Rebuke and Remove US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes

House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes, Republican Representative of California's US House District 22, has demonstrated that he is incapable of leading an independent oversight investigation of the actions of the Trump administration and allegations that it, members of the Trump transition team or the Trump campaign may have interacted with foreign nationals — wittingly or unwittingly — to the detriment of the United States of America and its democratic institutions and processes.

As a former US Army Intelligence officer, I am angered and dismayed by his blatant disregard for the protection of classified information, for his pitiful attempts to equate 'leaks' with allegations of misconduct now actively under investigation and with his personal disclosure of his concerns and suspicions.

Representative Nunes has violated the 'first rule of classified information' by publicly discussing his assertion that members of the Trump administration or transition team may have been incidentally identified in conversations or communications with representatives of foreign powers, by intelligence services operating lawfully under FISA provisions. He asserts that he has been provided 'dozens' of intelligence work products such as estimates, reports or warnings by one or more unidentified parties which resulted in the 'unmasking' of such individuals.

His responsibility is NOT to disclose such concerns to the public nor to any member of the administration outside of the confines of his committee. His job IS to provide oversight of all elements of this administration, and disclose classified matters only in a framework where any and all allusions to such information are protected from compromise. He cannot and should not discuss or disclose classified information to members of the media, or to report it to an administration whose members, advisors or past associates may be under investigation.

Please sign this petition to demand that Speaker Paul Ryan immediately force Representative Nunes to step aside and clearly and unequivocally condemn his disclosure, and refer Nunes' misconduct to the House Ethics Committee for further action.