It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.

California Democrat Representative Adam Schiff was censured yesterday by his House colleagues for repeatedly spreading numerous falsehoods about former President Donald Trump regarding the whole Russia collusion hoax. Short of expulsion, censure is the highest form of reprimand for bad behavior in Congress.

Now if only Schiff’s California constituents would recall him as an embarrassment and a hack instead of promoting him to one of California’s two permanently Democrat Senate seats.

“By repeatedly telling these falsehoods,” the resolution reads, “Representative Schiff purposely deceived his Committee, Congress, and the American people.”

Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of Florida sponsored the censure resolution. In a speech yesterday, she argued that Schiff “woke up every morning with one goal, to lie, lie, lie to the American people that there was direct evidence of Russia collusion.”

We can’t speak to Schiff’s morning routine, but Special Counsel Robert Mueller certainly proved the collusion hoax was a lie. Regardless of that truth, just a few months later Schiff summarily led the charge to impeach Trump over a related kerfuffle involving Ukraine. We dedicated numerous stories to that “Schiff Show.”

Just yesterday, Special Counsel John Durham testified to the House Judiciary Committee — on which Schiff sits — that the FBI acted disgracefully based on the Democrats’ lies about Russia and Trump.

On Tuesday, Durham testified to the House Intelligence Committee, which Schiff also would have heard if he hadn’t been removed earlier this year. Schiff was booted from that powerful committee because, as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy explained, he “lied too many times to the American public.”

Six Republicans voted “present” on yesterday’s censure, but the resolution still passed 213-209.

As the vote concluded, several Democrat representatives shamelessly screamed “Shame! Shame! Shame!” McCarthy paused several times during their repeated interruptions. “I have all night,” he eventually deadpanned.

“You are the party of George Santos,” thundered Dan Goldman, who, like Santos, represents a district in New York. Santos has seemingly lied about, well, pretty much everything. But he has also been shunned by most Republicans, he holds no committee assignments, and his reelection prospects are dim. By contrast, Schiff has been promoted and celebrated by his party for his lies as the leading attack dog against the Bad Orange Man, and his constituents, who first elected him in 2000, keep sending him back for more.

The two men as not even remotely the comparison Goldman thinks they are.

Somewhat humorously, Schiff prematurely spiked the football when a similar censure resolution including a $16 million fine failed last week. He called it “political payback” that sets “a dangerous precedent of going after someone who held a corrupt president accountable.” Spare us.

As for the resolution that passed yesterday, “You honor me with your enmity. You flatter me with this falsehood,” he sanctimoniously declared. “Your words tell me I have been effective in the defense of our democracy, and I am grateful.” Spare us again.

Schiff bears more responsibility than most Democrats for the partisan rancor surrounding the 2016 and 2020 elections, and that’s saying something. His lies divided the nation. And he’s “grateful”? Astounding.

Finally, permit us a little schadenfreude. Yesterday’s censure wasn’t the only stain on Schiff’s record. Durham also scored a hilarious point against him during his testimony.

First, a little setup. During the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump Jr. met with a Russian cohort in Trump Tower after being promised dirt on Hillary Clinton. It didn’t pan out because the Russians were actually there for another reason. Nevertheless, Schiff attempted to grandstand about that yesterday, and Durham set and sprung a brilliant trap. Here’s the exchange:

Schiff: “Donald Trump Jr. was informed that a Russian official was offering the Trump campaign ‘very high-level and sensitive information’ that would be incriminating of Hillary Clinton…”

Durham: “Sure, people get phone calls all the time from individuals who claim to have information like that.”

Schiff: “Really? The son of a presidential candidate gets calls all the time from a foreign government offering dirt on their opponent? Is that what you’re saying?”

Durham: “I don’t think this is unique in your experience.”

John Durham makes a fool of Adam Schiff

Schiff: Really the son of a presidential candidate gets called all the time from a foreign government offering dirt on their opponent?

Durham: I don’t think this situation is unique in your experience pic.twitter.com/5n7t2qAGIY

— Media Research Center (@theMRC) June 21, 2023

The Leftmedia won’t report why that was funny, but back in 2018, Schiff took a call from two Russians claiming to have “compromising materials” on Trump, including nude photos.

It was a prank by two comedians, and Schiff fell for it hook, line, and sinker.