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Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, was accused of sexual assault. Trump himself has faced various sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied, though he was found liable last year for sexual abuse in a civil trial over an alleged incident in the 1990s that he also denies. Now, after having won the presidency again, he’s spending early political capital to confirm appointees who have faced sexual misconduct allegations of their own. The allegations against Trump’s picksGaetz’s years of controversies have been thrust back into the spotlight now that he’s up for a Cabinet post. “It’s a very scary time for young men in America when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of,” Trump told reporters.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Gaetz, Hegseth, Kennedy, “, Trump, ”, Marc Short, Mike Pence’s, we’ve, Trump’s, hasn’t, Tim Parlatore, Bill Clinton’s, George H.W, Barack Obama’s, haven’t, Andy Puzder, Puzder, Patrick Shanahan, Shanahan, Ronny Jackson, Jackson, Brett Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh, ” Trump, reconsidering, JD Vance, Karoline Leavitt, Vance, MAGA, ” Leavitt Organizations: NBC News, NBC, “, Justice Department, Trump, Committee, Washington Post, Republican, You’re, Politico, Pentagon, White House, Department of Veterans Affairs, Supreme, Capitol, White Locations: groping, Florida, America, Hegseth, Washington

☆ Vance debuts new role as Trump’s point person on Capitol Hill
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Alayna Treene | Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Congressional Republicans acknowledge that Vance hasn’t necessarily developed longstanding relationships on Capitol Hill during his abbreviated time in Washington. His coattails turned a 49-51 senate to a 53-47 senate,” Vance wrote on X on Wednesday. The three developed a bond that predates the campaign and has carried into the early days of Trump’s transition. But when you look at the effectiveness of JD in the campaign, there’s no better surrogate for President Trump’s agenda,” the adviser said. “In JD’s view, his role of VP is to take on any issue that President Trump would like him to take on,” the person close to Vance told CNN.

Persons: JD Vance, Donald Trump’s, Vance, Matt Gaetz, he’ll, Pete Hegseth, Vance hasn’t, ”, North Dakota Sen, Kevin Cramer, Trump, “, Donald Trump, ” Cramer, ” Vance, “ Donald J, coattails, Joe Biden’s, Grace Chong, Steve Bannon’s, Chong, ” Trump, Tom Homan, ’, Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr, —, Trump’s MAGA, Kamala Harris ’, JD, James Braid, “ Vance, you’ll, ” CNN’s Ted Barrett Organizations: CNN, Capitol, Trump’s Cabinet, Florida Rep, Fox News, Department of Defense, Senate, White, GOP, Cabinet, Trump, FBI, Republican, Democratic, Mar, Elon, JD, Central America —, “, White House Locations: Ohio, Washington, North Dakota, Central, Trump

☆ Elon Musk says he's had little to do with Trump's cabinet picks — he just likes 'spending time' with the man
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

But the Tesla and SpaceX CEO said he's had little input on Trump's Cabinet picks. Elon Musk says he's had little input on President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks. He was a major contributor to Trump's campaign, spending just under $119 million on his pro-Trump political action committee, America PAC. Musk, according to multiple media reports, has joined Trump's calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Lutnick, Musk wrote in an X post on November 16, "will actually enact change," compared to another candidate, hedge fund CEO Scott Bessent.

Persons: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, he's, Musk, Donald Trump's, Haven't, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, cott, ott Organizations: SpaceX, Cabinet, New York Post, Trump's, UFC, Trump, Madison Locations: Lago, Palm Beach , Florida, usk

A group of more than a dozen Republican lawmakers is urging a collegiate athletic conference to ban transgender women from competition after reports of a trans student competing on the s women’s volleyball team of a participating university. “Under these guidelines, it is only fair that biological males play men’s sports and biological females play women’s sports.”“Clearly, the Mountain West Conference has dropped the ball,” it continues. In September, SJSU volleyball player Brooke Slusser joined a lawsuit filed by more than a dozen women athletes against the NCAA, which oversees collegiate athletics, about trans athletes’ participation in school sports. The lawsuit argues that the NCAA violated the Title IX rights of cisgender female athletes by allowing transgender women to compete against them. Just last week, Slusser and 10 other former and current athletes in the Mountain West Conference filed a separate lawsuit against the conference and three SJSU staffers, accusing them of violating players’ Title IX rights.

Persons: Utah’s Sen, Mitt Romney, Sen, Mike Lee, John Curtis, Blake Moore, Burgess Owens, Celeste Maloy, Idaho’s Sen, Mike Crapo, James Risch, Russ Fulcher, Mike Simpson, Wyoming’s Sen, John Barrasso, Cynthia Lummis, Harriet Hageman, SJSU, Brooke Slusser, Lia Thomas, University of Nevada and Southern Utah University —, Michelle Smith McDonald, ” Organizations: Republican, Mountain West Conference, NCAA Division, Rep, San, NBC, NCAA, University of Pennsylvania, — Utah State University, University of Wyoming, Boise State University, University of Nevada and Southern Utah University Locations: San José State

The House Ethics Committee weighs releasing their report on Matt Gaetz. And Susan Smith, who made headlines for killing her sons 30 years ago, is up for parole. The Ethics Committee has jurisdiction only over sitting members of Congress, Johnson argues. But there is precedent for the Ethics Committee to publish reports after a member of Congress has resigned. Susan Smith up for parole 30 years after killing her sonsSusan Smith leaves court after a hearing in Union, S.C., in 1995.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Susan Smith, Donald Trump, Gaetz, Susan Wild, Joel Leppard, Mike Johnson, Trump, Johnson, Read, Mike Cavanaugh, ”, Vladimir Putin, Brooks Kraft, Smith’s, Michael, Alex, Smith, Rafael Nadal, Jay Leno, Barbara Gauntt, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Lumumba, — Bracey Harris Organizations: Comcast, Justice Department, Republicans, Democrats, Gaetz, MSNBC, Syfy, Golf, CNBC, Oxygen, NBC News, NBC, Bravo, United, Brooks, Brooks Kraft LLC, Getty, South, Davis, Mississippi State Capitol, Clarion, Ledger, Residents Locations: Florida, USA, U.S, Kyiv, United States, Ukrainian, Russian, Ukraine, Union, South Carolina, Northern California, Pacific, California, Jackson

WASHINGTON — Members of the House Ethics Committee will meet behind closed doors Wednesday afternoon to discuss whether to publicly release a report detailing their sweeping investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general. Several Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have said they want to review the House report before a Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for Gaetz next year. She argued that there is precedent for the Ethics Committee to publish reports after members of Congress have resigned. If the committee declines to make the Gaetz report public, any House member can try to force a vote to release it. In September 1996, House Democrats tried to force the Ethics Committee to release a report from an outside counsel about its investigation of then-Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s, Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Trump, “ I’ve, ” Johnson, “ Matt Gaetz, —, Michael Guest, Susan Wild, Joel Leppard, Leppard, ”, JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, Bill Boner, Boner, Boner’s, Buz Lukens, Newt Gingrich Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republicans, Democrats, Justice Department, NBC News, Trump, Capitol, Cabinet, Senate, Congress, “, Committee Locations: Florida, Nashville, Ohio

☆ Absences by Trump’s Senate pals help Democrats confirm Biden judges
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Trump earlier this month had urged Senate Republicans not to allow any judicial confirmations in the final weeks of the Biden administration while the upper chamber was under Democratic control. Since then, other judicial nominees have been able to clear pivotal votes because not enough Republicans were present to block them. Two of the missing Republicans, Sens. Several of the missing Republicans – which also included Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state – were back in the chamber Wednesday. Even if no other Biden-appointed judge is confirmed, Trump will start his second term with a number of openings that is fewer than half of that previous number.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump’s, Trump, JD Vance, Embry Kidd, Sen, Joe Manchin, Vance, Bill Hagerty of, –, Democratic Sen, John Fetterman, Biden, Carrie Severino –, ” Vance, Grace Chong, Steve Bannon’s, Christopher Wray, Fetterman, Sarah Russell, Kamala Harris, Hagerty, Ted Cruz, Hagerty’s, Republicans –, Marco Rubio, Trump’s, Mike Braun, Cruz, Rebecca Pennell, Amir Ali, doesn’t, Ali, Kyrsten Sinema, Montana GOP Sen, Steve Daines, Embry, Aileen Cannon, Jack Smith’s, Barack Obama’s, Alyana Treene, Kristen Holmes, Betsy Klein, Devan Cole Organizations: CNN, GOP, Conservative, Republicans, Ohio Republican, Circuit, Mar, Democratic, Trump, Crisis Network, FBI, House, Republican, Sens, SpaceX, Indiana, US, Court, of, Montana GOP, Senate Locations: Ohio, Trump’s Florida, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Hawaii, Ted Cruz of Texas, Texas, Eastern, of Washington, Montana

Leppard said his clients only spoke to the Ethics Committee after receiving a subpoena and would only testify in public "with a valid legal subpoena that requires them to speak." But he said he would prefer to get that information either through the House Ethics Committee report or from the Justice Department. But, he added, that getting a copy of the House Ethics Committee report would be “the right starting point, politically balanced and complete. Wild and other Democrats on the House Ethics Committee want the report released to the public — or at least sent to Senate Judiciary members for their review. “I have not dictated anything to the Ethics Committee.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Joel Leppard, Leppard, Donald Trump, rouser, haven’t, Trump, Mckenzie Lange, Dick Durbin, he’s, ” Durbin, Michael Guest, Susan Wild, Mike Johnson, “, I’ve, ” Johnson, “ I’m, ” Leppard, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, victimize, ” “, ” Blumenthal, JD Vance, Kevin Cramer, Cramer Organizations: NBC News, USA Today Network Senate, Justice Department, NBC, Trump, Judiciary, Committee, Senate Locations: Orlando, America, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut

Trump has been “heavily working the phones” to Republican senators for their support on behalf of Gaetz, according to a transition official. Trump announced Gaetz as his pick nearly a week ago. The official said Trump’s transition knows Gaetz is the toughest confirmation they will have to fight for by far. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND, said he had received a phone call from Trump personally urging him to support Gaetz. This year, Trump announced his first pick to be White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles just two days after election day.

Persons: Donald Trump, Justice Department — Matt Gaetz —, Trump, JD Vance, Chris Wray's, Vance, Biden, Pete Hegseth, Gaetz, “ Trump, Sen, John Thune, Kevin Cramer, ” Cramer, Ron Klain, Susie Wiles, Ben Carson, Carson, Elon Musk, Musk, Howard Lutnick Organizations: Justice Department, FBI, Trump, State , Defense, Homeland Security, Commerce, National Intelligence and National Security, White, Urban, Treasury Department, ‘ Department, Government Locations: Mar

Fresh from a devastating loss to Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris may now head to Capitol Hill to defy him in what could be her last major act in office. As the president of the Senate, Harris wields the constitutional power to provide a tie-breaking vote. “We are going to use the lame duck to confirm judges. GOP senators can slow the process down, but Democrats need a simple majority to overcome any obstruction and confirm judges. The senior administration official declined to discuss whether Biden has talked to Harris or Schumer about lame-duck confirmations.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Trump, Harris, —, Chuck Schumer, Biden, ”, “, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Warren, Schumer, ” Schumer, irking Trump, ” Trump, ” Sen, Mazie Hirono, they’re, That’s, “ I’m, “ Hope she’s Organizations: Capitol, House, Senate, D.C, Biden, NBC News, Radical, Republican Senators, Trump, Republicans, Democrats, Appeals, White, Democratic, Dems Locations: Hawaii, California

☆ Trump escalates test of strength over Gaetz pick
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Video Ad Feedback Lawyer describes client's testimony in House Ethics Committee investigation of Gaetz 03:04 - Source: CNNThe Ethics Committee report has quickly become the first big crisis of the nascent second Trump administration. A small handful of Republican senators would be needed to defect in order to block Gaetz’s nomination when the party controls the Senate majority next year. GOP senators could pay a price for a prolonged confirmation fightIf Trump sticks with his pick, Republican senators feeling the MAGA movement’s pressure could be forced to defend Gaetz for weeks. Maine Sen. Susan Collins told CNN’s Raju that it would be “helpful” to see the House Ethics report. “Whether we get the ethics report or not, the facts are going to come out one way or the other,” Cornyn said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Joel Leppard, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Trump, Dakota Sen, Kevin Cramer, ” Cramer, CNN’s Manu Raju, MAGA, Cramer, Pete Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Florida Republican –, Capitol Hill, it’s, Washington Trump, Bill Clinton, Zoë Baird, Kimba Wood, Maine Sen, Susan Collins, CNN’s Raju, Texas Sen, John Cornyn, ” Cornyn, “, Johnson, Susan Wild of, won’t, —, ” CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Axios, Kennedy, Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, It’s Organizations: CNN, Florida Republican, Justice Department, Trump, Gaetz, Fox News, Human Services Department, GOP, Capitol, FBI, Democrat, —, National Intelligence, Senate, Republican, North Dakota Republican Locations: Dakota, Washington, Texas, Susan Wild of Pennsylvania

And Gaetz himself has been making calls to GOP senators and visiting his own loyalists in the House GOP. The pressure is all building ahead of a planned Wednesday meeting of the House ethics panel, which is expected to discuss the fate of the report. But privately, Republicans on the panel are signaling that they could bury the report as Gaetz and Trump are making direct appeals. In a call last week to GOP Sen. Josh Hawley, Gaetz urged him “to give him a shot,” Hawley told CNN. Meanwhile, nearly 100 House Democrats are calling on the House Ethics Committee to “immediately” release the report.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, J.D, Vance, Donald Trump’s, Gaetz, GOP Sen, Chuck Grassley, we’ve, ” Grassley, “ You’ve, …, Sen, John Kennedy, Pete Hegseth, Elise Stefanik, Doug Collins, Trump, Lindsey Graham, Judiciary —, Josh Hawley, “, ” Hawley, Hawley, Mike Simpson, ” Simpson, ”, Simpson, Kevin McCarthy, “ Matt, Rogers, Gaetz wouldn’t, Tim Burchett, he’s, Glenn Ivey, Ivey Organizations: CNN, GOP, Capitol Hill, Republican, Trump, Louisiana Republican, Fox News, Department of Defense, United Nations, Veterans Affairs, Judiciary, House, Caucus, Missouri Republican, Republicans, Armed, Democrats, Capitol, Florida congressman, ” Democratic, Maryland Locations: Trump, Louisiana, United, Gaetz, Florida

☆ Trump urges Senate GOP to block Biden's last judicial nominees
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday pushed his fellow Republicans in the Senate to stop Democrats from confirming any more of President Joe Biden's judicial nominees. The Senate has confirmed 216 of Biden's nominees to the federal judiciary. Biden has put forward 261 total judicial nominees, the White House said in a Nov. 8 press release announcing his 56th round of hopefuls. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told ABC News he would continue to bog down the nomination process. "I was on the Senate floor until almost midnight last night voting to confirm President Biden's judicial nominees," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., wrote on X.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Trump, Judge Embry Kidd, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, John Thune, Sen, Thune, Patty Murray, We'll, Murray, Kamala Harris, Susan Collins of, Lisa Murkowski Organizations: America, Policy, Tuesday, Senate, Radical, Republican, U.S ., Appeals, ABC News, Democrat, ABC, Republicans, GOP Locations: Palm Beach , Florida, U.S, Susan Collins of Maine, Alaska

WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee plans to meet Wednesday to discuss its report into former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, a source familiar with the meeting confirmed on Monday. But the committee lost jurisdiction over Gaetz when he resigned from the House on Thursday and has not released any public report on its probe. On Friday, an attorney said that his client testified privately before the Ethics Committee that she personally witnessed Gaetz have sex with a minor. The House Ethics panel had been scheduled to discuss the report at its regular Friday meeting but it was postponed after Gaetz resigned. Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said senators should "absolutely" have access to the House report.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s, Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Bill Boner, Buz Lukens, ” Johnson, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Mullin, Trump's Organizations: GOP, CNN, Trump, Madison Locations: Ohio, “ State, Washington, Mar, Florida

☆ Trump doubles down on provocative Cabinet picks as their fates hang in the balance
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Not all of Trump’s picks are causing uproar. But in a conventional administration, controversies raging around at least four key Cabinet picks would be seen as a disaster. The president-elect’s son explains the planGaetz and several other Trump picks have caused consternation in some circles given the questions about their qualifications and past behavior. That’s what the American people want.”It would take a handful of Republican senators to block the most provocative Trump nominees early next year, given that Democrats are likely to vote en masse against them. If he’s qualified, he’s qualified.”Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt said he believed Trump’s nominees would get confirmed.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Hegseth, Trump’s, Intrigue, Gaetz, —, Kennedy, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Trump, he’s, ” Johnson, South Dakota Sen, John Thune, Mike Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “, ” Sen, Adam Schiff, Jim Himes, they’re, Matt Gaetz —, Robert Kennedy, Tulsi, ” Trump, Donald Trump Jr, ”, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, “ I’ve, … I’ve, Matt, ” Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Pennsylvania Sen, John Fetterman Organizations: CNN, Washington, Republican Senate, Office, Fox News, Florida Republican, of Justice, Department of Health, Human Services, Senate, Trump, South, Louisiana Republican, California Democrat, Democrat, House Intelligence, Sunday, Connecticut Democrat, CBS, Republican, Fox Business, Oklahoma Republican, Press, ” Locations: Gaetz, — Russia, Washington, Florida, South Dakota, “ State, Louisiana, United States, California, Connecticut, ” Missouri, Alabama, Pennsylvania

☆ Trump's Treasury Secretary: The best commentary about who the president-elect should nominate
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

After announcing a swathe of names for his Cabinet, president-elect Donald Trump appears to be conducting auditions for his Treasury Secretary. AdvertisementHere's some of the best commentary we've seen about the race to be the next Treasury Secretary. Blowups somewhere are inevitable, and a Treasury secretary needs the experience to deal with the fallout in a way that reassures markets. There could now be a contest for Treasury Secretary where … the no1 job is reassuring the markets. In return he might be rewarded with the job of treasury secretary.

Persons: Donald Trump, Scott Bessent, Howard Lutnick, Marc Rowan, Kevin Warsh, Cantor Fitzgerald, Trump, Rowan, Apollo, Jay Powell, Warsh, Powell, hasn't, Kyle Bass, Mike Allen, You've, Ian Bremmer, Marco Rubio, Mike Waltz, Biden, Mr Lutnick, Mr Trump, … Mr Lutnick, …, Mr Lutnick's, John Thune, Jeff Stein Organizations: Key Square Capital Management, Apollo Global Management, Federal Reserve, New York Times, The Times, Times, Hayman Capital Management, X, Trump's, Treasury, CNBC, Trump, Fed, White, National Economic Council, Eurasia Group, Bloomberg, The, The Washington Post Locations: X U.S, Eurasia, Washington, United States, The Washington

☆ House Ethics panel to meet on Trump attorney general pick Matt Gaetz report Wednesday
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

The House Ethics Committee will meet Wednesday to discuss its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who has been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to be the next attorney general, NBC News reported Monday. Several key Republican senators want the report on Gaetz released to the Senate for their consideration on whether to confirm him for the AG post, if and when Trump formally nominates him. The Ethics Committee had been investigating Gaetz for alleged sexual misconduct and potential illegal drug use, and other actions. The panel had been scheduled to meet last Friday on the report but postponed that session. Gaetz, who represented a Florida congressional district, resigned abruptly from the House last week after Trump said he would nominate him for AG.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump, Gaetz, Trump Organizations: NBC News, Senate, Trump, AG Locations: Florida

☆ Meet the Press – November 17, 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +58 min

And by the way, I do believe that President Trump has the ability to pick some really, really good people. We've seen what they've done to President Trump, we've seen the attacks that they continue to go after him with. That's - that’s being taken completely out of context. And President Trump hasn't been the one that weaponized the DOJ to go after his political enemies. I think that's a pretty controversial pick, from whatever pronoun that he or he - he or she decides to use.

Persons: KRISTEN WELKER, Donald Trump’s, SEN, LISA MURKOWSKI, SUSAN COLLINS, KEVIN CRAMER, JOHN BOLTON, Trump’s, Trump, MIKE JOHNSON, JOHN, CHUCK SCHUMER, DONALD TRUMP, Hakeem Jeffries, Markwayne Mullin, Amna Nawaz, Eugene Daniels, Jen Psaki, Lanhee Chen, it’s, Kristen Welker, Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, who's, we're, Mike Johnson, Johnson, MATT GAETZ, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, he's, ROBERT F KENNEDY JR, I'm, I've, LEX FRIDMAN, Trump's, Pete Hegseth, Hegseth, ” Hegseth, SHAWN RYAN, PETE HEGSETH, Mullin, Press . SEN, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, Kristen, you've, Kristi Noem, Matt Gaetz's, they're, Matt, Here's, We've, we've, Biden, Hunter Biden, didn't, Trump hasn't, Garland, Pete, Bobby Kennedy, Bobby, Rachel, Sam, There's, Pete Buttigieg, Let's, Kristen –, there's, let's, Chuck Schumer, Obama, Canning, we'll, He's, Jeffries, HAKEEM JEFFRIES, Roe, Wade, Pelosi's, Pelosi, It's, Nancy Pelosi, Jim Clyburn, Steny Hoyer, That's, should've, Kamala Harris, it's, Matt Gaetz –, Tulsi Gabbard, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Assad, She's, Dick Durbin, Donald Trump's, Politico “ Playbook, AMNA NAWAZ, Jim Mattis, Rex Tillerson, John Kelly, Eugene, EUGENE DANIELS, –, Susan Collins, hasn't, LANHEE CHEN, aren't, Doug Burgum, Marco Rubio, Elise Stefanik, Jen, JEN PSAKI, – AMNA NAWAZ, that's, Thune, Biden's, George W, Bush, Joe Biden, JOE BIDEN, – I’ve, —, – JEN PSAKI, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, We're, We'll Organizations: GOP, Democratic, Oklahoma, PBS, White House Press, Hoover Institution, Press, NBC, Department of Justice, Mar, FBI, CDC, ATF, DOJ, NBC News, Republicans, of Health, Human Services, Defense, Fox News, Police, Republican, Pentagon, Press ., Trump, Senate, Biden, White, Justice Department, America, Senate Armed Services Committee, The Washington, HHS, of Energy, Department of Transportation, RFK Jr, ’, House Democratic, Democracy, REP, House Democrats, Social, Medicare, Democrats, Committee, of, Politico, Stanford University, Trump’s, Gaetz, Department of Defense, Office, Mr, Republican Party, Democratic Party Locations: Washington, America, Florida, Monterey , California, States, Oklahoma, Russia, United States, Afghanistan, Iraq, New York, American, Syria, Russian, Will, California, –, Trump

While Gaetz’s ability to be confirmed appears on the rocks among Senate Republicans, President-elect Donald Trump’s team remains confident he will eventually be confirmed, even if it’s after an ugly battle. Gaetz and Trump attorney Todd Blanche are moving full speed ahead on trying to fill out the Justice Department, according to sources familiar with the planning. In his few terms in the House, Gaetz has often been embroiled in controversy. The attorney, John Clune, also called for the release of a House Ethics Committee report detailing the committee’s investigation into Gaetz, which has been ongoing for several years. Since the Truth Social post, Trump has not asked for any specific Cabinet pick, including Gaetz, to be confirmed via recess appointment.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Trump, ”, JD Vance, Gaetz, Matt, ’, Mike Johnson, John Clune, ” Sen, Lindsey Graham, Johnson, “, John Cornyn, Sen, Kevin Cramer, Michael Guest, ” Cramer, Gaetz —, Democratic Sen, Richard Blumenthal, we’re, Tom Williams, Vance, Cramer Organizations: Republicans, Department of Justice, NBC, Trump, Justice Department, NBC News, Trump —, Capitol, House, ”, Democratic, …, Washington , D.C, Inc, Getty, Pennsylvania’s Senate, GOP, Truth Social Locations: America, Texas, Orlando, Washington ,, Pennsylvania’s

A woman told the House Ethics Committee that she saw Matt Gaetz, who is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for the U.S. attorney general, have sex with a minor, her lawyer said Friday. “My client testified to the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Rep. Gaetz having sex with a minor at a house party in Orlando in 2017,” Joel Leppard said. Then-Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on Capitol Hill, on April 30. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images fileLeppard said the woman he represents testified before the House Ethics Committee in April. A House Ethics Committee investigation was launched in April 2021.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s, “, ” Joel Leppard, Chip Somodevilla, Leppard, ” Leppard, “ Merrick, Garland, Gaetz, reauthorized, Mike Johnson, Trump Organizations: U.S, Republican U.S, Wednesday, Trump, Capitol, NBC News, ABC News, Florida Panhandle, Department of Justice, Republican, Republican Senate Locations: Orlando, Florida’s, Florida

☆ Matt Gaetz, Master of Insults, Now Needs Support From Senators He Bashed
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Maya C. Miller | More About Maya C. Miller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Gaetz, the former congressman from Florida who resigned this week, is best known for leading the effort to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, whom he still frequently taunts. He has also turned his megaphone on Republican senators who are now in charge of the effort to vet and confirm him. Given the G.O.P.’s slim Senate majority, Mr. Gaetz can afford to lose the support of only three Republicans (assuming all Democrats vote against him) if he wants to be confirmed. So far, at least five have indicated they are skeptical that Mr. Gaetz could win confirmation. They include Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald J, Trump, Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins of, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Kevin Cramer of North, Thom Tillis Organizations: Republicans Locations: Florida, Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, North Carolina

Trump wants Gaetz confirmed “100%,” a source told CNN. He also believes Gaetz is uniquely positioned to defend the Trump administration on television, an attribute prioritized by the president-elect. Trump’s pick for deputy attorney general — his defense attorney Todd Blanche — will carry out the day-to-day work of overseeing the Justice Department’s more than 40 agencies and 115,000 employees. In recent days, Gaetz has been reaching out directly to Republican senators, according to a source familiar with the efforts. The Democratic-controlled Judiciary Committee formally requested the House Ethics Committee report already, but Democrats will lose control of the committee in January.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Gaetz, ” Trump, Trump’s, Todd Blanche —, Justice Department’s, ” Gaetz, “, ”, Sean Spicer, Gaetz’s, Pete Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Tulsi Gabbard, Kennedy, Sen, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins of Maine, Joni Ernst, “ He’s, North Dakota Sen, Kevin Cramer, Kevin McCarthy, Oklahoma Sen, Markwayne Mullin, CNN’s Manu Raju, ” Mullin, Mullin, Mike Johnson, Mike Rounds, John Cornyn of, ” Rounds, Chuck Grassley, Grassley, John Thune, Thune Organizations: CNN, Department, Senate, Justice Department, Trump, Justice, Fox News, Hawaii Rep, Republican Senate, Republicans, Republican, North Dakota, Democratic, GOP Locations: Florida, Alaska, Iowa, Oklahoma, John Cornyn of Texas

☆ Inside the conservative hunt for partisans in the federal government before Trump takes over
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The requests were like thousands of others sent in the past two years by Trump-allied groups seeking to identify perceived partisans within the federal government. Dominic Gwinn/AFP/Getty Images/FileHowell estimates his group has submitted around 65,000 requests to federal agencies under the Freedom of Information Act, a law that governs public access to records produced by the government. Timothy D. Easley/AP/FileTrump as a candidate vowed to reinstate a 2020 executive order known as Schedule F, which gave him power to commence mass firings of federal employees who could be impediments to his agenda. America First Policy Institute also has close ties to Trump’s transition. However, it so far has not published a list of federal employees for the Trump administration to target, though Howell did not rule it out.

Persons: CNN —, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Trump, “, ”, Mike Howell, “ We’ve, Dominic Gwinn, Howell, Tom Jones, Jones, ” Jones, Timothy D, Linda McMahon, McMahon, “ Trump, ” Everett Kelley, “ It’s, ” Howell, Rene Marsh Organizations: CNN, Department of Transportation, Trump, White, Heritage Foundation, National Conservative Conference, Getty, Policy Institute, American, Foundation, Department of Homeland Security, Democratic, Capitol Hill, Policy, Easley, America, Small Business Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, The Department of Transportation, EPA, American Federation of Government Employees Locations: Washington ,, AFP, Bardstown , Kentucky

☆ The House GOP is more aligned with Trump than ever: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

In today’s edition, national political reporter Ben Kamisar examines how House Republicans are growing increasingly aligned with Donald Trump. Plus, "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker looks back at how Trump's Cabinet announcements from right yers ago compare to now. The House GOP is more aligned with Trump than everBy Ben KamisarPresident-elect Donald Trump and the GOP believe Americans delivered them a mandate last week when they handed the party unified control of Washington. Newly elected Senate GOP leader John Thune certainly isn’t a Trump antagonist, but he’s a descendent of the institutional Republican Party. It’s a dynamic worth keeping tabs on, especially as Senate Republicans begin the process of vetting Trump’s Cabinet picks.

Persons: Ben Kamisar, Donald Trump, Kristen Welker, Trump, ” Rep, Troy Nehls, Kyle Stewart, “, John Thune, Trump’s, Sen, John Barrasso, Donald Trump’s, ”, — Trump, Marco Rubio, Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Doug Burgum, Tulsi Gabbard, James Mattis, John Kelly, Jeff Sessions, —, Steve Bannon, Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Todd Blanche, Doug Collins, 🗞️, Jo Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Republicans, GOP, Trump, NBC News, ”, Senate, Republican Party, Press, State Department, Justice Department, Defense Department, Department of Health, Human Services, Interior Department, Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, RFK Jr, Department, Former Trump, Republican, Health, Elon, Department of Veterans Affairs, Sena Locations: Washington, Texas, Pennsylvania, Gaetz, California, Iraq

☆ From 'brilliant' to 'dangerous': Mixed reactions roll in after Trump picks RFK Jr. for top health post
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Frank-Thorp-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Frank Thorp V | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Thune ducked a question about whether he would support Kennedy's confirmation, saying that the process "is just getting started" and adding that there would be "a vetting process." Cassidy is currently the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee and is considered a contender for chairing the committee in the next Congress. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said in a post to X that Kennedy was “Dangerous. I will hold any HHS Secretary to the same high standard of protecting and improving public health," Polis added in the later post. A majority of senators must vote in support of a nominee in order for the position to be confirmed.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Donald Trump, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, Sen, John Thune, Thune, it’s, Bill Cassidy, Cassidy, Wisconsin Sen, Ron Johnson, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Missouri Sen, Josh Hawley, Ron Wyden, Ed Markey, Chris Van Hollen, Patty Murray, Murray, Jared Polis, Polis Organizations: Department of Health, Human Services, Republican, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, Wisconsin, Big Pharma, RFK, NBC News, Colorado Gov, HHS, FDA, NBC, Republicans, Senate Locations: WASHINGTON, Alabama, Missouri

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