Representative Adam Schiff said he would have to “consider the validity” of any subpoena issued by a GOP-controlled House of Representatives before complying.
Schiff made the comments during an interview this past weekend with Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The California Democrat currently serves as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee (for the next week or so). He has been a prominent figure in helping to spread falsehoods about former President Donald Trump and the Russiagate hoax.
When asked if he would comply with any subpoenas related to Republican investigations once the new Congress is sworn in, Schiff seemed to imply that, all of a sudden, compliance is optional.
“We’ll have to consider the validity of the subpoena,” he replied.
“If you are subpoenaed by Republicans when they take over, will you comply?”
ADAM SCHIFF: “We’ll have to consider the validity of the subpoena.” pic.twitter.com/cz40SvcQJR
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 27, 2022
RELATED: Transcripts Show Obama Officials Admitting Time After Time They Had No Evidence Of Russia Collusion
Adam Schiff on Complying With a Subpoena – We’ll See
Adam Schiff is a member of the January 6 committee investigating the events surrounding the Capitol riot. That highly partisan group issued subpoenas to four former aides to President Donald Trump in late September of 2021.
Schiff warned at the time that the panel was “prepared to go forward and urge the Justice Department to criminally prosecute anyone who does not do their lawful duty.”
New: Jan. 6 committee member Adam Schiff reiterates on CBS re subpoena defiance: “We are prepared to go forward and urge the Justice Dept to criminally prosecute anyone who does not do their lawful duty”.
— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) October 10, 2021
Schiff would also warn that those defying congressional subpoenas would be held “criminally contempt.”
“We may have additional tools now that we didn’t before, including a Justice Department that may be willing to pursue criminal contempt when people deliberately flout compulsory process,” Schiff said.
.@RepAdamSchiff last month, regarding power of Jan. 6 committee: “We may have additional tools now that we didn’t before, including a Justice Department that may be willing to pursue criminal contempt when people deliberately flout compulsory process” https://t.co/41HKwF4pRY https://t.co/MHz6vnhFxL
— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) October 7, 2021
RELATED: Report: US Marshals May ‘Round Up And Arrest’ Trump Aides That Ignore January 6 Panel Subpoenas
Schiff Says He’ll Consider Following the Law
In addition to Schiff’s comments about subpoenas of Trump allies, Representative Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), another member of the January 6th committee, said US Marshals may be utilized to round up and arrest those who ignore the process.
“We have engaged with a wide variety of law enforcement offices, including the U.S. Marshals, in order to issue the subpoenas,” Murphy said in an interview with MSNBC when asked about anyone who fails to comply.
“We will use everything, as you said, with all due respect, we will use all of the agencies and all of the tools at our disposal to issue the subpoenas and enforce them.”
US Marshals may be called to round up former Trump aides who disobey Jan. 6 subpoenas https://t.co/DLJF6KMwK0
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) October 13, 2021
Will the GOP be willing to do the same if Adam Schiff fails to comply?
Schiff went on to suggest he “would certainly view my obligation, administration’s obligation to follow the law” when considering any such subpoena.
“And the fact that they (the GOP) have disrespected the law is not a precedent I would hope that would be broadly followed,” he added. “But we’ll have to look at the legitimacy or lack of legitimacy of what they do.”
A very bold statement, considering he is serving one of the least legitimate panels in the history of Congress.
Schiff won’t say whether he’d comply with GOP subpoena, will ‘consider the validity’ https://t.co/HwwK66ZkHc
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 27, 2022
Schiff, in his role as the House Intel Chair, for years presented lies to the American people as if he had classified information that pointed to direct collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia.
“I think there is direct evidence in the emails from the Russians through their intermediary offering dirt on Hillary Clinton as part of what is described in writing as the Russian government effort to help elect Donald Trump,” Schiff said during a CBS interview in March of 2019.
Schiff would also claim that he had “more than circumstantial evidence” of collusion.
None of that has been forthcoming. And a new GOP House needs to get to the bottom of why the House Intel Chair was able to leak such falsehoods to the American media.
Schiff was also accused of doctoring evidence during a January 6 committee hearing, something the panel admitted to.
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