Citing ethics complaints, Nunes exits Russia probe
WASHINGTON House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes is stepping aside from leading a congressional investigation of Russian interference in last year’s U.S. presidential election, citing ethics complaints that he mishandled classified information.
The decision by the Republican from California comes amid partisan turmoil on the committee.
Democrats have alleged that Nunes, who was on President Donald Trump’s transition team, is too close to the White House and cannot lead an impartial inquiry. In an extraordinary step, the usually-quiet House Ethics Committee said it is investigating whether Nunes improperly disclosed classified information. President Donald Trump said Nunes is “a very honorable guy.”
Nunes blamed “leftwing activist groups” for filing accusations against him with the Office of Congressional Ethics.
“The charges are entirely false and politically motivated and are being leveled just as the American people are beginning to learn the truth about the improper unmasking of the identities of U.S. citizens and other abuses of power,” Nunes said in a statement.
Nunes’ move could be seen as a win for Democrats whose cries for an independent panel to investigate Russia’s possible ties with the Trump campaign have grown. They have pointed in particular to two Nunes trips to the White House — one announced, one not — as evidence that his loyalty to Trump outweighs his commitment to leading a bipartisan investigation.
By all accounts, the intelligence committee’s growing partisanship has become a distraction from its underlying investigations.
The top Democrat on the committee, Adam Schiff of California, said he appreciated Nunes’ decision to step aside from the Russia investigation.
“There was a cloud hanging over us after the White House incident,” Schiff told The Associated Press on Thursday.
As the majority party in the House, Republicans will keep the committee chairmanship. GOP Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas, with help from Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina and Rep. Tom Rooney of Florida, will temporarily take charge of the investigation, said Speaker Paul Ryan.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton, speaking Thursday in New York at a summit on women’s issues, said she is “deeply concerned” about allegations of Russian meddling in last year’s presidential election and said there needs to be an independent, nonpartisan investigation to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Clinton said Russian involvement was meant to sow “distrust and confusion.” “I think what was done to us was an act of aggression and it was carried out by a foreign power under the control of someone who has a deep desire to dominate Europe and send us into a tailspin,” she said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.