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.
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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, along assistance from Representatives Trey Gowdy and Tom Rooney, would temporarily take charge of the investigation.
Schiff, D- California, said in a statement that he "respected" Nunes' decision.
"I know this was not an easy decision for the Chairman, with whom I have worked well for many years. He did so in the best interests of the committee and I respect that decision," Schiff said.
"The important work of investigating the Russian involvement in our election never subsided, but we have a fresh opportunity to move forward in the unified and nonpartisan way that an investigation of this seriousness demands," he added.
House Speaker Paul Ryan said that the intelligence leader continued to have his trust. Ryan added that he "fully supported" Nunes' decision to step aside, as the issue had become a "distraction" to the investigation.
"Devin Nunes has earned my trust over many years for his integrity and dedication to the critical work that the intelligence community does to keep America safe," Ryan said in a statement. "He continues to have that trust, and I know he is eager to demonstrate to the Ethics Committee that he has followed all proper guidelines and laws."
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the uproar over Nunes "wasn't a problem for us."
"Our goal was to get the investigations done," Spicer said, adding that Nunes' decision won't change that.
The Senate is conducting its own investigation into Russian interference of the election.