An experienced intelligence officer, who spent over ten years working with Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee, repeatedly alerted the FBI starting in 2017. He claimed that then-Representative Adam Schiff had sanctioned leaking classified information to undermine then-President Donald Trump regarding the discredited Russiagate scandal. These startling FBI memos, provided to Congress by Director Kash Patel, reveal a concerning narrative.
The intelligence officer, identifying as a Democrat and friend to both Schiff and former Republican House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes, described the leaks as “unethical,” “illegal,” and “treasonous.” He was reassured not to worry since Schiff believed the Constitution’s speech and debate clause would protect him from prosecution. Despite these serious claims, no official statement from the Attorney General or the Solicitor General corroborates this legal interpretation.
According to Just the News, Department of Justice officials showed minimal interest in pursuing Schiff when these allegations were initially raised, citing the same defense Schiff had noted. The whistleblower, whose identity remains confidential, recently reiterated to the FBI’s St. Louis office that he had witnessed Schiff authorizing the leaks. He recounted a meeting where Schiff explicitly stated the group would leak derogatory classified information about President Trump.
The whistleblower flagged these concerns to the FBI’s Washington field office as early as 2017, soon after Trump’s inauguration. Schiff’s office has not commented on these allegations. These alleged leaks, though outside the statute of limitations for prosecution, emerge at a critical moment for Schiff, who faces separate legal scrutiny for potential mortgage fraud.
Several DOJ officials who opted not to pursue these leaks during the Russiagate investigation still hold influential positions, a point of potential interest for Congress. Patel remarked to Just the News, “For years, certain officials used their positions to selectively leak classified information to shape political narratives.” He emphasized that these actions were intended to “weaponize intelligence and law enforcement for political gain.”
Patel asserted that these abuses have diminished public trust in institutions, adding that the FBI, alongside the DOJ and Congress, now has the opportunity to address potential misuse of political power and restore accountability. Schiff, who was instrumental in promoting unfounded Trump-Russia collusion allegations, also backed the discredited Steele dossier. He went as far as reading its unverified claims into the congressional record in 2017.
The whistleblower initially approached the FBI that same year. During one meeting, he revealed that retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, Trump’s first national security adviser, was targeted as part of a broader strategy against Trump. He also pointed out Rep. Eric Swalwell as another potential source of classified leaks.
The Democratic staffer told a former Republican colleague on the committee that he was fired because Schiff’s team questioned his “party loyalty” after he voiced concerns about the leak strategy. The whistleblower underwent multiple interviews over six years regarding the alleged leaks, but DOJ prosecutors chose not to pursue the matter. These interviews are documented in a substantial collection of FBI 302 interview reports.
These reports, as described by legal experts, consist of memos drafted by FBI agents summarizing witness statements. The memos may vary in length depending on the interview’s duration, and witnesses generally do not review or correct these before they are finalized. The whistleblower shared with the FBI in December 2017 that the committee’s environment shifted notably as the 2016 election approached.
In a September 2016 staff meeting, other Democratic staffers reportedly shared “on background” information with journalists about Russian activities related to the election. Additionally, the whistleblower mentioned during an August 2017 interview that Schiff was promised a CIA director position if Hillary Clinton had won. After Trump’s unexpected victory, the mood within the committee was tense, with Schiff particularly disappointed.
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