MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Trump calls for Adam Schiff's resignation after 'parody' transcript reading, says he 'totally made up my conversation'

In his reading on Thursday, September 26, Rep Adam Schiff had tried his best to sound like the president while reading a transcript of his phone call with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky

BY PRIYAM CHHETRI

UPDATED MAR 20, 2020

Donald Trump has torn into House Intelligence chairman Rep Adam Schiff after he read out a "parody" version of the transcript of Trump's phone call with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky from July 25.

The reading was part of a hearing on Thursday, September 26, regarding a new impeachment inquiry by Democratic lawmakers.

Trump slammed the reading online and claimed that Schiff had changed it to make him "sound horrible" and "guilty" and called for his resignation. "HE WAS DESPERATE AND HE GOT CAUGHT. Adam Schiff, therefore, lied to Congress and attempted to defraud the American Public," the president wrote angrily.

Trump added, "He has been doing this for two years. I am calling for him to immediately resign from Congress based on this fraud!"

In a series of tweets, he reiterated his demand saying Schiff "totally made up my conversation with Ukraine President and read it to Congress and Millions. He must resign and be investigated."

He also said, calling the phone call a "perfect" one, that if it wasn't "appropriate", "then no future President can EVER again speak to another foreign leader".

House Intelligence Committee ranking member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) arrives for a Democratic caucus meeting in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center November 14, 2018, in Washington, DC. Democrats gained 33 seats in the House of Representatives in the midterm elections so far and appear on track to gain between 35 and 40 once all the counting is complete, putting them in control of the chamber in 2019. (Getty Images)

Schiff responded to Trump's Twitter attack with a tweet of his own saying that he was definitely right about one thing — his words did not need a parody. "You engaged in a shakedown to get election dirt from a foreign country."

"And then you tried to cover it up. But you’re right about one thing — your words need no mockery," he wrote, adding, "Your own words and deeds mock themselves. But most importantly here, they endanger our country."

In his reading on Thursday, Schiff had tried his best to sound like the president, saying, "I hear what you want. I have a favor I want from you, though, and I’m going to say this only seven times, so you better listen good."

Schiff, channeling Trump, told the committee. “I want you to make up dirt on my political opponent, understand? Lots of it."

The parody drew disgruntlement from Conservative members and the Trump team and he went on to clarify his statement. "My summary of the president’s call was meant to be at least part in parody."

"The fact that that’s not clear is a separate problem in and of itself. My point is, that's the message that the Ukraine president was receiving, in not so many words."