On Thursday, Republican Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida introduced the “Preventing Extreme Negligence with Classified Information Licenses,” or PENCIL Resolution, which would block Democrat Representative from California, Adam Schiff, from accessing any classified information.
“The resolution expresses the sense of the U.S. House of Representatives that Congressman Adam Schiff should not have access to classified information, should be investigated by the House Ethics Committee, and should have his comments made during any proceeding of Congress regarding Russian Collusion and the Trump campaign be officially struck from the record,” said Gaetz’s office in a statement.
When Schiff served on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence allowed him access to classified materials. Some of those materials related to the first impeachment of former President Donald Trump as well as the Select Committee on the January 6 situation at the capital.
“Every member of Congress can access classified information by virtue of their election. Only the most egregious actions would warrant removal, and Adam Schiff has undoubtedly cross the Rubicon,” said Gaetz. “Democrats have willfully ignored the national security consequences of members like Schiff misrepresenting and leaking classified information to the press.”
Resolution calls for Schiff to be ousted
The resolution calls for Schiff to be ousted from his position as head of the House Intelligence Committee and asks that his security clearance be revoked because he “can no longer be trusted by his colleagues in Congress or the American people,” and also maintains he made false statements about Trump.
Schiff has been criticized heavily since Attorney General William Barr revealed that Robert Mueller, special counsel, did not find a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. Many in the GOP, including former President Trump, have called on Schiff to resign. They contend that the Senator has spent years lying about the president on national television. Schiff is a member of the so-called “Gang of Eight.” The group is comprised of senior lawmakers who are privy to secret intelligence information.
The resolution states, “It is the sense of the House of Representatives that Congressman Adam Schiff should be removed from the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House and that his security clearance be revoked immediately.”
Rep. Schiff recently announced his candidacy to replace retiring California Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein in the Senate.
“We’re in the fight of our lives for the future of our country. Our democracy is under assault from MAGA extremists, who care only about gaining power and keeping it,” stated Schiff’s statement announcing his candidacy.
