House Intel Chair: Trump-Russia Ties Can’t Become Witch Hunt

House Intelligence chairman Devin Nunes says Congress should not begin a McCarthy-style investigation based on news reports that a few Americans with ties to President Donald Trump had contacted Russians during the 2016 presidential campaign.

“We just cannot go on a witch hunt,” Mr. Nunes told reporters.

The Trump administration has pushed back against reports that Trump aides were in contact with Russian intelligence officials during the 2016 presidential campaign. The White House asked Mr. Nunes to call a reporter to dispute a report in another publication.

Mr. Nunes said he knows of no evidence that Trump aides were in contact with Russian agents. He said he will continue to ask for evidence. He is leading one of three congressional investigations into Mr. Trump’s Russia ties.

Earlier Monday, President Trump said he hasn’t called Russia “in 10 years.”

Mr. Trump’s comment came in response to a question from a reporter about whether he would support a special prosecutor to investigate Russia’s hacking in the election and potential contacts between his campaign advisers and Russian intelligence agents during the election. The president did not say whether he supported a special prosecutor.

The president has denied knowing that any of his campaign advisers were in contact with Russians during the campaign. He has also denied that he has financial ties or other connections to Russia.

Mr. Trump did travel to Russia in 2013 for an event related to one of his businesses.