>> i wish the issue hadn't been raised. quite frankly this hearing would have been going ahead anyway and we would have been focusing on the extent of russian influence in the election, a real issue. both parties should be interested in that. instead we're sidetracked somewhat. to the extent there could have been information that worked its way to the media, to democrats through investigations, surveillance, whatever. but to overshoot it by saying that president obama intentionally -- i see no evidence there. >> what should the white house do, completely walk it back? should the president of the united states apologize to his predecessor? >> i'm going to get through today's hearing first. i'm not going to tell a president what to do. >> do you see anything in those documents to suggest any wiretapping or if president trump's communications were picked up in any way? >> i'll relee on chairman nunez. he has more access to what the rest of us do. >> to put a button on this, do you want the white house to drop this wiretapping allegation? >> i would just as soon drop it.