Trump Falsely Claims That Adam Schiff Wrote The Whistleblower Complaint

At a news conference at the White House, Trump claimed that House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff wrote the whistleblower complaint about his Ukraine call.

Trump said, “I think it’s a scandal he knew before. I go a step further, I think he probably helped write it. That’s what the word is. And I think it’s — I give a lot of respect for the New York Times for putting it out. Just happened as I’m walking up here they handed it to me. And I said to Mike, I said, whoa. That’s something. That’s big stuff. That’s a big story. He knew long before and he helped write it, too. It’s a scam. It’s a scam.”

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Adam Schiff did not see or write the whistleblower complaint.

This is what The New York Times reported:

The C.I.A. officer approached a House Intelligence Committee aide with his concerns about Mr. Trump only after he had had a colleague first convey them to the C.I.A.’s top lawyer. Concerned about how that initial avenue for airing his allegations through the C.I.A. was unfolding, the officer then approached the House aide. In both cases, the original accusation was vague.

The House staff member, following the committee’s procedures, suggested the officer find a lawyer to advise him and file a whistle-blower complaint. The aide shared some of what the officer conveyed to Mr. Schiff. The aide did not share the whistle-blower’s identity with Mr. Schiff, an official said.

The CIA officer didn’t go to Congress formally. He outlined his concerns to Intel Committee staff who advised him to get a lawyer who could help him file a whistleblower complaint. In other words, the House Intelligence Committee staff member followed the law. They didn’t help the whistleblower. They didn’t write the complaint.

They directed the whistleblower to go through the proper legal channels.

Trump is trying to throw everything that he can think of at impeachment in an attempt to muddy the waters.

Adam Schiff didn’t write the complaint. The facts of the case are not in dispute, but Trump’s desperation is growing more extreme by the moment.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

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