Washington set to wage war of the memos

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A US congressional panel has voted to release a Democratic rebuttal to allegations of political bias in the ongoing Russia investigation.

An memo released by the Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee last week charged the FBI with abusing its power in the probe into possible collusion between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. 

Now Democrats want the public to hear their version of events.

"We want to make sure that the White House does not redact our memo for political purposes, and obviously that is a deep concern," Rep. Adam Schiff, the committee's top Democrat, told reporters on Monday. "The (Republican) majority found itself in an insupportable position when they released a misleading memo and refused to release the democratic response. So, I think they were compelled to take the action they did today. And we think this will be very useful information for the American people to see".

President Trump has five days to declassify the memo or block its release.

On Monday, he derided Schiff on Twitter, while praising Republican Devin Nunes, who chairs the Intelligence Committee. 

"Little Adam Schiff, who is desperate to run for higher office, is one of the biggest liars and leakers in Washington, right up there with (former FBI Director James) Comey, (Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Senator Mark) Warner, (former CIA Director John) Brennan and (former National Intelligence Director James) Clapper! Adam leaves closed committee hearings to illegally leak confidential information. Must be stopped!"

"Representative Devin Nunes, a man of tremendous courage and grit, may someday be recognized as a Great American Hero for what he has exposed and what he has had to endure!"

Nunes authored the original memo, which has been dismissed by critics as misleading. FBI officials say the release of classified materials for political point-scoring sets a dangerous precedent.