If you spent any time watching the news between 2017 and 2019, you probably remember the chaos. It was a blur of subpoenas, late-night tweets, and names like Papadopoulos and Flynn. But while the cameras were focused on the White House lawn, a very different story was playing out inside the SCIFs—those secure, windowless rooms where the House Intelligence Committee does its work. That’s the world Midnight in Moscow book by Adam Schiff takes us into. It isn't just a dry political memoir. Honestly, it reads more like a legal thriller that happens to be true, documenting what Schiff views as a fundamental breakdown of American democratic norms.
It’s personal. Schiff doesn't just talk about "the administration." He talks about the people. He talks about the exhaustion of 2:00 AM sessions. He talks about the weight of being the guy leading an impeachment inquiry while half the country thinks you’re a hero and the other half thinks you’re a traitor.
Why Midnight in Moscow Still Matters Years Later
The book didn't just appear out of thin air. It was a response to a specific moment in history. We live in an era of "fake news" accusations, but Schiff uses these pages to lay out his evidence for why the Russia investigation was necessary in the first place. He argues that the threat wasn't just about one election, but about a pattern of vulnerability.
Think about the context. Moscow. 2016. The DNC hacks.
Schiff explores the "Moscow" of the title both literally and figuratively. He recounts his early days as a prosecutor in California—specifically the case of Richard Miller, the first FBI agent ever convicted of spying for the Soviet Union. It’s a smart move. By starting there, he establishes his "bona fides." He’s saying, "Look, I’ve been tracking Russian interference since the 80s. I know what this looks like."
The narrative jumps. It's fast. Then it slows down to explain the minutiae of congressional procedure. You get the sense of a man who is deeply frustrated by the pace of government but obsessed with the rules. He’s a "rule-follower" in a time when the rules were being tossed out the window. That’s the central tension.
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The Steele Dossier and the "Intelligence Gap"
One of the biggest criticisms of Schiff and the Midnight in Moscow book involves the Steele Dossier. If you’re looking for a total mea culpa, you won't find it here. Instead, Schiff provides his perspective on why the intelligence community took it seriously at the time. He admits that parts of it were unverified, but he doubles down on the idea that the broader "intent" of the Russian government was clear.
Critics often point to the Durham Report or the IG Report to argue that Schiff overplayed his hand. He addresses this by focusing on the "non-dossier" evidence—the Trump Tower meeting, the Roger Stone connections, and the direct outreach from Russian intermediaries. To him, the dossier was a distraction from the larger, more obvious fire.
The Human Cost of Politics
What most people get wrong about these political books is they think it's all about "the win." Schiff spends a surprising amount of time on the toll this took on his staff and family. He describes the death threats. He describes the feeling of walking into the Capitol and knowing that colleagues he used to have lunch with wouldn't look him in the eye anymore. It’s a lonely book in a lot of ways.
He paints a vivid picture of the Republican members on the committee, particularly Devin Nunes. The two were once partners in oversight. By the end of the narrative, they are bitter rivals. This isn't just "politics as usual." It’s the story of a relationship—and a committee—disintegrating in real-time.
The Impeachment That Changed Everything
The heart of the book is the first impeachment of Donald Trump. Schiff was the lead manager. If you watched those hearings, you remember the blue binders and the measured, prosecutorial tone. In the book, he takes you behind the curtain of those hearings. He explains the strategy behind calling witnesses like Fiona Hill and William Taylor.
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They weren't just names on a list. They were career diplomats who felt their world was ending.
Schiff describes the "Midnight" of the title as a metaphor for a dark period in American history. He’s worried. He’s genuinely worried that the guardrails are gone. He writes about the Senate trial with a certain level of resignation. He knew the outcome. Everyone knew the outcome. But he argues that the process had to happen anyway to create a historical record.
Fact-Checking the Narrative
Is it a biased book? Of course. It’s written by a partisan actor. But Schiff backs up his claims with references to the Mueller Report and thousands of pages of deposition transcripts. He isn't making things up; he’s interpreting them through a specific lens.
- The Mueller Report: Schiff argues that while Mueller didn't find a "criminal conspiracy" that could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, the report documented dozens of contacts that were, at the very least, unethical.
- The Ukraine Phone Call: He details how the whistleblower complaint was the "smoking gun" that shifted the focus from Russia to Ukraine, ultimately leading to the first impeachment.
- The Role of Social Media: He spends time looking at how the "Internet Research Agency" in St. Petersburg used Facebook and Twitter to weaponize American divisions.
How to Read Midnight in Moscow Critically
If you’re going to pick up this book, you have to do it with your eyes open. It’s a primary source document. In fifty years, historians will use this to understand what the "anti-Trump" wing of Congress was thinking.
Don't just take his word for it. Compare his account of the House Intelligence Committee meetings with the accounts given by Republicans like Mike Turner or Elise Stefanik. The truth usually sits somewhere in the messy middle of those conflicting stories.
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Schiff is a sharp writer. He knows how to build a case. Even if you disagree with his conclusions, the book is a masterclass in how a modern political narrative is constructed. He uses short, punchy sentences to drive home points. He uses humor—often dry and self-deprecating—to make himself more relatable.
Actionable Takeaways for Readers
Reading about the Midnight in Moscow book shouldn't just be an exercise in nostalgia or anger. It should change how you consume news today.
- Verify the Source: Schiff’s focus on "intelligence" shows how easily information can be manipulated. When you see a "breaking news" alert, wait 24 hours. See how the story changes once more facts come out.
- Understand Oversight: Most people don't know what a Congressional Committee actually does. This book explains the power of the subpoena and the limitations of the Legislative branch. It's a civics lesson wrapped in a scandal.
- Recognize Rhetoric: Pay attention to how Schiff uses words like "autocracy" and "rule of law." These aren't just buzzwords; they are the foundation of his entire worldview. Notice how his opponents use different words to describe the exact same events.
- Follow the Paper Trail: If a claim in the book sounds wild, look it up. Most of the depositions mentioned are now public record. You can actually go read the transcripts yourself to see if Schiff is framing them accurately.
The book ends on a note of cautious hope, but it’s mostly a warning. Schiff believes the "Midnight" hasn't fully passed yet. Whether you believe he's a patriot or a partisan, his account of these years is essential for anyone trying to make sense of how American politics became so fractured.
The real value here isn't in the secrets—most of which have been reported by the New York Times or the Washington Post anyway—but in the mindset. It’s a window into the brain of a man who believed he was the last line of defense for the Constitution. That kind of perspective is rare, and regardless of your political leanings, it’s worth understanding how that conviction shaped the events that still dominate our headlines today.
Next Steps for Deep Research
- Read the Mueller Report's Executive Summary: Compare Mueller’s clinical language with Schiff’s more urgent tone. It highlights the difference between a legal investigation and a political one.
- Watch the 2019 Impeachment Testimony: Seeing the witnesses Schiff describes in the book adds a layer of reality to his descriptions of their "courage" or "hesitation."
- Check the Footnotes: Schiff is meticulous. If you find a specific meeting or memo mentioned, use a library database to find the original document. Seeing the source material often reveals nuances that a memoir omits for the sake of the story.
The story of the Midnight in Moscow book is essentially the story of the modern American divide. It’s a document of a time when the capital felt like a war zone, and the weapons were memos, leaks, and committee assignments. Understanding it means understanding the friction that still defines D.C. today.