Trump Russia probe: FBI has ‘grave concerns’ over memo
Democrats fear Donald Trump will use the document as a pretext to sabotage the investigation

FBI Director Christopher Wray has issued a rare public warning that the agency has “grave concerns” over White House plans to release a controversial Republican intelligence memo.
The document, compiled by the Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Devin Nunes, is believed to contain details of an attempt by the FBI to extend surveillance of former Trump aide Carter Page.
The Guardian says the memo is “potentially explosive”, as it reportedly places blame for the flawed request on deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, who is overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Wray argues that the memo could be misleading. “With regard to the House Intelligence Committee’s memorandum, the FBI was provided a limited opportunity to review this memo the day before the committee voted to release it,” he said. “As expressed during our initial review, we have grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy.”
Critics are concerned that Trump could use the document to suggest that Rosenstein is mishandling the investigation into Page.
Democrats believe releasing the memo “increases the risk of a constitutional crisis”, reports the BBC, and could lead to attempts by the White House to fire Mueller or, “as now seems more likely”, Rosenstein.
Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein has accused Republicans of trying to “undermine the special counsel's investigation” by “playing politics with highly classified information”.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
However, says CNN, “despite Trump’s insistence the memo be released, the document will be reviewed to ensure that it does not compromise sources and methods,” – a process that may take up to five days.
-
Stunning beaches in Scotland
The Week Recommends Scenic spots that wouldn't look out of place in the Caribbean
-
Dash: the UK's 'flawed' domestic violence tool
The Explainer Risk-assessment checklist relied on by police and social services deemed unfit for frontline use
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Trump arms National Guard in DC, threatens other cities
speed read His next targets are Chicago, New York and Baltimore
-
Judge: Trump's US attorney in NJ serving unlawfully
Speed Read The appointment of Trump's former personal defense lawyer, Alina Habba, as acting US attorney in New Jersey was ruled 'unlawful'
-
Gavin Newsom's Trump-style trolling roils critics while thrilling fans
TALKING POINTS The California governor has turned his X account into a cutting parody of Trump's digital cadence, angering Fox News conservatives
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutional
Speed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Judges: Threatened for ruling against Trump
Feature Threats against federal judges across the U.S. have surged since Donald Trump took office
-
The census: Why Trump wants a new one
Feature Donald Trump is pushing for a 'Trumpified census' that excludes undocumented immigrants
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBI
Speed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summit
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'