Blumenthal Statement on House Intelligence Committee Vote to Release Nunes Memo

 [WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement after the Republican majority on the House Intelligence Committee voted to release a partisan, classified memo – without input from the Department of Justice or the FBI – written by Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) to distract from the ongoing Russia probe. Today, House Republicans also voted against releasing additional contextual information compiled by the minority.

“Today, House Republicans purposefully compromised the integrity and effectiveness of the Department of Justice, all law enforcement agencies, and the American intelligence community in a cover-up agenda meant to distract the American people from the truth about Russia’s attack on our democracy. President Trump’s own appointee at the Department of Justice has called this move ‘extraordinarily reckless.’ It is a transparent political ploy – appallingly irresponsible and dangerous. House Republicans shredded crucial safeguards designed to protect our national security to continue levying baseless, politically motivated attacks against law enforcement,” Blumenthal said. “Stunningly, while Russian-linked social media accounts aided and abetted their rash and reckless agenda, House Republicans remained completely silent – complicit in a foreign adversary’s ongoing attempts to undermine our law enforcement and national security.”