Trump FBI memo risks exposing UK spy tactics
Washington sources warn that president would risk damaging UK relations by releasing document
Britain’s spy agencies risk having their methods revealed if Donald Trump releases a controversial memo about the FBI, congressional figures have warned. The UK will be less likely to share confidential information if the secret memo about the Russian election meddling investigation is made public, according to those opposing its release. A US Congress source said Britain’s security services would be “rankled” if the memo was released.
BRITAIN’S spy agencies risk having their intelligence methods revealed if Donald Trump releases a controversial memo about the FBI, congressional figures have warned. The Government will be less likely to share confidential information with Washington if the secret memo about the Russian investigation is made public, according to those opposing its release.
A source in Congress looking into Russian election meddling told The Daily Telegraph that Britain’s security services would be “rankled” if the information was made public.
Figures in America’s Justice Department have also reportedly been warning that the UK-US intelligence sharing relationship could be damaged by the move. British officials were braced for the release of the document last night but played down the impact it would have on how the countries work together.
It comes amid a fierce partisan battle in Congress about releasing the memo, which is written by Republicans and criticises the FBI’S handling of the Russian investigation.
The three-and-a-half page note is based on confidential intelligence and is thought to centre on Christopher Steele, the former MI6 agent who wrote a dossier of lurid claims about the president.
It reportedly criticises how the FBI used information in Mr Steele’s dossier to secure a wire tape on a Trump campaign adviser, Carter Page, before the election.
Republicans want the memo published, which critics claim is because it will undermine the investigation looking into Trump campaign links to Russia, while Democrats want it kept private. The row has also pitted Mr Trump, who said this week he “100 per cent” backed the memo’s release, against the FBI, which has expressed “grave concerns” about such a move.
The president could approve its release as early as today after Republicans on the House intelligence committee, who wrote the investigation, voted to publish it on Monday.
The congressional source working on a Russian election inquiry told The Telegraph: “British intelligence is likely to be rankled because they view Christopher Steele as one of their own.”
The Washington Post reported fears among law enforcement officials that publishing the document could “curtail intelligence-sharing with some of our closest allies, including Britain”.
Adam B Schiff, the most senior Democrat on the House intelligence committee, has warned that US spy agencies could see less intelligence being shared if the memo is released.
Mr Trump is expected to tell Congress today that he has no objections to the memo being released. He is also not likely to request that any of part of it be redacted, senior sources said.