Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., on Sunday called it a “mistake” for the Trump administration to not have informed Congress in advance of the deadly overnight strike that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
In an interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” Schiff, who heads the House panel that’s conducting an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, said neither he nor House Speaker were given the heads-up about the strike.
“The reason to notify the ‘gang of eight’ is more important when things go wrong,” he said, referring to the informal term that means the majority and minority leaders of each chamber as well as the chairs and ranking minority members of the intelligence committees.
“Had something gone wrong, it’s to the administration’s advantage to be able to say ‘we informed Congress, they were aware of the risks,’” he said, adding:
“That wasn’t done there, I think that’s a mistake.”
Nevertheless, he said, “Let’s not lose sight of the fact this was a success.”
“Good riddance, this was a blood thirsty killer,” he said of al-Baghdadi.
“It’s an operational success, it’s a symbolic victory,” he said. “He had the blood of thousands and thousands of people on his hands… this is a great day [because] a ruthless killer has been brought to justice.”
But, he warned, it’s “not the end of ISIS by any means.”
“That struggle is going to have to go on,” he said.
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