U.S. House intelligence panel chair cancels public session on Russia

U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Representative Devin Nunes (R-CA) walks into Speaker Paul Ryan's office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., March 24, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst -

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee cancelled a planned public hearing in its probe of allegations of Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election, saying the panel needed to hear from directors of the FBI and the National Security Agency in a closed session instead.

The announcement on Friday by Republican Representative Devin Nunes was immediately criticized by the top Democrat on the panel, Adam Schiff, who said the cancellation was a serious mistake.