If you spend any time on conservative websites, happen to catch a minute of Fox News or have Republican friends on social media, you’ve probably heard someone demanding that the House “release the memo.” Now, that may finally happen.
But what exactly is “the memo,” who’s “releasing” it and how will it affect the political landscape? Here’s everything you need to know about the already infamous memo.
1. “The Memo” Is a GOP-Authored Document
Despite most of the hype surrounding this document, the memo wasn’t written by the FBI. The memo was written by Republicans who claim to have chronicled a series of abuses in the FBI, such as misuse of surveillance techniques, that were allegedly committed to hurt President Donald Trump and his administration.
The memo itself has been classified, so the four-page document couldn’t be made public. Now, thanks to efforts spearheaded by House Intelligence Committee Chair and Republican Congressman Devin Nunes, the memo will be released beyond the committee — and everyone will be able to read its contents.
2. But What Is It About?
The memo focuses on the Russian probe, of course. As CNN reports:
The Nunes memo says the FBI abused the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act over its use of the opposition research dossier on Donald Trump and Russia as part of the case to obtain a FISA warrant for former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page. It cites the roles of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and outgoing Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe in overseeing aspects of the investigation, according to a source briefed on the matter.
The memo claims that the FBI maintains an anti-Trump bias, prompting agency leaders to approve otherwise unacceptable surveillance in an effort to bring the president down.
3. Why Is This Partisan?
The memo is just a summary — it’s the Nunes version of what he believes happened inside the FBI, providing only the information he wants to highlight and disregarding the rest. Meanwhile, a…