(CNN)The immediate result of President Donald Trump's decision to block the release of a Democratic memo on the Russia investigation is to expose him to charges of hypocrisy.

But the deeper question -- one that has huge implications for the fate of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation -- is whether Trump is using his power to thwart any attempt by Congress to hold him accountable.

Trump on Friday declined to release the Democratic rebuttal of a Republican memo he inaccurately claimed "totally vindicates" him in the Russia probe, warning that the new document compromised intelligence sources and methods. The move intensified extreme partisanship surrounding the Russia investigation that is sparking suggestions that Trump is coordinating with Republicans to discredit Mueller's work.

Trump's decision drew Democratic outrage since the President upheld objections of the FBI and Justice Department over publishing the Democratic memo, but last week ignored the bureau's calls for him not to declassify the GOP memo that was politically advantageous to him.