Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) of leaking classified information during his time as chairman on the House Intelligence Committee.
Pompeo did not provide any proof or explanation as to what was in the allegedly-leaked documents. However, he said during a Fox News interview that Schiff “almost ruined the committee” with his leadership.
EVICTION NOTICE: WHY TRIO OF CONTROVERSIAL DEMOCRATS IS BEING BOOTED FROM POWERFUL COMMITTEES
“Adam Schiff lied to the American people, and during my time as CIA director and secretary of state, I know that he leaked classified information that had been provided to him,” he said.
The former secretary said “it’s a complicated process” when asked why he did not take action against Schiff, adding that it is “difficult to pin down precisely what happened.”
Schiff was recently booted off the House Intelligence Committee by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). The Democrat’s office condemned Pompeo’s “false and defamatory” remarks to Fox News.
“This is another patently false and defamatory statement from Mike Pompeo. While we understand that Adam Schiff is a favorite target for the failed lackeys of the Trump administration running for president, reputable news outlets shouldn’t repeat these falsehoods,” Schiff spokeswoman Lauren French said in a statement via the Hill.
Schiff and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) are among the high-profile Democrats who McCarthy vowed to remove from their committee positions during his election campaign. The speaker is also gearing up to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from her spot on the Foreign Affairs Committee, causing pushback from all Democrats and a few Republicans, as well.
McCarthy’s reasoning for removing the trio varies. He’s argued that Swalwell had a connection with an alleged Chinese spy in 2014 and Schiff intentionally misled the public with investigations into former President Donald Trump’s alleged ties to Russia, making both of the representatives unfit for the Intelligence Committee. The speaker said his plans to remove Omar are based on inflammatory remarks she’s made in the past about Israel.
The trio held a press conference on Wednesday, stating that McCarthy’s decision is nothing more than “partisan political payback” and he would “regret” it.
“Throughout this journey of vengeance, the three of us have chosen to stick together because this isn’t about any individual committee assignment, this is about an institution,” Swalwell told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.
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Omar defended her position on her committee, as well, stating that she had apologized for the perceived antisemitic remarks she made two Congresses ago.
“It is about revenge, it’s about appeasing the former president,” Omar said, adding that the two GOP members removed during the last Congress, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) used rhetoric that was perceived as threatening against Democrats.
