(Robert Jonathan, Headline USA) A U.S. House censure resolution against Russia-collusion hoaxer Adam Schiff, D-Calif., following a House Ethics Committee investigation appears likely to be headed to a second vote.
The deletion of the potential $16 million fine that could be assessed against the disgraced former chair of the House Intelligence Committee is reportedly the major selling point for censure 2.0.
First-term Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., is the prime mover behind the revised Schiff censure, which is a parliamentary reprimand, although it doesn’t materially affect his status as an elected House member.
However, fulfilling a promise made by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Schiff earlier was stripped of his spot on the select Intelligence Committee after he was exposed for having lied repeatedly and leaked sensitive classified information to the media during the Donald Trump presidency.
Luna’s original resolution fell short the first time around when 20 Republicans aligned with the chamber’s Democrats voted to block it.
One of the 20, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who is typically a principled America First stalwart rather than considered a RINO, opposed the resolution because he concluded that the monetary fine was unconstitutional.
This group faced significant backlash for refusing to formally rebuke Schiff “for conduct that misleads the American people in a way that is not befitting an elected member of the House of Representatives.”
Among a litany of the congressman’s improprieties, the original resolution also asserted that Schiff repeatedly “behaved dishonestly and dishonorably.”
This included reading bogus Steele dossier allegations into the Congressional Record and reciting a “false, concocted rendition” of Trump’s phone conversation with his counterpart in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which was an element of impeachment 1.0.
“We are removing fine as that seems to be what made these Republicans uneasy,” Luna explained on Twitter.
20 Republicans voted against the recommended fine, censure, and investigation of Schiff. I don’t think they read the bill in entirety. Next week, we will be filing a motion to censure and investigate Schiff. We are removing fine as that seems to be what made these Republicans…
— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) June 14, 2023
Luna’s House Resolution 489 language implied that the potential Schiff fine amounted to 50% of what the American taxpayer actually ponied up for the unfounded federal collusion investigation.
Massie—plus GOP colleagues Kelly Armstrong, Lori Chavez–DeRemer, Juan Ciscomani, Young Kim, Jay Obernolte, David Valadao and Steve Womack—have reportedly signaled that they are prepared to vote in favor of Luna’s resolution.
Censure Schiff Round 2 next week. 🏆 @RepThomasMassie https://t.co/G1JH6B04pE
— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) June 15, 2023
RepublicanReps. Marc Molinaro and Michael Lawler, both of New York, seem also ready to back Luna’s measure.
The original vote was 225-196 to table it.
“Democrats plan to try and table the motion again with the hopes that seven Republicans will vote with them, but they are less hopeful that they will succeed in defeating the resolution, according to senior aides,” Just the News reported.
Schiff is one of several far-left, California Democrats vying to replace ailing Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 89, who is not seeking reelection in 2024.
