Adam Schiff is an American politician serving as a U.S. Representative from California since 2001. A Democrat, he previously served in the California State Senate (1996-2000). He also worked as a lawyer and author.
1913: Becoming the Second Democrat to Represent the District
Adam Schiff became only the second Democrat to represent the 27th congressional district since its creation in 1913.
June 22, 1960: Adam Schiff's Birth
Adam Bennett Schiff was born on June 22, 1960 in Framingham, Massachusetts.
1970: Moving to Scottsdale, Arizona
In 1970, Adam Schiff moved with his parents to Scottsdale, Arizona.
1972: Moving to Alamo, California
Adam Schiff and his family moved to Alamo, California, in 1972.
1978: High School Graduation
In 1978, Adam Schiff graduated from Monte Vista High School in Danville, California.
1982: Graduation from Stanford University
Adam Schiff graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Stanford University in 1982.
1985: Graduation from Harvard Law School
Adam Schiff received his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1985.
1987: Start as Assistant US Attorney
Adam Schiff began working as an assistant United States attorney in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of California in 1987.
1990: Meeting Eve Sanderson
Adam Schiff met his future wife, Eve Sanderson, on a tennis court in 1990.
1993: End of Assistant US Attorney Role
Adam Schiff's time as assistant United States attorney in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of California ended in 1993.
1993: Successful Prosecution of Richard Miller
In 1993, as an assistant United States attorney, Adam Schiff successfully prosecuted Soviet spy Richard Miller.
May 1994: Candidacy for the 43rd District Seat in the California State Assembly
Adam Schiff ran for the 43rd district seat in the California State Assembly in a special election in May 1994.
1994: End of Separatist War in Nagorno-Karabakh
In 1994, a separatist war in Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed region within Azerbaijan, came to an end. The region has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since then.
1995: Marriage to Eve Sanderson
Adam Schiff married Eve Sanderson in 1995.
1996: Election to the California State Senate
Adam Schiff was elected to the California State Senate in 1996, representing the 21st district.
1996: Becoming the Youngest Member of the State Senate
When his term began in 1996, Adam Schiff became the youngest member of the California State Senate at 36 years old.
1998: Authorship of Senate Bill 1847
In 1998, Adam Schiff authored Senate Bill 1847, Chapter 1021, which helped continue the development of the Blue Line light rail extension to Pasadena.
2000: Winning the 27th Congressional District Seat
Adam Schiff defeated incumbent James E. Rogan in California's 27th congressional district in 2000.
2000: End of California State Senate Term
Adam Schiff's term in the California State Senate ended in 2000.
2000: Redistricting After the 2000 Census
After the 2000 census, Adam Schiff's district was renumbered to the 29th and became significantly more Democratic.
2001: Discussion of Bush-Era Plans to Fight ISIS
In February 2015, there was discussion of adapting Bush-era plans from 2001 and 2002 to fight ISIS.
2001: Beginning of Congressional Service
In 2001, Adam Schiff began his service as a U.S. Representative from California.
2001: Schiff Introduces Legislation to Repeal 2001 AUMF
Following President Obama's speech on war powers, Schiff introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists, believing it to be outdated.
2002: Discussion of Bush-Era Plans to Fight ISIS
In February 2015, there was discussion of adapting Bush-era plans from 2001 and 2002 to fight ISIS.
2003: Vote for the Invasion of Iraq
Adam Schiff voted in favor of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
2003: Completion of the Pasadena Gold Line
The Pasadena Gold Line was completed in 2003.
2006: Schiff Forms Congressional Caucus for the Freedom of the Press
In 2006, Schiff formed the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Caucus for the Freedom of the Press.
October 11, 2007: House Foreign Affairs Committee Approves Armenian Genocide Resolution
On October 11, 2007, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved U.S. House Resolution 106, recognizing the Armenian genocide. However, it started losing support after Turkey's prime minister threatened US-Turkey relations.
2007: Joining the House Appropriations Committee
Adam Schiff joined the House Appropriations Committee in 2007.
2007: Schiff and Flake Offer Amendment to Clarify Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
In 2007, 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, Schiff, Representative Mike Pence, and Senator Christopher Dodd introduced the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act.
2009: Schiff Serves as Impeachment Manager in Trials of Judges Kent and Porteous
In 2009, Schiff served as an impeachment manager (prosecutor) in the impeachment trials of Judge Samuel B. Kent and Judge Thomas Porteous. He acted as lead manager alongside Bob Goodlatte in both cases.
March 4, 2010: House Foreign Affairs Committee Reapproves Armenian Genocide Resolution
On March 4, 2010, the House Foreign Affairs Committee again approved the Armenian genocide resolution, 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: Participation in Washington, D.C. Triathlon
In 2010, Schiff became the only U.S. Representative to participate in the inaugural Washington, D.C. triathlon.
2010: Victory Against John Colbert
Adam Schiff defeated Tea Party-backed Republican John Colbert for a sixth term in 2010.
2010: Redistricting After the 2010 Census
After the 2010 census, Adam Schiff's district was renumbered to the 28th and became even more Democratic.
2012: Victory Against Phil Jennerjahn
Adam Schiff defeated Republican Phil Jennerjahn in 2012.
2012: Schiff Criticizes Select Committee to Investigate the 2012 Benghazi Attack
Prior to his appointment, Schiff had called the establishment of a select committee to investigate the 2012 Benghazi attack a "colossal waste of time".
January 2014: Schiff Introduces Telephone Metadata Reform Act
In January 2014, Schiff introduced the Telephone Metadata Reform Act, which would prohibit the bulk collection of domestic phone records, as part of his efforts for surveillance reforms.
2014: Victory Against Steve Stokes
Adam Schiff defeated independent candidate Steve Stokes in 2014.
2014: Schiff Works on Helicopter Noise Relief Act
In 2014 Schiff worked on the Helicopter Noise Relief Act, a measure to reduce unwanted helicopter noise across Los Angeles County, He worked with Senator Dianne Feinstein to push the FAA to act, and together they 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: AIDS/LifeCycle Participation
In 2014, Adam Schiff was the first member of Congress to participate in the AIDS/LifeCycle charity bike ride.
2014: Schiff Appointed to House Select Committee on Benghazi
Nancy Pelosi appointed Schiff to the House Select Committee on Benghazi in 2014.
February 2015: Expression of Regret for Iraq War Vote
In February 2015, Adam Schiff publicly expressed regret for his vote in favor of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, stating that the intelligence was "dead wrong."
2015: FAA Creates Helicopter Noise Public Complaint System
In 2015, as a result of Schiff and Feinstein's efforts, the FAA created a countywide helicopter noise public complaint system, the first step toward regulation.
2015: Schiff Supports Saudi Arabian-led Intervention in Yemen
Schiff expressed his support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen in 2015, believing it was necessitated by the Houthi rebels.
December 2016: Schiff Urges Obama to Veto UN Resolution on Israeli Settlements
In December 2016, Schiff urged President Obama to veto UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories.
2016: Victory Against Lenore Solis
Adam Schiff defeated Republican candidate Lenore Solis in 2016.
2016: First Impeachment of Donald Trump
In 2016, Donald Trump faced his first impeachment inquiry.
2016: Russian Interference in the 2016 United States Elections
In 2016, Russia interfered in the United States elections.
2016: Allegations of Collusion Between Trump Campaign and Russia
In 2016, allegations arose suggesting that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the election.
2016: Trump-Russia Collusion Allegations
Schiff's allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election sparked significant controversy.
2016: Gold Line Extension to Azusa
The Gold Line was extended to Azusa in 2016.
March 22, 2017: Schiff Claims "More Than Circumstantial Evidence" of Trump Campaign Collusion with Russia
On March 22, 2017, Schiff claimed in an interview that there was "more than circumstantial evidence" of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign colluding with Russia.
April 2, 2017: Schiff Discusses Russian Interference in 2016 Election on CNN
On April 2, 2017, Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, appeared on CNN's State of the Union to discuss Russian interference in the 2016 election. He spoke about topics including Michael Flynn's request for immunity, Devin Nunes's investigation into Trump's allegations of wiretapping, and the possibility of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
July 23, 2017: Schiff Raises Concerns Over Trump's Actions on Meet the Press
On July 23, 2017, Adam Schiff appeared on Meet the Press and expressed concern that President Trump may be acting in his own self-interest rather than the best interests of the United States, particularly with regard to Russia.
April 2018: Schiff Comments on Trump's Role in North Korea Talks
In April 2018, when asked about President Trump's role in bringing North Korea to the negotiating table, Schiff acknowledged that Trump's unpredictable and aggressive behavior likely played a part in North Korea's decision to engage in talks.
December 2018: Schiff Suggests Roger Stone Lied to Congress
In December 2018, Adam Schiff suggested that Roger Stone, an associate of President Trump, may have lied to Congress. He called for Stone's testimony transcript to be sent to the Special Counsel.
2018: Victory Against Johnny Nalbandian
Adam Schiff defeated Republican nominee Johnny Nalbandian in 2018.
February 2019: Schiff Condemns Omar's Tweet About AIPAC
In February 2019, Schiff condemned a tweet by Representative Ilhan Omar that suggested American politicians' support for Israel was influenced by lobby money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Schiff called the tweet an anti-Semitic smear.
March 28, 2019: Republican House Members Call for Schiff's Resignation
On March 28, 2019, the nine Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee called for Adam Schiff's resignation. They cited his allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. Schiff countered by accusing the Republicans of overlooking unethical and corrupt behavior by members of the Trump campaign and administration.
April 2019: Schiff Votes to End US Involvement in Yemen War
In April 2019, Schiff voted for a bipartisan resolution to end U.S. involvement in the Yemen war.
October 29, 2019: House of Representatives Passes Armenian Genocide Resolution
The full House of Representatives passed the Armenian genocide resolution on October 29, 2019, 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.
December 18, 2019: Trump Impeached by the House of Representatives
On December 18, 2019, Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives, becoming the third U.S. president to be impeached. This came after an impeachment inquiry led by Schiff and other House members, related to the Trump-Ukraine scandal. The vote was largely along party lines, with 228 voting to impeach and 193 voting against.
2019: Schiff Leads Investigation into Trump's Russia Connections
In 2019, as chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff launched an investigation into President Trump's alleged connections to Russia. This investigation was separate from the Special Counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller.
2019: Start of House Intelligence Committee Chairmanship
Adam Schiff began serving as the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee in 2019.
January 15, 2020: Schiff Leads Impeachment Team Against Trump in Senate Trial
On January 15, 2020, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Adam Schiff as a lead impeachment manager for President Trump's Senate trial. In this role, he led a team of seven House members responsible for presenting the case against Trump.
March 27, 2020: Determination of Eric Early as General Election Opponent
On March 27, 2020, Republican attorney Eric Early was finally determined to have advanced to the general election against Adam Schiff.
December 2020: Lobbying for Attorney General Position
After Biden's nomination of Xavier Becerra for Secretary of Health and Human Services in December 2020, Adam Schiff began lobbying for the position of Attorney General of California.
2020: Redistricting After the 2020 Census
After the 2020 census, Adam Schiff's district was renumbered to the 30th and made more Democratic.
2020: Schiff Criticizes Turkey's Role in Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
In 2020, Adam Schiff accused Turkey of inciting the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, stating that Turkey's actions require a re-evaluation of the U.S. relationship with both Turkey and Azerbaijan.
February 2021: Continued Lobbying for Attorney General Position
Schiff continued lobbying for the Attorney General position through February 2021.
March 24, 2021: Opposition to Schiff's Attorney General Bid and Appointment of Rob Bonta
On March 24, 2021, several criminal and social justice groups opposed Schiff's bid for Attorney General. Subsequently, Newsom appointed Rob Bonta to the position.
July 1, 2021: Appointment to the Select Committee
On July 1, 2021, Adam Schiff was appointed by Nancy Pelosi to the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol.
October 2021: Publication of "Midnight in Washington"
Schiff published "Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could" in October 2021, recounting the effects of Trump's presidency.
January 2022: Announcement of Reelection Bid
In January 2022, Adam Schiff announced he would run for reelection in the new 30th district.
June 21, 2022: Leading the January 6 Committee Hearings
Adam Schiff led Day 4 of the January 6 committee's public hearings on June 21, 2022. The hearings focused on testimonies from Republican officials and the impact of harassment on a Georgia poll worker.
January 26, 2023: Senate Candidacy Announcement
On January 26, 2023, Adam Schiff announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2024 election.
February 2, 2023: Endorsement from Nancy Pelosi
On February 2, 2023, Adam Schiff received an endorsement for his Senate run from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
April 2023: Schiff Reiterates Call for US Recognition of Artsakh
In April 2023, Adam Schiff restated his call for the United States to recognize the Republic of Artsakh, a self-declared republic that has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces since the end of a separatist war in 1994.
June 21, 2023: House of Representatives Censures Schiff
On June 21, 2023, the House of Representatives voted to censure Adam Schiff. The resolution, H.Res. 521, alleged that he made false statements, misrepresented facts, and misused sensitive information related to the 2016 presidential election and the first impeachment of Donald Trump. Schiff denied the allegations.
October 2023: Schiff Condemns Hamas, Supports Israel in Conflict with Gaza
In October 2023, Schiff condemned Hamas's actions during the Israel-Hamas war and expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself. He opposed calls for a ceasefire but supported temporary humanitarian pauses to allow aid delivery to Gaza.
2023: Removal from House Intelligence Committee and Leave from Appropriations Committee
In 2023, Adam Schiff was removed from the House Intelligence Committee by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and is currently on leave from the House Appropriations Committee.
March 5, 2024: Advancement to General Election
On March 5, 2024, Schiff advanced to the general election for the U.S. Senate, where he will face Steve Garvey.
2024: Candidacy for the US Senate
Adam Schiff is a candidate in the 2024 United States Senate elections in California.
2024: Candidacy for US Senate Instead of Reelection
Adam Schiff is running to succeed Dianne Feinstein in the United States Senate in 2024, instead of running for a 13th term in the House of Representatives.
2025: Planned Extension of the Gold Line to Pomona
The Gold Line is intended to be extended to Pomona by 2025.