Tennessee lawmakers voted to expel Rep. Justin Jones, the first of three Democratic representatives, from the state House on Thursday, following their protest on the chamber floor against gun violence. This is the first time in state history that a House member has been expelled for alleged chamber rules violations, sparking debate among lawmakers and citizens alike. The expulsion proceedings come amid pressure from the GOP supermajority to tighten gun laws, with the representatives accused of breaking House rules on conduct and decorum.
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has called for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas following a report that he had received gifts, including luxury trips, from a billionaire Republican megadonor without disclosing them. The federal judiciary has tightened its rules for what judges and justices need to include in their annual financial disclosure statements, sparking debate about the ethics of Supreme Court justices receiving gifts and the level of transparency and accountability of the Supreme Court.
Madeline Kingsbury, a 26-year-old mother-of-two, has been missing for nearly a week and the Winona Police Department believes her disappearance is "involuntary, suspicious, and we are all concerned for her safety."
The Supreme Court has ruled against West Virginia officials in a case involving a law that bans transgender athletes from competing on female sports teams. The law, challenged by 12-year-old transgender girl Becky Pepper-Jackson, cannot be enforced while the case is being litigated. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented from the court's decision, which is the latest in a series of rulings that have favored transgender rights. The court is expected to issue a ruling in a separate case involving transgender rights later this year.
On Tuesday night, a Defense Department training exercise gone wrong resulted in a Delta Air Lines pilot being mistakenly detained and interrogated in a Boston hotel. The FBI said personnel were sent to the wrong room during the exercise, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense said the "DoD routinely conducts training exercises with law enforcement agencies." The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of accuracy and attention to detail during training exercises, and it is unclear if any changes will be made to the training protocols.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been taking luxury trips paid for by a Republican megadonor for decades without disclosing them, prompting criticism from Democrats and calls for stricter ethics rules. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has called for Thomas to be impeached, while other Democratic lawmakers have argued that the court should be subject to the same ethics rules as other branches of government.
The White House released a report summarizing the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, which found that President Joe Biden was "severely constrained" by the conditions created by President Donald Trump. The report outlines the steps taken by the Biden administration to ensure a safe and orderly withdrawal, and calls for continued diplomatic engagement with the Afghan government and support for the Afghan people. It concludes that the Biden administration has taken steps to ensure a safe and orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan, but that the challenges faced by the country remain significant.
Idaho has become the first state to pass a law explicitly restricting some out-of-state travel for abortions, making it punishable by two to five years in prison to help a pregnant minor get an abortion. This is seen as a way for red states to limit access to abortion for minors, and is likely to face legal challenges as a violation of the right to privacy and a restriction on the right to travel.