During a CNN State of the Union interview with Jake Tapper, Senator-elect Adam Schiff (D-CA) was asked if Russia investigations, including the Mueller probe, influenced President-elect Trump’s Cabinet picks, such as Tulsi Gabbard for DNI and RFK Jr. for HHS. Tapper noted these nominations reflected Trump’s preference for “disrupters” and questioned if Washington was reflecting on the conditions that enabled such choices.
Tapper also confronted Schiff about his censure for claiming evidence of Trump-Russia collusion, which Republicans and the Mueller report dismissed as overstated. He asked if Schiff felt any responsibility for fostering distrust that paved the way for “disrupters.”
Schiff defended his stance, reiterating there was evidence of collusion, citing examples like Trump’s campaign manager sharing polling data with Russian intelligence. Tapper countered, quoting the Mueller report: “The investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government.” Schiff insisted the lack of proof beyond a reasonable doubt didn’t negate evidence of conspiracy.
