Schiff vs. Gabbard: A Heated Exchange over Trump-Russia Collusion Narrative

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., is at odds with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard over the role of the Obama administration in pushing the Trump-Russia collusion narrative during the 2016 presidential election. Schiff has dismissed Gabbard's assertion that former President Barack Obama and his national security team "manufactured an Intelligence Community Assessment they knew was false." The tension comes as the Justice Department forms a "strike force" to assess the evidence publicized by Gabbard.

Key Takeaways:

• Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has dismissed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's assertion that the Obama administration "manufactured an Intelligence Community Assessment they knew was false."
• Schiff referred to an Intelligence Community Assessment report from 2017 that asserted Russia's goals were to undermine faith in the U.S. democratic process and to "denigrate" former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
• Gabbard's office alleged in a press release that Putin did not favor a candidate in 2016 and that there is "irrefutable evidence detailing how President Obama and his national security team directed the creation of an Intelligence Community Assessment that they knew was false."
• Schiff has been accused by the White House Spokesman Davis Ingle of being one of the chief propagandists behind the Russia collusion hoax.
• Schiff was involved in the congressional investigation into Trump colluding with Russia and became a leading Democratic voice accusing Trump's 2016 presidential campaign of colluding with Russia.
• Schiff was asked if he should apologize for his previous statements about the Russia collusion narrative, but he said "It's been proven accurate."

Statistics:

• The Intelligence Community Assessment report from 2017 documented Russia's efforts to help denigrate Hillary Clinton, giving a boost to the Trump campaign.
• The report also asserted Russia's goals were to undermine faith in the U.S. democratic process, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin "developed a clear preference" for Trump.
• The U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) sent a letter to the Department of Justice in May alleging that Schiff has "falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, impacting payments from 2003-2019 for a Potomac, Maryland-based property."

Sources:

• Sen. Adam Schiff, personal communication with Fox News Digital on Capitol Hill (July 25, 2025).
• White House Spokesman Davis Ingle, statement to Fox News Digital.
• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, press release outlining the unearthed documents.
• The Intelligence Community Assessment report from 2017.
• The U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), letter to the Department of Justice (May 2025).
• Truth Social post by President Trump (July 2025).