Rep. Adam Schiff had said Donald Trump Jr. would not reveal the details of a discussion he had with his father earlier this year. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo Schiff denies leaking 'non-public' information about Trump Jr.'s testimony

An aide to Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Tuesday that neither he nor his staff leaked any "non-public information" about the testimony of Donald Trump Jr. last week, but his office defended his decision to tell reporters the president's son had refused to answer a key question from the panel.

Schiff had told reporters that Trump Jr., who testified for nearly eight hours, would not reveal the details of a discussion he had with his father earlier this year, when news of a secret Trump Tower meeting between the younger Trump and Kremlin-linked people began seeping out.


Trump Jr. invoked attorney-client privilege to sidestep discussing the matter, saying a lawyer had been in the room at the time. Schiff told the media later that he viewed the claim as an invalid reason to withhold information.

Trump Jr. reportedly has since issued a letter to the House Russia probe leader, Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), demanding an investigation into what he said were leaked details of his interview — portions of which emerged while he was still inside the Capitol testifying.

“Ranking Member Schiff and his staff do not leak classified or confidential information, and any disclosure of non-public information by the congressional committees undertaking investigations is singularly unhelpful," Schiff's office said in a statement. "It is imperative that all investigations into Russia’s covert political interference campaign operate with appropriate discretion and refrain from publicizing information for short-sighted political gain."

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“[W]e do not permit witnesses to represent publicly that they are fully cooperating with our committee and privately refuse to answer questions pertinent to our investigation on the basis of meritless claims of privilege," the statement continued. "When the Attorney General and Donald Trump Jr. did so, we raised the issue publicly and will continue to do so. While we do not discuss the substance of a witness’ testimony, we do reserve the right to inform the public of their noncooperation and do not allow them to conceal that behind closed doors.”

Trump Jr.'s letter reportedly took aim at three Democrats: Schiff, Eric Swalwell and Jackie Speier, all from California, for subsequent TV appearances that characterized Trump Jr.'s testimony.

Republicans vented last week about their public commentary too, with Conaway telling POLITICO that he saw Swalwell "blathering" on TV about the interview.

"We admonish every witness...do not talk to anyone except your lawyer. Why would we not honor that ourselves?" Conaway said. "Why would we not hold ourselves to the same standard?"

