A federal appeals court has temporarily paused a lower court's ruling that would have required Texas to remove its controversial floating river barriers from the Rio Grande. The barriers, which are intended to deter migrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, were installed by the state of Texas and will remain in place for the time being. The Justice Department had argued that the barrier was a violation of the U.S. Constitution and the International Boundary and Water Commission Treaty of 1970, while Texas argued that the barrier was necessary to protect the state from illegal immigration. The appeals court's decision is only temporary, and the case will continue to be litigated in the courts.
Posts published in “Politics”
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) denied any involvement in conversations with Trump allies regarding his possible presiding over the January 6, 2021 joint session of Congress. A spokesperson for the senator and former lawyer for ex-President Donald Trump both corroborated Grassley's denial. It remains unclear how seriously anyone in Trump's orbit considered using Grassley to grant Trump a second term in office.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has accused House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of attempting to obstruct the prosecution of the racketeering case against former President Donald Trump. In a letter sent Thursday, Willis argued that Jordan's requests for information were an "unjustified and illegal intrusion" into a state criminal matter. Jordan has yet to respond to Willis' letter, leaving it unclear if he will continue to pursue his investigation or heed her warning.
Vice President Kamala Harris has dismissed Republican attacks and reassured Democrats that President Joe Biden is in good health and capable of leading the country. In an interview with CBS, Harris praised the president's "transformative" presidency and said that the Biden administration is focused on delivering on its promises and not be distracted by the attacks. She also addressed the 2024 campaign, saying that the president is in good health and will continue to lead the country.
Peter Navarro, former White House adviser to Donald Trump, was found guilty of criminal contempt of Congress on Thursday for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the plot to overturn the 2020 election. He faces a maximum of one year in prison and a fine of $100,000 for each count. Sentencing is set for January, and it is unclear if the conviction will lead to further legal action against Navarro or other members of the Trump administration.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has challenged House Republicans to impeach President Joe Biden, suggesting that the push is meant to deflect from former President Donald Trump's legal troubles. Fetterman warned that any attempt to impeach Biden would backfire in next year's elections and diminish the meaning of impeachment. He concluded by reiterating his challenge to House Republicans: “Go ahead, do it. I dare you.”
Former top aide Jeff Mateer testified in the historic impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, providing insight into why Paxton was using his power in ways that are now at the center of the trial. Mateer believes an extramarital affair Paxton had with a donor’s employee was “relevant” to the accusations, and that it helped connect the dots about why Paxton was using his power in the ways he was. If convicted, Paxton will be removed as attorney general and could be barred from running for office again. The Texas Senate is expected to make a decision on the articles of impeachment in the coming days.
The Biden administration has taken a major step in protecting the environment by canceling all remaining oil and gas leases in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and protecting an additional 13 million acres in the nearby National Petroleum Reserve from drilling and other development. This decision comes in response to the increasing global warming that is causing extreme weather disasters around the world, and is in line with Biden's campaign promise to “reverse the Trump administration’s assaults” on the environment. The Interior Department said that the 13 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve will be protected from drilling and other development, helping to ensure that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and its 19.6 million acres of habitat remain safe and protected.