SC’s Rep. Duncan predicts Russia investigation memo will shake FBI ‘to its core’

With the White House planning to release a controversial memo on the FBI’s handling of the Russia investigation, one S.C. congressman is predicting the memo will “shake the organization to its core.”

U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-Laurens, called for the release of the memo on Twitter, after the House intelligence committee this week voted to release the four-page document.

The memo reportedly criticizes federal investigators for alleged missteps in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, including Russian to President Donald Trump’s campaign.

In a statement Wednesday, the FBI said it has “grave concerns” about the accuracy of the document, which Justice Department officials have urged the White House not to release.

But Duncan thinks the memo proves misconduct by high-level FBI officials.

“Having read ‘The Memo,’ the FBI is right to have ‘grave concerns’ – as it will shake the organization down to its core,” Duncan said, arguing the document will show the agency was “weaponized” by the Obama Administration, Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

Duncan also said FBI attempts to redact sensitive information in the memo “defeats the purpose of ‘The Memo’ in providing the transparency into the rogue actions of those named!”

At Tuesday’s State of the Union address, Trump was caught on a live microphone telling Duncan he would “100 percent” release the memo.

Other members of South Carolina’s delegation also have weighed in on the memo.

U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, R-Charleston, said last week he also wanted to see the memo released. Sanford has been a long-time critic of government surveillance practices.

Some are less sure.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Seneca, told reporters in Charleston Thursday that senators “have no idea what we’re talking about,” since the memo has traveled from the House to Trump.

This story was originally published February 2, 2018 at 9:01 AM with the headline "SC’s Rep. Duncan predicts Russia investigation memo will shake FBI ‘to its core’."