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☆ Austin says it’s ‘unfortunate’ that Chinese defense chief declined meeting
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON — China’s defense minister declined a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a meeting of defense leaders in Laos, a move the Pentagon chief said Wednesday was unfortunate. Multilateral gatherings of national security officials in Asia have been used in the past for meetings between U.S. and Chinese defense leaders, but China declined a meeting request by Austin during this week’s Southeast Asian Nations-Plus defense ministers meeting. It affects the region because the region really wants to see us, you know, two significant players in the region, two significant powers, talk to each other,” Austin told reporters. “I don’t think that it has any sort of implications for the future. Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed on Saturday to work with the incoming U.S. administration of Donald Trump as he held his final talks with departing President Joe Biden on conflicts from cybercrime to trade, Taiwan, the South China Sea and Russia.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Lloyd Austin, Wednesday, “, ” Austin, ” Austin added.Austin, Dong Jun, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: Pentagon, Austin, Nations Locations: Laos, Asia, China, Singapore, Taiwan, cybercrime, South, Sea, Russia

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday night to reject three efforts led by progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders that would have blocked certain offensive weapons sales to Israel. In a speech on the Senate floor ahead of the vote, Sanders argued that the resolutions "would not affect any of the systems Israel uses to defend itself from incoming attacks," focusing instead on offensive weapons. "As I have said many, many times: Israel had the absolute right to respond to that horrific Hamas attack, as any other country would. I don’t think anybody here in the United States Senate disagrees with that," he said in his floor speech. More than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive into the dense enclave since the attack, according to health officials in Gaza.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Sanders, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ed Markey, Netanyahu, Martin Heinrich, Tammy Baldwin, “, Catherine Cortez Masto, ” Sen, Jacky Rosen, ”, Joni Ernst, Bill Cassidy, Israel’s Organizations: U.S, United States, Hamas, Democrats, Biden Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.S, United States, D, Iowa

WASHINGTON — A Donald Trump supporter who was among the first rioters to breach the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, has been convicted of plotting to kill FBI special agents who investigated him over his crimes at the Capitol. NBC News affiliate WBIR in Knoxville reported that the jury convicted Kelley on all three counts after just an hour of deliberation. Kelley will be sentenced in the murder plot case on May 7, one month after he is set to be sentenced on his Capitol case, on April 7. Kelley provided a list of about 37 members of law enforcement who worked on his Jan. 6 case, prosecutors alleged. Edward Kelley was the fourth rioter to breach the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Donald Trump, Edward Kelly, FBI Edward Kelley, Kelley, Austin Carter, Carter, “, WBIR, Christopher Roddy, Edward Kelley, Court Kelley, Kelley's, messaged Organizations: U.S, Capitol, FBI, NBC, WBIR, The, Planned, Federal Bureau of, Court, U.S . Capitol Locations: United States, Knoxville , Tennessee, Knoxville, FBI Knoxville, Washington

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

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

WASHINGTON — Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said Tuesday that her effort to ban transgender women from using female bathrooms at the U.S. Capitol is a direct response to the election of Sarah McBride, who is set to be the first openly transgender person in Congress. Mace introduced a resolution Monday to prohibit any lawmakers and House employees from “using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex." She was asked by reporters Tuesday if the move was in response to McBride. Mace said she would like to see her resolution incorporated into the House Rules package for the next Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Tuesday that Republicans are trying to resolve the issue but that they will make accommodations for McBride.

Persons: Nancy Mace, Sarah McBride, Mace, McBride, she's, McBride's, Andrew Harnik, Marjorie Taylor Greene, “ doesn’t, ” Greene, she’d, Mike Johnson, we’ll, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON — Rep, U.S . Capitol, U.S, Capitol, Getty

The Cantor Fitzgerald CEO has led and been the public face of Trump’s transition. As co-chair of Trump's transition, Lutnick has been an outspoken advocate for Trump’s agenda, including explaining how he plans to use tariffs once in office. Lutnick is the CEO and chairman of financial services titan Cantor Fitzgerald. Adam Gray / Bloomberg via Getty Images fileLutnick has been at Cantor Fitzgerald since the early 1980s when he graduated from Haverford College in Pennsylvania with an economics degree. Lutnick was working at Cantor Fitzgerald when terrorists targeted New York’s World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, the firm's headquarters.

Persons: Donald Trump, Howard Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald, Lutnick, Adam Gray, Trump, Lutnick's, Elon Musk, evincing Organizations: WASHINGTON, Commerce Department, The Commerce Department, Bloomberg, Getty, Haverford College, New, Trade, Punchbowl News, Trump, Treasury, Elon, ‘ Department, Government Locations: United States, New York, Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON — The administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Deanne Criswell, is set to face questions from House lawmakers on Tuesday about the federal government's response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton that caused catastrophic damage in the Southeast. “And FEMA leadership didn’t take action against this supervisor until the press exposed this discrimination," his remarks say. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody filed a lawsuit against Criswell and Washington last week over the incident. More than 220 people died from Hurricane Helene in late September, which hit Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. At least 17 people died during Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida hard in early October.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Deanne, Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Criswell, James Comer, Comer, Ashley Moody, Donald Trump's, Trump, Biden, Hurricane Helene Organizations: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hurricanes, Transportation, House Republicans, FEMA, Trump, Fox News, House Homeland Security Committee, Criswell, Hurricane Milton Locations: Florida, Marn’i Washington, United States, Ky, Highlands County , Florida, Washington, Hurricane, Georgia , Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina

☆ Ramaswamy's 'jackhammer and chain saw' plan to force federal workers back into the office.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Laura Strickler | Laura Strickler Is A Senior Investigative Producer | Reporter For Nbc News. She Is Based In Washington. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Vacant federal office space in downtown Washington is costly to maintain and a deep source of frustration to Mayor Muriel Bowser. She told reporters last week that she had requested a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump and that top on her agenda is pushing federal workers to return to downtown Washington. All told, the U.S. has roughly 2.2 million federal workers. With fewer people in the office, the cost of excess federal office space has become a concern. In 2004, a little over 750,000 federal workers were eligible to work from home.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk's, Muriel Bowser, Donald Trump, ” Bowser, “, Ramaswamy, Tucker Carlson, ”, ” Ramaswamy, ” Jacqueline Simon, Musk’s, Kamil Krzaczynski, Simon, Joe Biden, George W, Bush Organizations: Management, American Federation of Government Employees, Bureau of Prisons, NBC, Patrol, Office, Republican, Republican National Convention, Getty, Education Department, OMB, Personnel Management Locations: Washington, ”, U.S, Milwaukee, AFP

☆ House Republican introduces measure to ban transgender women from female bathrooms in Capitol
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kyle-Stewart-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Kyle Stewart | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a resolution Monday that would ban transgender women from using female bathrooms in the Capitol just weeks before Democratic Rep.-elect Sarah McBride of Delaware is set to become the first out transgender member of Congress. McBride, who won the race for Delaware’s lone House seat this month, slammed the measure Monday. Mace said Monday that she plans to reintroduce the measure in the next Congress, when Republicans will retain control of the House. In the days following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, some Democrats blamed their party’s position on transgender rights as contributing to Vice President Kamala Harris’ defeat. Those Democratic lawmakers said the party went too far and pandered to what they called "the far left" while trying not to offend anyone.

Persons: Nancy Mace, Sarah McBride of, ”, Mace, “ Sarah McBride doesn’t, I’m, McBride, Donald Trump’s, Kamala Harris ’, Laurel Powell Organizations: WASHINGTON — Rep, Capitol, Democratic Rep, NBC News, Senate, House, Republicans, NBC, Republican Party, Democratic, Rights Locations: Sarah McBride of Delaware

The Cantor Fitzgerald CEO has led and been the public face of Trump's transition. As co-chair of Trump's transition, Lutnick has been an outspoken advocate for Trump's agenda, including explaining how he plans to use tariffs once in office. Lutnick is the CEO and chairman of financial services titan Cantor Fitzgerald. Lutnick has been at Cantor Fitzgerald since the early 1980s when he graduated from Haverford College in Pennsylvania with an economics degree. Lutnick was working at Cantor Fitzgerald when terrorists targeted New York's World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, the firm's headquarters.

Persons: Howard Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald, Donald Trump, Lutnick, Trump, Lutnick's, Elon Musk, evincing Organizations: Republican, WASHINGTON, Commerce Department, The Commerce Department, Haverford College, New, Trade, Punchbowl News, Trump, Treasury, Elon, Department of Government Locations: Madison, New York City, U.S, United States, Pennsylvania, New York

WASHINGTON — An ex-Army soldier who was previously court-martialed for shooting a handcuffed Iraqi civilian was sentenced to over four years in federal prison on Monday for assaulting officers during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Richmond was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty earlier this year to a felony count of assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer with a deadly weapon. Both the prosecution and defense agreed that Richmond's sentencing guidelines were between 51 and 63 months in federal prison. Another Jan. 6 rioter, Christopher Maurer, was sentenced to 50 months in prison on Monday after pleading guilty earlier this year to assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon. President-elect Donald Trump has described Jan. 6 defendants as "warriors," "unbelievable patriots," political prisoners and “hostages," and said he would "absolutely" pardon some, if not all, of the Jan. 6 defendants.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Edward Richmond , Jr, Richmond, sleuths, “ Buff, herder, Zade, Prosecutors, John D, Bates, Christopher Maurer, Mauer, “, Enrique Tarrio, Donald Trump, Vance Organizations: WASHINGTON — An ex, Army, U.S . Capitol, Capitol, FBI, Prosecutors, District, Boys, Trump, NBC, White Locations: WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON — An, Washington

WASHINGTON — Congress faces a Dec. 20 deadline to fund the government and avert a shutdown, and Speaker Mike Johnson says House Republicans will probably push the fight into early 2025 rather than reach a full-year funding deal this year. And then then we should be actually working on the next year’s appropriations.”But even if they push the fight to early 2025, Republicans won’t have full control over spending decisions. Government funding legislation is subject to the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, which top Republicans have promised to preserve. That means they’ll have to reach a deal with Democrats, who currently control the Senate and want to pass full-year funding this year, not in 2025. “The bottom line is we’ve got to control spending and not allow there to be a runaway spending bill in December,” he said.

Persons: Mike Johnson, “, We’re, ” Johnson, Donald Trump’s, you’d, Donald J, Trump, Robert Aderholt, there’s, it’ll, ” Aderholt, Trump’s, ” Sen, John Boozman, ” Boozman, Republicans won’t, Patty Murray, Susan Collins, We’ve, I’ve, ”, Pete Aguilar, “ Mike Johnson, Chip Roy, Boozman Organizations: WASHINGTON, “ Fox, Democrats, ”, Committee, Republicans, NBC, GOP, CRs Locations: WASHINGTON —, Maine, Texas

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

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump announced Sunday that he has selected Brendan Carr to be chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Carr is the top Republican commissioner on the FCC, the government agency tasked with regulating radio, television and cable communications. "Commissioner Carr is a warrior for Free Speech, and has fought against the regulatory Lawfare that has stifled Americans’ Freedoms, and held back our Economy," Trump said in a. In his chapter, Carr suggested TikTok should be banned if it fails to disentangle from its China-based parent company — an issue on which Trump held conflicting views before he joined the app himself this year. "Congress should do so by ensuring that Internet companies no longer have carte blanche to censor protected speech while maintaining their Section 230 protections," Carr wrote in Project 2025's book.

Persons: Donald Trump, Brendan Carr, Carr, Trump, TikTok Organizations: WASHINGTON, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Freedoms, Innovators, Communications Locations: America, Big Tech, China

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s consistent campaign pledge to impose sweeping tariffs on products imported into the U.S. is likely to face stiff challenges in court and potentially pushback from Congress. There are potential legal limits to Trump’s authority, even though he has said he would unilaterally impose the increases. But a broad array of tariffs on allies “could cross the line,” especially as the Supreme Court has taken a generally pro-business stance in recent years, he added. During the Biden administration, the Supreme Court embraced a theory called the “major questions doctrine.” Biden’s ambitious plan to wipe out billions of dollars in student debt was one of the proposals the Supreme Court faulted. The Supreme Court declined to take up the issue.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, he’s, Joe Biden, ”, Alan Morrison, “, ” Morrison, ‘, ” Trump, Ed Brzytwa, Brzytwa, Sen, Rand Paul, Rick Scott, ” Scott, Petros Mavroidis, ’, Jennifer Hillman, Hillman, Biden, Matt Priest, “ We’ll, ” Priest Organizations: WASHINGTON, China . Industry, George Washington University Law School, Chicago Economic Club, National Bureau of Economic Research, Federal Reserve Board, Consumer Technology Association, “ Consumers, CTA, Fox News, Sunday, Republicans, Columbia Law School, Georgetown Law Center, of International Trade, Trump, Appeals, Federal Circuit, Supreme, Federal Communications, Federal Energy Administration, Footwear Distributors, Retailers of America Locations: U.S, Congress, China, United States, Ky, Canada

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Friday announced that he is selecting Karoline Leavitt to serve as White House press secretary. "Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator," Trump said in a statement. Leavitt served as his campaign’s national press secretary during this election cycle, and since Election Day, she has served as a transition team spokesperson. As campaign press secretary, Leavitt has also repeatedly embraced Trump's criticism of media outlets as "fake news." Leavitt served as an assistant press secretary during Trump's first term.

Persons: Donald Trump, Karoline Leavitt, Karoline, Trump, Leavitt, Trump's, It’s, I’ll, Steven Cheung, Cheung, Chris Pappas Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, American, NBC News, Democratic Locations: New Hampshire

Latino voters overall were more than a quarter of Arizona’s electorate — Gallego won them by 22 points while Harris carried them by 10 points. As for Latino men, Trump won them by 12 points nationally, marking a stunning 35-point swing from 2020 that powered him to victory in key states, according to NBC News' exit polls. But Gallego held his ground with Latino men, winning them by 30 points, exit polls showed. Men — Latino men — were feeling very insecure about their positions in the family because they wanted to make sure that they’re providers and providing security and economic security. He outperformed Harris among voters who cited the economy as their top concern, exit polls showed, and covered off the vulnerability that sank many Democrats, including Harris.

Persons: Ruben Gallego, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, — Gallego, Harris, Trump, Gallego, —, ” Gallego, Ariz, Mario Tama, ”, it’s, Republican Kari Lake, president’s MAGA, Biden, “, ” Trump, Lake hasn’t, isn’t, Kari Lake Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, outperforming, NBC News, ”, Republican, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Trump, NBC, Democrat Locations: Arizona, Arizona’s, Guadalupe

That unit has brought forward more than 1,500 cases in the “most wide-ranging investigation” in the history of the Justice Department. Nicole Reffitt, a supporter of the Capitol defendants, told NBC News she is pleased with the Gaetz pick. “We need a fighter in leadership, and that’s why I’m backing Matt Gaetz for Attorney General,” Evans wrote. One of Gaetz’s podcasts featuring Beattie was titled “Fedsurrection,” a nickname generated by far-right extremists who have portrayed the Capitol attack as an inside job, without evidence. Not one is a member of Antifa or a FBI agent.”On the first anniversary of Jan. 6, Gaetz held another news conference to “expose the truth” about the attack.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump, Gaetz, “, ”, —, Trump, he’ll, Nicole Reffitt, Guy Reffitt, “ Trump, ” Nicole Reffitt, ” Derrick Evans, rioter, ” Evans, — he’s, antifa, ” Gaetz, Darren Beattie, Beattie, Ray Epps, Epps, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tami Perryman, Jan Organizations: WASHINGTON, Florida Republican, Capitol, Justice Department, Prosecutors, NBC News, Trump, J6, Trump White House, RNC, DNC, FBI, D.C, Gaetz’s, DOJ, NBC Locations: Florida, United States, America, Gaetz, Washington, Congress

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Friday that he would "strongly request" that the House Ethics Committee not release a report detailing its investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. “I’m going to request, strongly request, that the Ethics Committee not issue the report.”There is precedent for releasing ethics reports after or on the same day that a lawmaker resigns from Congress. Johnson declined to say whether he spoke to Trump about the Ethics report. Tom Rust, a spokesperson for the Ethics Committee, declined to comment on Johnson's remarks. "There is bipartisan support for the Senate Judiciary Committee having access to this information," Sorbe said.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz —, Donald Trump, —, Johnson, Michael Guest, “, ” Johnson, “ I’m, Bill Boner, Buz Lukens, Tom Rust, they’d, Dick Durbin, Josh Sorbe, shouldn't, Sorbe, Durbin, Gaetz Organizations: WASHINGTON, Washington , D.C, Trump, Mar, NBC, Committee Locations: Ohio, Washington ,

WASHINGTON — When President Joe Biden relinquishes power in January, some parts of his legacy will be secure, while others may be undone by President-elect Donald Trump and a new Republican-controlled Congress. The pieces of Biden’s legacy go into four buckets. But it will be difficult for Trump to undo bipartisan legislation, such as measures about infrastructure and preventing gun violence, and the judges Biden appointed can’t be unseated. Biden’s immigration orders are ripe for Trump to target after he ran on a platform of mass deportations and clamping down on border security. Bipartisan Biden-era bills (largely safe)The parts of Biden’s legacy that will be relatively safe are the bipartisan laws he passed, which are subject to filibusters and therefore give Democrats the power to protect them.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Joe Biden relinquishes, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden, can’t, they've, Roe, Wade, Sen, Kevin Cramer, ” Cramer, Kamala Harris, Thom Tillis, they’ve, ” Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, Tommy Tuberville, “, ”, Ben Cline, John Thune, they’ll, Angus King, It's, ” King, Ketanji Brown Jackson Organizations: Republican, Trump, Democrats, NBC News, GOP, Biden, American, Finance Committee, Public, Republicans, Postal Service, Democratic Locations: U.S, South Dakota, Maine, Pennsylvania

According to projections from The Associated Press, Republicans flipped control of the Michigan state House, padded their narrow majorities in the New Hampshire state House and Senate, and maintained their majority in the Pennsylvania state Senate. In Arizona, Republicans appeared poised to expand their narrow majorities in the state House and state Senate, though the AP hasn’t yet called enough races to make that determination. In many districts in both states, Democrats had centered their message on the accomplishments the party achieved with that power. Democrats, however, maintained their 102-101 majority in the Pennsylvania state House — the only bright spot for the party in state legislative chambers where partisan control had been at stake. In addition, Republicans’ victories in state legislative races came even as Democratic groups massively outspent them.

Persons: ’, Dee Duncan, Project’s, Daniel Squadron, Adam Pritzker, Tony Evers, Josh Stein Organizations: Associated Press, Senate, Republicans, AP, ” Republican, Democratic, States, Democratic Legislative, GOP, Democrats “, Wisconsin —, Gov, Democratic Gov Locations: Washington, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Minnesota, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Kansas, New York, Vermont, South Carolina

☆ 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

WASHINGTON — Republican senators are preparing for a robust vetting of Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department, with a keen interest in details from a House Ethics Committee investigation into the former congressman from Florida. The Ethics Committee has jurisdiction only over sitting House members. Many Republican senators, including members of the GOP-led Judiciary Committee that will oversee Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general, said they'll want to see the details of the House Ethics investigation into Gaetz. But Gaetz's resignation complicates things, and the House committee hasn't indicated what it will do. Asked directly if he'd vote to confirm Gaetz, Cramer said the Florida congressman would have to make it through the Judiciary Committee first.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump's, Gaetz, Justice Department —, Trump, they'll, Sen, Joni Ernst, John Curtis, “, hasn't, Bill Boner, Buz Lukens, John Cornyn of, he'd, ”, Cornyn, it’s, ” Cornyn, ” Sen, Lindsey Graham, ” Graham, Trump hadn’t, Matt, Chuck Grassley, we’ve, ” Grassley, , Grassley, Susan Collins, Collins, Kevin McCarthy, Lisa Murkowski, Gaetz's, Ernst, He’s, JD Vance, Kevin Cramer, we’re, —, Cramer, McCarthy, I’ll, he’s, Mike Braun, I’m Organizations: Justice Department, NBC News, Republican, GOP, Committee, Punchbowl News, Judiciary, “, Department, NBC, Republicans, —, Trump Locations: Florida, Congress, Iowa, Utah, Ohio, John Cornyn of Texas, Maine, Pennsylvania, Alaska

“President Trump is going to hit the Justice Department with a blowtorch, and Matt Gaetz is that torch,” Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House strategist, told NBC News. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she didn't think Gaetz was "a serious nomination for the attorney general." From bitter experience, Trump knows that he needs an attorney general he can trust implicitly, and it might be worth the political capital to battle for Gaetz's confirmation. Little happened in Trump’s first term that angered him as much as Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to recuse himself and appoint a special counsel to investigate whether there were links between his 2016 campaign and Russia. In Gaetz, Trump would get an attorney general who has said Trump won the election that year, as well as an iconoclast who shares his willingness to upset the status quo.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Matt Gaetz, Steve Bannon, Trump’s, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Tom Homan, Kristi Noem, Mount Rushmore, James Mattis, Mattis, John Kelly, Kelly, who'd, Hegseth, Donald J, ”, Max Stier, Gaetz, Kamala Harris, Sen, Lisa Murkowski, Kevin Cramer, Jeff Sessions, I’m, ” Trump, Robert Mueller, William Barr Organizations: WASHINGTON, Justice Department, Defense, Justice, White, Department, White House, NBC News, Fox News, Democrat, Trump, South Dakota Gov, National Guard, Partnership for Public Service, Senate, Republicans, FBI, CDC, ATF, DOJ, NBC, Washington Locations: Afghanistan, Iraq, Alaska, Russia

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