Rep. Matt Gaetz and Rep. Matt Rosendale recently denounced the Republican effort to impeach President Joe Biden as a political stunt. Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio for the newly-vacated House speaker role, awarding him the Medal of Freedom in a closed-door ceremony. Republicans are struggling to find a leader to replace McCarthy, who has been criticized for his handling of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, and it is unclear if Jordan will be successful in his bid.
Posts tagged as “Alabama Republican”
Donald Trump is reportedly considering a visit to the Capitol early next week to unify the Republican party following the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Rep. Troy Nehls has said Trump will back Rep. Jim Jordan's candidacy for the speakership, and Jordan is seen as a favorite among the far-right Republicans. Trump's endorsement could be a decisive factor in the race for the speakership, with the House expected to vote on the new speaker on Jan. 3, 2021.
President Donald Trump has decided to temporarily pause his lawsuit against Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, due to a busy schedule of civil and criminal battles, as well as his 2024 presidential campaign. The lawsuit was filed in April 2018, alleging that Cohen had defamed him by making false statements to the media, and was dismissed in August 2018, but Trump appealed the decision. It is unclear when Trump will resume the lawsuit, but it is likely to remain on hold for the foreseeable future.
The Biden administration has come under fire for waiving 26 federal laws in order to construct roughly 20 miles of additional border wall in South Texas. President Joe Biden defended the decision, saying that the Trump-era funding for the barrier must be used to stop illegal migration from Mexico. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas rejected criticism of the decision, saying that the Biden administration was bound by law to follow through with the project. The decision has sparked debate among both Democrats and Republicans, with some arguing that the wall is necessary and others contending that it is a waste of money and a violation of human rights.
The House of Representatives has removed Kevin McCarthy from the speakership, the first time in the House's 234-year history that a speaker has been removed in this manner. Reps. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan have both announced they are running to be the next speaker, while Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Troy Nehls and Greg Steube have stated that they want former President Donald Trump to be speaker. Trump is reportedly considering a visit to the Capitol next week, ahead of an election for the House's top job.
Alabama has been ordered to adopt a new congressional redistricting map, which will create a second majority-Black district and give Black voters in the state a greater voice in the 2024 elections. This ruling is a victory for civil rights activists who have long argued that the state's congressional districts were drawn in a way that diluted the voting power of Black voters, and is a step towards ensuring that all Alabamians have an equal voice in the state's political process.
Nancy Marks, the former campaign treasurer of Rep. George Santos, is set to appear in federal court Thursday afternoon to plead guilty to unspecified charges related to the criminal case against the congressman. Santos was indicted in May on 13 counts, including seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements. Marks was responsible for signing off on Santos' expenses related to the 2022 election, and it is unclear what specific charges she faces. It remains to be seen how Marks' plea will affect the outcome of the case against Santos.
The ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has thrown the future of U.S. assistance to Ukraine into doubt, with some of Ukraine's allies suggesting a different approach to providing aid. President Joe Biden has responded to the political upheaval by announcing plans for a "major speech" about the importance of arming Ukraine. Republicans have grown increasingly reluctant to approve more help, so some of Ukraine's allies are suggesting providing a large enough amount to allow Ukraine to keep fighting Russian invaders until after the 2024 elections. The Biden administration is now working to find a way to provide the necessary aid without facing too much opposition.