Republicans on House Intelligence Committee move to end Russia probe ahead of midterm losses: report

Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee are moving to end the investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

The Wall Street Journalreported on Monday that the committee "has finished interviewing witnesses in its yearlong probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to a person familiar with the matter, signaling the end is near of a contentious investigation that has revealed deep partisan divisions on the panel."

The committee reportedly interviewed its final witness, former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, last week.

"Republicans on the committee and in the House of Representatives think it is now time to conclude the panel’s investigation, according to people familiar with the matter," the report said. "Republicans and Democrats on the House committee have said they would like to produce a bipartisan report, but relations on the panel have deteriorated to the point where such a task may be difficult."

The move comes before Democrats have a chance to seize control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections. Republicans would likely accuse Democrats of partisanship if the Russia investigation was reopened.