Browsing: White House

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, has referred former special counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department for potential criminal charges, alleging he lied to Congress. Smith’s lawyers have called these allegations “spurious” and defended the accuracy of his testimony regarding the investigation into Trump.

The House passed the Stop Insider Trading Act on Wednesday, aiming to limit stock trading by Congress members. The bill, which requires disclosures of stock sales, received bipartisan support but drew criticism for not imposing stricter limits. A voter ID provision complicated its backing among Democrats.

The Justice Department sought to access phone records from several New York Times reporters regarding security concerns related to the Qatar-donated Air Force One. The Times moved to quash subpoenas issued for these records, citing improper government tactics, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday.

President Trump has announced a 50% tariff on a variety of Canadian goods, including hockey equipment and alcoholic beverages, effective from 19 August. This decision follows accusations of unfair trade practices by Canada in response to previous U.S. tariffs. The situation highlights rising tensions between the two nations.

Senator Mark Warner expressed concerns over the U.S. military situation in Jordan, highlighting the loss of 16 American lives and hundreds of injuries. He criticised the administration’s lack of a clear plan regarding Iran and warned about potential foreign influence in upcoming elections, specifically mentioning the role of China and Russia.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin reiterated claims from President Trump about over 250,000 non-citizens registered to vote in California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Nevada, despite a lack of detailed methodology. Four states have not complied with federal data requests, emphasizing the ongoing debate over voter registration accuracy.

Senator Darline Graham of South Carolina is considering a run for her late brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat in the forthcoming Republican primary on August 11. Appointed to serve his remaining term, she seeks to leverage her brother’s connections while expressing confidence in her new role.

In a primetime address, President Trump claimed the U.S. election system is “catastrophically short,” while disputing the validity of the 2020 election. He urged lawmakers to pass the SAVE America Act amid criticism from Democrats. Released documents revealed no evidence of vote manipulation or machine hacking.

During a primetime address, President Trump is expected to discuss alleged Chinese interference in U.S. elections, including claims that Beijing accessed voter data. The speech will occur in front of senior officials from several intelligence and security agencies. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed speculation about the speech’s content.

Senate Democrats blocked the procedural vote on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) amid concerns over the Trump administration’s conduct in the Iran conflict. The 50 to 46 vote reflected bipartisan tensions, with critics arguing the bill should not proceed during heightened military hostilities.