The full memo was crafted by Republican staffers to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and alleges surveillance abuses by law enforcement against former Trump campaign aide Carter Page. GOP members of the committee voted to release it on a party-line vote, and the White House signed off on that decision.<\/em><\/p>\n Law enforcement argued that its release jeopardizes classified information, on which the memo is based, and sets a dangerous precedent. They also contend it omits key information. Other opponents allege the memo is a\u00a0thinly veiled political attempt to undermine the Russia investigation<\/a>, special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, who is overseeing Mueller’s probe.<\/em><\/p>\n Below is the memo in full, along with our annotations. To see an annotation, click on the yellow highlighted text.<\/em>\u00a0 By Aaron Blake<\/a><\/span> February 2<\/span> The Washington Post<\/p>\n <\/p>\n THE WHITE HOUSE The Honorable Devin Nunes The Honorable Devin Nunes Chairman, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence United States Capitol Washington, DC 20515<\/em><\/span><\/span> <\/a><\/div>\n Reporter, Washington Post<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/div>\n This is the letter the White House sent approving the release of the Nunes memo and explaining its reasoning.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Dear Mr. Chairman:<\/p>\n On January 29, 2018, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (hereinafter \u201cthe Committee\u201d) voted to disclose publicly a memorandum containing classified information provided to the Committee in connection with its oversight activities (the \u201cMemorandum,\u201d which is attached to this letter). As provided by clause 11(g) of Rule of the House of Representatives, the Committee has forwarded this Memorandum to the President based on its determination that the release of the Memorandum would serve the public interest.<\/p>\n The Constitution vests the President with the authority to protect national security secrets from it disclosure. As the Supreme Court has recognized, it is the President\u2019s responsibility to classify, declassify, and control access to information bearing on our intelligence sources and methods and national defense. See, Dep of Navy v. Egan<\/em>, 484 US. 518, 527 (1988). In order to facilitate appropriate congressional oversight, the Executive Branch may entrust classified information to the appropriate committees of Congress, as it has done in connection with the Committee\u2019s oversight activities here. The Executive Branch does so on the assumption that the Committee will responsibly protect such classified information, consistent with the laws of the United States.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reporter, Washington Post<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n The president can indeed declassify information at will. This first came up with President Trump when he shared classified information with top Russian officials in an Oval Office meeting<\/a>. The White House argued at the time that Trump was within his rights \u2013 which was true.<\/em><\/p>\n In both this case and that, though, the question people are asking is whether disclosing the classified information is in the national interest. In the case of the Russia meeting, some worried Trump may have jeopardized a valuable source of intelligence by tipping off the Russians. In this case, the complaint is that the information is being used for partisan politics and to undermine the Russia investigation headed by Robert S. Mueller III.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nWASHINGTON
\nFebruary 2, 2018<\/p>\n
\nChairman, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
\nUnited States Capitol
\nWashington, DC 20515<\/p>\n <\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n