Trump’s former intelligence chief told him to be careful with Devin Nunes, book says
President Donald Trump’s first director of national intelligence advised him to be careful with information provided to him by California Rep. Devin Nunes, warning that some of it “turns out to be false,” according to a new book about the Trump administration.
The exchange is detailed in “Rage,” a book about Trump by journalist Bob Woodward. Woodward spoke to Trump in 18 recorded conversations for the book.
The remark about Nunes occurred while Dan Coats was still serving as the Director of National Intelligence, but Woodward doesn’t say exactly when it happened. Coats stepped down from the role in July 2019.
The exchange centers on one of Nunes’ recurring arguments about the 2016 election. Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, has alleged that Justice Department officials and members of the Obama administration improperly asked for identifying information about Trump allies who were captured on intelligence reports communicating with foreign officials. That process of identifying an American in an intelligence report is known as unmasking.
Coats talked about Nunes after a briefing to Trump about unmasking, according to Woodward. Coats told Trump that unmasking is a routine practice, and Nunes was misleading him, according to the book.
“I know Devin Nunes is trying to be doing everything he can to support you,” Coats reportedly told Trump. “But he passes information to you that turns out to be false. In the end, it hurts you. Devin has told you something that is not true.”
“If you would contact us first so we can verify that, whether it’s true or not, it puts you in a better position,” Coats, a Republican who represented Indiana in the U.S. House and Senate for 24 years, continued. “We could assess whether or not what has been said is backed up by evidence, or factual, before you go public.”
Nunes, R-Tulare, closely aligned himself with Trump early in the administration and has defended Trump both during Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and during Trump’s impeachment.
Since 2019, Nunes has filed seven lawsuits against media organizations and critics alleging they conspired to harm his reputation. He dropped one case against a retired farmer in his district, and judges have dismissed or diminished three others.
Nunes also is suing McClatchy, the owner of the largest newspaper in his district, The Fresno Bee. McClatchy has called the suit a “baseless attack on local journalism.”
Trump did not agree with Coats’ assessment of the San Joaquin Valley congressman, calling Nunes “the most courageous person in town,” according to Woodward. Woodward also noted that Trump has suggested to others that Nunes should get the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is a military award for valor, though Nunes has not served in the military.
Trump has corrected himself after saying that publicly at least once, during a Fox and Friends episode in October 2018. He said he meant the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which the president can award to civilians.
Coats did not return a call seeking comment. Nunes’ office did not respond to a request for comment.
“Rage” is due to publish Tuesday, containing many behind-the-scenes details of the Trump administration. Woodward concludes in the book that he does not think Trump is fit for the presidency.
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 2:44 PM with the headline "Trump’s former intelligence chief told him to be careful with Devin Nunes, book says."
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