House tables Republican resolution to 'condemn and censure' Adam Schiff

June 14 (UPI) -- A resolution by House Republicans to censure Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., fell short on Wednesday as Democrats successfully voted to table it.

Republicans sought to "condemn and censure" Schiff over his comments about former President Donald Trump.

The resolution was introduced by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who also is seeking to fine Schiff $16 million for his allegations of ties between Trump and Russia made when Schiff was chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

The House voted 225-196-7 in favor of tabling the resolution, with 20 Republicans joining Democrats on the vote. Two Republicans -- George Santos and Darrell Issa -- voted present, as did five Democrats. Three Republicans and two Democrats did not vote.

"I think it says that Trump and his MAGA supporters view me as a threat," Schiff said of the resolution. "There's a reason they singled me out -- they think I was effective in holding them accountable. And they won't stop me."

Axios reported that House Republican leadership had supported the resolution.

"I'm working with Rep. Luna. We want it to pass ...," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., had said earlier Wednesday.

Schiff said that he was "flattered" by the resolution and said that the move was an attempt to distract from former President Donald Trump's legal troubles.

"This is really an effort at the end of the day to distract from Donald Trump's legal problems, to gratify Donald Trump by going after someone they feel was his most effective adversary," Schiff said on "CNN This Morning."

"I'm flattered by it," he continued. "But the fact that Speaker McCarthy would take up this MAGA resolution when we have so many pressing challenges before the country is really a terrible abuse of House resources."

The resolution accused Schiff of abusing his position as Intelligence committee chairman.

"[Schiff] abused his position of authority, lied to the American people, cost American tax payers millions, and brought dishonor to our chamber," Luna said on Twitter.