WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, the Republican majority in the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) voted along party-lines to release a Republican memo on the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). The vote followed warnings from the Department of Justice that releasing the memo “would be extraordinarily reckless.” The Committee majority also voted against releasing a Democratic memo reviewing the same information.

Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), a Member of HPSCI, releases the following statement:

“It is absolutely disgraceful that Republicans are willing to undermine our Intelligence Community and our investigation into Russia’s attack on our democracy all in the name of defending President Trump,” said Rep. Terri Sewell. “It is our responsibility to hold this White House accountable and to protect our democracy from the threat of foreign interference. But at every turn, Chairman Nunes and the Republican majority have worked to derail our investigation.”

“The selective publication of highly classified material to undermine our own national security agencies is not a political strategy, it is sabotage. Today’s reckless vote will jeopardize sensitive sources and methods for intelligence gathering, putting our national security at risk. The House Intelligence Committee must return to legislating in a bipartisan and transparent way that puts the American people first.”

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Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is serving her fourth term representing Alabama’s 7th Congressional district. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Sewell is a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee of the Democratic Caucus. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, and Vice Chair of Outreach for the New Democrat Coalition.