GOP seeks revenge by trying to push out congressman investigating Trump

Trump’s biggest defenders in Congress are mounting a campaign to purge Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a member of Congress who has been leading the way in exposing Trump’s corruption and criminality.

In a letter to Schiff, signed by nine Republican congressmen and led by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), they demand that he resign as chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

“We have no faith in your ability to discharge your duties in a manner consistent with your Constitutional responsibility and urge your immediate resignation,” the men whine.

The letter alleges that the Mueller report “conclusively” refutes Schiff’s assertions about Trump’s alliance with Russian operatives — but neither they or most Americans have seen the report. Trump’s hand-picked attorney general has kept the document secret and away from the public, only offering a dubious summary of its contents.

In response to the complaint, Schiff opened a hearing of the committee on Thursday by pointing out Trump’s damaging actions that Nunes and company are trying to excuse and cover up.

He noted that the Trump campaign solicited dirt on Hillary Clinton from Russia, met with Russian operatives for that dirt, and concealed the meeting after the fact. He also discussed how Trump publicly asked Russia to hack Clinton’s emails.

“You might say that’s all okay, you might say that’s what you need to do to win. But I don’t think it’s okay,” Schiff said. “I think it’s immoral, I think it’s unethical, I think it’s unpatriotic, and yes, I think it’s corrupt and evidence of collusion.”

The Nunes-led attempt to oust Schiff echoes Trump’s incessant whining about Schiff. On Thursday Trump argued that Schiff should be “forced out of office” for doing his Constitutional duty of investigating him and his presidency.

The anger at Schiff comes from his key role in exposing Trump’s underhanded behavior, both in his capacity as a congressman and as a frequent television guest discussing politics. Schiff has again and again informed the public on the sordid details of Trump’s behavior that have been uncovered through investigations.

All the foot-stamping from the Trump crew is unlikely to have an effect. As the right began their campaign against the congressman, he received unequivocal public backing from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has the final say on Schiff’s role on the committee.

“Democrats aren’t going to be intimidated by the White House or Congressional Republicans, we’re not going to be distracted from securing the release of the full Mueller report and the underlying evidence, and we will continue to pursue legitimate oversight because that’s what the Constitution requires,” Pelosi spokeswoman Ashley Etienne told The Hill.

Nunes most recently has been spending his time suing Twitter-based cows for mocking him, and that seems like a far more productive use of his time and energy.

Trump’s corruption and criminality were ignored for two years by his fellow Republicans. They preferred jamming through unpopular tax scams and damaging health care to providing oversight of a rogue presidency.

Schiff has helped lead the charge, and after last fall’s election, he and others now have the power mandated by the electorate to seek the truth about Trump.

That upsets Republicans, but their feelings don’t matter now.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.