Nunes steps away from Russia probe
WASHINGTON >> The Republican chairman 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 Rep. Devin Nunes of California comes amid partisan turmoil on the House intelligence 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, and the House ethics committee is investigating whether he improperly disclosed classified information.
“Several left-wing activist groups have filed accusations against me with the Office of Congressional Ethics,” Nunes said in a statement. “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’ 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.
“We have a fresh opportunity to move forward in the unified and nonpartisan way that an investigation of this seriousness demands,” he said.
As the majority party in the House, Republicans will keep the committee chairmanship. GOP Reps. 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.
Two watchdog groups, Democracy 21 and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, had asked the House ethics committee to investigate whether Nunes disclosed classified information he learned from intelligence reports.