Leaked Video Appears To Show Adam Schiff Asleep During Confirmation Hearing
Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) has become the subject of a viral controversy after a leaked video appeared to show him nodding off during the vital confirmation hearing for Attorney General-designate Pam Bondi.
The footage, which surfaced online Wednesday, captured Schiff with his head tilted and eyes closed as Bondi fields intense questioning from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Critics were quick to pounce on the moment, calling it another embarrassment for the California senator, who has faced growing scrutiny since his censure by Congress last year.
Earlier, the day began with a fiery exchange between Bondi, President-elect Trump’s pick for Attorney General, and Schiff. The former Florida Attorney General faced questioning about her approach to presidential pardons, hypothetical investigations, and her readiness to take on the nation’s top law enforcement role.
“Will it be your advice to the President: ‘No, Mr. President. I need to go over them on a case-by-case basis. Do not issue blanket pardons.’ Will that be your advice to the President?” Schiff pressed.
“Senator, I have not looked at any of those files. If confirmed, I will look at the files for the pardons as well as the ongoing investigation,” Bondi fired back, maintaining her composure.
LEAKED VIDEO: Senator Adam Schiff falls asleep LIVE at Pam Bondi hearing in latest humiliation for the state of California
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 15, 2025
When Schiff questioned her ability to review hundreds of cases immediately upon taking office, Bondi didn’t mince words: “I will look at every file I am asked to look at. I’m not going to mislead this body, nor you.” The exchange took a sharp turn when Bondi referenced Schiff’s censure by Congress. “You were censured by Congress, Senator, for comments just like this that are so reckless!”
The hearing also saw Schiff attempt to drag Bondi into a controversial investigation involving former Rep. Liz Cheney. Schiff asked whether Bondi had a “factual predicate” to investigate Cheney, who has been accused of witness tampering during her work on the January 6 Committee.
Bondi refused to take the bait. “Senator, no one has asked me to investigate Liz Cheney. That is a hypothetical. The crime rate in California right now is through the roof. Your robberies are 87% higher than the national average. That’s what I want to be focused on, Senator, if I’m confirmed as Attorney General,” she said, deftly pivoting to a critique of California’s skyrocketing crime rates.
Bondi’s nomination comes after President-elect Trump’s original pick, Matt Gaetz, stepped down amid controversy. Bondi, widely seen as a tough-on-crime figure, has received support from over 100 former Justice Department officials who cite her commitment to the rule of law and her proven record in Florida.
Schiff has faced ongoing backlash throughout his political career. In 2023, the Republican-led House censured him for alleged misconduct during investigations into Trump’s ties to Russia. Schiff denied the accusations, calling them defamatory. During his Senate campaign, progressive groups criticized him for heavy spending in the primary, claiming it sidelined more progressive voices. Additionally, Trump has repeatedly targeted Schiff, including labeling him an “enemy from within” during the 2024 election season.
