Twenty Republican members of the House of Representatives blocked a vote regarding a possible censure of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). The California Democrat has been accused of improper and misleading statements surrounding debunked allegations that the 2016 campaign of former President Donald Trump colluded with the Russian government.
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) argued that Schiff abused his former role on the House Intelligence Committee during the Trump administration to criticize the former president.
The resolution failed as 20 Republicans voted alongside 205 Democrats not to advance the bill. The motion to table fell 13 votes short of moving forward, effectively ending Luna’s current resolution.
Schiff’s assertions that the Trump campaign worked with the Russian government were refuted by the Durham Report. Furthermore, special counsel John Durham determined that the investigation into the former president did not have the appropriate level of evidence to have begun.
Schiff and others’ arguments achieved significant press and resulted in an investigation of former FBI Director Robert Mueller. Mueller determined that the allegations were not founded.
Should Schiff have been censured, he would have been fined $16 million, or about half of the cost of the Mueller probe.
Earlier this year, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) removed Schiff from the House Intelligence Committee following what he described as a partisan agenda. Another significant Trump critic, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was also removed from the panel.
Despite the tabling of the resolution, Luna plans to file a privileged motion to censure Schiff.
She said that some members of the House “did not accurately read” her initial bill.
“See you next week Adam,” she wrote.
20 Republicans voted w/ Dems to stop the ethics investigation, censure, & fine of Adam Schiff.
So there is no confusion (as some did not accurately read the bill) I will be filing a privileged motion to censure & send Schiff to ethics for investigation.
See you next week Adam.
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) June 14, 2023
Schiff wrote on Twitter that the “partisan and failed attempt to censure me is a badge of honor that I will wear proudly.”
He argued that “MAGA Republicans are going after me because I dared to hold Donald Trump accountable.”
“These efforts to intimidate me will not succeed,” he said. “I will always defend our democracy.”
