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 lawyer, author, and politician. He is currently the junior United States Senator from California, a position he assumed in 2024. Prior to his Senate tenure, Schiff served for 12 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (2001-2024) and in the California State Senate (1996-2000). He is a member of the Democratic Party.
1987: Schiff Becomes 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 Prosecutes Richard Miller
In 1993, as an assistant United States attorney, Adam Schiff prosecuted the case against Richard Miller, a former FBI agent who spied for the Soviet Union. This case brought Schiff to public attention.
1993: Schiff Prosecutes Soviet Spy
In 1993, as an assistant United States attorney, Adam Schiff successfully prosecuted Soviet spy Richard Miller.
May 1994: Schiff Loses Special Election for CA State Assembly
In May 1994, Adam Schiff was a candidate for the 43rd district seat in the California State Assembly in a special election and lost to Republican nominee James E. Rogan.
1996: Schiff Elected to California State Senate
In 1996, Adam Schiff was elected to represent the 21st district in the California State Senate, defeating Republican assemblywoman Paula Boland.
1998: Senate Bill 1847 Passed
In 1998, Senate Bill 1847, authored by Adam Schiff, was passed, renaming the Blue Line light rail to the Gold Line and creating the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority.
2000: End of Schiff's Term in CA Senate
Adam Schiff's service in the California State Senate concluded in 2000, after being elected in 1996.
2000: Schiff Unseats Rogan
In 2000, Adam Schiff unseated incumbent James E. Rogan in California's 27th congressional district, winning 53% of the vote and becoming only the second Democrat to represent the district since its creation.
2000: Schiff Wins Congressional Seat
In 2000, Adam Schiff won the election for California's 27th congressional district. After the census, the district was renumbered to the 29th district.
2001: Schiff Elected to US House
In 2001, Adam Schiff was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he served for 12 terms until 2024.
2001: Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists
In 2001, Schiff introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists because he felt that "the current AUMF is outdated and straining at the edges to justify the use of force outside the war theater".
2001: Bush-era Plans to Fight ISIS
In February 2015, discussing how or whether to tailor Bush-era plans from 2001 and 2002 to fight ISIS, Schiff was asked whether he regretted the vote for Iraq invasion.
2002: Bush-era Plans to Fight ISIS
In February 2015, discussing how or whether to tailor Bush-era plans from 2001 and 2002 to fight ISIS, Schiff was asked whether he regretted the vote for Iraq invasion.
2003: Schiff Votes for Iraq Invasion
In 2003, Adam Schiff voted in favor of the invasion of Iraq, a decision he later expressed regret for due to faulty intelligence.
2003: Pasadena Gold Line Finished
In 2003, the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority finished the Pasadena line, a project influenced by Senate Bill 1847 from 1998.
2006: Schiff Forms Congressional Caucus for the Freedom of the Press
In 2006, Adam Schiff formed the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Caucus for the Freedom of the Press, aimed at advancing press freedom around the world.
October 11, 2007: Armenian Genocide Resolution Approved by Committee
On October 11, 2007, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved U.S. House Resolution 106, introduced by Adam Schiff, recognizing the Armenian genocide.
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 Proposed
On October 1, 2009, the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act was originally introduced to Congress by Adam Schiff, Representative Mike Pence, and Senator Christopher Dodd.
2009: Schiff appointed as impeachment manager for Judge Samuel B. Kent's trial
In 2009, Schiff was appointed as an impeachment manager (prosecutor) in the impeachment trial of Judge Samuel B. Kent. He was the lead manager alongside Bob Goodlatte.
March 4, 2010: Armenian Genocide Resolution Approved Again
On March 4, 2010, the House Foreign Affairs Committee again approved the resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide by a 23–22 margin. Immediately, the Turkish government recalled 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, with the Pearl family present.
2010: Schiff Defeats John Colbert
In 2010, Adam Schiff defeated Tea Party-backed Republican John Colbert for a sixth term, continuing his service in the House of Representatives.
2010: Participated in Washington, D.C. triathlon
In 2010, Adam Schiff was the only U.S. representative to participate in the inaugural Washington, D.C., triathlon.
2012: Schiff Defeats Phil Jennerjahn
In 2012, Adam Schiff defeated Republican Phil Jennerjahn, securing another term in the House of Representatives.
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 Defeats Steve Stokes
In 2014, Adam Schiff defeated independent candidate Steve Stokes, continuing his tenure in the House of Representatives.
2014: Schiff Introduces Telephone Metadata Reform Act
In 2014, Adam Schiff introduced the Telephone Metadata Reform Act, aimed at prohibiting 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, to raise awareness and funding to fight HIV and AIDS.
2014: Schiff 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 Creates Helicopter Noise Complaint System
In 2015, as a result of Schiff's efforts, the FAA created a countywide helicopter noise public complaint system in Los Angeles County, marking the first step toward regulation.
December 2016: Schiff urges Obama to veto UN resolution on Israeli settlements
In December 2016, Schiff urged Obama to veto UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories as a violation of international law.
2016: Schiff Defeats Lenore Solis
In 2016, Adam Schiff defeated Republican candidate Lenore Solis, further solidifying his position in the House of Representatives.
2016: Accusations of collusion between Trump campaign and Russians
In 2016, Schiff accuses Trump's campaign of colluding with Russians.
2016: Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections
In 2016, Schiff discussed Russian interference in the United States elections.
2016: Trump's presidential campaign
In 2016, during Donald Trump's presidential campaign, Schiff alleges that there was collusion with Russia.
2016: Gold Line Extended to Azusa
In 2016, the Gold Line was extended to Azusa, continuing the work initiated by Adam Schiff's legislation in 1998.
March 22, 2017: Schiff discusses Trump's campaign collusion with Russia
On March 22, 2017, in an interview with Chuck Todd, Schiff stated that there was "more than circumstantial evidence now" that Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Russia and that there was "evidence that is not circumstantial and is very much worthy of investigation".
April 2, 2017: Schiff discusses Russian interference in the 2016 elections
On April 2, 2017, Schiff appeared on CNN's State of the Union and discussed Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, Michael Flynn's request for immunity, separate inspections of White House documents, Trump's allegations of wiretapping in Trump Tower, and Nunes's association with the Trump White House.
July 23, 2017: Schiff comments on presidential interests and Russian influence
On July 23, 2017, Schiff said that the president should operate in America's best interest, not based on personal interests or concerns about Russian influence. Trump responded on Twitter, calling Schiff "Sleazy Adam Schiff" and dismissing the Russian collusion investigation as an excuse for the "Dem loss". Schiff countered that Trump's comments were "beneath the dignity of the office".
April 2018: Schiff comments on North Korea talks
In April 2018, Schiff suggested 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, Schiff suggested that Trump associate Roger Stone might have lied to Congress, and said the transcript of his testimony should be forwarded to the Special Counsel.
2018: Schiff Defeats Johnny Nalbandian
In 2018, Adam Schiff defeated Republican nominee Johnny Nalbandian after Democratic challenger Kim Gruenenfelder dropped out of the race.
2018: Reported to write screenplays
In 2018, The New Yorker reported that Adam Schiff had been writing screenplays on the side for years, including a murder mystery, a post-Holocaust story, and a spy drama.
February 2019: Schiff condemns Ilhan Omar's anti-Semitic tweet
In February 2019, Schiff condemned Representative Ilhan Omar's tweet implying that lobby money was fueling American politicians' support of Israel, stating that it was "never acceptable to give voice to, or repeat, anti-Semitic smears".
March 28, 2019: Republicans call for Schiff's resignation
On March 28, 2019, Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee called for Schiff to resign due to his allegations that Trump's campaign colluded with Russians in the 2016 election. Schiff responded by accusing the Republican members of tolerating "immoral" and "corrupt" conduct by Trump campaign members and administration appointees.
April 2019: Schiff voted for War Powers Act resolution
In April 2019, Adam Schiff voted for a bipartisan resolution under the War Powers Act to end U.S. involvement in the war. The resolution passed the Senate and House, but was ultimately vetoed.
October 29, 2019: House Passes Armenian Genocide Resolution
On October 29, 2019, the full House of Representatives passed the resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide by a vote of 405–11.
November 2019: Roger Stone was convicted of lying to Congress
In November 2019, Roger Stone was convicted of lying to Congress.
December 18, 2019: Trump impeached
On December 18, 2019, Trump was impeached along party lines in the House, with Schiff as a lead investigator in the impeachment inquiry.
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 connections to Russia
In 2019, upon becoming chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Schiff investigated Trump's connections to Russia, separate from the Special Counsel investigation. He faced criticism for his stance on accepting the Special Counsel's findings.
January 15, 2020: Schiff named lead impeachment manager
On January 15, 2020, Nancy Pelosi named Schiff a lead impeachment manager, leading a team responsible for presenting the impeachment case against Trump during his Senate trial.
December 2020: Biden nominates Becerra for HHS Secretary
In December 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced he would nominate Attorney General of California Xavier Becerra for Secretary of Health and Human Services.
2020: Schiff Wins Primary
In 2020, Adam Schiff faced a crowded primary, which included Republican attorney Eric Early and Democratic drag queen Maebe A. Girl. He won the primary with a majority of the vote.
2020: Schiff Wins Primary and General Election
In 2020, Adam Schiff won the primary with a majority of the vote, and defeated Republican attorney Eric Early in the general election.
2020: Schiff on the Nagorno-Karabakh war
In 2020, Schiff accused Turkey of inciting the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, calling for a reevaluation of the U.S. relationship with Turkey and Azerbaijan.
February 2021: Schiff lobbies for Attorney General appointment
In February 2021, Axios reported that Schiff was lobbying Governor Gavin Newsom and his allies to appoint him as Attorney General of California.
March 24, 2021: Newsom appoints Rob Bonta as Attorney General
On March 24, 2021, Newsom announced he would appoint California state assemblyman Rob Bonta as Attorney General.
July 1, 2021: Schiff appointed to January 6th Committee
On July 1, 2021, Pelosi appointed Schiff 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 recounting the effects of the Trump presidency.
January 2022: Schiff Announces Reelection Run
In January 2022, Adam Schiff announced that he would run for reelection in the newly renumbered 30th district.
June 21, 2022: Schiff leads January 6th Committee public hearing
On June 21, 2022, Schiff led Day 4 of the committee's public hearings, which included testimony from Republican officials and focused on threats to Georgia poll worker Wandrea' ArShaye Moss and her family.
January 26, 2023: Schiff declares candidacy for U.S. Senate
On January 26, 2023, Schiff declared his candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2024 election.
April 2023: Schiff calls for U.S. recognition of the Republic of Artsakh
In April 2023, Schiff reiterated his call for U.S. recognition of the Republic of Artsakh.
June 21, 2023: House censures Schiff
On June 21, 2023, the House of Representatives censured Schiff in a party-line vote on H.Res. 521, which investigated his role as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee in promoting the "conspiracy theory" that Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 United States presidential election. The resolution established that Schiff misled the American public. Schiff has denied the allegations, calling them "defamatory".
2023: Schiff Removed from House Intelligence Committee
In 2023, Adam Schiff was removed from the House Intelligence Committee by Republican House speaker Kevin McCarthy.
March 5, 2024: Schiff advances to the general election
On March 5, 2024, Schiff advanced to the general election, facing Garvey.
December 8, 2024: Schiff Resigns 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 in the Senate.
December 9, 2024: Schiff Sworn into Senate
On December 9, 2024, Adam Schiff was officially sworn into the United States Senate, marking the commencement of his senatorial duties.
2024: Schiff Becomes US Senator
In 2024, Adam Schiff became the junior United States senator from California, a seat he has held since that year, marking a significant milestone in his political career.
2024: Schiff's Senate Campaign
In 2024, Schiff was a candidate for the United States Senate.
2024: Super PAC support during Schiff's Senate primary campaign
In 2024, the AIPAC-affiliated Super PAC, United Democracy Project, gave $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.
January 3, 2025: Senate term begins
On November 5, Schiff won the election for the Senate term beginning on January 3, 2025.
2025: Planned Extension of Gold Line to Pomona
As of 2025, a third leg of the Gold Line is intended to extend the line to Pomona, furthering the initiatives started by Adam Schiff's work on the project in 1998.
2025: Schiff supports Israeli strikes on Iran
In 2025, Schiff supported the Israeli strikes on Iran, claiming that Israel could "not afford" to let Iran develop a nuclear weapon.
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