Twenty House Republicans joined their Democrat colleagues in voting down a measure to censure Democrat RussiaGater Adam Schiff for his role in promoting the Trump-Russia collusion hoax.
It is yet another sign that House Republicans lack the spine to actually fight back against Democrat corruption. If there is any effort that should be unifying, it is punishing Schiff for spreading disinformation and leaking false information on a matter that would dog President Trump for years and undermine the entirety of his administration.
It’s really a basic thing deserving of condemnation.
The resolution to censure Schiff was filed by freshman Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and in addition to censure, sought to fine the California lawmaker $16 million, or roughly half of the cost of the investigation conducted by Special Counsel John Durham.
It called for reprimanding Schiff “for conduct that misleads the American people in a way that is not befitting an elected Member of the House of Representatives.”
Along with the 20 Republicans who voted against censuring, two more voted ‘present’ and another four opted to not vote at all.
The feckless 20 who joined Democrats in voting to table the measure: Reps. Kelly Armstrong (ND), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR), Juan Ciscomani (AZ), Tom Cole (OK), Warren Davidson (OH), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Kay Granger (TX), Garret Graves (LA), Thomas Kean Jr. (NJ), Kevin Kiley (CA), Young Kim (CA), Mike Lawler (NY), Thomas Massie (KY), Tom McClintock (CA), Mark Molinaro (NY), Jay Obernolte (CA), Mike Simpson (ID), Mike Turner (OH), David Valadao (CA) and Steve Womack (AR).
BREAKING: 20 House Republicans just voted with Democrats to kill @repluna‘s resolution to censure Adam Schiff.
2 voted present and 4 didn’t vote at all. pic.twitter.com/rzKE3UKWs7
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) June 14, 2023
RELATED: Don’t Believe the Hype: McCarthy Totally Dodged Questions About Holding Russiagaters Accountable
Republicans Fail Again, Join Democrats to Stop Censure of Adam Schiff
One of the sticking points for at least one Republican lawmaker who voted against the measure to censure Adam Schiff was the $16 million fine. Representative Thomas Massie argued that the fine was unconstitutional.
“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),” he tweeted.
“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.”
He compared the fine to those levied by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in her attempts to force congress members to wear masks during the pandemic.
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.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 14, 2023
Luna countered that, unlike Pelosi’s fines for mask mandate violations, Schiff’s fine would have to be levied by the Ethics Committee and could be paid for with campaign funds.
It’s a suggested fine that can be paid with campaign funds, like any other fine levied by Ethics. Again, this is not the same case as your’s and Pelosi’s. @repthomasmassie @amykremer
Massie knows this, he sits on Rules Committee. https://t.co/isg79POjKK
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) June 14, 2023
RELATED: McCarthy Celebrates ‘Fabulous’ Debt Ceiling Deal That Got More Democrat Votes Than Republican
God, They’re Pathetic
While Democrats have been busy arresting their political opponents, impeaching Presidents over frivolous matters, and censuring House Republicans and removing them from committees, Republicans are arguing semantics over an affordable fine.
Democrats would band together and hand down the death sentence to a political opponent if they could. But Republicans can’t even get a censure vote through.
What’s funny here is that numerous media outlets less than one month ago ran with a false interpretation of comments made by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy that alleged he was threatening to kick Schiff out of Congress.
.@SpeakerMcCarthy calls out Adam Schiff after the Durham Report: “Remember when he told the American people he had proof? … openly lied to us?
“It raises a lot of questions about his character, his standing inside of Congress, or whether he should even be in Congress.” pic.twitter.com/8T5HtnBPav
— GOP (@GOP) May 17, 2023
Only The Political Insider pointed out that McCarthy hedged on his answer and ultimately only promised to “look at it more.”
“Does anyone in their right mind think Kevin McCarthy has the intestinal fortitude to expel Adam Schiff from Congress?” The Political Insider wrote. “Or that he could whip up the two-thirds necessary to do so?”
Axios reports that the measure to censure Schiff was supported by Republican leadership but they “did not actively whip votes for it, according to several Republican members.”
But yea, he’s going to kick him out of Congress. Please.
Wow! Harsh language – you’re such a tough guy, Kev.
— Brett R. Smith (@BrettRSmith76) May 16, 2023
For his part, Schiff definitely enjoyed the fact that Republicans were too feeble to censure him.
“I thought it would certainly pass. Didn’t imagine they would set themselves up for another defeat on the floor,” Schiff said. He then spiked the ball by cheering on the Republicans who voted alongside Democrats.
“I think it showed a lot of courage for Republican members to stand up to the crazy MAGA folks,” he said.
Democrats are jailing the opposition and Republicans can’t even come together to censure psychopath Adam Schiff.
What an utter embarrassment.
— thebradfordfile (@thebradfordfile) June 15, 2023
Luna indicated she would make another effort to censure Schiff for his actions.
“So there is no confusion (as some did not accurately read the bill) I will be filing a privileged motion to censure [and] send Schiff to ethics for investigation,” she tweeted.
“See you next week Adam.”
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
McCarthy, meanwhile, couldn’t get enough Republicans to join together to censure Schiff, but was celebrating getting enough to come together with Democrats in passing a “fabulous” debt ceiling agreement earlier this month.
Weak. Feckless. Pathetic. What words would you use to describe Republicans?
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The post Pathetic Republicans Vote DOWN Effort to Censure RussiaGate Leader Adam Schiff appeared first on The Political Insider.
