Key takeaways: Michael D. Bopp, Harlan Crow’s attorney, has agreed to speak with staff members of the Senate Judiciary Committee about Crow’s relationship with Supreme…
Posts published in “Politics”
This week, the House of Representatives rejected a procedural vote for the first time in over two decades, in response to a debt deal cut between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden. Members of the House Freedom Caucus, along with Rep. Matt Gaetz, expressed their anger over the deal by gathering on the Capitol steps after voting. The vote has caused concern among lawmakers and reporters, as it could lead to all Republican legislation coming to a standstill.
Chris Christie has officially entered the 2024 presidential race, filing his paperwork Tuesday ahead of a launch event. He has been outspoken in his criticism of former President Donald Trump, and has suggested that the way to beat him is to "beat the guy that’s ahead." Christie is known for his combative style and is looking to challenge Trump head-on, in marked contrast to other declared and would-be candidates in the race. His official launch event is planned for Tuesday, where he will provide more details on his campaign and his plans for the future.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has declared a national state of emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans due to an unprecedented spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults. The HRC has released a guidebook for action which includes information on discriminatory laws, “know your rights” information, and health and safety resources. The organization is calling on all Americans to take action and help ensure the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to China in the coming weeks for high-level talks, despite tensions between the two countries over issues such as trade, human rights, and the coronavirus pandemic. The trip was originally planned for February, but was postponed after the U.S. military shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina. It remains to be seen if the two sides will be able to reach an agreement during Blinken's visit.
The House Oversight Committee is set to vote Thursday on whether to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress for failing to turn over a document subpoenaed by Chair James Comer. The document, an FD-1023 form, was brought back from Ukraine by Rudy Giuliani and is related to an alleged bribery scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden. Attorney General William Barr set up an “intake process” for the material in April.
Chris Christie is launching his second bid for the presidency on Tuesday, becoming the first to challenge former President Donald Trump in the Republican primary field. Despite being a close ally of Trump in the past, Christie has soured on the former president and plans to run a no-holds-barred campaign against him. The next day, former Vice President Mike Pence will announce his bid, and Christie may be the only candidate willing to openly criticize Trump.
Rep. George Santos' lawyer, Joseph Murray, has urged a judge to deny a request by news outlets to unseal the names of the bond suretors who co-signed the $500,000 bond for Santos' pretrial release. Murray argued that revealing the suretors' identities would put them in a position to suffer great distress, lose their jobs, and even physical injury. The news outlets argue that the public has a right to know who is financially backing Santos' release, but Murray believes the potential consequences outweigh this right. The judge has yet to make a decision on the matter, as Santos is currently facing charges of bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy.