In a sharply divided vote along party lines, the House of Representatives censured Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) for his assertions regarding former President Trump's 2016 campaign and alleged collusion with Russia. Six Republicans broke ranks, voting "present" instead of supporting the censure. These included Reps. David Joyce (OH), Michael Guest (MS), Andrew Garbarino (NY), Ken Buck (CO), John Rutherford (FL), and Michelle Fischbach (MN). Notably, five of these representatives serve on the House Ethics Committee.

The censure marks a significant moment in recent House history, with Schiff becoming only the third member to be censured since the turn of the century. The measure not only condemns Schiff's actions but also mandates an investigation by the House Ethics Committee into what the resolution terms "falsehoods, misrepresentations, and abuses of sensitive information."

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, the sponsor of the censure resolution, explained the "present" votes from Ethics Committee members, stating that they traditionally abstain from such votes to avoid prejudging potential investigations that may come before the committee.

Rep. Garbarino echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Ethics Committee's investigation into Schiff. He explained that voting for the censure could have led to Schiff requesting recusals from committee members, potentially hindering the investigation. Rep. Joyce offered a similar explanation for his "present" vote.

The censure vote drew strong reactions from both sides of the aisle. No Democrats voted in favor of the censure, and following the vote, many erupted in chants of "Shame!" and "Disgrace!" directed at House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as he attempted to restore order. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) was reportedly heard criticizing McCarthy's leadership.

In a defiant speech on the House floor, Schiff defended his actions, suggesting that the censure was a badge of honor and evidence of his effectiveness in defending democracy. He framed the Republican criticisms as attacks on truth-tellers by those who perpetuate falsehoods.

A previous attempt to censure Schiff last week failed due to its inclusion of a $16 million fine. The resolution that ultimately passed on Wednesday omitted this financial penalty. The censure of Rep. Schiff follows similar actions against Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) in 2021 and former Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) in 2010.