Simpson Statement on Schiff Censure Vote

Washington, D.C. – Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today issued the following statement after voting with 19 other House Republicans to table a resolution to censure Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) for his previous actions as the House Intelligence Committee Chairman to push false allegations of Russian collusion in the 2016 election:

“I take serious issue with Representative Schiff’s previous actions to push an agenda that proved to be false.  I believe he misused his position of authority, and my voting record on this matter reflects that.  Yesterday’s vote was not about that—Representative Schiff has already been removed from the House Intelligence Committee because of his unacceptable actions.  The House of Representatives has historic procedures to handle complaints for member conduct: under the normal process, a complaint is brought to the House Ethics Committee, where a thorough, bipartisan investigation is conducted, and a resolution may be recommended to the House for disciplinary action, as appropriate.  House Democrats have previously circumvented this process with resolutions against Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar, and I didn’t approve of it then, either.  No matter how profoundly we disagree with another member’s conduct, we must follow this process because this is the United States of America, and we extend due process to every citizen no matter what their job or position is.  We need to remember that if we engage in revenge politics, we can expect the same will be done to our members when we no longer hold the majority.  At some point, this needs to stop, and we need to focus on solving the problems facing America instead of relitigating the same issues over and over.”

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