2025, led to a DUI arrest and the seizure of more than 20 pounds of marijuana. (CHP)
18 minutes ago

Highway 99 Stop in Fresno Leads CHP to Big Marijuana Bust, DUI Arrest

Anthony Mark Lowry is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for August 22, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
21 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Anthony Mark Lowry

President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speak during a tour of the Federal Reserve Board building, which is currently undergoing renovations, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 24, 2025. (Reuters File)
31 minutes ago

Powell, Citing Jobs Risk, Opens Door to Cuts but Doesn’t Commit

Police officers stand outside the home of the former White House national security adviser John Bolton as it is searched by FBI members, in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S., August 22, 2025. (Reuters/Tasos Katopodis)
36 minutes ago

FBI Agents Search Ex-Trump Adviser Bolton’s Home, Source Says

A child reacts surrounded by pots as Palestinians wait to receive food from a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, August 21, 2025. (Reuters/Hatem Khaled)
39 minutes ago

Gaza City Officially in Famine, With Hunger Spreading, Says Global Hunger Monitor

California State Sen. Christopher Cabaldon
16 hours ago

Gavin Newsom’s Redistricting Plan Is on Its Way to Voters. What You Need to Know

Lil Nas X attends the Vanity Fair Oscars party after the 97th Academy Awards, in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., March 2, 2025. (Reuters File)
16 hours ago

Singer Lil Nas X Arrested After Charging at Officers, Police Say

bubonic plague squirrel
17 hours ago

Fresno Doctor on Bubonic Plague: It’s Rare But It’s Out There. Prevention Is Key

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend