Trump isn’t playing anymore games with cowardly Republicans.
Donald Trump has urged Republicans to challenge and replace any party member who voted against the censure and fine proposal targeting Democratic California Representative Adam Schiff. This call could potentially affect around 20 GOP representatives.
Recently, the House of Representatives rejected a Republican endeavor to impose fines on Schiff, who formerly chaired the House Intelligence Committee. Schiff had led investigations and pursued impeachment proceedings against Trump, alleging his involvement in collusion with Russia during the 2016 election.
According to Newsweek, the resolution to censure Schiff, introduced by Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, a staunch supporter of the former president, was voted down in the House on Wednesday by a margin of 225 to 196. It received support from 20 GOP lawmakers. Additionally, two other Republicans and five Democrats abstained from voting.
Trump expressed his displeasure with the Republican representatives who voted against the resolution, praising Luna on social media while condemning the 20 dissenters.
“Anna Paulina Luna is a STAR. She never gives up, especially in holding total lowlifes like Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff responsible for their lies, deceit, deception, and actually putting our Country at great risk, for which he should be imprisoned!,” Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday morning.
“He is a Leaker and a Scoundrel. Any Republican voting against his CENSURE, or worse, should immediately be primaried. There are plenty of great candidates out there!,” Trump added.
If the GOP were to heed Trump’s instructions, the following Republican representatives would potentially face primary challenges:
- Rep. Kelly Armstrong (North Dakota)
- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (Oregon)
- Rep. Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)
- Rep. Tom Cole (Oklahoma)
- Rep. Warren Davidson (Ohio)
- Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania)
- Rep. Kay Granger (Texas)
- Rep. Garret Graves (Louisiana)
- Rep. Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (New Jersey)
- Rep. Kevin Kiley (California)
- Rep. Young Kim (California)
- Rep. Michael Lawler (New York)
- Rep. Thomas Massie (Kentucky)
- Rep. Tom McClintock (California)
- Rep. Marcus J. Molinaro (New York)
- Rep. Jay Obernolte (California)
- Rep. Michael K. Simpson (Idaho)
- Rep. Michael R. Turner (Ohio)
- Rep. David G. Valadao (California)
- Rep. Steve Womack (Arkansas)
Republican dissatisfaction with Schiff has persisted due to his involvement in probing Trump.
The resolution, proposed by Luna, alleges that Schiff utilized his positions within the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) to promote and justify unwarranted intelligence investigations targeting American citizens for political motives.
It further asserts that the Democrat abused his authority and exploited access to classified information to initiate an investigation grounded in fraudulent claims. This investigation, according to the resolution, served as a means for Schiff to amass political advantages and raise funds.
Luna, who secured her election victory last year, has expressed her intention to reintroduce the resolution in the upcoming week. She plans to amend it in order to gain increased support from her fellow Republicans.