Trump Defends Blocking Memo: 'Democrats Sent A Very Political And Long Response' Document
- 6 years ago
President Trump on Saturday blamed the Democrats for sending a "very political" memo.
President Trump on Friday blocked the release of a Democratic memo that countered the FBI surveillance abuse claims made in a GOP memo. And on Saturday he stated on Twitter that the memo was not in "proper form."
"The Democrats sent a very political and long response memo which they knew, because of sources and methods (and more), would have to be heavily redacted, whereupon they would blame the White House for lack of transparency," Trump tweeted. "Told them to re-do and send back in proper form!"
According to CNN, "The 10-page memo written by Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, landed on the President's desk Monday after the committee voted unanimously to make it public, and the FBI and Justice Department subsequently reviewed it this week."
However, in a letter informing the committee about Trump's decision against declassifying the memo, White House counsel Don McGahn said the memo "contains numerous properly classified and especially sensitive passages."
Several high ranking Democrats have slammed the White House's decision.
Trump's "double standard when it comes to transparency is appalling," wrote Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Twitter.
"This move by @realDonaldTrump confirms what we have all known for weeks — that his decision to release the #NunesMemo was a blatantly political move made without concern for national security," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted. "The hypocrisy is on full display. What does the President have to hide?"
President Trump on Friday blocked the release of a Democratic memo that countered the FBI surveillance abuse claims made in a GOP memo. And on Saturday he stated on Twitter that the memo was not in "proper form."
"The Democrats sent a very political and long response memo which they knew, because of sources and methods (and more), would have to be heavily redacted, whereupon they would blame the White House for lack of transparency," Trump tweeted. "Told them to re-do and send back in proper form!"
According to CNN, "The 10-page memo written by Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, landed on the President's desk Monday after the committee voted unanimously to make it public, and the FBI and Justice Department subsequently reviewed it this week."
However, in a letter informing the committee about Trump's decision against declassifying the memo, White House counsel Don McGahn said the memo "contains numerous properly classified and especially sensitive passages."
Several high ranking Democrats have slammed the White House's decision.
Trump's "double standard when it comes to transparency is appalling," wrote Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Twitter.
"This move by @realDonaldTrump confirms what we have all known for weeks — that his decision to release the #NunesMemo was a blatantly political move made without concern for national security," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted. "The hypocrisy is on full display. What does the President have to hide?"