President Trump is demanding an investigation into Adam Schiff (D-Ca.) over his role in the Russia hoax, citing new evidence that the disgraced Democrat leaked classified information to damage Trump during his first term.

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

Shifty Shiff and the Russia lie

The once pervasive and false "Russian collusion" narrative clouded Trump's first term until Robert Mueller ended his exhaustive investigation into Trump- Russia ties without finding evidence of collusion.

The underwhelming conclusion of the Mueller saga discredited Schiff, who repeatedly claimed to have seen proof of collusion while he was the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

Schiff's part in the "Russia, Russia, Russia" saga raised his profile among Democrats, and he went on to play a prominent role in Trump's first, failed impeachment. Eventually, "Shifty Schiff" gained enough notoriety to win election to the U.S. Senate in 2024, with some help from Nancy Pelosi's (D-Ca.) political machine.

With Trump back in the White House, Schiff is suddenly vulnerable. In addition to facing a federal investigation for mortgage fraud, the California Democrat is under fresh scrutiny for his role in concocting the Trump-Russia narrative.

"Treasonous" leaks

According to whistleblower testimony shared with the FBI between 2017 and 2023, and just made public by director Kash Patel, Schiff's efforts to smear Trump as a Russian asset went further than previously known - indeed, if the whistleblower's accounts are true, Schiff was involved in serious criminal wrongdoing.

After Trump's shock win against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, Schiff and his fellow Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee hatched a plan to discredit Trump by selectively leaking classified information to the media, the whistleblower, a longtime Democratic staffer who was fired in 2017, said. The witness said they were disturbed by the committee's "unethical" and "treasonous" actions, and they were ultimately punished for refusing to play along.

In one instance, information that was seen by Schiff, Eric Swalwell (D-Ca.), and committee staffers was reported in the media "almost verbatim" within 24 hours. The whistleblower also recalled a meeting at which Schiff gave directions to target Trump.

"When working in this capacity, [redacted staffer's name] was called to an all-staff meeting by SCHIFF," the FBI report said.

"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."

Trump demands consequences

The false narrative propagated by Schiff and others derailed Trump's first term, but Trump now has the upper hand as he seeks to get even for the abuses he has suffered at the hands of his enemies through the years.

Beyond Schiff, the Trump administration has released evidence implicating Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and others in a conspiracy to effectively overturn the 2016 election by politicizing U.S. intelligence against Trump.

"Shifty Schiff and Hillary Clinton and the whole group of them ... made it very dangerous for our country," Trump said in remarks at the Kennedy Center Wednesday.

"I'm looking at Pam, because I hope something's going to be done about it," Trump said, referring to his attorney general Pam Bondi.