In stunning move, Trump declassifies documents related to Russian Federation probe
- by Thibaud Popelin
- in Monde
- — Sep 18, 2018
President Trump ordered the release of all text messages, without redaction, related to the Russian Federation investigation from fired FBI Director James Comey, fired Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, fired FBI agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page.
The documents in question are specific pages of the June 2017 FISA warrant application related to onetime Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page, all FBI interview reports prepared in connection with all FISA warrant applications in connection with Page and all FBI reports of interviews with Justice Department lawyer Bruce Ohr prepared in connection with the FBI's Russian Federation investigation.
The declassification order includes redacted portions of the FISA warrant the FBI obtained to spy on Trump associate Page, all FBI notes on interviews related to obtaining the warrant on Page, and all FBI notes on interviews with Justice Department official Bruce Ohr related to the Russian Federation investigation.
The FBI obtained a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant to spy on Page, who worked on Trump's campaign, in part by submitting a now questioned dossier compiled by former British intelligence official Christopher Steele for Fusion GPS. "My colleagues in Congress and I have requested these documents for months, but have faced lengthy and unnecessary delays, redactions, and refusals from officials at the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation".
The decision was made at the request of a number of congressional committees and "for reasons of transparency", White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Monday.
President Donald Trump demanded the release of many Russian Federation investigation-related documents and text messages on Monday.
It was unclear how soon the documents would be released.
Much is already known about the Carter Page warrant and the Strzok/Page relationship through previous texts, documents and memos, but the release should provide much more detail.
Pages 17 to 34 of the application deal with Page's possible coordination with Russian government officials on activities created to influence the 2016 election.
This summer, officials released heavily redacted versions of the first October 2016 FISA application and three renewals stretching to September of 2017.
"A lot of what has been going on [concerning] surveillance and the special counsel. from the jump has been corrupt at the highest levels", he said.
The declassification of the documents was quickly praised by Trump allies in Congress and attacked by Democrats. They also believe more documents could be released by Monday. Democrats weeks later released their own memo.
"The President is potentially risking the lives of our patriots by compromising sources and methods, all so he can advance falsehoods and false narratives that distract from the truth of the Trump-Russia scandal", she added.
