Donald Trump and Republicans release memo that undermines FBI’s investigation
The memo’s release sent shock waves across Washington, calling into question the future of Trump’s hand-picked FBI director Christopher Wray
Donald Trump and his Republican allies unleashed a controversial memo accusing the FBI of bias and abuse of power on Friday, intensifying a high-stakes fight between the White House and prosecutors investigating the president’s campaign team.
Trump defied his own FBI director and the Justice Department to declassify the four-page Republican document, which implies malfeasance and partisanship at the very top of American law enforcement.
“I think it’s a disgrace. What’s going on in this country, I think it’s a disgrace,” a visibly tense Trump said as he announced his decision to release the memo. “A lot of people should be ashamed of themselves and much worse than that.”
Democrats and some Republicans have cried foul over the document, dismissing its release as little more than a stunt, and another thinly veiled effort to undermine the investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties with Russia.
They claim the document – drafted by Devin Nunes, a Trump transition official, Congressman and House Intelligence Committee chairman – has glaring holes. The FBI itself said it had “grave concerns” over its accuracy.
A lot of people should be ashamed of themselves and much worse than that
The memo claims that Democrat-funded research prompted the FBI to spy on a former Trump campaign aide, Carter Page.