Rep. Devin Nunes steps away from Russia investigation amid ethics complaints
After a number of ethics complaints, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., announced today that he will step aside from leading the House Intelligence Committee's probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
“Several left-wing activist groups have filed accusations against me 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 released this morning.
But he said today that Republican Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas, with assistance from GOP Reps. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina and Tom Rooney of Florida, will “temporarily” lead the committee’s Russia probe while the House Ethics Committee looks into the matter.
“I will continue to fulfill all my other responsibilities as Committee Chairman, and I am requesting to speak to the Ethics Committee at the earliest possible opportunity in order to expedite the dismissal of these false claims,” the statement concluded.