Republicans in the House are building a wall. It just might not be the one you expect.
CBS News reported Thursday that the wall in question is being built by Republicans in the offices of the House Intelligence Committee, rather than down by the border. The apparent reason for the structure is to keep Democratic and Republican staffers apart — evidence of the "partisan hostilities" ravaging the committee, CBS News said. The construction is apparently slated for the spring.
Several Republicans on the committee were not apprised of the plans for the wall, but mused to CBS News that it sounded like the work of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.). Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) said: "You've got to talk to Devin. I don't know what they're trying to do one way or the other." Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) explained: "The level of trust and the level of everything down there ... it's poison."
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The toxic atmosphere within the committee has been well-publicized. Various Republicans have claimed that Democrats are pushing the boundaries of the House's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election because of political motivations, while Democrats argue the Republicans have leaked information in an attempt to help shield President Trump from the FBI's Russia probe.
Additionally, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the committee's ranking member, has openly clashed with Nunes for months. "We have more than our share of difficulties," Schiff told CBS News, but he argued that erecting a literal wall in the committee's offices "would be a very destructive decision."
Spokespeople for the committee declined to comment to CBS News. Read more here.
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