Adam Schiff continues his pattern of making sensational claims without evidence, this time defending violent anti-ICE protesters in Los Angeles while condemning the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to restore order.
At a Glance
- Senator Adam Schiff defended rioters who attacked ICE officers in Los Angeles, calling them “protesters” despite violence and vandalism
- Schiff falsely claimed President Trump’s federalization of 2,000 California National Guard troops was “unprecedented” despite historical precedent
- Schiff’s comments follow his pattern of making unverified claims, similar to his past Russia-Trump collusion allegations
- The Los Angeles riots involved masked individuals violently opposing federal law enforcement’s arrest of illegal immigrants
- California officials, including Governor Newsom and LA Mayor Bass, failed to effectively address the violence before federal intervention
Schiff’s Defense of Anti-ICE Rioters
California Senator Adam Schiff has stirred controversy by defending what many describe as an insurrection against federal law enforcement in Los Angeles. As ICE officers attempted to arrest illegal aliens, they were met with violent opposition from masked rioters who engaged in violence and vandalism. Rather than condemning these actions, Schiff characterized the participants as “protesters” and criticized President Trump’s decision to federalize National Guard troops to restore order, despite California officials’ inability to contain the violence.
“The Trump Administration’s calling on the California National Guard without the authorization of the Governor is unprecedented,” Schiff claimed in his public statement regarding the riots.
Critics have pointed out the irony of Schiff’s position, given his role on the January 6 Committee where he aggressively pursued those involved in the Capitol riot under the charge of insurrection. Now, when faced with violent opposition to federal law enforcement in his home state, Schiff appears to have adopted a markedly different stance, opposing the use of National Guard troops to protect federal agents and property.
False Claims of “Unprecedented” Action
President Trump’s decision to federalize approximately 2,000 California National Guard soldiers came after Governor Gavin Newsom refused to deploy them, despite escalating violence against federal officers. Schiff immediately condemned the action as “unprecedented,” a claim that historical records clearly contradict. Similar actions have been taken by previous presidents, including Dwight Eisenhower during school integration in the Jim Crow South, when governors refused to comply with federal law enforcement objectives.
The misleading nature of Schiff’s claim aligns with what critics describe as his established pattern of making sensational statements without factual support. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk responded to Schiff’s position with skepticism, stating, “Hmm, few things could convince me to reconsider my position more than Adam Schiff agreeing with me!”
A Pattern of Unverified Claims
Schiff’s comments on the LA riots come amid ongoing criticism of his approach to public discourse, particularly regarding his past claims about Russia-Trump collusion, for which he repeatedly stated he had “direct evidence” but never produced. This pattern continued in his recent clash with FBI director nominee Kash Patel during a confirmation hearing, where Schiff attempted to link Patel to a controversial recording involving Capitol Riot inmates and former President Donald Trump.
When Patel denied personal involvement in the recording, Schiff accused him of semantic word games, comparing Patel’s language to President Bill Clinton’s grand jury testimony. Patel firmly rejected Schiff’s characterization, stating, “Not unless you have a new definition for the word ‘we,'” and emphasized that his focus was on raising money for families in need rather than supporting violence against law enforcement.
Local Leadership Failures
Critics have noted that the need for federal intervention in Los Angeles stemmed from the failure of local leadership to maintain order. Neither Governor Newsom nor Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass took effective action to address the violent opposition to federal immigration enforcement. This leadership vacuum required President Trump to invoke federal authority to protect ICE officers attempting to carry out their lawful duties, a step Schiff vehemently opposed despite the clear threat to federal personnel.
The situation in Los Angeles represents a broader pattern of conflict between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement. While Schiff and other California officials frame their opposition in terms of protecting immigrant communities, critics argue they are effectively obstructing the enforcement of federal law and endangering both federal officers and the public through their permissive approach to violent demonstrations.
