Nerves are on a knife-edge ahead of the Trump-Putin summit
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Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Trump claims Schiff leaked classified information to damage him
Donald Trump ripped into one of his longtime Democratic opponents claiming he leaked classified information to damage him, and he wants the Department of Justice to investigate. 'Just out, irrefutable proof that Adam Shifty Schiff 'approved plan to leak classified information to damage Donald Trump,'' the president wrote on Truth Social Wednesday. He was reacting to reports about a whistleblower alleging that California Sen. Adam Schiff hatched a plan to leak classified intelligence to damage Trump shortly after he first took office in 2017. The whistleblower claims Schiff personally authorized a plan to selectively leak damaging information about Trump to the media during the FBI 's investigation into the president's possible ties to Russia . Later in the day, at an event at the Kennedy Center, the president slammed Schiff again. 'I told him ( Putin ), you know, they got this phony investigation going on. Russia, Russia, Russia. Totally phony, created by Adam Schiff,' the 79-year-old recounted. 'Shifty Schiff and Hillary Clinton and the whole group of them ... made it very dangerous for our country,' the president continued. 'I'm looking at Pam, because I hope something's going to be done about it,' he added. 'Now we've learned all the stuff that's come out over the last two months is incredible, through intelligence. And hopefully something's gonna happen with it.' A spokesperson for Schiff hit back at the allegations in a statement to the Daily Mail. 'Kash Patel's latest smear against Senator Schiff is absolutely and categorically false, and is just the latest in a series of defamatory attacks from the President and his allies meant to distract from their plummeting poll numbers and the Epstein files scandal,' they said. 'These baseless smears are based on allegations that were found to be not reliable, not credible, and unsubstantiated from a disgruntled former staffer who was fired by the House Intelligence Committee for cause in early 2017, including for harassment and potentially compromising activity on official travel for the Committee.' New testimony revealed in FBI documents shows that a career Democrat intelligence official believed Schiff's leaking to the press was 'illegal' and 'treasonous,' according to documents first reported by Just the News . 'When working in this capacity, [redacted staffer's name] was called to an all-staff meeting by SCHIFF,' the FBI report said. 'In this meeting, Schiff stated the group would leak classified information which was derogatory to President of the United States Donald J. Trump. Schiff stated the information would be used to indict President Trump.' The whistleblower gave the testimony at the FBI's St. Louis field office in 2023. However, according to the outlet, the whistleblower had told FBI officials in Washington as early as 2017 about Schiff's plot. The whistleblower reportedly said during the meeting, 'this would be illegal and, upon hearing his concerns, unnamed members of the meeting reassured that they would not be caught leaking classified information,' the report states. According to the testimony, Schiff believed he would be saved from prosecution due to the Constitution's speech and debate clause. The statute protects members of Congress from legal action for actions taken during their legislative work. It is unclear whether Attorney General Pam Bondi is working on charges related to Schiff's plan to leak classified material.
Scottish Sun
3 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
US and Russia fire off veiled nuclear threats ahead of Alaska showdown talks between Trump and Putin
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSIA and America swapped veiled nuclear threats yesterday ahead of showdown talks between their two presidents over the war in Ukraine. At a British air base used by US nuclear bombers Vice President JD Vance warned that peace was only possible if the 'bad guys' were afraid of America. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Russia and the US have exchanged veiled nuclear threats, pictured Mr Zelensky is met in Berlin by Germany's Chancellor Merz Credit: AFP 5 The diplomatic war games came as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Russia's President Putin in Alaska tomorrow Credit: Getty 5 Mr Trump warned there would be 'very severe consequences' if Putin doesn't agree to a ceasefire Credit: AP Meanwhile it was announced that joint exercises to be held by Russian and Belarusian troops will include nuclear weapons drills. The diplomatic war games came as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Alaska tomorrow. Mr Trump yesterday warned there would be 'very severe consequences' if Putin doesn't agree to a ceasefire. He spoke out after a video call with European leaders including Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Europe's political chiefs also vowed to hit tyrant Putin with more sanctions if talks fail. Mr Vance, in Britain on holiday, yesterday addressed US airmen at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire. The base is routinely used as a staging post by US nuclear bombers. He said: 'It is impossible to bring peace anywhere unless the bad guys are worried that we have got a hell of a fine air force and a hell of a fine military to back up the peace to begin with. 'You make it possible for us to accomplish the President's goals through negotiation. 'You make it possible for us to go into a room and say, 'yes, we want peace, yes we want to work together, yes we want to bring an end to this terrible conflict but we have also got some great airmen'. Trump & Putin's 1-on-1 meeting is a 'listening exercise', WH says as 'Vlad wants Ukraine to withdraw for ceasefire' 'The fact that people are afraid of you is why we are able to do what we do as an administration.' A British defence source said last night: 'It's the big stick theory. It is deterrence — don't f*** with me because I will f*** you more. 'If we can't get that message over then we fail.' Peace isn't possible unless the bad guys fear you've got hell of a military JD Vance Mr Vance's warnings came as Belarus announced it will hold joint nuclear drills with Russia. Defence minister Viktor Khrenin said its troops would train for the deployment of nuclear weapons. Kremlin said the drills were 'predominantly strategic deterrence' abut added: 'We should be ready for everything.' President Trump has downplayed expectations of a breakthrough, saying his meeting with Putin was to get the lie of the land. He also touted the possibility of a second meeting to include Mr Zelensky, who has been frozen out of the peace talks. 5 Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a video conference Credit: EPA Mr Zelensky, who was in Berlin for the video conference yesterday, warned that Putin was bluffing over peace after Russian military advances in eastern Ukraine. Mr Zelensky insisted America, Ukraine and allies all want 'peace in Ukraine, peace in Europe'. Putin doesn't want peace — he wants to occupy our country Zelensky But he declared: 'Putin is bluffing, he is trying to push forward along the whole front. 'Putin doesn't want peace — he wants to occupy our country.' And he repeated calls for more economic pressure on Moscow, saying: 'In reality, the sanctions are very effective, and they're hurting the Russian military economy.' But Moscow's foreign ministry warned 'any attempts on our property will result in a painful response'. Europe's 'coalition of the willing' has demanded a ceasefire, stronger sanctions and 'robust and credible security guarantees' that Ukraine will not lose any territory. Russia wants a land swap to end the three-year conflict. In a statement PM Sir Keir later insisted the UK's support for Ukraine is 'unwavering'. He has previously vowed to send British peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. His spokesman said Europe's leaders thanked President Trump for his 'efforts in bringing Putin to the table in pursuit of a ceasefire to end to the ongoing bloodshed'. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europe and America must 'increase the pressure' on Russia if peace talks fail. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said 'the ball is now in Putin's court'. But Mr Trump's former National Security Advisor John Bolton reckoned inviting Putin to the US was 'a great victory' for the tyrant. He said: 'He's a rogue leader of a pariah state and he's going to be welcomed into the United States.'
The Sun
4 minutes ago
- The Sun
US and Russia fire off veiled nuclear threats ahead of Alaska showdown talks between Trump and Putin
RUSSIA and America swapped veiled nuclear threats yesterday ahead of showdown talks between their two presidents over the war in Ukraine. At a British air base used by US nuclear bombers Vice President JD Vance warned that peace was only possible if the 'bad guys' were afraid of America. 5 5 5 Meanwhile it was announced that joint exercises to be held by Russian and Belarusian troops will include nuclear weapons drills. The diplomatic war games came as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Alaska tomorrow. Mr Trump yesterday warned there would be 'very severe consequences' if Putin doesn't agree to a ceasefire. He spoke out after a video call with European leaders including Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Europe's political chiefs also vowed to hit tyrant Putin with more sanctions if talks fail. Mr Vance, in Britain on holiday, yesterday addressed US airmen at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire. The base is routinely used as a staging post by US nuclear bombers. He said: 'It is impossible to bring peace anywhere unless the bad guys are worried that we have got a hell of a fine air force and a hell of a fine military to back up the peace to begin with. 'You make it possible for us to accomplish the President's goals through negotiation. 'You make it possible for us to go into a room and say, 'yes, we want peace, yes we want to work together, yes we want to bring an end to this terrible conflict but we have also got some great airmen'. Trump & Putin's 1-on-1 meeting is a 'listening exercise', WH says as 'Vlad wants Ukraine to withdraw for ceasefire' 'The fact that people are afraid of you is why we are able to do what we do as an administration.' A British defence source said last night: 'It's the big stick theory. It is deterrence — don't f*** with me because I will f*** you more. 'If we can't get that message over then we fail.' Mr Vance's warnings came as Belarus announced it will hold joint nuclear drills with Russia. Defence minister Viktor Khrenin said its troops would train for the deployment of nuclear weapons. Kremlin said the drills were 'predominantly strategic deterrence' abut added: 'We should be ready for everything.' President Trump has downplayed expectations of a breakthrough, saying his meeting with Putin was to get the lie of the land. He also touted the possibility of a second meeting to include Mr Zelensky, who has been frozen out of the peace talks. 5 Mr Zelensky, who was in Berlin for the video conference yesterday, warned that Putin was bluffing over peace after Russian military advances in eastern Ukraine. Mr Zelensky insisted America, Ukraine and allies all want 'peace in Ukraine, peace in Europe'. But he declared: 'Putin is bluffing, he is trying to push forward along the whole front. 'Putin doesn't want peace — he wants to occupy our country.' And he repeated calls for more economic pressure on Moscow, saying: 'In reality, the sanctions are very effective, and they're hurting the Russian military economy.' But Moscow's foreign ministry warned 'any attempts on our property will result in a painful response'. Europe's 'coalition of the willing' has demanded a ceasefire, stronger sanctions and 'robust and credible security guarantees' that Ukraine will not lose any territory. Russia wants a land swap to end the three-year conflict. In a statement PM Sir Keir later insisted the UK's support for Ukraine is 'unwavering'. He has previously vowed to send British peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. His spokesman said Europe's leaders thanked President Trump for his 'efforts in bringing Putin to the table in pursuit of a ceasefire to end to the ongoing bloodshed'. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europe and America must 'increase the pressure' on Russia if peace talks fail. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said 'the ball is now in Putin's court'. But Mr Trump's former National Security Advisor John Bolton reckoned inviting Putin to the US was 'a great victory' for the tyrant. He said: 'He's a rogue leader of a pariah state and he's going to be welcomed into the United States.' 5
