http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...s_58e64526e4b0917d3477a09a?xavx8d9eabolp7gb9& Devin Nunes Will Step Down From Leading Russia Investigation Nunes still argues the charges against him are “entirely false.” House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) will step down from leading the investigation into possible ties between President Donald Trump’s team and the Russian government, he said in a statement Thursday. Nunes said he will have Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), with assistance from Reps. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) and Tom Rooney (R-Fla.), lead the investigation. Nunes addressed calls from several groups for the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate a possible violation of ethics rules on his part ― charges that Nunes said “are entirely false and politically motivated.” Nunes said he’d asked to speak with the Ethics Committee “at the earliest possible opportunity in order to expedite the dismissal of these false claims.” House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said in a statement that he still trusted Nunes but supported Nunes’ decision to step aside. “It is clear that this process would be a distraction for the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian interference in our election,” Ryan said. “Chairman Nunes has offered to step aside as the lead Republican on this probe, and I fully support this decision.” See Nunes’ full statement below: Several leftwing activist groups have filed accusations against me with the Office of Congressional Ethics. The charges are entirely false and politically motivated, and are being leveled just as the American people are beginning to learn the truth about the improper unmasking of the identities of U.S. citizens and other abuses of power. Despite the baselessness of the charges, I believe it is in the best interests of the House Intelligence Committee and the Congress for me to have Representative Mike Conaway, with assistance from Representatives Trey Gowdy and Tom Rooney, temporarily take charge of the Committee’s Russia investigation while the House Ethics Committee looks into this matter. I will continue to fulfill all my other responsibilities as Committee Chairman, and I am requesting to speak to the Ethics Committee at the earliest possible opportunity in order to expedite the dismissal of these false claims. This is a developing story and will be updated.