The US Congress released a Republican memo Friday alleging abuse of power in investigations of Donald Trump’s election campaign, after the president accused his own Justice Department and FBI of bias against him.
In authorizing the explosive move — denounced by his opponents as a bid to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of his team’s ties with Russia — Trump set up an extraordinary confrontation with America’s top law enforcement authorities.
Ignoring the advice of the FBI itself, which warned that the four-page document painted an inaccurate picture, the president gave his green light to declassify the memo drafted by the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, former Trump transition team official Devin Nunes.
“What’s happening in our country is a disgrace,” Trump said as he announced the move. “A lot of people should be ashamed.”