The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/department-of-justice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Justice</a> (DOJ) again chose to spurn a demand by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/house-republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House Republicans</a> to hand over audio recordings from special counsel Robert Hur&#8217;s investigation into President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a>&#8216;s handling of classified documents.
Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte conveyed the refusal in a new <a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018f-1657-d78f-afaf-3fdffa030000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> sent to House Oversight Chairman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/james-comer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Comer</a> (R-KY) and Judiciary Chairman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jim-jordan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Jordan</a> (R-OH) on Thursday, which was the latest deadline the congressional leaders had set for the subpoenaed materials.
&#8220;Despite our many requests, the Committees have not articulated a legitimate congressional need to obtain audio recordings from Mr. Hur’s investigation, let alone one that outweighs the Department’s strong interest in protecting the confidentiality of law enforcement files,&#8221; Uriarte wrote.
Comer and Jordan have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-republicans-give-ag-merrick-garland-one-more-chance-to-deliver-audio-from-biden-docs-probe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened</a> to begin contempt of Congress proceedings against Attorney General <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/merrick-garland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Merrick Garland</a> if the DOJ continued to rebuff their push for the audio recordings of Hur&#8217;s interview with Biden and of the special counsel&#8217;s interview with Biden&#8217;s ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer.
“Your response to the subpoenas remains inadequate, suggesting that you are withholding records for partisan purposes and to avoid political embarrassment for President Biden,” they <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-republicans-give-ag-merrick-garland-one-more-chance-to-deliver-audio-from-biden-docs-probe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> in a mid-April letter offering Garland one more chance to comply.
As the chairmen have already been given transcripts of the interviews and other records, Uriarte wrote in his newest letter that it &#8220;seems that the more information you receive, the less satisfied you are, and the less justification you have for contempt, the more you rush towards it.&#8221;
Hur&#8217;s report, which was released in February, criticized Biden&#8217;s retention of classified records while out of office, yet the prosecutor declined to recommend charges.
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The report described Biden as a &#8220;sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory&#8221; whom a jury likely would not convict &#8220;of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness.&#8221;
Hur also found that Zwonitzer deleted recordings of conversations he had with Biden upon learning about the documents inquiry.
However, the ghostwriter provided &#8220;plausible, innocent reasons&#8221; for his actions during the interview and Hur said he ultimately determined the evidence would not suffice for a conviction on obstruction of justice.
Biden and the White House have pushed back against Hur&#8217;s characterizations in his report, but Garland insisted that it would have been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/garland-says-censoring-hurs-biden-docs-report-would-have-been-absurd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;absurd&#8221;</a> for someone in his position to have edited or censored the special counsel&#8217;s explanation.
During testimony earlier this month, Garland <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1780261901768831242" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acknowledged</a> his agency sent correspondence &#8220;explaining our position with respect to the recordings&#8221; and noted the &#8220;longstanding practice&#8221; of keeping witness records confidential to not &#8220;chill&#8221; future investigations.

Special Counsel Robert Hur Testifies On Biden’s Classified Documents Investigation

DOJ Again Rebuffs House GOP Over Audio From Biden Docs Probe

Congress

Department of Justice

House Republicans

James Comer

Jim Jordan

Joe Biden

Robert Hur

U.S.

U.S. House of Representatives

Top New York City Police Department officials slammed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on Thursday for demonizing law enforcement&#8217;s response to anti-Semitic protests on Columbia University&#8217;s campus.
Ocasio-Cortez <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1783224425074086256">responded</a> to a video posted on X that showed NYPD counterterrorism officers on campus who were there to ensure that the far-left extremists did not become violent.
&#8220;Not only did Columbia make the horrific decision to mobilize NYPD on their own students, but the units called in have some of the most violent reputations on the force,&#8221; she claimed. &#8220;NYPD had promised the city they wouldn’t deploy SRG [Strategic Response Group] to protests.&#8221;
&#8220;So why are these counterterror units here?&#8221; she asked.
NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell fired back at AOC: &#8220;Truly amazing! Columbia decided to hold its students accountable to the laws of the school. They are seeing the consequences of their actions. Something these kids were most likely never taught. Good SAT scores and self-entitlement do not supersede the law. I am sure you would agree that we have to teach them these valuable life skills.&#8221;
&#8220;Secondly, I was with those &#8216;units&#8217; last Thursday that you describe as having, &#8216;the most violent reputations.&#8217; These &#8216;units&#8217; removed students with great care and professionalism, not a single incident was reported,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;The only incidents that day on campus were the student&#8217;s hateful anti-Semitic speech and vile language towards our cops. I am sure you agree any hateful speech is unacceptable. You should rethink your comments to a simple thank you to the NYPD and hate has no place in our society.&#8221;
Chell said that AOC should visit the campus and &#8220;listen to their remarks of pure hatred.&#8221;
&#8220;I will ensure those &#8216;units&#8217; will protect you as they do for all NYers 24/7/365,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Lack of accountability = consequences. Hate from anyone, anywhere has no place in our city and country.&#8221;
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry also responded to AOC&#8217;s remarks on X: &#8220;Everyone has a Constitutional right to protest, it’s one of the pillars our great democracy is built on. But kids also have a right to go to school without being harassed, threatened, intimidated or assaulted.&#8221;
&#8220;There is nothing &#8216;horrific&#8217; about protecting the safety of Columbia’s young students who are just trying to go to school,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;We’ve said it time and time again, the NYPD will always protect and defend your right to protest but just because you hold a sign while you’re threatening, harassing, intimidating and assaulting people doesn’t give you a free pass from criminal conduct.&#8221;
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&#8220;Being anti-Semitic and spewing hate to kids will never ever be tolerated in our city,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Our officers are the best and most highly trained law enforcement professionals in the world. Everyday, they have to endure insults, threats, and hate speech merely because the uniform they wear as they try to keep the peace and protect everyone’s rights. I encourage you @AOC to visit Columbia and do a walk through; I promise our officers will, like always, do their job, and protect you like they have protected everyone on campus regardless of what your political beliefs are. We’ll also take a report if you feel threatened.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Everyone has a Constitutional right to protest, it’s one of the pillars our great democracy is built on. But kids also have a right to go to school without being harassed, threatened, intimidated or assaulted. There is nothing “horrific” about protecting the safety of Columbia’s… <a href="https://t.co/a3fEQQEIeh">https://t.co/a3fEQQEIeh</a>
— NYPD Deputy Commissioner, Operations Kaz Daughtry (@NYPDDaughtry) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYPDDaughtry/status/1783469997508944072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2024</a></blockquote>

President Biden Delivers Remarks In Triangle, VA

NYPD Official Rips AOC For Demonizing Police Who Responded To Anti-Semitic Campus Protesters

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Anti-Semitism

antisemitism

Columbia University

New York Police Department (NYPD)

NYPD

Politics

Protest

This week, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-jersey-house-democrat-donald-payne-jr-dies-at-65" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sudden death</a> of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ) and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mike-gallagher-announces-resignation-shrinks-republicans-house-majority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the resignation</a> of Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) once again changed the party breakdown of the GOP-led chamber that has to contend with a Democrat-controlled Senate and White House.
Republicans numbered 217 while Democrats had <a href="https://pressgallery.house.gov/member-data/party-breakdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">212 members</a> as of Thursday. That means, with the current set-up, the GOP can only afford two defectors in party-line votes with full attendance. Yet that will not be the case for long.
In less than one week, on April 30, New York will hold a special election for the Buffalo-area seat once held by Brian Higgins, a Democrat who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-dem-announces-plan-to-resign-early-in-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stepped down</a> in February to become president and CEO of Shea’s Performing Arts Center.
New York State Sen. Timothy Kennedy (D) is <a href="https://www.wbfo.org/2024-04-23/what-is-the-ny-26-special-election-and-why-is-it-happening-wbfo-explains" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facing off</a> against West Seneca Town Supervisor Gary Dickson (R) in the race to finish the two-year term Higgins won in 2022. The winner will likely be sworn in during the following weeks.
If Kennedy wins the 26th Congressional District, which Higgins had represented since 2005, it would further diminish the GOP&#8217;s ability to prevail in contentious matters. Two Republican defectors in otherwise party-line votes would result in a tie.
Republicans previously lost ground in the Empire State when Democrat Tom Suozzi <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/slim-house-gop-majority-takes-a-hit-with-dem-winning-contest-to-replace-santos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emerged victorious</a> over GOP rival Mazi Pilip in the special election that followed the expulsion of Long Island Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/george-santos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">George Santos</a> (R-NY). Suozzi <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/democrat-tom-suozzi-sworn-shrinking-house-gops-fragile-majority-rcna140563" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took the oath of office</a> in late February.
There are five other vacancies in the House, which has a full capacity of 435 voting members. While only a little more than half a year remains in the current session, some important votes may yet still happen — including for the fiscal 2025 budget.
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Three other special elections have been set in motion for a GOP trio who resigned early. One in California is <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-special-election-kevin-mccarthy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set for May 21</a> to pick a successor to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Two June contests for seats previously held by Reps. <a href="https://www.wtrf.com/top-stories/meet-the-5-candidates-running-for-bill-johnsons-seat-in-the-u-s-house-of-representatives/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill Johnson</a> (R-OH) and <a href="https://rollcall.com/2024/04/03/field-set-for-colorado-special-election-to-fill-buck-seat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ken Buck</a> (R-CO) will follow.
It remains unclear whether there will be a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-payne-rep-congress-dead-d1e3187470ee000b2e77c72226a1edd5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">special election</a> for the seat left behind by Payne, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-jersey-house-democrat-donald-payne-jr-dies-at-65" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died on Wednesday at the age of 65</a>. There are <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-congress-gallagher-lyerly-e54d2dc19192a3cc2ed91b395358ebf6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">no plans</a> for one to be held to replace Gallagher following his resignation, which <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1783506303010152832" target="_blank" rel="noopener">became official</a> on Wednesday after he stayed in office slightly longer than planned to vote on a foreign aid package over the weekend.

Donald Payne Jr.

Where The House Balance Of Power Stands After Dem Suddenly Dies And Another GOP Member Resigns

House Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) called on Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign over her handling of the anti-Semitic protests on campus over the last several days.
Johnson made the remarks while visiting the campus with other Republican lawmakers as they met with Jewish students about the attacks they&#8217;ve faced.
“Sadly, Columbia&#8217;s administrators have chosen to let the threats, the fear and the intimidation of the mob rule to overtake American principles like free speech and the free exchange of ideas and the free exercise of religion,” Johnson said. “They have co-opted First Amendment arguments to protect genocide, and to elevate the voices of anti-Semitism. They have proven themselves to be incapable of achieving their basic responsibility, which is keeping students safe.”
“We just can&#8217;t allow this kind of hatred and anti-Semitism to flourish on our campuses and it must be stopped in its tracks,” he continued. “Those who are perpetrating this violence should be arrested. And I&#8217;m here today joining my colleagues and calling on President Shafik to resign if she cannot immediately bring order to this chaos.”
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“As Speaker of the House, I am committing today that the Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are expected to run for their lives and stay home from their classes hiding in fear,” he added. “In the House of Representatives, we&#8217;ve already acted to address anti-Semitism on campuses. We have passed a number of statutes to address this matter, and we call upon the U.S. Senate to act upon our legislation.”
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Administrators at Columbia have proven themselves to be incapable of achieving their basic responsibly – keeping students safe.
I join my colleagues in calling on President Shafik to resign.
Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are targeted on campus. <a href="https://t.co/GARHwgKF0M">pic.twitter.com/GARHwgKF0M</a>
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1783241235068522982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></blockquote>

US House Speaker Johnson booed during speech at Columbia University

Speaker Johnson Calls On Columbia President Shafik To Resign: ‘Very Weak, Inept Leader’

Mike Johnson

A group of centrist <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/house-democrats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House Democrats</a> called on President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Congress</a> to take steps toward securing the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday.
Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), Jared Golden (D-ME), Mary Peltola (D-AK), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), and Don Davis (D-NC) — all of whom have 2024 races rated &#8220;<a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">toss up&#8221; or &#8220;lean Democrat,</a>&#8221; according to The Cook Political Report — released a <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewSolender/status/1783209478415921277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> after Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-signs-foreign-aid-tiktok-bills-into-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed a $95 billion foreign aid package</a> into law.
&#8220;Our national security interests don&#8217;t stop at our physical borders. That is why we voted to send more weapons to Ukraine for its fight against Russia,&#8221; they said. &#8220;The lesson of Pearl Harbor must not be forgotten: appeasement invites aggression against us. As Speaker [Mike] Johnson stated last week, we would rather send &#8216;bullets than American boys.'&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
After Biden signs the foreign aid bill, a group of centrist House Democrats issues a statement saying he and Congress “must act and bring order to the Southern border.” <a href="https://t.co/Z0pZg6XMAa">pic.twitter.com/Z0pZg6XMAa</a>
&mdash; Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewSolender/status/1783209478415921277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Beyond defending U.S. allies, the group said they &#8220;strongly agree&#8221; with the National Border Patrol Council on the view &#8220;that Congress and the President must act and bring order to the Southern border.&#8221;
&#8220;That is why we also voted for H.R. 3602 on Saturday,&#8221; they said, referring to border security legislation that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-passes-95-billion-foreign-aid-package-with-possible-tiktok-ban" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failed to pass</a> as lawmakers considered a bill series for the foreign aid package, &#8220;and why we all voted last month for $19.6 billion for Border Patrol so that it could ramp up its efforts to secure the border.&#8221;
The Democrats said they were &#8220;calling today on President Biden to use the authority given the executive by Congress to immediately reimplement&#8221; a section of U.S. Code geared toward returning migrants to Mexico pending court proceedings.
And they called on leaders in both the House and Senate to &#8220;to pass legislation to give Border Patrol back the expulsion authority that expired last year, alluding to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mayorkas-says-border-patrol-encounters-down-by-half-since-title-42-expired" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic-era Title 42</a>, which allowed authorities to quickly turn away migrants at the border on public health grounds.
With a presidential election coming up in November, <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/611135/immigration-surges-top-important-problem-list.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">border security</a> as well as <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/611135/immigration-surges-top-important-problem-list.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">immigration</a> have become top issues for Americans as the backlog of asylum seekers and migrants living in the U.S. is projected to reach <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/02/data-biden-border-crisis-immigration-8-million-detention" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than 8 million</a> by October.
Hardline Republicans who opposed the foreign aid package — which seeks to boost U.S. allies such as Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan — lashed out, in part, because of a dearth of provisions geared toward alleviating the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/border-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">border crisis</a> in the final product.
The statement from the House Democrats included a quote that Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nothing-more-backwards-than-us-funding-ukraine-border-security-but-not-our-own-conservatives-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gave to Fox News last weekend</a>.
&#8220;We are beyond disappointed that the House would give aid to secure the borders of foreign countries but gave nothing to allow the Border Patrol to secure the safety of the United States,&#8221; Judd said.
&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing more backwards,&#8221; he added, &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t have even expected taxpayers&#8217; dollars. They could have given us policy, and that would have been enough.&#8221;

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

House Dem Centrists Push For Border Security After Biden Signs Foreign Aid Bill

Border Crisis

House Democrats

Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-democrat-remains-hospitalized-more-than-a-week-after-cardiac-episode" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Payne Jr.</a> (D-NJ), a Newark mainstay who served in the seat once held by his father, has died at the age of 65, Governor Phil Murphy and Payne&#8217;s office announced on Wednesday.
&#8220;Tammy and I are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our friend, and a steadfast champion for the people of New Jersey, Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.,&#8221; Murphy <a href="https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562024/approved/20240424a.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement revealing the lawmaker&#8217;s death.
It was previously known that the six-term congressman had been experiencing health problems and was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-democrat-remains-hospitalized-more-than-a-week-after-cardiac-episode" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hospitalized</a> earlier this month. Payne&#8217;s office said in a <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewSolender/status/1783199331211751695" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> following Murphy&#8217;s announcement on Wednesday that Payne had &#8220;experienced a physical accident at home on April 6, 2024, which necessitated hospitalization.&#8221;
As Payne received treatment &#8220;for this health issue, he faced medical complications due to diabetes and high blood pressure that led to subsequent cardiorespiratory arrest. Despite the dedicated efforts of the medical staff to treat him and improve his health, they were unable to prevent his passing unfortunately,&#8221; the statement added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Rep. Donald Payne Jr.&#39;s office confirms his death:
&#8211; Says he &quot;experienced a physical accident at home&quot; on April 6 and was hospitalized &#8211; During treatment, he experienced complications from diabetes/high blood pressure that &quot;led to subsequent cardiorespiratory arrest.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/TDhsIc1Zbv">pic.twitter.com/TDhsIc1Zbv</a>
&mdash; Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewSolender/status/1783199331211751695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;With his signature bowtie, big heart, and tenacious spirit,&#8221; as Murphy put it, Payne spent years of his life in public service working as a union worker, Newark City Council president, and member of the Essex County Board of Commissioners. Payne <a href="https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2012/11/donald-payne-jr-replacing-late-father-is-sworn-in-149729" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> election in 2012 to take the House seat that had been held by his father, Donald Payne Sr., until he died of colon cancer at age 77 after <a href="https://whyy.org/articles/donald-payne-jr-son-of-late-congressman-wins-10th-district-seat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">25 years in Congress</a>.
&#8220;It was my great honor to work side-by-side with Donald to build a stronger and fairer New Jersey, and we will hold his memory close to our hearts as we build upon the Payne family’s deep legacy of service in advocating for the communities they served so dearly,&#8221; Murphy said in his statement.
“Donald’s love will live on in the homes of his neighbors in Newark, who now have access to safe drinking water, and in the good-paying jobs he helped create for his brothers and sisters in labor,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And it will live on in his wife Beatrice, and their three children, Donald III, Jack, and Yvonne, who were the pride of his life. Our heartfelt prayers are with his family during this difficult time.&#8221;
Payne&#8217;s death comes as primary voting is underway in his state. The New Jersey Globe <a href="https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/donald-payne-will-win-the-primary-posthumously-heres-how-democrats-will-pick-his-replacement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Payne, whose name is on the ballot, will likely win unless a write-in campaign defeats him. County officials from his party can call a convention and pick a new nominee after the results are certified and a vacancy is declared.
In terms of House business, Payne&#8217;s absence could have an impact on close votes. The chamber is already narrowly divided, with Republicans holding a slim majority. It was not immediately clear whether there will be a special election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the two-year term won by Payne in 2022.
Members of Congress reacted to the news of Payne&#8217;s death, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Deeply saddened by the passing of Congressman Donald Payne Jr., a good friend, highly effective public servant and compassionate leader.
My prayers and support are with the Payne family and his loved ones during this difficult time.
May he forever Rest in Peace.
👑👑👑🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 <a href="https://t.co/QXWkJPhzGv">pic.twitter.com/QXWkJPhzGv</a>
&mdash; Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJeffries/status/1783181847641329950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Deeply saddened by the passing of Congressman Donald Payne Jr., a good friend, highly effective public servant and compassionate leader,&#8221; Jeffries said on X. &#8220;My prayers and support are with the Payne family and his loved ones during this difficult time. May he forever Rest in Peace.&#8221;
&#8220;We are saddened to be informed of the passing today of Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr., who had been serving New Jersey&#8217;s 10th Congressional District since 2012, and who succeeded his father in the same position,&#8221; Johnson <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1783181627578863723" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X. &#8220;Our prayers are offered today for his family and friends, and especially his wife, Bea, and their three children.&#8221;

Rep Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ)

New Jersey House Democrat Donald Payne Jr. Dies At 65

New Jersey

Phil Murphy

House Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) accused the White House on Wednesday of &#8220;caving&#8221; to anti-Semitism that he believes is getting too much of a pass in today&#8217;s Democratic Party.
A &#8220;real problem&#8221; right now is a lack of &#8220;strong leadership&#8221; from the White House and Democrats in Congress, Johnson told radio host Hugh Hewitt in an <a href="https://hughhewitt.com/speaker-mike-johnson-on-his-trip-to-columbia-the-state-department-leak-about-sanctioning-israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a>.
&#8220;I mean, the White House is caving to the antisemitic — I call it the pro-Hamas wing of the party. Now they backpedaled on their support for Israel,&#8221; Johnson said.
Although Biden has declared <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4610240-biden-marks-passover-with-statement-of-ironclad-support-for-israel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;ironclad&#8221; support</a> for Israel and backs aid for the country, he has also taken actions that could alleviate blowback from pro-Palestinian allies, including members of the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/bidens-support-from-progressives-at-risk-over-border-bill-and-israel-f44ed8f7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leftist &#8220;Squad&#8221;</a> in the House.
Biden <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/09/politics/biden-trump-threat-to-democracy/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s approach to the war against Hamas in Gaza and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/14/biden-netanyahu-iran-israel-us-wont-support" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly warned</a> Netanyahu the United States would not support Israel in a counterattack against Iran after a recent drone and missile attack.
Johnson, in his discussion with Hewitt, also chided Democrats for not doing more to condemn <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6351366323112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protesters chanting</a> for &#8220;death&#8221; to America.
&#8220;They won&#8217;t call that out and some members, Democratic members of Congress, are even calling these anti-Semitic mobs peaceful protesters and defending the harassment, intimidation and all the rest,&#8221; Johnson said.
&#8220;So it&#8217;s really become a serious problem,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And they&#8217;re allowing mob rule to overtake the American ideals of free speech and the free exchange of ideas and in the free exercise of religion. This is not who we are.&#8221;
Johnson is planning a visit later on Wednesday to Columbia University, where a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/columbia-rabbi-warns-of-extreme-antisemitism-advises-jewish-students-to-return-home-asap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rabbi warned</a> Jewish students to go home amid safety concerns stemming from pro-Palestinian demonstrations taking place around campus.
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The speaker told Hewitt that acts of harassment and intimidation being reported at Columbia and other colleges are &#8220;disgusting and unacceptable.&#8221;
Johnson voiced support for revoking federal funds for universities that cannot get a grip on the situation and for pulling student visas for &#8220;violent protesters&#8221; from other countries.
&#8220;We&#8217;re calling upon and demanding these university officials to get control. This situation is just completely out of control right now,&#8221; Johnson said.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson

Speaker Johnson Says Biden White House Is ‘Caving’ To ‘Pro-Hamas Wing’ Of Democratic Party

Speaker Johnson Says Biden White House Is 'Caving' To 'Pro-Hamas Wing' Of Democratic Party

White House

In a late Tuesday vote, the Democrat-controlled <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> approved a $95 billion package that aims to provide aid to U.S. allies, including Ukraine and Israel, and paves the way to a possible <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tiktok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> ban.
Senators voted 79-18 to pass the legislation, with most Democrats and Republicans supporting it. It needed 60 votes to prevail. The package now heads to President Joe Biden, who <a href="https://twitter.com/jamiedupree/status/1782953492337844295" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he would sign the legislation.
&#8220;Tonight, America sends a message to the entire world: We will not turn our back on you,&#8221; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/1782949593367371925" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> to X after the vote.
The GOP-led House passed the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-gop-unveils-foreign-aid-bills-expects-final-vote-over-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">foreign aid package</a> over the weekend in a series of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-95-billion-spending-package-for-ukraine-israel-and-taiwan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">separate votes</a> that followed Iran&#8217;s missile and drone attack on Israel earlier this month.
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Included <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/815/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in the package</a> is $61 billion to boost <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine</a> in its war against Russia and give assistance to regional partners, $26 billion for Israel as it fights Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and humanitarian aid, and $8 billion for Indo-Pacific allies like Taiwan.
There are other elements, such as sanctions for fentanyl trafficking and other matters, as well as compensating Ukraine with seized Russian assets. U.S. agencies get funds to fulfill the purposes of the bill, including the Defense and State Departments.
The legislation also has a section that gives Chinese-based ByteDance up to a year to divest from TikTok or else the app gets banned in the United States. TikTok is <a href="https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/tiktok-ban-law-plans-lawsuit-first-amendment-1235978150/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected to sue</a>, a move that would likely drag out the process.
A final Senate vote took place on Tuesday hours after the chamber <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00152.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">easily met</a> the three-fifths threshold to limit debate over the protest of hardline Republicans and leftist members including Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
&#8220;The Uniparty wants to rubber stamp this $95 billion betrayal,&#8221; Lee <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMikeLee/status/1782842181671108873" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X. &#8220;They even banned Senators from amending this disastrous bill to secure the border, or prevent tax dollars from going to Hamas!&#8221;
Lee and Sanders opposed the bill in the final vote, too, along with 14 other Republicans and two Democrats. Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatePress/status/1782952659307139258" target="_blank" rel="noopener">did not vote</a>.
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Republican Senators Paul, Scott (SC), &amp; Tuberville missed the final passage vote on the $95.3B Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan aid package.
&mdash; Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1782953287697719710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) was among the Republicans who voted in favor of the foreign aid package. He spoke out in support of the legislation earlier in the day.
&#8220;Today, the Senate sits for a test on behalf of the entire nation. It’s a test of America’s resolve, our readiness, and our willingness to lead. And the stakes of failure are abundantly clear. We must not fail it,&#8221; McConnell <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell/status/1782784285759434876" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X.
Efforts on Capitol Hill to pass foreign aid was stymied for several months after the Biden administration made a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/20/fact-sheet-white-house-calls-on-congress-to-advance-critical-national-security-priorities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national security supplemental request</a> last fall.
In mid-February, the Senate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-passes-95-billion-foreign-aid-bill-despite-opposition-from-over-half-of-republican-senators" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> a $95 billion foreign aid bill that would allocate money for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan by a <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00048.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">70-29</a> vote with support of most Democrats and some Republicans.
A bipartisan immigration deal had been tacked onto that legislation, but it was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ted-cruz-says-democrats-got-political-camouflage-with-foreign-aid-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped</a> after a group of Republicans and leftist senators blocked the larger bill from advancing.
The House refused to take up the Senate-passed legislation as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and other Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-johnson-charts-path-forward-on-ukraine-aid-with-important-innovations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">demanded</a> that legislation to help alleviate the border crisis be part of the equation.
Over the weekend, when the House passed its foreign aid package in piecemeal fashion, a sufficient number of lawmakers voted to <a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/04/21/u-s-house-votes-down-border-bill-favored-by-conservatives/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reject a border security bill</a> that received consideration as part of the process.
Another <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-bill-that-could-lead-to-u-s-ban-on-tiktok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok bill</a> with a shorter divestiture window, which the House passed in March amid <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/fbi-chief-says-tiktok-screams-us-national-security-concerns-2023-03-08/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national security concerns</a> about the app, did not get a vote in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Senate Passes $95 Billion Foreign Aid Package With Possible TikTok Ban

Israel

National Security

TikTok

U.S. Senate

Ukraine

Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/cori-bush" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cori Bush</a> (D-MO) got some serious backlash after she attempted to parlay her personal experience protesting in Ferguson, Missouri, into a defense of the anti-Israel — and often anti-Semitic — protests sweeping across college campuses like Columbia University.
Bush, who has often touted her &#8220;street cred&#8221; as a protester in Ferguson, claimed that she had witnessed firsthand what happened when protests were &#8220;infiltrated&#8221; by people who wanted to make them appear violent and lawless.
&#8220;As a Ferguson activist, I know what it’s like to have agitators infiltrate our movement, manipulate the press, &amp; fuel the suppression of dissent by public officials &amp; law enforcement. We must reject these tactics to silence anti-war activists demanding divestment from genocide,&#8221; she posted via X.
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As a Ferguson activist, I know what it’s like to have agitators infiltrate our movement, manipulate the press, &amp; fuel the suppression of dissent by public officials &amp; law enforcement.
We must reject these tactics to silence anti-war activists demanding divestment from genocide.
&mdash; Cori Bush (@CoriBush) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoriBush/status/1782587802506367041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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But as many critics were quick to point out, the protests in Ferguson were based on a lie — &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-media-is-still-lying-about-michael-brown-9-years-later-heres-why" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hands up, don&#8217;t shoot!</a>&#8221; — claiming that 18-year-old Michael Brown had not been attempting to attack police officer Darren Wilson and take his gun when he was shot and killed.
In the weeks following Brown&#8217;s death, protesters attacked police and burned their own city to the ground — destroying businesses and decimating property values. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary — including an assessment made by former <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-loony-documentarian-loses-mind-after-hes-frank-camp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Attorney General Eric Holder</a> — many, like Bush, still maintain that Brown was &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sitting-members-of-congress-and-more-commemorate-ferguson-police-shooting-by-lying-about-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">murdered</a>.&#8221;
&#8220;Thanks for reminding everyone that you supported criminal riots, demanded defunding police so others don’t have protection from the rioting, and then used campaign funds (currently under DoJ investigation) to get security for yourself,&#8221; AG (@aghamilton29) posted.
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Thanks for reminding everyone that you supported criminal riots, demanded defunding police so others don’t have protection from the rioting, and then used campaign funds (currently under DoJ investigation) to get security for yourself. <a href="https://t.co/nlVPZJ3HAp">https://t.co/nlVPZJ3HAp</a>
&mdash; AG (@AGHamilton29) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGHamilton29/status/1782621749919580317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Also a great reminder here that Officer Darren Wilson&#8217;s shooting was cleared by AG Eric Holder&#8217;s DOJ and Michael Brown was on recorded video strangling and shoplifting from a local Bodega owner,&#8221; Stephen Miller added.
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Also a great reminder here that Officer Darren Wilson&#39;s shooting was cleared by AG Eric Holder&#39;s DOJ and Michael Brown was on recorded video strangling and shoplifting from a local Bodega owner. <a href="https://t.co/0rbaNZY4cg">https://t.co/0rbaNZY4cg</a>
&mdash; Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) <a href="https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1782632765516923327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;This is conspiratorial nonsense that would crumble under even the most basic questions from journalists. Now ask yourselves why journalists aren&#8217;t pressuring her for details on these claims,&#8221; Miller said in another post.
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This is conspiratorial nonsense that would crumble under even the most basic questions from journalists. 
Now ask yourselves why journalists aren&#39;t pressuring her for details on these claims. Cc <a href="https://twitter.com/MarcACaputo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarcACaputo</a> <a href="https://t.co/0rbaNZXwmI">https://t.co/0rbaNZXwmI</a>
&mdash; Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) <a href="https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1782627236698358180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;For years they boldly and proudly boasted the violence was not only justified, but necessary for their resistance movement. &#8216;Make people uncomfortable! Get in their faces!!&#8217; Now that it&#8217;s out of their control and is hurting their cause, it&#8217;s, &#8216;No no! Those are INFILTRATORS,'&#8221; said Chad Felix Greene.
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For years they boldly and proudly boasted the violence was not only justified, but necessary for their resistance movement.
&#39;Make people uncomfortable! Get in their faces!!&#39;
Now that it&#39;s out of their control and is hurting their cause, it&#39;s, &#39;No no! Those are INFILTRATORS&#39; <a href="https://t.co/ad3IO3Gnib">https://t.co/ad3IO3Gnib</a>
&mdash; Chad Felix Greene 🇮🇱 (@chadfelixg) <a href="https://twitter.com/chadfelixg/status/1782592614799196544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Bush&#8217;s defense of the anti-Semitic campus protests mirrored almost exactly the words of Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ilhan-omar-tries-to-defend-columbia-protesters-and-her-daughter-and-it-backfires-immediately" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ilhan Omar</a> — whose daughter was among those arrested at Columbia University for instigating the protests.
&#8220;Throughout history, protests were co-opted and made to look bad so police and public leaders would shut them down. That’s what we are seeing now at Columbia University,” Omar claimed. “The Columbia protesters have made clear their demands and want their school not to be complacent in the ongoing Genocide in Gaza. Public officials and media making this about anything else are inflaming the situation and need to bring calmness and sanity back.&#8221;

House Democrats Hold Press Conference On Need To End Filibuster

‘Conspiratorial Nonsense’: Cori Bush Blasted For Using ‘Ferguson Activist’ Cred To Excuse Anti-Semitic Protests

'Conspiratorial Nonsense': Cori Bush Blasted For Using 'Ferguson Activist' Cred To Excuse Anti-Semitic Protests

Cori Bush

Ferguson

Hamas

Protests

Riots

More than half of the Republicans in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Senate</a> reached out to a pair of top officials in the Biden administration on Tuesday demanding &#8220;immediate action&#8221; to protect Jewish students on college campuses.
The group of 27 GOP lawmakers, led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona as pro-Palestinian protests at <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/columbia-university" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Columbia University</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-arrest-dozens-of-anti-israel-protesters-at-yale" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yale, and others</a> have led to reports of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-education-chair-demands-columbia-university-expulsions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">harassment</a> and acts of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/anti-semitism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anti-Semitism</a>.
&#8220;You need to take action to restore order and protect Jewish students on our college campuses,&#8221; the letter <a href="https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-biden-administration-must-act-to-protect-jewish-students-from-pro-hamas-anti-semitic-mobs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;President Biden issued a statement on Sunday, purporting to condemn the outbreak of anti-Semitism. If that statement was serious, it must be accompanied by immediate action from your departments.&#8221;
The GOP senators requested that Cardona and Garland provide their offices &#8220;an update&#8221; on relevant efforts to enforce federal laws by 5 p.m. on Wednesday. They provided a non-exclusive list of examples.
&#8220;Rioting violates federal law,&#8221; the lawmakers said. &#8220;Violence or attempted violence against anyone because of their Jewish heritage violates federal law. School administrators’ failure to protect Jewish students from discrimination or harassment violates federal law and is grounds for those schools losing access to federal funds. Espousing support for terrorists such as Hamas violates federal immigration law and is grounds for deportation.&#8221;
Federal law enforcement and the Education Department &#8220;must act immediately to restore order, prosecute the mobs who have perpetuated violence and threats against Jewish students, revoke the visas of all foreign nationals (such as exchange students) who have taken part in promoting terrorism, and hold accountable school administrators who have stood by instead of protecting their students,&#8221; the GOP senators added.
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Co-signers included Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), James Risch (R-ID), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Rick Scott (R-FL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).
Hawley also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hawley-presses-biden-to-mobilize-national-guard-to-protect-jewish-students" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent a letter</a> asking President Joe Biden to mobilize the National Guard in response to the protests that have led to safety concerns for Jewish students on university campuses across the country.

Sen. Tom Cotton

GOP Senators Demand Biden Admin Crack Down On Campus Anti-Semitism

Biden Administration

Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jd-vance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J.D. Vance</a> (R-OH) said on Monday that &#8220;two forces&#8221; underly the &#8220;campus violence&#8221; amid <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-education-chair-demands-columbia-university-expulsions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports of harassment</a> against Jewish students as pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests sprout up at Columbia, Yale, and other universities.
The chaos on campuses is the result of a &#8220;convergence&#8221; of dual factors that &#8220;the Left has been openly cultivating for years now,&#8221; Vance <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2024/04/22/sen_jd_vance_limousine_self-hating_liberals_and_the_importation_of_millions_of_people_are_producing_campus_violence.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Fox News host Jesse Watters</a>.
&#8220;On one hand you have well-educated limousine self-hating liberals who get very good educations, but really getting very good indoctrinations. They are not getting an education in anything,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;And then on the flipside, you have the importation of millions of people, some of whom aren&#8217;t properly vetted and some of whom hate this country,&#8221; Vance continued, alluding to the migrant crisis.
&#8220;Those two forces are joining in Columbia and in Yale and producing this incredible campus violence,&#8221; Vance added.
At Columbia, protesters have insisted the university meet their demands, including <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/22/us/columbia-university-protests-classes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">divestiture</a> from companies that have ties to Israel as the country fights a war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Vance pointed to some alleged incidents during the demonstrations that have given rise to concerns about the safety of Jewish students and even led to Columbia shifting to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/columbia-university-moves-to-remote-learning-as-campus-rancor-puts-jewish-students-on-edge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remote learning</a> on Monday.
&#8220;Obviously we condemn anti-Semitism. But I don&#8217;t care what your underlying ideology is. If you are harassing fellow students, if you are preventing people from getting to class, if you are <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/04/21/us-news/jewish-yale-student-stabbed-in-the-eye-with-palestinian-flag-during-protest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stabbing your fellow students in the eye</a> with flags, you should go to prison,&#8221; he said.
Vance took aim at Democrats, including President Joe Biden, saying he does not understand why they &#8220;cannot just utter the simple basic truth that if you violate the law, if you set up a tent city, if you turn our cities or campuses into garbage dumps for your next political protest, you need to be forced to comply with the law.&#8221;
Although police arrested more than <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/18/nyregion/columbia-university-protests-antisemitism.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100 students</a> at Columbia for refusing to leave an encampment on campus and participants have been subject to suspension, the protest activity persisted for several days.
Democrats have &#8220;boxed themselves into a hole&#8221; because of their need for moderate Jewish and Arab voters in places across the country, Vance said. &#8220;Those groups of people very often do not see eye to eye on this Israel question — on the Gaza question, and the Democrats have to lay in the bed that they&#8217;ve made for themselves.&#8221;
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Vance also made reference to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/biden-crushed-equivocating-antisemitic-protests-fine-people-both-sides-moment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">equivocating comments</a> from Biden on Monday in which the president said that he condemns the &#8220;anti-Semitic protests&#8221; as well as people who &#8220;don&#8217;t understand&#8221; what Palestinians are going through.
&#8220;The fact that Joe Biden cannot straightforwardly condemn terrorism and attacks on the craziness that&#8217;s going on in our campuses is evidence that the guy has two masters and he needs to pick one and if he doesn&#8217;t the American people need to give them the boot,&#8221; Vance said.
&#8220;Can you imagine, Jesse, if Donald Trump was president right now, can you imagine how swiftly we would respond to this lawlessness and chaos? We just need to get back to common sense,&#8221; Vance said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not asking for anything — of course people have the right to peacefully protest — I&#8217;m not asking for anything other than simple law in order and obeying the law. If you can ask that of college kids, what can you ask?&#8221;

Sen. JD Vance (R-OH)

J.D. Vance Pins ‘Campus Violence’ On ‘Two Forces’ Cultivated By The Left

J.D. Vance Pins 'Campus Violence' On 'Two Forces' Cultivated By The Left

JD Vance

Leftists

Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/josh-hawley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Hawley</a> (R-MO) asked President Joe Biden on Tuesday to mobilize the National Guard in response to pro-Palestinian protests that have led to safety concerns for Jewish students at <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/columbia-university" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Columbia University</a> and other colleges across the country.
The lawmaker sent a <a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/Hawley-Letter-to-Biden-re-Columbia_0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to Biden with the message after a Columbia rabbi <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/columbia-rabbi-warns-of-extreme-antisemitism-advises-jewish-students-to-return-home-asap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urged</a> Jewish students to go home following displays of “extreme antisemitism” around the New York City campus and the university shifted to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/columbia-university-moves-to-remote-learning-as-campus-rancor-puts-jewish-students-on-edge?topStoryPosition=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remote learning</a> on Monday.
&#8220;On college campuses across the United States, Jewish Americans are at risk,&#8221; Hawley said, adding that &#8220;most alarmingly, in-person classes at Columbia University have been cancelled&#8221; right as the Jewish holiday of Passover was set to begin.
Hawley referred to Biden&#8217;s Passover message that said, &#8220;In recent days, we’ve seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews. This blatant Antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous – and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country.&#8221;
&#8220;Now, you must take action to match those words,&#8221; Hawley said, adding later, &#8220;You must immediately mobilize the National Guard and any other authorities necessary to ensure the safety of Jewish American students and citizens.&#8221;
Protesters have insisted Columbia meet their demands, including <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/22/us/columbia-university-protests-classes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">divestiture</a> from companies that have ties to Israel as the country fights a war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The demonstrations have led to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/20/nyregion/arrested-columbia-students-suspended.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrests</a> and suspensions, but the protest activity has persisted.
Other Republicans in Congress have called for steps to lower tensions on campus as protests pop up at other universities, including <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-arrest-dozens-of-anti-israel-protesters-at-yale" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yale and MIT</a>.
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), chairwoman of the Education and the Workforce Committee, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-education-chair-demands-columbia-university-expulsions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> on Columbia to expel any students and faculty members found to have been harassing Jewish students.
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The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/house-republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House Republican</a> delegation from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-york" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York</a>, led by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stefanik-leads-new-york-gop-delegation-in-demanding-resignation-of-columbia-universitys-president" target="_blank" rel="noopener">demanded</a> the resignation of Columbia President Minouche Shafik over a lack of confidence in her leadership.
Some Democrats also took a stand for Jewish students at Columbia, including Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), who showed up on campus on Monday with other members of his caucus.
&#8220;To the Columbia President, DO NOT make the same choice as the Presidents of UPenn and Harvard. Protect your students,&#8221; Moskowitz <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMoskowitz/status/1782455889116430428" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X, alluding to other university presidents who stepped down amid controversy.

Senator Josh Hawley

Hawley Presses Biden To Mobilize National Guard To Protect Jewish Students

Josh Hawley

National Guard

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