Trump attacks Adam Schiff as 'liar' and 'leaker' as Democrats seek to counter Nunes memo

David Jackson | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump on Nunes Memo: 'A Lot of People Should Be Ashamed' House Republicans released the full, un-redacted “Nunes memo” on Friday following months of speculation

WASHINGTON – President Trump again attacked the Russia investigation on Monday, this time targeting the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee: Rep. Adam Schiff of California.

Trump called Schiff "one of the biggest liars and leakers in Washington" and said he "must be stopped."

Little Adam Schiff, who is desperate to run for higher office, is one of the biggest liars and leakers in Washington, right up there with Comey, Warner, Brennan and Clapper! Adam leaves closed committee hearings to illegally leak confidential information. Must be stopped! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 5, 2018

Schiff's committee is probing whether Trump and his associates colluded with Russians who sought to interfere in the 2016 election through cyberattacks and fake news.

Trump's attacks came as Democrats seek to release a memo to counter claims made in a newly declassified memo written at the direction of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif.

More: Nunes memo release: What you need to know about the controversial document

The Nunes memo argued that the FBI and Justice Department abused their top-secret surveillance to spy on an adviser to Trump's campaign. The memo alleges the government obtained its warrant to spy on Carter Page based on a disputed dossier compiled by an ex-spy retained by an opposition research firm and financed by Democrats.

Democrats have argued that the Nunes memo, which was released last week, was misleading and one-sided. Schiff and other Democrats said the FBI had more evidence than just the dossier, and they are pushing to release a memo containing more information on the warrant.

If the committee votes to release the Democratic memo, Trump would have five days to object to its release.

In another tweet Monday, Trump praised Nunes for the memo, saying he "may someday be recognized as a Great American Hero for what he has exposed and what he has had to endure!"

Representative Devin Nunes, a man of tremendous courage and grit, may someday be recognized as a Great American Hero for what he has exposed and what he has had to endure! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 5, 2018

Schiff responded on Twitter by mocking Trump's morning habit of watching cable television news, and suggesting the president spend more time addressing the nation's problems.

"Instead of tweeting false smears, the American people would appreciate it if you turned off the TV and helped solve the funding crisis, protected Dreamers or...really anything else," Schiff said.

Mr. President, I see you’ve had a busy morning of “Executive Time.” Instead of tweeting false smears, the American people would appreciate it if you turned off the TV and helped solve the funding crisis, protected Dreamers or...really anything else. https://t.co/lVqQRu2Gjl — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 5, 2018

Schiff has also accused Trump (and Nunes) of seeking to obstruct the federal investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller — including by releasing the memo.

"The goal here is to undermine the FBI, discredit the FBI, discredit the Mueller investigation, do the president’s bidding," Schiff said Sunday on ABC's This Week.

More: Lawmakers: Mueller's Russia probe needs to continue, despite Trump attacks

More: Analysis: With Nunes memo release, Trump barrels toward showdown with Mueller

More: Republicans release memo alleging FBI, DOJ improperly spied on Trump campaign aide

In attacking Schiff, Trump compared him with former FBI director James Comey, whose dismissal by the president in May is one of the subjects of an obstruction of justice investigation by Mueller.

Also criticized by Trump: Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee; former CIA Director John Brennan, and former National Intelligence Director James Clapper.