Classified briefing on ‘spygate’ set for Thursday

Congressional lawmakers are scheduled to meet with intelligence officials Thursday in two separate classified briefings about the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The briefings will address what President Donald Trump is calling “spygate,” or the FBI’s use of a confidential informant in his 2016 presidential campaign. The New York Times reported last week that an FBI source had contact with two Trump campaign advisers before the 2016 election to question them about their relationships with Russia. Trump has since said the matter is “starting to look like one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history.” The first meeting will brief three Republicans: House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Rep. Devin Nunes of California, and Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina. Nunes and Gowdy lead the House Intelligence and Oversight committees, respectively. The second meeting will include Senate and House leaders from both parties. The details of the briefings continued to evolve Thursday morning, and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called for a single meeting to brief all attendees at once.