FACT CHECK: Was Adam Schiff Arrested By The Military?

Brad Sylvester | Fact Check Editor

A post shared on Facebook claims Democratic California Rep. Adam Schiff was arrested by the military.

Verdict: False

There is no evidence Schiff has been arrested. The claim appears to stem from a website that says it publishes “humor, parody, and satire.”

Fact Check:

The Facebook post includes what appears to be a screen grab of a May 26 news article bearing the headline, “Military Arrests Adam Schiff.” The text of the post further explains how Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, was arrested in Maryland on May 24 and charged with “high crimes and misdemeanors” by the U.S. Special Forces.

There is no record, however, of Schiff being arrested. Check Your Fact searched the Department of Justice’s website, as well as the Department of Defense’s website, but found no mention of Schiff being arrested. Had the congressman been arrested, media outlets certainly would have reported on it, yet none have.

Additionally, a search of Schiff’s verified Twitter and Facebook accounts show he has posted numerous times since May 24. Schiff appeared on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on June 20 and MSNBC’s “The Beat with Ari Melber” on June 21, weeks after he was allegedly arrested.

“This story is completely false and without basis in reality,” a spokesperson for Schiff told Check Your Fact in an email. (RELATED: Viral Post Claims Adam Schiff Will Be Charged With ‘Presidential Harassment’)

The screen grabbed article in the Facebook post appears to be from Real Raw News, a website that describes itself as publishing “humor, parody, and satire.” While Real Raw News clearly disclaims the satirical nature of its articles, the Facebook post fails to include such a warning, seemingly believing the satirical article to be factual.

This is not the first time misinformation surrounding Schiff has spread on social media. Check Your Fact debunked in December the baseless claim that Schiff was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport.

Brad Sylvester

Fact Check Editor
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