President Donald Trump is reportedly frustrated that he doesn't have more influence over the U.S. Department of Justice as special counsel Robert Mueller continues to probe his administration.
The president wants to release a classified memo written by congressional Republicans that allegedly documents FBI surveillance abuse, according to The Washington Post.
However, that wish conflicts with the desires of the Justice Department, which has said it would be "extraordinarily reckless" for the memo to be released before the department had a chance to review it.
White House chief of staff John Kelly has informed Attorney General Jeff Sessions of Trump's hope to see the document made public. The Washington Post said the incident "marked another example of the president’s year-long attempts to shape and influence an investigation that is fundamentally outside his control."
Inside sources also told The Washington Post that Trump has expressed anger and frustration and complained in recent weeks that he doesn't understand why he cannot order "my guys" at the Justice Department to simply do what he wants. He reportedly referred to the Department of Justice as "Trump's Justice Department."
The memo purportedly contains evidence that the FBI and Department of Justice are biased against Trump. But Democrats who have seen it, such as House Intelligence Committee ranking member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), have claimed that the memo is purely a political document designed to undermine the Russia probe.
