Mark Meadows: Here's why the Nunes memo matters to YOU

The hype is real for the impending release of the secret memo written by Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., detailing Obama administration surveillance abuses. Measured expectations have been thrown out the window.

Those who have concerns that the FBI under the Obama administration may have used faulty, inaccurate, or politically motivated information to acquire a FISA warrant to surveil the Donald Trump presidential campaign seem convinced that the Nunes memo will contain the bombshell revelation that proves them right. Skeptics seem insistent that this memo MUST contain such a revelation, else they will relegate all the evidence of Obama administration abuses to a mere "conspiracy theory."

At risk of being lost in the media frenzy is the reason why any of this matters. Aware of this, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, R-N.C., who has been a consistent and reasoned voice throughout this controversy, wrote a Twitter thread Thursday that clearly and concisely explains why every American should be concerned that our freedoms are at risk.

THREAD: Because through all the "memo" news and headlines, it's critical to remember why this issue is important and why it should matter to everyday Americans

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018

What this issue is all about: whether the Department of Justice and FBI, under President Obama, abused their surveillance authority against American citizens and political opponents. Put another way: was the Obama DOJ weaponized to spy on the Trump campaign?

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018

Remember, in general, the DOJ and FBI spying on American citizens should automatically be met with MAJOR skepticism. That's what the Fourth Amendment is designed to protect against. When those American citizens are ALSO political opponents? It should raise even more red flags.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018

So, take that principle, and look at what happened in this case. The DOJ spied on Carter Page, an American citizen. Red flag. Carter Page was also part of the Trump campaign. Double red flag. It should automatically raise questions.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018

Now, pause: we know about the Peter Strzok/Lisa Page texts, the "missing" texts, the McCabe concerns, etc. But this is about more. Focus on the dossier here--the political opposition research project put together by Christopher Steele, Fusion GPS, and the DNC by extension.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018

Quite simply: This infamous "Russian Dossier" was unverified political opposition research paid for by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the DNC. If the Department of Justice used information like that as a key part of getting a surveillance warrant, it would be a HUGE problem

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018

Now, from what we've already known for months, it sure looks like that's exactly what happened: that the FBI used that very dossier to get a warrant. @Jim_Jordan asked the FBI about it 2 months ago. I asked too. We asked for the FISA application, and the FBI wouldn't show us.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018

We've asked repeatedly for information from the FBI, both privately and publicly. We've openly told FBI and DOJ officials--if we're wrong, tell us! Tell us what was in the FISA application. Let us see the document. But we've been stonewalled for almost a year.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018

So the bottom line is this: if, in 2016, the DOJ and FBI used an unverified, Clinton/DNC paid-for dossier to spy on American citizens (and political opponents) in the Trump campaign, that is as wrong as it gets.

If that happened, Americans deserve to know about it. Period.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018

I know we live in a hyper-partisan environment, and I know it can be easy to disregard any inquiry like this as party politics. I understand that.

But this is so far above politics, folks. Lady Justice wears a blindfold. Her scale is supposed to be balanced.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018

If any Department of Justice, Republican or Democrat, put their thumb on the scale for the sake of politics--it would undermine the very fabric of who we are as a nation. Americans deserve the truth, one way or the other.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018

Last point: If you remember anything from this news cycle, remember: your right as an American to privacy from your government spying on you is critical. It is foundational to who we are as a Republic. Never take that right for granted, no matter the political party you belong to

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 2, 2018

The American people could be on the verge of uncovering the "most consequential political scandal" in U.S. history. This ought to be taken seriously.

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