--- title: Comey Hearing: Read Adam Schiff Opening Statement Transcript description: The ranking Democrat on a House intelligence committee laid out the public evidence on Russian meddling in the 2016 election Monday. canonical: https://time.com/4706721/comey-hearing-adam-schiff-transcript/ author: Maya Rhodan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-03-20T15:30:02.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T03:55:46.164Z article:section: Politics og:title: Read Rep. Adam Schiff's Opening Statement on Russian Meddling og:description: "If the Trump campaign aided or abetted the Russians, it would be a serious crime." og:url: https://time.com/4706721/comey-hearing-adam-schiff-transcript/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt340755f9aa9bfb92/6988bf0897cdffdfff6afdeb/gettyimages-655591406.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4901 og:image:height: 2757 og:image:alt: FBI Director Comey Testifies At Hearing On Alleged Russian Election Meddling og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Read Rep. Adam Schiff's Opening Statement on Russian Meddling twitter:description: "If the Trump campaign aided or abetted the Russians, it would be a serious crime." twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt340755f9aa9bfb92/6988bf0897cdffdfff6afdeb/gettyimages-655591406.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Read Rep. Adam Schiff's Opening Statement on Russian Meddling in the Election > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. 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Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=63931e19-016f-4a05-bd1b-4c40f3b1ed20&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/subscribe?i=63931e19-016f-4a05-bd1b-4c40f3b1ed20&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's politics newsletter? D.C. Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. by [Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Mar 20, 2017 3:30 PM UTC  (L to R) Ranking member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) wait for the start of a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing concerning Russian meddling in the 2016 United States election, on Capitol Hill, March 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. While both the Senate and House Intelligence committees have received private intelligence briefings in recent months, Monday's hearing is the first public hearing on alleged Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 election. Drew Angerer—Getty Images (L to R) Ranking member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) wait for the start of a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing concerning Russian meddling in the 2016 United States election, on Capitol Hill, March 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. While both the Senate and House Intelligence committees have received private intelligence briefings in recent months, Monday's hearing is the first public hearing on alleged Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 election. Drew Angerer—Getty Images Drew Angerer—Getty Images by [Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Mar 20, 2017 3:30 PM UTC The ranking Democrat on a House intelligence committee [laid out](http://democrats-intelligence.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=220) the public evidence on Russian meddling in the 2016 election Monday. Speaking at a committee hearing involving FBI Director James Comey and National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers, Rep. Adam Schiff [spelled out information](http://time.com/4706457/james-comey-donald-trump-fbi-congress-russia/) that has been made public [so far about Russian meddling](http://time.com/4706646/fbi-russia-james-comey-testimony/?xid=homepage) and possible ties to the Trump campaign. “If the Trump campaign, or anybody associated with it, aided or abetted the Russians, it would not only be a serious crime, it would also represent one of the most shocking betrayals of our democracy in history,” he said. Read Schiff’s full statement below: --- > “” --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4706721/comey-hearing-adam-schiff-transcript/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4706721/comey-hearing-adam-schiff-transcript/"},"headline":"Read Rep. 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