Sunday Shows preview: Debate over memo takes spotlight in Washington

The release of the contentious memo by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee on Friday underscored the partisan firestorm swirling around the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

President Trump declared Saturday that the memo, which alleges abuses by the FBI and Justice Department in obtaining a surveillance order on a former Trump campaign adviser, “totally vindicates” him in the Russia probe.

But Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee argue that the document fails to disclose the full scope of the Justice Department’s warrant application and intentionally omits facts that would put the matter in the proper context.

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They’re pushing to release their own memo on the subject — a rebuttal they say would reveal the partisan nature of the GOP document and knock down allegations that FBI and Justice Department officials acted inappropriately.

The GOP memo alleges that federal law enforcement officials relied heavily on a controversial opposition research dossier in their application for a warrant to surveil Carter Page, a former foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign.

According to the memo, the Justice Department failed to disclose that the research contained in the dossier was financed by political sources, and that its author, a former British intelligence agent, was biased against Trump. 

Now, House Intelligence Committee members from both sides of the aisle are set to take to the Sunday morning news shows to discuss the GOP memo and the future of the Russia investigation. 

On the Democratic side, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the ranking member on the Intelligence panel, will appear on ABC’s “This Week.” Two other Intelligence Committee Democrats, Reps. Eric Swalwell (Calif.) and Jim Himes (Conn.), are set to go on “Fox News Sunday” and CNN’s “State of the Union” respectively.

At the same time, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) will be on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) will be on “Fox News Sunday,” Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) will be on “State of the Union” and Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) will be on “This Week.” All are members of the House Intelligence Committee.

Here’s the full lineup:

NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Reince Priebus, Trump’s former chief of staff, will be on the show. Former CIA Director John Brennan will appear, as well.

“Fox News Sunday”: Stewart and Swalwell will both make appearances, as will Leon Panetta, a former CIA director and Defense secretary.

CBS’s “Face the Nation”: Gowdy will be on. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Health’s infectious disease unit, will also make an appearance.

CNN’s “State of the Union”: Himes and Wenstrup will make appearances. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) will also be on the show.

ABC’s “This Week”: Schiff and Hurd are set to make appearances.