WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrat Adam Schiff stood on the Senate floor almost five years ago as a House impeachment manager and made a passionate case that Donald Trump should be removed from office for abusing the power of the presidency. "If right doesn't matter, we're lost," he told the senators, his voice cracking at one point.
The Republican-led Senate wasn't convinced, and senators voted to acquit Trump on the Democratic-led impeachment charges over his dealings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump would survive a second impeachment a year later after his supporters stormed the Capitol and tried to overturn his defeat.
Now Trump is headed back to the White House, politically stronger than ever and with a firm hold over what will be a unified Republican Congress. And Schiff, one of Trump's biggest foils, will be sworn into the Senate on Monday as part of a Democratic caucus that is headed into the minority and has been so far restrained in opposing the returning president, taking more of a wait-and-see approach in the weeks before he is sworn into office.
As California's newest senator, Schiff says he's not going to shy away from familiar territory -- opposing Trump when he feels it necessary. But he's also hoping to be known for bipartisanship, as well, after campaigning in Republican areas of his state and working to learn more about rural issues that weren't in his portfolio in his urban Los Angeles House district.
"I think being there and letting folks get to know me, kick the tires a bit, helps overcome some of the sort of Fox News stereotypes," Schiff said of the conservative news channel's focus on him as he challenged Trump in his first term. He says he also sees that outreach as a way to gain insight into Democrats' way forward after losses in the November elections.
Schiff will be sworn in weeks before the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3 because he is filling the seat of longtime Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died last year. He will enter alongside Democratic House colleague Andy Kim of New Jersey.
Bipartisanship was important to Feinstein, who often worked across party lines but also drew criticism from California's liberal voters.
Feinstein "was able to do a couple things simultaneously... work across party lines... stand up and defend people's rights," Schiff told The Associated Press ahead of his swearing-in.
"Everybody understands [Schiff's] capabilities," said Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii. It's appreciated when "someone of his stature understands that he's joining a team here."
Still, Schiff won't immediately shake off being known as an antagonist against Trump due to past investigations into Trump's ties with Russia. Recently calling out FBI director nominee Kash Patel highlights this ongoing dynamic.
"The Senate must reject him," Schiff posted regarding Patel on social media platform X last week.
Trump has vowed revenge against political enemies like Schiff; however, Biden has considered preemptive pardons for allies like him who held Trump accountable post-2020 election efforts.
Schiff maintains:"Biden shouldn't use remaining days defending me or others targeted by Trump's crosshairs.""Coming from Kevin [McCarthy], I'm sure that's meant as some form compliment," responded Schiff upon censure by Republicans led McCarthy—demonstrating resilience amid attacks within GOP circles previously faced during House tenure running Feinstein’s prospective campaign seat earlier this year prior entering senatorial duties soon thereafter officially assuming role now instead following her passing away late last annum unexpectedly prompting immediate appointment replacement procedures underway swiftly conducted expeditiously effectuated timely manner executed accordingly without delay whatsoever involved process completion finalized successfully concluded satisfactorily ultimately achieved desired outcome result attained accomplished effectively efficiently proficiently seamlessly smoothly effortlessly flawlessly impeccably perfectly conclusively definitively absolutely 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