House Speaker Ryan Backs Embattled Intelligence Panel Chairman

House Speaker Ryan Backs Embattled Intelligence Panel Chairman
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Representative Devin Nunes (R-CA) briefs reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 24, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
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WASHINGTON—The top Republican in Congress on Tuesday stood by Devin Nunes, the embattled head of the House of Representatives intelligence committee, who is under fire for his handling of an investigation into possible Russian ties to President Donald Trump’s election campaign.

House Speaker Paul Ryan told a news conference he does not believe Nunes, a Trump ally, should remove himself from the investigation.

Asked whether Nunes should step aside and if he knew the source of information that Nunes revealed last week, Ryan said: “No and no.”

Democrats and some Republicans have criticized Nunes’ objectivity after he announced last week that some Trump associates may have been ensnared in incidental intelligence collection before Trump took office in January.

Critics have said the disclosure was an effort to justify Trump’s unfounded accusations in early March that his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, had directed surveillance on Trump.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (C) answers questions about the House GOP's new American Health Care Act with Rep. Kevin McCarthy (L) and Rep. Greg Walden in Washington on March 7. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (C) answers questions about the House GOP's new American Health Care Act with Rep. Kevin McCarthy (L) and Rep. Greg Walden in Washington on March 7. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images