A Democrat whistleblower has come forward with explosive claims about classified information leaks during Donald Trump’s presidency.
According to this insider, California Senator Adam Schiff, then a House Intelligence Committee leader, was involved in what the whistleblower calls “treasonous” actions to leak damaging secrets about Trump.
These allegations have sparked serious talk about a possible investigation, especially now that the FBI has handed over related findings to Congress.
The Controversy Over ‘Russiagate’ and Leaks from 2017
The leaks in question reportedly date back to early in Trump’s first term, around 2017, right in the middle of the so-called “Russiagate” scandal.
That entire episode, which involved claims of collusion between Trump’s team and Russia, has since been widely discredited.
Back then, Schiff was still serving in the House and held a key position on the Intelligence Committee.
According to the whistleblower, Schiff personally authorized leaks of classified information targeting Trump — not only in 2017 but as late as 2023 at the FBI’s St. Louis office.
The whistleblower described a staff meeting where Schiff allegedly said they would leak classified material to build a case against the president.
When concerns were raised about the legality, other meeting attendees apparently reassured them that they wouldn’t get caught.
Legal Protections and Alleged Illegal Behavior
The whistleblower, who’s a career intelligence officer and Democrat familiar with both Schiff and former Republican Intelligence Chair Devin Nunes, told the FBI that Schiff’s actions were illegal.
However, he was also told not to worry because Schiff would be protected under the Constitution’s speech and debate clause — a rule that often shields lawmakers from prosecution for statements made in their official roles.
FBI Director Calls for Accountability
FBI Director Kash Patel welcomed the release of the declassified report, calling it a “new day” for the bureau.
Patel tweeted that the documents reveal how classified info was leaked to shape political stories and questioned whether intelligence and law enforcement agencies had been weaponized against the American people.
He emphasized that for years, officials used leaks strategically for political gain, damaging public trust.
Patel vowed the FBI would work with the Department of Justice and Congress to uncover the truth and restore accountability.
Background: The Durham Report and Schiff’s Controversies
In 2023, the Durham Report exposed Schiff’s efforts to pressure university researchers into producing anti-Trump analysis.
The report described a tense meeting where Schiff’s staff strongly pushed academics to support a narrative linking Trump’s organization to a Russian bank—an investigation that ultimately found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Moreover, special counsel Durham noted that Schiff had a history of accepting politically damaging “dirt” from foreign agents.
This came up during a congressional hearing discussing a 2016 meeting between Trump campaign aides and Russian operatives who offered negative information on Hillary Clinton.
The Prank Call Incident
Schiff’s role in the Russia investigation also led to an embarrassing moment in 2018 when Russian pranksters posing as Ukrainian officials called him with fake “compromising” information about Trump.
Audio recordings show Schiff appeared to take the call seriously and even followed up with emails to the fake official.
His office later claimed he suspected the call was bogus from the start.
Congressional Battles and Schiff’s Senate Win
Despite Republican attempts to censure Schiff for allegedly lying to the FBI, the effort failed.
Schiff dismissed it as a political distraction related to Trump’s legal troubles, vowing to keep fighting “for our democracy.”
In 2024, Schiff won election to the U.S. Senate representing California, setting the stage for ongoing clashes with Trump.
FBI Under Fire and the Durham Investigation’s Findings
The FBI itself has been criticized over the years for its handling of investigations related to Trump’s campaign and family, including the Mar-a-Lago raid and Hunter Biden probe.
The Durham investigation debunked the key claims of collusion between Trump and Russia and criticized the FBI for lacking analytical rigor and relying heavily on politically motivated leads.
The Ongoing Political Feud
Throughout it all, Trump has repeatedly attacked Schiff, nicknaming him “Shifty Schiff” over the years for his relentless accusations linking Trump to Russia.
When Kevin McCarthy became House Speaker, he removed Schiff from his Intelligence Committee chairmanship, signaling the deep political divide over these issues.
