Paul Ryan Taps Texas’ Mike Conaway To Lead Russian Probe

U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, a Republican from Midland, has been tapped to lead the House Intelligence Committee probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

House Speaker Paul Ryan announced Conaway would take the lead after House Democrats called for Republican Rep. Devin Nunes to step down from the probe, citing claims that Nunes made unauthorized disclosures of classified information.

Conaway, 68, has served in the House since 2005, representing seven west Texas counties, and maintains close personal ties with former President George W. Bush.

Conaway is a is a certified public accountant by trade, who as a private businessman did CPA work for Bush when he ran an oil and gas company in the 1980s.

He has served as chairman of the House Ethics Committee and once led a fraud investigation of the National Republican Congressional Committee that uncovered evidence of hundreds of thousands of dollars of missing from National Republican Congressional Committee bank accounts.

"My profession as a CPA and auditor has taught me to be objective and methodical, and that is how I intend to help lead this investigation," Conaway said.

Conaway currently serves as chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Conaway said his role on the House Select Intelligence Committee — one he has held since 2008 — is one he takes with the utmost seriousness.

The role for Conaway is a bit uncharacteristic for a representative who typically maintains a low public profile, handling agricultural programs that garner little of the public spotlight.

However, with this level of attention from Democrats who believe Republicans will attempt to hinder the progress of the investigation, Conaway’s low public profile is about to change dramatically.

Conaway will be working alongside South Carolina Republican Trey Gowdy and Florida Republican Tom Rooney.

Photo: Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat leaves a House Republican leadership meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Nov. 15, 2016. Credit: AP Photo/Cliff Owen

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