Brian Fitzpatrick. File photo
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick is among a number of Republicans requesting a classified House Intelligence Committee report be released to the public.
The Republican from Levittown said in a statement he reviewed the report.
“I believe this memo should be released to the American people in order to increase transparency inside their government. With nearly a decade and a half of experience as an FBI agent working national security matters, I do not believe making this document public would risk the disclosure of any law enforcement sensitive sources or methods,” Fitzpatrick said.
GOP Congressman Mark Meadows of North Carolina called the contents of the report “shocking” and many of his peers have called for its release to the public. The Hill reported that the document has details of alleged surveillance related to the transition for then-President-elect Donald Trump.
The ACLU and a number of conservative commentators have called for the report to be released. The effort gained the hashtag #ReleaseTheMemo and #ReleaseTheReport on Twitter.
In The Hill’s article, they noted that Republican members of congress viewed the classified report inside a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility on Capitol Hill. The report can be reviewed by all members of the House of Representatives and not just those with the highest level security clearance, according to CNN.
Some Democrats have said the report is aimed at undermining the investigation into Trump’s administration and weaken efforts by special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating those close to Trump and has already filed charges against four campaign and administration officials.
“It is a perversion of the facts to brainwash our members and protect the president,” said Congressman Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California.
It is worth noting that the report was put together by a committee made up by partisans and was not endorsed by law enforcement or the intelligence community as of Friday evening.
