House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is facing an ouster attempt from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who has filed a resolution to remove him from office. McCarthy is confident he can survive the attempt, as he has been relying heavily on the votes of House Democrats to pass bills. A vote on the resolution must occur within two legislative days, and it is expected to be a close one.
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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Biden are facing scrutiny over a potential secret side deal on Ukraine funding, which was not included in a recent spending bill. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has accused McCarthy of cutting the deal and plans to file a motion to oust him as speaker. President Biden has refused to comment on the matter, and some Republican lawmakers have called for McCarthy's ouster. The truth of the alleged side deal remains unknown.
The U.S. Capitol Police are investigating an incident in which Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman pulled a fire alarm in a Capitol Hill office building. Security video reportedly shows Bowman trying to leave the building before he pulled the alarm. In response, former President Donald Trump claimed Bowman's actions were worse than the ex-president's supporters storming the Capitol, sparking a debate over the appropriateness of Bowman's actions and the implications of Trump's comments. The Capitol Police investigation is ongoing.
Laphonza Butler has been appointed to the U.S. Senate by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, making her the first out Black LGBTQ+ U.S. senator. She is the president of EMILYs List, a Democratic group dedicated to electing women who support abortion rights, and is ready to serve. Her appointment is a testament to the progress that can be made when women are given the opportunity to lead, and will continue the legacy of Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
The Supreme Court has rejected John Eastman's request to throw out court rulings that identified him as a key figure in former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, affirming lower court decisions that resulted in Capitol riot investigators getting access to Eastman's emails. U.S. District Judge David Carter had previously found that Eastman lied to a federal court in Georgia, and the emails sought by the Jan. 6 committee are seen as key evidence in the investigation. The implications of this ruling for Eastman remain unclear.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., has announced his intention to force out House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his position of power, accusing him of making a "secret side deal" with President Biden on Ukraine funding. Gaetz plans to push for a no-confidence vote in the Republican leader later this week, but concedes that McCarthy "probably" can survive the effort. McCarthy has yet to respond to Gaetz's accusations or plans.
The Supreme Court rejected an appeal from John Eastman, former legal adviser to Donald Trump, who sought to shield his emails from investigators of the Jan. 6 Capitol assault. Justice Clarence Thomas, who had previously shown support for Trump's legal arguments, recused himself from the case, though the reason for his recusal is unclear. Eastman had served as a law clerk to the justice, and emails obtained by the House panel showed that Ginni Thomas, the justice's wife, corresponded with the conservative lawyer.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Laphonza Butler, the president of EMILY's List, to fill the late Senator Dianne Feinstein's seat. Butler will be the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the Senate and the third Black woman to ever serve in the chamber. She is expected to be sworn-in to the seat on Wednesday by Vice President Kamala Harris and will serve until the next senator is elected in the November 2024 election.