Newly declassified FBI documents have revived claims that Senator Adam Schiff ordered leaks of classified information during the Trump-Russia investigation. The documents, covering 2017 to 2023, come from an anonymous whistleblower described as a Democratic intelligence officer working for the House Intelligence Committee.
The whistleblower alleges Schiff, then the committee’s top Democrat and later chairman, approved leaks meant to politically damage President Donald Trump. According to the documents, Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell was likely the direct source of these leaks, intended to support the “Russiagate” narrative.
One FBI interview summary states that Schiff held a staff meeting where he instructed members to leak derogatory information about Trump to build a case against him. Swalwell has denied any involvement, claiming the allegations are politically motivated.
The whistleblower also claimed Schiff promised him the CIA Director position if Hillary Clinton had won the 2016 election—a promise unfulfilled after Clinton’s loss. Despite this, the whistleblower says Schiff continued pushing for leaks to undermine Trump’s presidency. After reporting these concerns to federal officials, the whistleblower was reportedly fired.
Investigative journalist Paul Sperry linked Schiff’s leaks to Washington Post reporter Ellen Nakashima, who was a key media contact for intelligence officials during the Russiagate period. Nakashima reportedly helped publish major stories that fueled public suspicion of Trump’s ties to Russia, though Special Counsel Robert Mueller later found insufficient evidence of criminal conspiracy.
Critics argue that if Schiff authorized these leaks, it would be a serious breach of national security and possibly illegal. Schiff’s office has not publicly responded to the new allegations but has previously denied wrongdoing, calling such claims politically driven.
The case highlights ongoing partisan tensions over intelligence use during and after the 2016 election. Whether these revelations will lead to legal action remains uncertain, but the allegation that Schiff himself endorsed the leaks at a committee meeting could have significant political consequences.
