The Daily Beast announced Thursday that it is suing the Department of Justice for records about the decision to declassify a House GOP–written memo alleging surveillance abuses by the FBI.

The James Madison Project, a pro-government transparency group, filed the Freedom of Information Act lawsuit Thursday on behalf of the publication.

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The lawsuit is asking for records about the decision to declassify the memo written by the staff of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes Devin Gerald NunesSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Sunday 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 MORE (R-Calif), as well as the counter-memo written by committee ranking Democrat Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffChris Matthews ripped for complimenting Trump's 'true presidential behavior' on Ginsburg Trump casts doubt on Ginsburg statement, wonders if it was written by Schiff, Pelosi or Schumer Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE (Calif.) rebutting the claims.

The memos, both part of the panel's investigation into Russian election meddling, earned national attention earlier this year, with President Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE signing off on the release of the Nunes memo but initially not doing the same for the Schiff memo.

The Democratic memo was ultimately released with some redactions, while the Nunes memo was released as written.

The FBI opposed the release of the Nunes memo, saying that some of its statements were inaccurate and represented too much exposure for law enforcement.

Nunes’s memo alleged that the Justice Department had deliberately abused a surveillance program to investigate a former Trump campaign adviser.

Democrats deny that claim and say the memo was a transparent attempt to undermine 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.