Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has called for a cleansing of the FBI in backing the release of a controversial memo written by Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee. “Let it all out, get it all out there. Cleanse the organization,” Ryan said.
He added that disclosure would be the best way to do away with the pall that has been cast over the bureau. “I think we should disclose all this stuff. It’s the best disinfectant.” Ryan said. Accountability, transparency — for the sake of the reputation of our institutions.”
The remarks, unusually marked from Speaker Ryan came at a breakfast with journalists ahead of the president first State of the Union address tonight, and a day after the House Intelligence Committee voted to make the controversial memo public. The memo outlines alleged abuses by the FBI in their obtaining FISA warrants to conduct surveillance on the Trump campaign.
The president has five days to approve the release or object to it under Committee rules. Indications are that the president will release the memo but has said he does not want to do it ahead of the State of the Union address which the White House hopes will be a unifying message.