US House intel panel votes to release Democratic memo

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The US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee voted unanimously on Monday to release a Democratic rebuttal to a memo written by the panel's Republicans that accused the FBI and the US Department of Justice of bias against President Donald Trump in the Russia investigation, the committee's top Democrat said.

The Democratic memo was written by Congressman Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee.

Adam Schiff, ranking member of the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, answers a question from the media at an elevator in the US Capitol, February 5, 2018. /VCG Photo

Schiff told reporters the document would now go to the White House on Monday night and that it would be "very hard" for the Trump administration to block its release.

Trump will have five days to decide whether to approve the release of the classified document.

What do Democrats want?

The congressional panel published a four-page Republican memo on Friday alleging the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) abused its power when applying for permission to surveil former Trump adviser Carter Page.

Democrats worried Trump would use the Republican memo as an excuse to fire senior officials and undermine the Special Counsel investigation, led by Robert Mueller, into Russia's meddling in the 2016 US election and possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Moscow.

Schiff argued the American people should be allowed to read memos from both sides to make their own judgments.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks during a news conference in Washington, DC, January 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

Republicans "found themselves in an insupportable position when they released a misleading memo and refused to release the Democratic response, so I think they were compelled to take the action they did today," Schiff said.

Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer has also written to Trump saying it was a matter of "fundamental fairness" for the president to approve the release of the Democratic memo.

What did Trump say?

Earlier on Monday, Trump exchanged insults with Schiff on Twitter.

Twitter Screenshot

Trump tweeted "Little Adam Schiff, who is desperate to run for higher office, is one of the biggest liars and leakers in Washington."

He hinted that he would block the release of the Democratic memo, tweeting: "Adam leaves closed committee hearings to illegally leak confidential information. Must be stopped!"

Schiff responded, "Mr. President, I see you've had a busy morning of 'Executive Time.'"

"Instead of tweeting false smears, the American people would appreciate it if you turned off the TV and helped solve the funding crisis, protected Dreamers or...really anything else," Schiff added.

Twitter Screenshot

After the release of the Republican memo, Trump said the contents "totally vindicated" him.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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