Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives Votes to Censure Democrat Adam Schiff
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In a rare move, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to censure Democrat Adam Schiff. The censure is seen as a punishment for Schiff’s role in spearheading a parliamentary investigation against former President Donald Trump during his time in the White House.
The measure was proposed by far-right lawmaker Anna Paulina Luna, who argued that the parliamentary inquiry into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in 2016 was politically motivated and misleading.
Censuring an elected official is historically rare in the House of Representatives and typically leads to the opening of an investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The last censure in the House took place in 2021 and targeted Republican Paul Gosar for sharing an animated video depicting him killing Democrat congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The censure of Adam Schiff was passed along partisan lines, with 213 votes in favor and 209 against. Following the vote, Democrats expressed their anger and shouted “shame” at House Speaker Republican Kevin McCarthy.
Adam Schiff has been a frequent target of Republican attacks since 2019 when an investigation was opened leading to the first impeachment procedure against Donald Trump.
The censure of Adam Schiff highlights the ongoing political divisions in the United States and the contentious nature of investigations into the Trump administration.
(Report by Gram Slattery, with additional reporting by Moira Warburton; French version by Jean Terzian)
2023-06-22 05:43:00
How did the vote for censuring Adam Schiff in the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives reveal the deep political divisions in the United States
Republican-Controlled U.S. House of Representatives Votes to Censure Democrat Adam Schiff
In a stunning twist, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives has delivered a powerful blow to Democrat Adam Schiff by voting to censure him. The move comes as a response to Schiff’s prominent role in spearheading a parliamentary investigation against former President Donald Trump while he was in office.
The censure was proposed by Anna Paulina Luna, a far-right lawmaker who argued that Schiff’s investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 election was politically motivated and deceptive.
Censuring an elected official is a rarity in the House, typically triggering an investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The most recent censure, which occurred in 2021, targeted Republican Paul Gosar for sharing an animated video depicting the killing of Democrat congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The censure of Adam Schiff was passed along strict party lines, with 213 votes in favor and 209 against. Following the vote, Democrats expressed their outrage, shouting “shame” at House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican.
Adam Schiff has long been a target of Republican attacks, particularly since 2019 when the first impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump were initiated.
This censure serves as a stark reminder of the deep political divisions that continue to plague the United States and the contentious nature of investigations into the Trump administration.
This decision by the House of Representatives to censure Adam Schiff highlights the deep divide and partisanship that exists in our politics. It is concerning when investigations against any president are met with such backlash, as transparency and accountability should be prioritized over party interests.
“The House’s decision to censure Adam Schiff sends a strong message that investigations should be conducted fairly and impartially. It’s important to ensure that all politicians are held to the highest ethical standards, regardless of party affiliation.”