Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) filed an ethics complaint against House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Wednesday, the latest signal House Republicans have lost trust in one of the leaders of the Democratic party.
The latest effort from Gaetz, who led dozens of representatives into a closed impeachment hearing last week, is over Schiff’s handling of the impeachment inquiry. Schiff is in charge of the inquiry with other Democratic chairs.
The ethics complaint cites Schiff for “distorting POTUS’s call with [Ukrainian] President Zelensky” and “lying to the public about Russian collusion” in addition to “blocking members of Congress from attending impeachment depositions,” Gaetz said.
Gaetz sent a two-page letter to House Ethics Chairman Theodore Deutch (D-Fla.) and Ranking Member Kenny Marchant (R-Texas) asking them to open an investigation into Schiff, alleging rules were broken and false statements were made.
“Mr. Schiff’s behavior cannot be construed to be an ‘honest mistake’ as it is long-standing and habitual,” Gaetz wrote.
“In a March 2017 interview, Mr. Schiff claimed to have ’more than circumstantial evidence‘ of President Trump and his campaign ’colluding' with Russia. As the report from special counsel Robert S. Mueller II has made clear, Mr. Schiff’s claim was baseless and untrue; to date, Chairman Schiff has not justified his statement.”
“Schiff has proven in this process that he cannot adhere to the fundamental principles of fairness.”