Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Adam Schiff

Discover the career path of Adam Schiff, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Adam Schiff is an American politician and lawyer currently serving as the junior United States Senator from California since 2024. A Democrat, he previously served twelve terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (2001-2024) and in the California State Senate (1996-2000).

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1987: Schiff Became Assistant US Attorney

In 1987, Adam Schiff became an assistant United States attorney in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of California.

1993: Schiff Prosecuted Richard Miller

In 1993, Adam Schiff came to public attention when he prosecuted the case against Richard Miller, a former FBI agent who spied for the Soviet Union.

1993: Prosecution of Soviet Spy Richard Miller

In 1993, Adam Schiff, as an assistant United States attorney, successfully prosecuted Soviet spy Richard Miller.

May 1994: Schiff Lost Election for State Assembly Seat

In May 1994, Adam Schiff was a candidate for the 43rd district seat in the California State Assembly in a special election but lost to Republican nominee James E. Rogan.

1996: Schiff in California State Senate

In 1996, Adam Schiff served as a member of the California State Senate until 2000.

1998: Senate Bill 1847 Passed

In 1998, Senate Bill 1847, Chapter 1021, was passed. This legislation renamed the Blue Line the Gold Line and created the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority.

2000: Schiff Unseated James E. Rogan

In 2000, Adam Schiff unseated James E. Rogan, the incumbent, in what was then California's 27th congressional district.

2000: Schiff in California State Senate

In 2000, Adam Schiff's tenure in the California State Senate came to an end, having started in 1996.

2001: Schiff in US House of Representatives

In 2001, Adam Schiff started serving 12 terms in the United States House of Representatives until 2024.

2001: Repeal of 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists

In 2001, after Obama's speech at the National Defense University, Adam Schiff introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists, feeling it was outdated. The bill, introduced with Representative Tom Rooney, was intended to sunset.

2003: Pasadena Line Finished

In 2003, the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority finished the Pasadena line.

2006: Schiff Formed Congressional Caucus for the Freedom of the Press

In 2006, Adam Schiff formed the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Caucus for the Freedom of the Press.

October 11, 2007: House Foreign Affairs Committee Approved Resolution 106

On October 11, 2007, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee approved U.S. House Resolution 106, recognizing the Armenian genocide, introduced by Adam Schiff.

2007: Amendment Clarifying FISA Offered

In 2007, in response to disclosure of the Terrorist Surveillance Program, Adam Schiff and Representative Jeff Flake offered a successful amendment to clarify that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is the exclusive means for collecting foreign intelligence information within the U.S.

October 1, 2009: Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act Introduced

On October 1, 2009, the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act was introduced to Congress by Adam Schiff, Representative Mike Pence, and Senator Christopher Dodd.

2009: Impeachment Manager in Trial of Judge Samuel B. Kent

In 2009, Adam Schiff served as an impeachment manager (prosecutor) in the impeachment trial of Judge Samuel B. Kent, as the lead manager alongside Bob Goodlatte.

March 4, 2010: House Foreign Affairs Committee Approved Armenian Genocide Resolution Again

On March 4, 2010, the House Foreign Affairs Committee again approved the Armenian genocide resolution by a 23–22 margin, leading to the Turkish government recalling its U.S. ambassador.

May 17, 2010: Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act Signed into Law

On May 17, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act into law.

2010: Schiff Defeated John Colbert

In 2010, Adam Schiff defeated Tea Party–backed Republican John Colbert for a sixth term.

2012: Schiff Defeated Phil Jennerjahn

In 2012, Adam Schiff defeated Republican Phil Jennerjahn.

2014: Provision Attached to Appropriations Package

In 2014, Adam Schiff and Senator Dianne Feinstein attached a provision in the 2014 omnibus appropriations package directing the U.S. secretary of transportation and the FAA to address helicopter noise in Los Angeles County.

2014: Schiff Defeated Steve Stokes

In 2014, Adam Schiff defeated independent candidate Steve Stokes.

2014: Telephone Metadata Reform Act Introduced

In 2014, Adam Schiff introduced the Telephone Metadata Reform Act, which would prohibit the bulk collection of domestic phone records.

2014: Participated in AIDS/LifeCycle

In 2014, Adam Schiff was the first member of Congress to participate in the AIDS/LifeCycle, a seven-day charity bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

2014: Appointed to House Select Committee on Benghazi

In 2014, Nancy Pelosi appointed Adam Schiff to the House Select Committee on Benghazi as one of the five Democrats on the committee.

2015: FAA Created Complaint System

In 2015, as a result of Schiff's work, the FAA created a countywide helicopter noise public complaint system, the first step toward regulation.

December 2016: Schiff Urges Obama to Veto UN Resolution on Israeli Settlements

In December 2016, Adam Schiff urged Obama to veto UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories.

2016: Schiff Defeated Lenore Solis

In 2016, Adam Schiff defeated Republican candidate Lenore Solis.

2016: Gold Line Extended to Azusa

In 2016, the Foothill Gold Line was extended to Azusa.

March 22, 2017: Schiff Claims "More Than Circumstantial Evidence" of Trump-Russia Collusion

On March 22, 2017, in an interview with Chuck Todd, Adam Schiff stated that there was "more than circumstantial evidence now" that Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Russia, specifying that the evidence was "worthy of investigation".

April 2, 2017: Schiff Discusses Russian Interference Investigation on CNN

On April 2, 2017, Adam Schiff, appearing on CNN's State of the Union, discussed the House Select Intelligence Committee's inquiries related to Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. He addressed Michael Flynn's request for immunity, separate inspections of White House documents, allegations of wiretapping in Trump Tower, and Devin Nunes's association with the Trump White House.

April 2018: Schiff Comments on Trump and North Korea Talks

In April 2018, Adam Schiff stated that Trump's unpredictability and bellicosity contributed to North Korea's decision to engage in talks with the U.S.

December 2018: Schiff Suggests Roger Stone Lied to Congress

In December 2018, Adam Schiff suggested that Trump associate Roger Stone may have lied to Congress and recommended his testimony transcript be sent to the Special Counsel.

2018: Schiff Defeated Johnny Nalbandian

In 2018, Adam Schiff defeated Republican nominee Johnny Nalbandian after Democratic challenger Kim Gruenenfelder dropped out of the race.

2018: Screenwriting on the side

In 2018, it was reported that Adam Schiff had been writing screenplays on the side for years.

February 2019: Schiff Condemns Ilhan Omar's Anti-Semitic Tweet

In February 2019, Adam Schiff condemned Representative Ilhan Omar's tweet referencing "the Benjamins" and AIPAC for implying lobby money fueled American politicians' support of Israel, calling it an anti-Semitic smear.

October 29, 2019: House of Representatives Passed Armenian Genocide Resolution

On October 29, 2019, the full House of Representatives passed the Armenian genocide resolution by a vote of 405–11.

November 2019: Roger Stone Convicted of Lying to Congress

In November 2019, Roger Stone was convicted of lying to Congress. Schiff had suggested in December 2018 that Stone might have lied to Congress.

December 18, 2019: Trump Impeached by the House

On December 18, 2019, Donald Trump was impeached by the House with 228 votes to 193, making him the third president to be impeached. Adam Schiff, as chair of the Intelligence Committee, was one of the lead investigators in the impeachment inquiry against Trump stemming from the Trump–Ukraine scandal.

2019: Schiff Chaired House Intelligence Committee

In 2019, Adam Schiff became the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, a position he held until 2023.

2019: Schiff Investigates Trump's Russia Connections

In 2019, upon becoming chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff began an independent investigation into Trump's connections to Russia, separate from the Special Counsel investigation. He faced criticism regarding his stance on accepting the Special Counsel's findings.

January 15, 2020: Pelosi Names Schiff Lead Impeachment Manager

On January 15, 2020, Nancy Pelosi appointed Adam Schiff as a lead impeachment manager to present the impeachment case against Trump during his Senate trial.

December 2020: Biden Nominates Becerra; Schiff Seeks Attorney General Post

In December 2020, President-elect Joe Biden nominated Xavier Becerra for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Subsequently, in February 2021, Schiff reportedly lobbied for the Attorney General position in California.

2020: Schiff on Turkey's Role in Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

In 2020, Adam Schiff accused Turkey of inciting the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh and questioned the U.S. relationship with Turkey and Azerbaijan. He co-signed a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressing deep concern with Azerbaijan's renewed aggression.

2020: Schiff Won Primary and General Election

In 2020, Adam Schiff won the primary with a majority of the vote and later easily won the general election.

February 2021: Schiff Seeks Appointment as Attorney General of California

In February 2021, it was reported that Adam Schiff was lobbying for appointment as Attorney General of California following Biden's nomination of Xavier Becerra as Secretary of Health and Human Services in December 2020.

March 24, 2021: Newsom Appoints Rob Bonta as Attorney General

On March 24, 2021, Gavin Newsom announced he would appoint California state assemblyman Rob Bonta as Attorney General. Schiff had been lobbying for this position in February 2021, but faced opposition from criminal and social justice groups.

July 1, 2021: Schiff Appointed to January 6 Committee

On July 1, 2021, Adam Schiff was among the nine members appointed by Pelosi to the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol.

October 2021: Published "Midnight in Washington"

In October 2021, Adam Schiff published "Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could", a book about the Trump presidency.

Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could

Check it on Amazon

January 2022: Schiff Announced Reelection Campaign

In January 2022, Adam Schiff announced he would run for reelection in the new 30th district.

June 21, 2022: Schiff Leads Day 4 of January 6 Committee Hearings

On June 21, 2022, Adam Schiff led Day 4 of the committee's public hearings, which included testimony from Republican officials and focused on the harassment of Georgia poll worker Wandrea' ArShaye Moss and her family.

January 26, 2023: Schiff Declares Candidacy for U.S. Senate

On January 26, 2023, Adam Schiff announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2024 election.

April 2023: Schiff Reiterates Call for U.S. Recognition of Artsakh

In April 2023, Adam Schiff reiterated his call for U.S. recognition of the Republic of Artsakh.

October 2023: Schiff Condemns Hamas and Supports Israel

In October 2023, Adam Schiff condemned Hamas's actions during the Gaza war and voiced his support for Israel's right to self-defense. While rejecting calls for a ceasefire, he supported "humanitarian pauses" to deliver aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

2023: Schiff Removed from House Intelligence Committee

In 2023, Adam Schiff was removed from his position as chair of the House Intelligence Committee by Republican House speaker Kevin McCarthy.

March 5, 2024: Schiff Advances to General Election

On March 5, 2024, Adam Schiff advanced to the general election, where he faced Steve Garvey, a former professional baseball player.

December 8, 2024: Schiff Resigned from the House

On December 8, 2024, Adam Schiff resigned from the House of Representatives in preparation for an appointment to finish the remainder of Dianne Feinstein's term.

December 9, 2024: Schiff Sworn into the Senate

On December 9, 2024, Adam Schiff was officially sworn into the Senate after being elected in 2024.

2024: Schiff became a US Senator

In 2024, Adam Schiff became the junior United States Senator from California, a seat he has held since then. He was also serving his 12th term in the United States House of Representatives until 2024.

2024: Schiff Senate Campaign

In 2024, Adam Schiff ran for U.S. Senate. His candidacy was boosted by an endorsement from Nancy Pelosi on February 2, 2023, after Dianne Feinstein announced she would not seek reelection.

2024: AIPAC-affiliated Super PAC Support to Schiff's Senate Campaign

In 2024, the AIPAC-affiliated Super PAC, United Democracy Project, contributed $5 million to the pro-Schiff superpac Standing Strong during Schiff's Senate primary campaign. Democratic Majority for Israel's political arm, DMFI PAC, also endorsed Schiff during this campaign.