Texas House of Representatives is set to impeach its own Attorney General, Ken Paxton (R), after years of scandal, criminal charges and corruption accusations. The Texas House’s General Investigating Committee voted 5-0 to recommend impeaching Paxton, and the recommendation will now go to the full House for a vote. If the House votes to impeach Paxton, the Senate will then decide whether to remove him from office, which would be the first time in Texas history that an Attorney General is removed from office.
Posts tagged as “Biden White House”
The U.S. Treasury Department has warned that the government could run out of money to meet all its obligations as soon as June 1 due to House Republicans' efforts. Secretary Janet Yellen says the workarounds to keep the government paying its bills will be exhausted in the coming week, and the Bipartisan Policy Center warns that Social Security recipients, seniors and people with disabilities will likely be the first groups affected. Congress must act quickly to avoid a potential financial crisis and ensure the government can meet its obligations.
Man Who Propped His Foot on Nancy Pelosi’s Desk During Capitol Riot Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Prison
Man Who Propped His Foot on Nancy Pelosi’s Desk During Capitol Riot Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Prison
Richard “Bigo” Barnett, who gained notoriety for propping his foot on a desk in Nancy Pelosi’s office during the Capitol insurrection, was sentenced to 54 months in prison on Wednesday. Judge Christopher Cooper noted that Barnett had “not shown any acceptance of responsibility” and ordered him to serve 4.5 years behind bars. Barnett’s sentence is the longest so far to any of the hundreds of people charged in connection with the Capitol riot, and the Justice Department is prioritizing cases involving violence, destruction of property and threats to law enforcement.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing legal and political risks as he seeks a third term. He is under indictment for securities fraud and his agency has been accused of disarray and unethical practices. The Texas House is investigating the allegations and will decide whether to refer the matter to a grand jury, leaving Paxton's political future uncertain.
House Republicans passed a bill on the debt limit and spending cuts on Wednesday, but talks with the Biden administration are still ongoing and there are many areas of disagreement. The White House has proposed a plan to raise the debt limit and suspend it until the end of July, as well as a $1.7 trillion infrastructure package, both of which have been rejected by the GOP. The deadline for raising the debt limit is August 2nd, and if no agreement is reached, the US could default on its debt for the first time in history.
The House Ethics Committee has concluded its investigation into allegations of misconduct concerning Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell's interactions with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, finding no further action necessary. Swalwell expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, and the committee cautioned members to be aware of foreign attempts to gain improper influence. The investigation has now been closed, with no further details provided.
House Republicans and the White House are in negotiations to raise the debt ceiling, but remain far apart in their discussions. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is optimistic that a deal can be reached before the June 1 deadline, when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the nation will run out of money to pay its bills. Negotiators Steve Ricchetti, Shalanda Young and Louisa Terrell met with McCarthy Tuesday morning to resume talks, but Republican Rep. Garret Graves said the two sides are still far apart.
On Monday evening, a U-Haul truck crashed into security barriers around Lafayette Square across the street from the White House. The driver, Sai Varshith Kandula, was arrested and found to be in possession of a Nazi flag and is facing several arrest charges, including threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict harm on a president, vice president or family members. No injuries were reported, and the Secret Service is working with other law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident and urge the public to remain vigilant.