Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), seizing on Super Bowl weekend, declared the release of a controversial memo by House Intelligence Committee Republicans a "fumble" that fell short of the "hail Mary" that they had hoped it would be.

"On # SuperBowl weekend, here's an analogy: @realDonaldTrump & Nunes needed a hail Mary to stop the Mueller investigation," Lieu, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, tweeted, referring to 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 investigation into Russia's election meddling.

"Instead, what they executed was a dive play that lost yardage. And when the Democratic memo gets released, the replay will show a fumble."

On #SuperBowl weekend, here's an analogy: @realDonaldTrump & Nunes needed a hail Mary to stop the Mueller investigation. Instead, what they executed was a dive play that lost yardage. And when the Democratic memo gets released, the replay will show a fumble.#ReleaseTheRealMemo https://t.co/6UKxPGbZAf — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 3, 2018

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Lieu's comments came a day after Republicans on the House Intelligence panel made public a contentious memo alleging that FBI and Justice Department officials abused their authority in obtaining a surveillance warrant on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

That memo claims that law enforcement officials used a controversial opposition research dossier as an "essential" part of their application for a surveillance order on Page.

It also claims that the political origins of the dossier — it was financed in part by 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's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee — were not disclosed to the clandestine court that granted the warrant.

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 Intelligence Committee, led the push to release the GOP memo.

Democrats, however, have accused Republicans of painting a misleading picture of how the warrant was obtained, arguing that key facts were omitted to give the impression of abuses by FBI and Justice Department officials.

Democrats have also claimed that the GOP memo is intended to undermine and discredit Mueller's investigation in order to protect 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 from scrutiny. Mueller is looking into whether members of the Trump campaign conspired with Russia to help sway the 2016 presidential race, among other things.

Democrats on the Intelligence Committee are pushing to release their own memo rebutting the claims in the GOP document. That memo reportedly says that the court was made aware of the political origins of the dossier.