Adam Schiff: Difference between revisions

Schiff graduated from [[Stanford University|Stanford]] and [[Harvard Law School]]. As an [[assistant United States attorney]], he successfully prosecuted [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] spy [[Richard Miller (agent)|Richard Miller]] in 1993 and began running for office the following year. He represents [[California's 30th congressional district]], which is centered in the [[San Gabriel Valley]] east of [[Los Angeles]] and includes [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]], [[Glendale, California|Glendale]], [[Burbank, California|Burbank]], [[West Hollywood, California|West Hollywood]], and the [[Los Angeles]] neighborhoods of [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], [[Sunland-Tujunga, Los Angeles|Sunland-Tujunga]], [[Edendale, Los Angeles|Edendale]], [[Park La Brea, Los Angeles|Park La Brea]], [[Hancock Park, Los Angeles|Hancock Park]], and [[Echo Park]].

Schiff chaired the [[United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|House Intelligence Committee]] from 2019 to 2023 and was removed from it by Speaker [[Kevin McCarthy]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rimmer |first=Morgan |date=January 25, 2023 |title=McCarthy officially denies Schiff and Swalwell seats on House Intelligence Committee {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/24/politics/mccarthy-democrats-schiff-swalwell-intelligence-committee/index.html |access-date=February 15, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> He is on leave from the [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|House Appropriations Committee]], which he joined in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Conversation with Congressman Adam Schiff |url=https://www.jewishla.org/podcast/ep19-jays-4-questions-congressman-adam-schiff/ |access-date=March 15, 2021 |website=The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles |language=en-US |archive-date=March 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317004525/https://www.jewishla.org/podcast/ep19-jays-4-questions-congressman-adam-schiff/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He previously served on the [[United States House Foreign Affairs Committee|House Foreign Affairs Committee]]. Schiff was the lead [[impeachment manager]] in the [[first impeachment trial of Donald Trump|first impeachment trial]] of President [[Donald Trump]]. He had previously served as the joint-lead impeachment manager in two judicial [[Federal impeachment trial in the United States|impeachments trials]].

Schiff was born on June 22, 1960, in [[Framingham, Massachusetts]], the son of Edward and Sherrill Ann (née Glovsky) Schiff.<ref>{{cite book |last=Stone |first=Kurt F. |date=2011 |title=The Jews of Capitol Hill: A Compendium of Jewish Congressional Members |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ACTF56SnaykC&pg=PA564 |location=Lanham, MD |publisher=Scarecrow Press |page=564 |isbn=978-0-8108-5731-5 |via=[[Google Books]] |ref={{sfnRef|''The Jews of Capitol Hill''}} |access-date=April 6, 2017 |archive-date=April 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407161141/https://books.google.com/books?id=ACTF56SnaykC&pg=PA564 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was raised in a [[Jewish]] family that "came fleeingfled [[the Holocaust"]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240125073338/https://twitter.com/AdamSchiff/status/1749641983126065450?s=20 Twitter post] {{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Schiff moved with his parents to [[Scottsdale, Arizona]], in 1970 and [[Alamo, California]], in 1972.{{sfn|''The Jews of Capitol Hill''|page=564}} In 1978, he graduated from [[Monte Vista High School (Danville, California)|Monte Vista High School]] in [[Danville, California]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Peschiutta|first1=Claudia|title=Meet Adam Schiff|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/news/tn-gnp-xpm-2000-07-22-export46525-story.html|access-date=August 22, 2014|newspaper=Glendale News-Press|date=July 22, 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113509/http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2000-07-22/news/export46525_1_adam-schiff-democrats-harvard-law-school|archive-date=August 26, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Herhold |first1=Scott |title=Adam Schiff: Democratic star with S.J. ties |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/26/adam-schiff-democratic-star-with-sj-ties/ |website=The Mercury News |date=March 26, 2017 |access-date=December 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229123342/https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/26/adam-schiff-democratic-star-with-sj-ties/ |archive-date=December 29, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> where he played soccer and was both the class [[salutatorian]] and the student his peers voted "most likely to succeed".<ref>{{cite news |last=Garofoli |first=Joe |date=March 24, 2017 |title=California Rep. Adam Schiff becomes leading voice of opposition |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/California-Rep-Adam-Schiff-becomes-leading-voice-11026808.php |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |location=San Francisco, CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandeis |first=Olivia |title=From the hallways of Monte Vista to the halls of Congress |url=https://mvstampede.net/5786/feature/from-the-hallways-of-monte-vista-to-the-halls-of-congress/ |access-date=February 19, 2023 |website=The Stampede}}</ref>

Schiff has been a leading voice in [[Armenian-American]] issues; he claims to have over 70,000 Armenian-Americans residing in his district.<ref>Washington Post: "Worse than irrelevant: A congressional resolution about massacres in Turkey 90 years ago endangers present-day U.S. security", p. A16, October 10, 2007</ref><ref>Wall Street Journal: "Political History", Review & Outlook, October 2, 2007</ref> He introduced [[United States resolution on Armenian Genocide|U.S. House Resolution 106]], recognizing the [[Armenian genocide]], which the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved on October 11, 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-10-11-voa71.cfm |title=U.S. House Speaker: Armenian Genocide Measure Will Go Forward |access-date=October 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013022525/http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-10-11-voa71.cfm |archive-date=October 13, 2007 }}</ref> but began to lose support after Turkey's prime minister said that approval of the resolution would endanger U.S.–Turkey relations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL1262442020071012 |title=Turkey's PM says U.S. relations in danger |access-date=October 12, 2007 | work=Reuters | date=October 12, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071013151132/http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL1262442020071012| archive-date= October 13, 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> On March 4, 2010, the House Foreign Affairs Committee again approved the resolution by a 23–22 margin.<ref name=latimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-armenian-genocide5-2010mar05,0,6057070.story |title=House panel narrowly passes recognition of Armenian genocide |access-date=March 4, 2010 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |first1=Richard |last1=Simon |first2=Teresa |last2=Watanabe |date=March 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307033355/http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-armenian-genocide5-2010mar05%2C0%2C6057070.story |archive-date=March 7, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Immediately, the Turkish government recalled its U.S. ambassador.<ref name=latimes/> Schiff said in 2007, "When you think about what we have against us – the president, a foreign policy establishment that has condoned this campaign of denial, the Turkish lobby – against that you have the truth, which is a powerful thing but doesn't always win out".<ref>{{cite news|title=Genocide resolution's support starts to fade|url=https://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/17/nation/na-genocide17|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Simon, Richard|date=October 17, 2007|access-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225081710/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/17/nation/na-genocide17|archive-date=February 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 29, 2019, the full House of Representatives passed the resolution by a vote of 405–11.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-10-29/house-approves-resolution-recognizing-armenian-genocide|title=House overwhelmingly approves resolution recognizing Armenian genocide|last=Wire|first=Sarah D.|date=October 29, 2019|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105181041/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-10-29/house-approves-resolution-recognizing-armenian-genocide|archive-date=November 5, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Schiff has been a prominent supporter of surveillance reforms, especially in the wake of the leaks of classified intelligence by [[Edward Snowden]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Holman|first1=Kwame|title=Crusader for More Transparency on Intelligence Sees Risk and Reward From Snowden Leaks|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/crusader-for-more-transparency-on-intelligence-sees-risk-and-reward-from-snowden-leaks/|access-date=December 9, 2014|publisher=PBS|date=July 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201224453/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/crusader-for-more-transparency-on-intelligence-sees-risk-and-reward-from-snowden-leaks/|archive-date=February 1, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, in response to disclosure of the [[Terrorist Surveillance Program]], Schiff and Representative [[Jeff Flake]] offered a successful amendment in the House of Representatives to clarify that the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]] is the exclusive means for collecting foreign intelligence information within the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Anderson|first1=Nate|title=House reaffirms FISA as "exclusive means by which electronic surveillance may be conducted"|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2007/05/house-reaffirms-fisa-as-exclusive-means-by-which-electronic-surveillance-may-be-conducted/|website=Ars Technica|date=May 14, 2007|access-date=December 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906175737/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2007/05/house-reaffirms-fisa-as-exclusive-means-by-which-electronic-surveillance-may-be-conducted/|archive-date=September 6, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Schiff has criticized the bulk collection of telephone metadata by the [[National Security Agency]]. In January 2014, he introduced the Telephone Metadata Reform Act,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shabad|first1=Rebecca|title=Schiff unveils NSA metadata reform bill|url=httphttps://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/195381-schiff-unveils-nsa-metadata-reform-bill/|access-date=December 7, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=January 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125115318/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/195381-schiff-unveils-nsa-metadata-reform-bill|archive-date=January 25, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> which would prohibit the bulk collection of domestic phone records. Schiff has also introduced several bills aimed at reforming the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court]], including a bill to require outside counsel to be appointed to argue for privacy and civil liberties protections in certain cases before the Court.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sledge|first1=Matt|title=Adam Schiff Prepares FISA Court Bill To Create Special Privacy Advocate|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/25/adam-schiff-fisa-court_n_3653946.html|website=The Huffington Post|date=July 25, 2013|access-date=December 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829102238/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/25/adam-schiff-fisa-court_n_3653946.html|archive-date=August 29, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 28, 2019, the nine Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee officially called for Schiff to resign due to his allegations that Trump's campaign colluded with Russians in the 2016 election.<ref>{{cite news |title= Rep. Adam Schiff, Republicans clash at Intelligence Committee hearing |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date= March 28, 2019 |access-date= March 29, 2019 |url= https://www.latimes.com/politics/116173547-132.html |quote= Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee demanded that Chairman Adam Schiff step down over his allegations that President Trump's campaign colluded with Russians in the 2016 election. |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190330070029/https://www.latimes.com/politics/116173547-132.html |archive-date= March 30, 2019 |url-status= live }}</ref> Schiff responded by accusing the Republican members of tolerating "immoral" and "corrupt" conduct by Trump campaign members and administration appointees.<ref>{{cite journal |last= Santiago |first= Sharon |title= I Don't Think It's Ok |date= March 29, 2019 |access-date= March 30, 2019 |journal= Feminine Perspective Magazine |publisher= [[The RINJ Foundation]] |url= https://rinj.press/fpmag/march-2019/i-dont-think-its-ok/ |quote= I don't think it's OK. 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. |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190330074052/https://rinj.press/fpmag/march-2019/i-dont-think-its-ok/ |archive-date= March 30, 2019 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/us/politics/adam-schiff-resign.html |title=Demands for Adam Schiff's Head Highlight Chasm That Only Widened With Mueller's Conclusion |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Nicholas |last=Fandos |author-link=Nicholas Fandos |date=March 28, 2019 |access-date=March 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328235734/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/us/politics/adam-schiff-resign.html |archive-date=March 28, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On June 21, 2023, the House of Representatives [[Censure in the United States|censured]] Schiff in a [[party-line vote]] on H.Res. 521, which calledinvestigated forhis anrole investigationas intoChairman hisof allegedthe "falsehoods,Intelligence misrepresentationsCommittee andin abusespromoting ofthe sensitive"conspiracy informationtheory" aboutthat Donald Trump colluded with Russia in the [[2016 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 June 2023 |title=H.Res.521 - Censuring Adam Schiff, Representative of the 30th Congressional District of California. |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/521/text |access-date=20 June 2024 |website=Congress.gov}}</ref> The resolution established that Schiff misled the American public with "falsehoods, misrepresentations and abuses of sensitive information" about the election and as part of the [[first impeachment of Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/adam-schiff-censure-resolution-vote-house/|title=House votes to censure Rep. Adam Schiff over Trump investigations|last=Yilek|first=Caitlin|work=CBS News|date=June 21, 2023|access-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Broadwater |first=Luke |date=June 21, 2023 |title=House Censures Adam Schiff Over His Role Investigating Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/21/us/politics/house-censures-adam-schiff.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004060731/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/21/us/politics/house-censures-adam-schiff.html |archive-date=2023-10-04 |access-date=June 21, 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Schiff has denied the allegations, calling them "defamatory".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/06/21/1183564794/schiff-censure-house-republicans|title=House votes to censure Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff|last=Sprunt|first=Barbara|work=NPR|date=June 21, 2023|access-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref>

Schiff accused [[Turkey]] of inciting the conflict between [[Armenia]] and [[Azerbaijan]] over the [[Territorial dispute|disputed region]] of [[Nagorno-Karabakh]].<ref>{{cite news |title=ANCA Condemns Azerbaijan's Full-Scale Invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://apnews.com/press-release/pr-newswire/virus-outbreak-turkey-war-and-unrest-adam-schiff-eastern-europe-053ac28636a4f0ebab1f90d944379b3b |work=Associated Press |date=September 29, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Garcetti, Schiff declare support for Armenia as protests held across LA |url=https://abc7.com/armenia-azerbaijan-mayor-eric-garcetti-adam-schiff-armenian-protests/6799247/ |work=ABC7 News |date=October 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lawmakers introduce resolution condemning Azerbaijan, Turkey for conflict with Armenia |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/519263-lawmakers-introduce-resolution-condemning-azerbaijan-turkey-for-conflict/ |work=The Hill |date=October 1, 2020}}</ref> He stated that the [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war]] "must cause us [to] reexamine our relationship with both Turkey and Azerbaijan. If an ally of the United States is recruiting fighters from Syria to encourage further bloodshed and murder of civilians, what kind of ally are they in [[NATO]] or otherwise?".<ref>{{cite news |title=The US must reexamine its relationship with Azerbaijan and Turkey – Rep. Adam Schiff (video) |url=https://en.armradio.am/2020/10/06/the-us-must-reexamine-its-relationship-with-azerbaijan-and-turkey-rep-adam-schiff-video/ |work=[[Public Radio of Armenia]] |date=October 6, 2020}}</ref> Schiff co-signed a letter to Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] stating: "We write to express our deep concern with Azerbaijan's renewed aggression against Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and the rising possibility of a wider conflict with Armenia. We ask that the Administration use all available diplomatic tools to reduce tensions, end the fighting, and restrain Azerbaijan from further offensive actions."<ref>{{cite news |title=Senate and House Leaders to Secretary of State Pompeo: Cut Military Aid to Azerbaijan; Sanction Turkey for Ongoing Attacks Against Armenia and Artsakh |url=https://armenianweekly.com/2020/10/02/senate-and-house-leaders-to-secretary-of-state-pompeo-cut-military-aid-to-azerbaijan-sanction-turkey-for-ongoing-attacks-against-armenia-and-artsakh/ |work=The Armenian Weekly |date=October 2, 2020 |access-date=October 9, 2020 |archive-date=October 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005130156/https://armenianweekly.com/2020/10/02/senate-and-house-leaders-to-secretary-of-state-pompeo-cut-military-aid-to-azerbaijan-sanction-turkey-for-ongoing-attacks-against-armenia-and-artsakh/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Schiff called for U.S. recognition of the [[Separatism|separatistRepublic of Artsakh]], self-declaredwhich was an [[RepublicAutonomous oblasts of Artsakhthe Soviet Union|autonomous oblast]], whichwithin isthe officially[[Azerbaijan partSoviet ofSocialist Azerbaijan,Republic]] but has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since the end of a [[Nagorno-Karabakh conflict|separatist war]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rep. Adam Schiff formally calls for U.S. recognition of the Republic of Artsakh |url=https://en.armradio.am/2020/10/23/rep-adam-schiff-formally-calls-for-u-s-recognition-of-the-republic-of-artsakh/ |work=Public Radio of Armenia |date=October 23, 2020}}</ref> He reiterated that call in April 2023.<ref>"The US should recognize Artsakh’s independence – Adam Schiff," Public Radio of Armenia, April 29, 2023, https://en.armradio.am/2023/04/29/the-us-should-recognize-artsakhs-independence-adam-schiff/</ref>

In the ensuing primary, Schiff faced off against fellow Representatives [[Katie Porter]] and [[Barbara Lee]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=California Dems prepare for fierce Senate battle |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/05/california-dems-senate-porter-lee-schiff-00081157 |access-date=February 15, 2023 |website=POLITICO |date=February 5, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 14, 2023 |title=Who will replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein? Meet the potential candidates |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2023-02-14/california-senate-candidates-feinstein-porter-schiff-lee-khanna |access-date=February 15, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> During the primary, Schiff spent $10 million elevating his Republican opponent [[Steve Garvey]] in order to squeeze Porter and Lee out of second place, as Californian primary process uses the two most preferred candidates, regardless of party, to advance to the general election. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-06 |title=CA Senate: Adam Schiff and Steve Garvey advance as Katie Porter fades |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/ca-senate-adam-schiff-steve-043711964.html |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Griffiths |first=Brent D. |title=Adam Schiff gambled on elevating a Republican Dodgers legend to close out fellow Democrat Katie Porter in California's Senate race. It worked. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/adam-schiff-steve-garvey-calfornia-senate-results-2024-2024-3 |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== California's 30th congressional district ====

|votes = 0.8%27,658

|percentage = 27,6580.8

{{s-ttl|title=[[Seniority in the United States House of Representatives|United States representatives by seniority]]|years=42nd41st}}

[[Category:Jewish American Jewsstate legislators in California]]