Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainThe electoral reality that the media ignores Kelly's lead widens to 10 points in Arizona Senate race: poll COVID response shows a way forward on private gun sale checks MORE (R-Ariz.) fired back on Friday against growing criticism from 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 and GOP lawmakers of the FBI, warning they are only bolstering Russian President Vladimir Putin.

McCain's comments come as a controversial Republican memo accusing the Department of Justice and the FBI of "shocking" abuses of power is expected to be released shortly.



"Elected officials, including the president, must stop looking at this [Russia] investigation through the warped lens of politics and manufacturing partisan sideshows," McCain said in a statement.



He added that "the latest attacks on the FBI and Department of Justice serve no American interests — no party’s, no president’s, only Putin’s."

A White House spokesperson said on Friday that the president has approved the release of the memo, compiled for 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 memo is said to contain allegations of the FBI improperly surveilling a Trump campaign aide's communications.

Trump has seized on the memo as evidence of bias in the top ranks of the intelligence community.



"The top Leadership and Investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans — something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago. Rank & File are great people," he said in a tweet.



But McCain fired back on the GOP attacks, warning that the rhetoric is doing long-term damage to the country.



"If we continue to undermine our own rule of law, we are doing Putin’s job for him," he said.



He added: "While we have no evidence that these [Russian] efforts affected the outcome of our election, I fear they succeeded in fueling political discord and dividing us from one another."



GOP leadership has tried to separate the GOP-compiled memo from 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.



"This memo is not an indictment of the FBI or the Justice Department. It does not impugn the Mueller investigation," House 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.) told reporters on Thursday.



But multiple sources told CNN that Trump believes the memo will help discredit the Russia investigation.