Rep. Adam Schiff talked about his censure by House Republicans with The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg, telling Goldberg he believes he was targeted by the GOP because he is “effective.” And because an order came down from the top.
As the former Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Schiff became the de facto keynote figure, while Donald Trump was in office, in pursuing the alleged Trump-Russia collusion charge, a pursuit from which Schiff has not backed down.
[Related: John Durham Admits To Adam Schiff Under Oath About Trump Tower Meeting]
Schiff was removed from the Intel Committee by Speaker Kevin McCarthy when Republicans took over the House, but his censure is tied to his previous work as Intelligence Chair.
The House charged Schiff with “misleading the American public and for conduct unbecoming of an elected Member of the House of Representatives.”
Donald Trump insisted on a censure vote and threatened Republicans who wouldn’t go along with it.
— Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) June 22, 2023
I’m proud to top Trump’s enemies list — it tells me I’ve done my job and done it effectively.
They don’t go after you if they don’t fear you. pic.twitter.com/wYCH6eD88k
Goldberg asked Schiff why Republicans proceeded with such a rare move against him, and the Congressman asserted that Republicans were compelled by a loyalty to — or fear of — Donald Trump.
“They go after people who are standing up to them,” Schiff said. “And more importantly, they go after people who are standing up to their master, Donald Trump. He threatened any Republicans that didn’t support this with primary challenges and they fell in line.”
The strictly party line censure vote measured 213-209. Republicans voted yes, Democrats voted no — and six GOP lawmakers voted present.
Democrats erupted after the vote, chanting “shame, shame, shame.” The House has censured only three Congress members this century, the other two being Republican Paul Gosar and Democrat Charles Rangel.
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