Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., questions former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) has faced a firestorm of criticism from Republican lawmakers this month after releasing the personal phone records of, among others, ranking member Devin Nunes (R-CA), two of President Trump’s personal attorneys including Rudy Giuliani, as well as investigative journalist John Solomon.

The information was included in the committee’s impeachment inquiry report, which was released a week ago today.

Among the most high-profile Republicans slamming Schiff was Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who called for Schiff’s censure in response to the report, accusing of him of “doing exactly what he has accused President Trump of doing: using his power to investigate his political opponents.”

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), a member of the House Intel Committee, was also incensed by Schiff’s actions. She blasted him in a tweet on Sunday, demanding that he lead by example by way of releasing his own personal phone records:

Every American should be outraged by this unprecedented abuse of power by Adam Schiff. @WSJ

Adam Schiff should immediately release HIS personal phone records so the American people will be able to see his coordination with the whistleblower. https://t.co/YKltg9fz4n

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) December 8, 2019

No doubt Stefanik, who kicked bootie during November’s impeachment inquiry hearings, knows Schiff won’t acquiesce to her demand. But all the same it keeps a vital part of the Republicans’ case against the Democrats’ sham inquiry process in the public spotlight – namely that Schiff’s office coordinated with the whistleblower very early on in the process, yet lied about it when asked about it by journalists later.

Rep. Nunes told Fox News on Saturday that he plans to sue Schiff over this matter, saying “I believe I am the first member of Congress ever to have [my] phone records exposed like this.”

Legal action or not, my Red State colleague Bonchie has the right idea for how Republicans should handle Schiff once they return to power:

When Republicans get back in power, returning the favor for Schiff’s behavior should be at the top of the to-do list. The guy is totally shameless.

Indeed. These are the Democrats’ new rules. They shouldn’t act too surprised when Republicans respond in kind once they have the power to do so.

By the way key voting blocs are rejecting the impeaching inquiry process so far, that may be much sooner than Democrats think.

Stay tuned.

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— Based in North Carolina, Sister Toldjah is a former liberal and a 16+ year veteran of blogging with an emphasis on media bias, social issues, and the culture wars. Read her Red State archives here. Connect with her on Twitter. –