Members of the Republican Party are requesting the release of a Foreign Intelligence Service Act (FISA) memo. The request was made after Fox News host Sean Hannity stated that the claims of government shadowing were worse than the 1972 Watergate scandal.
Rep. Steve King and Rep. Mark Meadows stated on Twitter that they have perceived a report that is classified and was written by the House Intelligence Committee. The committee said that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abused their power and were connected to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Intelligence committee stated that the abuse of authority is connected to the accusations of President Donald J. Trump. They then stated that he colluded with Russian officials to win the 2016 General United States Presidential Election.
Meadows tweeted that what he saw was “shocking.” He then tweeted that the report needs to be released immediately because Americans deserve to know the truth.
King tweeted that the reality that has set in is appalling. He then tweeted that the scandal is worse than Watergate.
Hannity opened his show on the Fox New Channel requesting Robert Mueller, who is a special counsel in the investigation, to terminate his witch hunt. The news host stated that the memo was four pages. Messages were included where FBI agent Peter Strzok advised that the Steel dossier was a ploy for FISA warrants. Strzok was also an investigator in U.S. Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server.
Hannity stated on his show that aired on Thursday, January 18 that Watergate was a third-rate break-in, and the FISA scandal is worse than the 1972 scandal. However, he then stated that the people being accused of the scandal abused their power and the system, shred the Fourth Amendments constitutional rights, and used the powerful tools of intelligence as weapons.
The Hill reported that Trump supporters such as Hannity have constantly accused former President Barak H. Obama’s administration of using FISA warrants to infiltrate on the Trump’s transition team and campaign in support of Clinton, Trump’s opponent. Former members of the Obama administration have passionately stated that the accusations were false.
The four-page memo is circulating in Congress. Newsweek reported that it details the misuse of FISA. The House Intelligence Committee voted to send a motion to distribute the memo to every member of the House of Representatives. All Democrats voted no on the motion.
Meadows spoke to the House an hour before Hannity aired on Fox News. He called for the memo to be released to the public.
Meadows said that he is stunned to have read what took place. He then stated that he thought that it would never have happened in a nation that is a free democracy. It is a time that Americans finally become clear of the situation. Also, the nation’s leadership should make the FISA memo available to all Americans so they can judge it for themselves.
Mike Conaway, who is a Republican from Texas, stated that the committee has concerns about FISA that all of his fellow member of the House must know. Politico reported that Conaway was referring to the abuse of power concerning the FISA act, that Hannity stated was worse than Watergate.
By John A. Federico
Sources:
Syracuse.com: ‘Worse than Watergate’: Republicans demand FISA memo amid surveillance abuse claims
Newsweek: FISA SURVEILLANCE MEMO ‘FAR WORSE THAN WATERGATE,’ SEAN HANNITY CLAIMS
POLITICO: Republicans authorize sharing of classified report on FBI, DOJ officials’ conduct
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