On Friday, the House of Representatives will decide the fate of Representative George Santos of New York, who has been accused of repeatedly breaking the law. The House Ethics Committee released a report finding "substantial evidence" of his wrongdoing, and Santos held a press conference outside the Capitol, declaring that he will continue to fight to keep himself from being expelled. If the House votes to expel Santos, he would be just the sixth House member in U.S. history to be expelled and the first in more than 20 years.
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A federal judge has blocked a Montana law that would have banned the popular video-sharing app TikTok in the state, citing it as unconstitutional and a violation of users' and businesses' free speech rights. The ruling is a victory for TikTok users in Montana, and a reminder of the importance of protecting constitutional rights and the power of the courts to uphold them.
This article reports on a sexual assault allegation against Christian Ziegler, the chair of the Florida GOP, with details obtained from a heavily redacted police report and anonymous sources. The police report mentions an accusation of rape and sexual battery that allegedly took place on October 2 in Sarasota, and Ziegler's attorney has confirmed that his client is being investigated. The investigation is ongoing and no further information has been released at this time.
Government employees have expressed unprecedented levels of dissent in response to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) calling for new conditions on a package of billions of dollars in aid for Israel. Aaron David Miller of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has commented on the remarkable scope of the dissent, and it remains to be seen how Congress will respond.
Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State and National Security Adviser to Presidents Nixon and Ford, passed away at the age of 100. He was known for his "realist" approach to foreign affairs, which prioritized U.S. interests over any potential atrocity. Historian Doug Brinkley said Kissinger “invented the modern concept of realism” in foreign affairs, but his actions had a devastating impact on many countries. His legacy will continue to be debated for years to come.
A New York appellate court has reinstated a gag order against former President Donald Trump in his ongoing civil fraud trial, preventing him from making public comments about court staff. The order was issued after Trump published a social media post about the clerk, leading to a "deluge" of threats directed at her. On Thursday, the panel rejected Trump's appeal and reinstated the orders against Trump and his lawyers, ensuring that Trump will not be able to continue to make comments about the clerk and protecting her from further threats and harassment.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Thursday to issue subpoenas to conservative activists Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo, as part of an investigation into ethics practices at the Supreme Court. Republican members of the committee walked out of the room during the vote, accusing Democrats of attempting to undermine the court. The investigation was launched after reports revealed the court had failed to properly disclose gifts and travel expenses from conservative groups. The committee is now requesting information from Crow and Leo, as part of a new ethics code that requires justices to disclose gifts and travel expenses and recuse themselves from cases in which they have a financial interest.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday in the case of SEC v. Jarkesy, which could have sweeping consequences for the power of federal agencies to enforce the law. The case centers around the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) ability to take enforcement actions outside of the court system. During the oral arguments, the justices questioned the government lawyer about stripping the SEC of some of its enforcement discretion. The outcome of the case could have a major impact on the power of federal agencies to enforce the law, and a ruling is expected in the coming months.