The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee is slamming the release of a congressional memo that alleges FBI surveillance abuses in an investigation into the Trump campaign’s Russia ties.
The Latest on investigations into links between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia (all times local):
10:05 a.m.
The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee is slamming the release of a congressional memo that alleges FBI surveillance abuses in an investigation into the Trump campaign’s Russia ties.
Rep. Adam Schiff calls the four-page memo by committee chairman Devin Nunes (NOO’-nehs) a “political hit job.” The California Democrat said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that he requested that the committee first question the FBI and review the full supporting materials before releasing the memo, but Republicans voted his motions down.
The memo contends the FBI relied excessively on an ex-British spy whose opposition research was funded by Democrats when it applied for a surveillance warrant on a onetime Trump campaign associate.
President Donald Trump says the memo vindicates him. But Schiff says the memo actually confirms the investigation began several months earlier.
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12:15 a.m.
President Donald Trump is claiming complete vindication from a congressional memo that alleges the FBI abused its surveillance powers during the investigation into his campaign’s possible Russia ties.
But the memo also includes revelations that might complicate efforts by Trump and his allies to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry.
The memo released Friday contends that the FBI, when it applied for a surveillance warrant on a onetime Trump campaign associate, relied excessively on an ex-British spy whose opposition research was funded by Democrats.
At the same time, the memo confirms that the investigation into potential Trump links to Russia actually began several months earlier, and was “triggered” by information involving a different campaign aide.
