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☆ Ethics Committee deadlocks on releasing Matt Gaetz sex, drug probe report
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The bipartisan House Ethics Committee deadlocked Wednesday on whether to release a report on its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and other wrongdoing by former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz. Ethics Chair Michael Guest, R-Miss., told reporters after the closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill, "There has been no agreement to release the report." She stressed that the vote in the 10-member committee, which is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, fell along partisan lines. In September he said he would no longer voluntarily participate in the ethics probe, while revealing that the committee had asked him whether he ever "engaged in sexual activity with any individual under 18." Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee urged the FBI earlier Wednesday to turn over all the evidence it had gathered from its investigation into Gaetz.

Persons: Sen, JD Vance, Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump's, Michael Guest, Susan Wild of, Wild, Guest's, Gaetz, Trump, Guest, Gaetz's, Dick Durbin Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Republican, Republicans, Democrats, Department of Justice, DOJ, Senate Locations: Washington ,, Susan Wild of Pennsylvania

☆ Senate Democrats seek evidence from FBI sex-trafficking probe of Trump AG pick Matt Gaetz
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is seen outside a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. The Senate Judiciary Committee asked the FBI on Wednesday for its "complete evidentiary file" of a prior investigation into the alleged sex trafficking of an underage girl by Matt Gaetz, who has been tapped as the next U.S. attorney general by President-elect Donald Trump. The Judiciary panel's request says that "the grave public allegations against Mr. Gaetz speak directly to his fitness to serve as the chief law enforcement officer for the federal government." The committee's Democratic majority, in a letter to FBI Director Chris Wray, noted that Gaetz's associate Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty in 2021 "to the sex trafficking charge for which Mr. Gaetz was also investigated." The 42-year-old Republican, who until last week represented a Florida district in the House of Representatives, has denied all wrongdoing.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump, Gaetz, Chris Wray, Joel Greenberg, Gaetz's Organizations: House Republican Conference, U.S, Capitol, FBI, Democratic, of Justice, Republican, DOJ Locations: Florida

☆ Federal Inquiry Traced Matt Gaetz’s Venmo Payments to Women
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Michael S. Schmidt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Federal investigators established a trail of payments from Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice to be attorney general, to women including some who testified that Mr. Gaetz hired them for sex, according to a document obtained by The New York Times and a lawyer representing some of the women. The document, assembled by investigators during a three-year sex-trafficking investigation into Mr. Gaetz, is a chart that shows a web of thousands of dollars in Venmo payments between Mr. Gaetz and a group of his friends, associates and women who had drug-fueled sex parties between 2017 and 2020, according to testimony that participants are said to have given to federal and congressional investigators. At the parties, women, and a girl who was 17 at the time, were paid for sex, according to accounts of the participants’ testimony from people briefed on what they said. The document bolsters recent claims by a lawyer for two of the women who say they had sex with Mr. Gaetz for money. It shows thousands of dollars in payments Mr. Gaetz made to both of the lawyer’s clients.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald J, Gaetz Organizations: The New York Times

☆ JD Vance Courts Senators With Matt Gaetz, Controversial Cabinet Pick
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Michael C. Bender | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The scene would have been impossible to predict three months ago: a motorcade of black sedans pulling up at the U.S. Senate to deliver JD Vance and Matt Gaetz on a mission to flex their new power. Mr. Vance had been a junior senator from Ohio when Donald J. Trump chose him to be his running mate over the summer. And Mr. Gaetz, a Florida congressman, inhabited the right-wing fringe, shadowed by allegations of drug use and sex with an underage girl. On Wednesday, Mr. Vance, now the vice president-elect, returned with considerably more political capital, but also significant questions about whether it was enough to persuade his erstwhile colleagues to confirm Mr. Gaetz as the nation’s top law enforcement officer. The two men, who have campaigned together before, hunkered down for much of the day in the Strom Thurmond Room in the Capitol, an ornate conference room just steps from the Senate floor, as senators streamed in individually and in pairs.

Persons: JD Vance, Matt Gaetz, Vance, Donald J, Trump, Gaetz, Strom Thurmond Organizations: U.S . Senate, Capitol Locations: Ohio, Florida

Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe, meanwhile, was unsuccessful in trying to set up a meeting with Trump this week. Bongino spent more than a decade in the Secret Service and individuals who worked with him praised him as a stellar agent. Engel told the committee he did not recall the conversation described by Hutchinson and said he didn’t recall Trump gesturing toward him. Ornato also told the committee he didn’t recall the story happening or telling it to Hutchinson. Ornato told Trump’s transition team he was not interested in the role of Secret Service director, a source familiar with the discussions told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump, Podcaster Dan Bongino, Sean Curran, Ronald Rowe, Robert Engel, Trump, Rowe, Kimberly Cheatle’s, Bongino, hadn’t, Matt Gaetz, Curran, Engel, Tony Ornato, Cassidy Hutchinson, Ornato, Hutchinson Organizations: CNN, Service, Trump, Congress, Department of Homeland Security, Secret Service, Justice Department, White Locations: Pennsylvania

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

That file included the testimony of the woman who alleges she had sex with Gaetz when she was 17 years old in 2017, as well as the testimony of a second woman who said she witnessed the encounter, and the information is unredacted, according to the source. The file was downloaded from a secure link by a person using the name Altam Breezley, according to the source. The file includes other related documentation that’s under seal and the hacker accessed hundreds of pages, the source said. A representative for Gaetz did not immediately respond to an NBC News request for comment. A source familiar with the contents of the files accessed characterized the contents as very detailed and damaging to Gaetz.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s, John Clune, ” Gaetz, Gaetz, Donald Trump, It’s Organizations: Justice Department, NBC, New York Times Locations: Florida

A lawyer said his client was allegedly paid to have sex with Matt Gaetz at a 2017 party. A man accused of three fatal stabbings in New York City has an extensive criminal history. Gaetz, a former Republican U.S. representative from Florida, has long denied the allegations against him and has claimed he was the target of an extortion plot. A Trump transition team spokesperson called the allegations “baseless.” Gaetz resigned from Congress last week after Trump announced plans to nominate him for attorney general. The stabbings happened yesterday morning at three separate locations.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s, Gaetz, Joel Leppard, Leppard, ” Gaetz, Ramon Rivera, Rivera, it’s, Maya Huter, Jing Feng, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Glinda, Kalhan Rosenblatt, Tony Lee, — Richie Duchon, Elizabeth Robinson Organizations: Justice Department, NBC News, NBC, Republican U.S, Trump, United Nations, Apple, Reebok, REI’s Locations: New York City, Florida —, Orlando, Florida, stabbings, New York, United

Donald Trump and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines in August 2023. That “seemed to matter” to the committee, Leppard said, adding that committee members were concerned about illegal drug use and payments for sex. On at least two occasions, Leppard said, his clients had sex with Gaetz outside Florida. The women were not paid for sex during the trips, but Gaetz paid for their flights, lodging and entertainment, Leppard said. The two women are private people, who have no political leanings and no motivation to take down Gaetz, Leppard said.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s, Joel Leppard, Orlando . Leppard, Gaetz, ”, Leppard, Donald Trump, Al Drago, “, Trump, Alex Pfeiffer, He’s, ” Pfeiffer Organizations: Justice Department, NBC, Fair, Bloomberg, Getty, The Justice, FBI, Gaetz, Republican U.S, Trump, Committee Locations: Florida, Orlando, Iowa, Des Moines, New York City, Bahamas

☆ House has ‘numerous’ photos from women who say they were paid a total of more than $10,000 by Gaetz for sex, lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Two women who claim they were paid for sex by former Rep. Matt Gaetz provided House ethics investigators with “numerous” photos related to time they spent with the Florida Republican, a lawyer for the women said Tuesday, including from an alleged 2019 trip to New York. The women additionally provided the House Ethics Committee with selfies Gaetz is said to have sent them, according to their lawyer. They also testified that they sent nude photos to Gaetz, sometimes at his request, Leppard said. Leppard’s account of the testimony provides more insight into the evidence the House committee collected in its probe, which was conducted in addition to a criminal investigation by the Justice Department. “What I’m telling you is just a fraction of the evidence that’s available, of the thousands of documents” the House obtained, Leppard said.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Joel Leppard, CNN’s Erin Burnett, ” Gaetz, Leppard, selfies Gaetz, Donald Trump, “ Merrick, ”, Mike Speaker Johnson, Gaetz . Leppard, CNN’s Annie Grayer Organizations: CNN, Florida Republican, Fox News, Justice Department, Gaetz Locations: New York, York

☆ 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

☆ ‘Morning Joe’ meeting with Trump was driven by fears of retribution from incoming administration, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Brian Stelter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —“Morning Joe” co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski announced Monday, in dramatic fashion, that they went to Mar-a-Lago last week for a fence-mending meeting with President-elect Donald Trump. According to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Scarborough and Brzezinski were credibly concerned that they could face governmental and legal harassment from the incoming Trump administration. For that reason, there are a wide range of feelings about the “Morning Joe” meeting, according to half a dozen employees who spoke on condition of anonymity. Shortly after the Mar-a-Lago meeting was publicized, lawyer and MSNBC host Katie Phang posted on social media, “Normalizing Trump is a bad idea. On Monday afternoon, Scarborough posted a link on X to a Fox News story about his meeting with Trump.

Persons: Joe ”, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Donald Trump, Scarborough, Brzezinski, Trump, Elon Musk, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, “, Katie Phang, Chuck Rocha, Joe, Mika, Jeff Jarvis, ”, White, Steve Bannon, Bannon, Andrew Weissmann, Ari Melber, they’re, Fox, ” Scarborough, Jeff Bezos’s, board’s, Kamala Harris, Bezos Organizations: New, New York CNN, Mar, Lago, MSNBC, CNN, Scarborough, Trump, Democratic, ” Veteran, Fox, Washington Post Locations: New York, Scarborough, America, ”

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's picks are giving Big Tech plenty of reasons to be nervous
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementDonald Trump has selected several Big Tech critics for top roles in his second administration. A number of his picks have been harsh critics of the Big Tech industry. Tom Williams/CQ Roll CallTrump's pick for attorney general, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, has for years criticized Big Tech companies. Anna MoneymakerVice President-elect JD Vance cut his teeth in venture capital, and has long been a proponent for breaking up Big Tech. AdvertisementVance said that his experience in Silicon Valley taught him to be weary of Big Tech.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, JD Vance, Elon Musk, Brendan Carr, Trump's, Trump, Brendan Carr Trump, Tom Williams, Carr, Elon, Musk's, Matt Gaetz Trump, Gaetz, Lina Khan, Jonathan Kanter, Elon Musk Elon, Marc Piasecki, Musk, donald, Biden, Tim Cook, X, Anna Moneymaker, Vance, we're Organizations: Big Tech, Trump, GOP, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Federal Communications Commission, Inc, Getty, Heritage, FCC, TikTok, United, Florida Rep, Federal Trade, Elon, Government, of Government, SpaceX, OpenAI, Bloomberg News Locations: Starlink, Florida, Silicon Valley, Trump

☆ What awaits the GOP's narrow House majority: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

In today’s edition, national political reporter Ben Kamisar examines how House Republicans are growing increasingly aligned with Donald Trump. “One of the main takeaways from this cycle is that the Democratic Party has a lot of work to do on how we’re reaching voters,” Democratic strategist Christina Freundlich said. It’s one more thing a narrow House Republican majority will have to work through early next year. The remaining House Republicans are going to have to summon a different level of unity than they have managed recently to move the party’s legislative agenda. Martin O’Malley, a onetime presidential candidate, announced he’d enter the race for Democratic Party chair, but many more names are already circulating.

Persons: Ben Kamisar, Donald Trump, Kristen Welker, Mark Murray, Kamala Harris, Harris, Trump, Christina Freundlich, “, Steve Schale, Barack Obama’s, Joe Biden, ”, ” Schale, Sen, John Fetterman, Sahil Kapur, Syedah Asghar, Ryan Nobles, Kyle Stewart, Mike Johnson, We’re, ” Johnson, Donald Trump’s, you’d, —, Matt Gaetz’s, Elise Stefanik, Mike Waltz, Pete Hegseth, Brendan Carr, Carr, Johnson, ann o, lea Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Republicans, Press, Democrats, Democratic Party, Democratic, PAC, Kyle Stewart Congress, “ Fox, Republican, NBC News, Trump, Fox News, Federal Communications Commission’s, adjourning, gov Locations: Florida, Gaetz

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

☆ 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

☆ Microsoft Copilot's underperformance is the latest red flag for investments in AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The big storyA Copilot conundrumMicrosoft; Chelsea Jia Feng/BIMicrosoft's challenges with its flagship AI product could be another red flag for an industry with high hopes for the tech. Earlier this year, analysts at Barclays highlighted an under-the-radar risk to AI bets: the depreciation costs related to AI chips . A potential Trump trade plan beneficiary: US semiconductor jobs. If Trump's proposed trade plan is enacted, the American semiconductor industry could see hiring growth. Walmart might be just fine under Trump's proposed trade plan.

Persons: Copilot, Chelsea Jia Feng, Insider's Ashley Stewart, Satya Nadella didn't, doesn't, Ashley, It's, Sam Altman, Alistair Barr, Alyssa Powell, Jared Spataro, OpenAI, Biden, Carlyle, Will Matt Gaetz, Will Trump, Rob Arnott, Arnott, ANGELA WEISS, Trump's, Ilya Sutskever, Mira Murati, Rebecca Zisser, homebuyers, Trump, Bob Iger, Dan DeFrancesco, Grace Lett, Ella Hopkins, Hallam Bullock, Amanda Yen, New York.Milan Sehmbi Organizations: Business, Microsoft, Chelsea, Getty, Lumen Technologies, Barclays, Trump, Treasury, UFC, Republican, Getty Images, Elon, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, Walmart, Walmart US, Shoppers, The Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Chicago, London, New York.Milan

☆ What is impoundment? How Trump thinks he can control spending without Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —“Impoundment” is another word that Americans may need to learn in the vernacular of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. Trump took the time to record a video about impoundment during the Republican primary season, and he promised seizing control over spending from Congress would be a top priority if he was elected. Impoundment occurs when Congress appropriates money that the president then declines to spend. As a result of these standoffs, Congress passed a law to curtail a president’s use of impoundment, particularly for policy reasons. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 did a lot more than that, however.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, ”, Trump, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Nixon, Nixon, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, Trump’s, “, Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk, DOGE –, Ramaswamy, ” Ramaswamy, Matt Gaetz, Jimmy Carter, It’s Organizations: CNN, Senate, Republican, Congress, Congressional Research Service, Office, Capitol, Supreme, overreach, Elon, “ Department, Government, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Ramaswamy, Department of Education, Nuclear Regulatory, Trump, FBI Locations: Mississippi, Louisiana, France, Ukraine, Trump’s, Ohio, Washington

☆ The admitted and investigated drug use in some of Trump’s top picks
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks are unique for many reasons. Kennedy brings his addiction worldview to prescription drugs such as those overseen by the Food and Drug Administration, which he would oversee if confirmed as HHS secretary. But Musk denied allegations of past drug use as reported in The Wall Street Journal early this year. Federal employees are barred from taking illegal drugs, and there are no reports to indicate that any of Trump’s Cabinet or other administration picks are using illegal drugs. CNN has reported that this year, Trump’s team is bypassing long and cumbersome FBI background checks for some of his Cabinet picks.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Matt Gaetz, It’s, –, Gaetz, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, Kurt Andersen, ” Elon Musk, Matthew Perry, Joe Rogan’s, Musk, Larry Kudlow, Hunter, Hunter Biden, Trump, Fred, Theo Von’s “, ” Von, Von, Sackler, Xi Jinping, Biden, Joe Biden, Florida’s Organizations: CNN —, Drug Enforcement, Department of Health, Human Services, Harvard University, Food and Drug Administration, Fox News, “ Department, Government, NASA, SpaceX, Street, Trump, CNN, Biden White, of Justice, Supreme, Purdue Pharma, Republican Locations: Florida, South Dakota, China, Mexico

☆ Matt Gaetz: Florida court fight gives insight into the House review of sex allegations
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Paula Reid | Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The House Ethics Committee probe into Gaetz, initially launched in 2021, ran into several obstacles, including a lack of access to records collected by a federal criminal investigation into Gaetz. In addition to the House Ethics Committee investigation, Gaetz was separately investigated by the US Justice Department for alleged sex trafficking, obstruction of justice and other potential crimes, but prosecutors declined to bring any charges. The House committee abandoned plans for a closed-door meeting Friday, when lawmakers were expected to consider the release of the report. When asked about the friend’s claim she had sex with Gaetz, Dorworth suggested in the deposition that both women made up their stories. Resignation brings House probe to a haltThe House Ethics Committee probe was started by House Democrats in 2021 but was put on hold while the Justice Department completed its criminal investigation.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, –, Trump, “, ” Gaetz, ”, Joel Greenberg, Greenberg, Gaetz –, Kevin McCarthy, Christopher Dorworth, Dorworth, Johnson, Tapper, ” Dorworth, CNN’s Casey Gannon, Annie Grayer Organizations: CNN, President, Florida Republican, US Justice Department, Committee, DOJ, Department, Trump, Florida House, Justice Department, Miami Herald, House Democrats, Hill Locations: Florida, Orlando federal, ”, Seminole, Bahamas

☆ 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

The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lebanon’s ancient heritage faces Israeli airstrikesRubble and destruction caused by an Israeli airstrike near the historic Roman temple in Baalbek, Lebanon, on Nov. 7. The war in Lebanon has killed more than 3,200 people and displaced more than a million others, according to Lebanese officials. The conflict has also taken a toll on the nation’s unique heritage at the crossroads of ancient Phoenician, Egyptian, Greek, Persian and Roman civilizations. The Israel Defense Forces’ latest attacks on northern Gaza’s besieged city of Beit Lahiya killed “about 100” people, Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, told NBC News on Sunday.

Persons: “, Joe Biden, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Timothy Parlatore, ” Parlatore, Hegseth, Marwan Naamani, amphitheaters, ’ citadels, Beit Lahiya, Mahmoud, Press Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, I’ve, ” Mullin, Kristen Welker, Kennedy, Mullin, ”, Leila, aren’t, Mike Peditto, Martin Mejia Organizations: Trump, U.S, Trump Cabinet, Republicans, NBC, Justice Department, Republican, ZUMA, NBC News, United Nations, Israel Defense Forces ’, Civil Defense, Press, Department of Health, Human Services, “, Intelligence, American Society of Tropical Medicine, Hygiene Locations: Afghanistan, California, Baalbek, Lebanon, Mhaibib, Nabatiyeh, Gaza’s, Beit, Talara, Peru, Americas

Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday left the door open to adjourning Congress so President-elect Donald Trump can appoint his Cabinet nominees outside of the usual Senate confirmation process if necessary. Both chambers usually gavel in for pro forma sessions even during times of recess specifically to prevent the president from making recess appointments and bypassing congressional approval. President Barack Obama once tried to use recess appointments and was rebuked by the Supreme Court, which said in 2014 that recesses needed to be 10 days or longer for recess appointments to be legal. Johnson isn’t the only Trump ally who has left the door open to using a recess appointment to confirm Trump’s Cabinet picks. “I have literally not discussed one word about the ethics report, not once, and I’ve been with him quite a bit this week,” Johnson said.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, ” Johnson, “, he’d, Trump, Johnson, Barack Obama, Trump’s, , Oklahoma GOP Sen, Markwayne Mullin, It’d, ” Mullin, Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, There’s, I’ve Organizations: Sunday, “ Fox, Supreme, , Oklahoma GOP, NBC, Press, GOP, Democratic, Trump’s, House, CNN Locations: Washington, , Oklahoma, D, Gaetz

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