House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) has stepped down from the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election as he is now the one under investigation.
The House Ethics Committee is investigating whether Nunes improperly disclosed classified information.
The Ethics Committee is truly bipartisan, with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. The 18(a) investigation, as its known, has subpoena power and may also look into what Nunes told Speaker Paul Ryan and President Donald Trump when he briefed them following his March 22 press conference.
"The committee notes that the mere fact that it is investigating these allegations, and publicly disclosing its review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee," it said in a statement.
Whether or not you believe what Nunes did helped or hurt Trump or the investigation is immaterial. The fact is he blabbed about it and discussing the existence (or non-existence) of a FISA warrant is illegal. FISA warrants, issued by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, are classified regardless of who the target is. Nunes was not authorized to publicly discuss it.
It's amusing that toadies who tried to assuage Trump's ego may be among the first people to go down. This all started because Trump tweeted a stupid thing about President Obama and people close to Trump engaged in a desperate search for something that would retroactively prove him right.
The Ethics Committee investigation could very well become its own shitshow, but it's significant that it's even happening.