House Republicans are set to vote Wednesday to formally authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The resolution, if passed, would declare that any subpoenas issued after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy declared the inquiry on September 27th would carry the same legal weight as those issued after the vote. Democrats have argued that the inquiry is a waste of time and resources, and the vote is expected to be close, as Republicans can only afford three defections for the resolution to pass.
Posts tagged as “Kevin McCarthy”
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced Wednesday that he will be resigning from Congress at the end of the year, citing a desire to serve America in new ways. His departure is a blow to his successor, Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Republicans, further cutting the already narrow GOP majority and making passing legislation in 2024 more challenging. McCarthy did not specify what his new role will be, but said he will continue to serve the American people in a different capacity.
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election in 2024, shocking many of his colleagues. McHenry has served in Congress since 2005 and is the longest-serving Republican from North Carolina, recently gaining national attention when he became the first House Speaker pro tempore in history to be removed in a no-confidence vote. His retirement will further thin the ranks of Republican institutionalists in Congress, leaving many of his colleagues unsure of who will take his place and fill the role of chair of the House Financial Services Committee.
After a tumultuous few weeks in the Capitol, the House of Representatives passed a clean continuing resolution with bipartisan support, avoiding a potential government shutdown. This displeased some of the more hard-right members of the House, who had to compromise in order to pass the resolution, and there were even allegations of kidney punching in the House. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) commented on the situation, saying “They were better behaved than some of the people in this place.” The resolution has averted a potential government shutdown, but tensions remain high in the Capitol.
Samuel Miele, a 27 year old fundraiser for Rep. George Santos' 2022 campaign, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of wire fraud and access device fraud. He admitted to posing as a top aide to then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to raise money for the campaign and enriching himself with 15% commissions on each donation. He also charged credit cards without authorization for contributions to the campaigns and himself. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
On Tuesday, a heated exchange between Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Sean O'Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, almost turned into a fistfight during a Senate hearing on labor unions. Mullin, a former MMA fighter, had challenged O'Brien to a physical fight for charity, but the exchange was eventually brought back to order. Mullin and O'Brien have since apologized for their behavior, sparking a debate over the appropriateness of physical confrontations in the Senate.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is attempting to pass a short-term spending bill with the support of Democrats in order to avoid a government shutdown, despite opposition from the House Freedom Caucus. Johnson is hoping his newness and honeymoon glow will help him pass the resolution without any further issues, but it is unclear if the far-right Republicans will accept it. If the resolution fails, it could have serious repercussions for the country.
Democratic strategist Chai Komanduri has warned of chaos in the House of Representatives following the election of Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) as its new speaker, which was allegedly kickstarted by extremist Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) at the behest of Donald Trump. Komanduri believes Johnson will do Trump's bidding, potentially leading to the shutdown of aid to Ukraine. The election of Johnson marks the end of a three-week standstill in the House of Representatives, with the consequences of his leadership yet to be seen.