A Republican lawmaker dared President Joe Biden to declassify an alleged report detailing the relationship between Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/eric-swalwell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eric Swalwell</a> (D-CA) and suspected Chinese spy Fang Fang.
Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jim-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Banks</a> (R-IN), who announced this month that he is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/indiana-gop-rep-jim-banks-announces-2024-run-for-mike-brauns-senate-seat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">running for Senate</a>, issued the challenge in response to the White House&#8217;s defense of Swalwell after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mccarthy-formally-kicks-schiff-and-swalwell-from-house-intel-integrity-matters-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removed Swalwell</a> from the House Intelligence Committee.
In a letter first <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/01/31/exclusive-banks-presses-biden-release-classified-swalwell-fang-fang-intelligence-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported by Breitbart</a> and obtained by The Daily Wire, Banks said for &#8220;unknown reasons&#8221; the White House disagrees with the assessment by McCarthy and other members of Congress that Swalwell&#8217;s past relationship with Fang poses a national security risk and disqualifies Swalwell from receiving access to highly classified information.
He cited <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2023/01/25/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-and-national-security-council-coordinator-for-strategic-communications-john-kirby-5/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a recent press conference</a> in which White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked for a response to Swalwell and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) being kicked from the intelligence panel. In her response, Jean-Pierre said Swalwell and Schiff, as well as Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), &#8220;bring a lot to the table when it comes to foreign policy and national security.&#8221; The press secretary didn&#8217;t say much else beyond &#8220;it should be independent&#8221; before quickly dropping the topic.
To remedy any uncertainty, Banks proposed the disclosure of <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/07/26/exclusive-classified-report-biden-could-release-provides-intricate-detail-on-eric-swalwell-relationship-with-fang-fang/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an alleged report described by Breitbart in July 2021</a>. The news outlet said the U.S. intelligence community had a classified report that contained &#8220;intricate and intimate details&#8221; of Swalwell&#8217;s relationship with Fang, including &#8220;certain sexual acts they allegedly engaged in together.&#8221;
&#8220;If the White House’s position is correct and Rep. Swalwell’s past association with a Chinese spy does not preclude him from serving on the House Intelligence Committee, then the White House should immediately declassify its report on Rep. Swalwell,&#8221; Banks wrote. &#8220;If the report proves that, as the White House is suggesting, Rep. Swalwell’s relations with Fang Fang were innocuous and do not threaten our national security, then many House Republicans, including me, would support allowing Rep. Swalwell to serve on the House Intelligence Committee.&#8221;
The White House did not immediately return a request for comment on the letter, but such a disclosure is in all likelihood a longshot considering the level of secrecy surrounding the situation.
In 2020, Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2020/12/08/china-spy-california-politicians" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first broke the news</a> about Swalwell developing a connection between 2012 and 2015 with a Chinese national named Christine Fang or Fang Fang, who helped him with fundraising and placed at least one intern in his office. A U.S. intelligence official said the congressman stopped any contact with Fang upon being briefed by the FBI in 2015, and the report noted Fang left the country &#8220;unexpectedly&#8221; in the middle of an investigation in 2015. After that report came out, as <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/18/eric-swalwell-fbi-christine-fang-477020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLITICO noted</a>, an FBI official went around telling news outlets that Swalwell was “completely cooperative” and “under no suspicion of wrongdoing.&#8221;
Still, the story spooked Washington and led to McCarthy and then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) being briefed by the FBI. Immediately afterwards, McCarthy told reporters the briefing &#8220;only raised more questions. The one thing that was fundamentally answered: he should not be on Intel.&#8221; He made a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-mccarthy-shreds-reporter-over-question-about-adam-schiff-and-eric-swalwell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">similar argument</a> just last week upon booting Schiff from the House Intelligence Committee. For her part, Pelosi said, &#8220;I don&#8217;t have any concern about Mr. Swalwell,&#8221; <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/12/18/948210355/fbi-briefs-reps-pelosi-mccarthy-on-rep-swalwells-ties-to-suspected-chinese-spy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to NPR</a>. Such a view was echoed by Pelosi&#8217;s successor as leader of the House Democrats, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who this month insisted both Schiff and Swalwell were “eminently qualified” to continue serving on the intelligence panel.
When asked about the spy controversy, Swalwell often <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/absolutely-not-swalwell-claims-his-relationship-with-suspected-chinese-spy-didnt-compromise-u-s-security?utm_source=partner&amp;utm_campaign=conservnewsd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stresses his cooperation with the FBI</a>. During an interview with CNN over the weekend, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/absolutely-not-swalwell-claims-his-relationship-with-suspected-chinese-spy-didnt-compromise-u-s-security?utm_source=partner&amp;utm_campaign=conservnewsd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he accused McCarthy</a> of &#8220;weaponizing his ability to commit this political abuse.&#8221; Swalwell has also leaned heavily on the sensitive nature of the situation to refrain from divulging particular details about his ties to Fang. &#8220;Rep. Swalwell, long ago, provided information about this person — whom he met more than eight years ago, and whom he hasn’t seen in nearly six years — to the FBI. To protect information that might be classified, he will not participate in your story,&#8221; Swalwell&#8217;s office <a href="https://www.axios.com/2020/12/08/china-spy-california-politicians" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Axios</a> for its 2020 scoop.

Eric Swalwell

Lawmaker Dares Biden To Declassify Alleged Swalwell-Fang Fang Report

Congress

Jim Banks

Politics

U.S. House of Representatives

Rep. George Santos (R-NY) told House Republican colleagues he will recuse himself from sitting on any committees.
The freshman congressman, who has admitted to lying about <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-york-rep-elect-who-made-false-statements-about-career-personal-life-admits-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aspects of his career and personal life</a>, is facing multiple investigations and calls to resign. He revealed his intentions Tuesday at a House GOP conference meeting, a day after meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), <a href="https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1620436096348991488" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Punchbowl News</a>.
&#8220;George has voluntarily removed himself from committees as he goes through this process, but ultimately voters decide,&#8221; House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) told reporters afterwards.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepStefanik?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepStefanik</a> on Rep. George Santos: &quot;George has voluntarily removed himself from committees as he goes through this process, but ultimately voters decide.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/gfgezavDf9">pic.twitter.com/gfgezavDf9</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1620445556513325056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Voters elected Santos, 34, to his first term representing New York&#8217;s 3rd Congressional District in the November elections, helping Republicans win a narrow majority in the House.
A whirlwind of controversy, buffeted by such revelations as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/records-contradict-george-santos-claim-his-mother-was-in-world-trade-center-on-9-11-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">records contradicting</a> Santos’ claim that his mother was in the World Trade Center during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, led his own constituents to sour on the congressman. The results of a <a href="https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/78-of-george-santos-own-constituents-want-him-to-resign-poll-says/4077151/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Newsday/Siena College poll</a>, released Tuesday, showed 78% of the congressman&#8217;s constituents saying they want Santos to resign.
Among a flurry of investigative activity, Santos appears to be under a federal criminal inquiry, with prosecutors looking into the congressman&#8217;s campaign finances, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/01/27/santos-doj-investigation-fec/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to The Washington Post</a>.
During Tuesday&#8217;s closed-door meeting, Santos said he will leave his assignments on the House Small Business Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee because he has become a &#8220;distraction,&#8221; a Republican lawmaker told <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/31/santos-fabrications-committee-assignments-republicans/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=wp_main" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the newspaper</a>.
Asked for a response about Santos&#8217; decision to recuse himself from his committees, a spokesman for the congressman <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/rep-george-santos-says-will-recuse-congressional-committees-rcna68363" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told NBC News</a>, &#8220;He has reserved to see it until he has been cleared up both campaign and personal financial investigations.&#8221;
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) warned of a &#8220;double standard&#8221; if McCarthy <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mccarthy-formally-kicks-schiff-and-swalwell-from-house-intel-integrity-matters-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blocked certain Democrats</a> from their committee assignments while allowing a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democratic-leader-picks-schiff-and-swalwell-for-intel-panel-in-defiance-of-mccarthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;serial fraudster&#8221;</a> — namely Santos — to serve on congressional panels.
Santos <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-york-rep-elect-who-made-false-statements-about-career-personal-life-admits-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said last month</a> he is &#8220;not a criminal&#8221; and insisted the controversy &#8220;will not deter me from having good legislative success.&#8221;

George Santos

George Santos Stepping Down From Committees

House Republicans

New York

U.S.

The Justice Department rejected the House Judiciary Committee&#8217;s demand for records about the investigation into President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a>&#8216;s handling of classified materials.
Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte issued the agency&#8217;s response to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-judiciary-committee-launches-investigation-into-biden-documents-scandal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a January 13 letter sent</a> by Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), who sought documents and communications underlying the inquiry, including the appointment of a special counsel the lawmakers said had raised &#8220;fundamental oversight questions&#8221; that are &#8220;routinely&#8221; examined by their panel.
Citing &#8220;longstanding policy,&#8221; Uriarte said the Justice Department is averse to sharing &#8220;non-public information&#8221; central to an ongoing investigation because doing so &#8220;could violate statutory requirements or court orders, reveal roadmaps for our investigations, and interfere with the Department’s ability to gather facts, interview witnesses and bring criminal prosecutions where warranted.&#8221;
Disclosures from active investigations &#8220;risk jeopardizing those investigations and creating the appearance that Congress may be exerting improper political pressure or attempting to influence Department decisions in certain cases,&#8221; Uriarte added. &#8220;Judgments about whether and how to pursue a matter are, and must remain, the exclusive responsibility of the Department.&#8221;
All that really was explained in detail in the new letter was an already-established timeline of events on steps taken after classified materials were first found in November at Biden&#8217;s think tank office in Washington, D.C., and later his Wilmington, Delaware, residence. That includes an initial review by U.S. Attorney John Lausch, and, at his recommendation, Attorney General <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/merrick-garland-appoints-special-counsel-to-investigate-biden-classified-document-scandal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Merrick Garland appointing</a> former U.S. Attorney Robert Hur as special counsel to examine whether &#8220;any person or entity violated the law in connection with this matter.&#8221;
The letter, published in full Monday by <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/doj-rejects-jordan-requests-biden-classified-docs-special-counsel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Washington Examiner</a>, refrained from directly addressing particular records about the run-up to the special counsel investigation or various records from the Justice Department, FBI, or the White House also sought by Jordan and Johnson. Uriarte said the Justice Department would <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/28/600.7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">abide by regulations</a> he cited as reasons for the agency&#8217;s limited ability to report to Congress, but he encouraged the GOP lawmakers to contact his office for further assistance.
&#8220;Our Members are rightly concerned about the Justice Department&#8217;s double standard here. After all, some of the Biden documents were found at a think tank that has received funds from communist China,&#8221; Jordan spokesman Russell Dye said in a statement. &#8220;It&#8217;s concerning, to say the least, that the Department is more interested in playing politics than cooperating.&#8221;
It remains to be seen whether Republicans in control of the House will escalate the showdown as they gear up for multiple investigations into the Biden administration. Jordan <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/30/politics/doj-response-special-counsel-documents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told CNN last week</a> lawmakers are &#8220;definitely looking at asking for documents via subpoena.&#8221; Among the concerns raised by Jordan and others are the prospect of unauthorized possession of classified materials dating back to Biden&#8217;s time as a senator and vice president.
Frustrations have also been mounting on the Senate side even as Biden&#8217;s team insists they are cooperating with the National Archives and Justice Department. Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/growing-standoff-emerges-between-senate-intel-and-biden-admin-over-classified-docs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">left a classified briefing last week in an uproar</a>, with leaders of the panel arguing they were being prevented from performing their congressional oversight duties because the U.S intelligence community refused to show records at the center of the Biden documents scandal as well as records at the heart of a separate special counsel inquiry into former President Donald Trump&#8217;s handling of documents.
Uriarte sent a response to Senate Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL) over the weekend. In that letter, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-biden-classified-documents-special-counsels-senate-intelligence-committee/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported by CBS News</a>, Uriarte assured the senators the Justice Department was &#8220;working with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to support the provision of information that will satisfy the Committee&#8217;s responsibilities without harming the ongoing Special Counsel investigations.&#8221;

Jim Jordan

Justice Department Responds To Jim Jordan’s Demands In Biden Docs Probe

Department of Justice

Joe Biden

Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/alexandria-ocasio-cortez" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez</a> (D-NY) appears to be at the top of the shortlist for a key spot on the powerful House Oversight Committee.
The leftist firebrand <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/27/rep-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-could-become-number-two-democrat-on-oversight-panel-00079938" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told POLITICO</a> on Friday there have been &#8220;conversations&#8221; about her being picked as vice ranking member, but she stressed &#8220;nothing&#8217;s been finalized.&#8221;
If she were chosen for the No. 2 position, Ocasio-Cortez would become the lieutenant to ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and play a leading role in setting the course for Democrats to counter GOP plans to investigate various aspects of the Biden administration.
Because Raskin is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democratic-rep-jamie-raskin-announces-cancer-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">undergoing cancer treatment</a>, his deputy could take on more responsibility, including sitting in for the ranking member for hearings during any absences. However, a Democratic aide insisted to POLITICO that any member can sit in for the ranking member.
“I have the greatest admiration for her skill, and I’m sure we’re going to be able to deploy her to maximum effect on the committee, along with all these other amazing new members,” Raskin said of Ocasio-Cortez, who is in her third term.
Party aides told the news outlet that Democrats on the panel are expected to meet on Monday to hash out their plan for the next two years. The report said the meeting could be used to finalize leadership positions. It also noted how Ocasio-Cortez previously served as Raskin&#8217;s vice chairwoman on the oversight subcommittee on civil rights issues, which fostered a &#8220;close relationship&#8221; that &#8220;fueled some speculation among some Democrats&#8221; about such a dynamic being repeated as Raskin ascended to the top minority party spot on the full committee.
Already there are hearings being scheduled for next week. <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/release/chairman-comer-announces-hearing-on-waste-fraud-and-abuse-in-pandemic-recovery-programs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One is set to take place on Wednesday</a> and is titled, “Federal Pandemic Spending: A Prescription for Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.&#8221;
Among the other Democrats <a href="https://twitter.com/maxpcohen/status/1618731849257451522" target="_blank" rel="noopener">picked to be on the House Oversight Committee</a> for this nascent session of Congress are Reps. Ro Khanna (CA), Katie Porter (CA), Cori Bush (MO), and Dan Goldman (NY).
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“I’m very excited to welcome these extraordinary new members of our Committee, whose remarkable experiences and gifts will soon be known to the whole country.”
—RM <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRaskin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepRaskin</a> welcoming the newest <a href="https://twitter.com/OversightDems?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OversightDems</a> 
Full statement: <a href="https://t.co/CI7CHO0Z0q">https://t.co/CI7CHO0Z0q</a> <a href="https://t.co/HO0R6PF0jn">pic.twitter.com/HO0R6PF0jn</a>
&mdash; Oversight Committee Democrats (@OversightDems) <a href="https://twitter.com/OversightDems/status/1618741893755719680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The Republicans are led by Chairman James Comer (R-KY). Their members will include Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA) and Paul Gosar (AZ), both of whom were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marjorie-taylor-greene-set-to-make-comeback-with-new-committee-assignments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">selected this month for committee assignments</a> after being removed from their seats in flashes of controversy during the last session of Congress, as well as Lauren Boebert (CO).
In anticipation of fiery confrontations with his Democratic counterparts over the next couple of years, Comer told Axios that the oversight panel is &#8220;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/25/house-oversight-committee-exciting-comer-members" target="_blank" rel="noopener">probably the most exciting committee</a>&#8221; in congressional history.
Ocasio-Cortez told reporters on Friday that she thinks she is going to &#8220;have a lot of fun on this committee.” Democrats will have the &#8220;opportunity and platform to de-legitimize a lot of the disinformation that they&#8217;ve been advancing,&#8221; she added.

Jamie Raskin and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

AOC May Get Key Spot On Oversight Committee: Report

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Jamie Raskin

U.S. Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/matt-gaetz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Gaetz</a> (R-FL) reintroduced legislation Thursday titled the “PENCIL Act” that would call to ban fellow Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) from handling any classified information.
Gaetz derived the resolution acronym, “Preventing Extreme Negligence with Classified Information Licenses,” from former President Donald Trump, who first called Schiff “little pencil neck” during a rally in 2019.
“Congressman Adam Schiff led the effort for years to weaponize lies from the Clinton campaign and a corrupt Department of Justice to smear President Trump while destroying any trust the country had left in America’s intelligence agencies,” Gaetz told <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2023/01/26/exclusive-matt-gaetz-pencil-act-adam-schiff/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Caller</a>, which first obtained the legislation text.
Gaetz reintroducing the legislation comes two days after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) formally booted two high-profile Democrats from the House Intelligence Committee — Schiff and fellow California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell.
“Speaker McCarthy kept his promise to remove Rep. Schiff from the Intelligence Committee, and with the PENCIL Resolution, we will express the sense of Congress that he should be barred from accessing any classified information at all,” Gaetz added. “He can no longer be trusted by his colleagues in Congress or the American people.”
McCarthy has the unilateral authority to block members from the House Intelligence Committee as speaker.
McCarthy vowed to bump Schiff and Swalwell from the perches they held for years. McCarthy has also talked about removing Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the Foreign Affairs Committee, but that would take a House floor vote.
Schiff posted on the Chinese-owned TikTok app after McCarthy removed him from the House Intelligence Committee, saying the speaker pulled him “for doing my job, for holding Trump accountable and standing up to the extreme MAGA Republicans.”
Schiff denied taking classified information while speaking with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, who asked if he had taken any records home while serving on the committee.
“This is what’s so astounding, I think, for all of us on the Intelligence Committee,” Schiff <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/schiff-claims-he-never-took-classified-docs-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I never take classified documents to my house.”
“I don’t know any reason why people would,” Schiff added.
Following the removal of Schiff and Swalwell, former Trump administration official Mike Pompeo accused Schiff of leaking classified information.
“During my time as CIA director and secretary of state, I know that he leaked classified information that had been provided to him,” Pompeo <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-cia-director-accuses-schiff-of-leaking-classified-information" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, adding when the administration provided information to Schiff and his staff, such documents “ended up in places it shouldn’t have been with alarming regularity.”
Daniel Chaitin contributed to this report.

Vote For Speaker Of The House Stretches Into Fourth Day

Gaetz Takes Jab At Schiff With ‘PENCIL Act’ Reintroduction

Gaetz Takes Jab At Schiff With ‘PENCIL Act' Reintroduction

Adam Schiff

Matt Gaetz

A freshman House Republican is starting out the new session of Congress with a bang.
Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) passed out what he says are inert grenades to colleagues, marking his appointment to committees charged with protecting national security.
Daily Mail reporter Morgan Phillips shared a photo Thursday of one of the grenades, which features the image of the elephant symbol of the Republican Party, and an accompanying letter.
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Rep <a href="https://twitter.com/CoryMillsFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoryMillsFL</a> is passing out grenades to fellow House members <a href="https://t.co/khJmDrYcFH">pic.twitter.com/khJmDrYcFH</a>
&mdash; Morgan Phillips (@_phillipsmorgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/_phillipsmorgan/status/1618648723764170753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Welcoming you to a mission-oriented 118th Congress. I am eager to get to work for the American people, and I look forward to working with you to deliver on this commitment. I am honored to be a part of the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees,&#8221; Mills wrote in the letter.
&#8220;In that spirit, it is my pleasure to give you a 40 mm grenade, made for a MK19 grenade launcher. These are manufactured in the Sunshine State and first developed in the Vietnam War,&#8221; he added.
Mills also called on his colleagues to &#8220;come together and get to work on behalf of our constituents.&#8221; In addition, the letter contained a note asserting the grenades are inert.
A spokesman for Mills <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/26/cory-mills-grenades-house/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed to The Washington Post</a> the contents of the photograph are legitimate and stressed, &#8220;the grenades are inert, and were cleared through all security metrics.&#8221;
Mills is a <a href="https://mills.house.gov/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">decorated U.S. Army combat veteran</a> and businessman who became an appointee of former President Donald Trump to serve on a Pentagon defense advisory board. He ran a successful campaign to represent Florida&#8217;s 7th Congressional District in the 2022 election.
During the campaign, Mills made headlines for an ad mocking the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7OH3e2hXh0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;liberal media&#8221; for &#8220;crying&#8221;</a> about how his company PACEM Solutions sold riot-control munitions, including tear gas, that law enforcement used against <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gop-hopeful-sold-tear-gas-192514524.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Lives Matter demonstrators</a> and others.

Cory Mills

House Republican Passes Out Grenades To Colleagues

Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kevin-mccarthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin McCarthy</a> (R-CA) formally rejected two high-profile Democrats from continuing to serve on the House Intelligence Committee.
McCarthy posted on Tuesday a response letter addressed to Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who over the weekend recommended Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) for the panel that has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/schiff-claims-he-never-took-classified-docs-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">access to the nation&#8217;s most sensitive secrets.</a>
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I have rejected the appointments of Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell for the House Intelligence Committee.
I am committed to returning the <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseIntel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HouseIntel</a> Committee to one of genuine honesty and credibility that regains the trust of the American people. <a href="https://t.co/ePxlbanxta">pic.twitter.com/ePxlbanxta</a>
&mdash; Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy/status/1618047779422769154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I cannot put partisan loyalty ahead of national security, and I cannot simply recognize years of service as the sole criteria for membership on this essential committee. Integrity matters more,&#8221; McCarthy said.
&#8220;As such, in order to maintain a standard worthy of this committee&#8217;s responsibilities, I am hereby rejecting the appointments of Representative Adam Schiff and Representative Eric Swalwell to serve on the Intelligence Committee,&#8221; McCarthy added.
The letter was released shortly after McCarthy and Jeffries <a href="https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1618037085176487937" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly held a meeting</a>. He told reporters Schiff and Swalwell would be able to serve on other committees.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerMcCarthy</a> to reporter: Let me be very clear &amp; respectful to you. You ask me a question when I answer it it&#39;s the answer to your question. You don&#39;t get to determine whether I answer a question or not, okay? In all respect&#8230;what happens in the Intel Cmte you don&#39;t know. <a href="https://t.co/WD57QB7m1v">pic.twitter.com/WD57QB7m1v</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1618059285094666240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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As speaker, McCarthy has the unilateral authority to block members from the House Intelligence Committee. Even before he took on the role, McCarthy vowed to bump Schiff and Swalwell from the perches they&#8217;ve held for years. McCarthy has also talked about removing Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the Foreign Affairs Committee, but that would take a House floor vote to accomplish.
Not everyone in the Republican conference is on board with the push to yank Democrats from their committee assignments. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), who over the course of 15 ballots for speaker this month voted &#8220;present&#8221; some of the time, released a statement saying she did not support what she <a href="https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases/spartz-issues-statement-proposed-committee-removals-mccarthy-needs-stop-bread" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called a &#8220;charade.&#8221;</a>
McCarthy has accused Schiff, who served as chairman of the committee for four years, of being a repeat liar, particularly with investigations related to former President Donald Trump. The speaker has raised national security concerns with Swalwell because of his intimate ties to an alleged Chinese spy years ago.
&#8220;This is petty, political payback for investigating Donald Trump. If he thinks this will stop me, he will soon find out just how wrong he is. I will always defend our democracy,&#8221; Schiff tweeted Tuesday evening.
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Kevin McCarthy just kicked me and <a href="https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepSwalwell</a> off the Intelligence Committee.
This is petty, political payback for investigating Donald Trump.
If he thinks this will stop me, he will soon find out just how wrong he is. 
I will always defend our democracy.
&mdash; Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1618048304025341952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Swalwell has long <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/eric-swalwell-denies-wrongdoing-chinese-spy-scandal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defended himself</a> in the Chinese spy scandal by pointing to FBI officials <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/18/eric-swalwell-fbi-christine-fang-477020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">telling the media</a> he was cooperative with any investigation and not suspected of wrongdoing.
&#8220;This rejection is based on a claim that the Washington Post independent-fact checker gave 4 Pinocchios,&#8221; he tweeted Tuesday. &#8220;Speaker [John] Boehner and [Paul] Ryan, both Gang of 8 members, appointed me to Intel with access to the same facts McCarthy is distorting. He can keep me off Intel, but I’m not going away.&#8221;
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This rejection is based on a claim that the Washington Post independent-fact checker gave 4 Pinocchios. Speaker Boehner and Ryan, both Gang of 8 members, appointed me to Intel with access to the same facts McCarthy is distorting. He can keep me off Intel, but I’m not going away. <a href="https://t.co/YQZOVCSJpO">https://t.co/YQZOVCSJpO</a>
&mdash; Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1618051159075487744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Jeffries, who replaced Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as leader of the House Democrats this session of Congress, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democratic-leader-picks-schiff-and-swalwell-for-intel-panel-in-defiance-of-mccarthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote to McCarthy</a> over the weekend arguing that both Schiff and Swalwell were &#8220;eminently qualified&#8221; to continue serving on the panel.
He noted how bipartisan votes led to Republican members being booted from their committee assignments in recent years. He also brought up <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/records-contradict-george-santos-claim-his-mother-was-in-world-trade-center-on-9-11-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;serial fraudster&#8221; Rep. George Santos (R-NY)</a> in an attempt to bolster his argument. Republicans opted to give the freshman lawmaker, who has admitted to lying about aspects of his career and personal life, committee assignments despite Santos facing multiple investigations and calls to resign.
&#8220;The apparent double standard risks undermining the spirit of bipartisan cooperation that is so desperately needed in Congress,&#8221; Jeffries said.
The House Intelligence Committee was long regarded to be an apolitical panel up until it became ground zero for partisan sniping during Trump&#8217;s presidency with investigations into the 2016 election, Trump&#8217;s alleged ties to Russia, and Ukraine. McCarthy said he wants to redirect the focus away from politics.
&#8220;It is my assessment that the misuses of this panel during the 116th and 117th Congresses undermined its primary national security and oversight missions — ultimately leaving our nation less safe,&#8221; McCarthy wrote in his letter Tuesday. &#8220;Therefore, as we enter a new Congress, I am committed to returning the Intelligence Committee to one of genuine honesty and credibility that regains the trust of the American people.&#8221;
McCarthy has already announced the GOP members he <a href="https://justthenews.com/government/congress/mccarthy-announces-members-intelligence-and-rules-committees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">picked for the intelligence panel</a> this session of Congress. The chairman will be Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH). It was not immediately clear who among the Democrats would round out committee membership.

Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell

McCarthy Formally Kicks Schiff And Swalwell From House Intel: ‘Integrity Matters More’

Kevin McCarthy

Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/adam-schiff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adam Schiff</a> (D-CA) says he never took classified documents back home amid a growing scandal over the handling of secret material by top government executives.
As chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Schiff had access to all sorts of classified information, but the congressman asserted Tuesday he was too paranoid to take any of it with him.
&#8220;This is what’s so astounding, I think, for all of us on the Intelligence Committee. I never take classified documents to my house,&#8221; Schiff told MSNBC&#8217;s Andrea Mitchell, who asked if he had taken any records home. &#8220;I don’t know any reason why people would.&#8221;
Schiff referred to a SCIF, which is a secure location where sensitive information can be viewed.
&#8220;I am so paranoid when I go into the SCIF and out of the SCIF to make sure I’ve got no electronics on the way in, that I&#8217;ve got nothing with me on the way out. I am very, very careful about it, and I would assume that everyone else is, but clearly there’s a problem here,&#8221; he said.
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The conversation happened as it was revealed about a dozen documents marked classified were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-classified-documents-found-at-former-vp-mike-pences-home-in-indiana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found at former Vice President Mike Pence&#8217;s home</a> in Indiana and turned over to the FBI. The Justice Department already appointed two separate special counsels to investigate former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden for their handling of documents over classified materials stored in their residences and offices.
Schiff said there is a &#8220;systemic problem&#8221; with how White House officials are handling classified materials and called for an intelligence community risk assessment.
In the four years since he became chairman of the intelligence panel in 2019, Schiff has become a controversial figure, in part of his public claims of there being <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/21/adam-schiff-collusion-trump-1283786" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;ample&#8221; evidence</a> of collusion between Trump and Russia as well as his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bombshell-schiff-knew-about-whistleblower-allegations-days-before-complaint-filed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">handling of whistleblower allegations</a> during the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-senator-hawley-drafts-motions-to-subpoena-bidens-schiff-whistleblower" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine impeachment saga</a>.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has accused Schiff of being a repeat liar in vowing to remove Schiff from the Intelligence Committee this session of Congress, along with Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA). Daring McCarthy to make good on his pledge, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democratic-leader-picks-schiff-and-swalwell-for-intel-panel-in-defiance-of-mccarthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">formally recommended</a> Schiff and Swalwell to stay on the committee, calling them &#8220;eminently qualified.&#8221;

Schiff Claims He Never Took Classified Docs Home

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> Oversight Committee Chairman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/james-comer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Comer</a> (R-KY) intends to investigate donations to the Penn Biden Center as well as who is purchasing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hunter-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hunter Biden</a>’s artwork as part of a probe into the Biden family’s financial ties.
Comer has already sent requests for documents and other information to the White House, the University of Pennsylvania, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and others. He is planning more requests in the future and is willing to subpoena information if he must, he told <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/house-oversight-zeroes-in-biden-finances-classified-documents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Examiner</a>.
“We’re trying to trace the money,” Comer told the Examiner. “We’ll be looking at bank statements. We&#8217;ll be looking at bank violations. That&#8217;s the next phase of our investigation because we&#8217;re trying to figure out who these anonymous sources are that are sending so much money to the Biden family schemes — the Biden Center for Diplomacy and Hunter Biden&#8217;s artwork.”
The Penn Biden Center, a University of Pennsylvania-affiliated think tank in Washington, D.C., hit headlines recently after classified government documents were found stashed in an office used by President Joe Biden. The university has received tens of millions of dollars in foreign donations, including roughly $60 million <a href="https://www.nlpc.org/government-integrity-project/special-counsel-on-classified-documents-must-investigate-anonymous-chinese-donations-to-biden-center/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donated</a> from Chinese entities.
The president’s son is an aspiring artist who has put his art up for sale to the consternation of ethics experts. The White House dismissed allegations of influence peddling through the first son’s pieces, which have been priced into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Last year, the White House and the gallery that displayed Biden’s artwork said safeguards had been erected to prevent such ethical or potentially illegal breaches. Ethics experts said the safeguards were sorely lacking.
“It is not a true safeguard,” <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/05/arts/design/hunter-biden-art-buyers.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Jessica Tillipman, the assistant dean for government procurement law at George Washington University Law School. “They say it is, but saying it is doesn’t mean it is.”
She said that a better policy would be far more transparent. “Sunlight is the best disinfectant, or you have just got to shut it down,” she said.
Comer and other Republicans have long been critical of Hunter’s amateur art career, especially given the prices that his art has been priced at.
“For years, Mr. Biden has attempted to profit off his father’s position in government, and the art deals are merely the latest iteration of these efforts. The investigation into Mr. Biden’s business ventures, and those who have aided him in his dubious endeavors, has been ongoing for over two years, and, if necessary, will continue into the next Congress,” Comer <a href="https://comer.house.gov/2021/9/comer-hunter-biden-s-artwork-is-another-attempt-to-profit-off-his-father-s-position-in-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in September 2021 before Republicans took control the House and gained subpoena power.
According to Comer, recent revelations that classified documents have been discovered at the Penn Biden Center and at the president’s Wilmington, Delaware, home only underscore the need for transparency around Hunter Biden’s business dealings.
“If there’s nothing there, then the president should be more than willing to cooperate with House Republicans because he could make us look bad,” Comer told the Examiner.

James Comer

House GOP Will ‘Trace The Money’ Flowing Into Penn Biden Center, Hunter Biden Art Sales, Comer Says

Executive

Hunter Biden

Washington D.C.

Democrats are daring Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kevin-mccarthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin McCarthy</a> (R-CA) to make good on his pledge to remove two members from the House Intelligence Committee.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) formally recommended &#8220;eminently qualified&#8221; Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) continue serving on the panel with a letter dated Saturday. The missive is addressed to McCarthy, who <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/01/10/mccarthy-confirms-he-will-boot-schiff-swalwell-and-omar-from-house-panels/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vowed retribution</a> as he accused Democrats of creating a &#8220;new standard&#8221; after GOP members were booted from their committee assignments in the last session of Congress.
&#8220;It is my understanding that you intend to break with the longstanding House tradition of deference to the minority party Intelligence Committee recommendations and deny seats to Ranking Member Schiff and Representative Swalwell,&#8221; Jeffries said in the letter <a href="https://punchbowl.news/leader_jeffries_letter_regarding_hpsci_appointments/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published by Punchbowl News</a>. &#8220;The denial of seats to duly elected Members of the House Democratic Caucus runs counter to the serious and sober mission of the Intelligence Committee.&#8221;
McCarthy rose to the speakership while making promises to bump Schiff and Swalwell from their Intelligence Committee perches — a move he has the power to make unilaterally. McCarthy has also talked about bouncing Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the Foreign Affairs Committee, but that would take a House floor vote to accomplish. In November, McCarthy accused Schiff of lying to the American public &#8220;time and again&#8221; and said Swalwell would be unable to get a security clearance in the public sector, alluding to Swalwell&#8217;s intimate ties to an alleged Chinese spy years ago.
Long regarded to be apolitical, the House Intelligence Committee became ground zero for partisan sniping during former President Donald Trump&#8217;s presidency with investigations into the 2016 election and Trump&#8217;s alleged ties to Russia. Schiff, who became chairman in 2019, made headlines by claiming there was <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/21/adam-schiff-collusion-trump-1283786" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;ample&#8221; evidence</a> of Russia collusion.
In reacting to McCarthy&#8217;s threat to remove him from the panel, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/3751782-schiff-knocks-mccarthys-threat-of-removal-from-intelligence-committee/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Schiff told CNN</a> in November that &#8220;McCarthy’s problem is not with what I have said about Russia&#8221; but rather McCarthy&#8217;s bid to earn enough votes to become speaker. &#8220;So, he will misrepresent my record,&#8221; Schiff added. Swalwell argued McCarthy&#8217;s actions appeared to be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4wvrTe8Wuo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;political vengeance&#8221;</a> and <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/eric-swalwell-denies-wrongdoing-chinese-spy-scandal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defended himself</a> in the Chinese spy scandal by pointing to FBI officials <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/18/eric-swalwell-fbi-christine-fang-477020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">telling the media</a> he was cooperative with any investigation and not suspected of wrongdoing.
In his letter, Jeffries argued Democrats did not set a &#8220;precedent or justification&#8221; for McCarthy to remove Schiff and Swalwell. He specifically pointed to the last session of Congress when Democrats controlled the House, stressing that some Republicans joined Democrats in voting to kick Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) from their committees over a series of inflammatory statements and a controversial video shared on social media, respectively.
&#8220;In the 117th Congress, two Members were removed from their committee assignments after a bipartisan vote of the House found them unfit to serve on standing committees for directly inciting violence against their colleagues,&#8221; Jeffries wrote. &#8220;This action was taken by both Democrats and Republicans given the seriousness of the conduct involved, particularly in the aftermath of a violent insurrection and attack on the Capitol.&#8221;
Last week, the House GOP Steering Committee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marjorie-taylor-greene-set-to-make-comeback-with-new-committee-assignments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elected to give Greene and Gosar fresh committee</a> assignments, including on the powerful House Oversight Committee.
Jeffries also brought up <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/records-contradict-george-santos-claim-his-mother-was-in-world-trade-center-on-9-11-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;serial fraudster&#8221; Rep. George Santos (R-NY)</a> in an attempt to bolster his argument. Republicans opted to give the freshman lawmaker, who has admitted to lying about aspects of his career and personal life, committee assignments despite Santos facing multiple investigations and calls to resign.
&#8220;The apparent double standard risks undermining the spirit of bipartisan cooperation that is so desperately needed in Congress,&#8221; Jeffries said.

Democratic Leader Picks Schiff And Swalwell For Intel Panel In Defiance Of McCarthy

Hakeem Jeffries

Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) said in a statement Sunday evening that her son was arrested over the weekend during a far-left riot against police officers.
The Boston Police Department <a href="https://bpdnews.com/news/2023/1/22/tmn87xossij9grhs7vwb79ankv7c3u">said</a> that the incident happened at approximately 9:30 PM, on Saturday, January 21, 2021, while officers were responding to a call over a &#8220;protest&#8221; at the Parkman Bandstand Monument.
&#8220;Upon arrival officers observed an individual defacing the monument with spray paint,&#8221; police said. &#8220;The tagging read &#8216;NO COP CITY&#8217; and &#8216;ACAB&#8217;. The suspect was later identified as Jared Dowell, 23, of Melrose.&#8221;
&#8220;During the arrest of Jared Dowell, a group of about 20 protesters began to surround officers while screaming profanities though megaphones on the public street causing traffic to come to a standstill,&#8221; police added. &#8220;While interfering with the arrest of Jared Dowell, an officer was hit in the face and could be seen bleeding from the nose and mouth.&#8221;
Police said that Jared Dowell was placed under arrest and charged with Assault by Means of a Dangerous Weapon, Destruction or Injury of Personal Property and Damage of Property by Graffiti/Tagging.
Clark released a statement saying that Jared Dowell, who she says is now her &#8220;daughter&#8221; Riley Dowell, was the person arrested.
&#8220;Last night, my daughter was arrested in Boston, Massachusetts,&#8221; Clark, who is the Democratic Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives, tweeted. &#8220;I love Riley, and this is a very difficult time in the cycle of joy and pain in parenting. This will be evaluated by the legal system, and I am confident in that process.&#8221;
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Last night, my daughter was arrested in Boston, Massachusetts. I love Riley, and this is a very difficult time in the cycle of joy and pain in parenting. 
This will be evaluated by the legal system, and I am confident in that process.
&mdash; Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepKClark/status/1617292265738702849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Katherine Clark

‘Non-Binary’ Son Of Top Democrat Lawmaker Arrested During Far-Left Riot Against Police

Arrested

Social Issues

Transgender

Former House Speakeri <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/nancy-pelosi-permits-massive-raises-for-house-staffers-that-will-allow-them-to-make-more-than-lawmakers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nancy Pelosi</a> is blaming Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) for the Democratic Party&#8217;s failure to retain control of the House of Representatives in the 2022 midterm elections.
Although Democrats fared better than they were expected to in the midterms — and Republicans only squeaked by with a slim majority — Pelosi claimed that Democrats could have kept the majority if Hochul had realized sooner that crime was a key issue with voters in her state.
Pelosi made the case in an <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/21/opinion/nancy-pelosi-maureen-dowd-interview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Maureen Dowd for The New York Times, arguing that down-ticket Republicans fared better in New York because Hochul had not had longer coattails.
&#8220;She said that she believed the Democrats could have held onto the House in November if top New York pols had realized that the key issue in that state was crime,&#8221; Dowd explained.
&#8220;The governor didn’t realize soon enough where the trouble was,&#8221; Pelosi said of Hochul, adding that the issue should have been addressed much sooner.
Hochul took a lot of heat from Republicans — not the least of which was her opponent in the 2022 gubernatorial race, Lee Zeldin (R-NY). In addition to calling Hochul out repeatedly for not addressing the issue, Zeldin found himself at the center of a couple of crime stories that he then used to great effect to bolster his point.
During one campaign stop, Zeldin himself was <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/breaking-republican-congressman-and-ny-gubernatorial-candidate-lee-zeldin-attacked-at-campaign-event/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">physically assaulted</a> — however, he and several others were able to subdue his attacker and hold him until police arrived to take him into custody. Zeldin, who was unharmed, resumed his speech on bail reform after the man was taken away — but his attacker&#8217;s quick release from jail only served to back up Zeldin&#8217;s claims that New York was not doing enough to put violent criminals behind bars and keep them there.
Later in the campaign, a <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/twin-daughters-of-ny-gov-hopeful-lee-zeldin-hide-as-shooting-unfolds-outside-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shooting took place</a> just outside Zeldin&#8217;s Long Island home — while his teenaged daughters were in the house doing school work.
&#8220;After my daughters heard the gunshots and the screaming, they ran upstairs, locked themselves in the bathroom and immediately called 911,&#8221; Zeldin explained. &#8220;They acted very swiftly and smartly every step of the way and Diana and I are extremely proud of them.&#8221;
The shooting was reportedly unrelated to Zeldin personally.

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