IMHO, the memo did nothing more than reveal politics taht always lies under the surface. The stupid thing was writing it down and even stupider was ever letting it see the light of day.
Rockefeller's non-repudiation is despicable as well.
than reveal politics taht always lies under the surface Politics under the surface, yes. But who cares where it is, over or under. Anything worse that politics is against the one's oath. The distinction between political procedure and the veracity of law has nothing to do where politics takes place.