Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on Tuesday that two top officials from the Justice Department and FBI told him that President Trump’s order to declassify Russia-related documents was a “red line” that must not be crossed.
During an interview on CNN, Schiff, D-Calif., expounded upon a statement he released Monday, saying it was FBI Director Christopher Wray and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein who issued a warning about national security.
“This is what the director of the FBI, the Republican appointed director of the FBI, Christopher Way, has told us in terms of this being a red line and it should be treated at the Gang of Eight level,” Schiff said during an appearance on CNN, referring to the bipartisan group of congressional leaders who are briefed on intelligence matters.
“This is what the deputy attorney general appointed by the administration, Republican president, has told us,” he added. “So this is the view of the intelligence community and law enforcement. And that ought to be respected.”
Rosenstein has been at the center of a showdown with conservative lawmakers seeking documents related to the Russia investigation, which earlier this year prompted a resolution. Wray was one of the top officials who reportedly urged Trump against declassifying the House Intelligence Committee memo put together by the GOP majority in February, which detailed alleged surveillance abuses by the DOJ and FBI.
Schiff was responding to his Republican counterpart on the House Intelligence Committee, Chairman Devin Nunes, who said Monday evening on Fox News that it was “laughable” to claim Trump’s order to declassify documents related to the Russia investigation is a danger to national security.
In a statement Monday, Schiff called Trump’s order a “clear abuse of power” and said he was previously informed by the FBI and Justice Department that they would consider the release of these materials the stepping past a “red line that must not be crossed as they may compromise sources and methods.”
During an MSNBC interview, Schiff called on both Wray and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats to “to stand up to this president and say ‘no.’ They are not going to release material that they have committed to keep confidential to protect people.”
Trump ordered his intelligence and law enforcement community to declassify certain documents related to the Russia investigation, including Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants used to spy on Carter Page and FBI interviews with DOJ official Bruce Ohr. He also seeks the unredacted release of text messages of officials known to be his critics, including ex-FBI Director James Comey.
Democrats have condemned Trump deciding to have only some, but not all, of these Russia-related records declassified. Schiff said Trump and his allies only care about “defending” the president.
