Rep. Adam Schiff reacted with fury after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made it clear that he was planning to exclude both Schiff and Rep. Eric Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee. Taking to Twitter, Schiff declared his intention to continue fighting for democracy regardless of this political payback for investigating President Trump.
It all began earlier this month when McCarthy indicated to reporters that he would not be allowing either Schiff or Swalwell on the Intelligence committee. He publicly reminded them of how Schiff misled Americans by pushing forth the debunked Trump-Russia collusion theory, as well as his role in the impeachment proceedings against President Trump where he read out a fabricated phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his testimony as lead impeachment manager. These actions led McCarthy to state adamantly that “Adam Schiff openly lied to the American public” at a press conference.
Meanwhile, Eric Swalwell has come under fire from McCarthy due to his involvement in an intimate relationship with Chinese spy, Fang Fang, and McCarthy went even so far as to suggest that if everyone had received the same briefing from the FBI about the incident, then no one would have Swalwell on any committee, particularly not one such as the Intel Committee that requires a security clearance which Swalwell cannot attain in private sector.
When Republicans were still in control of the minority during Congress, McCarthy promised frequently that should they reclaim majority and he gain control of the speakership again, then he would ensure both Schiff and Swalwell are removed from Intel Committee. “I’ll promise you this — when I’m Speaker, [Schiff] will not be on the Intel Committee anymore,” McCarthy told Fox News in June. “And you know what else, Swalwell won’t either. I don’t know if this is a high bar. But if you have relations with a Chinese spy, you shouldn’t be allowed to be on the Intel Committee.”
Adam Schiff's vow of revenge over being sidelined is evidence of just how much animosity there is between him and Rep Eric Swalwell on one side versus Kevin McCarthy on another over their respective roles in congressional investigations into former President Trump's conduct while in office.
Kevin McCarthy just kicked me and @RepSwalwell off the Intelligence Committee.
This is petty, political payback for investigating Donald Trump.
If he thinks this will stop me, he will soon find out just how wrong he is.
I will always defend our democracy.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 25, 2023
While Democrats may feel slighted by what they deem as petty politics playing out through legislative decisions like these, it remains yet to be seen whether or not Kevin McCarthy can fulfill his promise of keeping them off Intel Committee despite their outspoken opposition against it.
Speaker McCarthy goes OFF on Adam Schiff in front of reporters:
“No! He does NOT have a right to sit on that [Intelligence Committee]!”
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/sczuh6yjJx
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 25, 2023