Trump-Russia Relations: House Intel Chairman Devin Nunes Won't Recuse Himself Despite Calls From Democrats

Devin Nunes, the House Intelligence Committee chairman, will not recuse himself or step aside from the committee's Russia investigations, in spite of the rising controversies around him and the demand from several lawmakers to do so, a spokesman confirmed Monday to ABC News.

Adam Schiff, Nunes' Democratic counterpart on the committee, was the first one to make the call. Following this, Democratic leader of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer also called for Nunes' recusal.

"I believe that the chairman should recuse himself from any further involvement in the Russia investigation, as well as any involvement in oversight of matters pertaining to any incidental collection of the Trump transition, as he was also a key member of the transition team," Schiff said.

"This is not a recommendation I make lightly, as the chairman and I have worked together well for several years; and I take this step with the knowledge of the solemn responsibility we have on the Intelligence Committee to provide oversight on all intelligence matters, not just to conduct the investigation," he added, according to ABC News.

While asking for Nunes to step aside from the investigation, Pelosi said Nunes "has a serious responsibility to the Congress and to the Country. Chairman Nunes’ discredited behavior has tarnished that office."

She also called for House Speaker Paul Ryan's support and said: "Speaker Ryan must insist that chairman Nunes at least recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation immediately. That leadership is long overdue," according to the Guardian. Last week, Pelosi called Nunes a "stooge of the president" and said he was "deeply compromised and he cannot possibly lead an honest investigation."

Earlier on Monday, Schumer called for Nunes to step down from his position and said, "If Speaker [Paul] Ryan wants the House to have a credible investigation, he needs to replace Chairman Nunes."

Nunes, who worked with the Trump transition team executive committee, came under fire last week because he apparently shared confidential details, which included information on associates of the president and their alleged relations to Russia, with a source at the White House grounds. Top Democrats are calling for his recusal because he did not inform the committee before doing so and shared the details even before they were made public.