Representative Devin Nunes and his Loyalty to Indicted Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn

Photo source: ​Raw Story

Representative Devin Nunes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, has been recused from the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and interactions between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Nevertheless, he seems to have inserted himself several times into the Trump White House attempt to interfere in the Congressional investigation.

An article in Newsweek, released today, may explain some of his behavior. Nunes seems to have developed an admiration for Flynn. In a December, 2016 interview with the author of the article, Jeff Stein, Nunes expressed his admiration for the general:
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“This guy was one of the best intelligence officers in several generations … I don't know if you've ever met him, but Flynn is extremely smart. He really is top notch.”

The Newsweek article can be found here.
www.newsweek.com/nunes-memo-trump-russia-probe-flynn-mueller-page-fbi-802710

Nunes has numerous connections to the Trump campaign and the Trump administration. He helped fundraise for Trump during the summer of 2016. (A Fresno Bee article about the fundraiser can be found here.) He was appointed a member of the transition team in November 2016. He worked closely with Michael Flynn during the transition.
http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-rep-devin-nunes-named-to-trump-s-1478893307-htmlstory.html

Nunes attended a breakfast meeting in January 2017, the day before the Inauguration, that Michael Flynn, then the incoming national security adviser, and Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, also attended.

The article from Business Insider describing the breakfast meeting can be found here.
http://www.businessinsider.com/devin-nunes-michael-flynn-turkey-russia-2017-11

A Forbes article about Michael Flynn’s ties to Turkey can be found here.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/charlestiefer/2017/11/10/mueller-investigation-of-flynn-crimes-as-to-turkey-could-produce-a-second-papadopolous/#680825194c0b

A March 31, 2017 article from The Guardian, a British newspaper, describes the apparent loyalty Nunes exhibits for Flynn
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/31/devin-nunes-michael-flynn-trump-russia