House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes to Step Aside From Russia Investigation
by DANIELLA SILVA

House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes said Thursday he will temporarily step aside from the committee's investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election after coming under harsh criticism.

Nunes, R-California, has come under fire after claiming last month that a secret source had provided him with information suggesting President Donald Trump and his associates may have been "monitored" by U.S. intelligence during his transition. It later emerged that Nunes went to the White House to read the documents about the alleged surveillance.

He later backed down from the explosive claim, saying he could not be sure that Trump and his associates were "monitored."

Nunes was sharply criticized for not informing ranking Democratic member Rep. Adam Schiff or other members of the committee that he was reviewing the documents before making his announcement to reporters.

Democrats had called for him to recuse himself from the intelligence investigation into Russian meddling of the election and any potential ties to Trump or his associates.

The House Ethics Committee said Thursday morning that it has begun an investigation into allegations that Nunes may have made "unauthorized disclosures of classified information," in possible violation of House rules.

The Ethics Committee said that the mere fact that they were investigating the allegations did not in itself indicate any violation had occurred.

Nunes said in a statement that he believed it was in the "best interests" of the Intel committee and Congress for him to temporarily step aside.

"Several leftwing activist groups have filed accusations against me with the Office of Congressional Ethics," Nunes said in the 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."

Still, he added that despite the "baseless of these charges" he would be stepping aside, and Representative Mike Conaway, with assistance from Representatives Trey Gowdy and Tom Rooney, would temporarily take charge of the investigation.

Last edited by Goose (4/06/2017 2:25 pm)