All articles tagged with #congressional testimony
DC U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro blasted Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Hannity, saying 'no one is above the law' as prosecutors open a probe into Powell’s congressional testimony about the Fed’s renovation project; Powell calls the move unprecedented and denies wrongdoing; no charges have been filed, and the case arrives as leaders at the Fed risk scrutiny amid presidential discussions of Powell’s replacement.
Jack Smith defended his investigation into Donald Trump during a closed-door deposition, emphasizing his impartiality, the use of Republican witnesses, and the evidence against Trump, while also revealing details about his investigation process and addressing partisan criticisms.
Special Counsel Jack Smith defended his investigations into Donald Trump before a closed-door House Judiciary Committee session, asserting that his prosecutorial decisions were based solely on evidence and not political considerations. He confirmed that his team found strong evidence of Trump’s involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, as well as willful retention of classified documents and obstruction of justice, leading to two criminal indictments. Smith emphasized his commitment to pursuing justice regardless of political affiliation, despite accusations of political bias from Trump and his allies.
Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted on charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional proceeding related to his 2020 testimony, amid political tensions and former President Trump's public support for the charges.
FBI Director Kash Patel testified before Congress, stating he has never spoken to President Trump about the Epstein files and has no credible information linking Epstein to trafficking minors or involving Trump in any misconduct, blaming court orders for withholding FBI documents related to Epstein.
Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller has Parkinson's disease, which prevents him from testifying before Congress as requested, according to his family. Mueller was diagnosed in 2021 and has since retired from law and teaching, with his family requesting privacy. The House Oversight Committee had subpoenaed him as part of its Epstein investigation.
Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, seeks immunity in exchange for testifying before Congress, but the House Oversight Committee has indicated it will not grant her immunity, and she plans to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights unless she receives clemency. She has made specific demands, including advance question disclosure and delaying her deposition pending her appeal, but her attorneys have stated she is willing to testify openly if clemency is granted.
Ghislaine Maxwell is undecided on whether to testify before Congress, considering asserting her Fifth Amendment rights amid ongoing appeals and questions about immunity agreements, while her credibility remains under scrutiny by some political leaders.
Lawmakers are warning that proposed budget cuts to the DOJ, including the FBI, could threaten U.S. national security amid escalating tensions with Iran, with bipartisan concern over reduced resources during a time of increased threat levels.
The House Armed Services Committee has requested Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to testify about the lack of notification to key government leaders, including the president, regarding his recent hospitalization. Austin's failure to disclose his hospitalization for complications from a prostate cancer procedure has sparked intense scrutiny and prompted multiple reviews. The committee expects Austin to provide direct testimony on the decisions made to withhold information, as questions about transparency and notification processes continue to mount.
Musician Jelly Roll, also known as Jason DeFord, testified before the Senate’s Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, urging for stronger legislation to combat the fentanyl crisis in the United States. He shared personal experiences and statistics on drug overdose deaths, advocating for the passage of the FEND Off Fentanyl Act to target opioid traffickers. DeFord, who has openly discussed his own history with drug-related crimes, emphasized the need for proactive measures to address the crisis and expressed his commitment to being part of the solution.
A law firm, Edelson PC, has announced that it will cease on-campus recruiting at Harvard Law School due to the university president's recent congressional testimony on antisemitism. The firm's founder, Jay Edelson, expressed dissatisfaction with how Harvard and its president, Claudine Gay, handled the aftermath of her testimony. Edelson called for a "sea change" on campus before the firm would consider returning to on-campus recruiting. The decision comes after several Wall Street law firms warned universities about hiring students engaging in antisemitism.
A bipartisan resolution has been introduced by four lawmakers calling for the resignation of Harvard University President Claudine Gay and MIT President Sally A. Kornbluth following their congressional testimony on antisemitism. The resolution condemns the rise of antisemitism on university campuses and criticizes the presidents for their failure to clearly state that calls for the genocide of Jews constitute harassment. Despite the resolution, Harvard's highest governing board expressed unanimous support for Gay to remain in office. The House is expected to vote on the resolution this week.
Former Vice President Al Gore criticized Harvard President Claudine Gay for her "tone-deafness" during congressional testimony on antisemitism, expressing shock at her comments that calling for the genocide of Jews would not constitute harassment. Gay, along with the presidents of MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, faced criticism and calls to resign for their handling of antisemitism on their campuses. Gay and Magill attempted to clarify their statements after the hearing, but Magill ultimately resigned. Gore called for clarification and respect for all communities in the country.
Over 570 faculty members at Harvard University have signed a petition urging school administrators not to succumb to political pressure to fire university president Claudine Gay. The petition was delivered to the Harvard Corporation, which holds the power to dismiss Gay. The pressure on Gay increased after University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned. Gay, Magill, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth testified before a U.S. House committee about the rise of antisemitism on college campuses following the Israel-Hamas war. Some lawmakers have called for the removal of the university presidents, but faculty members argue that Gay has significant support within the university and should not be removed due to political reasons.