Is Schiff trying to take over?
As the rumor mill buzzes with talk that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will retire amid disastrous polls, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, is feverishly pursuing succession if Pelosi retires.
According to Punchbowl News, Schiff is hellbent on his ambitions, so much so that he is already attempting to get other Democrats in the House to share in this pursuit.
To substantiate the pursuit of his role as Speaker, Schiff has pointed to the millions he has raised in campaign funds.
Insiders also took notice of Schiff’s presence at the recent New Democrats’ retreat.
However, most eyebrow-raising about Schiff’s goal to become Speaker is that it would be a shocking career acceleration. Schiff has been wrong numerous times about policy issues; most notably, he was one of the most vocal proponents of the “Russia, Russia, Russia” hoax, which he used to propel his fundraising efforts, and he argued that evidence against former President Donald Trump is “hiding in plain sight.”
Despite this, Schiff may succeed Pelosi if a 2018 report by the Los Angeles Times is to be believed. In the report, the Los Angeles Times reveals that Pelosi had “quietly been grooming potential successors, among them Rep. Adam Schiff.”
But, Schiff faces strong opposition from other contenders for the post, like New York Democrat Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Majority Leader of the House Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD).
Some have also questioned if Schiff would follow through with becoming House Speaker given his track record on foreign policy.
According to Punchbowl, some Democrats wonder whether Schiff wanted to stay in the House or if his objective wasn’t something greater, like the Senate.
Yet, the Punchbowl article noted that sources revealed that, for the time being, the House was more appealing to Schiff than the Senate.
If Schiff were to become House Speaker, Democrats would have to maintain the majority.
