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☆ Is Alvin Bragg’s Case Against Trump Constitutional?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( David B. Rivkin Jr. | Kristin A. Shapiro | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg ’s indictment of Donald Trump could mean trouble down the road for Joe Biden. “I think our Republican AGs and DAs”—attorneys general and district attorneys—“should get creative,” Mike Davis , a Republican former Senate staffer, told the New York Post. But under the Trump precedent, what’s to stop an ambitious Republican prosecutor somewhere from bringing dubious state charges against him before a hostile jury after he leaves office? Every four to eight years, prosecutors would order up a presidential ham sandwich. Presidents might end up having to flee the country when they leave office.

☆ White House asks agencies to step up workers' return to offices
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday asked federal agencies to revise workforce plans as it aims to "substantially increase" in-person work by government employees at headquarters offices and improve services, according to a memo seen by Reuters. The memo to executive branch agencies from White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director Shalanda Young directs agencies to refresh work environment plans and policies. Some Republican lawmakers have pressed federal agencies to require more government workers to return to offices. "It’s time for the federal workforce to get back to work in-person for the American people. Aiming to cut long wait times and delays in processing federal services, OMB's memo said: "Agencies should prioritize improving experiences and services that directly impact the public."

☆ Manhattan DA sues GOP Rep. Jim Jordan for launching an 'unprecedentedly brazen and unconstitutional' attack on Trump prosecution
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, the House Judiciary Committee, and a prosecutor who previously worked for Bragg. In the 50-page lawsuit, Bragg accused Jordan of launching an "unprecedentedly brazen and unconstitutional attack" on the DA's office while it's in the middle of an ongoing investigation and criminal prosecution against former President Donald Trump. Bragg's lawsuit went on to say that Jordan started a "transparent campaign to intimidate and attack District Attorney Bragg, making demands for confidential documents and testimony from the District Attorney himself as well as his current and former employees and officials." The letter called Bragg's investigation "an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority." Insider reached out to spokespeople for Jordan, Bragg, and Pomerantz for comment.

☆ House GOP's attempt to shut down Alvin Bragg is unlikely to save Trump but could serve despots in training, say oversight experts
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Donald Trump's formal arraignment in Manhattan criminal court sent House Republicans into a tizzy. Stretton wondered about House Republicans' attempt to defang state prosecutors they consider to be political persecutors. "It's hard to say what overstepping bounds are any more," Davis told Insider. "When you defend somebody before you've even seen the indictment, you're kind of hitching your wagon to all the investigations," Goldberg told Insider. He also warned that spotlight-chasing House Republicans risk drowning in unfinished business at the end of the term by floating new Biden-focused inquiries "every couple of weeks."

☆ House Republicans vow to avenge Trump indictment by going after 'spineless weasel' Alvin Bragg and President Joe Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former President Donald Trump was charged with 34 felony counts Tuesday in Manhattan. House Republicans incensed by the arraignment began spitballing ways to fight back. "This day cannot be forgotten," Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona wrote online in a post bemoaning the "unequivocal persecution of Donald Trump." Meanwhile, House GOP Conference chair Rep. Elise Stefanik predicted that all those seeking to politically harm Trump with this trial had actually sealed their own fates. "President Trump will defeat this latest witch-hunt, defeat Joe Biden, and will be sworn in as President of the United States of America in January 2025," she said in a press release.

☆ 'My Neighbour Totoro,' Paul Mescal, Jodie Comer win at Olivier awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Marie-Louise Gumuchian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Jodie Comer poses with the award for Best Actress for "Prima Facie" accompanied by Paul Mescal at the Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, April 2, 2023. It won best entertainment or comedy play as well as the director, set, lighting, sound and costume design category prizes. It won best revival, best actor for Paul Mescal for his role as Stanley Kowalski and best actress in a supporting role for Anjana Vasan, for her portrayal of Stella. "Killing Eve" star Jodie Comer won best actress in one-woman play "Prima Facie," in which she portrays a barrister who defends men accused of sexual assault before herself being assaulted. won best musical revival and best actor in a musical for Arthur Darvill.

☆ Factbox: Winners at the 2023 Olivier Awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Marie-Louise Gumuchian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Jodie Comer poses with the award for Best Actress for "Prima Facie" at the Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, April 2, 2023. REUTERS/May JamesLONDON, April 2 (Reuters) - The Olivier Awards for theatre were handed out in London on Sunday, with "My Neighbour Totoro" winning the most prizes. Below is a list of winners in the key categories. BEST NEW PLAY"Prima Facie"BEST NEW MUSICAL"Standing at the Sky’s Edge"BEST MUSICAL REVIVALRodgers & Hammerstein’s "Oklahoma!" BEST REVIVAL"A Streetcar Named Desire"BEST ENTERTAINMENT OR COMEDY PLAY"My Neighbour Totoro"BEST ACTRESSJodie Comer, "Prima Facie"BEST ACTORPaul Mescal, "A Streetcar Named Desire"BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICALKatie Brayben, "Tammy Faye"BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICALArthur Darvill, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s "Oklahoma!"

☆ In the spotlight: London hosts Olivier Awards for theatre
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Marie-Louise Gumuchian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Paul Mescal arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar party after the 95th Academy Awards, known as the Oscars, in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., March 12, 2023. The London theatre community will gather at the Royal Albert Hall for the annual ceremony, named after the famed British actor Laurence Olivier and which celebrates the best productions in the capital. These include nods for best entertainment or comedy play, choreography, directing, costume design and music, as well as a best actress nomination for Mei Mac, who plays younger sibling, four-year-old Mei. Paul Mescal, who was nominated at this year's Oscars, has been recognised in the best actor category for playing Stanley Kowalski in a revival of Tennessee Williams' “A Streetcar Named Desire”. "Killing Eve" star Comer is up for best actress in one-woman play "Prima Facie", in which she portrays a barrister who defends men accused of sexual assault before herself being assaulted.

☆ Republicans defend Trump by attacking criminal-justice system
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Critics warn that the present partisan rhetoric could shake public trust in courts by undermining the institutional legitimacy of the criminal justice system. "Undercutting the system of government is a serious matter and a threat to our future," she said in an interview. Bragg, a Democrat, on Friday warned Republican Representatives Jim Jordan, James Comer and Bryan Steil, who are leading the probe, against attacking the criminal justice system. Historians including Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer said Republican statements about Bragg and the criminal justice system follow a long-established partisan line. Nicole Hemmer, director of the Rogers Center for the American Presidency at Vanderbilt University, warned that Republican attacks on the U.S. criminal justice system could ultimately have dire consequences for courts and juries.

☆ Manhattan DA office blasts House Republicans for collaborating with Trump's efforts to paint his indictment as 'politically motivated'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Manhattan district attorney's office blasted House Republicans in a letter dated Friday. Three committee chairmen have subpoenaed DA Bragg over the office's investigation into Trump. "What neither Mr. Trump nor Congress may do is interfere with the ordinary course of proceedings in New York State," the DA's general counsel, Leslie Dubeck, added. In the aftermath of the indictment, he rallied his congressional Republican allies, who had been trying to investigate the Manhattan district attorney's office, for support, according to CNN. Friday's letter says any interference in an ongoing criminal investigation would be "unprecedented and illegitimate," and jeopardize Trump's privacy rights.

☆ Bragg pushes back after House Republicans escalate oversight into Trump hush money case
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Summer Concepcion | Julie Tsirkin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has dismissed another letter by three House Republican chairmen seeking more information related to the hush money probe that could lead to an indictment of former President Donald Trump. "Contrary to the central argument set forth in your letter, this matter does not simply involve local or state interests," the lawmakers wrote. It is not appropriate for Congress to interfere with pending local investigations," Bragg wrote. Their request came after Trump falsely predicted last weekend in a post to his social media platform Truth Social that he would be arrested Tuesday. The Manhattan DA's office then slammed the Republicans on Thursday, arguing they had overstepped with their request.

☆ Republicans Push for Access to Trump Case Documents on Potential Indictment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Natalie Andrews | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg this week rebuffed an initial request by the lawmakers. House Republicans pressed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to cooperate with their request for information about the potential indictment of former President Donald Trump over his role in paying hush money to a porn star. In a Saturday letter to Mr. Bragg, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), Oversight Chairman James Comer (R., Ky.), and House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R., Wis.) outlined their reasoning for why Congress should have access to communications, documents and testimony relating to the Manhattan district attorney’s investigation.

☆ Jim Jordan's push for Alvin Bragg's testimony on Trump probe is 'unprecedented,' Manhattan DA's office says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A push from House Republicans to get Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to testify about his probe and expected indictment of former President Donald Trump is "unprecedented," an advisor to Bragg told GOP lawmakers Thursday. In responding to Republicans, Dubeck questioned congressional authority to look into Bragg's investigation. "Congress is not the appropriate branch to review pending criminal matters," Dubeck said in the letter to Jordan and the two other House Republicans dated Thursday. "To assist Congress in understanding the ways in which the DA's Office has used federal funds, we are preparing and will submit a letter describing its use of federal fund," Dubeck said. Dubeck's response to House Republicans comes as Jordan and other Trump defenders leverage the power of their committees to try to discredit the Manhattan investigation.

☆ Manhattan prosecutor's office says Trump created a 'false expectation' of immediate arrest and accuses House Republicans of interfering with investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office fired back at Republicans on Thursday. In a letter, the DA's office accused the GOP of interfering in a legal investigation. Former President Donald Trump had earlier claimed he would be arrested on Tuesday. The letter from Bragg's office was published Thursday afternoon by Axios. That came after Trump, over the weekend, asserted that he would be arrested on Tuesday of this week.

☆ Trump is surging in 2024 polls ahead of a possible indictment: Monmouth University poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Prior to news of a possible indictment, a poll showed support for former President Trump's 2024 run was surging. 41% of GOP respondents in the Monmouth University poll wanted Trump as the 2024 Republican nominee. According to the poll, when Republican respondents were asked who they'd like to see as the Republican nominee in 2024, 41% said Trump compared to 27% for Florida Gov. Monmouth University's not the only pollster showing Trump in the lead — a recent Morning Consult survey showed that 54% of potential GOP primary voters said they'd support Trump in the runup to the election. And despite a looming possible indictment, there isn't a lot of evidence that support for Trump will dwindle.

☆ Op-ed: ESG investing and 2018 change in bank laws didn't cause Silicon Valley Bank to collapse, says former Sen. Heitkamp
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Heidi Heitkamp | Former Democratic U.S. Senator North Dakota | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Within hours of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, political spin machines on both the left and right got cranking. I was one of the Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee who negotiated that legislation, which granted regulatory relief to small community and mid-sized regional banks. Under the burden of increased regulation, smaller institutions and many regional banks were struggling to stay competitive. If all the bank depositors withdrew their deposits on the same day, any bank would fail regardless of liquidity or bank capitalization.) The Fed had the authority to enhance the current level of regional bank supervision, a step the central bank is considering in the wake of the SVB failure.

☆ Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg defiant after House GOP demands answers over a possible Trump indictment: 'We will not be intimidated'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Alvin Bragg's office responded to House GOP demands that he testify about his investigation of Trump. The DA is investigating Trump's role in a hush-money payment made during his 2016 campaign. The lawmakers, who chair the powerful House judiciary, oversight and administration committees, said a possible indictment of Trump by Bragg would be "an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority." Trump has denied the affair with Daniels and any wrongdoing related to the payment. Legal experts say it's unlikely that Bragg would appear before House lawmakers to testify about the investigation, largely because it remains ongoing.

☆ US House Republicans launch investigation of Manhattan DA in Trump probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

His fellow Republicans including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have accused Bragg, a Democrat, of abuse of power and using his office to pursue a political agenda. McCarthy had also said he would direct House committees to determine whether federal funds have been used in the district attorney's probe. The letter was signed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil. "Congress has no jurisdiction to investigate the Manhattan DA, which receives no federal funding nor has any other federal nexus," added Goldman, who was lead counsel in a 2019 House impeachment of Trump. Trump, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has said he would continue campaigning even if charged with a crime.

☆ House Republicans are rallying to Trump's defense, but they're unlikely to be able to stop a possible indictment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

House Republicans are demanding documents and testimony from Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. It's the latest major step the GOP-led House has taken to defend Trump as he faces a possible criminal indictment. And without the backing of the Justice Department, it's unclear what consequences, if any, Congress can impose on Bragg's office. Yet while the lawmakers may have made valid criticisms, former Trump White House attorney Ty Cobb said, the letter is "bad form." Monday's letter also comes after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pledged to subject Bragg's office to congressional investigations in anticipation of a possible Trump indictment.

☆ Republicans to View Hunter Biden’s Financial Records
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Andrew Duehren | C. Ryan Barber | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden has long denied playing any role in business deals pursued by his son Hunter Biden. WASHINGTON—House Republicans will review government reports of suspicious financial transactions related to President Biden’s family members, resolving an early rift with the administration as Republicans mount an aggressive inquiry into the president’s son Hunter Biden . Rep. James Comer (R., Ky.), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and the Treasury Department have for weeks negotiated the timing and terms of lawmakers’ access to the so-called suspicious-activity reports, in which banks flag transactions that bear signs of money laundering or other potential criminal activity. The Treasury Department will make the reports available for an in camera review, meaning the panel can inspect them in person but not retain copies, Mr. Comer said.

☆ 'Shark Tank' star Kevin O'Leary is blaming Silicon Valley Bank's implosion on a 'negligent board of directors' with 'idiot management'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kevin O'Leary has blamed Silicon Valley Bank's management for the bank's implosion. Silicon Valley Bank collapsed after a bank run, and there are differing opinions on why that happened. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation took control of Silicon Valley Bank on Friday after a catastrophic bank run. There has been mud-slinging in all directions over the factors that may have contributed to Silicon Valley Bank's failure. Representatives for Silicon Valley Bank did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment outside regular business hours.

☆ GOP House Oversight chairman James Comer criticizes Silicon Valley Bank as 'one of the most woke banks'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

James Comer attributed Silicon Valley Bank's failure to its "woke" ESG investments. "This could be a trend and there are consequences for bad Democrat policy," Comer said on Sunday. Silicon Valley Bank's clients started running for the exits after the bank's management sold $21 billion worth of bonds at a $1.8 billion loss. It has become the biggest bank failure in the US since the 2008 financial crisis. Representatives for Comer and Silicon Valley Bank did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

☆ DeSantis and other prominent Republicans blame 'woke' politics for Silicon Valley Bank's collapse instead of bankers miscalibrating risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Nicole Gaudiano | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some Republicans blamed "woke" investment strategies for Silicon Valley Bank's downfall. Economists and banking experts so far have chalked up Silicon Valley Bank's failure to much more apolitical circumstances. Silicon Valley Bank then had to sell its assets at a loss to fork over cash it didn't have, an increasingly untenable chain reaction that ended only when regulators shut the institution down. Regulators closed the Silicon Valley Bank on Friday, a stunning break to a period of relative banking stability in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. "I don't know if making money's now woke," Baker said.

☆ House GOP adds January 6 investigation to its oversight blitz, vowing to avoid any 'particular political narrative'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

House Republicans have launched their first January 6-centric investigation of the 118th Congress. Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk is spearheading the latest oversight project. Loudermilk said he's interested in "following the facts, not a particular political narrative." Two years after the devastating attack on Congress, Republicans have been swept back into January 6-related news cycles by converging House priorities. House Administration staff did not immediately respond to requests for comment on how many submissions have come in so far.

☆ Investigation-wary CPAC attendees urge House Republicans to avoid getting wrapped up in settling old political scores: 'Today's not the day to go back and cry about it'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Insider asked Conservative Political Action Conference attendees about House GOP investigations. House Republicans created a new "weaponization" panel designed to explore their "deep state" conspiracy theories, while other standing committees are jumping all over Trump-era grievances like the southern border to try and orchestrate viral moments. CPAC attendees who told Insider they supported the House GOP's oversight crusade were all over the place in terms of their preferred targets. "I didn't send you to impeach the president," Yadeta said of his frustration, adding that Raskin should have tackled local issues like homelessness and job creation. "I hope we don't just get bogged down with a bunch of investigations where nothing comes out," he told Insider.

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