Category: fox-news/newsedge/politics

Speaker McCarthy met with Hakeem Jeffries and vowed to play nice after Pelosi called him a ‘moron’

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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was so offended by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling him a "moron" that he met with her successor, Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., to make a mutual vow that they would play nice.

Pelosi was dismissive of McCarthy's leadership during his time at the head of the Republican minority, but his relationship with Jeffries has been notably more respectful. The pair are up front with their disagreements, but have not yet resorted to name-calling.

"We’ll continue to agree to disagree without being disagreeable with each other and find common ground when possible, therefore continuing to work together," Jeffries told Punchbowl News on Wednesday. "It remains a positive, forward-looking, communicative relationship."

"I have a great deal of respect for him," McCarthy said of his counterpart. "We’re going to disagree on different issues. I believe based on the information that we have now, the Congress just needs to get more answers. That’s what we’re going about doing," he added, referring to a presidential impeachment inquiry.

'THE VIEW' CO-HOST UPSET BY BIDEN'S AGE 'NARRATIVE': 'HE AIN'T DYING ANYTIME SOON'

"I have worked hard to make sure we have respect for one another. Even when we have, like any relationship, a difference of opinion, I’m going to explain my position to him. He has been very honest and direct with me when he has disagreed, which has been many times. I respect his position. I know what happens today, tomorrow it can be something else," he told Punchbowl.

WAPO COLUMNIST ARGUED BIDEN ‘TOO OLD’ TO RUN AGAIN, SHOULD HAVE STOPPED HUNTER'S ‘ATTEMPTS TO IMPRESS CLIENTS’

Pelosi, who has just announced plans for re-election, hasn't let off the gas on McCarthy, however. She described McCarthy as having an "incredibly shrinking speakership" during an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper on Sunday.

Pelosi first got on McCarthy's bad side in 2021, in an incident that came when McCarthy slammed a House mask mandate as not following the science.

PEOPLE BORN THE SAME DAY AS BIDEN DEFEND PRESIDENT AMID AGE CONCERNS: '80 IS THE NEW 60'

"Make no mistake – The threat of bringing masks back is not a decision based on science, but a decision conjured up by liberal government officials who want to continue to live in a perpetual pandemic state," McCarthy said at the time.

Asked to react to McCarthy's comment at a filmed public event, Pelosi responded: "He's such a moron."

McCarthy and Jeffries' respectful relationship is likely to be tested in the coming months as Republicans get underway with their impeachment inquiry against President Biden. Jeffries has already called the effort "illegitimate."

Fox News' Tyler Olson contributed to this report.

Senate GOP rallies behind McCarthy’s impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden: ‘Web of corruption’

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Several Senate Republicans are uniting in support of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's move to initiate an impeachment inquiry against President Biden despite a growing number of skeptical GOP leaders in the upper chamber.

The inquiry will determine whether there are grounds to bring formal charges (articles of impeachment) against Biden over allegations of "abuse of power, obstruction, and corruption," McCarthy said Tuesday.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Wednesday on his "Verdict with Ted Cruz" podcast that he's been "calling for the House to open impeachment inquiries for months."

"I think the evidence long ago cleared that threshold, but they finally done it," he said.

"Joe Biden's confession on tape is direct evidence that he committed one of the critical elements of bribery," Cruz later said. "Now, we don't yet have direct evidence of every element of the crime, but we have direct evidence of one of the most critical aspects of the crime, which is the quote that Joe Biden has admitted and that is unequivocally direct evidence, and it's pretty damn compelling."

HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY ANNOUNCES FORMAL IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN

Meanwhile, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that he didn’t think "we would be down this road" if the Biden administration was "being open and transparent with everybody to begin with."

"There was a lot of information that was requested by the committee that has jurisdiction, from the Ways and Means [Committee] to Judiciary to Oversight," he said. "And the fact is, is they were slow-balling or just refusing to share the information."

If enough evidence is compiled and articles of impeachment are sent over to the upper chamber, Mullin said, "Then it's our job to put him on trial and, if so, convict him."

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said the House has "done an excellent job trying to uncover the tangled web of corruption that we've seen coming out of the Biden administration and specifically the Biden family."

"Clearly, there are facts that need further investigation," he said. "The House is headed in the right direction."

Also on Tuesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters that he would probably be a "yes" vote on impeaching the president, The Messenger reported.

IRS WHISTLEBLOWER NOTES MEMORIALIZE DOJ'S ALLEGED REJECTION OF SPECIAL PROSECUTOR IN HUNTER BIDEN CASE

"If I had any legitimate questions, and I think there are questions about the narrative, yeah, I would," he said.

"I've been involved in every impeachment in this country but one," Graham said.

Although Graham supports an inquiry, he said that "we need to have structure here" in response to McCarthy evading a floor vote before launching the inquiry. McCarthy said former Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi created that precedent when she sidestepped a vote to impeach former President Donald Trump for the second time in 2021.

Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., also said in a statement Tuesday that "serious allegations" have been elevated about Biden's "involvement with his son’s overseas business dealings that can’t be ignored."

"We need to get to the full truth, and an impeachment inquiry is the right way to do that," he said.

Conversely, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has not indicated his support of the inquiry. He told reporters Tuesday when asked about the House's effort: "I don't think Speaker McCarthy needs any advice from the Senate on how to run the House."

White House spokesperson for oversight and investigations Ian Sams slammed the effort as "extreme politics."

COMER DEMANDS STATE DEPT EXPLAIN 'SUDDEN' DECISIONS LEADING TO FIRING OF UKRAINIAN PROSECUTOR PROBING BURISMA

"House Republicans have been investigating the President for 9 months, and they've turned up no evidence of wrongdoing. His own GOP members have said so. He vowed to hold a vote to open impeachment, now he flip flopped (sic) because he doesn't have support. Extreme politics at its worst," Sams wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The House is probing Biden’s foreign business ties with his son, Hunter, in Ukraine and China. Republicans hope to unearth bribery negotiations that suggest Biden leveraged his position as then-vice president under former President Barack Obama for personal gain.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., will lead the inquiry alongside House Oversight Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo.

Should the House vote to impeach Biden, the Senate would serve as a tribunal where senators would review evidence, listen to witnesses and cast votes for the acquittal or conviction of the impeached official.

GOP legislators may face an uphill battle as the Democrat-controlled Senate is unlikely to convict Biden. Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Wednesday called the decision to launch an impeachment inquiry "absurd."

NM GOP leaders to file suit against Dem Gov Grisham to block gun carry ban

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The New Mexico Senate's Republican leader is set to file a lawsuit against Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in an effort to stop her gun carry ban.

New Mexico state Sen. Gregory Baca told Fox News Digital his lawsuit, filed in conjunction with New Mexico House Minority Leader Rep. Ryan Lane, is his response to the governor's order, cast as a public health measure, barring the concealed and open carriage of firearms in Albuquerque for at least 30 days.

NEW MEXICO SHERIFF SAYS HE WON'T ENFORCE ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’ GUN BAN: ‘PROTECTING THE SECOND AMENDMENT’

"We are going to file suit against her this week, most likely today or tomorrow, because of its blatant unconstitutionality," Baca told Fox News Digital, referring to the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

Baca, a lawyer, said he didn't know if the lawsuit would go to the Supreme Court but said he thinks "that it actually doesn't need to go there, because it is so clear that it violates our Constitution… both nationally and at the state level."

The New Mexico Senate GOP leader said there are six lawsuits already filed against Grisham and that he and his colleagues "will be filing at the state court level with the Supreme Court of New Mexico."

When asked if he believes the public health order will be stopped, Baca said, "I do. I think it certainly will be."

"There will be injunctive relief granted on probably all of these lawsuits forcing that health order to be rescinded at that time," he continued. "If that is not the case, she may rescind it on her own just due to pressure from her own party and her own people."

"We have a number of high-ranking Democrats now in this state that are in opposition to it because it's, as I said, it's unconstitutional on its face, including, from what I understand, six Democratic lawmakers from the House," Baca said.

Baca said that, while an impeachment inquiry would have to originate in the state House, should one reach the Senate, the chamber GOP "will give it our full attention."

The Senate Republican leader called out Grisham's statements claiming that her oath to uphold the Constitution is not "absolute."

"I believe that because of some of the words that she stated in her press statement, essentially, she said that herself," Baca said. "She said that she did violate her oath, in which case, I think that, you know, that is just a huge revelation to people."

"I've always understood that the oath I've taken both for the United States military, this office, for the New Mexico State bar, those I take seriously," he continued. "And I have felt that those should not ever be violated."

Baca's lawsuit comes as Grisham faces heavy pushback for her ban on concealed and open carry in Albuquerque.

Grisham is facing widespread outcry from state law enforcement officials following her attempt to ban concealed and open carry permits.

Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen described Grisham's 30-day "public health order" as "unconstitutional" during a press conference this week despite standing beside the governor during her rollout of the policy.

"It’s unconstitutional, so there’s no way we can enforce that order," the sheriff said Monday in a news conference. "This ban does nothing to curb gun violence."

"We must always remember not only are we protecting the Second Amendment, but at the same time, we have a lot of violence within our community. Let me be clear, I hold my standards high, and I do not or never will hedge on what is right," he said.

Grisham's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Fox News Digital's Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.

WATCH: Sen. John Fetterman gives odd, animated reaction to news of Biden impeachment inquiry

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First-term Pennsylvania Democrat Senator John Fetterman gave an odd, animated reaction to the news of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., announcing an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

Fetterman stopped to talk with reporter Liz Brown-Kaiser in the underbelly of the Senate and was asked about the news of McCarthy's Tuesday announcement.

The Pennsylvania Democrat responded to the question in an animated fashion — as his staffer tried to get him to move along.

HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY ANNOUNCES FORMAL IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN

"Oh my God, really?" Fetterman said, backing up from the news and grabbing his head. "Oh my gosh."

"You know, it's devastating," the Pennsylvania Democrat continued before laughing and putting his hands down.

"Ooooohhhh," Fetterman said, wiggling his fingers from outstretched hands. "Don't do it!"

Fetterman said "please don't do it" and "oh no, oh no" as he lumbered down the hall away from reporters, waving his hands.

Fox News Digital reached out to Fetterman's office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Fetterman's reaction comes after McCarthy announced on Tuesday a formal impeachment proceeding against Biden.

McCarthy on Tuesday said House Republicans have "uncovered serious and credible allegations into President Biden's conduct" that will serve as the basis of an impeachment inquiry.

"Today, I am directing our House committees to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe," McCarthy announced in a statement at the Capitol Tuesday. "This logical next step will give our committees the full power to gather all the facts and answers for the American public."

The speaker said House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., will lead the inquiry in coordination with House Oversight Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo.

McCarthy spoke for only roughly three minutes and did not take questions from reporters. He made no mention of holding a floor vote before opening the impeachment inquiry, despite telling Breitbart earlier this month it would happen "through a vote on the floor of the People’s House and not through a declaration by one person."

He listed allegations of "abuse of power, obstruction and corruption" made against Biden by several GOP-led committees who have been investigating the president. 

"Through our investigations, we have found that President Biden did lie to the American people about his own knowledge of his family's foreign business dealings. Eyewitnesses have testified that the president joined on multiple phone calls and had multiple interactions, dinners resulted in cars and millions of dollars into his sons and his son's business partners," McCarthy said.

"We know that bank records show that nearly $20 million in payments were directed to the Biden family members and associates through various Shell companies. The Treasury Department alone has more than 150 transactions involving the Biden family. Another business associates that were flagged as suspicious activity by U.S. banks. Even a trusted FBI informant has alleged a bribe to the Biden family. Biden used his official office to coordinate with Hunter Biden's business partners about Hunter's role in Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company," he continued. 

He concluded, "Finally, despite these serious allegations, it appears that the president's family has been offered special treatment by Biden's own administration. Treatment that not otherwise would have received if they were not related to the president. These are allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption, and they want further investigation by the House of Representatives."

Fox News Digital's Chris Pandolfo and Elizabeth Elkind contributed reporting.

McConnell dodges questions on House impeachment inquiry against President Biden

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., dodged reporters' questions Tuesday about whether he supports House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's decision to open a formal impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden. 

"Well, we've got our hands full here trying to get through the appropriations process and not have an omnibus and I don't have any advice to get to the house," McConnell said after the GOP's weekly luncheon. "They've got a totally different set of challenges than we do, and so I think the best advice for the Senate is to do our job, and we'll see how this plays out later."

"I don't think Speaker McCarthy needs any advice from the Senate on how to run the House," he said to another reporter who asked if he supported the investigations. 

Last month, McConnell told the New York Times that pursuing an impeachment inquiry "is not good for our country." Nonetheless, the GOP leader made it clear the Senate will cross that bridge when it comes. 

HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY ANNOUNCES FORMAL IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday said House Republicans have "uncovered serious and credible allegations into President Biden's conduct" that will serve as the basis of an impeachment inquiry.

"Today, I am directing our House committees to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe," McCarthy announced in a statement at the Capitol Tuesday. "This logical next step will give our committees the full power to gather all the facts and answers for the American public." 

JOHN FETTERMAN DARES REPUBLICANS TO IMPEACH BIDEN: ‘YOU JUST GOTTA CALL THEIR BULLS--T’

McCarthy cited "abuse of power, obstruction and corruption" allegations against Biden by several GOP-led committees who have been investigating the president.

"Through our investigations, we have found that President Biden did lie to the American people about his own knowledge of his family's foreign business dealings. Eyewitnesses have testified that the president joined on multiple phone calls and had multiple interactions, dinners resulted in cars and millions of dollars into his sons and his son's business partners," McCarthy said.

"We know that bank records show that nearly $20 million in payments were directed to the Biden family members and associates through various Shell companies. The Treasury Department alone has more than 150 transactions involving the Biden family. Another business associates that were flagged as suspicious activity by U.S. banks. Even a trusted FBI informant has alleged a bribe to the Biden family. Biden used his official office to coordinate with Hunter Biden's business partners about Hunter's role in Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company," he continued. 

MCCONNELL INTENDS TO FINISH SENATE AND LEADERSHIP TERM FOLLOWING HEALTH EPISODES

Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, D-Ny., called the impeachment inquiry "absurd" on Tuesday.

"The American people want us to do something that will make their lives better, not go off on these chases and witch hunts," he said. 

"I have sympathy with Speaker McCarthy, he's in a difficult position, but sometimes you gotta tell these people who are way off the deep end who have no interest in helping the American people, who just wanna pursue their own with hunts that they can't go forward with it," he continued. 

Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report. 

Protesters storm Kevin McCarthy’s office over HIV bill, get dragged out by cops

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Protesters stormed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's Congressional office on Tuesday, demanding that he and other House Republicans re-up funding for an AIDs relief program.

Protesters with Housing Works pressed their way into McCarthy's office and refused to move until Capitol Hill Police arrived and arrested them. The group was demanding a 5-year reauthorization of the PEPFAR global AIDs relief program, which they say has saved "25 million lives."

Images of the incident show protesters sitting on the floor of McCarthy's office and linking arms as bemused staffers remain at their posts.

"We’re proud to use nonviolent civil disobedience, among other tactics, to demand that our government take action to end AIDS," the group wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERS WANT TO LAUNCH BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY NEXT MONTH, SOURCES SAY

McCarthy's office did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the incident, but Capitol Police confirmed to Fox News Digital that they arrested seven individuals.

MCCARTHY 'DANGLING' BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY TO DELAY RECKONING OVER SPENDING, SOME CONSERVATIVES SAY

"This morning, multiple individuals were demonstrating inside a House Office Building. After the demonstrators refused to cease demonstrating, USCP then arrested the 4 males and 3 females for Unlawful Entry," Capitol Police said in a statement.

Congress has until September 30 to re-up the law guaranteeing funding for the PEPFAR program, but agreement on the issue appears unlikely. The law had previously been renewed on a five-year rolling basis.

The program will still continue if Congress does not renew the law, but its funding will become subject to the annual budget battle.

MCCARTHY SAYS BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY WOULD NEED HOUSE VOTE, IN DEPARTURE FROM PELOSI AND DEMOCRATS

McCarthy is already facing an impending battle over the annual budget as House lawmakers return to the Capitol for the first time in six weeks on Tuesday. Leaders in the House and Senate have both acknowledged that a deal must be struck on a stopgap funding bill, called a continuing resolution, to give both sides more time to reach an agreement.

If no deal is reached by Sept. 30, lawmakers risk sending the government into a partial shutdown.

Fox News Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.

New Mexico Gov. Grisham swipes at fellow Democrat who called her gun carry ban unconstitutional

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The Democrat governor of New Mexico swiped at a California House member of her own party who called her gun carry ban unconstitutional.

In the wake of her constitutionally controversial order, Democrat New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham sparked rebukes from both sides of the aisle and GOP impeachment calls.

Grisham issued an emergency health order this weekend banning the concealed and open carry of firearms in Albuquerque for at least 30 days.

One Democrat who took aim at Grisham was California Rep. Ted Lieu, who tweeted that, while he supports "gun safety laws," the "order from the Governor of New Mexico violates the U.S. Constitution."

LIBERALS TURN ON NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR OVER GUN SUSPENSION: ‘VIOLATES THE US CONSTITUTION’

"No state in the union can suspend the federal Constitution," Lieu wrote. "There is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution."

In response to Lieu's tweet, Grisham unleashed a sassy retort claiming that the "conceal (sic) and open carry are state laws" that she has "jurisdiction over."

"If you’re really interested in helping curb gun violence, I’d welcome you to join our next police academy class," Grisham tweeted.

Grisham also included a link to a New Mexico police academy application.

Fox News Digital reached out to Lieu's office for a response to Grisham's tweet but did not receive a comment.

Grisham's response drew the governor more criticism.

Lujan Grisham's press secretary Caroline Sweeney told Fox News Digital on Sunday that the order "does not suspend the Constitution but instead state laws over which the governor has jurisdiction" when asked about Lieu's post. 

"The governor is looking for proactive partners who will bring solutions to the table - not naysayers who have no real answers to the gun violence epidemic we are faced with," Sweeney continued. "She was elected to serve the people of New Mexico, and not a day goes by that she doesn’t hear from a constituent asking for more to be done to curb this horrific violence. If Ted Lieu is so interested in addressing this issue, we invite him to join our next police academy class in January."

Liberal gun control activist David Hogg responded to Lieu's tweet, saying that he "agreed" that the order violates the Constitution and followed up that Grisham’s reasoning for the temporary ban does not hold water.

"I support gun safety but there is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution," Hogg posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

Hogg appeared to follow up in another post saying "one of the things I appreciate most about the Democratic Party is we are not in a cult," and members hold different views on issues such as gun control.

Fox News Digital's Emma Colton contributed reporting.

VP Harris responds to smack talk from GOP 2024 candidates: ‘They’re scared’

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Vice President Harris responded to smack talk from Republican 2024 presidential candidates Sunday, claiming that the GOP is "scared that we will win."

Harris made the comments during an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday. Host Margaret Brennan asked Harris about comments from various Republican candidates stating that re-electing President Biden would essentially be voting to make her president.

Brennan quoted Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis, who called Harris "impeachment insurance" for Biden.

"People know if she were president – Katie bar the door. As bad as Biden did, it would get worse," DeSantis said.

"We're delivering for the American people," Harris responded. And the reality of it is that, unfortunately, very few of those who challenge our administration actually have a plan for America. You look at what we have accomplished, Margaret. We have created over 800,000 new manufacturing jobs in America, 13 million new jobs, unemployment at record lows. We have capped the cost of insulin for seniors at $35 a month. Capped the cost of prescription drugs on an annual basis at $2,000," Harris responded.

KAMALA HARRIS MET WITH GEORGE SOROS HEIR, TOP DONORS AT HER PRIVATE RESIDENCE, RECORDS SHOW

"They're honing in on you. Why do you think that is? How do you respond to those attacks? That's not about policy, that's about you," Brennan asked.

KAMALA HARRIS THINKS SHE GETS MORE MEDIA SCRUTINY THAN VP PREDECESSORS: 'I THINK THAT IS THE CASE'

"Listen, this is not new. There's nothing new about that. I mean, listen, I am -- in my career, I was a career prosecutor. I was the first woman elected district attorney of San Francisco, a major city in this country, and re-elected. I was the first woman attorney general of the second-largest Department of Justice in the United States and re-elected. I was a United States senator," Harris said. "I represented one in eight Americans, and I'm now Vice President of the United States. They feel the need to attack because they're scared that we will win based on the merit of the work that Joe Biden and I, and our administration, has done."

Harris went on to say that she is "prepared" to serve as commander-in-chief if Biden is no longer fit to serve, but she insisted that Biden is "going to be fine."

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie have made the same criticism of the Biden-Harris ticket as DeSantis. Biden would be 86 by the end of a second term, and the Republicans say Harris would effectively be the president.

BIDEN STAFFERS RUSH TO GIVE KAMALA HARRIS A POPULARITY FACELIFT AFTER 2024 ANNOUNCEMENT

"I want to be clear that I pray every night for Joe Biden's good health, not only because he's our president, but because of who our vice president is," Christie said recently.

Biden is the oldest person in American history to run for president, followed closely by former President Donald Trump, who is 77.

‘Radical’ gambit to kick Trump off ballot sets ‘dangerous precedent,’ Sen Cotton says

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Some Democrats who are suggesting invoking the 14th Amendment to oust former President Trump from the 2024 general election ballot are setting "a dangerous precedent," Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., told Fox News Digital.

"They've seen the polling, and they've seen that [Trump’s] indictments haven't done anything to improve Joe Biden’s standing," Cotton said in a Wednesday interview. "So, then, they're taking an even more radical step to try to remove the leading candidate from the opposition party from the ballot."

The 14th Amendment, enacted in 1868 primarily to grant citizenship to former slaves, includes a "Disqualification Clause" that stipulates candidates vying for congressional or presidential office must not have participated in "insurrection or rebellion" against the U.S., or provided "aid and comfort to the enemies thereof."

Cotton said if Democrats believe Trump is "so bad for the country, they need to try to beat him at the ballot box next year, not take the unprecedented and undemocratic step of trying to remove their opponent from the ballot."

SENATE JUDICIARY DEMOCRATS ARE 'A PHALANX OF BODYGUARDS' PROTECTING BIDEN: TOM COTTON

"I've spoken to Republicans who are very strongly in favor of Donald Trump, and others who are very strongly in favor of other candidates — they all agree that the Democrats' step to try to remove the leading candidate of the president's opposition party from the ballot is an unprecedented assault on basic democratic customs," Cotton said.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said in an interview Sunday with ABC News that he had floated the prospect of using the 14th Amendment at the time of Trump’s second impeachment inquiry, arguing "it might have been a more productive way to go." 

TOM COTTON SAYS BIDEN'S 'INDECISION' HURTING UKRAINE: 'PUSSYFOOTING AROUND FOR A YEAR AND A HALF'

Meanwhile, Democrat California Rep. Adam Schiff told MSNBC on Sunday the "insurrection" clause "fits Donald Trump to a ‘T’" because of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

GOP presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson also said last month the amendment disqualifies Trump from taking office again. 

DEMOCRATS' 14TH AMENDMENT-TRUMP TALK 'ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS,' LAW PROFESSOR SAYS

Trump’s campaign previously told Fox News Digital "there is no legal basis" except "in the minds of those who are pushing it" and said such a precedent would "use lawfare to deprive voters of choosing their next president."

Trump is the first former president to face criminal indictment in the U.S. and has pleaded not guilty to dozens of charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights.

Fox News' Brooke Singman and Charles Creitz contributed to this report. 

Rep Chris Stewart’s ex-staffer wins Utah special election bid to replace him

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A former staffer for Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, has all but won her bid to replace him after he resigns later this year.

Celeste Maloy, who served as Sterwart's chief legal counsel in Congress, won a three-way Republican primary election on Thursday ahead of an upcoming special election. With the Republican nomination, she is now the heavy favorite in the special election against Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Riebe in November.

"It’s exciting that we’re going to have somebody come out of this primary that represents rural and southern Utah. I think it’s time for that, and everybody’s ready for it," Maloy said Thursday.

Stewart has served in the House of Representatives for roughly 10 years, but he is resigning in September due to his wife's illness.

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Maloy credited her win to her campaign's focus on rural areas in Utah.

"I did debates in the rural counties. I showed up and held events in the rural counties," Maloy said. "We decided early on that our strategy was going to be to win the rural counties, and then get as much as we could in the more urban counties."

THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO MCCONNELL’S HEALTH AND A POTENTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Maloy's election effort enjoyed a boost from Stewart's own endorsement as well as an endorsement from former Utah U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop.

Stewart is one of three members of the U.S. House of Representatives to voluntarily leave office early this year. Reps. David Cicilline, D-RI, and Donald McEachin, D-Va., also resigned within the past 12 months.

THE IMPEACHMENT BISTRO: REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO KEEP IMPEACHMENT ON THE MENU

In all, 15 other senators and representatives have announced that they are not running for re-election in 2024, opening up races across the country.

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Maloy will face off against Riebe on Nov. 21.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.