House Oversight Chair James Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley have subpoenaed the FBI for a FD-1023 form that they claim contains information about an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Biden. FBI Director Christopher Wray has offered to allow them to view the document at FBI headquarters, but Comer and Grassley are pushing for the document to be in their office. The FBI has declined to provide the document, prompting Comer to move forward with a vote to hold Wray in criminal contempt of Congress.
Posts published in “Politics”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has appointed John Scott as the interim Attorney General following the impeachment of Ken Paxton by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Scott is a former Texas Secretary of State and Deputy Attorney General, and Abbott praised his decades of experience and expertise in litigation. The Senate will have the final say on whether or not Paxton is removed from office, but it is unclear when they will take up the issue.
Mike Pence is set to launch his 2024 presidential campaign next week in Des Moines, Iowa, with a speech and campaign video. He had previously told CBS News that anyone serious about seeking the Republican nomination would need to enter the contest by June, and believes there is room for his brand of "traditional conservatism" in the party. Donald Trump has remained largely silent on the debt ceiling, leaving Pence to make his voice heard.
The House of Representatives is set to vote Wednesday night on a bill that would cut federal spending by more than $1 trillion and raise the debt ceiling through the 2024 presidential election. The bill is expected to pass with support from both Republicans and Democrats, although there is opposition from both sides of the political spectrum. If the bill passes, it will be the first time in history that the U.S. has avoided a government debt default. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries need both parties to pass the bill in order to lift the debt ceiling a few days before the U.S. is expected to run out of money to pay its bills. Majority of the left wing of the Democratic Party is likely to vote no, arguing that the bill does not address underlying issues of inequality and poverty.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that two state laws banning abortion are unconstitutional, but the procedure remains illegal in most cases. The ruling found that the Oklahoma Constitution provides an "inherent right of a pregnant woman to terminate a pregnancy when necessary to preserve her life." The ruling is likely to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and provides a measure of clarity on the legality of abortion in the state.
Raul Ortiz, the U.S. Border Patrol Chief, is retiring from federal service at the end of June after more than three decades with the agency. Acting Commissioner Troy Miller praised Ortiz for his service and leadership, and the agency is currently searching for a replacement. Ortiz's retirement comes after he helped oversee policy changes this month to curb irregular crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Chris Christie, former New Jersey Governor, is set to announce his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination at a town hall in Manchester, New Hampshire on Tuesday. He has been bolstered by a super PAC set up by his longtime advisers and has been a close ally of former President Donald Trump. He joins a field of contenders that includes Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, and Nikki Haley for the June 2024 primary election.
The House Rules Committee has voted 7-6 to send the McCarthy-Biden deal to the floor, signaling support ahead of Wednesday's vote. The deal, which was negotiated by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden, has faced criticism from GOP hard-liners. Despite the criticism, the deal is expected to pass in the Republican-controlled House on Wednesday, and then move to the Senate for further scrutiny and debate.