Senate candidate and Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) was the victim of a robbery while in San Francisco on Thursday when thieves broke into his car, took his luggage and forced him to go to a fundraiser in street clothes.
Schiff arrived in Northern California on Thursday to attend several political events. Before arriving in San Francisco, he was told not to leave anything in his car. However, with a campaign dinner that night in Burlingame, San Mateo County, Schiff was in a hurry, though he stopped briefly at San Francisco’s Fang restaurant. He left his luggage in his car in a parking garage, where it was stolen. By the time Schiff reported the theft, it was too late to do anything about it, forcing him to walk around in jeans, a blue shirt and a hiking bra.
Just had a wonderful meal at Fang Restaurant in SF and met Peter and Kathy Fang, the father and daughter behind this amazing experience!
This family has been in the restaurant business since 1988. Can confirm that the killer vegetable makes dumplings. pic.twitter.com/7UrlkMV6Ev
— Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) April 26, 2024
He arrived at Ristorante Rocca that night for a dueling event honoring attorney Joe Cotchett and supporting Schiff’s Senate run. Upon arrival, he told the mostly costumed guests what had happened. However, he said he wasn’t too bothered by the theft because he wasn’t in the car at the time.
“Yeah, they took my bags,” Schiff said. “But I’m here to thank Joe.”
Cotchett, for his part, understood Schiff’s situation and confirmed his support for Schiff’s Senate bid.
“I think it’s ‘Welcome to San Francisco,'” Cotchett’s press agent, Lee Housekeeper, told The Housekeeper.
Cotchett himself added: “The man really showed himself tonight. He will be a great senator. It’s going to change the Senate a lot.”
As Schiff resumed his Bay Area activities on Friday, his office said it would have no further comment on the incident because of the ongoing investigation. The theft is also said to have occurred at a time when crime in San Francisco is high. The level of crime, including robbery has declined in San Francisco over the past few yearsthe total is still pretty bad, highlighted by Schiff’s steal on Thursday.
“Schiff played it very well,” political consultant Sheila Cruz told the Globe on Friday. “He made the necessary reports, he showed resilience by still being involved, he didn’t dwell on it, and ultimately he proved that he could fulfill his obligations despite setbacks.”
“But on the other hand, Schiff now has to tread lightly when it comes to talking about crime in San Francisco or high crime in the state. He’s now the victim of a burglary in San Francisco, so he can’t say it’s not a problem. The Steve Garvey campaign can certainly use this story if Schiff is riding too hard on crime or trying to say that crime isn’t that big of a problem. Because he himself was with her in a city with juvenile delinquency in California. He can also say that Schiff did not heed the advice not to keep things in his car.”
“Schiff has handled this matter well and is taking the high road by not discussing the matter during the investigation. But his political game plan has changed a little bit like Harvey.”
More information about Schiff’s robbery is expected to emerge soon.
