Around the globe and from within, the nation now faces the most vigorous challenge to the idea of liberal democracy since World War II, U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff said during an Oct. 10 visit to Cornell.
鈥淭here is a very new and pernicious ideological struggle going on now between democracy and representative government, and dictatorship and autocracy,鈥 said Schiff, a Democrat from California. 鈥淭his I think is the seminal ideological challenge of our time.鈥
Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Schiff spoke at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts鈥 Kiplinger Theater as part of the 鈥淚nside Congress鈥 series sponsored by .
The event was billed as an opportunity to learn about the role of the Intelligence Committee and congressional oversight of national security, but current events took center stage, with the House鈥檚 impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump 鈥 led by Schiff 鈥 dominating the discussion.
鈥淎nything going on in your life recently?鈥 joked Steve Israel, a former congressman and director of the sponsoring institute, noting that he鈥檇 been uncertain until the night before if Schiff would be able to keep his appointment in Ithaca.
Schiff said he wasn鈥檛 an early proponent of pursuing impeachment, fearing that a failed process might embolden Trump and future presidents about what conduct would be tolerated.
But Trump asking Ukraine to investigate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his family, apparently while withholding military aid approved by Congress, Schiff said, constituted 鈥渁 bridge too far.鈥
He said when the founders drafted an impeachment clause, they were deeply concerned about the potential for foreign interference in American politics or a foreign hold on an American leader.
Schiff said he came to support an impeachment inquiry because 鈥渢he risk that the president feels that he can do anything 鈥 no matter how improper, illegal, egregious 鈥 and there is no accountability, is the principal danger right now.鈥
Legally, Schiff said in response to an audience question, it doesn鈥檛 matter whether the Ukraine talks involved a quid pro quo, only that Trump solicited a foreign power to interfere in the 2020 election.
the Clinton Rossiter Professor in American Institutions in the 麻豆视频 and 麻豆视频 and faculty director of the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs, asked about implications for the separation of powers of the Trump administration鈥檚 repeated resistance to congressional oversight.
Schiff said many presidents have griped about congressional oversight but complied with their constitutional responsibility to a co-equal branch of government. The 鈥渁bsolute nature鈥 of the Trump administration鈥檚 stonewalling is unprecedented, he said, and would have lasting consequences for the balance of power if it succeeds in rendering Congress powerless.
The courts have sided with Congress in important matters concerning its oversight powers, including regarding the Watergate tapes, Schiff said. But he said there鈥檚 a fundamental difference in today鈥檚 world compared to the early 1970s: The presence of media outlets offering 鈥渁n alternate information ecosystem in which the president鈥檚 supporters can live.鈥
Because of that, Schiff said, the nation is now more polarized. Fewer Republicans are willing to stand up to the president or to put the interests of democratic institutions ahead of party interests.
Schiff shared concerns about the administration鈥檚 inaction regarding potential Russian interference in the 2020 election; about falling morale in the intelligence community; and about the chilling effect that could result from Trump鈥檚 threats to out the whistleblower whose complaint sparked the impeachment inquiry.
The latter issue should worry members of both parties, he said, because 鈥渘ext time the whistleblower may be blowing the whistle on a Democratic president.鈥
Schiff concluded with a call to action, urging students not to let an 鈥渦gly and divisive period鈥 discourage them from engaging in politics or public service.
鈥淭his is a time when the country needs each and every American, where I think the fate of our democracy is at stake,鈥 he said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be discouraged, be involved.鈥
The nonpartisan Institute for Politics and Global Affairs鈥 mission is to raise political discourse and deepen understanding of domestic and international affairs.
On Oct. 17 in New York City, the institute will host an 鈥淚nside the White House鈥 discussion with Reince Priebus, former White House chief of staff for Trump and former chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Additional upcoming events this year will feature Charlie Cook, editor and publisher of the Cook Political Report; Republican congressman Peter King; and Chris Matthews, the host of 鈥淗ardball with Chris Matthews鈥 on MSNBC.
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