Rep. Elise Stefanik lodges ethics complaint against judge overseeing Jan. 6 cases

Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik has filed a complaint and requested an ethics investigation against federal judge Beryl Howell, who has presided over key Jan. 6 Capitol attack cases. Stefanik alleges that Howell engaged in inappropriate political speech by suggesting that reelecting President Trump would lead to fascism in America. Howell's speech, given at an awards gala, warned about the impact of burying facts and rising authoritarianism without mentioning Trump by name. Stefanik claims that Howell's statements were partisan, interfered with the election, and were improper while criminal cases were pending.