House Intel Chair Adam Schiff Says He Wasn’t Informed Before al-Baghdadi Raid

October 28, 2019

House Intel chair Adam Schiff revealed in an interview on “This Week” he was not informed of the raid that killed ISIS leader al-Baghdadi.

Trump said he didn’t tell Pelosi and other congressional leaders because he didn’t want them to leak.

Trump says he didn’t tell Pelosi in advance of Baghdadi operation bec he didn’t want to have American lives lost. Senate Dem leader Schumer & House Intel chair Schiff also not informed.

Trump earlier referred to DC as “leaking machine.” Who did he think Dem leaders would tell?

— Karen Travers (@karentravers) October 27, 2019

“No, I didn't” tell Pelosi, Trump told us at the Baghdadi briefing.

“I didn't do that. I wanted to make sure this kept secret. I don't want to have men lost and women. I don't want to have people lost." https://t.co/ypcD0K44a3

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) October 27, 2019

Pelosi scolded Trump in her released statement, writing:

The House must be briefed on this raid, which the Russians but not top Congressional Leadership were notified of in advance, and on the Administration’s overall strategy in the region. Our military and allies deserve strong, smart and strategic leadership from Washington.”

Yahoo reports Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., were not informed in advance of the U.S. special operations forces raid in northwestern Syria in which ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died, Schiff told ABC’s “This Week”

“My understanding [Pelosi] wasn’t [told]. But a couple of things, first of all, good riddance. [Al-Baghdadi] was a bloodthirsty killer to the degree that he retained operational control of ISIS,” Schiff said. “This is an operational success, this is a symbolic victory. He had the blood of thousands and thousands of people on his hands, including many Americans and American journalists. So, this a great day, a ruthless killer has been brought to justice.”

Schiff appeared on “This Week” moments after President Donald Trump announced the outcome of the raid that took place in northwestern Syria on Saturday.

“Last night the United States brought the world’s number one terrorist leader to justice. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead,” the president said in remarks Sunday morning from the White House.