Representative Adam Schiff of California stated that Democrats are prepared to “stand up to” President-elect Donald Trump, just weeks before his second-term inauguration.
During CNN’s special coverage, “January 6th: Congress Certifies the Election,” Schiff expressed the party’s readiness to “fight back” against any violations of law or abuses of power by Trump.
When asked about balancing legislative priorities with potential investigations into Trump, Schiff, a long-standing critic of the former president, left open the possibility of impeachment. “If he violates the law, if he violates the Constitution, if he abuses his office, we will vigorously push back, fight back, stand up to him, as we had to do during his first term in office,” Schiff said.
The comments come as Trump, who was certified Monday as the next president, prepares to assume office.
Schiff, who played a significant role in Trump’s first impeachment inquiry, led efforts during his tenure as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. In late 2019, Schiff was appointed as a lead impeachment manager and oversaw the case against Trump, accusing him of abusing his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden.
Schiff’s team argued that Trump’s actions compromised U.S. national security and the integrity of elections. The impeachment process concluded with a Senate trial in early 2020, where Trump was acquitted of charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Despite a Democratic-controlled House voting to impeach Trump, the Republican-controlled Senate voted largely along party lines to acquit him. Utah Senator Mitt Romney was the sole Republican to vote for Trump’s conviction on the abuse of power charge.
Although Schiff did not explicitly advocate for impeachment, his declaration that Democrats would “vigorously push back” suggests the party remains committed to oversight and potential legal challenges.
