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

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

Politics

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.
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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

Anti-Semitism

Mike Johnson

White House

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/house-republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House Republicans</a> from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-york" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York</a> on Monday demanded that the president of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/columbia-university" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Columbia University</a>, the Ivy League school in New York City where pro-Palestinian protests have led to safety concerns for Jewish students, step down from her position.
The New York delegation, led by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), <a href="https://files.constantcontact.com/81b76c35801/10181832-52e2-49dd-97db-124433534f8d.pdf?rdr=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent a letter</a> to Columbia President Minouche Shafik seeking her resignation after the university moved 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 the day Passover is set to begin.
&#8220;Over the past few days, anarchy has engulfed the campus of Columbia University,&#8221; the lawmakers wrote. &#8220;As the leader of this institution, one of your chief objectives, morally and under law, is to ensure students have a safe learning environment. By every measure, you have failed this obligation.&#8221;
&#8220;The situation unfolding on campus right now is a direct product of your policies and misguided decisions,&#8221; they added. &#8220;As Representatives from the State of New York, many of our constituents are directly impacted by the unfolding chaos on Columbia’s campus. Based on these recent events and your testimony in front of Congress, we have no confidence in your leadership of this once esteemed institution.&#8221;
Students have <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/22/us/columbia-university-protests-classes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">erected tents</a> on a central campus lawn at Columbia and insisted they would not leave until the university divests from companies that have ties to Israel, according to The New York Times. Although police arrested more than <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/20/nyregion/arrested-columbia-students-suspended.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100 students</a> for refusing to leave and participants have been subject to suspension, the protest activity has persisted for nearly a week now.
Last week, during testimony before the House, Shafik <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/antisemitism-on-college-campuses-columbia-university-president-shafik-testifies-before-congress/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testified</a> that anti-Semitism has &#8220;no place on our campus&#8221; and was &#8220;personally committed to doing everything I can to confront it directly.&#8221; Shafik later <a href="https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/news/letter-nypd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> police all university students participating in the encampment had been informed they were suspended as they were not authorized to be on university property and were trespassing.
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), chairwoman of the Education and the Workforce Committee, <a href="https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410478" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent a letter</a> to Shafik on Sunday calling for expulsions, noting that the encampment and related activities have resulted in&#8221;widespread antisemitic harassment and intimidation, assaults, frequent celebration of terrorism, and major disruptions of Columbia’s learning environment.&#8221;
Students, faculty, and staff &#8220;responsible for this mayhem &#8220;repeatedly and flagrantly have violated multiple University rules, and in many cases, federal law,&#8221; Foxx said. &#8220;The University must decisively hold them accountable in a manner commensurate with the severity of their offenses, including expulsion and termination of employment.&#8221;
The New York GOP delegation told Shafik that the &#8220;ongoing situation that has unfolded is a direct symptom of your continued lax enforcement of policy and clear double standards.&#8221; They claimed that Shafik&#8217;s testimony rang &#8220;hollow,&#8221; as evidenced by a &#8220;cover-up of the lack of punishment for pro-terror&#8221; Columbia University professor Joseph Massad, who used the word &#8220;awesome&#8221; to describe Hamas&#8217;s deadly terrorist attacks on Israel last October.
&#8220;Your failure to enforce the rules on campus has created an environment in which students and outside agitators know they are able to operate with impunity and without any accountability,&#8221; the letter said.
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They continued, &#8220;While the rot is systemic, the responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders. It is time for Columbia University to turn the page on this shameful chapter. This can only be done through the restoration of order and your prompt resignation.&#8221;
Other lawmakers who signed the letter included Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Nicholas Langworthy (R-NY), Michael Lawler (R-NY), Anthony D&#8217;Esposito (R-NY), Nick Lakota (R-NY), Brandon Williams (R-NY), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), and Marcus Molinaro (R-NY).
Jewish House Democrats, including Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), showed up on Columbia University&#8217;s campus on Monday — where a pro-Israel professor was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pro-israel-professor-denied-entry-at-columbia-university" target="_blank" rel="noopener">denied entry</a> while making his way to lead a sit-in at the site where pro-Palestinian demonstrators have set up camp.
&#8220;I should be with my family today for Passover. Instead, I’m here at [Columbia University] standing with Jewish students who are being harassed on their campus,&#8221; another participant, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMoskowitz/status/1782455889116430428" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X. &#8220;To the Columbia President, DO NOT make the same choice as the Presidents of UPenn and Harvard. Protect your students,&#8221; he added, alluding to other university presidents who stepped down amid controversy.

Representative Elise Stefanik

Stefanik Leads New York GOP Delegation In Demanding Resignation Of Columbia University’s President

Stefanik Leads New York GOP Delegation In Demanding Resignation Of Columbia University's President

Columbia University

Elise Stefanik

Jewish

New York

New York City

Protests

A top House Republican is calling on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/columbia-university" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Columbia University</a> in New York City to expel any students and faculty members found to have been harassing Jewish students as pro-Palestinian protests take place around the school&#8217;s campus.
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), chairwoman of the Education and the Workforce Committee, <a href="https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410478" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent a letter</a> on Sunday to Columbia University President Minouche Shafik demanding action. On Monday, the Ivy League school moved 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> after a rabbi for Columbia and its partner school Barnard College <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 due to the &#8220;extreme antisemitism and anarchy&#8221; that the university and New York Police Department could not contain.
&#8220;I am gravely concerned by the ongoing chaos at Columbia University caused by the radical, unlawful Gaza Solidarity Encampment, which has now entered its fifth day,&#8221; Foxx said, adding later, &#8220;Multiple Jewish students have already sought shelter off-campus. Columbia’s continued failure to restore order and safety promptly to campus constitutes a major breach of the University’s Title VI obligations, upon which federal financial assistance is contingent, and which must immediately be rectified. If you do not rectify this danger, then the Committee will not hesitate in holding you accountable.&#8221;
The New York Times reported that students <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/22/us/columbia-university-protests-classes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">erected tents</a> on a central campus lawn at Columbia and insisted they would not leave until the university meets their demands, including divestiture from companies that have ties to Israel, which is fighting a war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip after Hamas committed deadly attacks in Israel on October 7 of last year and took people hostage.
“The encampment and related activities have resulted in widespread antisemitic harassment and intimidation, assaults, frequent celebration of terrorism, and major disruptions of Columbia’s learning environment,&#8221; Foxx said, continuing later, &#8220;The Committee is aware of multiple Jewish students seeking shelter off-campus due to their well-founded fears regarding their physical safety and continuing to be subjected to what is clearly a hostile environment.&#8221;
Examples included: &#8220;Protestors screamed &#8216;go back to Poland!&#8217; and &#8216;yehudim, yehudim [which translates to Jews, Jews]&#8217; at Jewish Columbia students trying to leave campus&#8221;; protesters shoving a student who attempted to recover a stolen Israeli flag that they tried to burn and screaming at him, &#8216;You&#8217;ve got blood on your hands!'&#8221;; and a protester &#8220;immediately outside Columbia’s gates shouted at two Jewish students, &#8216;Never forget the 7th of October. That will happen not one more time, not five more times, not 10&#8230;100…1000…10,000&#8230;The 7th of October is going to be every day for you.&#8221;
Last Wednesday, during testimony before Foxx&#8217;s committee, Shafik <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/antisemitism-on-college-campuses-columbia-university-president-shafik-testifies-before-congress/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testified</a> that anti-Semitism has &#8220;no place on our campus&#8221; and was &#8220;personally committed to doing everything I can to confront it directly.&#8221; On Thursday, Shafik <a href="https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/news/letter-nypd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> police in a letter that all university students participating in the encampment have been informed they were suspended as they were not authorized to be on university property and were trespassing.  Police have arrested more than <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/20/nyregion/arrested-columbia-students-suspended.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100 students</a> at Columbia University for refusing to leave. Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and a Barnard student, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/photos-show-ilhan-omars-daughter-arrested-for-refusing-to-leave-anti-israel-encampment-at-columbia-university" target="_blank" rel="noopener">detained</a> and later said she had been suspended along with others over their activism.
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“This situation is unacceptable, and it is imperative that Columbia’s leaders restore order and safety without further delay, in line with their commitments before the Committee at its April 17 hearing,&#8221; Foxx said in her letter.  &#8220;Columbia is failing to deliver on these commitments, as Jewish students are being harassed, assaulted, threatened, and intimidated to the point where they are departing campus for safer environments.&#8221;
Foxx said the &#8220;students, faculty, and staff responsible for this mayhem, including members of the groups Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, and Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, repeatedly and flagrantly have violated multiple University rules, and in many cases, federal law. The University must decisively hold them accountable in a manner commensurate with the severity of their offenses, including expulsion and termination of employment.&#8221;

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC)

House Education Chair Demands Columbia University Expulsions

Gaza

Hamas

Israel

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the Democrat who led the now-defunct January 6 Committee, <a href="https://democrats-homeland.house.gov/news/legislation/ranking-member-thompson-introduces-legislation-to-ensure-no-secret-service-protection-for-convicted-felons-sentenced-to-prison#:~:text=This%20legislation%20would%20reform%20the,the%20protection%20of%20all%20inmates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> legislation last week that could disqualify former President Donald Trump from keeping Secret Service protection.
The <a href="https://democrats-homeland.house.gov/imo/media/doc/disgraced_former_protectees_act_text.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a>, which comes as Trump faces multiple criminal cases as he runs for another term in the White House, does not mention the former president by name. However, Thompson, who is the top-ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, released a <a href="https://democrats-homeland.house.gov/imo/media/doc/disgraced_former_protectees_act_factsheet1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;fact sheet&#8221;</a> that says Trump would be affected if the proposal passes and he is convicted of a felony.
&#8220;Unfortunately, current law doesn’t anticipate how Secret Service protection would impact the felony prison sentence of a protectee — even a former President. It is regrettable that it has come to this, but this previously unthought-of scenario could become our reality,&#8221; Thompson said.
&#8220;Therefore, it is necessary for us to be prepared and update the law so the American people can be assured that protective status does not translate into special treatment — and that those who are sentenced to prison will indeed serve the time required of them,&#8221; he added.
Trump is facing dozens of felony charges in federal and state courts that stem from election matters and his handling of classified documents while out of office. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts and claims prosecutors and others are waging a &#8220;witch hunt&#8221; against him in an effort to boost his 2024 rival, President Joe Biden.
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Should Thompson&#8217;s bill get approved — a long shot considering Republicans control the House and largely back Trump — <a href="https://democrats-homeland.house.gov/imo/media/doc/disgraced_former_protectees_act_text.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it would amend</a> a section of the U.S. Code to &#8220;terminate&#8221; Secret Service protection for &#8220;any person upon sentencing following conviction for a Federal or State offense that is punishable for a term of imprisonment of at least one year.&#8221;
The bill is called the &#8220;Denying Infinite Security and Government Resources Allocated toward Convicted and Extremely Dishonorable Former Protectees Act,&#8221; or the &#8220;DISGRACED Former Protectees Act&#8221; for short, and Thompson&#8217;s office said it several co-sponsors among fellow Democrats.
Under Thompson&#8217;s leadership, the January 6 Committee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-j6-committee-recommends-criminal-charges-against-trump-over-capitol-riot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recommended</a> the Department of Justice charge Trump over the U.S. Capitol breach on January 6, 2021. Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-trump-charges-jan-6-panel-considered-but-did-not-approve" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chastised</a> the January 6 panel as being the “Unselect Committee of political hacks.&#8221; In March, Trump said former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and other members of the committee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-liz-cheney-should-be-jailed-former-congresswoman-responds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">should be jailed</a>.

Bennie Thompson

Former January 6 Panel Chair Unveils Bill That Could Strip Trump Of Secret Service Protection

2024 Election

Donald Trump

Secret Service

Trump Derangement Syndrome

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> voted on Saturday to pass a series of spending packages designating $95 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
A separate vote was taken on each aid proposal with $60 billion allocated for Ukraine, about $17 billion for Israel, $9 billion for humanitarian aid, and $8 billion to support Taiwan. Another bill <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/20/us/politics/house-vote-aid-ukraine-israel.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that could</a> ban TikTok if the company is not taken out of Chinese control was also passed.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) faced pushback from some Republicans in the House who wanted him to hold votes on foreign aid spending until more funding for border security measures was secured. After the votes, Johnson <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?535090-1/house-speaker-holds-news-conference-foreign-aid-votes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that global threats from Russia, Iran, and China necessitated American leadership and support for the spending.
The Taiwan proposal passed 385-34 with support from 178 Republicans and 207 Democrats, and opposition from 34 Republicans. The Ukraine proposal passed 311-112 with 101 Republicans and 210 Democrats in support, and opposition from 112 Republicans. Israel aid passed 366-58 with support from 193 Republicans and 173 Democrats, and opposition from 21 Republicans and 37 Democrats.
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House today approved $95.3B in aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan as well as legislation forcing China to divest from TikTok with 1yr or app faces a ban in U.S.,using Russian seized assets to rebuild Ukraine &amp; new sanctions on Iran &amp; Russia.Package of 4 bills now heads to Senate. <a href="https://t.co/B2FdGIoynV">pic.twitter.com/B2FdGIoynV</a>
&mdash; Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1781747283509342630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Ukraine aid includes $20.5 billion for European Command operations, $15.8 billion in security assistance, $13.4 billion for refilling U.S. weapons stockpiles, and $9.5 billion in forgivable economic loans, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/house-aid-package-ukraine-israel-tiktok-5688fff9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Wall Street Journal. Israel will get $13 billion in defense aid and $3.6 billion in security assistance while over $2 billion for military financing and $5.6 billion for deterrence will be allocated for the Indo-Pacific.
President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/house-vote-ukraine-israel-taiwan-aid-04-20-24/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">praised</a> the passage of the foreign spending package shortly after the vote.
“Today, members of both parties in the House voted to advance our national security interests and send a clear message about the power of American leadership on the world stage,” he said. “At this critical inflection point, they came together to answer history’s call, passing urgently-needed national security legislation that I have fought for months to secure.”
Leaders from Israel and Ukraine also thanked the House for passing the bills.
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Not everyone was happy with the votes, though, with some Republicans upset that Johnson did not force Democrats to make concessions on border security before putting the bills up for a vote.
“The House of Representatives and Speaker Mike Johnson don’t give a damn about the American people, our border, our jobs, our economy, or our national security,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1781713821834305639" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;Congress has already sent $113 BILLION to Ukraine. We shouldn’t send another penny.&#8221;
“This is the United States House of Representatives while our own border is wide open,” Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL) posted on X alongside a picture of Democrats waving Ukrainian flags during the vote. “Unbelievable.”
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This is the United States House of Representatives while our own border is wide open. 
Unbelievable. <a href="https://t.co/kJS7yeEDWZ">pic.twitter.com/kJS7yeEDWZ</a>
&mdash; Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepBarryMoore/status/1781744088846348367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Each of the aid proposals alongside the TikTok measure will now be bundled as one and sent to the Senate.

U.S. House Votes On Foreign Aid Package For Ukraine, Israel, And Taiwan

House Passes $95 Billion Spending Package For Ukraine, Israel, And Taiwan

National Debt

Taiwan

TikTok

On Thursday, a band of more than a dozen <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> lawmakers voted against a resolution condemning Iran for its drone and missile attack on Israel over the weekend.
The measure passed with overwhelming support — by a <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024141" target="_blank" rel="noopener">404-14 tally</a> — while 13 lawmakers did not vote. Among those who opposed the resolution were 13 Democrats, including members of the leftist &#8220;Squad,&#8221; and one Republican. They included: Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), Greg Casar (D-TX), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), and Thomas Massie (R-KY).
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Full roll call on the House resolution condemning Iran&#39;s drone and missile attack on Israel, with 13 Democrats and Republican Thomas Massie voting &#39;Nay&#39;.<a href="https://t.co/WfyG3uG7An">https://t.co/WfyG3uG7An</a> <a href="https://t.co/nsWyDbE9HD">https://t.co/nsWyDbE9HD</a> <a href="https://t.co/HvMkeLEyWD">pic.twitter.com/HvMkeLEyWD</a>
&mdash; Rob Pyers (@rpyers) <a href="https://twitter.com/rpyers/status/1780981066876190986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Ocasio-Cortez released a <a href="https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/ocasio-cortez-statement-house-republican-incompetence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Tuesday condemning a series of resolutions that House Republicans planned to consider in response to Iran&#8217;s attack on Israel that followed Israel <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/major-escalation-alleged-israeli-airstrike-kills-top-iranian-general-in-syria" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allegedly killing</a> Iranian generals with a strike in Syria.
&#8220;Following last weekend’s unprecedented response by Iran to Israel’s attack on its consulate, the Republican Majority is explicitly leveraging a series of bills to further escalate tensions in the Middle East. This is a blatant attempt to distract from their own incompetence,&#8221; Ocasio-Cortez said.
&#8220;The country and the world need real leadership from the House of Representatives in this moment, not resolutions designed purposefully to increase the likelihood of a deadly regional war or worse,&#8221; she added. &#8220;I will oppose any cynical effort to further inflame tensions, destroy a path to peace in the region, and further divide the American people.&#8221;
Massie appeared to also express concerns about the prospect of escalation in the Middle East. After Iran launched its barrage against Israel, which the United States and other countries helped fend off, he <a href="https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1779364692818837544" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> to X, &#8220;I’m against the next war already.&#8221;
Beyond condemning Iran&#8217;s attack on Israel, the resolution that passed on Thursday <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/1143/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also says</a> the House stands with Israel as it defends itself against Iran&#8217;s attacks and reaffirms the United States&#8217; commitment to Israel&#8217;s security; supports Israel&#8217;s &#8220;right to self-defense&#8221; and &#8220;right to respond to this aggression&#8221;; commends the U.S. military, the United Kingdom, France, and Jordan for intercepting Iranian missiles and drones; and urges full enforcement of U.S. sanctions and export controls against Iran.
Reps. Tom Kean (R-NJ) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), both members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, <a href="https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-adopts-resolution-condemning-irans-drone-and-missile-attack-israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced</a> the resolution together in a show of bipartisanship.
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&#8220;Today, the House passed my resolution, Condemning Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel,&#8221; Kean <a href="https://twitter.com/CongressmanKean/status/1780977146803998986" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X.  &#8220;This resolution clearly and concisely condemns Iran’s attack, reaffirms Israel’s right to self defense, and states that Congress stands with Israel.&#8221;
The House passed a <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/04/16/congress/house-iran-pushback-bills-israel-attack-00152601" target="_blank" rel="noopener">number of measures</a> this week regarding Iran and Israel, including sanctions and a resolution <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-resolution-condemning-from-the-river-to-the-sea-slogan-as-anti-semitic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">condemning</a> the &#8220;From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” slogan as anti-Semitic, in votes where Massie <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1780358425580302437" target="_blank" rel="noopener">similarly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1780353440217964612" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joined</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1780034310751318378" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with</a> a minority of Democrats who opposed them.
Lawmakers in the House are now <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-gop-unveils-foreign-aid-bills-expects-final-vote-over-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">considering</a> foreign assistance legislation, including <a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20240415/APRIL2024_ISRAEL_xml.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a roughly $26 billion bill</a> for Israel and humanitarian aid, with final votes expected to happen over the weekend.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)

Here Are The 14 Reps Who Voted Against A House Resolution Condemning Iran’s Attack On Israel

Here Are The 14 Reps Who Voted Against A House Resolution Condemning Iran's Attack On Israel

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Iran

Thomas Massie

A six-term House Democrat from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-jersey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Jersey</a> remains hospitalized more than a week after he experienced a &#8220;cardiac episode,&#8221; according to his office.
The office of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), a 65-year-old <a href="https://payne.house.gov/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">husband and father of triplets</a>, released a statement on Wednesday with an update on the congressman&#8217;s condition.
&#8220;Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. suffered a cardiac episode based on complications from his diabetes last week,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;Today, he is in stable condition at a local hospital and continues to be under doctor’s care. While we hope for a full recovery, we ask everyone to keep him in your prayers.&#8221;
The statement was less confident than <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4585448-nj-democrat-donald-payne-hospitalized-cardiac-episode/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one released last week</a> when Payne&#8217;s office first acknowledged a health incident over the previous weekend. At the time, Payne&#8217;s team insisted he had a &#8220;good&#8221; prognosis and was expected to make a full recovery.
Payne&#8217;s office sent out the update on the congressman&#8217;s health in the hours after the New Jersey Globe <a href="https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/donald-payne-remains-unconscious-eleven-days-after-heart-attack/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Payne had suffered a heart attack on April 6 and had not regained consciousness since that time. The report also said Payne had been hooked onto a ventilator in an intensive care unit at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center for 11 days.
In terms of House business, Payne&#8217;s absence could have an impact as lawmakers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-gop-unveils-foreign-aid-bills-expects-final-vote-over-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">consider foreign aid legislation</a>. The chamber is narrowly divided, with Republicans holding a slim majority.
A flurry of well-wishes appeared on social media after the New Jersey Globe report got published on Wednesday and Payne&#8217;s office did not deny its contents.
&#8220;Keeping my friend [Donald Payne] in my thoughts,&#8221; Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonaldNorcross/status/1780695822289732035" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X. &#8220;He means so much to New Jersey and we are all praying for his swift recovery.&#8221;
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Anthony Coley, a legal analyst and former Department of Justice official, <a href="https://twitter.com/AnthonyColey/status/1780682796819677545" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> crisis medical communications for politicians &#8220;can be tough,&#8221; noting his own experiences working with former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), and Rep. John Lewis (D-GA).
&#8220;Rule of thumb—candor w/ constituents is always the best,&#8221; he said, &#8220;Bad choice by staff/family to conceal this info early on.&#8221; Coley added, &#8220;Prayers for the Congressman’s complete recovery.&#8221;

Rep. Donald Payne Jr.

House Democrat Remains Hospitalized More Than A Week After ‘Cardiac Episode’

House Democrat Remains Hospitalized More Than A Week After 'Cardiac Episode'

The Democrat-controlled <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> voted on Wednesday to quash a pair of <a href="https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Articles-of-Impeachment.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">articles of impeachment</a> against Homeland Security Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/alejandro-mayorkas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alejandro Mayorkas</a>, ending a months-long effort by Republicans to hold the Cabinet official accountable for his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-shatters-record-with-historic-number-of-illegal-aliens-encountered-in-december" target="_blank" rel="noopener">handling of</a> the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/border-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">border crisis</a> before a full trial could be held.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> impeachment managers tasked with prosecuting the case did not even get a chance to speak when <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Le9FYWgrqg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the proceedings</a> wrapped up in one afternoon. Senators were sworn in as jurors, fought over how to conduct the trial for a couple of hours, and ultimately voted 51-48 to nix one article of impeachment and 51-49 to crush the second.
The impeachment charges accused Mayorkas &#8220;willfully and systemically&#8221; refusing to comply with federal immigration laws and alleged he &#8220;breached the public trust&#8221; with false statements and obstructing lawful oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Back in January, Mayorkas <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeKhalilTV/status/1752349544925294720" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> he was facing &#8220;false accusations&#8221; that &#8220;do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission to which I have devoted most of my career and to which I remain devoted.”
One week after a failed attempt to advance the articles, the GOP-led House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-impeaches-mayorkas-in-second-attempt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the impeachment resolution by a 214-213 vote in mid-February, making Mayorkas the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached since 1876. Three Republican lawmakers broke ranks and joined Democrats in opposing it.
On Tuesday, the GOP-led House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-sends-articles-of-impeachment-against-dhs-secretary-alejandro-mayorkas-to-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transferred</a> the articles to the Senate and the lead impeachment manager, House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN), read aloud the articles in the Senate chamber.
Republicans pushed for a full trial to take place. Were that to happen, a two-thirds vote would have eventually been required for a conviction that would remove Mayorkas from office.
&#8220;If the Senate fails to hold a trial, it is an endorsement of [President Joe] Biden’s border catastrophe,&#8221; Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-sends-articles-of-impeachment-against-dhs-secretary-alejandro-mayorkas-to-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> in a post to X before the proceedings began on Wednesday. House Democrats <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseJudiciary/status/1780634428970094674" target="_blank" rel="noopener">argued</a> &#8220;policy disagreements are not a legitimate basis for impeachment.&#8221;
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During the trial, presided over by Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray (D-WA), Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) unveiled a <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1780661212172181610" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plan</a> allowing for limited debate followed by motions to dismiss, but that strategy was quickly abandoned when Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1780669344357200338" target="_blank" rel="noopener">objected</a>.
Schumer then moved to effectively discard each of the articles on the view that they were unconstitutional because they failed to rise to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors. He used a <a href="https://www.senate.gov/about/research-tools/glossary.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">point of order</a>, which the Senate glossary says is a &#8220;claim made by a senator or representative from the floor that a rule of the Chamber is being violated,&#8221; that led to a vote to kill each article of impeachment.
Republicans sought to prolong the proceedings after Schumer made each point of order, offering an assortment of motions that included moving to a closed session and <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1780686389538893890" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adjourning</a> the court of impeachment for weeks or months, but each one got voted down.
&#8220;Our colleagues know that we are obligated to take these proceedings seriously,&#8221; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1780675855909314915" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> before introducing one of the motions. He added, &#8220;This process must not be abused. It must not be short-circuited. History will not judge this moment well.&#8221;
After both points of order prevailed in rejecting the articles of impeachment, Schumer teed up a vote to dismiss the trial. It succeeded by a 51-49 vote.
The Senate <a href="https://www.senate.gov/history/partydiv.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">currently has</a> 49 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and three independents who caucus with the Democrats. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was the sole Republican to vote &#8220;present&#8221; on the point of order that squelched the first article of impeachment, but she voted with her fellow Republicans to preserve the second one.
Whereas McConnell <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1780697623965716980" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> after the trial that lawmakers &#8220;set a very unfortunate precedent here,&#8221; Schumer <a href="https://twitter.com/Jvguzm/status/1780707712831262830" target="_blank" rel="noopener">argued</a> that using impeachment to replace &#8220;policy disagreements&#8221; would set a &#8220;dangerous precedent.&#8221; A White House spokesman released a statement that <a href="https://twitter.com/AliBradleyTV/status/1780699835756364010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the Senate &#8220;rightly voted down&#8221; the impeachment effort.

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