Newly declassified FBI interview summaries—published by Just the News—report that a former Democratic intelligence staffer for the House Intelligence Committee (HPSCI) told the FBI between 2017 and 2023 that Rep. (now Senator) Adam Schiff authorized the leaking of classified information to damage former President Donald Trump.  The staffer says he attended a meeting where Schiff allegedly stated the committee would leak derogatory material and use it to pursue charges against Trump.  The memos also claim the staffer flagged Rep. Eric Swalwell as a likely conduit for leaks.

Schiff has strongly denied the allegations. He characterized them as part of a smear campaign and argued they stem from a disgruntled former staffer whose charges were not credible and not substantiated by internal reviews. Meanwhile, Department of Justice officials reportedly declined to pursue the matter when the whistleblower first raised the claims, citing complications tied to the Speech or Debate Clause, which protects certain legislative activities from prosecution.

Observers note several uncertainties. The whistleblower’s statements have not been judicially tested, and the relevant events may now fall outside statutory limits for criminal prosecution. Additionally, issues concerning credibility, evidentiary support, and legal protections complicate any effort to validate or refute the claims.