How Adam Schiff Became An Unlikely Threat To Trump’s Presidency — And Isn’t Going Away

He is a soft-spoken moderate who has emerged as the unlikely face of resistance to President Trump — and could become a bona fide threat to the Donald’s presidency as the probe into Russia’s interference in the election explodes.

California’s Adam Schiff is meticulous and detail-oriented. He’s not the type of firebrand partisan attack dog likely to storm the doors of the White House in full partisan hue and cry, or to engage in shouting matches with Republicans on national television.

But the fast-moving Congressional investigation that he helps lead catapulted Schiff, a Los Angeles Democrat, into a national role that few might have imagined — although those who know him best say his skills make him unusually qualified to handle the job.

“I’m not surprised that he reached this level of prominence,” said former congressman Steve Israel, who called Schiff his best friend. “He’s determined, but he doesn’t overplay his hand”

“He’s careful and judicious and it serves him admirably,” added former California congressman Mel Levine.

Schiff’s role has exploded as the House investigation that he helps lead into Russian involvement in the presidential election has taken a number of bizarre twists.

His Republican colleague, Devin Nunes, tossed a grenade into the already explosive probe when he met with White House staffers to gather information — then briefed Trump. He refused to reveal the information to Schiff or other colleagues on the committee.

That infuriated the usually calm Schiff and prompted him to call on Nunes to stop down from the investigation, a call Nunes has rebuffed.

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Schiff admitted being upset by the collapse of his relationship with Nunes, a fellow Californian with whom he worked well in the past.

“The breakdown with the chairman’s trip to the White House was deeply unfortunate,” Schiff told the Forward in a March 29 interview, stating that he looks forward to “getting the committee back on track” while insisting this can only happen if Nunes recuses himself from the investigation because of what Schiff views as a clear conflict of interest.

A compromise with committee Republicans about Nunes’s role does not seem to be in the cards as of now.

“I don’t what that would look like,” Schiff said, though he stressed his willingness to “work with whoever I need to to get this investigation done.”

Read more: http://forward.com/news/367519/how-adam-schiff-became-an-unlikely-threat-to-trumps-presidency-and-he-isnt/