Central Oregon politicians react to GOP House memo

The House Intelligence Committee on Friday released a hotly disputed memo that alleges the FBI abused government surveillance in its investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.

President Donald Trump approved a House committee’s release of the four-page memo, citing a troubling breakdown of legal process in the Russia investigation by the FBI and the Department of Justice and raising concerns over the legitimacy and legality of both agencies interactions with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

Former FBI Director James Comey tweeted, calling the memo “dishonest and misleading.”

Judy Stiegler, a political science instructor at Central Oregon Community College, told NewsChannel 21 this memo could impact the relationship that Congress has with the intelligence community.

“Everybody in the intelligence community has known for a long time the point and purpose of these two congressional committees is to help to keep a balance and to keep the finger on the pulse of things, but it’s been an interactive process — and that to a large degree has been eroded because of this memo,” the former state lawmaker said.

Republicans claim the memo shines light on what were false pretenses in obtaining surveillance warrants on Carter Page, a Donald Trump campaign aide.

Sam Carpenter, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, told NewsChannel 21 the release of the memo will impact the November elections.

“This is corruption at the very highest levels, the very highest levels (of) government — this is a big deal,” Carpenter said. “The media in general will downplay it, but it’s too much, it’s too big. You’ll being see a lot of this in the next months. It will have an effect on the November elections,” Carpenter said.

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., released a statement supporting release of the memo.

“When I read this memo two weeks ago I found it very troubling and have supported its release as a matter of government transparency. The memo raises serious concerns about the conduct of officials at the FBI and Department of Justice. I look forward to the House Intelligence Committee’s oversight and prompt attention to the issues raised by the document in order to ensure that the American people can have confidence in these important agencies,” he said.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., had an opposite reaction:

“It’s clear to me that this laughable hack job of a memo was a whole lot of nothing, hyped up to undermine the Mueller investigation. For weeks we have been talking about this ultimately meaningless memo, rather than the fact that an ever growing number of Trump associates are under indictment. Every member of this administration’s national security team should explain whether or not they agreed with the administration’s decision to greenlight the use of classified information for nakedly partisan ends, which lays bare the hypocrisy around the argument that pervasive secrecy is necessary for national security,” Wyden said.

“However, if my colleagues are serious about their newfound concerns to protect Americans against unnecessary government surveillance, I urge them to rethink their votes last month to expand government spying powers under FISA Section 702. They should bring the USA RIGHTS Act back up for a vote to ensure our government is protecting Americans’ rights as well as their security.”

Sen. Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee published the Nunes memo:

“The House Republicans have gone through with their plan to release a highly misleading memo made up of cherry-picked classified information.

“This puts us in extremely dangerous territory. It upends the relationship between the intelligence community and Congress, threatening the ability for different branches of government to work together to protect the American people’s safety.

“But even more alarming, it shows that House Republicans are willing to go to nearly any length to obstruct the Russia investigation and aid and abet President Trump’s attacks on Mueller.

“This is a five-alarm fire for anyone who cares about equal justice and the principle that no one is above the law. The checks and balances envisioned in our constitution only work if Congress is willing to stand up against an unlawful, out-of-control President.

“Thanks to Devin Nunes and the House Republicans who are putting party above country, we are now teetering on the brink of a constitutional crisis.”

Here is the GOP House memo: