House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes has stayed true to his recusal from his panel’s Russian investigation, according to the lawmaker who took over the probe.
“He’s had absolutely no — he’s not interfered with our investigation or tried to affect it in any way whatsoever,” Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, told reporters Wednesday of Nunes, R-Calif. “With respect to the Russia issue, he’s left me totally alone and let me do it exactly how I see fit.”
Democrats have questioned the sincerity of Nunes’ recusal after news reports said he issued three subpoenas related to the “unmasking” of the identities of Trump campaign officials without consulting the committee’s minority members.
Further concern was added when Nunes told a Fresno talk show last weekend that his recusal has been mischaracterized by media reports.
“All I said was I was going to temporarily step aside,” Nunes said in an appearance on KMJ-AM.
Conaway said the subpoenas Nunes issued in May are part of his normal, broader duties as chairman of the Intelligence Committee, not the Russia probe.
“[Nunes has] equities with the broader committee, responsibilities he’s trying to take care of,” Conaway said. “There is a whole separate issue as to the propriety of unmasking in general.”
The House Intelligence Committee, along with other congressional panels and special counsel Robert Mueller, are investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.
Nunes recused himself from the probe in April after he made a secret trip to the White House to view documents that he told reporters revealed “unmasking” of Trump associates.
