Recently released FBI interview documents have sparked renewed controversy surrounding Senator Adam Schiff, alleging that during the height of the Trump-Russia investigation, he may have approved or directed the leaking of classified material intended to politically damage former President Donald Trump.
The revelations come from newly declassified summaries of FBI interviews conducted between 2017 and 2023, which detail claims made by an unnamed whistleblower described as a Democratic intelligence officer working under Schiff on the House Intelligence Committee. At the time, Schiff was serving as the ranking Democrat on the committee and later became its chairman.
According to the whistleblower, several committee staff members — under Schiff’s supervision — participated in discussions about selectively releasing classified information to the press. The whistleblower’s testimony, as summarized in the FBI records, alleges that the leaks were intended to strengthen the narrative connecting Trump’s campaign to Russia during the 2016 election.
The Whistleblower’s Claims
The documents suggest that Schiff held an internal meeting with senior Democratic staffers where he allegedly encouraged the release of certain classified materials.
“When working in this capacity, [redacted staffer’s name] was called to an all-staff meeting by SCHIFF,” one interview summary reads. “In this meeting, SCHIFF stated the group would leak classified information which was derogatory to President of the United States DONALD J. TRUMP. SCHIFF stated the information would be used to indict President TRUMP.”
The whistleblower further claimed that Representative Eric Swalwell, also a Democrat from California and a member of the Intelligence Committee, was believed to have been one of the direct sources of these leaks to the media. The reports allege that the leaks were part of an effort to advance what became known as the “Russiagate” narrative — the theory that Trump’s campaign had secret ties to Russian intelligence.
Swalwell has denied any involvement, calling the allegations “politically motivated nonsense.” He argued that the claims are being weaponized by political opponents and accused FBI Director Kash Patel of pursuing him for partisan reasons.
Promises and Political Motives
One of the most explosive allegations from the whistleblower is that Schiff had promised him a high-ranking intelligence position — specifically the role of CIA Director — if Hillary Clinton had won the 2016 presidential election.
While this alleged promise was never realized following Clinton’s loss, the whistleblower claimed that Schiff continued to encourage the leaking of sensitive material as a means to “undermine Trump’s legitimacy.”
According to the declassified summaries, the whistleblower claimed to have personally witnessed Schiff approving at least one disclosure of classified information. They also said they attempted to alert federal officials about what they viewed as improper behavior within the committee.
However, when the whistleblower reported these concerns to the FBI, they said the Justice Department showed little interest in pursuing an internal investigation into Schiff’s alleged activities. Not long after making the report, the whistleblower claimed they were terminated from their position.
Lack of Action and Growing Scrutiny
The FBI documents indicate that the whistleblower’s allegations were recorded but did not lead to any formal criminal case. The summaries do not provide reasons for why the Justice Department declined to investigate, but they suggest that the claims were treated as politically sensitive and possibly unsubstantiated.
The lack of follow-up has since drawn criticism from political commentators and journalists, some of whom argue that the situation demonstrates a double standard in accountability for members of Congress who handle classified materials.
Former intelligence officials familiar with the committee’s operations said that while unauthorized disclosures are taken seriously, congressional oversight members often operate in gray areas, particularly when briefing the press about classified topics.
“This kind of thing happens more often than the public realizes,” said a retired intelligence officer, speaking anonymously. “The challenge is proving intent — whether the disclosure was accidental, politically motivated, or something more deliberate.”
Journalistic Connections and Media Leaks
The story took a new turn when investigative reporter Paul Sperry of Real Clear Investigations published claims that the leaks traced back to Schiff’s office may have been directed toward Ellen Nakashima, a veteran national security journalist at The Washington Post.
Sperry alleged that Nakashima was one of several reporters who routinely received classified tips or summaries from congressional and intelligence sources during the early stages of the Trump-Russia investigation. He cited prior reporting that linked Nakashima to senior intelligence figures, including former CIA Director John Brennan, during that same period.
Neither Schiff’s office nor Nakashima has commented publicly on the new claims. However, press freedom advocates have warned against drawing conclusions about journalists’ sources based on declassified interviews, arguing that leaks to the press, even if politically inconvenient, are not automatically criminal.
Political Reactions and Fallout
In Washington, the documents have reignited partisan debate over how information was managed during the Trump years. Supporters of Trump have seized on the allegations as evidence that Schiff — one of Trump’s most vocal critics during the impeachment and Russia probe years — abused his position for political purposes.
“This confirms what we’ve been saying all along — that some members of Congress weaponized classified information for headlines,” said a senior Republican aide. “If true, it’s an enormous breach of trust.”
Democrats, meanwhile, have dismissed the newly surfaced records as an attempt to revive old political fights. Schiff’s allies noted that the whistleblower’s claims have circulated for years without producing formal charges or corroborating evidence.
“These accusations are recycled and politically motivated,” one Democratic staffer said. “If there were any truth to them, they would have led to an indictment years ago.”
A Familiar Pattern of Controversy
This is not the first time Schiff has faced scrutiny over his handling of intelligence materials. During the Trump administration, Schiff was often accused by Republicans of leaking or exaggerating classified information to the media.
In 2018, Trump publicly referred to Schiff as “one of the biggest leakers in Washington,” though the remark was not accompanied by evidence. Schiff, in response, dismissed those attacks as attempts to silence his oversight of the administration.
The newly declassified FBI files have revived those suspicions, though experts caution that declassification alone does not confirm wrongdoing. The documents summarize interviews rather than present verified conclusions.
National security law experts have also pointed out that whistleblower allegations — even when detailed — often lack corroboration and may reflect personal grievances or political biases.
Calls for Transparency
The latest development has prompted calls from some lawmakers to make the full set of FBI interview files public, arguing that transparency is the only way to clarify whether the claims have merit.
“If these documents are accurate, the public deserves to see all of them — not just excerpts or summaries,” said Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “If false, Schiff deserves to have that cleared up too.”
As of now, Schiff has not issued a formal statement regarding the new release. His spokesperson declined to comment on the record.
The Department of Justice has also remained silent on whether it plans to review the claims in light of the new declassifications.
Conclusion
The allegations surrounding Adam Schiff and his staff’s handling of classified materials remain unproven but continue to stir debate about political influence within U.S. intelligence oversight.
Whether these claims lead to renewed investigations or fade as another chapter in Washington’s partisan conflicts remains to be seen.
For now, the declassified documents have reopened old wounds from one of the most divisive political eras in modern American history — and reignited questions about the fine line between oversight, politics, and secrecy.