All articles tagged with #public testimony
House Republicans subpoena Jack Smith to testify privately about his investigations into Trump, with debates over public vs. private hearings and potential legal consequences for non-compliance.
Jack Smith, the special counsel investigating Trump, defends the impartiality of his investigations in a letter to Senate Judiciary Chair Grassley, amid Republican scrutiny and requests for public testimony, while broader political tensions and government shutdown negotiations continue in Congress.
Former special counsel Jack Smith has requested permission from Congress and the Justice Department to testify publicly about his investigations into Donald Trump, citing concerns over mischaracterizations and seeking to clarify his actions in the criminal cases related to Trump. His lawyers are awaiting guidance from the DOJ to ensure he won't face repercussions for testifying, and the move has garnered support from some lawmakers who believe the public should hear directly from him. This development comes amid ongoing political scrutiny and efforts to scrutinize the integrity of Smith's investigations.
Hunter Biden made a surprise appearance at a House Committee on Oversight hearing as Republicans sought to hold him in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena. The hearing turned into a shouting match, with Democrats accusing Republicans of playing politics and Biden's lawyer stating his willingness to testify publicly. This comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Biden's business dealings and federal charges against him. The Judiciary Committee also met to discuss holding Biden in contempt, with bitter exchanges and comparisons to Republicans defying subpoenas. If the contempt measure is adopted, the Justice Department would decide whether to indict Biden.
Hunter Biden's offer to publicly testify before the House as part of his father's impeachment inquiry may backfire on Republicans who have sought to make him a political target. Refusing to allow Hunter to testify publicly could hurt the GOP's image, as voters may perceive it as a do-nothing majority in the House. Hunter's shift in strategy challenges Congressional Republicans to fight things out in public and could provide him with a defense for a future contempt prosecution. Republicans may also lose support by attacking Hunter's struggle with addiction. While the accusations against Hunter may be a PR nightmare for Republicans, it may be seen as noise and muddied water for Americans not paying attention to the saga. However, the longer it drags on, the more Democrats may build their case against the House GOP being unserious about governing.
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer insulted Rep. Jared Moskowitz during a Newsmax appearance, referring to him as "little Moskowitz." Moskowitz responded by sarcastically agreeing with the insult and questioning why Comer is afraid of him and Hunter Biden testifying publicly. Hunter Biden's attorney offered his client's willingness to testify in Joe Biden's impeachment inquiry, but Comer rejected the offer. House Republicans have sought private depositions instead of public testimony in their investigation, which centers on allegations of Joe Biden's involvement in his son's foreign business deals.
Hunter Biden has agreed to testify before a Republican House committee in public, but the committee chairman is turning him down, insisting on a deposition instead. Hunter Biden's decision to go public with his testimony shines a spotlight on his history of legal and drug problems, which could potentially impact his father's reelection campaign. Some in the White House are reportedly irritated by Hunter's aggressive strategy, while others argue that it's important to rebut the allegations. The younger Biden is facing indictments on gun-related charges and is expected to face more on tax charges.
Hunter Biden's attorney has stated that he is willing to testify before the House Oversight Committee, but only in a public hearing. The attorney accused the committee of selectively leaking information from closed-door depositions and called the subpoenas a "political stunt." The committee had issued subpoenas to depose Hunter Biden and other members of President Joe Biden's family. The impeachment inquiry led by Chairman James Comer has faced criticism for lacking sufficient evidence, with the White House accusing House Republicans of conducting a smear campaign.
The city council of Salem, Oregon has passed a Safe Salem Payroll Tax, which would impose a tax of around $42 per month on all wages for individuals working in Salem, regardless of where they live. The tax aims to generate about $28 million each year to help pay for emergency services and address the city's $19 million budget shortfall. Minimum wage employees would be exempt from the tax. The decision has faced opposition, with many arguing that the tax is unethical, regressive, and unaffordable for many.