Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee signaled Tuesday they will not let up on their calls for Chairman Devin Nunes to recuse himself from the panel’s investigation into Russia’s meddling in the U.S. election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.
“Why should I?” said Mr. Nunes, underscoring his determination to see the panel’s investigation to completion.
Mr. Nunes was reacting to a drumbeat of Democratic calls Tuesday morning that he step aside.
“It is time for Devin Nunes to leave this investigation, let alone lead it,” Rep. Eric Swalwell of California said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “So he should be gone.”
The chorus of Democrats calling on Mr. Nunes to recuse himself from the investigation has grown since the news emerged that the California Republican visited the White House grounds last week before sharing information with President Trump that transition officials were inappropriately monitored by U.S. intelligence agencies.
On Monday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking member on the committee, called on Mr. Nunes to step aside from the investigation on Monday.
SEE ALSO: Devin Nunes tarred as criminal in astonishing Democrat attack
But Mr. Nunes downplayed the demands on Fox News “The O’Reilly Factor.”
“I’m sure that the Democrats do want me to quit because they know that I am quite effective at getting to the bottom of things,” he said Monday night.
But Mr. Swalwell kept up the pressure Tuesday morning, saying, “This is what a cover up to a crime looks like.”
He said the panel’s investigation has been compromised by Mr. Nunes’ actions and has driven home the need for an independent investigation.
Mr. Swalwell also said he is certain that Mr. Trump was aware of all of Mr. Nunes’ visits to the White House.
“It is not an internet cafe. You can’t just walk in and receive classified information,” he said. “It is one branch … going over to visit another branch. Everyone in the building knows that you are there in the building.”
SEE ALSO: Paul Ryan backs Devin Nunes in Russia probe
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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