The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee called President Trump’s move to declassify Justice Department materials related to the Russia investigation “a clear abuse of power” that risks exposing U.S. intelligence-gathering strategies.
“With respect to some of these materials, I have been previously informed by the FBI and Justice Department that they would consider their release a red line that must not be crossed as they may compromise sources and methods,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said in a Monday night statement, chastising Trump for directly intervening in an ongoing federal law enforcement probe.
“This is evidently of no consequence to a President who cares about nothing about the country and everything about his narrow self-interest,” Schiff continued.
The White House announced Monday that Trump asked the Justice Department to immediately declassify documents pertaining to the FBI’s application to surveil former Trump campaign aide Carter Page, as well as all texts on the Russia probe sent by former top government officials.
The targeted officials include figures Trump has spent months attacking, like fired FBI Director James Comey and former Justice Department lawyer Bruce Ohr.
This is an impeachable offense just as sure as Nixon ordering FBI to stand down and cheating on his personal taxes.
High up in a thread about what is potentially the most serious and consequential act Trump has taken yet in terms of the rule of law and national security, I have to say: Before long there’s going to be a piece on TPM about a certain Mario Kart character and the whole thing will just go mega-tawdry in a moment and stay so for maybe three days. If you were thinking of going to the vacation cabin in the woods upstate and staying offline while you’re there, now would be a good time.
McConnell & Ryan! Now what the fuck are you going to do? It’s your problem that you have ignored until it may be too late.
Attack Mrs Ford.
Not sure the TPM folks read these: but while this release is sure being hailed as terrible, can something be written that explains what can be done and who can do it?
Is this another case of something being called an impeachable offense and we (Democrats) have to wait until the House actually wants to take notice of and act on such offenses?