Yahoo News Devin Nunes faces calls to recuse himself from Russia probe after admitting he met source at White House
House intelligence chairman Devin Nunes is facing mounting pressure to recuse himself from the committee's Russia probe after he admitted meeting the source behind his surveillance claims on White House grounds.
The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee sparked controversy last week when he revealed that Donald Trump had been the subject of "incidental surveillance" by US intelligence.
He said a source had come forward to show him intelligence reports which included Mr Trump's communications, offering Mr Trump ammunition for previous claims that he had been spied on by the Obama administration.
The reports showed spy agencies may have inadvertently captured Mr Trump and his associates in routine targeting of foreigners' communications. Details of US citizens are supposed to be "masked" in such reports but Mr Trump and others had been "unmasked".
Mr Nunes, who was previously a member of Mr Trump's presidential transition team, initially refused to reveal where he obtained the information, but has now confirmed that it was on White House grounds the night before he revealed it.
A spokesman for him, Jack Langer, said: "Chairman Nunes met with his source at the White House grounds in order to have proximity to a secure location where he could view the information provided by the source."
Donald Trump and the Russian connections
It led to accusations that his committee's investigation into any links between Russia and people connected to Mr Trump's campaign could not be bipartisan and independent.
The US Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, called on Monday for the removal of Mr Nunes as chairman of the House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee.
"Chairman Nunes is falling down on the job and seems to be more interested in protecting the president than in seeking the truth," Mr Schumer said in a Senate speech.
Congressman Adam Schiff, the top Democrat, said Mr Nunes' meeting with his source appeared to have been "a dead-of-night excursion".
After much consideration I believe Chairman should recuse himself from involvement in investigation/oversight of Trump campaign & transition pic.twitter.com/jpfA1x80Si
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) March 27, 2017
He said: "I think the chairman has to make a decision whether to act as a surrogate of the White House, as he did during the campaign and the transition, or to lead an independent and credible investigation.
"I believe the public cannot have the necessary confidence that matters involving the president's campaign or transition team can be objectively investigated or overseen by the chairman."
The time is long overdue for @SpeakerRyan to call on @DevinNunes to recuse himself at the very least. https://t.co/KtEO8msltspic.twitter.com/4nh0P8DMLj
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) March 27, 2017
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said, "Chairman Nunes' discredited behaviour has tarnished that office," and said House Speaker Paul Ryan should insist that Mr Nunes "at least recuse himself" from the Russia probe.
AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for Mr Ryan, said Monday the speaker has "full confidence that Chairman Nunes is conducting a thorough, fair and credible investigation."
The White House has rejected suggestions it could have been the source of Mr Nunes' information.
The House Intelligence Committee has a facility where classified information can be viewed and discussed in a secure setting. But Mr Langer said circumstances required that Mr Nunes had to go to a similar facility at the White House.
He said: "Because of classification rules the source could not simply put the documents in a backpack and walk them over to the House Intelligence Committee space.
"The White House grounds was the best location to safeguard the proper chain of custody and classification of these documents, so the chairman could view them in a legal way."
The Senate intelligence committee is also conducting an investigation into Russia's interference in the election and possible ties with the Trump campaign. On Monday, it announced that Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has agreed to be interviewed. The White House confirmed that Kushner, a senior Trump adviser, had volunteered to be interviewed about arranging meetings with the Russian ambassador and other officials.
...money to Bill, the Hillary Russian "reset," praise of Russia by Hillary, or Podesta Russian Company. Trump Russia story is a hoax. #MAGA!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2017
Mr Trump hit out at the reports of his campaign's links with Russian officials on Monday, tweeting: "Trump Russia story is a hoax."
