The reaction across Capitol Hill over the controversial memo released on Friday and compiled by Republican staff on the House Intelligence Committee was speedy. Democrats have since its release criticized the memo. President Donald Trump on Friday authorized for the release of the memo in a letter to the House Intelligence Committee. The memo speaks in detail the process that led to the court-approved surveillance of Carter Page, a former Trump Campaign adviser, and alleged Russian agent.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the head Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee wrote in a statement on Friday that Chairman Nunes’ decision, backed by House Speaker Ryan and Republicans of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, to make public misleading allegations against the Justice Department and the FBI is a shameful effort to discredit those institutions, undermine the Special Counsel’s ongoing inquiry, and weaken congressional probes.
The top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., called the unprecedented decision to release the memo a reckless one that demonstrates an astonishing disregard for the truth. He said that it would make it much more difficult for the Intelligence Committees to carry out a meaningful, bipartisan oversight of future intelligence activities. He added that this action did not take to account the damage it would have on their ability to protect America from threats around the globe.
Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee Senator Richard Burr, R-N.C., is declined to comment on the matter. House and Senate Democrats wrote to President Donald Trump, warning him against using the contents of the compromised memo as a basis to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller who is in charge of the ongoing investigations into alleged Russia involvement with the Trump Campaign.
Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., also criticized the memo. He wrote in a statement on Friday that the recent attacks on the FBI and Department of Justice don’t serve any American interests – not for any party or the President, but only Putin’s. He insisted that Mueller’s investigation should proceed unimpeded because Americans deserve to know all the facts surrounding Russia’s ongoing effort to undermine the US democracy.
Some Republicans defended the decision, saying that the information had to be released to the people to ensure complete transparency. They include Rep. Jim Jordan, Mark Meadows, Rep. Lee Zeldin, Rep. Garret Graves, and Rep. Mike Quigley, among others who took to Twitter to express their stand.
