Vance tells senators Trump ‘deserves’ loyal cupboard; House ethics committee to vote on releasing Matt Gaetz report: Live updates
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The House Ethics Committee has just completed a meeting to discuss whether or not to publish a report into Donald Trump’s controversial choice for US attorney general, Matt Gaetz, examining allegations against him that he paid for sex with a minor in 2017 that it investigated in 2022.
ABC News reports that the former Florida congressman sent two women who testified as part of the probe more than $10,000 in Venmo payments over two years, some of which they said were for sex. Gaetz has always denied the accusations.
As committee members left their two-hour meeting they remained silent regarding what had transpired.
That has not stopped it from facing pressure to reveal its findings just as Gaetz joins Vice President-Elect JD Vance and others on a mission to Capitol Hill lobby Republican senators ahead of January’s confirmation hearings. Vance says Trump “deserves” a loyal cabinet for helping Republicans retake the Senate.
Trump has meanwhile made a further series of additions to his new cabinet, moving on Tuesday to nominate former WWE boss Linda McMahon as education secretary, TV’s Dr Mehmet Oz as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator, Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary, and Matthew Whitaker as NATO ambassador.
Committee chair and ranking member to issue statement on Gaetz report
Republican Rep David Joyce of Ohio says a statement will be coming from Chairman Michael Guest of Mississippi and Ranking Democrat Susan Wild of Pennsylvania.
Ethics meeting ending
Rep John Rutherford of Florida doesn’t comment on the committee’s vote regarding the report on Matt Gaetz.
Pushback already emerges on Casten resolution over Gaetz report
New York Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro told reporters he would table the proposed privileged resolution to force a vote to require the House Ethics Committee to release its report on Matt Gaetz. He said it would set a new precedent.
What you need to know as viral posts claim stimulus checks are on the way
But, unfortunately, they are completely false.
Joe Sommerlad explains what’s happening.
Democrat Rep Casten to introduce resolution about release of Gaetz ethics report
Democratic Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois is going to try to introduce a privileged resolution forcing a vote to require the House Ethics Committee to release its report into allegations of serious misconduct by former Congressman Matt Gaetz, Brendan Pedersen of Punchbowl News reports citing sources familiar.
Casten will reportedly act if the Ethics Committee votes not to release the report itself.
Congresswomen-elect Sarah McBride reacts to Speaker’s bathroom rules
Delaware congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride has released a statement in response to the decision by Speaker Mike Johnson to impose a ban on transgender people using the bathroom of the gender to which they identify.
I’m not here to fight about bathrooms. I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families. Like all members, I will follow the rules as outlined by Speaker Johnson, even if I disagree with them.
This effort to distract from the real issues facing this country hasn’t distracted me over the last several days, as I’ve remained hard at work preparing to represent the greatest state in the union come January.
Serving in the 119th congress will be the honor of a lifetime — and I continue to look forward to getting to know my future colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Each of us were sent here because voters saw something in us that they value. I have loved getting to see those qualities in the future colleagues that I’ve met and I look forward to seeing those qualities in every member come January. I hope all of my colleagues will seek to do the same with me.
Speaker bars transgender people from single-sex facilities on Capitol Hill
Transgender people will be barred from using bathrooms and other single-sex facilities at the U.S. Capitol and associated offices that correspond with their gender identity, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Wednesday.
He said in a statement such facilities will instead be “reserved for individuals of that biological sex.”
Josh Marcus reports.
Source: independent.co.uk
