House erupts in disorder after Republicans censure top Democrat Adam Schiff, in rare move

In a rare move, the House passed a party-aligned censorship resolution Wednesday night against Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. – punish one of the members of the council itself and blow up rhetoric on both sides of the aisle.

The vote was 213-209, with Republicans voting yes, Democrats voting no, and six GOP lawmakers voting present.

Schiff, the former chairman of the intelligence committee, has been criticized for comments he made years ago during investigations into former President Donald Trump and the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia, which has interfered with the campaign. interfered in the 2016 election to support Trump, special counsel Robert Mueller found.

The solve censorship reprimanded Schiff for what they called “deceiving the American public and behaving inappropriately for an elected Representative.”

Schiff has previously called the criticism “nonsense.”

The resolution also directs the House Ethics Committee to investigate Schiff’s actions.

Following Wednesday’s vote, members could be heard chanting as Schiff made his way towards the well, where he stood as Speaker Kevin McCarthy read aloud the passed resolution.

Screams include shouts of “shame! shame!” while McCarthy repeatedly stopped until quiet, at one point said he had time to stay there all night.

As the speaker read out the censorship resolution on the floor, it was almost impossible to hear his hammer as Democrats shouted that the move was a “disgrace” and more.

As the voting began, Representative Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said, “It’s pathetic that you’re doing this. It’s pathetic.”

“The house is in disarray,” Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., shouted.

Schiff was surrounded by Democrats in the room, many of whom high-fived and hugged him as he walked toward the well. Many Democrats said “what about Santos?” – refers to New York Republican Representative George Santos, who is under criminal and ethics investigation and denies wrongdoing.

From the Republican side, one member shouted “jacka—-“, referring to his Democratic colleagues.

The House censors only two other members in the 21st century: former Representative Charles Rangel, DN.Y., and Representative Paul Gosar, R-Ariz.

The vote on Schiff’s criticism drew fiery speeches from both sides ahead of the vote.

Representative Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who introduced the resolution, described the measure as a “clear vote between right and wrong.”

“This is not partisan action. This is not a vote between conservatives and liberals. This is a clear vote between right and wrong, and I urge you to do the right thing.” she said.

Luna said “run away[ning] staying away from this opportunity to hold this man accountable” would “betray those who trusted us and sent us here.” [to Congress] to do the right thing.”

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., who earlier this week introduced a resolution to impeach President Joe Biden, said Schiff is a “fraud” who “represents the worst of Washington” , using his trusted position to lie to Americans.”

“If Adam Schiff had any personality left, he would have resigned from Congress in disgrace. His gravestone should… have a word: ‘Liar’,” she said.

But Schiff responded that what he called a “false and defamatory resolution” was only a “minor political payback” in an effort to “criticize or penalize Trump’s opposition for submission.”

“But I won’t give in, not an inch,” Schiff pledged.

He turned the tables on the Republicans, saying they were the ones to blame.

“My colleagues, if there is cause for criticism in this House – and there is – it should be directed at those in this body who sought to overturn a free and fair election.” he said.

“The question, my Republican colleagues, is not why am I the subject of this wrongful resolution for fulfilling my constitutional obligation, but why are you not? Why don’t you stand by my side, the subject of a similar rebuke for speaking the truth Why don’t you stand up against Donald Trump?… Will people say you lack the courage to stand up against the most immoral, illegal and unethical president in history, but console yourself by attacking those who have done so?” he continued.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries denounced what he called the “fake, phony, and deceptive” censorship resolution, saying the rebuke stems from Republicans’ lack of policy vision. .

“This is a useless Congress controlled by the Republican Party,” he said. “That’s why this censorship resolution was introduced today.”

Jeffries, who insists that Schiff did nothing wrong, suggests that former President Donald Trump, whom he calls an “radical puppet master,” directed the critical vote.

“When he said, ‘Bend the knee,’ the extreme MAGA Republicans would say, ‘How tall?'” he said.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi echoed Jeffries’ rhetoric, calling the proceedings a “puppet show.”

“The other side has turned this room… into a puppet show. And you know what? The puppeteer, Donald Trump, is shining a light on the strings. You look miserable. You look miserable. ,” she told Republicans.

Wednesday afternoon’s heated debate follows a similar censorship move that failed last week when 20 Republicans along with Democrats voted to pass the resolution. But most defection Republicans supported Luna’s reintroduced resolution on Wednesday after she stripped Schiff of the provision that could fine Schiff $16 million, a fact Schiff noted in his statement. speech at his floor.

“Try your best to oust me from Congress or silence me with a $16 million fine, you won’t succeed. You can also make $160 million,” he said Wednesday afternoon. . “You will never stop me from performing my duty.”

Censorship “registers the House’s profound objection to Member misconduct that, however, does not meet the threshold for expulsion,” according to the House of Representatives website.

ABC News’ Carly Roman contributed to this report.