DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ GOP Rep. Mike Turner, who suggested Trump took about 300 classified documents to write a memoir, calls Biden a 'serial classified document hoarder'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

GOP Rep. Mike Turner said President Biden is a "serial classified document hoarder" after more documents were found at his residence. Turner previously suggested Donald Trump had hundreds of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago to help him write a memoir. "Apparently, he's become a serial classified document hoarder," Turner said of Biden Sunday morning on "Face the Nation" on CBS News. I mean the only reason you can think of as to why anyone would take classified documents out of a classified space and home is to show them to somebody." Both incidents have prompted special counsel investigations, but Turner appeared to have more concerns over Biden's classified documents.

☆ The 'JR-15,' an AR-15 rifle for kids, is being marketed again weeks after a 6-year-old shot a teacher
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An Illinois gunmaker is again advertising its AR-15 rifle for kids, called the "JR-15." A company spokesperson told Vice's Motherboard it will take orders for the rifle later in 2023. The JR-15 is a .22 long rifle roughly 20% smaller than a standard AR-15 that weighs less than 2-and-½ pounds. The state later passed a law banning gun marketing toward children, and this week several pro-gun groups lost an initial bid to block the ban. Wee 1 Tactical confirmed to Motherboard that the JR-15 would be at the show.

☆ Most Abortion Bans Include Exceptions. In Practice, Few Are Granted.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Amy Schoenfeld Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +19 min

But abortion-rights advocates say legal exceptions do nothing but make abortion bans appear more reasonable than they really are. One shows states with abortion bans with exceptions for rape or incest and the other shows states without those exceptions. One shows states with abortion bans with exceptions for fatal birth defects and the other shows states without those exceptions. One shows states with abortion bans with exceptions for patients with severe health risks and the other shows states without those exceptions. One shows states with abortion bans with exceptions for the life of the patient and the other shows states without those exceptions.

☆ Rep. George Santos's office says he still intends to donate his entire salary to charity and will do so quarterly
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

GOP Rep. George Santos has pledged not to accept his congressional salary several different times. On Friday, his office told Insider he plans to donate his entire salary on a quarterly basis. A spokeswoman for Santos's congressional office told Insider on Friday that Santos will be donating the entirety of his congressional salary, making quarterly donations to an organization "such as a soup kitchen, or animal shelter." In a recent appearance on Steve Bannon's "War Room" show, he repeatedly dodged questions from fellow Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida about where that money came from. "I will not accept a congressional salary at all," he wrote in a May 2021 tweet slamming Suozzi.

Embattled Republican Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., said claims that he performed as a drag queen are “categorically false.” His denial comes shortly after a Brazilian drag performer shared on social media an image of herself and another person in drag, whom she identified as the newly elected congressman. “The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag Queen or ‘performed’ as a drag Queen is categorically false,” Santos, who has been the subject of international headlines for weeks for fabricating parts of his résumé, tweeted Thursday morning. Rochard, who is identified as Eula Rorard in the photo, claims the other person in drag went by the stage name Kitara Ravache and is, in fact, Santos. As of Thursday afternoon, the images had been widely circulated on social media and news websites. A lawyer for Santos did not return NBC News’ request for comment regarding the congressman’s stance on the proposed policies related to drag performances.

Biden repeatedly tapped the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) last year to manage rising gasoline prices and disruptions to supply caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. McMorris Rodgers now chairs the House Energy & Commerce Committee, after Republicans took over the chamber this month from Democrats. "This bill would significantly weaken this critical energy security tool, resulting in more oil supply shortages in times of crisis and higher gasoline prices for Americans," Granholm said in the letter to the House energy panel, first seen by Reuters. Rodgers said in an email the committee was still reviewing the letter, but that the bill would have "absolutely no effect" on the department's emergency authorities regarding the oil reserve. The White House has criticized the legislation, calling it "backwards" and an attempt by House Republicans to help oil companies make more profits.

☆ House GOP's 'all-star' oversight panel features 13 election deniers, 10 impeach-Biden-world advocates, and 3 congressional subpoena dodgers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

House Republican leaders have stocked the oversight panel with partisan bomb-throwers. Many of the new panelists voted to overturn the 2020 election and defied Jan. 6 investigators. Retired Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who chaired the House Oversight Committee last session, asserted that this new cast of characters were getting into it for the wrong reasons. "The personal vendettas these committees pursue are not a legitimate use of the oversight power. "These are basically the people who own Kevin McCarthy at this point," Bardella told Insider at the Facts First event.

☆ Why George Santos is denying that he performed as a drag queen even as he leaves a litany of other questions unanswered
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Santos faces more pressing questions, but performing in drag could hurt his standing with fellow Republicans. "The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag Queen or 'performed' as a drag Queen is categorically false," Santos, who is gay, wrote on Twitter, calling the recent allegations an "outrageous claim." According to Rochard, who also provided photos allegedly showing Santos in drag, Santos performed under the name "Kitara Ravache." Nearly three dozen of Santos's Republican colleagues introduced a bill taking aim at drag queen story hours. But Santos is also the first non-incumbent gay Republican elected to Congress, and is one of just a handful of out gay Republicans to ever serve in Congress.

☆ Rep. George Santos pushes back on 'insane' reports he took funds for veteran's dying dog
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"The reports that I would let a dog die is shocking & insane," the freshman lawmaker from New York tweeted Thursday morning. Santos' office did not immediately provide any of those photos when asked by CNBC. Santos then became elusive, and finally told Osthoff he had moved the money into his charity to use "for other dogs," the veteran told Patch. If Santos were to leave office, it would likely trigger a competitive special election in New York for his seat. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., made a similar argument Thursday when asked by CNN whether he believed Santos should resign.

☆ Alec Baldwin Faces Involuntary Manslaughter Charge in Fatal ‘Rust’ Shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Rep. George Santos Says He Will Address Allegations ‘Soon’Republican Rep. George Santos said Thursday that he would respond "soon" to accusations made against him. The freshman Congressman from New York has admitted that he lied on the campaign trail about his education and work experience. Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the matter would be referred to the Ethics Committee. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

☆ U.S. government touches debt limit
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Republicans, with a newly won House majority, aim to use the congressionally mandated federal debt ceiling to exact spending cuts from Biden and the Democratic-led Senate. Republicans are instead pursuing a "debt prioritization" plan that would seek to avert default by urging the Treasury to prioritize debt payments, and possibly other priorities such as Social Security and Medicare, should the limit be breached during negotiations. But we similarly should not blindly increase the debt ceiling," Representative Chip Roy, a leading conservative, told Reuters. Congress adopted a comprehensive debt ceiling, the statutory maximum of debt the government can issue, in 1939, intending to limit its growth. White House officials also note that Republicans in Congress backed multiple increases to the debt ceiling when Republican Donald Trump was president.

Biden repeatedly tapped the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) last year to manage rising gasoline prices and supply disruptions caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The sales shrunk the SPR to about 380 million barrels, the lowest level since 1984, raising concerns about energy security. McMorris Rodgers now chairs the House Energy & Commerce Committee after Republicans took over the chamber earlier this month from Democrats. "This bill would significantly weaken this critical energy security tool, resulting in more oil supply shortages in times of crisis and higher gasoline prices for Americans," Granholm said in the letter to the House energy panel, which was first seen by Reuters. The White House has criticized the legislation, calling it "backwards" and an attempt by House Republicans to help oil companies make more profits.

☆ Rep. George Santos denies taking money from GoFundMe for disabled veteran's dying dog
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. George Santos (R-NY) walks to a closed-door GOP caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol January 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. Embattled Republican Rep. George Santos has denied allegations that he took off with thousands of dollars he helped raise for a disabled veteran seeking a lifesaving surgery for his service dog. Santos, who already faces bipartisan calls for his resignation, denied the reporting as "Fake" in a text to Semafor on Tuesday night. "No clue who this is," Santos added in a text to the outlet. Santos rebuffed Osthoff's request to let him use the money to take his dog to another vet, according to screenshots of text messages reported by Patch.

☆ Marjorie Taylor Greene swipes at Matt Gaetz over Kevin McCarthy speaker vote and declares herself 'the leading MAGA voice in Congress'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene dismissed Rep. Matt Gaetz after he praised her for her committee spots. But Greene dismissed Gaetz's congratulations and instead thanked House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for placing her on the committees she requested. She also slammed Gaetz over the House speaker vote. In the last Congress, House Democrats, joined by 11 House Republicans, voted to remove Greene from her committee posts. Yet despite their division on the speaker vote, Greene and Gaetz were seen seated next to each other and laughing together in the House chamber that week.

☆ Marjorie Taylor Greene will serve on an important House committee that oversees national security. Here's what to expect.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is expected to serve on the House Homeland Security Committee. A spokesman for Greene confirmed to Insider that the House GOP Steering Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend that she serve on the committee. The entire House Republican conference votes to ratify committee recommendations, which they are expected to do. The Homeland Security Committee, set to be chaired by Republican Rep. Mark Greene of Tennessee, deals with national security issues including border security, counterterrorism, election security, and cybersecurity. As Insider reported last week, Mayorkas is a major target by House Republicans.

☆ Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Detained in Germany During Coal Mine Protest
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Republican Rep. George Santos will serve on House committees overseeing small businesses and science and technology: reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Republican Rep. George Santos will get to serve on two House committees. According to reports, Santos will serve on both a small business and a science-related panel. Santos will serve on both the House Small Business Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, multiple news outlets reported Tuesday. GOP Rep. Roger Williams of Texas, the chairman of the Small Business panel, told CNN that he did not "condone" Santos' behavior. Matt VanHyfte, a spokesperson for the Small Business Committee, confirmed to Insider that Santos will serve on the committee.

☆ Santos to be removed from U.S. Congress if he broke campaign finance laws, committee chairman says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative George Santos, who lied about much of his resume and life story, will be removed from Congress if found to have broken campaign finance laws, fellow Republican and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said on Sunday. Now, if he broke campaign finance laws, then he will be removed from Congress." House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he will leave Santos' fate to the Ethics Committee and voters. "It is one thing for a candidate such as Mr. Santos to induce voters to support him based on a web of lies," Goldman wrote in his letter. "But it is altogether something else if the top levels of Republican leadership knew about Mr. Santos' lies during the campaign and chose to be complicit."

☆ Santos will be removed from Congress if he broke campaign-finance laws, committee chairman says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative George Santos, who lied about much of his resume and life story, will be removed from Congress if found to have broken campaign finance laws, fellow Republican and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said on Sunday. "It's not up to me or any other member of Congress to determine whether he can be kicked out for lying. Now, if he broke campaign finance laws, then he will be removed from Congress." At least six of his fellow Republican representatives from New York have joined the calls for him to step down. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he will leave Santos' fate to the Ethics Committee and voters.

☆ We asked House lawmakers about scandal-plagued Rep. George Santos. Most Republicans want nothing to do with him.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

But Santos is clearly a problem for House Republicans. But three days later, Miller — who actually represents Ohio's 7th district — became the eighth House Republican to publicly call for Santos to resign. said Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, who said that Santos "seems nice" even as he appeared unaware of the extent of his controversies. At a press conference on Thursday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pointedly declared that Santos was "an issue that Republicans need to handle." Santos and Ocasio-Cortez briefly spoke on the sidelines of a gaggle of GOP lawmakers on the House floor on Wednesday, January 4.

☆ An Idaho Republican said he's 'embarrassed' and apologized after comparing women's health to having 'milked a few cows'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An Idaho Republican said his experience milking dairy cows offered insights into reproductive healthcare. Idaho Rep. Jack Nelsen apologized for the comment, saying he respected women's "right to choose." Republican Rep. Jack Nelsen said he was "embarrassed" that he suggested his experience as a "lifelong dairy farmer" offered him insight into reproductive issues, according to the Idaho Statesman. According to the Statesman, Nelson said during his campaign that the government shouldn't be involved in abortion care, a sentiment he repeated in his apology. "I absolutely respect women and the right to choose their own health care," Nelson said in his statement, per the Statesman.

☆ Fact Check-Fabricated George Santos tweet originated from satirical Twitter account
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A screenshot purporting to show a tweet published by newly elected Republican Representative George Santos claiming that he was encouraged to run by Martin Luther King is not authentic and was created by a satirical Twitter account. But, hey....he's a Republican.” (here)Other examples of the image shared online can be viewed (here) and (here). The image is inauthentic, however, and was created by satirical Twitter account (@FaithPolRub). Martin Luther King, Jr Day is a U.S. federal holiday to honor the civil rights leader, and falls this year on Monday, January 16 (here). A Twitter advanced search via Santos’ Twitter profile did not reveal the tweet about King (archive.is/wip/G4D8b).

[1/3] U.S. Representative George Santos (R-NY) departs his office to attend a House vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2023. "If 142 people ask for me to resign, I will resign," he said. Santos has repeatedly said he will not resign, even as pressure has grown within his own party for him to do so. On Wednesday, more than a dozen Republicans officials, many of them from Santos' New York City-area district, demanded the newly elected congressman's resignation. An online petition calling for Santos' resignation has been started by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonprofit ethics watchdog organization.

WASHINGTON — House Republicans' calls for Rep. George Santos to resign are growing after state GOP leaders in New York said he should step aside over a slew of lies and fabrications in the biography he ran on in the 2022 midterm election. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., also starting his first term, dropped his earlier hedging and unequivocally said Thursday that Santos should resign. “It is clear that George Santos has lost the confidence and support of his party, his constituents, and his colleagues. Santos insisted Thursday he won't resign "until those same 142,000 people" in New York who elected him "tell me they don’t want me." “I don’t think he should be here, that’s for sure.

☆ GOP Rep. George Santos vows to serve out his full term as more Republicans push him to resign
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Embattled Republican Rep. George Santos of New York vowed Thursday to stay in Congress and serve out his full two-year term, brushing off howls of bipartisan criticism and calls for his resignation after he admitted to lying about his background. A handful of Santos' fellow freshman House Republicans have joined in, including Rep. Nick Langworthy, who is also the chair of the New York Republican Party. But newly minted Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is not calling on Santos to resign from the House, where Republicans hold a slim majority over Democrats and losing Santos' vote would make the speaker's job more difficult. "Voters have elected George Santos," McCarthy told reporters on Capitol Hill. McCarthy's remarks contrasted with the barrage of criticism that Long Island Republicans hurled at Santos a day earlier.

Search resuls for: "Republican Rep"

25 mentions found