President Donald Trump on Friday delayed the planned release of documents from the FBI’s Russia investigation, saying the Justice Department’s inspector general has been asked to review the records amid concerns from law enforcement and U. S. allies about their disclosure.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday delayed the planned release of documents from the FBI’s Russia investigation, saying the Justice Department’s inspector general has been asked to review the records amid concerns from law enforcement and U. S. allies about their disclosure.
Trump said in a pair of tweets that the watchdog office had been asked to review the records, which he had ordered declassified earlier this week as part of an effort to expose “really bad things at the FBI.” He tweeted that he “believes that the office “will move quickly.”
“In the end I can always declassify if it proves necessary. Speed is very important to me – and everyone!” Trump added.
Trump said in an interview with Fox News Thursday that several close allies had called to raise concerns about his decision to order the release of unredacted documents, including text messages of several FBI and Justice Department officials and a portion of a secret surveillance application to monitor the communications of a Trump campaign adviser.
On Friday, he said, Justice Department officials had warned him that the declassification of documents “may have a perceived negative impact on the Russia probe.”
A spokesman for the inspector general did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
