Rep Adam Schiff

For John, BLUF:  Congressman Adam Schiff (D CA) has a huge warchest.  Why?.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Schiff’s House Dowry

Here is the sub-headline:

The hyper ambitious, limelight-loving Trump impeachment star is also one of the most prolific (and parsimonious) fundraisers in Congress, provoking questions about what he’s hoarding so much money for, anyway, if not to spend it.

From Puck, by Reporter Tara Palmeri, 3 October 2022.

Here is the lede plus two:

I was texting with a Democratic member of Congress the other day when I casually mentioned a figure that had confounded me:  Adam Schiff, the highly-visible Mueller-era liberal hero who represents the wealthy L.A. adjacent exurbs, had raised $18.6 million dollars this cycle between his campaign committee and leadership PAC.  In fact, I noted, Schiff has $20 million in his war chest.  “Holy F_ _ _, that’s a huge amount” this member responded, wholly gobsmacked, but fully cognizant that Schiff’s financial prowess was his most tantalizing argument to replace Nancy Pelosi if or when she steps down after the midterms.  (I’ll spare you the bellicose, obfuscating pushback from her spokesperson, who denies this without actually denying it.)

Schiff, after all, has always been an epic fundraiser, and he’s developed a Pelosi-esque national network to match.  Schiff’s haul this cycle, in particular, is a powerful point of juxtaposition with the other members of the House vying for leadership in a post-Pelosiverse.  Pelosi, of course, has raised the most of any member, with $34.5 million dollars between her campaign committee and leadership PAC, but even her war chest is smaller than Schiff’s as of the June 30 F.E.C. filing, with $16.5 million cash on hand.  And none of Pelosi’s lieutenants in the leadership lineup have even raised more than $10.5 million this cycle between their campaign committees and leadership PACs.  Indeed, by comparison, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has $3.5 million cash on hand; Whip Jim Clyburn has $3 million; Democratic Caucus chairman (and presumed frontrunner to fill Pelosi’s shoes) Hakeem Jeffries has $3.2 million; Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark has $1.5 million; and vice chair of the Democratic caucus Pete Aguilar has $2.6 million.

Not surprisingly, Schiff’s massive cash pile has led to whispers among members about why he is holding on to so much dough during such a consequential period in the cycle.  After all, members of leadership are expected to spend their war chests to help the conference.  If Schiff wants to be minority leader or hold some other position in leadership, some have wondered, why wouldn’t he be leaning into his fundraising powers to engender support and fealty from the caucus?  As one leadership aide succinctly mused:  “Why does Adam Schiff have $19 million in the bank in the fight of our lives?”

A good question?

Can you imagine Mr Adam Schiff as President?

I think I will remember Congressman Adam Schiff as the person who read into the record a false statement he attributed to President Donald Trump, for which he didn't get much pushback from the legitimate press.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff