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A Republican-led effort to censure Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) for perpetuating the Russia collusion hoax has FAILED in the House on Wednesday after 20 Republicans aligned with Democrats.
A resolution to censure Schiff introduced by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) was blocked by the House in a 225 to 196 vote, with 20 Republicans joining the Democrats, failing to meet the 218 majority threshold.
“20 Republicans voted w/ Dems to stop the ethics investigation, censure, & fine of Adam Schiff,” Rep. Luna wrote on Twitter following the vote.
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
“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.”
The resolution proposed an ethics investigation into Schiff and a potential fine of $16 million, roughly half the cost of the years-long taxpayer-funded Mueller investigation into “Russia collusion.”
From CNN:
Republicans have long criticized Schiff over congressional inquiries into the former president, arguing that he has made reckless and unsubstantiated claims. Democrats have dismissed GOP criticisms of the California Democrat as partisan and unfounded.
The resolution claims that Schiff “exploited his positions on HPSCI (House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence) to encourage and excuse abusive intelligence investigations of Americans for political purposes.”
It goes on to accuse him of having “used his position and access to sensitive information to instigate a fraudulently based investigation, which he then used to amass political gain and fundraising dollars.”
Schiff, in his letter to colleagues, called the resolution “false” and “defamatory,” saying it targets him for his “work holding Donald Trump accountable.”
“As honored as I am to have earned their enmity, attempting to censure those who defend the Constitution against a corrupt president sets a dangerous precedent,” Schiff wrote.
Schiff took a victory lap on Twitter, laughably claiming “MAGA Republicans” went after him because he tried to “hold Donald Trump accountable.”
Today’s partisan and failed attempt to censure me is a badge of honor that I will wear proudly.
MAGA Republicans are going after me because I dared to hold Donald Trump accountable.
These efforts to intimidate me will not succeed. I will always defend our democracy.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) June 14, 2023
Is openly lying to the American people for years about Trump colluding with Russia holding him accountable?
Another three Republicans didn’t vote and two others voted “present.”
Here are the Republicans who voted to protect Schiff:
The Coward 20 who voted with Democrats to protect Adam Schiff from censure & fines really don’t want their contact info circulating pic.twitter.com/r4eWfuIGqp
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) June 14, 2023
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) argued Rep. Luna’s resolution was unconstitutional, claiming it violated the 8th and 27th amendments.
“Adam Schiff acted unethically but if a resolution to fine him $16 million comes to the floor I will vote to table it. (vote against it) In fact, I’m still litigating a federal lawsuit against Pelosi over a salary reduction she imposed on me for my refusal to wear a mask,” Massie wrote on Twitter.
The Constitution says the House may make its own rules but we can’t violate other (later) provisions of the Constitution.
A $16 million fine is a violation of the 27th and 8th amendments.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 14, 2023
“The Constitution says the House may make its own rules but we can’t violate other (later) provisions of the Constitution. A $16 million fine is a violation of the 27th and 8th amendments.”
Massie added a “constitutional” version of the resolution to censure Schiff would soon be introduced.
Allowing a majority of Congress to take $16 million (92 years of pay) from any member of Congress is shortsighted.
Can we not imagine a time when this precedent would be used against conservatives?
Fortunately it failed.
I’m told a Constitutional version will be offered now.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 14, 2023