US House intel panel to probe collusion with Russia

Laying out parameters for the probe, California Representative Adam Schiff, made the comments on Wednesday.

"The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence will conduct a rigorous investigation into efforts by Russia and other foreign entities to influence the US political process during and since the 2016 U.S. election," he said in a statement. "In addition, the committee will investigate the counterintelligence threat arising from any links or coordination between US persons and the Russian government and/or other foreign entities, including any financial or other leverage such foreign actors may possess."

The probe is in part aimed at finding out whether a foreign actor has sought to compromise or holds leverage over President Donald Trump or anyone in his orbit.

"Unfortunately, these and numerous other avenues of inquiry were not completed during the last Congress," noted the panel’s chairman, referencing the Republican majority lost in the 2018 midterms to Democrats.

During his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Trump cautioned Democrats for pursuing the myriad investigations into his business and alleged Russia ties.

“If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn’t work that way,” Trump said at the Capitol.

Schiff asserted that he would not be intimidated by such remarks.

“His efforts to discourage any meaningful oversight, that is a non-starter. We are not going to be intimidated or threatened by the president to withhold any legislative advancement,” he told reporters. "The Committee may pursue additional lines of inquiry regarding matters that arise from the investigation, and it intends to cooperate with other congressional committees, as needed, on matters of overlapping interest.”