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It is not clear whether the special grand jury's findings will lead to criminal charges against Trump or anyone else for election interference. Members of the special grand jury voted to recommend the public release of their findings. In a statement on Monday, his Georgia-based legal team said the grand jury never subpoenaed Trump or asked him to appear voluntarily. The special grand jury had subpoena power to gather evidence and compel witness testimony but did not have the authority to issue indictments. If Willis determines that charges are warranted based on the findings, she could seek indictments from a regular grand jury.

☆ U.S. lawmakers preparing plan to avert debt-ceiling crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Jason Lange | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Congress's rules on the debt ceiling are intended to limit growth of the nation's debt. The White House has said raising the debt ceiling should not be a negotiation. Senator Joe Manchin, have said the administration needs to engage in a debt ceiling negotiation. A 2011 standoff over the debt ceiling lead Standard & Poor's to cut the U.S.'s credit rating, a historic first. Biden is hosting Democratic congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday.

☆ The ways federal officials from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump — and now Joe Biden — have been accused of mishandling government records
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

President Joe BidenPresident Joe Biden speaks at the White House on January 12, 2023. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday appointed a special counsel, Robert K. Hur, to investigate Biden for potential mishandling of classified documents. Another State Department investigation that lasted for three years and ended in 2019 found Clinton's use of a private email server put classified information at risk but that there was "no persuasive evidence of systemic, deliberate mishandling of classified information." Berger was found to have smuggled out highly classified documents, destroying some, and lying about possessing them. Lower-profile federal officials are more commonly chargedIn addition to former presidents and top White House officials, lower-profile federal agents are more commonly charged with mishandling government documents.

☆ 'Secure 2.0' clears Congress as part of omnibus appropriations bill, will bring more changes to U.S. retirement system
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Three years after the Secure Act of 2019 ushered in the first major changes to the U.S. retirement system in more than a decade, more modifications are now on their way. Dozens of retirement-related provisions collectively known as "Secure 2.0" are included in a $1.7 trillion omnibus appropriations bill that received approval from the House on Friday — following the Senate's nod on Thursday — and will head to President Joe Biden for his signature. Secure 2.0 "addresses gaps that have left some people on the sidelines of retirement savings, unable to access the workplace retirement plans that do so much good in establishing the capability and habit of savings," said Susan Neely, president and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers. The Secure 2.0 provisions are intended to build on improvements to the retirement system that were implemented under the 2019 Secure Act. Those changes included giving part-time workers better access to retirement benefits and increasing the age when required minimum distributions, or RMDs, from certain retirement accounts must start — to age 72 from 70½.

The Senate voted 70-25 to proceed to debate of the bill, with some Republican senators hoping to offer amendments. A handful of conservative Senate Republicans on Tuesday said they objected to the bill, but would not try to stop its passage. Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell said most of his caucus supports it: "We're moving toward completing the business for the year. And I think in a highly productive way from the point of view of the vast majority of Senate Republicans." Among the most significant add-ons to the spending bill is the bipartisan Electoral Count Act, which overhauls and clarifies Congress' certification process for presidential elections.

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Conservative Republicans in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday expressed outrage at a $1.66 trillion government funding bill, but signaled that they did not intend to significantly delay the measure, which could lead to a weekend partial government shutdown. Fellow Republican Senator Mike Braun said the group will intensify its budget reform efforts next year, when Republicans take control of the House of Representatives. Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell said most of his caucus supports it: "We're moving toward completing the business for the year. And I think in a highly productive way from the point of view of the vast majority of Senate Republicans." Among the most significant add-ons to the spending bill is the bipartisan Electoral Count Act, which overhauls and clarifies Congress' certification process for presidential elections.

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate planned to take its first vote on a $1.66 trillion government funding bill on Tuesday, as lawmakers scrambled to pass the measure and avert a possible partial government shutdown beginning on Saturday. The total funding proposed by the sweeping bill, is up from the approximately $1.5 trillion the previous year. It also includes funding to prepare for and respond to potential nuclear and radiological incidents in Ukraine. On the non-defense side of the ledger, the bill's negotiators have set funding at $800 billion, a $68 billion increase over the previous year. This was the second year in a row Congress included funding for hundreds of largely unrelated projects requested by individual lawmakers.

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress were moving forward with a $1.66 trillion government funding bill, scrambling to pass a measure, which includes record military spending, before temporary funding runs out on Friday. The total funding proposed by the sweeping bill, released early on Tuesday, is up from the approximately $1.5 trillion the previous year. This money would be on top of the record $858 billion in military spending for the year, which is up from last year's $740 billion and also exceeds Biden's request. On the non-defense side of the ledger, the bill's negotiators have set funding at $800 billion, a $68 billion increase over the previous year. This was the second year in a row Congress included funding for hundreds of largely unrelated projects requested by individual lawmakers.

☆ Factbox: What's in the U.S. Congress's Electoral Count Reform Act?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here are details on the Electoral Count Reform Act, which lawmakers included in a year-end government funding bill:AIMS TO PREVENT ANOTHER JAN. 6The bipartisan effort would rewrite the 1887 Electoral Count Act, which lays out the process by which Congress tallies the state-by-state results from a presidential election and formally certifies the winner. Trump and his advisers had cited provisions of the 1887 law as they pressed Republican allies to overturn his loss. BIPARTISAN SUPPORTWhile other election-law reforms have foundered in Congress this year due to Republican opposition, the Electoral Count Reform Act has solid bipartisan support, at least in the Senate. Trump had urged his vice president, Mike Pence, to prevent lawmakers from certifying Biden's victory. Current law requires Congress to consider a challenge if only one lawmaker from each chamber raises an objection.

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress were moving forward with a $1.66 trillion government funding bill, scrambling to pass the measure, which includes record military spending, before temporary funding runs out at the end of the week. The total funding proposed by the bill is up from the approximately $1.5 trillion appropriated the previous year. Democrats and Republicans alike had aimed to tuck as many legislative wish-list items as possible into the "omnibus" bill funding the government through the end of this fiscal year on Sept. 30, 2023, without derailing the whole package. Negotiators worked through the weekend to put the finishing touches on the bill, which still could be amended by the full House or Senate. Among the most significant add-ons is the bipartisan Electoral Count Act, which overhauls and clarifies Congress' certification process for presidential elections.

☆ January 6 committee expected to ask the DOJ to prosecute Trump for conspiracy, obstruction, and inciting an insurrection
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The January 6 committee is set to ask the DOJ to prosecute Trump in connection to the Capitol riot, per the Washington Post. The panel will recommend 3 charges: conspiracy to defraud the US, obstruction of an official proceeding, and inciting an insurrection. It's set to recommend three charges against Trump at the conclusion of a public meeting Monday: conspiracy to defraud the US, obstruction of an official proceeding, and inciting an insurrection. Specifically, lawmakers said they believed Trump tried to obstruct an official proceeding; conspired to defraud the United States; and engaged in common law fraud. He's also accused the bipartisan congressional select committee of going on a politically motivated witch hunt.

☆ House Democrats reject a rules change that could've empowered junior members amid concerns about aging leadership
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

"Six years is a pretty long time," Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia told Insider at the Capitol earlier this month. "I'm not for term limits," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told Insider during a briefing with reporters at the end of November. "I'm not taking a position on any single rules proposal that is before the House Democratic Caucus," he said. Another prominent young lawmaker — 33-year-old Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York — has also been vocal in her criticism of the system. "Whatever the mechanism is, we need to have more opportunities for people to bring their leadership to bear in different places," she told Insider.

☆ White House 'open' to debt ceiling deal before year's end
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The White House said on Tuesday that it is open to seeing a debt ceiling increase approved before year-end in Congress's post-election "lame duck" session. "That is something we are open to," said White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre. Reporting by Steve Holland and Trevor HunnicuttOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The justices rebuffed Glenhaven Healthcare's appeal of a lower court's ruling allowing the family of deceased resident Ricardo Saldana to proceed with the lawsuit in a California state court. Under then-President Donald Trump in January 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, prodded by nursing homes, declared that cases filed in state court involving interpretation of the PREP Act should be moved to federal court. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the Saldana case that some state law claims can remain in state court. Glenhaven has argued that personal injury lawsuits against entities that provide COVID-19 countermeasures belong in federal court. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Hospital Association and the American Health Care Association, a nursing home industry group, weighed in to support its petition to the Supreme Court.

☆ Yellen says U.S. debt ceiling hike by lame-duck Congress would be 'great'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks at a news conference during the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington, U.S., October 14, 2022. Yellen told reporters on the sidelines of G20 summit meetings in Bali that Senate control by Democrats would ease the path for approving nominations and other legislative actions. "We want to see the debt ceiling get done. If it got done in the lame duck, that would be great, as far as I'm concerned," Yellen said. Reporting by David Lawder Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON — Americans were still waiting Friday to learn which party will control the House and Senate next year. Three days after final ballots were cast in the 2022 midterm elections, more than two dozen House races have not yet been called, with a number of them in California and other areas in the western half of the country. Republicans have a better chance of winning a majority in the House, though the Democrats still have a chance to retain control. As of Friday morning, Republicans have won 211 seats, Democrats have won 197 and 27 races remain uncalled. The Senate also hangs in the balance, as results in key races in Arizona and Nevada have not been decided.

Nov 10 (Reuters) - A federal judge in Texas on Thursday ruled that President Joe Biden's plan to cancel hundreds of billions of dollars in student loan debt was unlawful and must be vacated, delivering a victory to conservative opponents of the program. The debt relief plan had already been temporarily blocked by the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. "The Program is thus an unconstitutional exercise of Congress's legislative power and must be vacated," Pittman wrote. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office in September calculated the debt forgiveness would eliminate about $430 billion of the $1.6 trillion in outstanding student debt and that over 40 million people were eligible to benefit. The plan, announced in August, calls for forgiving up to $10,000 in student loan debt for borrowers making less than $125,000 per year, or $250,000 for married couples.

☆ DOJ asks Supreme Court to deny Trump's request to block House Democrats from getting his tax records
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Rebecca-Shabad-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice and the House Ways and Means Committee asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to reject former President Donald Trump's request to block the panel from accessing his tax records. Earlier this month, Chief Justice John Roberts Chief temporarily blocked the Ways and Means panel from accessing Trump's tax records. Roberts said the case would remain on hold until the court acts and asked the committee to file a response to Trump’s request by Thursday. After the DOJ's filing, the committee also filed a similar 52-page argument Thursday against Trump's request. “The committee’s purpose in requesting President Trump’s tax returns has nothing to do with funding or staffing issues at the IRS and everything to do with releasing the president’s tax information to the public,” the lawyers wrote in a recent court filing.

☆ Federal judge in Texas declares Biden's student debt relief plan unlawful
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A federal judge in Texas on Thursday ruled that President Joe Biden's plan to cancel hundreds of billions of dollars in student loan debt was unlawful and must be vacated, delivering a victory to conservative opponents of the program. The debt relief plan had already been temporarily blocked by the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office in September calculated the debt forgiveness would eliminate about $430 billion of the $1.6 trillion in outstanding student debt and that over 40 million people were eligible to benefit. The plan, announced in August, calls for forgiving up to $10,000 in student loan debt for borrowers making less than $125,000 per year, or $250,000 for married couples. Borrowers who received Pell Grants to benefit lower-income college students will have up to $20,000 of their debt canceled.

☆ The crypto industry is closely watching the midterm elections. Here's what it's looking for
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The midterm elections are next week, and some investors are closely watching the outcome for an idea of how the next Congress's lawmakers will approach cryptocurrency over the following two years. Lawmakers and regulatory agencies have scrambled to sharpen their understanding of the fledgling sector, while the industry itself has beefed up its lobbying. There's a good chance the midterm elections will hardly dent the price action in the days that follow. They say the midterm elections and the new shape of Congress could affect how the legislative process unfolds. While the bear market has dominated headlines this year, the drumbeat for crypto regulation has gotten much louder, providing some comfort to members of the crypto industry.

☆ Capitol police failed to monitor House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home despite a 24/7 security detail, cameras around her home and record numbers of death threats
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Isabella Zavarise | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Capitol police have 1,800 cameras, yet failed to monitor the video feed outside Nancy Pelosi's home. Law enforcement told The Washington Post the House Speaker receives the most death threats. Capitol Police installed cameras around the Pelosi property more than eight years ago. The Post reported the Capitol Police installed cameras around the House Speaker's property more than eight years ago and that she has a 24/7 security detail. Data from the Capitol Police found that threats to Congressional lawmakers increased by 144% between 2017 and 2022.

☆ Trump hopes a judge will save him from January 6 subpoenas
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Allen Sumrall | Josh Chafetz | Allen Sumrall Is A Ph.D. Student In The Department Of Government At The University Of Texas At Austin. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

It is hard to imagine anything more central to the House’s constitutional role than thoroughly investigating an attempt to overthrow the government by force. The Trump subpoena clearly aids that function. In other words, simply by going to court, Trump can most likely ensure that he never has to comply. If Trump is allowed to sue to quash the subpoena, the courts in effect substitute their judgment for Congress's. That is not their constitutional role.

Oct 24 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeeverChinese politics, Japanese policy. This was offered up for public consumption on Saturday when former President Hu Jintao was unexpectedly escorted out of the Party Congress's closing ceremony. Xi's cabinet reshuffle may also see central bank chief Yi Gang stepping down and being replaced by former deputy governor Yin Yong, according to sources. Meanwhile, Japan intervened in the FX market on Friday after the yen slumped to a new 32-year low close to 152.00 per dollar. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Live broadcast shows former Chinese president being abruptly escorted out of the Communist Party Congress closing ceremony
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Former Chinese President Hu Jintao was abruptly escorted out of China's Party Congress's closing ceremony. Hu was sitting next to President Xi Jinping on Saturday before he was removed. Footage shows ushers trying to lift Hu out of his seat before leading him out of the Great Hall of the People. It is unclear why he was involuntarily removed from the Party Congress closing ceremony, which takes place in Beijing every five years. Most of the closing ceremony took place behind closed doors, but cameras and reporters were allowed in for the final portion.

Oct 19 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday that the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's funding apparatus is unconstitutional, faulting a system Democrats designed to insulate the agency from requiring congressional appropriations. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the CFPB's independent funding through the Federal Reserve rather than budgets passed by Congress violated the separation of powers principles in the U.S. Constitution. "The Bureau's perpetual self-directed, double-insulated funding structure goes a significant step further than that enjoyed by the other agencies on offer." It could ask the full 5th Circuit to reconsider the case or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court in 2020 ruled in another case that the protection Congress originally afforded the CFPB director, who could only be fired for cause, was unconstitutional.

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