All articles tagged with #congressional oversight
Originally Published 1 day ago — by Politico
Minnesota Democrats are demanding oversight after ICE blocked their entry to a facility, citing legal and procedural disputes, amid rising tensions over immigration enforcement and a recent fatal shooting involving ICE agents. The incident highlights ongoing conflicts between state lawmakers and federal immigration authorities.
Originally Published 3 months ago — by The Intercept
The Trump administration reportedly conducted secret military strikes against undisclosed enemies, including drug cartels, without congressional approval, claiming a new state of armed conflict. Critics argue this bypasses legal and constitutional boundaries, raising concerns about unchecked presidential power and secret warfare.
Originally Published 3 months ago — by Politico
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan criticized Senator Adam Schiff during oversight hearings, with Kash Patel attacking Schiff's integrity and defending FBI actions amid ongoing investigations and political tensions.
Originally Published 5 months ago — by The New York Times
A group of 12 House Democrats sued the Trump administration, alleging that new DHS restrictions on visits to ICE detention facilities violate federal law and hinder congressional oversight, following recent incidents and reports of inhumane conditions at detention sites.
Originally Published 5 months ago — by CNN
Twelve Democratic members of Congress have sued the Trump administration over a new DHS policy that restricts access to immigration detention centers, arguing it violates federal law and hampers oversight, amid reports of poor conditions and increased detention.
Originally Published 6 months ago — by The New York Times
Seven New York Democratic members of Congress are demanding access to inspect the conditions at the ICE office on the 10th floor of a federal building in Manhattan, where detained migrants are held in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, challenging ICE's claim that it is not a detention facility. The lawmakers argue that the law grants them the right to oversee such facilities, especially when migrants are held for multiple days, and criticize the agency's refusal to allow inspections amid ongoing immigration enforcement actions.
Originally Published 7 months ago — by Politico
Outgoing Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger, after four years leading the department through crises including the Jan. 6 attack, emphasizes the challenges of balancing political pressures, securing resources, and managing threats against lawmakers, while preparing for his retirement and a potential successor.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Guardian US
The US has reportedly made over 100 weapons sales to Israel, including thousands of bombs, since the start of the Gaza war, bypassing congressional oversight by keeping each transaction under the dollar amount requiring approval. The Biden administration, while critical of Israeli military operations in Gaza, has continued a substantial flow of munitions to replace those used in the intense bombing campaign. Critics argue that this circumvents transparency and accountability, with the administration following the steps of its predecessor in exploiting loopholes. Despite public misgivings, the administration defends the sales as part of the US's commitment to Israel's self-defense, while efforts to assess whether Israeli forces are committing war crimes remain vague.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Democracy Now!
A former State Department official, Josh Paul, criticized Secretary of State Tony Blinken for bypassing Congress to approve the sale of 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition to Israel, valued at over $106 million. Paul argued that this move demonstrates that U.S. policy remains unchanged, despite the ongoing conflict and civilian casualties in Gaza. He highlighted the use of similar emergency provisions by the Trump administration to support the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, resulting in civilian deaths. Paul also raised concerns about specific weaponry, such as the tank cartridges, being used to commit human rights abuses. He mentioned a disturbing incident where a 13-year-old Palestinian child was allegedly raped by Israeli prison guards during interrogation. Paul called for a policy change and condemned sexual violence wherever it occurs.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by In These Times
The White House has included an unprecedented exemption in its national security funding request to Congress, seeking permission to approve future arms sales to Israel without notifying Congress. This would allow the Israeli government to purchase up to $3.5 billion in military equipment and services in complete secrecy. Critics argue that this exemption undermines Congressional oversight and transparency, as well as potentially enabling arms sales to military units involved in human rights violations. The Biden administration is pushing for quick passage of the funding package, but advocates are calling on Congress to reject the waiver and demand greater transparency on weapons transfers to Israel.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by New York Post
Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan is set to face questioning on Capitol Hill regarding alleged mismanagement of staff, an overly burdensome merger review process, and alleged harassment of Twitter. Republicans plan to criticize Khan's leadership and the low morale among FTC staff. They also intend to question her on her refusal to provide relevant documents and potential coordination with foreign regulators or Democratic allies. The scrutiny comes after a federal judge rejected Khan's attempt to block Microsoft's purchase of Activision.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NBC News
FBI Director Christopher Wray is facing tough questioning from House Republicans on claims that federal law enforcement agencies have been "weaponized" against conservatives, including former President Donald Trump and his allies. Wray defended the FBI's work, highlighting efforts to combat violent crime, drug cartels, and Chinese government espionage. He emphasized the need to renew provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and warned of risks if they expire. The hearing comes amid ongoing investigations into Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents and his role in the January 6th Capitol attack.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Fox News
Republican Rep. Andy Ogles introduced articles of impeachment against President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing Biden of weaponizing the presidency to shield his family's business and influence peddling schemes from congressional oversight and public accountability, and acting in a manner contrary to the public trust with his handling of the southern border crisis. Harris is accused of extraordinary incompetence in the execution of her duties and responsibilities and an indifference to Americans suffering as a result of America's ongoing southern border crisis. The impeachment articles are unlikely to gain traction in the House.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Wall Street Journal
Special Counsel John Durham's report on the origins of the FBI's probe into alleged collusion between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign concludes that the bureau lacked sufficient cause to investigate the campaign and failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law. The report suggests a cultural rot within the FBI, rather than the work of a few bad apples. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley also criticized high-profile Democrats, the FBI, and the media for portraying legitimate Congressional oversight of Hunter Biden's business dealings as Russian disinformation.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by POLITICO
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is using a legal strategy to defy federal subpoenas by invoking state sovereignty, which he previously used while working in the New York attorney general's office. Bragg's lawsuit against Rep. Jim Jordan and his House Judiciary Committee seeks to block a subpoena seeking testimony from a former assistant DA who criticized aspects of his Trump investigation. The conflict raises delicate questions about the balance of power between Congress and the states. Bragg's lawsuit replicates many of the arguments made in a 2016 and 2017 subpoena fight over a climate change investigation.