President Trump
Donald John TrumpSchiff: Nunes gave Trump 'secretly altered' version of memo Davis: ‘Deep state’ existed in ’16 – but it elected Trump Former Trump legal spokesman to testify to Mueller about undisclosed call: report MORE has privately told associates that he believes a contentious memo compiled by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee could be used to discredit the investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election, according to CNN.
In phone calls with friends in recent days, Trump has said that he believes the memo will reveal biases and abuses by the FBI and Justice Department that could back up his claims that the probe is a partisan exercise, CNN reported on Thursday.
Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee voted on Monday to release a controversial memo alleging that the FBI and Justice Department misused their authority to obtain a surveillance warrant for a Trump campaign adviser during the 2016 presidential race.
Some Republicans have argued that releasing the memo is necessary, because it sheds light on the origins of the Russia investigation, as well as possible abuses by federal law enforcement officials. Rep. Devin Nunes
Devin Gerald NunesSchumer: Nunes intent on undermining 'rule of law' with altered memo Schiff: Nunes gave Trump 'secretly altered' version of memo Former GOP rep rips Nunes over memo: He's chair of Trump's reelection campaign MORE (R-Calif.), the chairman of the committee, has been a vocal proponent of making the memo public.
But the move has been vehemently opposed by Democrats and law enforcement officials, who have raised questions about the memo's accuracy and its omission of key information that they say is needed to put the issue into proper context.
Trump still has two days left to review the GOP memo to determine whether to allow its release, though he is widely expected to give it the OK. A decision is expected as soon as Thursday.
The FBI released a rare statement on Wednesday, saying that it has "grave concerns" about the memo's accuracy. The statement highlights a division between the Justice Department and the White House.
CNN reported that Trump was upset with that statement and that he has also directed some of his ire at Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein
Rod Jay RosensteinOvernight Cybersecurity: GOP, FBI clash over FISA memo | Uber breach under Senate scrutiny | Upcoming House cyber diplomacy hearing Trump asked Rosenstein about Russia probe, if he was on Trump's 'team': report Nunes fires back at FBI for 'spurious objections' to memo release MORE, who appointed special counsel Robert Mueller
Robert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE to lead the law enforcement investigation into Russian election meddling and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.
According to CNN, Trump has recently floated the notion of ousting Rosenstein, who began overseeing the Russia investigation last year after Attorney General Jeff Sessions
Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsUS to prioritize new asylum applications over past filings California considers state-run bank for pot businesses Trump doesn't recognize foreign-born black and brown people as American MORE recused himself from the case.
The memo's release, CNN reported, could be used by Trump as an impetus for firing the deputy attorney general.