Trump blasts Schiff as ‘political hack’ over new investigation

President Trump on Wednesday denounced House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) as a “political hack” for opening a sweeping investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia and his personal finances.

“He has no basis to do that. He’s just a political hack who’s trying to build a name for himself,” Trump told reporters at the White House after announcing his pick to lead the World Bank.

“It’s just presidential harassment and it’s unfortunate and it really does hurt our country,” Trump said of the probe.

Schiff earlier Wednesday said he would launch a probe that extends beyond alleged links between the Trump campaign and Russia that would examine whether Trump’s decisions as president have been motivated by financial gain.

“The president’s actions and posture towards Russia during the campaign, transition, and administration have only heightened fears of foreign financial or other leverage over President Trump and underscore the need to determine whether he or those in his administration have acted in service of foreign interests since taking office,” the Intelligence Committee chairman said in a statement. 

Trump’s barbs come after his State of the Union address, in which he offered an olive branch to Democrats while also knocking their opposition to his demand for a border wall and their desire to investigate him.

Trump said he was “very honored” by the feedback he received from his speech.

“It was very important, I think, for me to get up and say some powerful words and some loving words and some words of compromise. The speech, I think, has been well received,” he said.