(UnitedVoice.com) – Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has made a reputation as one of the most anti-Donald Trump members of Congress. He was involved in both of the former president’s impeachment trials. Trump has repeatedly spoken out against the congressman, and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) booted him off of the Intelligence Committee earlier this year. Recently, a Florida Republican filed paperwork to censure him, but the vote failed.
Resolution to Censure
On May 23, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) filed H. Res. 437 to censure Schiff. The congresswoman accused him of costing the federal government millions by supporting the Russian collusion investigation. She called the probe an “egregious abuse of the trust of the American people” and wanted to hold the “spineless man accountable.”
The resolution also sought to force Schiff to pay $16 million, half of the cost of the Russia investigation that was carried out by former President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice. The resolution was referred to the House Committee on Ethics.
In remarks on the House floor on June 13, Luna accused Schiff of abusing his authority as a member of Congress and dishonoring the chamber. The resolution also claimed the congressman “behaved dishonestly and dishonorably on many other occasions.”
Schiff Responds
The California congressman sent a letter to his colleagues in the House. He called the resolution “false and defamatory.” Schiff claimed the resolution was the latest attempt by Trump’s allies to please him and “distract” the country from the 45th president’s alleged crimes. He went on to say that Conservatives were angry with him over his “role in exposing [Trump’s] abuses of power, and leading the first impeachment against him.”
Schiff called the resolution a “terrible misuse of House precedent and resources.” Further, he said it was an attack on the Constitution’s checks and balances.
Resolution Fails
A motion put forward by Democrats on June 14 forced the House to vote on whether to move forward with the censure. Lawmakers voted 225-196-7 to table the resolution. Twenty Republicans crossed the aisle to vote with Liberals to prevent Luna’s resolution from moving forward.
One of the Conservatives supporting the motion to table the resolution was Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), a member of the Freedom Caucus. He argued that Luna’s resolution was unconstitutional because it contained a $16 million fine. He explained the fine is a violation of the 8th and 27th Amendments, and said he is still involved in a federal lawsuit against former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) because she reduced his salary over mask mandates.
Schiff responded to the failed resolution by saying he would wear it as a badge of honor. He went on to say the “efforts to intimidate [him] will not succeed.”
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