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The California Report

Russia Controversy Follows Congressman Nunes to Fresno

Vanessa Rancaño
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Demonstrators outside an event in Fresno where Republican Congressman Devin Nunes spoke to a farming industry group on March 31, 2017. (Vanessa Rancano/KQED)

Republican Congressman Devin Nunes  has gotten a lot of flak for his role in the U.S. House Intelligence Committee investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. And protesters made sure he wasn't getting away from the controversy during a visit back home on Friday to the Central Valley.

Nunes, who chairs the committee, is under fire from Democrats who argue he is biased in favor of the Trump administration and should give up his role in leading the investigation. Nunes dismisses the criticism and says there's no reason to step aside.

During a speech by the Tulare congressman to a meeting of agriculture industry lenders in Fresno, a few hundred protesters lined a street near a busy intersection carrying signs and bullhorns. Passing cars honked their approval and gave the crowd a thumbs up.  A loudspeaker blared the Russian national anthem.

"Many people here, we haven’t been out since the ‘60s," said Dave Derby, a former Clovis school principal turned community organizer. "I never thought we’d be back doing this again, but here we are. We’re in our 60s and 70s — I think it’s amazing what’s happening.”

Demonstrators show off their signs outside an event where Republican congressman Devin Nunes spoke to a farming industry group.
Demonstrators show off their signs outside an event where Republican Congressman Nunes spoke to a farming industry group in Fresno on March 31, 2017. (Vanessa Rancano/KQED)

Derby and his wife started the group Every Tuesday Vigil, which holds weekly demonstrations outside Nunes' Clovis district office.  He said the group was one of several that grew out of protests at the Fresno airport in the wake of President Trump's travel ban announcement earlier this year.

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A few people drove in from out of town, like a group from Stockton that rejects Nunes’ stance on California water issues.

But most were Central Valley constituents. One of them, a lifelong Republican named John Essex who voted for Nunes in 2004, said Nunes’ recent secret intelligence briefing with White House officials raises serious questions about the congressman's ability to lead an investigation into that very administration.

“I don’t think our congressman needs to be making midnight trips in Uber to the White House,” he said, referring to reports that's how Nunes met up with officials for the intelligence briefing.

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A few hundred people people lined the street outside the Fresno restaurant where Congressman Nunes spoke to a farming industry group on March 31, 2017. (Howard Watkins)

While the recent controversy has shoved the little-known Republican from rural California into the national spotlight, Essex and others here say their beef with him goes way back.

“If anything, Devin Nunes needs to come and talk to us. It’s been years and years since he’s held a public town hall. No one sees Nunes!”

And that didn’t change today. Nunes slipped into the event through a back entrance and left without demonstrators getting a glimpse of him.

Here are more photos of the protest:

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Demonstrators outside an event where Republican Congressman Devin Nunes spoke to a farming industry group in Fresno on March 31, 2017. (Vanessa Rancano/KQED)
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Many signs at the demonstration in Fresno on March 31, 2017, made reference to the Russia investigation that has Congressman Devin Nunes in the national spotlight. (Vanessa Rancano/KQED)
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A few hundred people lined the street outside the Fresno restaurant where Congressman Nunes spoke to a farming industry group on March 31, 2017. (Vanessa Rancano/KQED)
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Many demonstrators at the protest in Fresno on said while they're upset about Nunes' role in the Russia investigation, they're most angry that he hasn't held a town hall meeting. (Vanessa Rancano/KQED)
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Demonstrators outside an event in Fresno where Republican congressman Devin Nunes spoke to a farming industry group on March 31, 2017. (Vanessa Rancano/KQED)
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Protesters in Fresno didn't catch a glimpse of Congressman Nunes: He slipped into the event through a back door and left without addressing the crowd. (Vanessa Rancano/KQED)
Demonstrators show off their signs outside an event where Republican congressman Devin Nunes spoke to a farming industry group.
Demonstrators show off their signs outside an event in Fresno where Republican congressman Devin Nunes spoke to a farming industry group on March 31, 2017. (Vanessa Rancano/KQED)

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