How the FBI is facing a federal court showdown over Trump data

The FBI is refusing to disclose additional information about its decision to begin investigating then-candidate Donald Trump in July 2016, prompting Rep. Devin Nunes to threaten a showdown in federal court.

Mr. Nunes, California Republican and chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on intelligence, sent a letter to the Justice Department saying the FBI will not un-redact internal electronic communications provided the panel on how the investigation got started. Mr. Nunes says the FBI has blacked out large portions of FBI electronic messages.

The FBI also is resisting Mr. Nunes’ demand to make documents available to lawmakers on the application for a court-approved wiretap on former Trump volunteer Carter Page.

Mr. Nunes has previously disclosed that the bureau relied heavily on the Christoper Steele dossier, paid for by the Democratic Party, to obtain nearly a year’s worth of surveillance on Mr. Page.

Mr. Nunes gained the information from a reluctant FBI only after issuing subpoenas and gaining the intervention of House Speaker Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican. But since then, the FBI has shut the door again.

Mr. Nunes April 4 letter went to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Robert Mueller to investigate President Trump and his associates last May. The letter also went to FBI Director Christopher Wray.

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