Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) criticized Republicans for turning the House of Representatives “into a puppet show.”
Pelosi’s words of reproach came during a debate for a resolution over whether to censure Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) for his role in the Russia probe of former President Donald Trump. The censure resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), suggests Schiff falsely claimed that “he had evidence” of Trump’s collusion with Russia in the 2016 Presidential election.
“They’ve turned it into a puppet show, a puppet show, and you know what?” said Pelosi on Wednesday. “The puppeteer, Donald Trump, is shining a light on the strings.”
Pelosi remarked at how “miserable” her Republican colleagues looked.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) slams Republicans during the debate over censuring Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA):
— The Recount (@therecount) June 21, 2023
“They’ve turned it into a puppet show and you know what? The puppeteer, Donald Trump, is shining a light on the strings. You look miserable. You look miserable.” pic.twitter.com/JW9H1RBjKb
“The only advantage to all of this is that instead of reversing what we did on the (Inflation Reduction Act) to save the planet, or reversing what we did to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, you’re wasting time,” Pelosi said, continuing to chastise GOP lawmakers.
The resolution to censure Schiff passed 213-209-6, making Schiff only the third person in a century to be censured, according to The Hill.
A previous version of the censure bill would have fined Schiff $16 million, according to The Daily Caller.
Schiff criticized his GOP colleagues after being censured, claiming that it was an “abuse” of power.
Tonight I was censured by Republicans in the House.
— Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) June 22, 2023
Here’s what that was like and what that means for me, the Congress, and our democracy. pic.twitter.com/6WTPhvA9r7
“To abuse the censure this way, is something that’s never been done before. And, it threatens to really again, diminish the House of Representatives as an institution,” said Schiff.
Schiff thanked his Democratic colleagues for their support, describing how after the censure vote, usually, the “subject of the censure” is supposed to appear in the well, otherwise known as “the bottom of the House floor.”
“Instead, what happened is it seemed like 200 of my Democratic colleagues filled the well,” said Schiff, adding that he “wasn’t expecting such an overwhelming response” as members shouted “shame on you” at House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)