DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ The next country to land humans on the moon in the next 10 years 'sets a precedent' for who decides the rules there: US officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Their worries were largely directed at efforts by China to forge its own space dominance and land astronauts on the moon in the next decade. "I don't think Artemis 3, the landing mission, is at all realistically scheduled." "I think that China has a very aggressive plan," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said on January 9. Its lead-up to the lunar base involves crewed flights to the moon via its Chang'e missions, which China opened to international collaboration in October 2023.

Persons: —, Frank Lucas, Artemis, Lucas, Neil Armstrong, it's, James Free, Mike Griffin, Griffin, Rich McCormick, Bill Posey, Zoe Lofgren, Bill Nelson, Jing Haipeng, Nelson Organizations: Service, Wednesday, National American Space Agency, Business, Chinese Communist Party, Technology, NASA, Artemis, China, Congressional, GOP, Republican, Democratic, Associated Press Locations: China, Oklahoma, United States, Georgia, Florida, Zoe Lofgren of California, Beijing

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Democratic lawmaker moved Tuesday to force a vote this week on expelling Rep. George Santos from the House, calling it a necessary step if Republicans fail to take action in light of the recent ethics report that found Santos blatantly stole from his campaign and deceived donors. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., brought back to the floor legislation he first introduced in February to force the expulsion vote. “Whatever it takes to get that vote this week, is what we're doing,” Garcia said. Expelling Santos, a Republican from New York, would require support from at least two-thirds of House members voting. Santos has rejected any suggestion he step down before an expulsion vote.

Persons: George Santos, Santos, Robert Garcia, Garcia, ” Garcia, ” Santos, Kevin McCarthy, Zoe Lofgren, “, ” Lofgren, Santos “, Rep, Michael Guest, Guest, Mike Johnson Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Democratic, Republican, New York Republicans Locations: New York, Florida

The bill follows more than a decade of debate over post-Sept. 11, 2001, surveillance powers that allow domestic law enforcement to warrantlessly scan the vast mountains of data gathered by America's foreign surveillance apparatus. Reforms in the proposed legislation include putting limits on searches of Americans' communications without judicial authorization and a prohibition of so-called "backdoor" searches which invoke foreign intelligence justifications to spy on Americans. "We're introducing a bill that protects both Americans' security and Americans' liberty," Senator Ron Wyden - a Democrat and a longtime critic of government surveillance - said at a press conference on Tuesday. The reforms introduced Tuesday reflect discomfort over the practice of warrantless scans, which are authorized under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Reporting by Raphael Satter; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ron Wyden, Amanda Andrade Rhoades, it's, Mike Lee, Representative Warren Davidson, Zoe Lofgren, Raphael Satter, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democrat, FBI, Foreign Intelligence, National Intelligence, Republican, Republican U.S, Representative, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Washington , U.S

☆ Republicans defend Trump by attacking criminal-justice system
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Critics warn that the present partisan rhetoric could shake public trust in courts by undermining the institutional legitimacy of the criminal justice system. "Undercutting the system of government is a serious matter and a threat to our future," she said in an interview. Bragg, a Democrat, on Friday warned Republican Representatives Jim Jordan, James Comer and Bryan Steil, who are leading the probe, against attacking the criminal justice system. Historians including Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer said Republican statements about Bragg and the criminal justice system follow a long-established partisan line. Nicole Hemmer, director of the Rogers Center for the American Presidency at Vanderbilt University, warned that Republican attacks on the U.S. criminal justice system could ultimately have dire consequences for courts and juries.

☆ House Democrats have already found something to love about Kevin McCarthy's Republican-led House
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The House just used an open process for amending legislation for the first time in 7 years. But in interviews with Insider this week, Democrats also expressed skepticism that the use of open rules would be more than a one-time thing; the open rules that the chamber utilized last week were provided for as part of the House GOP's rules package. "We'll see how long this lasts," said Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California, a long-time ally of Pelosi. Spanberger herself had fun with open amendments, submitting one that would exclude drilling from areas offshore because the GOP majority was "looking to destroy Virginia's beautiful coastline." said Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, who said he generally favors an open process.

☆ C-SPAN gave us ‘America’s Hottest TV Drama’ as McCarthy struggled to become House speaker. Lawmakers aren’t so sure that’s a good thing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But she's also wary of the cost that could come with giving C-SPAN cameras free reign to film lawmakers on the House floor, particularly given the lightning-rod role she's come to occupy within American politics. GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz talks to Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar in the House Chamber on January 5, 2023. Rep. Nancy Pelosi reading a New Yorker article about Kevin McCarthy on the House floor on January 4, 2023. "The original argument was, if you insert cameras, the behavior of the members changed," said Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California. But Lofgren said she was supportive of permanently allowing C-SPAN cameras into the chamber, arguing in essence that the cat's already out of the bag.

☆ Canada and the U.S. both face labor shortages. One country is increasing immigration.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Julia-Ainsley-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Julia Ainsley | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

In as little as a decade, there will be one retiree for every two workers in Canada. How outdated U.S. immigration policies push top talent to other countries,” Lofgren said, “The last major overhaul of our legal immigration system occurred in 1990. University Health Network began a program this year to bring in more internationally educated nurses and help them get the additional training they need in Canada. New immigrants to Canada and new Canadians take part in the 5th Annual Newcomer Day at Nathan Philips Square in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on May 16, 2019. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it "is committed to fairly and efficiently administering the lawful immigration system, increasing access to eligible immigration benefits, restoring faith and trust with immigrant communities and breaking down barriers in the immigration system, and the agency will continue to uphold America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve."

☆ A Florida crypto entrepreneur bragged in the middle of his January 6 testimony about his 'legs day' personal record at the gym
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Crypto advocate Samuel Armes had an eventful interview with the January 6 committee in July 2022. In the middle of being grilled about who authored the document, Armes ended up on the floor with a leg cramp and then bragged about how much weight he had just lifted. "Sorry, I'm cramping," Armes told Rep. Zoe Lofgren during the virtual interview, per the transcript released on December 23. He acknowledged in the interview with the committee that elements of his plan were used in the lengthier "1776 returns" document he was shown. "I ended up sharing it with her on a Google Drive," he told the committee, referring to Flores.

☆ Rep. Zoe Lofgren crashed Proud Boy Enrique Tarrio's January 6 deposition to ask why he called her the C-word on Telegram
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Rep. Zoe Lofgren interrupted the Proud Boys' Enrique Tarrio's Capitol-riot deposition. "I see that Ms. Lofgren has come onto video," a committee lawyer whose name is redacted is recorded as saying. "I just don't understand why that's just such a big deal," Tarrio's lawyer said, dismissing Telegram as "just kind of a really nasty Irish bar scene." Tarrio told committee members: "I took it to be, like, 'Hey, the election's coming up. The Proud Boys seditious-conspiracy trial follows the November seditious-conspiracy conviction of the Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and is expected to last about six weeks.

☆ Jan. 6 committee says a Trump-connected lawyer advised Cassidy Hutchinson to mislead the committee on what she knew, CNN reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The January 6 committee claimed a witness had been advised to alter their testimony, CNN reported. The attorney denied the allegations to Insider, saying he represented Hutchinson "honorably." Two sources told CNN that Hutchinson had relayed the incident to the Department of Justice. Sources told CNN that Trump's Save America PAC paid for Passantino to represent Hutchinson through Passantino's law firm Elections LLC. Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, the law firm that listed Passantino as a partner, told CNN it was not involved in the situation.

☆ Jan. 6 committee highlights: Panel votes on criminal referrals for Trump and others
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Rebecca Shabad | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Jonathan-Allen-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +48 min

“By the time President Trump was preparing to give his speech, he and his advisors knew enough to cancel the rally. “Some have suggested that President Trump gave an order to have 10,000 troops ready for January 6th. On far-right groups drawing inspiration from Trump: Trump has not denied that he helped inspire far-right groups, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, to violently attempt to obstruct the official certification proceedings on Jan. 6. "There is no question from all the evidence assembled that President Trump did have that intent." Share this -Link copiedInside the final Jan. 6 committee meeting The Jan. 6 committee met for what’s likely its final public meeting, with many of the usual faces present.

☆ Democrats run out the clock on a congressional stock-ban bill
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Madison Hall | Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

After months of wrangling over a congressional stock-trade ban, Pelosi is getting that wish. Some government ethics advocates had hoped that congressional stock-ban legislation would be packaged with the 2023 omnibus spending bill. Meanwhile, lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties continue violating the STOCK Act while 11th-hour pleas from Democratic stock-ban advocates go unanswered by Democratic leaders. A ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks and cryptocurrencies will officially die on January 3, when the 118th Congress is seated. Any stock-ban bill introduced next year will therefore require bipartisan support across Congress' two chambers.

☆ Top government ethics officer was late disclosing his personal finances on multiple occasions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The attorney, Office of Government Ethics General Counsel David Apol, missed deadlines to report at least 12 different bond transactions since 2015. Improperly reporting purchases and sales of bonds or stocks is a violation of the 2012 Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, or STOCK Act. Officials are only required to report transactions in broad ranges. Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia has been one of the lead proponents in Congress of reforming the STOCK Act. Congress this year discussed changes to the STOCK Act and the US House even held a hearing following the publication of "Conflicted Congress."

☆ House probe of Jan. 6 pro-Trump riot is cooperating with DOJ special counsel, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The member of the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol hold their final public meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 19, 2022. The committee started sending special counsel Jack Smith documents and transcripts last week, Punchbowl News reported earlier. The DOJ has also received Meadows' text messages, along with witness transcripts related to an Eastman-backed scheme to try to appoint pro-Trump electors in key states in the 2020 election, Punchbowl reported. Spokesmen for the select committee and the DOJ did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment. Smith is also tasked with investigating potential violations related to Trump's removal of hundreds of documents from the White House, including some bearing classified markings.

☆ Jan. 6 committee live updates: Panel votes on criminal referrals for Trump and others
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Summer Concepcion | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Summer-Concepcion-Byline-Jm.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +42 min

Committee details Trump allies' efforts to obstruct its investigation In its report summary, the committee detailed some of the efforts to obstruct its investigation. On far-right groups drawing inspiration from Trump: Trump has not denied that he helped inspire far-right groups, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, to violently attempt to obstruct the official certification proceedings on Jan. 6. "There is no question from all the evidence assembled that President Trump did have that intent." Share this -Link copiedInside the final Jan. 6 committee meeting The Jan. 6 committee met for what’s likely its final public meeting, with many of the usual faces present. The committee will likely reveal Eastman’s referrals during Monday’s meeting, in addition to expected criminal referrals for Trump.

☆ Trump-allied lawyers may have told Jan. 6 probe witnesses to give 'false or misleading testimony' to the panel, Jan. 6 committee says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In one instance, a lawyer allegedly told a witness that they did not need to clarify untruthful testimony. The committee, Lofgren continued, is "concerned that these efforts may have been a strategy to prevent the committee from finding the truth. We don't want to talk about that,'" the report says the lawyer told the witness. The same lawyer also allegedly told the witness that it was not their job to clarify testimony that might not be truthful. So you saying 'I don't recall' is an entirely acceptable response to this.'"

☆ Trump allies dangled a job before a Jan. 6 committee witness that would make her 'financially very comfortable' before her testimony, committee says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The House January 6 committee uncovered evidence that Trump allies dangled a job before a witness. The witness described the offer as a job that would make her "financially very comfortable." The witness described the potential job as one that would make her "financially very comfortable," Lofgren said. The committee, Lofgren added, uncovered evidence that groups associated with the former president helped pay for lawyers for some of the witnesses that testified before Congress. The committee has promised to release its full report and supporting evidence, including transcripts from testimony, in the coming days.

☆ January 6 committee expected to recommend Donald Trump faces at least 3 criminal charges, including insurrection, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The January 6 select committee is expected to criminally refer Donald Trump to the DOJ, The Guardian reported. There could be three recommended criminal charges, including insurrection, per reports. The select committee could also pursue additional criminal referrals, The Guardian, the first to report the story, said. The nine-person select committee is expected to approve the eight-chapter report at its final public meeting on Monday and submit it to the Justice Department, per BBC News. The panel's full report includes justifications for the recommended criminal charges, according to reports.

Former House Speaker John Boehner paid a tearful tribute to Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday at the unveiling of her official portrait in the U.S. Capitol. "My girls told me tell the speaker how much we admire her," Boehner said, choking back tears as he spoke. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., greets former Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, during a portrait unveiling ceremony for Pelosi in the U.S. Capitols Statuary Hall on Dec. 14, 2022. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesPelosi, who in 2007 became the first female speaker of the House, had joked about Boehner’s penchant for tears when she spoke at his portrait ceremony in 2019. She will be succeeded by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the first Black lawmaker to lead a congressional caucus.

CNN —House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s official portrait was unveiled in a ceremony Wednesday at the US Capitol, with speeches from old allies and political sparring-mates who reminisced on her historic tenure. The painting, which depicts Pelosi standing before the speaker’s chair in the House chamber and holding a gavel, will hang in the Speaker’s Lobby just off the House floor. Leaders lead, Madame Speaker, and you Madame Speaker, have led,” he said. The announcement came just weeks after her husband, Paul, was violently attacked in the couple’s San Francisco home. Jeffries, 52, will represent a generational change from the current triumvirate of House Democratic leaders, who are three decades older than him.

☆ January 6 committee will make criminal referrals to the DOJ, chair Bennie Thompson says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The January 6 committee has decided on criminal referrals, chairman Bennie Thompson said. Thompson did not provide further details on who or how many referrals the panel plans to issue. "We have made decisions on criminal referrals," the Mississippi Democrat said. Thompson declined to provide details on who may be referred or how many referrals the committee may issue, adding that the panel still has to discuss the matter further. Four lawmakers on the nine-member committee — Republican Rep. Liz Cheney and Democratic Reps. Jamie Raskin, Adam Schiff and Zoe Lofgren — have been focused on whether to issue potential criminal referrals to the DOJ, CNN reported.

☆ The effort to ban members of Congress from trading stocks is mostly dead — at least for now
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Time has largely run out in this Congress to ban lawmakers from trading stocks. On Monday, he told Insider in a statement that he would "keep pushing to get this debated on the floor and get it passed." Democratic senators formed a working group, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's blessing, to draft legislation to ban stock trading among lawmakers. In the Senate, Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts told Insider that it was "not yet" time to declare the effort dead, pointing to ongoing discussions. "I support a stock ban for members of Congress," he told reporters in September.

☆ Trump promises to ban lawmakers from trading stocks during his 2024 announcement
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Trump endorsed a ban on members of Congress trading stocks. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle support a ban but progress has stalled during the current Congress. Trump has previously attacked the idea of lawmakers trading stocks before, but his comments on Tuesday appeared to be his most fulsome endorsement of a ban thus far. House leaders have pledged to move forward on stock-ban legislation this month, but it's not immediately clear where negotiations for passing a stock ban stand. While the issue has bipartisan support, lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol have a number of issues to deal with during the so-called "lame duck" session.

He said the spouses of some high-profile lawmakers may need security details in the future, in addition to using home security systems. Court documents allege the suspect had been in search of the House speaker and was on a "suicide mission" with additional targets. However, "there are not enough resources available to me to do that," she said on MSNBC following the attack on Paul Pelosi. “Bloodshed is coming," Swalwell tweeted at the time, foreshadowing the Pelosi attack. The Paul Pelosi attack was foreseeable," Schuman said.

☆ Video: Why Jan. 6 committee is asking Secret Service agent to testify again
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), a member of the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, says that the panel will ask former Secret Service Assistant Director Tony Ornato to testify again.

Search resuls for: "Zoe Lofgren"

25 mentions found