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Nunes memo latest: Controversial report released by House Intelligence Committee after Donald Trump gives approval Nunes memo latest: Controversial report released by House Intelligence Committee after Donald Trump gives approval
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A controversial memo alleging wrongdoing by the FBI in its investigation of the Trump campaign has been declassified and released to the public.A controversial memo alleging wrongdoing by the FBI in its investigation of the Trump campaign has been declassified and released to the public.
The memo, written by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, raises concerns about the FBI's attempts to secure a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant, which it says "represent a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abuses related to the FISA process".The memo, written by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, raises concerns about the FBI's attempts to secure a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant, which it says "represent a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abuses related to the FISA process".
President Donald Trump allowed the House Intelligence Committee to release the report to the public on Friday without redactions. The president, who tweeted that morning that the FBI had "politicized the sacred investigative process," called the contents of the memo "a disgrace". President Donald Trump allowed the House Intelligence Committee to release the report to the public on Friday without redactions. The president, who tweeted that morning that the FBI had "politicized the sacred investigative process," called the contents of the memo "a disgrace". 
He declined to say whether he still had faith in Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general overseeing the Justice Department's investigation into possible Trump campaign ties to Russia.He declined to say whether he still had faith in Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general overseeing the Justice Department's investigation into possible Trump campaign ties to Russia.
Democrats claimed the release of the memo was an attempt to discredit this investigation – one which would set a dangerous precedent that would do "long-term damage" to the US intelligence community.Democrats claimed the release of the memo was an attempt to discredit this investigation – one which would set a dangerous precedent that would do "long-term damage" to the US intelligence community.
Much of the memo concerns the process by which the FBI obtained a FISA warrant to surveil former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, claiming the warrant application was informed largely by a Democrat-funded opposition research dossier compiled by former MI6 agent Christopher Steele.Much of the memo concerns the process by which the FBI obtained a FISA warrant to surveil former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, claiming the warrant application was informed largely by a Democrat-funded opposition research dossier compiled by former MI6 agent Christopher Steele.
The memo alleges that then-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe told the Intelligence Committee that the surveillance warrant would not have been sought without this controversial dossier – the author of which had already disclosed his anti-Trump bias to the FBI.The memo alleges that then-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe told the Intelligence Committee that the surveillance warrant would not have been sought without this controversial dossier – the author of which had already disclosed his anti-Trump bias to the FBI.
Mr Page called the memo an example of "brave and assiduous oversight," and said he would be updating his pending legal action against the Justice Department.Mr Page called the memo an example of "brave and assiduous oversight," and said he would be updating his pending legal action against the Justice Department.
The memo also briefly mentions texts between an FBI agent and lawyer who worked on the bureau's investigation into possible Trump campaign ties to Russia. The memo claims the texts demonstrate "clear bias" against Mr Trump and in favour of Hillary Clinton.The memo also briefly mentions texts between an FBI agent and lawyer who worked on the bureau's investigation into possible Trump campaign ties to Russia. The memo claims the texts demonstrate "clear bias" against Mr Trump and in favour of Hillary Clinton.
"The Committee has discovered serious violations of the public trust, and the American people have a right to know when officials in crucial institutions are abusing their authority for political purposes," Mr Nunes said, adding that he hoped the memo's release would "shine a light on the alarming series of events"."The Committee has discovered serious violations of the public trust, and the American people have a right to know when officials in crucial institutions are abusing their authority for political purposes," Mr Nunes said, adding that he hoped the memo's release would "shine a light on the alarming series of events".
Republicans and Democrats have fiercely debated the release of the memo since last month, when Mr Nunes made it available to members of the House. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, claimed the memo "mischaracterises highly sensitive classified information" in order to suit Republicans' political aims.Republicans and Democrats have fiercely debated the release of the memo since last month, when Mr Nunes made it available to members of the House. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, claimed the memo "mischaracterises highly sensitive classified information" in order to suit Republicans' political aims.
“Chairman Nunes’ decision ... to publicly release misleading allegations against the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation is a shameful effort to discredit these institutions, undermine [special counsel Robert Mueller's] ongoing investigation, and undercut congressional probes," Mr Schiff said.“Chairman Nunes’ decision ... to publicly release misleading allegations against the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation is a shameful effort to discredit these institutions, undermine [special counsel Robert Mueller's] ongoing investigation, and undercut congressional probes," Mr Schiff said.
The Representative claimed the FISA warrant to surveil Mr Page had been properly obtained, and was not based entirely on the Steele dossier. He added that Democrats would seek a vote to release their response to the memo, which he claimed pointed out several other factual errors. The Representative claimed the FISA warrant to surveil Mr Page had been properly obtained, and was not based entirely on the Steele dossier. He added that Democrats would seek a vote to release their own memo, which he claimed pointed out several other factual errors in Mr Nunes's.
The FBI cautioned against releasing the memo in a rare public statement this week, saying they had "grave concerns" about its accuracy.  Democratic leaders sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan earlier this week claiming Mr Nunes's actions were "illegitimate" and "dangerous," and asking him Mr Ryan to remove the chairman from his role.
Congressional Democrats sent a letter to Mr Trump on Friday warning him against using the rmemo as a "pretext" to fire Mr Rosenstein or Mr Mueller. But Mr Ryan said on Friday that he supported the release of the memo, claiming it showed a possible violation of civil rights. He said he would also support the release of the Democrats' response document, once sensitive details had been removed.
Congressional Democrats sent a letter to Mr Trump on Friday warning him against using the memo as a "pretext" to fire Mr Rosenstein or Mr Mueller.
"Firing Rod Rosenstein, [Department of Justice] leadership, or Bob Mueller could result in a constitutional crisis of the kind not seen since the Saturday night massacre," the Democrats wrote, referring to Richard Nixon's firing of the Watergate special prosecutor in the 1970s. "Firing Rod Rosenstein, [Department of Justice] leadership, or Bob Mueller could result in a constitutional crisis of the kind not seen since the Saturday night massacre," the Democrats wrote, referring to Richard Nixon's firing of the Watergate special prosecutor in the 1970s. 
Mr Trump has not signalled what, if any, other steps he will take in response to the memo.Mr Trump has not signalled what, if any, other steps he will take in response to the memo.
"Congress will do whatever they're going to do," he said on Friday. "...Let's see what happens.""Congress will do whatever they're going to do," he said on Friday. "...Let's see what happens."