Supreme Court rejects Musk appeal over social media posts that must be approved by Tesla
The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Elon Musk over a settlement with securities regulators that requires him to get approval in advance of some social media posts that relate to Tesla, the electric vehicle company he leads.
House GOP sues in bid to force Justice Department lawyers to testify as part of impeachment inquiry
House Republicans have filed a lawsuit seeking to force two Justice Department lawyers to testify about the criminal investigation of Hunter Biden as part of the chamber’s impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
House Republicans reiterate their demand for Hunter Biden to appear for a private deposition
House Republicans are demanding that Hunter Biden appear this month for a closed-door deposition, rejecting his offer to testify publicly while pledging to release a transcript of the private interview for transparency.
House Republicans grill Mayorkas on 'disastrous' border policy and renew calls to impeach him
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas faced a barrage of criticism by House Republicans who, in recent months, have floated impeaching the cabinet official over what they see as his dereliction of duty in securing the southern border.
GOP lawmaker: Former Trump prosecutor declined to provide details on hush-money investigation
A Republican lawmaker says the ex-prosecutor who once oversaw Manhattan’s yearslong investigation of former President Donald Trump repeatedly declined to substantively answer questions at a closed-door meeting of the House Judiciary Committee.
Appeals court halts House interview with ex-Trump prosecutor
A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked House Republicans from questioning a former Manhattan prosecutor about the criminal case against ex-President Donald Trump, the latest twist in a legal battle between Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office and the House Judiciary Committee.
FTC probes Twitter data practices after Elon Musk's layoffs
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Elon Musk’s mass layoffs at Twitter and trying to obtain his internal communications as part of ongoing oversight into the social media company’s privacy and cybersecurity practices, according to documents described in a congressional report.
Appeals court orders release of some Mueller report passages
A federal appeals court is directing the Justice Department to disclose certain redacted passages from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation report that relate to individuals who were investigated by prosecutors but not ultimately charged.
Gaetz staying on Judiciary panel, despite investigation
Democrats called for him to step aside from the House Judiciary Committee, which oversees the Justice Department. AdDuring that time, he has remained on both the House Armed Services Committee and on the Judiciary Committee, which has congressional oversight of the Justice Department. The Justice Department has also been looking into whether Gaetz, 38, may have also been involved in relationships with other underage girls, the people said. Gaetz said the allegations were part of an extortion plot by a former Justice Department official, whom he identified as David McGee. The Justice Department did not comment.
Gun waiting periods rare in US states but more may be coming
FILE - In this Feb. 6, 2019, file photo, Robyn Thomas, executive director of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence testifies before the House Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence, at Capitol Hill in Washington. Waiting periods are required in just 10 states and the District of Columbia, although several states are considering legislation this year to impose them. Against that backdrop, lawmakers in at least four states — Arizona, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont — have proposed creating or expanding waiting periods. If there’s a problem, let it surface, we’ll sort it out.”Gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association, oppose waiting periods. They also argue that waiting periods create a delay for people buying legally, while leaving illegal weapons transfers unaffected.
House passes domestic violence bill, pushes issue to Senate
The reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act passed 244-172 with 29 Republicans joining Democrats in supporting the legislation. The White House announced its support earlier Wednesday for reauthorizing VAWA, which aims to reduce domestic and sexual violence and improve the response to it through a variety of grant programs. AdPresident Joe Biden introduced the original Violence Against Women Act in June 1990 when serving as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. A subsequent version was eventually included in a sweeping crime bill that President Bill Clinton would sign into law four years later. Congress has reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act three times since.
Justices put off case over access to Russia probe grand jury
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court is putting off upcoming arguments about whether Congress should have access to secret grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives had asked the court to put off arguments scheduled for Dec. 2, and the court on Friday agreed, removing the case from its calendar. Letter noted that President Donald Trump’s defeat in his bid for reelection could affect the committee’s decision. The material initially was sought in the summer of 2019 as part of the committee’s investigation of possible misconduct by Trump, including whether he obstructed Mueller’s investigation. By the time of the appellate ruling, Trump had been impeached by the House for his efforts to get Ukraine to announce an investigation of Democrat Joe Biden, and acquitted by the Senate.
House asks justices to put off case over Russia grand jury
In this June 29, 2020 file photo, the Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)WASHINGTON – The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives is asking the Supreme Court to put off upcoming arguments about whether Congress should have access to secret grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. The material initially was sought in the summer of 2019 as part of the committee's investigation of possible misconduct by Trump, including whether he obstructed Mueller's investigation. The Supreme Court effectively kept the grand jury documents secret through the election in a series of orders in the spring and early summer. But it's unclear how many new, or incendiary, revelations might be contained in the grand jury transcripts.
From police chief to VP? Inside Val Demings' unlikely path
FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2019, file photo, Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., gives her opening statement during a House Judiciary Committee markup of the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington. Demings is among the women Joe Biden is considering for his vice presidential running mate. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Ethics panel clears Rep. Gaetz in lease for district office
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)WASHINGTON The Office of Congressional Ethics has recommended no further action against a Florida congressman who is paying a donor and former legal client $5,000 a month to rent space for his district office. The independent office has ended a preliminary investigation after finding insufficient evidence to continue the case against Rep. Matt Gaetz. The two-term lawmaker has said he did nothing wrong and that the lease is at or below market rate.The Office of Congressional Ethics opened the inquiry after news reports about the leasing arrangement surfaced in April. The office is a nonpartisan entity that reviews allegations of misconduct against House members, officers and staff, and makes recommendation to the House Ethics Committee. Merrill owns Empire Partners, L.L.C, the company that has billed him for the rent since Gaetz took office in 2017.
House to interview fired NY prosecutor probing Trump allies
Berman's office is looking into the business dealings of Rudy Giuliani, Trumps personal lawyer and a former New York mayor. Berman, a Republican lawyer and donor to Trump, was tapped by the administration in 2018 as the U.S. attorney for SDNY. He reportedly met with Trump before being assigned as the top federal prosecutor job in Manhattan. Trump told reporters it was all up to the attorney general. At the time, Trump added: I wasnt involved.It's not the first ouster of a U.S. attorney from the SDNY. Preet Bahara, a former federal prosecutor appointed by President Barack Obama, announced that he was fired in March 2017, shortly after Trump took office.
House judiciary panel to interview ousted NY prosecutor
WASHINGTON The ousted former U.S. attorney for Manhattan will sit down with the House Judiciary Committee next week for a closed-door interview as the panel investigates politicization in the Justice Department. Berman left his job last month after an extraordinary standoff in which he refused to resign until Trump himself fired him. Attorney General William Barr had attempted to force him to resign under pressure, but he refused to go. The Judiciary Committee is investigating the politicization and is scheduled to hear from Barr himself at the end of the month. The White House nominated Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton, a well-connected Wall Street lawyer with virtually no experience as a federal prosecutor, to replace Berman.
House subpoenas Justice Dept lawyers over politicization
WASHINGTON House Democrats have subpoenaed two Justice Department lawyers to testify before the Judiciary Committee about the politicization of the agency in the Trump administration, the committees chairman said Tuesday. The subpoenas set up a potential showdown between Congress and Attorney General William Barr about whether the prosecutors would be allowed to appear before the committee and what they would be permitted to discuss. Barr told the AP last year that the Justice Department would seek to block any attempt by Congress to subpoena members of the special counsels team. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on the subpoenas. A former official Donald Ayer, who served as deputy attorney general under President George H.W.
George Floyd's death is 'changing the world,' a brother says
Philonise Floyd, a brother of George Floyd, arrives to testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on proposed changes to police practices and accountability on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, in Washington. (Michael Reynolds/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON Philonise Floyd, a brother of George Floyd, says he's testifying to Congress because he wants his brother's death to be "more than another name on a growing list of those killed during interactions with police. If his death ends up changing the world for the better. Then he died as he lived, Philonise Floyd says, according to an advance copy of his remarks. Im tired of the pain Im feeling now and Im tired of the pain I feel every time another black person is killed for no reason," Floyd said.
House committee wants Zuckerberg, Sandberg to testify on Libra
(CNN) - Congress is concerned about Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency, and one committee wants to question the folks in charge: Both Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg have been asked to testify before the House Financial Services Committee about Facebook's plans for Libra. Facebook has said Libra will be governed by an independent, third-party organization, the Libra Association, though many of that group's member companies have ties to Facebook. Facebook and the Libra Association have promised not to launch Libra until these regulatory concerns are addressed. Marcus is also among the few initial leaders of the Libra Association. That same month, privacy regulators from around the world including FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra sent a letter to the Libra Association companies asking how Libra users' privacy will be protected.
Lewandowski: 'I don't have any reason to be held in contempt'
(CNN) - President Donald Trump's former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said Wednesday that he doesn't think he will be held in contempt of Congress a day after the House Judiciary Committee's chairman threatened to do so following a contentious hearing. "I don't have any reason to be held in contempt and I've told the members of Congress I'm happy to come back and answer more questions if they need me to, after the five- or six-hour charade I went through yesterday," Lewandowski told CNN's Alisyn Camerota during a contentious interview on "New Day." On Tuesday, Lewandowski sat for a roughly six-hour House Judiciary Committee hearing in which he largely ignored questions from the panel's Democrats on whether Trump obstructed justice. At one point in Wednesday's CNN interview, Lewandowski questioned what he would be held in contempt for, arguing that he answered a considerable amount of the questions posed to him by the panel's members. He confirmed that Trump told him to order then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to curtail the Mueller investigation so that it would only look for future election meddling -- and stop probing his 2016 campaign.
House panel to vote on impeachment probe parameters as Democrats try to clarify their strategy
Some call this process an impeachment inquiry. Some call it an impeachment investigation. Thursday's vote constitutes the first time the Judiciary Committee has voted on an action tied to its impeachment probe. To Nadler and many on the committee, the committee is conducting an impeachment investigation. "I don't want to get caught in semantics," Jeffries, who is a Judiciary Committee member, said when asked if the probe was an impeachment inquiry.
House panel subpoenas DHS docs about offers of pardons
Getty ImagesWASHINGTON, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday issued a subpoena for documents related to reports of President Donald Trump offering pardons to administration officials in his push to further his immigration agenda. The subpoena to the Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday targets Trump's reported dangling of pardons. "The Framers did not envision the use of the presidential pardon power to encourage criminal acts at the President's direction," said House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, a Democrat from New York, in a statement. In April, the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter to McAleenan requesting information from the administration about reports of pardons. The subpoena for documents, which was issued to McAleenan, is the latest in a series of subpoenas the panel has issued in recent weeks.
Robert Mueller faces Congress for pair of public hearings
After weeks of negotiations, twists and turns over Mueller's appearance and a pair of subpoenas, the former special counsel will testify publicly at 8:30 a.m. Ultimately, the direction that Mueller's testimony takes may come down to the special counsel himself and how he decides to engage with both Democrats and Republicans. In his investigation, Mueller said he relied on the Justice Department guidelines that a sitting President cannot be indicted. At first, Democrats pushed to gain access to the full, unredacted Mueller report and underlying evidence. But after the Justice Department resisted that endeavor, they turned their sights on the special counsel.
Democrats to press Mueller on Trump's alleged crimes
The California Democrat added: "Up until now, they've only had the Mueller report filtered through people like (Attorney General) Bill Barr, who misrepresented it. Trump has claimed vindication from the Mueller report, frequently saying and tweeting: "no collusion, no obstruction." Rep. Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the Intelligence Committee, has not commented to CNN and others about the Mueller report. Judiciary Committee Democrats met for dinner at Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon's home on Wednesday evening for an informal discussion about their momentous week ahead. "I've been involved in 100 hearings, and we've never prepared for one the way we have prepared for this one," said one Judiciary Committee aide.
Funeral for 9/11 responder Luis Alvarez to be held Wednesday
Retired New York Police Department detective and 9/11 first responder Luis Alvarez testifies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on reauthorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund on Capitol Hill on June 11, 2019, in(CNN) - A funeral for first responder Luis Alvarez will be held Wednesday, just days after his powerful congressional testimony on compensating individuals with health problems related to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Alvarez, 53, died Saturday from complications of cancer linked to the time he spent with other first responders at Ground Zero. "Detective Alvarez lost his fight against cancer, but his fight for 9/11 responders and survivors continues. A group of 9/11 first responders met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell this month to push for the passage of a measure to extend compensation funding. The fund Alvarez and other responders fought for was created months after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
House subcommittee to investigate Florida congressman over Cohen tweet
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., questions former White House counsel for the Nixon Administration John Dean during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Mueller report on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 10, 2019. PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. - A congressional subcommittee will investigate whether a Florida congressman intimidated President Donald Trump's former lawyer ahead of his testimony to Congress earlier this year. The House Committee on Ethics announced Friday that an investigative subcommittee has been established after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., declined to appear last month before the committee regarding a February remark he made to Michael Cohen on Twitter. House and committee rules established a June 24 deadline to dispose of the complaint, which was made March 13. I had a circumstance just a few weeks ago where someone threw a drink at me leaving a town hall meeting.