Christian Ziegler, the chair of the Republican Party of Florida, is under criminal investigation for sexual battery, including rape. Six Republican sources have revealed that a "soft landing" deal is being discussed as part of a resignation agreement, and former party chair Joe Gruters and Republican National Committeeman Peter Faeman are discussing ways to end the party's direct tie to Ziegler. The scandal has caused a great deal of controversy and has put the party in a difficult position.
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Lesley Wolf, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, defended her work in a closed-door deposition with congressional investigators on Thursday, despite facing threats and harassment. She said that she was legally obligated not to address specific allegations made by IRS whistleblowers due to Justice Department policies. Wolf also accused Republicans of coddling the president’s son Hunter Biden, and said that the truth has become collateral damage in today's political climate.
Nassau County Republicans have selected Mazi Melesa Pilip, an Ethiopian immigrant and former paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces, as their nominee for the upcoming special election to replace ousted GOP Rep. George Santos. Pilip will face former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), the Democratic nominee, in the Feb. 13 special election. Pilip has been endorsed by the Nassau County Republican Party and is seen as a competitive candidate in the race for the vacant seat in the House of Representatives.
Hunter Biden has offered to testify in a public hearing before the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees in response to a subpoena issued by the GOP-led House Oversight Committee. He has refused to comply with the subpoena, instead opting to answer questions from lawmakers in a public setting. House Republicans have rejected the offer, saying they want him to testify privately first. It is unclear how the committees will respond to Hunter Biden's offer.
The House of Representatives is set to vote on Wednesday to formally launch an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, which will put Republicans in districts he won in 2020 on the record. The inquiry, which is being led by Republicans on the House Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees, has so far uncovered no wrongdoing by the president. The vote is expected to pass, with Republican leaders only able to afford to lose a handful of members, and the outcome of the inquiry remains to be seen.
Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz declined to comment on Tuesday when asked about a recent Texas Supreme Court ruling that barred a woman with a life-threatening pregnancy from getting an abortion. The ruling has sparked a national debate on the issue of abortion rights, with many arguing that the ruling is a violation of a woman's right to choose. The case is the latest in a series of high-profile cases arising as a result of severely restrictive abortion laws around the country.
The Supreme Court has allowed the use of a 2021 map for the upcoming election in Galveston County, despite the fact that it wiped out the county's only majority-minority precinct in violation of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The decision has raised concerns about the future of the VRA and has been met with criticism from civil rights groups, who argue that it undermines the VRA and will have a detrimental effect on minority voters. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has been asked to take up the case en banc and reverse its decision, setting a precedent that could be used to justify the use of racially gerrymandered maps in the future.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday to appeal for U.S. aid for his country, which is suffering from Russian bombings. During the visit, Senator Lindsey Graham asked Zelenskyy to thank Mike Johnson for being willing to pass a package if border security is included, while House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar criticized Johnson for not inviting all House members. Senator J.D. Vance called the visit "grotesque" and Senator Roger Marshall said it was designed to apply pressure on Republicans. It is unclear if Zelenskyy's visit will be successful in helping to secure the aid package.