Politics
WATCH: Sebastian Gorka Scorches ‘Establishment’ Republicans Who Shielded Adam Schiff From Censure
Dr. Sebastian Gorka, a former Trump administration official, slammed the 20 House Republicans who voted alongside Democrats to kill GOP Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna’s measure to censure and fine Adam Schiff. Gorka’s remarks were made during an interview with Just the News on President Trump’s birthday, coinciding with Flag Day.
Gorka was shocked at the Republican opposition to the censure measure, especially given Schiff’s frequent and highly-publicized criticisms of President Trump. He pointed out Schiff’s repeated insinuations of the Trump administration’s collusion with Russia, which were disproven by subsequent investigations.
In his critique, Gorka referred to Schiff as “the most mendacious person on Capitol Hill” and lambasted the Republicans who voted against the censure. “I’m going to read them onto the record on my radio show in front of 3.5 million Americans and tell them, this is your establishment, GOP,” he stated.
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The proposed censure was a largely symbolic gesture according to Gorka, but the inability of the Republicans to support the bill showed that there is much work to be done within the party. He suggested that the actions were indicative of a disconnect between these ‘establishment’ Republicans and the people they represent.
Gorka explained, “President Trump is a president of the people and the people… there is just always such a warm reception for him.” He also affirmed that President Trump remains the most formidable candidate in the Republican primary, even amidst political adversity.
Gorka’s critique of the ‘establishment’ Republicans adds to the ongoing discourse within the GOP and signals the deep divisions within the party. The Republicans’ decision not to censure Adam Schiff might reveal larger issues that the party may need to address moving forward.
On Wednesday, 20 Republicans joined the Democrats in opposing the censure motion against Schiff, sponsored by Rep Luna (R-FL). Luna had introduced legislation aimed at fining Schiff a staggering $16 million for his role leading up to the Democrats’ first impeachment of former President Donald Trump. The legislation accused Schiff of acting “dishonorably on many other occasions,” claiming that he falsely denied his staff’s coordination with a whistleblower. The House made a decision to suspend the resolution with a vote of 225-196.
The 20 Republicans were:
- Armstrong (ND)
- Chavez-DeRemer (OR)
- Ciscomani (AZ)
- Cole (OK)
- Davidson (OH)
- Fitzpatrick (PA)
- Granger (TX)
- Graves (LA)
- Kean (NJ)
- Kiley (CA)
- Kim (CA)
- Lawler (NY)
- Massie (KY)
- McClintock (CA)
- Molinaro (NY)
- Obernolte (CA)
- Simpson (ID)
- Turner (OH)
- Valadao (CA)
- Womack (AR)
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
The legislation proposed that Schiff be fined $16 million, half of the alleged cost borne by taxpayers, as a result of an investigation conducted by the Committee on Ethics. This committee, as per the legislation, determined that Schiff lied, made misrepresentations, and abused sensitive information. Luna and many of her fellow Republicans have been vocal in their belief that Schiff should face consequences for his actions during the investigation. Schiff, a long-serving Democrat known for his outspoken criticism of the Trump administration, has often been a target of Republican ire.
According to Luna and others, Schiff was instrumental in launching the first impeachment of Trump. When introducing the legislation, Luna cited an incident from a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) hearing from September 2019, when Schiff allegedly recited a “false concocted rendition” of a phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Earlier in the week, Luna further contended that Schiff exploited his position on the HPSCI in order to encourage and excuse “abusive intelligence investigations” of Americans for political purposes. Schiff was also accused of leveraging his position and access to sensitive information to instigate a “fraudulently based investigation,” which he then purportedly used to boost his political standing and raise funds.
Anna Paulina Luna introduces a resolution to fine Adam Schiff $16 million for his role in the Trump witch hunt. pic.twitter.com/IVHtRUOV7T
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 13, 2023
Last week, Luna discussed the House Oversight Committee’s ongoing efforts to hold former House Judiciary Committee chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) accountable for lying about the Trump-Russia investigation during an appearance on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures. The Florida congresswoman filed the motion to censure, condemn and impose a fine on Schiff. The move came not long after the Durham report confirmed that the FBI opened the Trump-Russia investigation without any significant evidence to back claims of collusion.