It’s Here: Trump Declassifies Controversial Nunes Memo
"I think it's a disgrace what's happening in our country," Trump said of the information in the highly-anticipated memo.
The White House released the highly anticipated Nunes memo Friday. House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., penned the memo. It reveals what many argue is damning evidence regarding the Justice Department’s and FBI’s surveillance practices. The House Intelligence Committee voted to release it earlier this week.
A big revelation in the memo relates to the Steele dossier — a document released during the 2016 election. The dossier was a political research document containing questionably sourced information about then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his connections to Russia.
Information from the disreputable Steele dossier was “essential” in allowing intelligence agents to get Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants against former Trump aide Carter Page, the memo states. Intelligence officials were aware of the dossier’s bias (it was paid for by the Clinton campaign and the DNC). But the FISA court was not adequately informed of the bias.
Further, the FISA application cited a Yahoo News article as corroborative evidence of the dossier. But the application did not explain that Steele himself provided the information to Yahoo News.
The memo also reveals that Bruce Ohr of the DOJ met with Christopher Steele, the creator of the Steele dossier, in 2016 and was aware of Steele’s bias against Trump. Ohr’s wife was also involved in compiling the political research against Trump. This information was not passed on to the FISA court, either.
The application for a FISA warrant against Page was not the beginning of the ongoing Russia investigation, the memo further makes clear. The investigation began with a look into former Trump adviser George Papadopoulos, who later admitted he lied to the FBI about his contacts with the Russians.
Stream Managing Editor Al Perrotta summarized the memo’s biggest revelations in a Twitter thread Friday.
“This is spying on an American for political purposes only,” he tweeted. “It is a horror.” (Scroll down to read the full memo.)
9. This is, by definition, the weaponization and politicization of FBI/DOJ and surveillance court. This is spying on an American for political purposes and political purposes only. It is a horror.
— Albert Perrotta (@StreamingAl) February 2, 2018
White House Response
Trump commented after the release of the memo Friday, saying, “Let’s see what happens.”
“I think it’s a disgrace what’s happening in our country,” he said. “A lot of people should be ashamed of themselves and much worse than that.” Now that the memo has been declassified and sent to Congress, “Congress will do whatever they’re going to do.”
Pres. Trump says GOP memo has been declassified: "Congress will do whatever they're going to do. But I think it's a disgrace what's happening in our country…A lot of people should be ashamed of themselves." https://t.co/vNb1ydyEqm pic.twitter.com/UIFcdCQ42W
— ABC News (@ABC) February 2, 2018
Later in the day, the White House released a statement regarding another memo — one drafted by Democrats.
“The Administration stands ready to work with Congress to accommodate oversight requests consistent with applicable standards, including the need to protect intelligence sources and methods,” the statement said.
JUST IN: White House releases statement following publication of memo: "Minority members of the Committee have reportedly drafted a separate memorandum. The Administration stands ready to work with Congress to accommodate oversight requests consistent with applicable standards." pic.twitter.com/nXd4UEAGFo
— ABC News (@ABC) February 2, 2018
Controversy and Concerns
The previously classified memo has stirred controversy for days. Republicans who read the document called for its release. They said it unveils troubling bias regarding the investigation into Russia’s election interference. Specifically, how the FBI and DOJ went about obtaining FISA warrants for the investigation.
Democrats opposed releasing the memo. They cited concerns over its accuracy and whether it could compromise national security. On Thursday Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., claimed Nunes “deliberately and materially altered the contents of the memo since it was voted on by the House Republicans.”
The same day, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., summarized the memo’s importance in a Twitter thread. “Was the Obama DOJ weaponized to spy on the Trump campaign?” he asked.
What this issue is all about: whether the Department of Justice and FBI, under President Obama, abused their surveillance authority against American citizens and political opponents. Put another way: was the Obama DOJ weaponized to spy on the Trump campaign?
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018
“Your right as an American to privacy from your government spying on you is critical,” he added in another tweet.
Last point: If you remember anything from this news cycle, remember: your right as an American to privacy from your government spying on you is critical. It is foundational to who we are as a Republic. Never take that right for granted, no matter the political party you belong to
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018
Read the full memo for yourself here, or below:
