The Republican-led House voted to table a measure Wednesday that would censure Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) for pressing allegations that former president Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia.
Twenty Republicans voted with Democrats to table the measure — effectively killing it — in a vote of 225-196. Two Republicans and five Democrats voted present.
The resolution also sought to fine Schiff, the former House Intelligence Committee chairman, $16 million, which its sponsor, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), says is half the cost of an investigation into the alleged collusion.
Luna introduced the measure Tuesday, the same day Trump was arraigned in a federal courthouse in Miami on charges that he broke the law dozens of times by keeping and hiding classified documents in his Florida home. Luna’s measure was a privileged resolution, which meant that under House rules, it had to be considered by Thursday.
The resolution alleged that Schiff “purposely deceived his Committee, Congress, and the American people” and “used his position and access to sensitive information to instigate a fraudulently based investigation.” It also said that Schiff “behaved dishonestly and dishonorably on many other occasions.”
“He abused his position of authority, lied to the American people, cost American taxpayers millions and brought dishonor to our chamber,” Luna said in floor remarks Tuesday.
As Schiff spoke to reporters after the vote, Luna rolled by on a foot scooter and interrupted him by saying she’ll file the same measure next week.
Schiff, meanwhile, said it “showed a lot of courage” for 20 of his Republican colleagues to vote against the “crazy MAGA folks.”
“I’ve been here long enough to remember the tea party movement and the destruction that brought, but that was quaint compared to what they’re doing now,” Schiff said.
Earlier Wednesday, Schiff told CNN that Republicans were using this as a distraction.
“This is really an effort, at the end of the day, to distract from Donald Trump’s legal problems, to gratify Donald Trump by going after someone they feel was his most effective adversary,” Schiff said Wednesday during an interview on CNN.
“I’m flattered by it, but the fact that Speaker [Kevin] McCarthy would take up this MAGA resolution when we have so many pressing challenges before the country is really a terrible abuse of House resources,” he added.
Most of the Republicans who sided with Democrats were a mix of moderates in swing districts and far-right members, including Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.), who opposed the severity of the punishment. Other Republicans voting to table the motion, included Rep. Kay Granger (Tex.), chair of the Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Michael R. Turner (Ohio), who chairs the Intelligence Committee and who worked with Schiff when he led the panel.
Massie telegraphed his vote in a tweet Wednesday morning.
“Adam Schiff acted unethically but if a resolution to fine him $16 million comes to the floor I will vote to table it,” Massie said, adding that he has a pending lawsuit against former House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for a “salary reduction” that resulted from a fine for refusing to wear a mask during the pandemic.
Schiff, who is running for Senate to replace the retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), tweeted Tuesday night that “MAGA Republicans” were targeting him because “I hold them accountable and I’m effective.” (MAGA refers to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.)
Schiff also is using the episode to raise money for his Senate bid. In an email solicitation Tuesday night, he asked supporters to chip in at least $10 “to help my campaign fight back against these attacks.”
Schiff served as the lead manager in the 2020 Senate trial after Trump’s impeachment in 2019 for threatening to withhold military aid to Ukraine in exchange for political favors. He was removed this year from the Intelligence Committee by McCarthy (R-Calif.), who accused him of having abused his power.
Schiff’s opponents in the 2024 Democratic Senate primary include Reps. Katie Porter (Calif.) and Barbara Lee (Calif.). Schiff’s backers include Pelosi.
Paul Kane and Marianna Sotomayor contributed to this report.