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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
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Conservatives are ramping up their calls for Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) to be held legally accountable for his role in pushing a now well-debunked claim that President Donald Trump was a dupe for Russian President Vladimir Putin during his first term.
The so-called “Russian collusion” narrative, which Schiff and many others in the media pushed for years during Trump’s first term, was the subject of multiple investigations by the House and by independent prosecutors, including John Durham, a former U.S. attorney, and Robert Mueller, a former FBI director.
But all of them concluded that there was zero evidence supporting the claim, while other investigators discovered that a plot to saddle Trump with the false claim in order to hamper his presidency and his ability to carry out his foreign policy vision for the country.
Now, several conservative voices are calling for FBI Director Kash Patel and the Justice Department to hold Schiff and others accountable for pushing the dangerous hoax.
“REMINDER: Adam Schiff was ONLY pardoned for J6 committee-related offenses NOT the Russia hoax. Not election interference. Nothing else. Kash is going to take this criminal down. Watch. The Hammer of Justice is coming, Pencil Neck Schiff,” conservative influencer Nick Sorter noted on his X account Monday.
Others agreed with him in their responses.
“Now we know why Schiff is so panicked about Patel being confirmed as the FBI Director. Patel can lock Schiff Up in prison [where] he belongs,” wrote one X user.
“Will it really happen? Will he finally be accountable for the millions he deceived, the millions he’s cost taxpayers, the turmoil in foreign relationships over his lies and subversive behavior? I truly hope so!” another said.
“That’s a good point. I thought Schiff was pardoned for anything that happened in those years. But you’re right. Nice catch, Nick!” added influencer Paul A. Szypula.
In addition, former conservative broadcaster and Secret Service agent Dan Bongino, whom Trump picked to be the FBI deputy director last weekend, had a cryptic message for Schiff during one of his last broadcasts ahead of the president’s announcement.
“Why is Adam Schiff so worried? I strongly encourage you to go back and take another look today at the Russia collusion hoax,” Bongino began during a segment.
After noting that the story is now several years old, Bongino added: “I’m gonna be straight with you. I don’t wanna move on.”
Continuing, he said, “We had the FBI in conjunction with the Department of Justice, officials in Congress, foreign governments and intel people fabricate a story, invent a story that could have caused and done serious long-term harm to international relations with a nuclear-powered foe. It’s kind of a big freakin’ deal.”
“Listen to me — this is gonna be very important in the coming days,” he went on, perhaps dropping a hint that he was about to be appointed to the FBI. “I’m not letting this go. I wanna find out what happened because it can never happen again. Not to a Democrat. Not a Republican. Not to a Libertarian. Not to any United States citizen,” Bongino said.
“You do not get to alter or try to change the course of electoral politics by fabricating a story hijacking the justice system then to give the patina of truth to a fake story,” he continued. “You don’t get to do that. Why do I bring that up now? Because who was the ringmaster of that circus? Yes, Adam Schiff, and no, I’m not letting it go,” he added.
Last week, Schiff (D-Calif.) took the highly unusual step of traveling to the FBI headquarters building in Washington, D.C., this week to lament the president’s choice of Patel to become the bureau’s new director just hours before the full Senate confirmed him.
Following his remarks, others — including Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk — noted on social media that Schiff’s antics reflect his realization that Patel, who uncovered the ‘Trump-Russia collusion’ hoax, is well aware of the California Democrat’s role in perpetuating that lie, even turning it into one of two impeachment cases during Trump’s first term.