Texas senator asks FBI to assist arrest state fleeing Democratic lawmakers
Senator John Cornyn of Texas has despatched a letter to FBI director Kash Patel, imploring him to take “any acceptable steps” to help Texas legislation enforcement in finding and arresting Democrats who’ve fled the state.
“In a consultant democracy, we resolve our variations by debating and voting, not by working away,” Cornyn writes of the quorum break, now in its second day. “These legislators have dedicated potential felony acts of their rush to keep away from their constitutional tasks and should be totally investigated and held accountable.”
The FBI declined the Guardian’s request for remark.
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Up to date at 14.50 EDT
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The Trump administration is contemplating releasing the transcript of Ghislaine Maxwell’s interview with deputy lawyer normal Todd Blanche, in response to a report by CNN.
“A ultimate resolution has not been made,” a senior administration official instructed CNN. The existence of the interview recording has not been beforehand reported.
Blanche interviewed Maxwell final month in Tallahassee, Florida, over a two-day interval. Final week, Maxwell was moved from Florida to a lower-security federal jail in Texas.
This comes because the Home Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Trump justice division at present for data associated to Epstein.
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Up to date at 15.40 EDT
Texas AG will pursue court docket ruling that declares Democrats’ seats vacant
Ken Paxton, the Texas lawyer normal, stated that he’ll pursue a court docket ruling to declare the seats of Democrats who fled the state and denied quorum within the legislature, as vacant.
“Beginning Friday, any rogue lawmakers refusing to return to the Home can be held accountable for vacating their workplace. The individuals of Texas elected lawmakers, not jet-setting runaways in search of headlines. Should you don’t present as much as work, you get fired,” Paxton stated in an announcement.
Texas Home speaker Dustin Burrows stated the chamber would try to achieve quorum once more on Friday, after it failed for a second consecutive day on Tuesday,
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Up to date at 15.05 EDT
Donald Trump met along with his Center East envoy Steve Witkoff on Monday to debate plans for the US to “considerably improve its position in offering humanitarian support to Gaza”, Axios studies.
Sources instructed Axios that the Trump administration would take over administration of the humanitarian effort in Gaza as a result of Israel just isn’t dealing with the scenario adequately.
The White Home didn’t reply to Axios’ request for remark.
This comes after Witkoff’s go to to Gaza final week to evaluate the worsening hunger disaster within the area.
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Up to date at 14.44 EDT
Texas senator asks FBI to assist arrest state fleeing Democratic lawmakers
Senator John Cornyn of Texas has despatched a letter to FBI director Kash Patel, imploring him to take “any acceptable steps” to help Texas legislation enforcement in finding and arresting Democrats who’ve fled the state.
“In a consultant democracy, we resolve our variations by debating and voting, not by working away,” Cornyn writes of the quorum break, now in its second day. “These legislators have dedicated potential felony acts of their rush to keep away from their constitutional tasks and should be totally investigated and held accountable.”
The FBI declined the Guardian’s request for remark.
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Up to date at 14.50 EDT
Texas Home fails to achieve quorum for a second day
With solely 94 lawmakers current, the Texas Home failed once more at present to achieve a quorum to conduct legislative enterprise.
Speaker Dustin Burrows adjourned the Home after it failed to satisfy its 100-member threshold to achieve quorum.
He stated that the Home would attempt once more on Friday at 1pm CT.
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Up to date at 15.10 EDT
Here is a recap of the day up to now:
Democratic legislators from Texas are nonetheless hunkered down in varied blue states throughout the nation, as they preserve their quorum break over a brand new congressional map proposed by state Republicans. At a press convention earlier at present, Illinois governor JB Pritzker – who has welcomed a number of fleeing lawmakers – stated that Texas Democrats are “main the way in which in selecting braveness and nation over politics and social gathering”.
In the meantime the Texas legislature will once more attempt to reconvene at present, after the Capitol failed to achieve quorum yesterday. Governor Greg Abbott has ordered arrest warrants for the absent lawmakers, however these are civil warrants that solely apply inside state-lines.
For his half, Donald Trump stated that the Republican social gathering is “entitled” to the 5 Home seats they may choose up if the Texas map is permitted. In a wide-ranging interview with CNBC earlier at present, the president criticised blue states for accepting Texas Democrats. “You discover, they go to Illinois for security, however that’s all gerrymandered. California is gerrymandered. We should always have many extra seats in Congress in California. It’s all gerrymandered,” he stated.
Texas’ redistricting battle has now become an “arms race”, Rep. Gina Hinojosa instructed me at present. She’s one of many state lawmakers who decamped to a Chicago suburb. California governor Gavin Newsom has pledged to push for a particular election that would reinstate his state legislature with the facility to redraw congressional maps if the Texas map passes. In the meantime, DNC chair Ken Martin described the quorum break, and in-kind redistricting from blue states as a part of Democrats’ plan to “combat hearth with hearth”.
Past Texas, the Home Oversight Committee subpoenaed the justice division for “data associated to Epstein”. The committee additionally issued deposition subpoenas to a number of excessive profile people, together with Invoice and Hillary Clinton.
In the meantime, the DOJ has ordered division officers to launch a probe into how Obama-era officers dealt with Russian interference within the 2016 election.
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Up to date at 14.28 EDT
In one other nugget from his CNBC interview at present, Donald Trump confirmed his plan to lift the tariffs on India “very considerably” over the subsequent 24 hours. This may be a rise on the 25% already in place.
“They’re fueling the conflict machine. And in the event that they’re going to do this, then I’m not going to be blissful,” he stated, referring to India’s buying of Russian oil.
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Up to date at 13.26 EDT
Whereas Congress is on recess, members from each events are listening to from their constituents. To get a style of how Republicans are coping with considerations again residence, let’s flip to Lincoln, Nebraska.
That is in Republican congressman Mike Flood’s district. And yesterday scores of individuals turned as much as his city corridor to make their emotions recognized on a variety of points: from ICE raids, to the one huge stunning invoice, to the Epstein recordsdata.
There have been a number of factors within the night time have been Flood was heckled by the gang, with some even chanting “vote him out”.
Flood confronted scrutiny about his resolution to vote for Trump’s sweeping home coverage invoice. Finally the gang erupted into chants of “tax the wealthy”.
Flood was one of many few GOP representatives who held a city corridor this August recess, notably because the chair of the Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee suggested lawmakers earlier this 12 months to forgo holding in-person city halls, per Politico.
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Right here’s Donald Trump touring the roof of the White Home with architects this morning. A number of days in the past he introduced the $200m development of a brand new 90,000 sq ft ballroom on account of be prepared earlier than his time period ends in 2029.
Donald Trump speaks to the information media as he excursions the roof on the White Home. {Photograph}: Shawn Thew/EPAShare
Trump says he’ll announce Fed appointments ‘shortly’ however Bessent will keep in Treasury job
Donald Trump has stated he would “shortly” announce his choose for an open seat on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors and presumably his nominee to guide the US central financial institution as properly, however added that he had dominated out treasury secretary Scott Bessent from consideration.
In an interview with CNBC this morning, Trump stated Fed governor Adriana Kugler’s resolution to vacate her seat early was a “nice shock”. The departure of Kugler, whose time period would have ended on 31 January, seems to have accelerated Trump’s planning for the central financial institution, giving him a right away opening to fill with an individual who is also promoted to the highest policymaking position when Fed chair Jerome Powell’s time period ends in Could.
“It’ll be one in every of 4 individuals,” Trump stated, including that he thought-about each present White Home financial adviser Kevin Hassett and former Fed governor Kevin Warsh as “superb” prospects. He didn’t title the opposite two, however is reportedly contemplating present governor Christopher Waller, who has advocated charge cuts however not on the tempo or extent Trump desires.
“There are quite a few individuals which can be certified,” Trump stated. “I’m going to be saying that very shortly,” the president stated in reference to naming a alternative for Kugler, who was appointed to the Fed’s board by former president Joe Biden. Trump stated Bessent wouldn’t be within the working for the place as a result of he desires to stay within the high Treasury job.
The nominee would, at the least initially, serve the few months remaining in Kugler’s time period. However Trump could possibly be specific that he plans for that individual to then be nominated to a full 14-year time period after that point, and to even be his alternative to interchange Powell when the Fed chief’s time period expires subsequent Could – giving his nominee a number of months and a number of other coverage conferences to start to affect the coverage debate.
“Lots of people say, if you try this, why don’t you simply choose the individual who’s going to move up the Fed? That’s a chance too,” Trump stated.
The nominee to fill Kugler’s seat will should be confirmed by the Senate, and would require one other Senate vote for a full 14-year time period early subsequent 12 months. The nomination for the subsequent Fed chief would require a separate Senate affirmation course of.
Donald Trump on the White Home at present. {Photograph}: Jonathan Ernst/ReutersShare
Up to date at 12.32 EDT
Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury data largely already public, DOJ says
A lot of the data offered to the grand jury that indicted Ghislaine Maxwell for serving to Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse teenage ladies has already been made public, the justice division stated in a court docket submitting at present.
Donald Trump final month instructed lawyer normal Pam Bondi to hunt the discharge of the Epstein and Maxwell grand jury materials, as he sought to quell discontent from his base of supporters over his administration’s dealing with of paperwork from the instances.
This submitting underscored how it’s unclear whether or not the general public will be taught something new or noteworthy from the potential launch of such materials. The justice division stated a lot of the testimony from legislation enforcement officers at Maxwell’s grand jury proceedings in 2020 was corroborated by the victims and witnesses who testified publicly at her trial the next 12 months.
“A lot of the data offered through the course of the grand jury testimony – apart from the identities of sure victims and witnesses – was made publicly out there at trial or has in any other case been publicly reported via the general public statements of victims and witnesses,” the division wrote within the submitting.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year jail sentence after being convicted of intercourse trafficking and different crimes. Final month, deputy lawyer normal Todd Blanche met together with her to see if she had any details about different individuals who might have dedicated crimes. Neither social gathering has offered an in depth account of what they mentioned. Maxwell final week was moved from a jail in Florida to a lower-security facility in Texas.
The justice division has cited what it calls persevering with public curiosity within the instances in asking Manhattan-based judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer to authorize the disclosure of the grand jury transcripts.
Legal professionals for Epstein, Maxwell and their alleged victims are on account of share their views on the potential disclosures with the judges by Tuesday.
Individually on Tuesday, the Home oversight committee issued a subpoena to the justice division for data associated to Epstein.
Democrats are additionally pushing for the discharge of Epstein recordsdata, saying Trump needs to be held accountable for breaking his promise to launch them.
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“I additionally need to discuss to my Republican colleagues in Texas – you flawed for this,” stated Texas state consultant Barbara Gervin-Hawkins. “The truth is, Trump referred to as and so they fell down and stated ‘what would you like us to do?’ Which says they’re weak, and we don’t want that in Texas.”
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Up to date at 12.32 EDT
Most of the Texas lawmakers who fled the state to interrupt quorum are talking now at a press convention with Illinois governor JB Pritzker.
“Texas Home Democrats are main the way in which in selecting braveness and nation over politics and social gathering,” Priztker stated.
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Home Oversight Committee subpoenas DOJ for Epstein recordsdata
The Home Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena to the justice division for “data associated to Epstein”. The committee has additionally issued deposition subpoenas to a variety of excessive profile people, together with Invoice and Hillary Clinton, former FBI director James Comey, and former lawyer normal Invoice Barr.
In latest months, the Epstein recordsdata have been the Trump administration’s albatross. The fallout over the recordsdata has enraged lawmakers on each side of the aisle, notably after Home speaker Mike Johnson despatched lawmakers residence early for August recess to keep away from votes on releasing data concerning the Epstein investigations.
The committee chair, Republican congressman James Comer, issued a deadline of 19 August for the justice division to show over data associated to Epstein.
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Up to date at 12.38 EDT
Oliver Laughland
Donald Trump’s second presidency has led to allegations of pervasive self-dealing.
From the acceptance of a luxurious jet from the state of Qatar, to the creation of a Trump cryptocurrency, the president has been accused of monetizing the White Home whereas enacting a swath of maximum coverage. My colleague, Tom Silverstone, and I travelled throughout south Florida, visiting Turning Level’s scholar motion summit, assembly the Republican strategist Steve Bannon, and witnessing occasions on the harsh new detention centre “Alligator Alcatraz”.
Trump’s new gilded age: fearmongering, mass deportations and self-enrichment – videoShare
I simply spoke with Consultant Gina Hinojosa, a Texas Democrat who fled the state together with her colleagues. She’s now in a suburb outdoors Chicago.
She confirmed that Ken Martin – chair of the Democratic Nationwide Committee – will be a part of the Texas lawmakers in Illinois for a roundtable dialogue at present.
Rep. Hinojosa stated that she’s dedicated to staying out of the Texas Capitol for “so long as it takes”. She added that Governor Abbott does “not have the facility” to take away legislators from elected workplace, calling it “disrespectful” to voters. She additionally instructed me that lawmakers who left the state have “obtained nothing however gratitude” and messages of assist from their constituents.
“It’s not best. It’s simply the truth,” she stated of the redistricting arms race which may escalate throughout the nation if the brand new Texas map is handed.
“Democrats must combat to win,” she stated. “We combat to win for the day, and we take tomorrow because it comes.”
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Up to date at 10.21 EDT
‘We’re entitled to 5 extra seats’, Trump says on Texas redistricting battle
Talking to CNBC earlier, the president stated that Republicans are entitled to the 5 extra seats they stand to choose up if the Texas GOP’s new congressional map is handed.
“In Illinois, what’s occurred is horrible what they’re doing. And also you discover, they go to Illinois for security, however that’s all gerrymandered. California is gerrymandered. We should always have many extra seats in Congress in California. It’s all gerrymandered,” he added.
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‘The gave phony numbers to be able to win the election’, Trump says of fired BLS commissioner
In an interview on CNBC at present, Donald Trump stated that the Bureau of Labor Statistics underneath former commissioner Erika McEntarfer – who he fired final week after she issued a jobs report that confirmed stalled progress – was answerable for issuing “phony” jobs numbers simply earlier than the 2024 presidential election.
He went on to say, with out proof, these numbers have been rigged to assist Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Trump cited the revision the BLS made two weeks after the election which was a notable change from the unique report. CNBC host Joe Kernen tried to truth examine the president by highlighting these have been benchmark figures which can be a part of the BLS’ annual course of.
“These numbers have been rigged, Biden was doing poorly,” Trump stated.
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Up to date at 09.58 EDT
Bondi launches grand jury investigation into Obama administration dealing with of 2016 Russian election interference
Legal professional normal Pam Bondi has ordered justice division officers to launch a probe into how Obama-era officers dealt with Russian interference within the 2016 election.
Reuters studies that the DOJ will examine allegations that the Obama administration manufactured intelligence on Russia’s interference, in response to a supply conversant in the matter.
Final month, director of nationwide intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated that she had obtained “overwhelming proof” that demonstrates Obama and his nationwide safety officers “manufactured and politicized intelligence to put the groundwork for what was primarily a years-long coup in opposition to President Trump.” She declassified quite a few paperwork as proof of what described as “treasonous conspiracy” from the Obama administration to undermine Donald Trump’s 2016 victory.
After Gabbard’s doc launch, the justice division fashioned a taskforce in July to research the allegations additional. Democrats, in response, have criticised Gabbard’s makes an attempt to re-litigate a 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence evaluate that did discover proof that Russia engaged in an “aggressive” effort to affect the end result of the 2016 election.
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