Trump throws bombshell into Russia investigation, orders release of controversial surveillance documents and Comey texts

President Donald Trump on Monday directed the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Justice to declassify a number of documents related to the Russia investigation in addition to releasing unredacted versions all text messages about the probe sent and received by multiple officials, including former FBI Director James Comey and deputy director Andrew McCabe, the White House said in a statement.

The documents that Trump demanded be declassified included several pages of a June 2017 FISA application for a warrant ultimately granted to surveil former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, along with all FBI interviews and reports connected to the Page FISA application. Trump also requested that the agencies declassify all FBI reports of interview with Justice Department official Bruce Ohr that were connected to the Russia probe.

Ohr, who communicated with former British spy Christopher Steele in 2016 as he compiled his dossier of damaging allegations involving Trump and Russia, has come under fire from Trump and his allies in recent weeks for his involvement with the Russia investigation.

Trump also asked the Justice Department to publicly release unredacted versions of all text messages related to the Russia probe of Comey, McCabe, Ohr, and FBI officials Lisa Page and Peter Strzok, who were involved in both the Russia investigation and the probe into 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she served as secretary of state.

The White House said the move was in the name of "transparency."

Several of Trump's allies on Capitol Hill had requested that the documents be provided.

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, a member of the House Judiciary Committee and a top Trump ally, commended Trump for the move.

"These documents will reveal to the American people some of the systemic corruption and bias that took place at the highest levels of the DOJ and FBI, including using the tools of our intelligence community for partisan political ends," he said. "Full transparency is the best way to ensure that surveillance abuses of this magnitude will never happen again, and I am grateful for President Trump’s commitment to transparency. I look forward to the forthcoming release of these documents, and reviewing them closely."

The move presents an escalation in Trump's battle with his own Justice Department and intelligence community. Special counsel Robert Mueller, who oversees the probe, is investigating whether Trump has sought to obstruct justice with regard to the ongoing investigation.

"President Trump, in a clear abuse of power, has decided to intervene in a pending law enforcement investigation by ordering the selective release of materials he believes are helpful to his defense team and thinks will advance a false narrative," Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement. "With respect to some of these materials, I have been previously informed by the FBI and Justice Department that they would consider their release a red line that must not be crossed as they may compromise sources and methods. This is evidently of no consequence to a President who cares about nothing about the country and everything about his narrow self-interest."

Politico reported that both the Justice Department and FBI have no idea how the redaction process is being handled, with a source familiar with the process saying both entities feel it's possible that the White House could release the information on its own as early as Monday. Meanwhile, a source familiar with the process told CNN the declassification won't happen tonight.

The White House made the announcement amid a firestorm involving Trump's Supreme Court nomination, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who is facing an allegation of sexual assault that took place when he was in high school. Kavanaugh has denied the allegation, which has thrown his confirmation into question as senators seek more information on the claim.

Trump throws bombshell into Russia investigation, orders release of controversial surveillance documents and Comey texts

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