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Nunes memo: Release of FBI surveillance abuse claims 'will damage intelligence community and law enforcement', say Democrats Nunes memo: Release of FBI surveillance abuse claims 'will damage intelligence community and law enforcement', say Democrats
(35 minutes later)
Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee have said that the release of a Republican-authored memo alleging surveillance abuses by FBI officials “will do long-term damage to the intelligence community and our law enforcement agencies”. Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee have said that the release of a Republican-authored memo alleging surveillance abuses by FBI officials “will do long-term damage to the intelligence community and our law enforcement agencies”. 
The document is a “shameful effort to discredit” the FBI, the Justice Department and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, they added. The four-page document is a “shameful effort to discredit” the FBI, the Justice Department and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, they added.
“Furthermore, their refusal to allow release of a comprehensive response memorandum prepared by Committee Democrats is a transparent effort to suppress the full truth,” they said. President Donald Trump approved the release of the controversial memo despite objections from the FBI. The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Devin Nunes, and his staff reportedly spent months compiling the so-called Nunes memo, which accuses federal law enforcement officials of abusing their power when they sought permission to surveill a former Trump campaign adviser, Carter Page.
President Donald Trump approved the release of the controversial memo despite objections from the FBI. The four-page memo was drafted by Republicans on the committee chaired by Representative Devin Nunes.
The Republican chairman and his staff reportedly spent months compiling the so-called Nunes memo, which accuses federal law enforcement officials of abusing their power when they sought permission to surveil a former Trump campaign adviser, Carter Page.
Following the memo’s release, Mr Page said he would update a pending legal action in opposition to the the Justice Department. Following the memo’s release, Mr Page said he would update a pending legal action in opposition to the the Justice Department. 
“A lot of people should be ashamed of themselves and much worse than that,” President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday in the Oval Office. “A lot of people should be ashamed of themselves and much worse than that,” President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday in the Oval Office. 
He suggested the document shows political bias and that the investigation into his campaign was tainted from the start. The President has repeatedly denied collusion between his campaign advisers and the Russian government. He suggested the document shows political bias and that the investigation into his campaign was tainted from the start. The President has repeatedly denied collusion between his campaign advisers and the Russian government. 
“I think it’s a disgrace,” Mr Trump added.  “I think it’s a disgrace,” Mr Trump added. 
The White House later said in statement that “the memorandum raises serious concerns about the integrity of decisions made at the highest levels of the Department of Justice and the FBI to use the Government’s most intrusive surveillance tools against American citizens.”
“This decision was made with input from the President’s national security team—including law enforcement officials and members of the intelligence community, for whom the President has great respect,” the White House added. 
Democrats from the House and Senate sent a letter to Mr Trump on Friday warning him against using the Nunes memo as a “pretext” to fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein or Mr Mueller.Democrats from the House and Senate sent a letter to Mr Trump on Friday warning him against using the Nunes memo as a “pretext” to fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein or Mr Mueller.
Mr Rosenstein appointed Mr Mueller to the special counsel position and has been overseeing the investigation. 
“Firing Rod Rosenstein, DOJ (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 President Richard Nixon’s firing of the Watergate scandal special prosecutor in the 1970s.“Firing Rod Rosenstein, DOJ (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 President Richard Nixon’s firing of the Watergate scandal special prosecutor in the 1970s.
Asked if he still has confidence in MR Rosenstein, the president told reporters: “You figure that one out.” Asked if he still has confidence in Mr Rosenstein, the president told reporters: “You figure that one out.”
Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, also criticised the release of the Nunes memo. The Senate intelligence panel is also conducting its own investigation into Russian election meddling. Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, also criticised the release of the Nunes memo. The Senate intelligence panel is also conducting its own investigation into Russian election meddling. 
“The release of this memo by House Intelligence Committee Republicans and the White House, over the objections of the FBI and the Department of Justice, is reckless and demonstrates an astonishing disregard for the truth,” he said in a statement. “The release of this memo by House Intelligence Committee Republicans and the White House, over the objections of the FBI and the Department of Justice, is reckless and demonstrates an astonishing disregard for the truth,” he said in a statement.