Republican House intelligence committee members are releasing a secret document provided by the FBI on the Russia investigation claiming that the FBI used a classified surveillance program to spy on a Trump campaign foreign policy adviser. The White House backed the release on the grounds that it provided transparency for the American people. (Politico, January 29, 2018, by Kyle Cheney)
Some analysts say that without providing context and a “full application,” releasing the memo would not give the public a fair and accurate view and serve the interests of transparency. The FBI opposed the release saying they had not been given the chance to thoroughly vet the memo and “…we have grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy.” (Courthouse News Service, January 31, 2018, by Britain Eakin)
Whistleblower Edward Snowden backed the memo for its value in providing insight into possible federal surveillance abuses. While saying he was not generally backing Devin Nunes, the chair of the House intelligence committee, he did say the release would enable citizens to see for themselves if there was abuse. “If true, the citizens must see the proof. If false, it establishes [intelligence committee] lies and has no credibility. Either outcome benefits the public,” wrote Snowden on Twitter. (Common Dreams, January 19, 2018, by Julie Conley)