Trump says he has ‘irrefutable proof’ Adam Schiff leaked classified info to damage him during first term

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has accused top Democrat Adam Schiff of approving a plan to leak classified information in a calculated effort to undermine his first term as president. 

Citing a whistleblower report, Trump called on the Department of Justice to investigate the alleged plot, insisting there is proof of Schiff’s involvement in what he described as a politically motivated smear campaign.

Trump levels serious accusations against Adam Schiff

On Wednesday, August 13, President Trump took to Truth Social to level serious accusations against Adam Schiff, claiming there is “irrefutable proof” the Democrat approved a plan to leak classified information.

He wrote, "Just out, irrefutable proof that Adam Shifty Schiff approved plan to leak classified information to damage Donald Trump."

Trump’s post came in response to reports from a whistleblower who alleges Schiff orchestrated the selective release of sensitive intelligence to the media in 2017, just as the FBI was investigating Trump’s potential ties to Russia.

Later that day, during a speech at the Kennedy Center, Trump doubled down on his criticism. Recalling a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said, “I told him (Putin), you know, they got this phony investigation going on. Russia, Russia, Russia. Totally phony, created by Adam Schiff.”

He continued, condemning Schiff and other political opponents: “Shifty Schiff and Hillary Clinton and the whole group of them ... made it very dangerous for our country.”

Addressing Pam Bondi, Trump added, “I hope something's going to be done about it. Now we've learned all the stuff that's come out over the last two months is incredible, through intelligence. And hopefully something's gonna happen with it.”

Adam Schiff breaks silence on Trump's accusation

Adam Schiff has fired back after Trump accused him of authorizing the leak of classified information as part of a political scheme to bring down his presidency.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Schiff responded with a sharp message, referencing Trump’s own former Attorney General, Bill Barr.

“Sorry, Donald. Wrong again,” Schiff wrote. “Even Barr’s Justice Department rejected that false smear years ago. But while we are the subject of confidential information, how about releasing those Epstein files? We are still waiting..”

In a more formal response, Schiff’s spokesperson issued a statement to the Daily Mail, strongly denying the allegations. “Kash Patel's latest smear against Senator Schiff is absolutely and categorically false, and is just the latest in a series of defamatory attacks from the President and his allies meant to distract from their plummeting poll numbers and the Epstein files scandal."

The statement further dismissed the whistleblower's claims, stating they came from a disgruntled former House Intelligence Committee staffer who was fired in early 2017 for misconduct.

“These baseless smears are based on allegations that were found to be not reliable, not credible, and unsubstantiated from a disgruntled former staffer who was fired by the House Intelligence Committee for cause in early 2017, including for harassment and potentially compromising activity on official travel for the Committee,” the spokesperson added, citing reasons including harassment and questionable behavior during official committee travel.

What did the whistleblower report about Adam Schiff's alleged plan?

According to reports, the whistleblower had informed FBI officials in Washington as early as 2017 about Senator Adam Schiff’s alleged plan to leak classified information. During a meeting, the whistleblower reportedly warned that such actions would be illegal. In response, others present allegedly reassured him that they wouldn’t be caught leaking sensitive material.

The whistleblower also claimed Schiff believed he was protected from prosecution under the Constitution’s Speech and Debate Clause, which shields members of Congress from legal consequences for actions taken as part of their legislative duties.

It remains unclear whether Attorney General Pam Bondi is pursuing charges related to the alleged leak.

However, the Department of Justice is currently investigating Schiff over separate mortgage fraud allegations, which he has dismissed as “political retaliation.” Bondi has appointed Ed Martin, former interim US Attorney for Washington, DC, as special counsel to oversee the investigation into Schiff and others.