Call Me Maybe? Our Quest to Interview Congressman Devin Nunes

The California Report has asked U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, for an interview multiple times, but never received a response. Following a tip, reporters Lily Jamali and Alex Hall attempted to interview Nunes at a fundraiser event. This is a blog about their quest.

Many journalists have tried – and failed – to get an interview with Republican Congressman Devin Nunes.

I now count myself among them.

The battle for his California’s 22nd Congressional District ranks as the most expensive House race in the country, if funding from outside groups is excluded, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Only a special election in Georgia has drawn more campaign cash in a midterm year that is already the most expensive in American history.

Nunes has raised an eye-popping $10.5 million. His Democratic challenger, Fresno prosecutor Andrew Janz, hasn’t fared poorly either, bringing in $7.2 million. And they’re not done yet.

“We oftentimes don’t see a congressional race top $7.2 million in total cost,” said Sarah Bryner, research director at the Center for Responsive Politics. “So to see a challenger raising that much money is an indicator that this race is going to be very expensive and also, clearly, one that both parties are aiming to win.”

It’s also stunning to see how much more Nunes has raised this year compared to previous years.

But this is no normal midterm election year, thanks to President Trump. As the House Intelligence Committee Chairman, Nunes has emerged as a key Trump ally during special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. That investigation continues to close in on members of Trump’s inner circle. The president has repeatedly called Mueller’s Russia probe “a witch hunt.”

The Russia stuff (or “The Russia Conspiracy” as one Nunes supporter I met calls it) is important. But so are several other issues that affect Nunes’ constituents in a very personal way.

Here are the big ones in the district: poverty, illiteracy, water contamination, water allocation, and the impact of Trump’s trade wars on farmers whom Nunes represents.

Many of these topics are admittedly less exciting than Russia, and that applies to news consumers of all political stripes. And it helps explain the torrent of money that’s descended on CA-22.

Let’s be clear. While it’s possible that a Blue Wave is gaining momentum in California, it’s not likely to make it here. Polling shows Nunes is likely to win.”

From what I can tell, Nunes’ television appearances these days are limited to Fox News and the local affiliate in Fresno.

“It’s sad what’s happened in this country when you have so many Americans think that the Russians have the President of the United States captive and members of Congress captive. It’s just bizarre behavior, but they are willing to open up their checkbooks and write checks,” Nunes told Fox 26 in an interview posted yesterday.

I have contacted Nunes’ office several times in recent weeks requesting an interview. So have several of my colleagues here at The California Report. His communications team generally sends one email back acknowledging the request, and then it’s radio silence.

So I headed to Tulare County, where – speaking of fundraisers – Nunes was holding one with former Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz of Utah. Chaffetz is now a Fox News personality.

My colleague, reporter Alex Hall who is based in Fresno, didn’t have the address. But then, we got a tip and tried to go.

We got as far as the security booth of the swanky gated community before we were turned away. No media allowed. Better luck next time.

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