Nunes announces he will step down from Russia-Trump probe

Chairman of the US House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes announces he will step aside from an investigation into ties between Russia and US President Donald Trump’s administration.

Nunes was accused of having improper contact with the Trump White House during the investigation.

In a statement, the Republican congressmen says that several “left-wing activists” filed accusations against him with the office of congressional ethics.

Nunes says the charges are false and politically motivated. But he says it’s in the “best interests” of the committee to have Republican congressman Mike Conaway of Texas temporarily take charge of the committee’s investigation.

He says he will continue fulfilling other duties with the committee and wants to talk to the ethics committee as soon as possible to defend himself.

— AP contributed