All articles tagged with #democratic lawmakers
A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. unanimously rejected Jeanine Pirro's bid to indict six Democratic lawmakers over a social-video urging service members to disobey unlawful orders, effectively halting the case in that district; the development fuels debate over DOJ independence and political interference, with the possibility of pursuing charges in another district still open.
More than a dozen Democratic lawmakers will skip Trump's State of the Union to attend a counter-rally near the Capitol, organized by MoveOn and MeidasTouch, framing the event as a stand against what they call a flawed agenda and for protecting democracy. The White House dismissed opposition to Trump’s policies, while lawmakers note past protests and other forms of dissent at the address.
The Justice Department has asked five Democratic lawmakers—Reps. Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, Maggie Goodlander, Rep. Jason Crow, and Sen. Elissa Slotkin—for interviews about a November video urging service members not to follow illegal orders. The inquiries follow FBI involvement and come as the Pentagon demotes Sen. Mark Kelly and trims his pension after his appearance in the video, a move Kelly is challenging in court. Trump allies have branded the video as sedition, while legal experts say criminal charges would be difficult to prove given high intent requirements and First Amendment protections; Democrats call the probes political intimidation as partisan tensions rise.
Progressive grassroots groups are pressuring Democratic senators to 'hold the line' against Republican efforts to reopen the government, complicating bipartisan negotiations and highlighting internal party tensions amid the ongoing shutdown.
The Texas State Capitol was evacuated and closed after a social media threat amid protests by Democratic lawmakers opposing redistricting plans, with some Democrats staying overnight in the Capitol in defiance of law enforcement directives, highlighting ongoing political tensions over redistricting and legislative procedures.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker stated he would block any efforts to arrest Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas to prevent GOP redistricting, emphasizing that such actions are illegal and that Illinois law protects lawmakers from unwarranted arrest, contrasting with claims from Texas and federal figures about returning lawmakers to the state.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into the group Powered by People, led by Beto O’Rourke, over their involvement in the Democratic lawmakers' flight to prevent a quorum and block a gerrymandering effort, amid ongoing legal and political battles in Texas.
Texas Republicans, influenced by Trump, are attempting to redraw congressional districts to favor their party ahead of the 2024 midterms, leading to a political standoff as Democratic lawmakers flee the state to block the process, with broader national implications for gerrymandering and electoral strategies.
The Texas redistricting dispute intensifies as Governor Abbott seeks to remove Democratic Rep. Gene Wu from office after Wu and other Democrats fled the state to block a GOP-led redistricting plan, prompting legal actions and nationwide political implications.
Democratic lawmakers in Texas left the state to protest a redistricting plan favored by Republicans, leading Governor Greg Abbott to threaten their removal and arrest, though legal and logistical challenges remain due to the absence of a quorum and jurisdiction issues. The situation highlights ongoing partisan conflicts over redistricting and legislative procedures in Texas.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott threatened to remove Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block a redistricting vote, as Democrats aimed to deny a quorum and prevent the creation of new Republican-leaning House seats, escalating tensions over congressional maps.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers visited the controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention facility in Florida, where they expressed concerns over transparency, costs, and environmental impact, with some accusing the state of staging a pre-planned tour to showcase the facility.
All four Muslim Democratic House members condemned racist and Islamophobic attacks from both parties against Zohran Mamdani following his NYC mayoral primary win, urging leaders to speak out against such hate, amid GOP and some Democratic criticisms.
Democratic lawmakers Elizabeth Warren and Jan Schakowsky have criticized major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Merck, J&J, AbbVie, and Amgen for paying little to no federal taxes by shifting profits offshore, and are questioning their support for extending tax cuts in the GOP reconciliation bill. They highlight the practice enabled by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which they argue benefits wealthy corporations at the expense of American taxpayers, and are seeking responses from these companies about their lobbying efforts and tax liabilities. The issue is part of broader legislative debates over tax reform and pharmaceutical pricing.
Rep. Hillary Scholten canceled a town hall after her name appeared on a target list linked to the Minnesota shooting suspect, reflecting heightened security concerns for Democratic lawmakers following the attack that resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries. Other lawmakers like Rep. Debbie Dingell plan to proceed with their events, while law enforcement continues investigations and briefings.