Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz introduced a resolution calling for the resignation of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff over his handling of the Russian collusion hoax.
Schiff has faced repeated calls from Republicans to step down from his post after using special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation to espouse conspiracy theories and promoting his own position as one of authority to promote false accusations against the President.
PENCIL Act
Gaetz’ resolution also pokes fun, trolling Schiff in epic proportions. It is titled “Preventing Extreme Negligence with Classified Information Licenses Resolution” – or “Pencil Act.”
It is a reference to the nickname given Schiff by President Trump, who dubbed him “little pencil neck Adam Schiff.”
Trump told supporters at a rally last month that “he’s got the smallest, thinnest neck I’ve ever seen. He is not a long-ball hitter.”
What the PENCIL Act Says
Aside from taking personal jabs, the resolution demands the California Democrat “be removed from the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House and that his security clearance should be revoked immediately.”
#BREAKING: Today I filed the “PENCIL Act,” expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that “Congressman Adam Schiff should be removed from the House Intelligence Committee and his security clearance immediately revoked.” pic.twitter.com/1FsMt6NUjr
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) April 11, 2019
“How are the rest of us supposed to be able to rely on a man, who you just showed, lied to the American people when he said that there was not spying?” Gaetz asked during an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
“Or when he lied and said that there was actual evidence of collusion or clear evidence of collusion?”
Previous Calls to Resign
Gaetz has called for Schiff to resign previously, noting that the high-ranking Democrat tried to secure compromising material on President Trump from a foreign official.
Schiff was duped by a pair of Russian comedians posing as a Ukrainian member of Parliament who promised naked photos of Trump that had been seen by Vladimir Putin.
While he claimed to know the phone call from the pranksters was bogus, Schiff still went so far as to arrange for staff to collect “classified material” for the FBI.
https://t.co/D6OfPIP6EU CAUGHT! Adam Schiff gets caught in prank call from Russian comedians. He was trying to dig up dirt on Trump in a secret call with Russian agents. He didn’t know he was being pranked. He was promised nude photos of @realDonaldTrump . Must listen
— Stonewall Jackson (@1776Stonewall) February 6, 2018
Fox News host Sean Hannity said he was compiling information from the incident into a ‘dossier’ against Schiff.
“[Schiff] has gone from having an oversight responsibility to an actual principal in this investigation for engaging with ‘Ukrainians,'” Gaetz charged at the time.
Others Demand He Resign
Gaetz isn’t the only lawmaker or pundit calling for Schiff to step down, not by a longshot.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy demanded he step away from his role as chairman, adding that Schiff “owes the American public an apology.”
Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw also excoriated Schiff, saying “You. Have. Been. Exposed.”
“You used your unique position on the Intel Cmte to convince the American people that you had access to evidence of collusion,” Crenshaw added. “You lied and misled in order to pursue your political agenda. Move on.”
Fox News host Tucker Carlson said that Schiff should resign in disgrace.
And President Trump himself called for the forced resignation of the embattled lawmaker.
“Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress!” the President said on Twitter.
Will the PENCIL Act be enough to make that happen?