US President Donald Trump, under pressure as Democrats pursue an impeachment inquiry against him, has lashed out at the top Democrat in Congress, saying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could be guilty of treason.
"Nancy Pelosi knew of all of the many Shifty Adam Schiff lies and massive frauds perpetrated upon Congress and the American people," Mr Trump said on Twitter on Sunday, referring to House intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff.
Mr Trump has attacked Mr Schiff for his characterisation of a call the president held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and he has said, without evidence, that Mr Schiff helped draft a whistleblower complaint at the heart of the inquiry.
During the 25 July call, Mr Trump pressed Mr Zelensky for an investigation into former US vice-president and current Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, according to a summary of the call released by the Trump administration.
Democrats say Mr Trump's effort was an abuse of power to gather dirt on a political rival.
Mr Schiff, who was tagged by Ms Pelosi to lead the impeachment investigation, said during a hearing in September the summary read like a "classic organised crime shakedown".
Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked Mr Schiff for his characterisation of the call.
Mr Schiff has said it was "meant to be at least part in parody".
A spokesman for Mr Schiff's committee acknowledged last week the whistleblower approached the panel for guidance before filing his complaint about Trump's efforts to push Ukraine to pursue an investigation into the Bidens but there is no evidence Mr Schiff or the panel helped draft the complaint.
Mr Trump referred to both Mr Schiff's characterisation of his call with Mr Zelensky and the whistleblower's approach to the House intelligence committee in his email targeting Ms Pelosi.
"This makes Nervous Nancy every bit as guilty as Liddle' Adam Schiff for High Crimes and Misdemeanors, and even Treason," he said on Twitter.
"I guess that means that they, along with all of those that evilly 'Colluded' with them, must all be immediately Impeached!"
