Rep. Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffOvernight Defense: Top admiral says 'no condition' where US should conduct nuclear test 'at this time' | Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings Overnight Defense: House to vote on military justice bill spurred by Vanessa Guillén death | Biden courts veterans after Trump's military controversies Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE (D-Calif.) on Sunday accused the White House of pressuring the Department of Justice (DOJ) into an investigation of the Clinton Foundation.

"If they are investigating Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden MORE, it doesn't take a genius, let alone a stable genius, to see why," Schiff told host Jake Tapper on CNN’s "State of the Union," referencing President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE.

"It's not because there is some new evidence that has come to light. It's because they're being badgered by the White House to do it. You simply cannot explain it, I think, any other way," the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee added, calling it "deeply disturbing."

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Schiff said the Trump administration has forced the DOJ to take several actions that are "not in isolation" of one another.

He pointed to the department's decision to release the anti-Trump text messages exchanged in 2016 between FBI agent Peter Strzok and his colleague Lisa Page, amid an investigation into Strzok's work on special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's Russia probe.

"If you look at the decision by the Justice Department to release these private text messages during the pendency of an internal Department of Justice inspector general investigation, that's unprecedented. And that, similarly, is a nod to the White House," said Schiff, who regularly criticizes the Trump administration.

"And I think that these cracks that we're seeing in the independence of the Justice Department ought to concern every American," he continued.

"That ought to be far more important than any party concerns. But, right now, it certainly doesn't look that way,” Schiff added.

The Hill, citing law enforcement officials and a witness, reported last week that the DOJ has launched a new inquiry into whether the Clinton Foundation engaged in any pay-to-play politics or other illegal activities while Hillary Clinton served as secretary of State.

Clinton went on to become the Democratic presidential nominee and lost to Trump in the 2016 election.