Schiff Could Face Fines, Prison Time if Classified Leak Allegations Are Proven True
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) is facing potentially devastating legal and political consequences following explosive new allegations from a Democratic whistleblower—claims now bolstered by recently declassified FBI interview reports.
According to the whistleblower’s account, if prosecutors choose to act and the allegations are substantiated, Schiff could not only see his political career come to an abrupt end but also face massive financial penalties and years in prison. Former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman outlined the potential legal exposure, warning that the stakes could escalate rapidly. “It depends on the counts in the indictment,” Tolman said. “The fine is up to $250,000 for every leak that’s charged.”
The claims date back to Schiff’s tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, when he served first as ranking member and later as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee during the contentious Trump–Russia investigation.
According to Just The News, the whistleblower—who reportedly worked for Democrats on the Intelligence Committee for more than a decade—told the FBI multiple times beginning in 2017 that Schiff had authorized the release of classified information to the media in an effort to damage then-President Donald Trump.
The whistleblower alleges that during an all-staff meeting, Schiff announced that “the group would leak classified information which was derogatory to President of the United States Donald J. Trump” and that the leaks “would be used to indict President Trump.”
The staffer claims he immediately objected, warning Schiff that such actions were “unethical and possibly treasonous,” but said he was reassured by colleagues that “we would not be caught leaking classified information.”
The whistleblower also alleged that Schiff believed he had been promised the position of CIA Director had Hillary Clinton won the 2016 election. He further identified Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) as a potential conduit for the leaks and claimed he was abruptly terminated after reporting the issue to the FBI.
Despite the severity of the accusations, the whistleblower says the FBI—under the leadership of Director Christopher Wray—failed to take action. He asserts that he repeated the same account to agents from the bureau’s St. Louis field office in 2023, again to no avail.
Tolman emphasized the magnitude of the legal risks facing Schiff should the Justice Department pursue the case, explaining that leaking classified information carries both substantial criminal penalties and heavy financial repercussions.
“If prosecutors decide to move forward,” Tolman warned, “this could be one of the most serious cases of classified leaks ever tied to a sitting member of Congress.”
🚨Former US Attorney Brett Tolman says Adam Schiff could be facing 20 years in federal prison plus a $250,000 fine for every piece of Russian information he leaked to the media:
“The fine is up to $250,000 for every, every leak that’s charged. So it depends on the counts in the… pic.twitter.com/1lPIKVZFFc
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 12, 2025
“Yes. The fine can reach up to $250,000 for each individual leak that’s charged, so the total really depends on how many counts appear in the indictment,” Tolman explained to Johnson. “Also, it’s crucial to remember that some of the penalties depend on the intent behind the classified leak or the illegal possession of classified material. The purpose becomes a critical factor.”
Tolman emphasized that the surrounding context of the alleged leaks could play a pivotal role in determining any potential punishment.
“I believe this was, at its core, the beginning of a coordinated effort—a conspiracy—to take down a sitting president and undermine his ability to govern,” he said. “There are additional statutes that could apply here, such as conspiracy laws and interference with official proceedings. Many people are asking whether this qualifies as treason. Technically, it probably doesn’t meet the full legal standard for treason, but there are several closely related crimes that could certainly come into play.”
Tolman further noted that if prosecutors were to determine there was intent “to undermine the United States,” the penalties could include “up to 20 years in federal prison.”
Critics argue that the FBI’s failure to act on the allegations reflects a broader pattern under Director Christopher Wray of protecting politically connected figures. Kash Patel, a former Trump administration official, has been among the most vocal critics, accusing the bureau of turning a blind eye to serious misconduct while aggressively pursuing political adversaries.
Patel has specifically cited the FBI’s deployment of confidential informants prior to the January 6 protests as evidence that the agency possessed advance knowledge of potential unrest but failed to intervene appropriately.
As for Schiff, he has yet to issue a public response to the newly surfaced allegations. In previous statements, he has consistently denied leaking classified information, dismissing such accusations as politically motivated efforts to undermine his work and reputation.