Trump orders intelligence community to cooperate with review on Russia probe origins

The directive comes as the White House spars with congressional Democrats over the work of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who led a two-year investigation into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 USelection and if there were any ties between theTrumpcampaign andRussia.

"Today, at the request and recommendation of the attorney general of the United States, President Donald J.Trumpdirected theintelligencecommunityto quickly and fully cooperate with the attorney general's investigation into surveillance activities during the 2016 presidential election," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said afterTrumpissued the directive.

The order also allows Barr to declassify any information he sees fit during hisreview.

A redacted version of Mueller's report was released publicly in April. Theprobefound no evidence that theTrumpcampaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy withRussiaand did not draw a conclusion on whetherTrumpobstructed justice, but outlined some incidents that Democrats have said may be obstruction.

Republican House member Mark Meadows tweeted on Thursday that "Americans are going to learn the truth about what occurred at their Justice Department."

Adam Schiff, a Democrat member and Chairman of the HouseIntelligenceCommittee, criticizedTrump's directive.

"WhileTrumpstonewalls the public from learning the truth about his obstruction of justice,Trumpand Barr conspire to weaponize law enforcement and classified information against their political enemies," Schiff said on Twitter.

"The coverup has entered a new and dangerous phase. This is un-American," he added.

In separate comments late Thursday on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show", House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said Mueller had told him that he is willing to testify to lawmakers in private, but is willing to make a public statement.

Nadler, a Democrat, told Maddow that if Mueller did testify behind closed doors then the public would get a written transcript of the testimony.

ButTrumprailed on Twitter early Friday against the investigation and said that the investigation was politically motivated.

He wrote: “IntelligenceAgencies were used against an American President.” @DevinNunes @ShannonBream @FoxNews This should NEVER happen to a President again! Dems are furious at Robert Mueller for his findings - NO COLLUSION, NO OBSTRUCTION. Now they should go back to work and legislate!"

"DRAINING THE SWAMP"

Trump, a Republican, harbours suspicions that the Democratic Obama administration ordered him investigated during the 2016 campaign to try to undermine his candidacy, and he wants payback against those he believes were responsible.

"Comey, Brennan, Clapper, we're draining the swamp, folks,"Trumptold a rally on Monday in Pennsylvania, referring to former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, and James Clapper, a former director of nationalintelligence, all of whom have been critical ofTrump.

Of specific interest toTrumpare the warrants that emanated from a secretive court that authorizes surveillance on foreign powers and their agents.Trumpsupporters believe the warrants will identify those responsible for theRussiaprobethat is still roiling Washington.

Last month, Barr said at a Senate hearing that "spying" onTrump's campaign was carried out by USintelligenceagencies, though he later referred to his concerns as focused on "unauthorized surveillance."

Barr has assigned a top federal prosecutor in Connecticut toprobetheoriginsof theRussiainvestigation in what is the third known inquiry into the opening of the FBIprobe.