Schiff: Trump acquittal in Senate trial would not signal a ‘failure’

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Sunday that President Trump’s potential acquittal in a Senate impeachment trial would not signal a “failure” for House Democrats.

“No, it isn’t a failure,” Schiff told ABC’s “This Week.” “At least it’s not a failure in the sense of our constitutional duty in the House.”

.@gstephanopoulos: “If President Trump is overwhelmingly acquitted in the Senate, is that a failure?”

House Intel Chair Adam Schiff: “No, it isn’t a failure. At least it’s not a failure in the sense of our constitutional duty in the House.” https://t.co/P6iz1j1VA4 pic.twitter.com/G1oCNC46xu

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) December 15, 2019

ABC’s George Stephanopoulos noted that Schiff had indicated earlier this year that he was hesitant to move forward with an ultimately “failed impeachment.”

The California representative acknowledged his previous remarks, saying he “resisted going down this road” but added his discovery of Trump’s attempts as a candidate and as president to utilize foreign interference to influence elections convinced him to push for impeachment.

{mosads}The final straw for Schiff, he said, was that Trump made his call to the Ukrainian president the day after former special counsel Bob Mueller testified on his Russia investigation in front of the House.

“That told me the president believes he is above the law and accountable to no one and that this road was necessary, and I think it very much is,” Schiff said.

The chairman added that he is confident that the House will vote to impeach the president this week. The articles of impeachment moved to the House floor after passing the Judiciary Committee on a party line vote last week.