Rep. Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffPelosi, Democrats unveil bills to rein in alleged White House abuses of power Chris Matthews ripped for complimenting Trump's 'true presidential behavior' on Ginsburg Trump casts doubt on Ginsburg statement, wonders if it was written by Schiff, Pelosi or Schumer MORE (D-Calif.) said Sunday that he believes President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE and his lawyers are "terrified" at the prospect of what former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort Paul John ManafortOur Constitution is under attack by Attorney General William Barr Bannon trial date set in alleged border wall scam Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE could tell prosecutors as part of a new cooperation agreement.

"They may think they know what Manafort has to say because he was part of that joint defense agreement, but they have to know that he may not have told them the full truth," Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence panel, said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"They’re terrified of what he has to say," he continued. "I’m surprised that we are where we are, that Manafort is cooperating."

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Manafort, who was convicted last month in Virginia on charges of bank and tax fraud, reached a deal on Friday to cooperate with 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 and avoid a second trial on additional charges in Washington, D.C.

The White House and Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, have downplayed the potential impact Manafort's deal may have on the president.

Trump's lawyers and Manafort's legal team had a joint defense agreement, meaning the two sides shared information. Giuliani declined to comment on whether a pardon was possible for Manafort, though he has said in the past such an offering would come after Mueller's investigation is ended.

Schiff said Sunday that other potential witnesses who could be implicated in Mueller's probe should take note of Manafort's change in legal strategy after being convicted in Virginia.

"This sends a message to anybody who’s in Bob Mueller’s crosshairs right now, you better get to the special counsel and make your deal right now," he said. "The longer you wait to come clean, the worse deal you’re going to get."