Adam Schiff Says There's 'More Than Circumstantial Evidence' Of Trump Ties To Russia

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the House Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat, said Wednesday there’s “more than circumstantial evidence” indicating collusion between Russian government officials and associates of President Donald Trump.

Schiff told NBC’s “Meet the Press” earlier this week that “there is circumstantial evidence of collusion” and “direct evidence” of deception by the president’s campaign. He added to the assessment on Wednesday, saying he’s now aware of firmer evidence indicating collusion.

“I can’t go into the particulars, but there is more than circumstantial evidence now,” Schiff said in an interview with MSNBC’s Chuck Todd.

“You have seen direct evidence of collusion?” Todd asked.

“I don’t want to get into specifics, but I will say that there is evidence that is not circumstantial, and is very much worthy of investigation,” Schiff said. “That is what we ought to do.”

Schiff’s comments came shortly after he held a press conference denouncing the decision of the House Intelligence Committee’s chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), to brief Trump and hold a press conference on findings that some Trump officials were surveilled during the Obama administration. Nunes’ disclosure, before discussing the findings with members of the Intelligence Committee, calls into question the committee’s ability to investigate the president, Schiff said.

“I think we have been dealt a serious body blow to the credibility of our ability to get answers by today’s events,” Schiff told Todd. “To me, it underscores the importance of having an independent commission look at this as a supplement to anything the Congress does.”

In addition to the congressional probe, the FBI is investigating possible ties between Trump’s associates and Russian government officials. Trump and his team have denied any wrongdoing.