INSIDER
Evidence mounts of GOP involvement in Trump election schemes
Read full article: Evidence mounts of GOP involvement in Trump election schemesText messages and testimony released by the House Jan. 6 panel shows the deep involvement of some House Republicans in President Donald Trump’s desperate attempt to stay in power.
GOP lawmakers vote remotely more often after initial scorn
Read full article: GOP lawmakers vote remotely more often after initial scornJust seven Republicans, along with most Democrats, used remote voting in the House when voting-from-somewhere-else was first allowed two years ago as the pandemic erupted.
Kinzinger pushes 'uneasy alliance' to thwart Trump's allies
Read full article: Kinzinger pushes 'uneasy alliance' to thwart Trump's alliesCongressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois is calling on Democrats and independents to form an “uneasy alliance” with Republicans to fight former President Donald Trump’s influence in Republican politics.
EXPLAINER: Why Congress is looking closely at Jan. 6 rally
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Why Congress is looking closely at Jan. 6 rallyThe House panel investigating the Jan_ 6 Capitol insurrection has focused some of its early work on the planning behind a massive rally at which President Donald Trump falsely claimed to have won reelection and told his supporters to “fight like hell.”.
House asks companies to save Jan. 6 phone, computer records
Read full article: House asks companies to save Jan. 6 phone, computer recordsThe House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol is asking social media and telecommunications companies to preserve phone or computer records for hundreds of people.
Fines dropped against two lawmakers over metal detectors
Read full article: Fines dropped against two lawmakers over metal detectorsThe bipartisan House Ethics Committee has dismissed fines against two veteran lawmakers who’d been accused of evading weapons screening now required before entering the House chamber.
Trump critic Cheney cautions Jan. 6 riot could happen again
Read full article: Trump critic Cheney cautions Jan. 6 riot could happen againRepublican congresswoman Liz Cheney is criticizing GOP colleagues for downplaying the Jan. 6 riot and condoning former President Donald Trump’s lies that the 2020 election was stolen.
Ethics panel affirms Rep. Gohmert fine over metal detector
Read full article: Ethics panel affirms Rep. Gohmert fine over metal detectorThe House Ethics Committee upheld a $5,000 fine against Gohmert on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, after he was accused of failing to submit to a full security screening when entering the chamber's floor last month. A letter by the Ethics committee rejecting an appeal by Gohmert was the first such letter it has issued under the new rules, suggesting he would be the first to pay the fine. When an officer told him he needed to be checked with a wand, he walked onto the floor anyway “to engage in my turn to debate,” Gohmert wrote. In a two-paragraph letter, the Ethics panel wrote, “A majority of the committee did not agree to the appeal,” the standard required to dismiss the fine. The Ethics committee consists of five Democrats and five Republicans, and the letter did not provide details of the vote.
Republicans condemn ‘scheme’ to undo election for Trump
Read full article: Republicans condemn ‘scheme’ to undo election for TrumpThough he got nothing but cheers Monday night, Trump's attempt to overturn the presidential election i s splitting the Republican Party. Trump repeated numerous times his claims of election fraud, which have been rejected by election officials — Republican as well as Democratic in state after state — and courts up to the U.S. Supreme Court. Two current Republican senators, Rob Portman of Ohio and Mike Lee of Utah, joined the growing number who now oppose the legislators' challenge. Larry Hogan of Maryland; Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the third-ranking House GOP leader; and former House Speaker Paul Ryan — have criticized the GOP efforts to overturn the election. Cruz's coalition of 11 Republican senators vows to reject the Electoral College tallies unless Congress launches a commission to immediately conduct an audit of the election results.
Republicans condemn 'scheme' to undo election for Trump
Read full article: Republicans condemn 'scheme' to undo election for TrumpOf the more than 50 lawsuits the president and his allies have filed challenging election results, nearly all have been dismissed or dropped. Other prominent former officials also criticized the ongoing attack on election results. Cruz's coalition of 11 Republican senators vows to reject the Electoral College tallies unless Congress launches a commission to immediately conduct an audit of the election results. The convening of the joint session to count the Electoral College votes has faced objections before. States choose their own election officials and draft their election laws.
More GOP lawmakers enlist in Trump effort to undo Biden win
Read full article: More GOP lawmakers enlist in Trump effort to undo Biden winSen. Ted Cruz of Texas on Saturday announced a coalition of 11 senators and senators-elect who have been enlisted for Trump's effort to subvert the will of American voters. But their challenges, and those from House Republicans, represent the most sweeping effort to undo a presidential election outcome since the Civil War. said the Republican effort to create a federal commission “to supersede state certifications" is wrong. On the other side of the Republican divide, several senators spoke out Saturday against Cruz and Hawley's effort. McConnell had previously warned GOP senators not to participate in raising objections, saying it would be a terrible vote for colleagues.
Texas judge dismisses suit aimed at overturning election
Read full article: Texas judge dismisses suit aimed at overturning electionPence, as president of the Senate, will oversee the session Wednesday and declare the winner of the White House race. The Electoral College this month cemented Biden’s 306-232 victory, and multiple legal efforts by President Donald Trump's campaign to challenge the results have failed. “A suit to establish that the Vice President has discretion over the count, filed against the Vice President, is a walking legal contradiction,” the department argued. But a range of nonpartisan election officials and Republicans has confirmed there was no fraud in the November contest that would change the results of the election. Trump and his allies have filed roughly 50 lawsuits challenging election results, and nearly all have been dismissed or dropped.
The Latest: US task force leader says pandemic in new phase
Read full article: The Latest: US task force leader says pandemic in new phase(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)CHARLESTON, W.Va. __ White House coronavirus task force leader Dr. Deborah Birx says widespread coronavirus infections in urban and rural America mark a new phase for the pandemic as she doubled down on calls to wear face masks and observe social distancing measures. South Africas caseload represents more than 50% of all reported coronavirus infections in Africas 54 countries. ___TOKYO Confirmed coronavirus cases are hovering at near record levels in Japan, raising worries the pandemic may be growing more difficult to control. Israel is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases after having largely contained an earlier outbreak in the spring. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the case fatality rate was progressively reducing and currently stands at 2.18%, one of the lowest globally.
Arizona congressman tests positive for virus; 2nd this week
Read full article: Arizona congressman tests positive for virus; 2nd this week(Bonnie Cash/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON The chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee said Saturday he tested positive for the coronavirus days after he sat close to another member of the panel, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, who also tested positive. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., said in a statement that he has the virus but, like Gohmert, has no symptoms. He is at least the 11th member of Congress known to have tested positive for the coronavirus. Grijalva went into isolation after Gohmert tested positive on Wednesday, since the two had sat close to each other at a Natural Resources hearing the day before. The White House tests anyone who will be in close proximity to the president, which is how Gohmert found out he had the virus.
In sprawling Capitol, leaders struggle to keep virus at bay
Read full article: In sprawling Capitol, leaders struggle to keep virus at bayThe lack of tracking was highlighted this week when a GOP lawmaker, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, found out he had contracted the virus. Fearing Gohmert's frequent refusal to wear a mask could have caused other members and staff to become infected, Pelosi and Capitol officials quickly issued broad new mask requirements for the House. The dilemma for Congress is similar to the one facing workplaces and schools as they struggle to reopen. Pelosi and McConnell cited those front-line workers when they rejected Trump's offer earlier this year to send rapid tests for lawmakers to the Capitol. Let's expand access to rapid testing on Capitol Hill, but also throughout the country, Van Hollen said.
Gohmert's positive virus test renews safety fears in Capitol
Read full article: Gohmert's positive virus test renews safety fears in CapitolWASHINGTON Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert tested positive on Wednesday for the coronavirus, forcing him to abruptly cancel his plan to travel to his home state with President Donald Trump. He is at least the 10th member of Congress known to have tested positive for the coronavirus. Hours after Gohmerts positive test, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., appeared open to putting in place a mask mandate for the House. But a few have refused, including Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a doctor who says it's unnecessary because he previously tested positive for the virus. After Gohmert tested positive, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said Barr would be tested Wednesday.
Conservatives lash out at Liz Cheney over Trump criticism
Read full article: Conservatives lash out at Liz Cheney over Trump criticismRepublican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio noted Cheney's criticism of Trump on defense and foreign policy and accused her of not supporting the president on his coronavirus response. Leading the criticism was Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who recounted the confrontation on his podcast, Hot Takes with Matt Gaetz, shortly after it happened. He also tweeted about Cheney, who is the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, and said she should step down from her post as head of the GOP conference. Liz Cheney has worked behind the scenes (and now in public) against @realDonaldTrump and his agenda, Gaetz tweeted. House Republicans deserve better as our Conference Chair.