Swalwell Targeted By Trump Officials Tracking Leaks: Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice subpoenaed Apple data from the account of Tri-Valley congressman Eric Swalwell as Trump administration officials sought to track down the source of leaks behind news media reports in the early days of the administration, The New York Times reported.

At issue were articles highlighting links between Russia and associates of former President Donald J. Trump, according to the newspaper.

U.S. Rep. Swalwell (D-CA) and U.S. Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-CA) of Los Angeles saw their records subpoenaed, in a highly unusual move, due to their roles on the House Intelligence Committee, The Times reported. Schiff now chairs the committee.

Swalwell and Schiff were among at least a dozen people with ties to the committee — including committee aides, family members and a minor — whose data was subpoenaed, The Times reported. The targets of this investigation learned their data had been subpoenaed last month, when they were notified by Apple after a gag order expired, according to the newspaper.

Schiff called for the Inspector General to investigate the matter. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the investigation was a "gross abuse of power" and "assault on the separation of powers," and called for former Trump administration Attorneys General William Barr and Jeff Sessions to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"If they refuse," Schumer said, "they are subject to being subpoenaed and compelled to testify."

Swalwell responded with a statement taking aim at Trump, calling him a despicable dictator with "an utter disdain for our democracy and the rule of law."

"This kind of conduct is unacceptable, but unfortunately on brand for a president who has repeatedly shown he would cast aside our Constitution for his own personal gain," Swalwell said.

Critics said the subpoenas trample on press freedoms laid out in the U.S. Constitution.

News about the Apple subpoenas comes on the heels of another revelation: Trump's Justice Department quietly seized phone records from reporters who worked for The New York Times, CNN and The Washington Post.

The Justice Department announced last week that it would stop going after matters related to sources in media reports, ABC News reported.

Read more from The New York Times.