Devin Nunes' media site down after reported 'attack' on server

An online media outlet funded by Rep. Devin NunesDevin Gerald NunesReagan would denounce Trump’s attacks on NATO, democratic allies Hillicon Valley: Foreign spying comes under new scrutiny | How Yelp became a political weapon | NYC weighs minimum wage for Uber, Lyft drivers | Facebook apologizes for privacy bug Nunes to LeBron: Brace yourself for California's taxes MORE’s (R-Calif.) campaign appeared to be down Sunday afternoon after what the site called “heavy traffic and an attack on our servers.”

“The California Republican,” the name of the site, posted on its Facebook page that those trying to reach the site may encounter an error message. 

As of late Sunday afternoon, the link to the site’s home page redirects back to the outlet’s Facebook page, and links to articles redirect to a broken Facebook link.

Politico reported earlier Sunday that the Nunes campaign has paid nearly $8,000 to a Fresno-area communications consultant since July for the site. "The California Republican" is listed as a "Media/News Company" on Facebook.

Anthony Ratekin, Nunes’s chief of staff, declined to comment to Politico about the site.

Nunes has faced significant media scrutiny in recent weeks after he led the charge to release a Republican memo that accuses the FBI and Justice Department of abusing a surveillance program because of partisan bias. 

The report drew significant attention from other reporters and lawmakers who criticized the venture. 

Andrew Janz, Nunes's challenger in the November midterm, told Politico the congressman is spreading "misinformation" and "fake news."

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), a fellow California lawmaker who is the subject of a "California Republican" post, took a swipe at the outlet, joking that he would create a site of his own.

“Aw, just kidding. I don’t need to spend more money peddling fake news,” Lieu tweeted. “I’ve learned there is an easier way to inform the American people: tell the truth.”

Devin Nunes created and is paying for a fake news site that, among other things, attacks me. So I am going to do the same thing.

Aw, just kidding. I don't need to spend money peddling fake news. I've learned there is an easier way to inform the American people: tell the truth. https://t.co/EF2tGe9ORZ

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 11, 2018