A former FBI agent speculated on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show that those who orchestrated the "Russiagate" scandal against President Donald Trump in 2016 could face subversion or racketeering charges if prosecutors were able to build a case against them.

Jonathan Gilliam, also a former Navy Seal, said, "I think also what we have to start looking at is things like subversion. You know, subversion, like treason and insurrection...these are all criminal actions that there's law for."

Memos that were declassified this week showed that James Comey personally authorized the leaking of classified information to the media in 2016 just before the election, and that prosecutors knew this but declined to bring charges against him.

ex-FBI general counsel James Baker and ex-Comey chief of staff James Rybicki provided the information about Comey to federal prosecutors, but memos showing this were redacted until Attorney General Pam Bondi unredacted them this week.

What was the motive?

"When you look at those types of crimes...okay, maybe they leaked this information, but was their motive and intent to subvert the government of the United States, or a standing president, or a president that was coming into office?" Gilliam said. "If that's the case, then the statute of limitations goes out the door."

Subversion refers to actions that undermine a government or political system.

Charging government officials who clearly tried their best to destroy Trump's credibility and reputation both before and after he won the 2016 presidential election with subversion would be a novel way to bring them to justice.

If it works, it would most likely discourage other government officials from using similar tactics in an attempt to bring down their opponents.

RICO

Another tactic that Gilliam thinks could work isn't novel, and has already been tried against Trump: a racketeering charge against those who conspired to put forth the false Russiagate narrative.

"I believe it's important for them to go forward on a RICO case, because they link all of these individuals, and they can show whether the statute of limitations for those particular crimes have gone," Gilliam said. "Let's say they've passed, but they can show that two or more people were involved in these crimes for the purpose of furthering their criminal enterprise. That's a RICO charge."

RICO charges are a way to get around the statute of limitations, but is that the smartest way to go?

It might be difficult to prove RICO charges, in the same way it was for prosecutors who were shut down against Trump for the same charges.

Perjury too?

Comey could also face perjury charges, since he testified to Congress that he had never authorized any leaks within the apartment and was not a source for the media himself.

House member Tim Burchett (R-TN) reacted to the documents, saying, "I have to talk to an attorney about what the definition of treason is, but at the very least it's collusion. I think a felony was committed. I think that the cover-up is, in this case, maybe even worse than the crime, because you got to ask yourself, whatever, what else were they covering up?"

In a bold move to enhance efficiency, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has announced a major restructuring of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), promising a workforce reduction of over 40% by year's end.

This strategic overhaul, dubbed 'ODNI 2.0,' is aimed at enhancing national security effectiveness while significantly cutting costs.

Gabbard's reforms are designed to address what she describes as the "bloating" of the agency since its inception following the events of 9/11. These changes are estimated to save about $700 million annually, a substantial decrease in government expenditure.

Redefining national security with rigorous reforms

The restructuring will see the consolidation of operations, including the closure of ODNI's Reston Campus and the merging of various intelligence entities. These actions are intended to eliminate redundancy, focusing the ODNI on core security missions and more streamlined operations.

Historically, the ODNI has struggled with its original mandate to provide clear, concise intelligence unmarred by political bias. An ODNI spokesperson highlighted the agency’s failure over the last two decades to effectively fulfill this role, necessitating these new measures.

Part of these sweeping changes includes a critical rebalancing of the workforce, involving both civilian and contracted employees. This optimization aims at enhancing analytical capabilities and improving overall operational efficiency within the intelligence community.

Targeted adjustments to enhance intelligence provision

According to Gabbard, the restructuring, known as 'ODNI 2.0,' is spearheaded under President Donald Trump's leadership, signaling a new era that refocuses on the core mission of national security, guided by the principles of the U.S. Constitution. This approach promises a more disciplined, merit-based hiring process, cutting down on non-essential and non-merit-based recruitment.

"Over the last 20 years, ODNI has become bloated and inefficient," Gabbard stated, criticizing the previous mismanagement that led to unauthorized intelligence leaks and a politicized manipulation of intelligence. Her plan is to revamp these aspects fundamentally.

Another significant area of reform under Gabbard’s leadership is the National Counterterrorism Center, which will enhance communication with various levels of law enforcement. These improvements aim to bolster border security and strengthen community safety across the nation.

Concrete steps toward securing trust and efficiency

Particular focus is also being placed on the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, where Gabbard is pushing for better oversight and more aggressive investigation into intelligence leaks. These actions are intended to safeguard sensitive information and improve national security protocols.

Gabbard emphasized the importance of ending the "weaponization of intelligence" and holding accountable those who misuse power. She advocates for an intelligence community that prioritizes truth and transparency, serving the American people’s interests without bias.

"ODNI and the IC must make serious changes to fulfill its responsibility to the American people and the U.S. Constitution by focusing on our core mission: find the truth and provide objective, unbiased, timely intelligence to the President and policymakers," Gabbard explained. Thus, she views these reforms as essential steps towards rebuilding trust with the American public, a trust she notes has "long been eroded."

A new era for the U.S. intelligence community

Under the proposed changes, the ODNI will undergo not just a reduction in workforce but also an ideological shift towards a more streamlined, efficient, and accountable operation. These reforms are set to redefine how intelligence operates at the highest levels of the U.S. government.

With substantial fiscal savings and a clear mandate to reduce inefficiencies, Gabbard’s ODNI 2.0 could mark the beginning of a new phase in U.S. intelligence operations, one hopefully characterized by enhanced security, improved efficiency, and restored public faith in the intelligence community.

As these reforms unfold, the impact on national security and the efficient operation of the U.S. intelligence apparatus will be closely monitored both by policymakers and the public. Tulsi Gabbard’s decisive actions may very well shape the future of American intelligence services.

Hillary Clinton could be forced to surrender her law license in Arkansas over her role in the Russian collusion hoax.

An ethics complaint from the group Democracy Restored accuses Clinton of violating rules of professional conduct, citing her 2016 campaign's role in peddling a notorious, false dossier tying Trump and Russia.

Clinton faces disbarment

Democracy Restored is calling for a "formal review of the conduct of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Esq., a licensed attorney in the State of Arkansas, in connection with her actions during the 2016 presidential campaign."

The complaint says Clinton violated the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct, which sets ethical standards for lawyers in the state.

The group points to newly public evidence that Clinton personally approved an effort to smear her 2016 election rival as a Russian asset by pushing false claims to the media and the FBI.

"Within this release, there is an annex, which suggests that Clinton approved a plan created by one of her advisors to release false information with the purpose ‘to smear’ her political opponent during a presidential campaign and distract from the news surrounding her own legal accusations," the complaint states.

Russia hoax

The Clinton campaign previously agreed to pay an $8,000 fine to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for lying about its spending on the notorious Christopher Steele dossier, which the campaign labeled a legal expense.

The dossier, which was sourced from a British ex-spy, contained salacious and false rumors that were fed to the liberal press and the FBI, fueling a years-long investigation into Trump that clouded much of his first term as president.

Special Counsel John Durham's investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe ended with a whimper, with just one individual being sentenced to probation and a Clinton lawyer getting acquitted for lying to the FBI.

Clinton has never faced consequences for her role in the hoax, but her critics hope that changes as the Trump administration pushes to expose Democrats who were involved in the scandal - including Obama administration officials who are now facing a grand jury investigation.

New evidence declassified

The Trump administration recently declassified the annex from Durham's report, which contained emails detailing an apparently centralized campaign plan to smear Trump in order to distract from the scandal over Clinton's e-mails.

Intelligence of the Clinton plan was intercepted by the Obama administration, but the FBI failed to scrutinize it as the agency rushed into launching its probe into Trump, Crossfire Hurricane.

"If there is one political scandal synonymous with the 2016 election, it is Operation Crossfire Hurricane," an unnamed Democracy Restored director told Fox News. "Former Secretary Clinton's utilization of a bunk dossier by a foreign ex-spy to harm a political opponent violates basic ethical norms as well as the Arkansas bar's own rules of conduct for attorneys."

"The Arkansas bar needs to take a serious look at former Secretary Clinton's involvement in this scandal and take appropriate action," the director added.

A New York City judge denied President Trump's request to unseal grand jury material from the Jeffrey Epstein case, calling the request inappropriate and a distraction.

Richard Berman, a Clinton appointee, essentially accused the administration of trying to pass the buck on the Epstein files.

"The instant grand jury motion appears to be a 'diversion' from the breadth and scope of the Epstein files in the Government's possession. The grand jury testimony is merely a hearsay snippet of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged conduct," he wrote.

Epstein judge's ruling

Berman was set to preside over Epstein's trial for sex trafficking when the financier died in his Manhattan prison cell in August 2019.

Earlier this summer, the Justice Department said it would not release further information in the case, sparking an uproar within Trump's MAGA movement.

The DOJ's memo concluded that Epstein died by suicide and that he did not have blackmail on a secret list of clients - contradicting speculation that has circulated for years about Epstein's powerful connections.

To quiet backlash from the right, the Trump administration started seeking the release of grand jury materials, but the requests have been shot down repeatedly.

The denial from Judge Berman marks the third time that the DOJ's grand jury push has been shut down.

Berman said that the government did not provide sufficient justification for releasing sensitive grand jury material that is normally kept confidential.

Congress to receive files

The judge said the grand jury evidence could expose victims to harm if released, and the material in the government's possession would be more instructive.

"The Government's 100,000 pages of Epstein files and materials dwarf the 70 odd pages of Epstein grand jury materials," Berman wrote.

Democrats have made releasing the Epstein files a priority, seizing on the issue to cast suspicion on Trump and his administration. But Republicans on the House Oversight Committee have also demanded transparency, while drawing attention to Epstein's Democratic connections like Bill Clinton.

According to House Oversight chairman James Comer (R-KY), the Justice Department had agreed to begin sharing the Epstein files with Congress on Friday, August 21.

“We’re going to review (them) and we’ll work as quickly as we can. You know, this is sensitive information. We want to make sure we don’t do anything to harm or jeopardize any victims that were involved in this, but we’re going to be transparent. We were doing what we said we would do. We’re getting the documents, and I believe the White House will work with us,” he told reporters Friday on Capitol Hill.

President Trump is continuing to ramp up pressure on the Federal Reserve, ordering one of the central bank's board members, Lisa Cook, to resign over alleged mortgage fraud - but she's refusing to leave.

A prosecutor in Trump's Justice Department, Ed Martin, is looking into the matter after it was flagged by a federal housing regulator.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Cook must resign now!"

Trump targets Fed governor

The mortgage fraud concerns were shared by the director of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency, William Pulte, in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The letter alleged that Cook "has falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud under the criminal statutes."

In particular, Pulte said Cook had falsified the “residence statuses for an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based residence and an Atlanta, Georgia-based property.”

Cook, a Biden appointee on the seven-member Fed board, said she is taking the matter seriously, but she will not be pressured into stepping down based on an allegation. Her term ends in 2038.

“I learned from the media that FHFA Director William Pulte posted on social media that he was making a criminal referral based on a mortgage application from four years ago, before I joined the Federal Reserve. I have no intention of being bullied to step down from my position because of some questions raised in a tweet," Cook said in a statement.

Pressure on central bank

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Trump is looking at firing Cook for cause.

Critics of Trump have accused him of threatening the stability of the financial system by attempting to strip the central bank of its traditional independence, but Trump and his allies have accused the Fed of playing politics with monetary policy.

Trump has threatened to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, whom Trump has nicknamed "too late" over his failure to lower interest rates despite cooling inflation.

Trump has a rolling shortlist of candidates to replace Powell, who has said more time is needed to tell how Trump's tariffs will impact prices. On the other hand, recent signs of a slowing labor market could convince the Fed that a rate cut is needed to juice the economy.

In a letter to Powell, prosecutor Ed Martin urged him to fire Cook "before it is too late!"

"After all, no American thinks it is appropriate that she serve during this time with a cloud hanging over her," Martin wrote.

Twice-failed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton could be in jeopardy of losing her license to practice law after an ethics complaint was filed against her in Arkansas, Fox News reported. The organization Democracy Restored is going after the former Secretary of State because of her role in perpetuating the Russiagate scandal against President Donald Trump.

The complaint published on Wednesday asks the Arkansas Bar Association to make a "formal review of the conduct of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Esq., a licensed attorney in the State of Arkansas, in connection with her actions during the 2016 presidential campaign." The filing cites the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct and asserts she violated the rules against "Dishonesty" and "Prejudice to the Administration of Justice."

This comes after the Senate Judiciary Committee released recently declassified documents from the Durham report outlining her role in the fake scandal cooked up against Trump during his first run for president. A since-debunked dossier that turned out to be linked to the Clinton campaign suggested that Trump was colluding with the Kremlin to win the 2016 presidential election.

The Trump administration continues to dig into the origins of this scheme that seems to have Clinton's fingerprints all over it. On Tuesday, the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard removed security clearances from 37 intelligence officials involved in the scheme against Trump, including former and current intelligence agents.

Ethics Complaint

The government watchdog group is seeking to revoke Clinton's law license following what it believes to be blatant misconduct on her part. "Within this release, there is an annex, which suggests that Clinton approved a plan created by one of her advisors to release false information with the purpose ‘to smear’ her political opponent during a presidential campaign and distract from the news surrounding her own legal accusations," the filing said.

"This revelation demands an already overdue inquiry into Clinton’s fitness as a member of the Arkansas Bar," the complaint added. What began as Clinton's "opposition research" from April 2016 was "unverified" and "unvetted" but still treated as serious allegations by the intelligence community.

The complaint maintains that the purpose of this false information was "to injure her political opponent" and that Clinton "personally signed off on an effort to amplify this bad intelligence to the media and federal law enforcement." Democracy Restored believes that this is reason enough to initiate action against Clinton.

"If there is one political scandal synonymous with the 2016 election, it is Operation Crossfire Hurricane," one of the organization's directors told Fox News in a statement. "Former Secretary Clinton's utilization of a bunk dossier by a foreign ex-spy to harm a political opponent violates basic ethical norms as well as the Arkansas bar's own rules of conduct for attorneys," the representative added.

"The Arkansas bar needs to take a serious look at former Secretary Clinton's involvement in this scandal and take appropriate action." Though no criminal complaint has been filed against Clinton, Democracy Restored asserts that there is evidence she was involved in "a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects."

Intelligence Community Involvement

Even if Clinton was responsible for the investigation, as the organization is charging, it's clear that she would not have been able to do anything about it without the involvement of the intelligence community. Last month, Gabbard found that outgoing President Barack Obama and his intelligence officials created the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment "that they knew was false, promoting the contrived narrative that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help President Trump win, as though it were true," Gabbard said.

"The documents we released shows how they did it: manufacturing findings from shoddy sources, suppressing evidence that disproved their false claims, disobeying IC tradecraft standards, and withholding the truth from the American people. In doing so, they conspired to subvert the will of the American people and worked with their partners in the media to promote this lie to undermine the legitimacy of President Trump," Gabbard charged.

"This kicked off what would essentially be a years-long coup against President Trump, which included federal investigations, two impeachments, FBI raids on his home, arrests of senior officials, smears and harassment of President Trump and his family, and more. The American people deserve the truth, accountability, and justice," the DNI chief charged.

"The integrity, and therefore the future of our democratic republic demands it," Gabbard added.  She would later strip the involved intelligence officials of their clearances, but it's difficult to imagine that such an egregious abuse of power was contained to just a few dozen people.

If Clinton was behind the Russia collusion hoax that nearly derailed Trump's first presidential term, she should be worried about losing more than just her license to practice law. Nevertheless, it is a good place to start as the dominoes fall in this outrageous scandal.

President Donald Trump's Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have increased migrant arrests in Georgia by 367% between January 10 and July 31, Breitbart reported. This comes a little more than a year after 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley was murdered by an illegal immigrant in Athens, Georgia.

The Peach State has seen an explosion in the number of illegal aliens flooding into it from all over the world. More than three-quarters of a million migrants were reportedly living in Georgia as of last year, but the problem came to a head after Riley's brutal murder made national news.

Now the nation is turning its attention to Georgia as the Department of Homeland Security touted ICE arrests that have soared with Trump's illegal immigration crackdown, including some of the most dangerous criminals. "Under President Trump and @Sec_Noem, @ICEgov has arrested 4,500 illegal aliens in Georgia—a 367% increase compared to the Biden administration," a post to X, formerly Twitter, said Wednesday.

🚨ICE arrests in Georgia SKYROCKET under Trump Administration

Under President Trump and @Sec_Noem, @ICEgov has arrested 4,500 illegal aliens in Georgia—a 367% increase compared to the Biden administration.

Here are some of the worst of the worst arrested in GA under @POTUS:

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) August 20, 2025

The Offenders

The DHS under Secretary Kristi Noem shared mug shots and information on the crimes committed by some of these offenders picked up in the ICE raids. They included several criminals who committed sex crimes against children, including Mexican national Juan Carlos Mendoza-Gonzalez, a convicted child molester and statutory rapist.

They also picked up Honduran Luis Alfredo Betancourth-Euceda, who was convicted of two counts of sexual battery against a child under 16, and Venezuelan national Robert Edward Matos-Madueno, who has been accused of sexual battery against a child under 16, sexual molestation, and false imprisonment.  ICE arrested Eduardo Garcia-Gonzalez of Mexico, who is accused of drug crimes, child molestation, and two counts of sexual battery against a child under 16.

Matilde Romero Sanchez of Mexico, who was arrested for child molestation and incest, and Fernando Hernandez-Martine of Mexico, who was convicted of two counts of child molestation, were also rounded up by ICE. Others faced drug charges, like Osvaldo Rodriguez-Padilla of Mexico, and drug and weapons charges, like Flavio Delabra Rebollar of Mexico.

Immigration enforcement also apprehended Jacob Aguillon-Martinez of Mexico, who was arrested after a vehicle hit-and-run and charged with homicide-negligent manslaughter. These convicts and alleged criminals are not the hardworking immigrants Democrats claim their lax polices are meant to give a helping hand to.

Instead, these are people accused or convicted of some of the worst crimes who make Georgia's cities and neighborhoods unsafe for Americans. While this widespread roundup is an excellent move from the Trump administration to fix a problem left by his predecessor, then-President Joe Biden, it comes too late for Laken Riley.

President Donald Trump caused controversy with more than one of his cabinet nominations, but possibly the most polarizing has been Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth, who is a veteran, both of the military and being in the public eye (due to his time at Fox News), has taken serious heat while in office, and now, some believe that the left might want him dead.

According to Breitbart News’ John Nolte, the Washington Post must want something bad to happen, as it’s the only reasonable explanation for a recent article.

The piece in question uncovered the secretary’s security protocols and asserted that he has too much security.

The Claim

Nolte referenced an article, headlined “Hegseth’s expansive security requirements tax Army protective unit.”

The article’s sub-headline read: “The agency tasked with protecting Defense Department leaders is under significant strain, and the secretary’s atypical needs are becoming untenable, officials say.”

While none of the officials were named, the article made it apparent who the target of the frustration was, ultimately causing a serious security concern for the DOD head.

From Lawmakers

Even some lawmakers spoke out in defense of Hegseth, castigating those who have come after the defense secretary.

Among those is Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who said in an op-ed for Breitbart News that "It's clear as day... efforts to embarrass @PeteHegseth are nothing more than desperate attempts to salvage reputations and distract from the successes he is already having at the Pentagon.

"I know the folks I have talked to in my state of Alabama appreciate a leader who’s not afraid to question the status quo in Washington. We need a Secretary of Defense who’s focused on one thing—defending America. And that’s what Pete Hegseth is doing."

NEW—@TTuberville writes in an op-ed for Breitbart: "It's clear as day... efforts to embarrass @PeteHegseth are nothing more than desperate attempts to salvage reputations and distract from the successes he is already having at the Pentagon."

"I know the folks I have talked to in… pic.twitter.com/zMRc5EbfLb

— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) April 30, 2025

More Controversy

While his affiliation with Trump and some security concerns have caused enough mayhem, Hegseth’s alignment with Christian nationalism has also caused a significant kerfuffle.

Pastor Doug Wilson of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches said publicly in a recent interview that Hegseth is “a member in good standing” at a sister church to his own.

During the same interview, Wilson made comments opposing women’s suffrage, and women’s rights to vote that many considered problematic.

In a decisive move, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard revoked security clearances from 37 intelligence officials, acting on orders from President Donald Trump, Newsmax reported.

This significant measure, aimed at enforcing accountability within the intelligence community, directly addresses alleged breaches of security protocols and mishandling of intelligence.

The announcement came on Tuesday, marking a notable shift under Gabbard's recent appointment as Director of National Intelligence. Earlier this year, she emphasized her focus on reinstating trust and integrity within the federal intelligence sectors.

DNI Gabbard Holds Officials Accountable for Misconduct

The removal of these clearances follows allegations that the concerned officials had manipulated intelligence reports, leaked sensitive information, and generally violated essential tradecraft standards. President Trump's directive aimed to tighten operational security and restore integrity within the intelligence operations.

Gabbard's stern measures reflect a broader concern about the impartiality and professionalism within the intelligence community. Her actions underscore a firm stance against the politicization of intelligence.

As per the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the specifics regarding the identity and roles of the individuals affected have not been disclosed. This withholding of details maintains a level of operational secrecy amid the unraveling controversy.

The Context of Politicization in Intelligence Affairs

This event unfolds against a backdrop of long-standing debates over the role of intelligence in political matters, particularly highlighted during the 2016 presidential election investigations. Accusations had previously swirled around the misuse of intelligence in the context of alleged collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign team.

Both the Justice Department’s inspector general and various special counsel investigations have pointed out errors and misconduct in intelligence handling related to these politically charged allegations. This context has intensified the scrutiny and accountability measures enforced under the current administration.

Moreover, it's currently unclear whether any of the officials whose clearances were revoked are still active within the government. This uncertainty adds a layer of complexity to the implications of these revocations for ongoing intelligence operations.

Emphasizing the Constitution Over Personal Interest

Gabbard emphasized the gravity of the responsibility entrusted to those with security clearances. "Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right," she stated, highlighting the importance of adhering to constitutional values over personal interests.

She further elaborated, "Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the interests of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold. In doing so, they undermine our national security, the safety and security of the American people, and the foundational principles of our democratic republic."

This sweeping action by Gabbard sends a clear message: the intelligence community must remain vigilant and unswervingly committed to the values and principles of the U.S. Constitution. It reflects her commitment to "ensuring the safety, security, and freedom of the American people."

Implications for National Security and Intelligence Future

The White House has been tight-lipped beyond the directive underlining these drastic actions, signifying a possible recalibration of policy regarding how intelligence is managed and utilized at the national level.

As this story develops, the intelligence community and public alike are keenly observing the outcomes of these dismissals, pondering the future landscape of national security administration.

This first significant act of revocation under Director Gabbard's tenure may set a precedent for how deviations from established standards and protocols are treated moving forward in the sphere of national intelligence and security.

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."

Shifty Schiff

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.

Schiff under pressure

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."