Rep. Gerry Connolly defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the top Democratic spot on the House Oversight Committee. Connolly secured 131 votes to Ocasio-Cortez’s 84. President-elect Trump commented on the outcome, which AOC responded to humorously. Connolly plans a more assertive approach for the committee.
The House Oversight Committee is investigating the FBI for allegedly manipulating crime statistics to downplay the severity of violent crime in the United States. The committee alleges the FBI initially reported a decrease in violent crime in 2022 but later revised those figures to show a significant increase. This has sparked concerns about political motives and the reliability of crime data.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer has accused top Democrats, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, of hypocrisy for raising questions about the legitimacy of a potential Trump win in the 2024 election. Comer argues that Democrats are undermining democracy by sowing seeds of doubt about the election process, while Democrats maintain that they are simply protecting the integrity of the election system. The debate over election integrity has intensified as the 2024 presidential election nears, with both parties accusing each other of attempting to undermine the democratic process.
The Secret Service Director has agreed to testify at a House hearing investigating the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the director, claiming the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service failed to provide assurance of her appearance. The hearing is scheduled for Monday, July 22nd, following a failed assassination attempt at a Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
The House Oversight and Accountability Committee has subpoenaed Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Rep. James Comer, the committee chair, launched an investigation into the incident after a gunman fired at Trump, killing one attendee. The hearing is scheduled for July 22, 2024, and aims to uncover details about the security breach and the Secret Service’s response.
Attorney General Merrick Garland faces possible contempt of Congress charges after House committees voted to hold him in contempt for not providing an audiotape of an interview between Special Counsel Robert Hur and President Biden. Republicans believe the recording could reveal cognitive decline in the president, while Garland maintains the transcript is accurate. If the full House votes in favor of contempt, it is uncertain whether the Justice Department would prosecute Garland. However, Republicans are considering inherent contempt, which allows Congress to discipline individuals without relying on other branches of government. This has not been used since 1934 and could lead to the arrest and detention of Garland.
A House Committee on Oversight and Responsibility report has highlighted the shortcomings of the Biden administration’s energy policies, claiming that they have led to higher gas prices, an unstable electrical grid, and confusion about new cars and appliances. The report emphasizes the administration’s aim to increase electrification while simultaneously hindering the growth potential of power producers, resulting in expensive regulatory hurdles and increased costs for consumers and businesses.
The House Oversight Committee has initiated an investigation into the effects of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs on the US military. The investigation focuses on concerns that promotions within the military are being based on race, gender, and ethnicity rather than merit. A report by the anti-DEI organization STARRS revealed that many recruits and their families are expressing dismay at DEI training in the armed forces.
President Biden’s assertion of executive privilege over audio recordings of his interviews with Special Counsel Robert Hur has sparked debate among legal experts. While the White House maintains that the move was made at the request of Attorney General Merrick Garland to protect law enforcement files, some experts believe it’s a political decision designed to hide potentially embarrassing information. The House Judiciary and Oversight Committees have subpoenaed the materials but have been met with resistance from the Justice Department, which invoked executive privilege. Despite the president’s privilege assertions, the House may still vote to hold Garland in contempt.
A heated exchange erupted during a House Oversight Committee markup on Thursday, involving Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. The incident began when Ocasio-Cortez criticized fellow Democrat Sen. John Fetterman for mocking a House markup. Fetterman later apologized, but Ocasio-Cortez responded sharply, accusing him of failing to stand up against bullying and racism. Greene then made a comment about Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s eyelashes, prompting Ocasio-Cortez to call for a point of order and denounce the remark as unacceptable.
