GOP strategist Steve Schmidt rips Trump obstruction memo -- and calls out 'cowardice' of Paul Ryan

Reacting the the bombshell report that lawyers for President Donald Trump submitted a 20-page memo to special counsel Robert Mueller claiming that the president cannot be charged with committing obstruction because he has unfettered authority over all federal investigations, GOP strategist Steve Schmidt exploded in anger on Twitter.

According to the New York Times report on Saturday, the letter -- which was delivered in January -- asserted Trump can “if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon,” with regard to the Russia investigation and any other inquiries Mueller's office may conduct.

Writing on Twitter, Schmidt called the bold claim "a direct assault on our rule of law."

"A clear line has been drawn with the release of Trumps legal memo," he wrote. "Make no mistake, it is a direct attack on the rule of law and a declaration of absolute power on the part of the President. It’s thesis must be attacked relentlessly. The American Republic is worth fighting for."

Schmidt then took on congressional lawmakers, insisting that it was time for them to step up and confront the president.

Any member of Congress that supports the legal thesis of the Trump letter is a friend of illiberalism and unfaithful to their constitutional oaths. There is no room for debate or disagreement here. Supporting this crazy theory is an assault on the Republic," he tweeted, before calling out House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI).

"The American people will now get to watch a disgusting display of political cowardice as Paul Ryan and all the rest line up behind Trumps assertion of absolute power like Vichy Sheep," he wrote in a pointed jab at the Republican leadership.

You can read all of his tweets below: