Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) bashed the "grifters and thieves" that have taken over the Republican Party, although he believes some of Donald Trump's most conspiracy-addled supporters might actually be mentally ill.
The California Democrat, who led Trump's first impeachment and sits on the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, said U.S. democracy sits at a "very tenuous point" as Republicans and conservative media figures undermine faith in free and fair elections based on the former president's lies, reported The Daily Beast.
"Today's GOP, it's become a cult," Schiff told the site's "New Abnormal" podcast. "A man runs for president on a platform of building a wall that he says Mexico's going to pay for. It's an absurd idea to begin with. He becomes president. Of course, he doesn't build a wall because Mexico is not going to pay for him, and then his buddies, including Mr. Bannon, raise money from his own supporters to purportedly build a wall, steal it, and then he pardons them for stealing from his own people."
"It's the most consummate den of thieves and grifters imaginable," he added.
Most conservatives who are helping Trump repeat his election lies understand what they're doing, Schiff said, but he said at least one of his colleagues. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), might have mental issues at play.
"I think the MTGs are legitimately nuts, but most of the Republican conference that's pushing the Big Lie understands it's a big lie," Schiff said. "They're not stupid. They know exactly what they're doing, and then it is just craven capitulation to Donald Trump because they fear a primary, because they want to advance within the party."
"For every one Liz Cheney, there are at least five willing to say, 'If you're not willing to push the Big Lie, I volunteer. You know, nothing's more important to me than my ambition, and if it means tearing down one of the pillars of our democracy… then sign me up,'" Schiff added. "Sadly, that's where most of the Republicans are right now."
