WASHINGTON — The Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday rebuffed calls to recuse himself from the panel’s investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential election, as Speaker Paul D. Ryan expressed support for his continued leadership.
Representative Devin Nunes of California said he would continue to lead the House investigation despite accusations from Democrats — including his committee’s ranking member, Representative Adam B. Schiff of California — that he is too close to President Trump to conduct an impartial inquiry.
“Why would I not?’’ Nunes told reporters Tuesday morning. Pressed about concerns from Democrats, he added, “That sounds like their problem.’’
Ryan — who, as House speaker, has the power to remove Nunes as chairman — said he saw no reason for Nunes to step away from the investigation.
Last week Nunes said he briefed Ryan on information indicating Trump or members of his transition team may have been “incidentally’’ caught up in legal surveillance of foreign operatives by US spy agencies. Ryan said Tuesday he did not know who was the source of that information.
Schiff said he was “deeply concerned’’ by the cancellation of the hearing with former officials, which he said would have focused at least in part on Michael T. Flynn, the national security adviser who resigned after it was revealed that he lied to White House officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, about his contacts with Russia.
Nunes insisted he would stay on amid the news that the committee would not hold a closed-door meeting Tuesday with James Comey of the FBI and Admiral Michael S. Rogers of the National Security Agency. Democrats said the cancellations went further, including a regular meeting later in the week. Nunes said the hearing with Comey and Rogers would be rescheduled. “Everything is moving forward as is,’’ he said.
It was the latest development in a week that has seen bipartisan cooperation quickly collapse. Last week, without consulting Schiff, Nunes bumped a planned public hearing with James R. Clapper Jr., the former director of national intelligence; and John O. Brennan, the former CIA director.
Tensions had escalated Monday after the confirmation that Nunes had traveled to the White House grounds to view what he described as classified intelligence documents.
