Schiff: House Could Subpoena Officials to Testify on Election Interference
House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Sunday it is possible the House could issue subpoenas to federal intelligence officials to testify on alleged election interference, coming after Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe told members of Congress that he wont deliver in-person briefings on election interference because of rampant leaks to the press.
Schiff said on Sunday that “I cant speak for what decision ultimately well make. Thats a decision that will have to go to the speaker,” referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Schiff served as the lead House impeachment manager and has frequently accused President Donald Trump of colluding with Russia to secure the 2016 election.
“This intelligence paid for by taxpayers doesnt belong to Donald Trump, it doesnt belong to the intelligence agencies, it belongs to the American people. The agencies are merely the custodians of that information,” the California Democrat told CNN.
“And the American people ought to know what Russia is doing, they ought to know their president is unwilling to stand up to Vladimir Putin,” Schiff said. “And that information belongs to the American people, it doesnt belong to Donald Trump.”
Ratcliffe told Fox News that he has to end the in-person briefings because of frequent leaks to the media.
“Within minutes of one of those briefings ending, a number of members of Congress went to a number of different outlets and leaked classified information for political purposes,” he said.
Ratcliffe said that Russia also isnt a “greater national security threat than China.”
“I dont mean to minimize Russia. They are a serious national security threat, but day in, day out, the threats that we face from China are significantly greater,” Ratcliffe said. “Anyone who says otherwise is just politicizing intelligence for their own narrative.”
Last month, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a report that found China is actively attempting to undermine the November elections along with Russia and Iran. However, the report, which was released by the head of U.S. counterintelligence, William Evanina, found that China is currently the No. 1 threat.
“Beijing recognizes its efforts might affect the prRead More From Source
