In a freewheeling interview with Hill.Tv, President Donald Trump said that his recent order to declassify certain documents related to the FBI's investigation of possible conspiracy with Russia to influence the 2016 elections may be the "crowning achievement" of his presidency.
The documents include text messages from former FBI director James Comey and pages of surveillance documents targeting the president's former campaign manager Carter Page.
The president said:
“I hope to be able put this up as one of my crowning achievements that I was able to ... expose something that is truly a cancer in our country.”
The move has been met with heavy criticism, with many Democrats seeing it as an effort to manipulate the public's opinion of the FBI and its investigation into his campaign.
The risks have rendered the "crowning achievement" remark laughable and foreboding at the same time.
Others are noting that the decision could put other investigations, sources, and FBI tactics at risk of exposure.
Many Americans like former Obama attorney Joyce Vance seem to agree that the risks outweigh a nonexistent reward.
Though Trump ordered the text messages of many FBI officials be released "without redaction," reports are emerging that the Justice Department is prepared to defy that order.
The Justice Department is currently reviewing the documents and reportedly plans to propose redactions, especially regarding a surveillance application submitted by the FBI to investigate Carter Page.
Though the president is adamant about the release, some are insisting that the move won't help Trump's case and could even make him look worse.
Trump has repeatedly shown disdain against the FBI with each escalation of the Russia probe. Much like his efforts in discrediting the media, the vilification of the FBI has sown distrust of the institution among Trump's most fervent supporters.
Once the Justice Department concludes its review of the documents and turns them over to the White House, Americans will know what revelations the documents hold. We can only hope that they don't put innocent Americans or crucial investigations at risk.
