Pennsylvania Republican state senator Doug Mastriano announced he will not be running for the U.S. Senate in 2024, instead opting to continue to serve in Harrisburg. His decision has left some wondering who will fill his seat, and how his presence in the state capital will affect the political landscape in the coming years. Mastriano is known for his ties to right-wing extremists and involvement in former President Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
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The Texas House of Representatives committee has unanimously recommended the impeachment and removal of state Attorney General Ken Paxton after an investigation into allegations of misuse of official information, abuse of official capacity, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Paxton has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes, but the House could vote on the recommendation as soon as Friday. If the Senate finds him guilty, he would be removed from office.
Texas House of Representatives is set to impeach its own Attorney General, Ken Paxton (R), after years of scandal, criminal charges and corruption accusations. The Texas House’s General Investigating Committee voted 5-0 to recommend impeaching Paxton, and the recommendation will now go to the full House for a vote. If the House votes to impeach Paxton, the Senate will then decide whether to remove him from office, which would be the first time in Texas history that an Attorney General is removed from office.
Elmer Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison on Thursday for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Prior to his sentencing, Rhodes delivered a 20-minute-long diatribe in which he called himself a “political prisoner” and said his only crime was trying to stop politicians from “destroying” America. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta delivered a searing rebuke to Rhodes before handing down the longest sentence yet to any of the more than 400 people charged in connection with the attack.
Steve Bannon, former chief strategist of President Donald Trump, will stand trial in May 2024 on charges of fraud related to a fundraiser for a wall along the U.S. southern border. The fundraiser, which raised more than $25 million, is accused of being "based on false promises" by the Manhattan District Attorney's office. Bannon has denied all the charges against him and the trial is seen as a test of the legal system's ability to hold powerful people accountable.
Geraldine Tyler, a 94-year-old Minneapolis resident, won a unanimous Supreme Court ruling in her claim that Hennepin County violated the Constitution when it sold her condominium and kept the entire $40,000 profit. The Court agreed that the county had taken her property without paying "just compensation" and that she can pursue her argument that the county violated the Constitution. This ruling sets a precedent for other cases involving the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment.
An Indiana Medical Licensing Board is set to hear allegations that Dr. Caitlin Bernard should face disciplinary action for speaking publicly about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has accused Bernard of failing to report child abuse and violating patient privacy. The hearing will decide if Bernard should be reprimanded, suspended, or have her license revoked for her actions.
Former President Donald Trump has welcomed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to the Republican presidential race with a series of posts on his social media channels, including a video mocking DeSantis' entry via a glitchy Twitter event hosted by Elon Musk and a video attacking DeSantis as an ingrate. Trump's posts have been met with enthusiasm from his allies, and are seen as a sign of his continued influence in the Republican Party.