House intel chair exits from probe on Russian meddling
Ethics complaints filed against Nunes
WASHINGTON House intelligence committee Chairman Devin Nunes’ withdrawal from leading the committee’s probe of Russian meddling in last year’s election removes some of the controversy Nunes brought with him, but it is not clear how else the leadership change will effect the probe.
For one, the Senate intelligence committee has established itself as taking the lead in the congressional investigations of Russian election activities.
And for another, Nunes made clear in his announcement Thursday that he is giving up control of the House probe temporarily while he attempts to answer ethics complaints filed against him as a result of his conduct in the investigation.
“Several left-wing activist groups have filed accusations against me with the Office of Congressional Ethics,” the California Republican said in a statement released by the committee. “The charges are entirely false and politically motivated,”
Still, he decided it was in “the best interests” of the committee for him to have Rep. Mike Conaway take over the probe with help from fellow Republican committee members Reps. Trey Gowdy and Tom Rooney.
Nunes said he will continue to run the other activities of the committee and has asked to speak to the Ethics Committee as soon as possible in hopes of having the claims dismissed.
The groups Democracy 21, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and MoveOn.org have filed complaints with the Office of Congressional Ethics claiming Nunes violated House rules by disclosing classified information regarding the unmasking of President Trump’s associates caught up in incidental surveillance of intelligence agency targets.
Nunes then briefed Trump without first disclosing his information to the committee’s ranking member, California Rep. Adam Schiff, or other members of the committee. Schiff has since reviewed the documents.
The Committee on Ethics chairwoman, Susan W. Books of Indiana, and its ranking Democrat, Theodore E. Deutch of Florida, released a statement Thursday morning acknowledging the committee “is investigating and gathering more information regarding these allegations” about Nunes releasing classified information to the public in violation of his oath of office.
The groups filed their complaint March 28 and then supplemented the request Wednesday.
House ethics rules allow the Ethics Committee to take over an investigation and order the Office of Congressional Ethics to stand down.
OCE operates under transparency rules that make it much more likely an investigation report will be released to the public.