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 has privately told associates that he believes a contentious memo compiled by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee could be used to discredit the investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election, according to CNN.

In phone calls with friends in recent days, Trump has said that he believes the memo will reveal biases and abuses by the FBI and Justice Department that could back up his claims that the probe is a partisan exercise, CNN reported on Thursday.

Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee voted on Monday to release a controversial memo alleging that the FBI and Justice Department misused their authority to obtain a surveillance warrant for a Trump campaign adviser during the 2016 presidential race.

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Some Republicans have argued that releasing the memo is necessary, because it sheds light on the origins of the Russia investigation, as well as possible abuses by federal law enforcement officials. Rep. 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 (R-Calif.), the chairman of the committee, has been a vocal proponent of making the memo public.

But the move has been vehemently opposed by Democrats and law enforcement officials, who have raised questions about the memo's accuracy and its omission of key information that they say is needed to put the issue into proper context.

Trump still has two days left to review the GOP memo to determine whether to allow its release, though he is widely expected to give it the OK. A decision is expected as soon as Thursday.

The FBI released a rare statement on Wednesday, saying that it has "grave concerns" about the memo's accuracy. The statement highlights a division between the Justice Department and the White House.

CNN reported that Trump was upset with that statement and that he has also directed some of his ire at Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein Rod RosensteinDOJ kept investigators from completing probe of Trump ties to Russia: report Five takeaways from final Senate Intel Russia report FBI officials hid copies of Russia probe documents fearing Trump interference: book MORE, who appointed 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 to lead the law enforcement investigation into Russian election meddling and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

According to CNN, Trump has recently floated the notion of ousting Rosenstein, who began overseeing the Russia investigation last year after Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status White House officials voted by show of hands on 2018 family separations: report MORE recused himself from the case.

The memo's release, CNN reported, could be used by Trump as an impetus for firing the deputy attorney general.