republican lawmaker devin nunes investigation whether obama administration officials use classify intelligence report discredit donald trump 2016 campaign team could backfire congressman president source familiar report say report contain evidence aid former democratic president barack obama act improperly source say indicate trump associate may violate obscure 1799 law logan act prohibit unauthorized u.s. citizens negotiate foreign government dispute unite state spy report also relevant investigation special counsel robert mueller conclusions u.s. intelligence agencies russia work tilt last november election republican trump favor say source speak condition anonymity mueller office decline comment russia u.s. sanction right abuse 2014 annexation crimea repeatedly deny allegations election meddle trump deny possible collusion campaign moscow issue loom new presidency nunes chairman u.s. house intelligence committee trump ally meet secretly early year white house intelligence aide accuse obama officials request name u.s. citizens see intercept communications russians foreigners white house respond request comment name would routinely censor intelligence agency intercept nunes charge obama aid leak information try undermine trump run president spokesman then-united nations ambassador samantha power nunes republicans accuse dig political dirt say read intelligence report part normal duties spokesman former obama national security adviser susan rice republicans also accuse misuse intelligence respond request comment mueller investigate meet conversations trump associate russian foreign officials businessmen include trump adviser son-in-law jar kushner president eldest son donald trump jr. former trump campaign chairman paul manafort former national security adviser michael flynn obvious question meet conversations set say one source set purpose agendas approve brief afterward signal intelligence might shed light that representatives trump associate respond request comment democratic lawmakers say nunes others make assertions leak distract attention two congressional investigations mueller probe russian matter national security agency mask name u.s. citizens intercept officials necessary security clearances request intelligence purpose unmask americans extremely sensitive unmask political opponents really problematic say congressional official also speak condition anonymity obama officials ask name fail justify request warrant investigation official say ask hard evidence power aid misuse intelligence political purpose leak information media official decline comment republican attempt deflect trump-russia probe could backfire source