WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Speaker Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanAt indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates Peterson faces fight of his career in deep-red Minnesota district MORE (R-Wis.) on Thursday defended an unreleased House GOP memo that alleges abuses by the FBI and Justice Department, saying that it’s not an “indictment” of those government institutions.

“What this is not is an indictment on our institutions, of our justice system. This memo is not an indictment of the FBI, of the Department of Justice. It does not impugn [special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE’s Russia] investigation or the deputy attorney general,” Ryan said at a retreat for GOP lawmakers in West Virginia.

“What it is is the Congress’s legitimate function of oversight to make sure the FISA process is being used correctly,” he added, referring to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. “If it wasn’t being used correctly, that needs to come to light and people need to be held accountable so this doesn’t affect our civil liberties.”

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The classified memo, authored by staffers in Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes Devin Gerald NunesSunday shows preview: With less than two months to go, race for the White House heats up Sunday shows preview: Republicans gear up for national convention, USPS debate continues in Washington Sunday shows preview: White House, congressional Democrats unable to breach stalemate over coronavirus relief MORE's (R-Calif.) office, allegedly criticizes the FBI and Justice Department for failing to adequately explain to a secret spy court that some of the information included in a surveillance application for a Trump campaign associate came from opposition research funded in part by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden MORE.

But Nunes has faced growing scrutiny for his efforts to publicly release the memo, which is based on classified materials provided by the Justice Department.

The FBI has expressed concerns with its release, and White House officials are fretting that FBI Director Christopher Wray may quit if the memo is released, according to reports.

However, President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE is expected to allow its release in the next few days.

Democrats view the memo as a GOP effort to undermine Muller's probe into Russia's election interference and potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

Earlier Thursday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Overnight Defense: Top admiral says 'no condition' where US should conduct nuclear test 'at this time' | Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings Pelosi must go — the House is in dire need of new leadership MORE (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt Schumer lashes out at Trump over 'blue states' remark: 'What a disgrace' MORE (D-N.Y.) both called on Ryan to remove Nunes as Intelligence chairman over his handling of the memo. The Speaker has the sole authority to appoint or remove the Intelligence chairman.

But Ryan quickly rejected those calls and defended Nunes, a Ryan ally, as someone who was working to keep Americans safe.

Pelosi and Schumer “are just playing politics and they are looking for a political distraction,” Ryan told reporters.

“The tax cuts are working. We’ve got ISIS on the run. Things are going well. Economic confidence is at a 17-year high,” he said. “I think they would like nothing more than to play politics and change the subject.”

“Devin Nunes helped shepherd through a reauthorization of … the foreign terrorist surveillance law. So he’s focusing on keeping our country safe, focusing on national security," he said. "I think what they are trying to do is sidetrack us for some political gain.”