A Democrat whistleblower’s claims, now supported by newly declassified FBI interview reports, are threatening to shake the political career of Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA).
If the whistleblower’s account is accurate and prosecutors pursue the case, Schiff could face not only career-ending political consequences but also severe financial penalties and long prison sentences. As former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman noted, the legal risks could escalate quickly: “It depends on the counts in the indictment… The fine is up to $250,000 for every leak that’s charged.”
The allegations trace back to Schiff’s tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served first as ranking member and later as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee during the Trump–Russia investigation.
According to Just The News, the whistleblower—who worked for Democrats on the committee for more than a decade—told the FBI repeatedly starting in 2017 that Schiff had authorized the leaking of classified intelligence to the media in order to harm then-President Donald Trump.
The whistleblower claimed that during an all-staff meeting, Schiff declared that “the group would leak classified information which was derogatory to President of the United States Donald J. Trump” and that these leaks “would be used to indict President Trump.”
He said he immediately objected, warning that the plan was “unethical and possibly treasonous,” but was reassured by others that “we would not be caught leaking classified information.”
The whistleblower also told federal agents that Schiff believed he had been promised the position of CIA Director if Hillary Clinton won the 2016 election. He identified Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) as a likely conduit for the leaks and said he was abruptly fired after reporting the matter to the FBI.
Despite the severity of these allegations, the whistleblower claims that FBI leadership, including Director Christopher Wray, took no action. He reports having repeated the same account to agents in the bureau’s St. Louis office in 2023, again with no response.
Tolman, speaking with political commentator Benny Johnson, highlighted the potential penalties for leaking classified information. “The fine is up to $250,000 for every leak that’s charged, depending on the counts in the indictment,” he explained. “Also, some punishments hinge on the purpose of the classified leak or the illegal possession of classified documentation. The purpose becomes very important.”
Tolman emphasized that the context of the leak could be crucial in determining the punishment. “I believe this was, in essence, the beginning of a conspiracy to take down a president and impact his ability to lead,” he said. “There are other statutes—conspiracy statutes, interference with official proceedings, etc. People ask about treason—‘Is it treason?’ You probably don’t meet all the elements for treason, but some related crimes could apply.”
He added that if prosecutors determined the intent was “to undermine the United States,” penalties could reach “up to 20 years in federal prison.”
Critics say the FBI’s inaction fits a pattern under Director Wray of shielding politically connected figures. Kash Patel, a former Trump administration official, has accused the bureau of ignoring serious misconduct while aggressively targeting political opponents. He pointed to the FBI’s use of confidential informants before the Jan. 6 protests as evidence that the agency had foreknowledge of events but failed to act appropriately.
Schiff has not publicly responded to these newly surfaced allegations. Previously, he has denied leaking classified material and described such claims as partisan attacks aimed at undermining his oversight work.