Rep. Paul Gosar, in a statement, blasted the FBI's alleged use of a surveillance warrant to ascertain information about former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. | Matt York/AP Photo GOP lawmaker calls for FBI, DOJ officials to face 'treason' charges

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) said on Friday that the House intelligence memo on alleged FBI malfeasance showed "clear and convincing evidence of treason" by law enforcement officials, despite lingering concerns in the intelligence community over its credibility.

Republicans seized on the White House's decision to approve the public disclosure of the disputed document, compiled by staffers for the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), to speak out against the FBI and Justice Department's handling of the investigation into Russian election interference and ties between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.


Gosar, in a statement, blasted the FBI's use of a surveillance warrant to gather information about a former Trump campaign adviser, Carter Page. The Arizona lawmaker cited the document in accusing former FBI Director James Comey, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and current Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein of breaking the law.

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"The full-throated adoption of this illegal misconduct and abuse of FISA by James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Sally Yates and Rod Rosenstein is not just criminal but constitutes treason," Gosar wrote in a statement.

Gosar said he would urge Attorney General Jeff Sessions to seek "criminal prosecution against these traitors to our nation." Treason under the Constitution is punishable by death.

The White House's decision to release the memo came despite strong objections from the Justice Department and FBI, whose top officials expressed serious concerns over the document's accuracy.

Comey, the former FBI director whose firing prompted special counsel Robert Mueller to be brought on to oversee the federal investigation into Russian election meddling, slammed the document in a tweet on Friday.

“That’s it? Dishonest and misleading memo wrecked the House intel committee, destroyed trust with Intelligence Community, damaged relationship with FISA court, and inexcusably exposed classified investigation of an American citizen,” Comey wrote. “For what? DOJ & FBI must keep doing their jobs.”

Democrats immediately pushed back on the memo's assertions on Friday after having spent weeks contesting its release.

"The president's decision to publicly release a misleading memo attacking DOJ & FBI is a transparent attempt to discredit these institutions and undermine Mueller's probe," said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the House intelligence panel's top Democrat.