The House Financial Services Committee is investigating two of the largest bank failures in history, with Chairman Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) returning donations from a fundraiser with bank executives days before the collapse. The episode highlights the power of bankers in Washington, where the industry spends heavily to fight regulation and hires former lawmakers to shape policy. The investigation into the bank failures is ongoing, and the results of the probe will be closely watched to determine if the rollback of the 2010 law and the lobbying campaign had any impact.
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The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently ruled that women have the right to an abortion when pregnancy risks their health, expanding the right to an abortion beyond medical emergency cases. The ruling is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and a federal judge will decide if the FDA-approved abortion pill should be blocked across the country pending the outcome of the appeal. The outcome of the appeal could have far-reaching implications for abortion rights in the United States.
The Department of Justice is investigating former President Donald Trump in connection with a payment to Stormy Daniels and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. In response to Trump's announcement that he expects to be indicted in the Stormy Daniels case, intelligence sources have reported a "significant increase" in online threats and violent rhetoric from domestic extremists. The Department of Justice is taking the potential threats seriously and is continuing to investigate the situation.
Rupert Murdoch and his son, Lachlan, are being asked to testify in a Delaware court case involving Fox News and the voting machine company Dominion. The case centers around private messages that showed Fox News executives knew their hosts were promoting theories of election theft. If the case moves forward, it could set a precedent for how much responsibility news networks have for the content they air. The hearing is ongoing and a decision is expected soon.
Federal officials are monitoring an uptick in violent rhetoric online, including calls for “civil war”, since former President Donald Trump asked his supporters to “protest” his impending arrest. The New York Young Republican Club held a pro-Trump rally outside the Manhattan district attorney’s office which was sparsely attended and peaceful. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are continuing to monitor the situation, as there is still a potential for violence.
Republican Party leaders have made it clear that they remain loyal to former President Donald Trump, preemptively condemning any potential indictment of him as politically motivated. This was demonstrated by the virtual backlash against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for remaining silent on the issue, and the House's demand for documents from New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg and promise to investigate the investigators. Trump's influence in the party remains strong, despite his departure from office.
House Republicans are attempting to use their majority to impede the investigation of former President Donald Trump's alleged involvement in a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. They are accusing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of being politically motivated and attempting to thwart his investigation. Trump is under investigation by Bragg and a grand jury could vote on whether to indict Trump as early as this week, prompting House Republicans to use government power to try to keep his legal threats at bay.
A grand jury has indicted 10 people in connection with the death of Irvo Otieno, a mentally ill man who suffocated to death while in police custody in Virginia earlier this month. Seven deputies and three hospital employees have been charged with second-degree murder, and surveillance video and emergency calls offer further details of the final moments of Otieno's life. The indictment of the 10 people charged is a step towards accountability and justice for Otieno and his family.