Schiff Says Trump May Face "Real Prospect of Jail Time" after Leaving Office

• 12.10.2018, 17:32
•  America,  World

AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, who is poised to become chairman of the House Intelligence Committee in January, said President Trump faces the "real prospect of jail time" after leaving the White House, CBS News reports. 

"My takeaway is there's a very real prospect that on the day Donald Trump leaves office, the Justice Department may indict him - that he may be the first president in quite some time to face the real prospect of jail time," Schiff said on "Face the Nation" Sunday. 

Schiff referenced a court filing by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York on Friday which recommended a "substantial" prison sentence for Mr. Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen, who prosecutors said violated campaign finance law "in coordination with and at the direction" of the president. Mr. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Schiff said the court documents suggest the "president of the United States not only coordinated, but directed an illegal campaign scheme" to alter the outcome of the 2016 election. Asked if the revelations in the filings meet the standard for an impeachable offense, Schiff demurred and said more investigative work needs to be completed by the House Intelligence Committee and special counsel Robert Mueller, particularly on any possible collusion or coordination between Trump campaign associates and the Russian government.