The House voted along party lines to censure Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) on Wednesday, June 21, making him the third lawmaker to face such punitive action this century. But what does the censure involve, and was the whole affair just more of the political theater that the nation has come to expect of its highly partisan lower chamber?
In a 213-209 vote, Republicans (bar six who voted “present”) granted ascent to the motion by Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL). This was the second attempt at censure by Luna; the first fell short by 20 votes because some GOP members felt that the included $16 million fine was excessive. After stripping out the measure, her party got on board and decided that Schiff should face punishment for his “distortions.”
“As Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff launched an all-out political campaign built on baseless distortions against a sitting US president at the expense of every single citizen in this country and the honor of the House of Representatives,” Luna said. “With access to sensitive information unavailable to most members of Congress and certainly not accessible to the American people, Schiff abused his privileges, claiming to know the truth while leaving Americans in the dark about this web of lies.”
A Lightweight Censure?
After the chamber voted, Schiff was made to stand in the well of the House floor while House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) read a verbal rebuke. The House Ethics Committee will also launch an investigation into the scolded lawmaker. And that’s it.
In the nation’s history, only 25 lawmakers have faced censure, and yet this rare rebuking is hardly a career-killer. Schiff used the vote to rally his supporters and fundraise for his Senate bid in 2024. Prior to the measure being brought to the House floor, he spoke with reporters on the Capitol steps:
“I think once Donald Trump threatened that any Republicans who didn’t go along with his effort to censure me were going to get primaried, they fell in line. … They just cannot stand up to this most unethical, now-indicted president.
“As [Franklin D.] Roosevelt said, sometimes you can judge a person by the enemies they make. Judging from the kind of crazy people that were on the floor today in support of this resolution, I’m doing really well measured by that standard.”
Schiff was referring to a stark warning former President Donald Trump posted via his Truth Social account:
“Anna Paulina Luna is a STAR. She never gives up, especially in holding total lowlifes like Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff responsible for their lies, deceit, deception, and actually putting our Country at great risk, for which he should be imprisoned! He is a Leaker and a Scoundrel. Any Republican voting against his CENSURE, or worse, should immediately be primaried. There are plenty of great candidates out there!”
Schiff Gets Party Support
As the California lawmaker faced his rebuke, other Democrats surrounded him, offering hugs and support amid cries of “shame” and “disgrace” directed at the GOP majority. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – also a California Democrat – accused Republicans of doing Donald Trump’s bidding.
"The other side has turned this chamber where slavery was abolished, where Medicare and Social Security and everything were instituted, they’ve turned it into a puppet show," she said. "And you know what? The puppeteer, Donald Trump, is shining a light on the strings. You look miserable. You look miserable… you're wasting time."
Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) said "Adam Schiff did his job. He spoke the truth, and he held Donald Trump accountable. And demagogues like Donald Trump don't like that. They don't like people calling them out."
A Bread and Circus Affair?
Rep. Luna guided this vote through the House, recrafting it to get the support she needed, demonstrating that she can navigate the tricky waters of Congress. She has also increased her public profile both in the Fourth Estate and on social media. A winning situation that cost her little.
Conversely, Adam Schiff – despite the censure – will wear the vote as a badge of honor, making stump speeches, and raking in donations from supporters who have a low opinion of Republicans. He has lost his committee assignments thanks to McCarthy’s decision to remove him, he has joined a select group of House members who have been censured, and yet his stock appears on the rise. Such a high-profile dressing down will almost certainly be a boon to his Senate bid.
This episode will have convinced neither Republican nor Democrat voters to change party affiliation. It has provided public fanfare for all involved, but few real-world outcomes. And perhaps that was the point. Business as usual can continue in the People’s House where – bar the occasional bump in the road – lawmakers appear to work on little else besides the next election and boosting their personal ratings.
