Trump tells lawmaker he's '100 percent' in favor of releasing classified memo

Sara Sorcher | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump: '100 percent' for releasing GOP memo Donald Trump was overheard Tuesday telling a GOP lawmaker he is "100 percent" in favor of releasing a classified memo on the Russia investigation that has sparked a political fight pitting Republicans against the FBI and the Justice Department. (Jan. 31)

President Trump assured a Republican lawmaker on Tuesday that he was "100 percent" in favor of making public a classified Republican memo alleging the FBI and Justice Department abused their surveillance authorities.

Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., asked Trump to "release the memo" on the House floor after his first State of the Union address. In a brief conversation caught on camera, Trump could be overheard replying: "Oh yeah, don't worry, 100 percent."

Trump continued speaking after that, but his words were not audible.

Earlier Tuesday, the White House said Trump had not seen or been briefed on the four-page memo written by Republican staff at the direction of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif.

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"Contrary to a published report, there are no current plans to release the House Intelligence Committee's memo," Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

The House panel on Monday voted to declassify the document, over the loud objections of Democrats who said the memo is simply a Republican attempt to undermine the committee's own ongoing investigation into Russia's election interference – as well as the one special counsel Robert Mueller is conducting.

The FBI and Justice Department have warned that releasing the Republican memo would be “extraordinarily reckless."

Trump has up to five days to decide whether he will object to the release – meaning Trump will be forced to choose between Republicans and his law enforcement leaders.

Earlier Tuesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., came out in favor of releasing the memo.

"I think disclosure is the way to go. It's the best disinfectant," he told reporters. "And I think we need to disclose, that brings us accountability, that brings us transparency, that helps us clean up any problem we have with (the DOJ) and FBI."

Contributing: Erin Kelly