"I just don't think it's appropriate to be chair of the committee and to put myself in a situation where a picture or something might be construed the wrong way,” Burr said. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo Burr steering clear of White House during Russia investigation

Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said Wednesday he’s avoiding trips to the White House while his committee continues to investigate possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

"I just don't think it's appropriate to be chair of the committee and to put myself in a situation where a picture or something might be construed the wrong way,” Burr said.


He added that he went to the White House once earlier this year for a national security meeting and said he has “tried to portray a very bipartisan approach to the whole thing."

His remarks came as his GOP Senate colleagues were attending a meeting at the White House on health care.

Burr was first spotted skipping the meeting by Associated Press reporter Erica Werner, who caught up with the senator at a carry-out restaurant on the Senate side of the Capitol.

Burr came under fire earlier this year after The Washington Post reported that the White House had enlisted him and other officials to push back against reports in the media of frequent contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence operatives.

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Since then, Burr has sought to demonstrate his independence from the White House.

His committee is conducting a wide-ranging investigation into Russia’s meddling in last year’s election, including interviewing Trump campaign officials about allegations of collusion.