GOP lawmakers embark on hunt for anti-Trump leakers inside Justice Department and FBI

Congressional Republicans are opening a new counterattack in the Trump-Russia probe by seeking out Justice Department and FBI officials who may have provided details of the investigation to reporters.

GOP lawmakers are trying to expose what President Donald Trump sees as a conspiracy by law enforcement to push a narrative through the media using unauthorized leaks tying his campaign to Russia, reported Politico.

"There are a number of other inappropriate communications that have transpired between the FBI/DOJ and media outlets that have not been disclosed," said Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC).

Meadows and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) called for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to step down over an "alarming number" of contacts between Justice Department and FBI officials and journalists.

Republicans demanded information Thursday from Justice Department officials about an April meeting between reporters and Andrew Weissman, a veteran federal prosecutor now working under special counsel Robert Mueller.

House Republicans last month called into question contacts between former FBI general counsel James Baker and a Mother Jones reporter who broke news about the dossier showing ties between Trump and Russia.

The president and his GOP allies claim that dossier, which was partially funded by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee, prompted the FBI investigation.

But the New York Times reported earlier this month that campaign adviser George Papadopoulos triggered the investigation by bragging about his Russia contacts over drinks in May 2016 with an Australian ambassador.

Republicans have offered no evidence of wrongdoing so far, and Democrats say their investigation is intended to discredit the Russia probe and intimidate government officials and journalists.

“Republicans don’t seem to want to conduct a fair investigation," said Matthew Miller, a former Justice Department spokesman. "Looking at officials you want to target and trying to find out whether they’ve had any contact with media is a backwards way to conduct an investigation.”