Lodi News-Sentinel

Schiff: Nunes should recuse himself from Russia investigat­ion

- By Sarah D. Wire

WASHINGTON — Rep. Adam Schiff on Monday urged his fellow California­n Rep. Devin Nunes to remove himself from their investigat­ion into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Before late last week, Schiff, a Democrat, had gone out of his way not to be critical of Nunes, a Republican, throughout the fledgling investigat­ion. They have held the top positions on the House Intelligen­ce Committee for two years, and served in Congress together for more than a decade.

“This is not a recommenda­tion I make lightly, as the Chairman and I have worked together well for several years; and I take this step with the knowledge of the solemn responsibi­lity we have on the Intelligen­ce Committee to provide oversight on all intelligen­ce matters, not just to conduct the investigat­ion,” Schiff said in a statement.

Committee chairman Nunes last week surprised many when he told reporters that conversati­ons between President Donald Trump and his transition team may have been accidental­ly picked up during legal intelligen­ce gathering. Nunes briefed the media and Trump before informing his committee.

A spokesman for Nunes, who was a member of Trump’s transition team, said Monday he obtained the informatio­n from a source on White House grounds, which raised even more questions. Nearly a week after Nunes’ announceme­nt, committee members still haven’t seen the evidence, Schiff said.

“There was no legitimate justificat­ion for bringing that informatio­n to the White House instead of the committee. That it was also obtained at the White House makes this departure all the more concerning,” Schiff said.

Nunes’ spokesman would not comment on calls for the chairman to recuse himself.

House Democrats have called for an entirely independen­t investigat­ion, but short of that were coalescing around the call for Nunes to step aside Monday.

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