announced he had proof federal agents surveilled trump's campaign and promptly informed the president. >> i felt like i had a duty and obligation to tell him because he's been taking heat in the news media. >> reporter: critics suggested it was like given the police file to the subject of an investigation. nunes walked it back a bit and not before widely sharing details. >> what i saw is -- has nothing to do with russia and nothing to do with the russia investigation, everything to do with possible surveillance activities. >> reporter: fellow republican mike rogers hit nunes fast saying when he was in charge of the same committee members worked to get facts in a bipartisan way. >> we didn't have press conferences about it and run out and say this happened or that happened. >> reporter: nunes stepped away from the committee's russia investigation and pressed on in other ways, sharply suggesting the probe is a political witch hunt, pushing the idea that any real fault lies with intelligence services and