senate judiciary committee
Ex-Trump prosecutor Smith forcefully defends investigations as Republicans assail his team’s tactics
WASHINGTON | Former special counsel Jack Smith forcefully defended his prosecutions of President Donald Trump and his investigative tactics, pushing back against repeated Republican efforts to paint him and his team as partisan political operators during a Senate hearing Tuesday that divided along familiar party lines. The hearing came as Republicans have pushed for Smith […]
GOP Sen. John Curtis calls for probe of Trump Jr. after wedding party bankrolled by Russian oligarch
WASHINGTON | Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah is calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate whether Donald Trump Jr. used his proximity to the presidency for financial benefit, after his recent wedding party was partially bankrolled by a Russian oligarch. In a letter sent Tuesday, Curtis called on the committee to subpoena Trump […]
FBI chief Kash Patel defends loosening of employment standards on bestiality, prostitution
WASHINGTON | FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday defended the bureau’s loosening of hiring requirements regarding prostitution and bestiality, saying the changes were meant to enable victims of those acts to apply for employment without fear of automatic disqualification. The FBI quietly issued guidance this past spring lifting a categorical hiring ban on applicants who […]
Blanche rescinds fund for Trump allies after GOP senators threaten to block his attorney general bid
WASHINGTON | Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order late Sunday terminating President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” to compensate his political allies, a move that follows weeks of negotiations with two Republican senators who were blocking his nomination to become attorney general. A spokeswoman for Texas Sen. John Cornyn, one of […]
Senate panel delays vote on Blanche attorney general nomination as key Republicans withhold support
WASHINGTON | Todd Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general stalled Wednesday as lawmakers scrapped a planned committee vote after key Republicans demanded more assurances about the settlement of President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. The Senate Judiciary Committee had been expected to vote Thursday on whether to advance Blanche’s nomination to the […]
Blanche meets with Epstein accusers after demand from Republican senator crucial to confirmation
WASHINGTON | Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met Thursday with accusers of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following the demand by a Republican senator whose support is crucial to advancing his nomination to lead the Justice Department. Blanche spent about an hour at Justice Department headquarters in Washington with the group of Epstein accusers, who […]
Blanche confronts skeptical questioning of fund, tax deal for Trump at Senate confirmation hearing
WASHINGTON | Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confronted skeptical questioning at a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday about the creation of a fund to compensate President Donald Trump’s allies and a tax immunity deal for the president as he aimed to lock down the Republican support needed to advance his nomination. Blanche insisted that the $1.776 […]