President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on California Senator Adam Schiff, claiming he has "irrefutable proof" that the Democrat authorized leaking classified information to damage his presidency.

The accusations stem from whistleblower testimony alleging Schiff orchestrated a plan to selectively leak damaging intelligence about Trump during the FBI's Russia investigation in 2017. According to the Daily Mail, Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday, stating that Schiff "approved a plan to leak classified information to damage Donald Trump."

Trump referenced reports about a whistleblower who claims Schiff personally authorized selective leaks to media outlets during the FBI's investigation into possible ties between Trump and Russia. At a Kennedy Center event later that day, Trump continued his assault on Schiff, telling the audience that the Russia investigation was "totally phony, created by Adam Schiff."

Whistleblower reveals explosive allegations

The whistleblower's testimony, given at the FBI's St. Louis field office in 2023, provides detailed allegations about Schiff's conduct as the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. According to FBI documents first reported by Just the News, a career Democratic intelligence official described Schiff's alleged leaking activities as both "illegal" and "treasonous."

The FBI report states that during an all-staff meeting called by Schiff, he informed the group that they would leak classified information derogatory to President Trump. The whistleblower testified that Schiff stated this information would be used to indict the president, despite concerns raised about the illegality of such actions.

According to the testimony, when concerns were raised about the illegality of leaking classified information, unnamed meeting members reassured others that they would not be caught. The whistleblower reportedly told FBI officials in Washington as early as 2017 about Schiff's alleged plot, though the formal testimony wasn't given until 2023.

Schiff's team fights back hard

A spokesperson for Schiff issued a strong denial of the allegations, characterizing them as "absolutely and categorically false." The statement described the claims as the latest in a series of defamatory attacks from the president and his allies, allegedly meant to distract from "plummeting poll numbers and the Epstein files scandal."

The spokesperson further stated that the allegations were based on testimony from a "disgruntled former staffer who was fired by the House Intelligence Committee for cause in early 2017." They cited harassment and potentially compromising activity on official travel as reasons for the termination.

Schiff's representatives emphasized that the allegations were found to be "not reliable, not credible, and unsubstantiated" by investigators. The defense team pointed to the whistleblower's dismissal from the committee as evidence of their unreliability and potential motivations for making false accusations.

Constitutional protections under scrutiny

The whistleblower's testimony suggests that Schiff believed he would be protected by the Constitution's speech and debate clause when allegedly planning to leak classified information. This statute provides members of Congress with legal immunity for actions taken during their legislative work.

However, the scope of this protection in cases involving classified leaks remains unclear, particularly when such activities might fall outside traditional legislative functions.

Legal experts note that the speech and debate clause has historically protected congressional members from prosecution for statements made on the floor or in committee proceedings.

Investigation developments ahead

While Trump has called for Department of Justice action against Schiff, it remains unclear whether Attorney General Pam Bondi is pursuing charges related to the alleged classified leak plot. The DOJ is currently investigating Schiff for separate mortgage fraud allegations that Trump has raised, which Schiff characterizes as "political retaliation."

Bondi has appointed Ed Martin, the former interim US District Attorney for Washington, DC, as a "special attorney" to investigate Schiff and others. The scope and timeline of these investigations have not been publicly disclosed, leaving questions about potential legal consequences for the California senator unresolved.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between Trump and Democratic lawmakers who led investigations into his first presidency. As the investigation proceeds, both sides appear prepared for a prolonged legal and political battle over the allegations and their potential consequences.