The chair of the investigation into links between Russia and the Trump team has said he has a “duty and obligation” to the President.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes’ made the comments just days after he was criticised for personally briefing Donald Trump on developments in the investigation before he told Democrats on the committee about new information.

Mr Nunes went to Mr Trump first to discuss evidence that members of the President’s transition team were legally surveilled by US intelligence agencies.

It lead the second most senior member of the committee, Democrat Adam Schiff, to question whether Mr Nunes was working as a “surrogate of the White House".

“I felt I had a duty and obligation to tell him [Mr Trump] because as you know he’s been taking a lot of heat in the news media,” Mr Nunes told Fox News.

He added: “I think to some degree there are some things that he should look at to see whether in fact he thinks the collection was proper or not.”

Minority leader in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, expressed concern about Mr Nunes, who was a member of Mr Trump’s transition, admitting to feeling a “duty and obligation” to someone he is supposed to be investigating.

In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. 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“I think he sent a signal that as a member of the Trump transition team himself, he probably should not be intricately involved in this investigation,” Ms Pelosi said at a news conference on Thursday.

She added that he was either “duped” or a “willing stooge” of the White House and called on an independent committee to investigate Russian meddling into the election.

Although Mr Nunes has found Mr Trump’s claims he was wire-tapped by the Obama administration to be complete baseless.