One of President Trump's most notorious foes, Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) is starting a legal defense fund in response to mounting pressure from the Trump administration.
"It's clear that Donald Trump and his MAGA allies will continue weaponizing the justice process to attack Senator Schiff for holding this corrupt administration accountable," said the senator's spokeswoman Marisol Samayoa. "This fund will ensure he can fight back against these baseless smears while continuing to do his job."
Schiff has long embraced the role of Trump enemy, going back to the president's first term, when Schiff rose to prominence by smearing Trump repeatedly as a Russian asset.
Indeed, Schiff has been at the center of just about every anti-Trump spectacle: in addition to the Russian collusion hoax, Schiff played a key part in Trump's first impeachment and also sat on the January 6th committee, which accused Trump of "insurrection" over a protest at the U.S. Capitol.
After years of anti-Trump activism, Schiff was elected to the U.S. Senate last year in Democrat-run California.
Trump's return to power has turned the tables, with Schiff now facing a federal investigation for mortgage fraud, as well as renewed scrutiny over his role in the Russiagate saga.
A whistleblower complaint recently made public by FBI director Kash Patel alleges that Schiff, then the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, selectively leaked classified information - a serious crime - to dirty up Trump and discredit his shocking 2016 victory against Hillary Clinton.
Schiff insists the claims are a smear from a disgruntled employee who was fired by the committee. The whistleblower said they were fired for not going along with Schiff's scheme.
The White House called Schiff a "fraud" and "corrupt politician" when asked about his legal fund by Fox News Digital.
"Adam Schiff is a sleazy and corrupt politician who betrayed his oath to the Constitution by prioritizing his selfish and personal animosity toward the President over the interests of the American people. No amount of money can shield Adam from the truth that he is a fraud," White House spokesman Harrison Fields told Fox News Digital.
In remarks last week at the Kennedy Center, Trump urged his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to hold Schiff and other Democrats accountable for the Russia hoax.
"I'm looking at Pam because I hope something's going to be done about it," Trump said.
"These people put our country at great danger. And Adam Schiff, it was all made up. It was a hoax."
