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Donald Trump escalated his unprecedented war on federal law enforcement Friday, accusing leaders at the FBI and his own Justice Department of helping his political opponents.Posting on Twitter, Trump said "top leadership" in both agencies — Republicans he mostly appointed — of having “politicized the sacred investigative process” in favor of Democrats.Trump’s attack comes as Washington boils over the release of a controversial memo that alleges wrongdoing on the part of the FBI while surveilling a member of the Trump campaign.The post is likely to further alienate FBI chief Christopher Wray, the man Trump appointed last year to replace James Comey.White House aides were worried Thursday the memo’s release could prompt Wray to resign, according to sources speaking to CNN.
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The FBI this week made a rare public statement on the memo, saying it had “grave concerns” about the accuracy of the document.Comey Thursday defended the agency he once led for speaking up, wishing “more of our leaders would.”
Since his May firing, Comey has more than hinted at contempt for his former boss; political watchers Thursday saw “weasels and liars” as a thinly veiled swipe at Trump.The president’s latest FBI broadside is in tune with Republican lawmakers pushing for the release of the memo.
House Intelligence Chair Devin Nunes, who penned the four-page document, has urged the president to release it, part of a campaign to undermine the FBI’s credibility and ultimately that of Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian election meddling.
President Donald Trump walks away from Marine One after returning to the White House, on February 1, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)