WASHINGTON Evidence of collusion has already surfaced in the House Intelligence Committees probe of the 2016 election.

No, not between President Donald Trumps campaign and Russia, but between Trumps White House and the chairman of the House committee thats supposed to be doing the investigating.

Both California Republican Rep. Devin Nunes and the White House initially denied that his newly discovered information purportedly supporting an unfounded Trump wire tapping claim had come from the White House. Now, both have decided theyd rather not discuss it.

Its not in our interest to talk about the process, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Friday. What occurred between Chairman Nunes in coming here was both routine and proper.

Spicers various iterations of no comment came as published reports named Nunes sources as White House officials from the National Security Council. Indeed, the reports show that the agency charged with coordinating U.S. military, intelligence and diplomatic efforts around the world had employees instead focusing on undoing political damage to Trump from his evidence-free tweet.

Spicer, on Thursday and Friday, denied that NSC staff members were acting specifically to look for such evidence. Rather, they found the information in the ordinary course of their work, Spicer said.

On Thursday, Spicer announced that the White House was inviting both House and Senate intelligence committee leaders to look at the evidence for themselves an invitation that appeared to come just as The New York Times was publishing its story revealing the names of two NSC staffers who worked with Nunes.

On Friday, Spicer continued scolding reporters for pursuing the story about Russia working to elect Trump president instead of possible proof supporting Trumps March 4 tweet, in which he accused then-President Barack Obama of wire tapping him at his Manhattan office tower.

These are serious issues. They raise serious concerns. And if true, the issues would be devastating, Spicer said.