statement when he said the fbi opened a case into allegations whether russia had made an offer of assistance in the potential involvement of members of the trump campaign. i cannot envision a scenario where that would not be a reasonable predication to open an investigation. >> well, it's papadopoulos, that's not what they had. you didn't quite get there. if it's papadopoulos, that's weak. >> i think the characterization was that it was a credible source of information stands on its own. i don't think anybody in this committee would argue that, one, it was inappropriate to open that, and two, that it wasn't absolutely -- >> we have questions about whether it is appropriate because we don't know the underlying information. we read in "the new york times" from leaks because papadopoulos said at a bar -- >> the time of the gentleman has expired. >> i'm trying to respond. >> regular order, regular order. >> the chair recognizes the gentleman -- >> mr. chairman, there is not -- there is a second element of