Republican attempts at getting revenge on the Biden administration — and other Democrats — don’t seem to be faring so well these days.
This week, House Republicans had their latest flop in the form of a resolution to censure Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) over his role in pushing an investigation into former President Donald Trump and his 2016 campaign’s potential ties to Russia. In a 225-196 vote, the House voted to table this resolution on Wednesday evening, effectively killing it.
After taking the House majority in the 2022 midterms, Republicans promised expansive investigations into the Biden administration, impeachments, and major changes to how the House is run. While the party successfully removed Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the Foreign Affairs Committee in February, and blocked Schiff and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) from serving on the Intelligence Committee, their other efforts have failed to gain traction. That includes investigations into the business ties of President Joe Biden’s son Hunter, and a stalled push to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
In a split Congress, there’s little the GOP-controlled House can do to accomplish Republican legislative goals. But its investigative powers do allow it to scrutinize Biden — and potentially to uncover evidence that makes Democrats look bad ahead of the 2024 elections. If Republicans continue to struggle with making headway in their efforts to highlight supposed Democratic misconduct, lawmakers may go into the 2024 campaign with little to rally their base — and with a more divided caucus, as these political stunts risk turning off moderate lawmakers.
They could also provide a benefit to Democrats. Schiff, who is running to represent California in the Senate, was quick to herald the outcome, and to attempt to turn it to his advantage: “Today’s partisan and failed attempt to censure me is a badge of honor that I will wear proudly,” Schiff wrote in a tweet. “These…
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