Newly declassified FBI interview reports show a longtime Democratic staffer told agents that then-Representative Adam Schiff personally approved leaking classified material in early 2017 to damage President Donald Trump. The redacted 302 memos, covering interviews conducted in 2017 and again in 2023, were transmitted to Congress on 12 August by FBI Director Kash Patel. According to the documents, the whistleblower said he was present at a House Intelligence Committee staff meeting where Schiff instructed aides to release information “derogatory to Donald J. Trump” and asserted the leaks would help secure an indictment of the president. The staffer called the plan “unethical,” “illegal” and “treasonous,” but was told the participants would not be caught. The memos state that Justice Department prosecutors showed little interest in pursuing the matter, partly on the view that constitutional speech-and-debate protections could shield a lawmaker’s actions. Because most of the alleged activity occurred more than five years ago, many potential criminal charges are likely time-barred, although congressional ethics or disciplinary inquiries remain possible. Agents were also told that Representative Eric Swalwell was suspected of feeding classified material to the press and that committee staff maintained a routine process for routing sensitive notes to Schiff before select portions were leaked. The whistleblower claims he was dismissed from the committee for refusing to participate. Schiff, now a California senator, has not commented on the disclosures. The release of the memos comes as he faces a separate Justice Department referral over alleged mortgage-fraud violations.