Rep. Adam Schiff attends the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Hosts 2019 Ripple Of Hope Gala & Auction In NYC on December 12

House Intelligence Committee ranking member Devin Nunes has told chairman Adam Schiff that he needs 'rehabilitation' and to 'admit he has a problem' in the wake of the Inspector General's report.

In a February 2018 memo, Schiff had defended the FBI's conduct in obtaining a FISA warrant to wiretap Trump campaign adviser Carter Page and dismissed Nunes' concerns.

But last Monday's IG report on the FBI's Russia probe identified 17 'significant inaccuracies or omissions' in applications for the FISA warrant, including a doctored email and reliance on unverified information from British former spy Christopher Steele.

'After publishing false conclusions of such enormity on a topic directly within this committee's oversight responsibilities, it is clear you are in need of rehabilitation, and I hope this letter will serve as the first step in that vital process,' Nunes wrote to Schiff on Sunday.

'As part of your rehabilitation,' Nunes added, 'it's crucial that you admit you have a problem - you are hijacking the Intelligence Committee for political purposes while excusing and covering up intelligence agency abuses.'

Republican Representative from California and ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Devin Nunes speaks with colleagues during a break in the House Judiciary Committee

Claims listed by Nunes made in Schiff's 2018 memo: FBI and Justice Department officials did not omit material information from the FISA warrant. The Justice Department 'made only narrow use of information' from former British spy Christopher Steele's discredited anti-Trump dossier to obtain the warrant on Mr. Page. In subsequent FISA renewals of the wiretap warrant, DOJ provided additional information that corroborated Mr. Steele's reporting. The Page FISA warrant allowed the FBI to collect 'valuable intelligence.' 'Far from 'omitting' material facts about Steele, as the [the GOP-Majority] claims, DOJ repeatedly informed the Court about Steele's background, credibility, and potential bias.' The FBI conducted a 'rigorous process' to vet Steele's allegations and the FISA application to wiretap Mr. Page explained the FBI's reasonable basis for finding Steele credible. Steele's prior reporting was used in criminal proceedings. 'The IG report has exposed all these declarations as false,' said Mr. Nunes. Advertisement

Schiff had told the ranking member in the 2018 memo: 'FBI and DOJ officials did not "abuse" the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) process, omit material information, or subvert this vital tool to spy on the Trump campaign.'

In his letter Nunes highlighted seven false claims made by Schiff, including his statement last year that Steele's information had been vetted in a 'rigorous process.'

Horowitz's report found that Steele's unverified intelligence was crucial to pushing the FISA warrant over the line.

It also found that all of Schiff's claims in the memo were incorrect.

Nunes issued stinging praise to Schiff for acknowledging the errors committed by the FBI, telling him it was 'a valuable first step - a baby step, but a step nonetheless -in your rehabilitation.'

The Republican said that Schiff's criticisms of Attorney General Bill Bar and U.S. Attorney John Durham signaled that his 'rehabilitation will be a long, arduous process.'

'I understand taking action on this issue will be difficult for you, as it will be an implicit acknowledgment that you were wrong to deny these abuses and that you were complicit in the violation of an American's civil liberties.' Nunes wrote.

'I also understand that such an acknowledgment is made even more difficult by the fact that you've already been discredited by your years-long false claim that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to hack the 2016 presidential election.

'Nevertheless, I refuse to believe you are beyond redemption. I invite you to work closely with me on your rehabilitation program, and look forward to your scheduling a committee hearing with IG Horowitz at the nearest opportunity.'