Category: fox-news/person/joe-biden

DHS tapped left-leaning firm for potential Mayorkas impeachment efforts over southern border crisis

Posted on by Latest Political News on Fox News

The private law firm retained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for potential impeachment proceedings against secretary Alejandro Mayorkas employs individuals that heavily favor Democrats through political contributions, has aided the Democratic Party in their impeachment trial against President Trump, and has worked on several issues alongside left-wing groups, including immigration matters.

DHS tapped the New York-based Debevoise & Plimpton law firm to "help ensure the department's vital mission is not interrupted by the unprecedented, unjustified and partisan impeachment efforts by some members of Congress, who have already taken steps to initiate proceedings," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

"DHS will continue prioritizing its work to protect our country from terrorism, respond to natural disasters, and secure our borders while responding appropriately to the over 90 Congressional committees and subcommittees that have oversight of DHS," the spokesperson continued.

According to government records, DHS entered into a potential $1.5 million contract with Debevoise & Plimpton on Jan. 26 that will disburse cash based on their work. The records show that the award runs until early January 2025 and could reach up to $3 million. 

DHS BRINGING ON PRIVATE LAW FIRM TO HELP WITH POTENTIAL MAYORKAS IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS 

The Biden administration contract will potentially push cash to a firm whose employees give overwhelmingly to Democratic causes, including Biden's past candidacy. During the 2022 election cycle, individuals at the firm donated $289,000 of their nearly $310,000 in political contributions - or 95 percent - to liberal campaigns and committees, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets. 

These figures followed even higher 2020 figures where Debevoise & Plimpton employees showered liberal committees with 97 percent of their contributions. During that cycle, the firm's individuals combined to provide Democratic committees with slightly more than $1 million in donations. The largest recipient that cycle was Biden, who received nearly $245,000 from the firm's employees.

David O'Neil, a Debevoise & Plimpton partner, will lead Secretary Mayorkas' defense team if needed, Law.com reported. O'Neil is no stranger to impeachment efforts, as he aided House Democrats in their impeachment efforts against former President Trump.

Attorneys Anna Moody and Carter Burwell, former counsel to Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, will join O'Neil if impeachment efforts progress. 

HOUSE REPUBLICAN FILES ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST DHS SEC. MAYORKAS

Debevoise & Plimpton has joined several left-wing groups on past matters, including working on asylum issues with Democracy Forward, which counts Democratic mega-lawyer Marc Elias as its board chair. The firm also touts its pro bono work with LGBTQ+ immigrants.

A DHS official told Fox News Digital that outside counsel is needed because the department's in-house lawyers don't have impeachment expertise. The official also pinned the blame on any potential outside counsel spending on what they described as reckless actions of some House Members.

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., is introducing a new impeachment article against Mayorkas, accusing him of violating his oath of office and failing to enforce U.S. immigration law.

MAYORKAS SAYS HE WILL NOT RESIGN OVER BORDER CRISIS, INSISTS HE IS PREPARED FOR GOP INVESTIGATIONS

Biggs, who repeatedly has called for Mayorkas' removal, first introduced the articles in 2021 and accused him of having" engaged in a pattern of conduct incompatible with his duties as an Officer of the United States."

Mayorkas, a Cuba native who grew up in Beverly Hills, California, after his family fled the Castros, has been under fire for his handling of the southern border crisis. Republicans claim he has failed to adjudicate standing federal immigration laws and instead has overseen a deluge of illegal immigrants.

Mayorkas has said he will not resign over his handling of the border crisis and insisted he will be ready for future investigations by House Republicans while continuing to fulfill his daily responsibilities. 

Debevoise & Plimpton did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment. 

Jean-Pierre v Sanders: Current, former WH press secretaries battle over Biden’s SOTU

Posted on by Latest Political News on Fox News

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday dismissed Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union as an attempt to stir up "fake conspiracies."

Sanders' rebuttal speech emphasized the GOP effort to restrict abortion and ban the presence of gender ideology and critical race theory in schools. Sanders, who served as former President Donald Trump's press secretary until 2019, said Democrats' priorities show that the choice between Republicans and Democrats is a choice between "normal or crazy."

Jean-Pierre rejected Sanders' comments and accused Republicans of whipping up "fake" issues.

"The way we see it is the choice is between political fighting over fake conspiracies and delivering for the American people," Jean-Pierre said Wednesday when asked about Sanders' speech. "The president is focused on the latter."

SARAH SANDERS DELIVERS GOP REBUTTAL TO BIDEN SOTU, SAYS AMERICANS HAVE A CHOICE 'BETWEEN NORMAL OR CRAZY'

In a briefing with reporters as Biden traveled to Wisconsin to deliver a speech on his economic agenda, Jean-Pierre said it's the Republicans who are pursuing a crazy agenda.

"But what is not normal is some politicians’ obsession over some of our most vulnerable kids or taking away women’s rights to make their own health care decisions or even teaching America’s history," she said.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS CALL FOR IMPEACHMENT OF HOMELAND SECRETARY MAYORKAS AHEAD OF STATE OF THE UNION

Sanders used her remarks to promise that Republicans will lead with courage on issues that regular American voters care about.

"At 40, I’m the youngest governor in the country. At 80, he’s the oldest president in American history. I’m the first woman to lead my state. He’s the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is," Sanders said.

BIDEN PLAGUED BY NEGATIVE APPROVAL RATINGS AHEAD OF SECOND STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH

"Make no mistake: Republicans will not surrender this fight," Sanders said. "We will lead with courage and do what’s right, not what’s politically correct or convenient."

Sarah Sanders delivers GOP rebuttal to Biden SOTU, says Americans have a choice ‘between normal or crazy’

Posted on by Latest Political News on Fox News

Newly-elected Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders delivered the GOP rebuttal to President Biden's second State of the Union address Tuesday, calling for a "new generation of Republican leadership" and describing the choice between Democrats and Republicans as a choice "between normal or crazy."

"Being a mom to three young children taught me not to believe every story I hear. So forgive me for not believing much of anything I heard tonight from President Biden. From out-of-control inflation and violent crime to the dangerous border crisis and threat from China, Biden and the Democrats have failed you," Sanders said.

"It’s time for a change. Tonight, let us reaffirm our commitment to a timeless American idea: that government exists not to rule the people, but to serve the people. Democrats want to rule us with more government control, but that is not who we are," she added.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE SPEECH 

Sanders noted that she and Biden didn't have a lot in common because she is "for freedom" and he's "for government control," and went on to note the four decades difference in their ages.

"At 40, I’m the youngest governor in the country. At 80, he’s the oldest president in American history. I’m the first woman to lead my state. He’s the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is," she said.

"In the radical left’s America, Washington taxes you and lights your hard-earned money on fire, but you get crushed with high gas prices, empty grocery shelves, and our children are taught to hate one another on account of their race, but not to love one another or our great country," she added.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS CALL FOR IMPEACHMENT OF HOMELAND SECRETARY MAYORKAS AHEAD OF STATE OF THE UNION

She described the Biden administration as "completely hijacked by the radical left," and said that America's "dividing line" was no longer a separation between right and left.

"The choice is between normal or crazy," she said. "It is time for a new generation of Republican leadership."

She went on to tout her efforts in Arkansas to combat indoctrination and other Democratic policies like critical race theory and shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that Americans wanted common sense from their leaders, but that Biden was busy "doubling down on crazy."

"President Biden inherited the fastest economic recovery on record. The most secure border in history. Cheap abundant, home-grown energy. Fast-rising wages. A rebuilt military. And a world that was stable and at peace. But over the last two years, Democrats destroyed it all," Sanders said.

"Despite Democrats’ trillions in reckless spending and mountains of debt, we now have the worst border crisis in American history," she added.

BIDEN PLAGUED BY NEGATIVE APPROVAL RATINGS AHEAD OF SECOND STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH

Sanders expressed the need to secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States, a drug responsible thousands of deaths every month, railed against Democratic calls to defend the police, and blasted Biden's "weakness" on foreign policy, especially China.

"Make no mistake: Republicans will not surrender this fight. We will lead with courage and do what’s right, not what’s politically correct or convenient," she said.

"Republicans believe in an America where strong families thrive in safe communities. Where jobs are abundant, and paychecks are rising. Where the freedom our veterans shed their blood to defend is the birthright of every man, woman, and child," she said.

Sanders vowed that under the leadership of Senate Republicans and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Republicans would hold the Biden administration accountable.

"America is great because we are free. But today, our freedom is under attack, and the America we love is in danger. President Biden and the Democrats have failed you. It’s time for a change. A New Generation of Republican leaders is stepping up… not to be caretakers of the status quo, but to be change makers for the American people," she said.

"We know not what the future holds, but we know who holds the future in His hands. And with God as our witness, we will show the world that America is still the place where freedom reins and liberty will never die," she added.

Sanders, who served as White House press secretary under former President Donald Trump, never held elected office prior to being elected as Arkansas' governor. She is also the daughter of the state's former Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Sarah Sanders delivers GOP rebuttal to Biden SOTU, says Americans have a choice ‘between normal or crazy’

Posted on by Latest Political News on Fox News

Newly-elected Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders delivered the GOP rebuttal to President Biden's second State of the Union address Tuesday, calling for a "new generation of Republican leadership" and describing the choice between Democrats and Republicans as a choice "between normal or crazy."

"Being a mom to three young children taught me not to believe every story I hear. So forgive me for not believing much of anything I heard tonight from President Biden. From out-of-control inflation and violent crime to the dangerous border crisis and threat from China, Biden and the Democrats have failed you," Sanders said.

"It’s time for a change. Tonight, let us reaffirm our commitment to a timeless American idea: that government exists not to rule the people, but to serve the people. Democrats want to rule us with more government control, but that is not who we are," she added.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE SPEECH 

Sanders noted that she and Biden didn't have a lot in common because she is "for freedom" and he's "for government control," and went on to note the four decades difference in their ages.

"At 40, I’m the youngest governor in the country. At 80, he’s the oldest president in American history. I’m the first woman to lead my state. He’s the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is," she said.

"In the radical left’s America, Washington taxes you and lights your hard-earned money on fire, but you get crushed with high gas prices, empty grocery shelves, and our children are taught to hate one another on account of their race, but not to love one another or our great country," she added.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS CALL FOR IMPEACHMENT OF HOMELAND SECRETARY MAYORKAS AHEAD OF STATE OF THE UNION

She described the Biden administration as "completely hijacked by the radical left," and said that America's "dividing line" was no longer a separation between right and left.

"The choice is between normal or crazy," she said. "It is time for a new generation of Republican leadership."

She went on to tout her efforts in Arkansas to combat indoctrination and other Democratic policies like critical race theory and shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that Americans wanted common sense from their leaders, but that Biden was busy "doubling down on crazy."

"President Biden inherited the fastest economic recovery on record. The most secure border in history. Cheap abundant, home-grown energy. Fast-rising wages. A rebuilt military. And a world that was stable and at peace. But over the last two years, Democrats destroyed it all," Sanders said.

"Despite Democrats’ trillions in reckless spending and mountains of debt, we now have the worst border crisis in American history," she added.

BIDEN PLAGUED BY NEGATIVE APPROVAL RATINGS AHEAD OF SECOND STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH

Sanders expressed the need to secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States, a drug responsible thousands of deaths every month, railed against Democratic calls to defend the police, and blasted Biden's "weakness" on foreign policy, especially China.

"Make no mistake: Republicans will not surrender this fight. We will lead with courage and do what’s right, not what’s politically correct or convenient," she said.

"Republicans believe in an America where strong families thrive in safe communities. Where jobs are abundant, and paychecks are rising. Where the freedom our veterans shed their blood to defend is the birthright of every man, woman, and child," she said.

Sanders vowed that under the leadership of Senate Republicans and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Republicans would hold the Biden administration accountable.

"America is great because we are free. But today, our freedom is under attack, and the America we love is in danger. President Biden and the Democrats have failed you. It’s time for a change. A New Generation of Republican leaders is stepping up… not to be caretakers of the status quo, but to be change makers for the American people," she said.

"We know not what the future holds, but we know who holds the future in His hands. And with God as our witness, we will show the world that America is still the place where freedom reins and liberty will never die," she added.

Sanders, who served as White House press secretary under former President Donald Trump, never held elected office prior to being elected as Arkansas' governor. She is also the daughter of the state's former Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Majority Whip Emmer blasts Biden’s response to the Chinese spy flight as ‘ludicrous’ ahead of State of Union

Posted on by Latest Political News on Fox News

FIRST ON FOX: House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., blasted President Biden’s response to the Chinese spy flight, saying he doesn’t believe the president’s response was swift enough.

Emmer spoke with Fox News Digital on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the president’s State of the Union address, where he laughed out loud at the question regarding Biden’s speed of response to the spy balloon that traveled over the continental U.S.

"Ha!" Emmer said in response to a question on whether Biden's response was quick enough to satisfy Congress. "Absolutely not."

STATE OF THE UNION 2023: SCHUMER RIPS GOP AGENDA AHEAD OF BIDEN ADDRESS

"And now, to the president’s defense, apparently the defense industry that is part of our government, the people that are charged with the responsibility for protecting the homeland and Americans’ safety, they didn’t bother to tell anybody about it," Emmer said.

"It was somebody in Montana that saw it and brought it to light," the House majority whip continued. "Otherwise, you and I, the president may never have known that this thing existed."

Emmer said Biden "should’ve taken action immediately" after learning about the balloon last Wednesday and that "this argument that they didn’t know what to do, or that he gave authority to somebody, and they waited until it completed its mission across the United States, is ludicrous."

"It’s inexcusable, and actually the American people should hold them accountable for that," Emmer said.

"This should never be allowed to happen again. There should immediately be an investigation as to why the leaders of our military did not immediately advise the commander-in-chief when that spy balloon was over the Pacific. Why didn’t they advise him so that they could’ve taken action there? Better yet, if they weren’t going to tell the president, why didn’t they take action while it was over the Pacific?"

"The fact that it took them several days afterward, and literally allowed the Chinese to complete their mission, is pathetic, inexcusable, and it should’ve been dealt with immediately," Emmer said.

Emmer also said, while he wouldn’t "speculate" as to whether first son Hunter Biden’s business dealings with China influenced the administration’s decision to take down the balloon, he has "confidence" in Republican committee leaders "to do their job" and "make sure we get to the bottom of this."

Emmer also said that he’d love to hear Biden "address energy independence," the "open" southern border crisis, and addressing crime in major cities in his Tuesday night speech.

"I’d love to hear him address the southern border and how we’re going to make sure that this, literally, the open border that his administration has created over the last two years, how they’re going to reverse course and solidify the southern border and protect Americans across the country from the fentanyl crisis that we’re dealing with," Emmer said.

US INTEL ASSESSES CHINESE SPY BALLOONS TRANSITED US SEVERAL TIMES, WENT 'UNDETECTED': SENIOR ADMIN OFFICIAL

"I think those would be just three quick ones that he could reach across the aisle and say, ‘I’m ready to get to work with the new Republican majority to help Americans in their daily lives," he continued.

Emmer said that GOP Reps. Pat Fallon of Texas and Andy Biggs of Arizona were in their rights as lawmakers to introduce the two impeachment resolutions against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

"But I think the committees now are going to do their work. It’s about raising this issue for the American people," Emmer said. "Because, quite frankly, the left-wing media hasn’t seen fit to report it."

Emmer torched Biden for his "choreographed" border trip to El Paso, Texas, and said that he believes "the more this issue is brought to light for the American people to see and understand that this is a crisis on our southern border, it is a crisis created by this administration, and it’s one that can quickly be remedied by this administration by returning to enforce the laws that were in place and were being enforced before they took office."

"Whether or not that creates grounds for the articles that have been filed, we’ll have to see, but I think it’s really important this case get tried in the court of public opinion," Emmer said.

"I think Americans that are directly impacted by the open southern border, with up to 300 Americans dying of fentanyl overdoses every day, I think that’s really where that trial is going to take place," he added.

Comer takes aim at Biden ‘propaganda’ on border crisis; WH tells GOP to ‘look in the mirror’

Posted on by Latest Political News on Fox News

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer took aim Tuesday at what he said was "propaganda" from the Biden administration over its claim that it is working to secure the border, while the White House shot back on who is to blame for the crisis -- telling Republicans to "look in the mirror."

"Administration officials continue to say they are creating a ‘safe and orderly, humane’ immigration system. But reality contradicts this propaganda," Comer said.

Comer made his remarks at a committee hearing on the crisis at the southern border, which has seen record numbers of migrant encounters since Biden took office -- with more than 2.3 million encounters in FY 22 alone, and more than 251,000 encounters in December.

Republicans have sought to blame the Biden administration’s quick reversal of Trump-era policies for the crisis. The administration, meanwhile, has said it is working to open up asylum avenues that were shut during the Trump administration -- and has been ramping up calls for Republicans to back an immigration reform bill introduced on Day One, and also to accede to border funding requests. Republicans have rejected that bill in part due to its inclusion of a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S.

GOP REPS SPAR WITH OVERSIGHT DEMS AT BORDER HEARING OVER ‘WHITE NATIONALIST' CLAIM

On Tuesday, the White House attempted to increase that pressure on Republicans, and pointed to initial signs that border measures introduced in January had been followed by a decrease in encounters at the border. 

"It is clear that House Republicans are more interested in staging political stunts than on rolling up their sleeves to work with President Biden and Democrats in Congress on legislation to strengthen border security and fix our immigration system that has needed repair for decades," White House Oversight Spokesperson Ian Sams said in a memo.

Sams said Republicans "need to look in the mirror" and accused Republicans of blocking border security funding and failing to oppose a lawsuit by 20 Republican states targeting the new border measures introduced in January.

BIDEN ADMIN KEEPS PUSHING SWEEPING IMMIGRATION BILL, INCLUDING AMNESTY, TWO YEARS INTO MIGRANT CRISIS

"President Biden continues to focus on addressing the issues that impact Americans’ lives, including strengthening border security, enacting a safer and more orderly migration system, and pushing to pass comprehensive immigration reform that finally, after decades, repairs our immigration system," he said. "House Republicans should join the President in pursuing real solutions, not political stunts – and they should answer for their opposition to funding for border security and their refusal to stand up to Republican officials trying to create more unlawful border crossings."

But in the hearing, Comer pushed back, putting the blame squarely on the administration. He pointed to the more than 300,000 "gotaways" believed to have escaped Border Patrol agents so far this fiscal year and the thousands encountered by agents every day.

DHS SECRETARY MAYORKAS HIT WITH NEW IMPEACHMENT PUSH OVER ‘RECKLESS ABANDONMENT’ OF BORDER SECURITY 

"President Biden and his administration have created the worst border crisis in American history," he said, before later adding: "Starting on his first day in office, President Biden signal to the world our borders were open, opened to criminals, human traffickers and drug traffickers."

After pointing to the rollback of Trump-era interior immigration enforcement and the end to policies such as border wall construction and the Migrant Protection Protocols, Comer rejected the idea that the Biden administration’s plans were working.

"Conditions at the border are dangerous, chaotic and inhumane. Fiscal year 2022 set records for the number of arrests of illegal border crossers, the number of migrants who died making the journey, the number of dangerous narcotics seized, and even the number of suspected terrorists arrested trying to illegally cross the southern border," he said. 

"And given over half a million people have evaded apprehension entirely, the national security risks are extremely high. This administration must do more to protect our southern border. They must do more to protect the American people."

DHS Secretary Mayorkas hit with new impeachment article over ‘reckless abandonment’ of border security

Posted on by Adam Shaw
Rep. Andy Biggs on Wednesday introduced articles of impeachment against embattled DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, amid a continued crisis at the southern border.

GOP senators caution against Biden impeachment for classified docs: ‘I think the country will fatigue of that’

Posted on by Ronn Blitzer
Several Senate Republicans were skeptical about the likelihood or wisdom of a possible impeachment of President Biden over classified documents found in his home.

Kamala Harris is Biden’s ‘shrewd insurance policy’ against impeachment, Boebert says

Posted on by Houston Keene
Colorado GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert told Fox News Digital that she thinks President Biden has a "shrewd insurance policy" against impeachment, citing Vice President Kamala Harris.

Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman says Trump, Biden classified document scandals are ‘apples and oranges’

Posted on by Chris Pandolfo
Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., who served as House impeachment counsel against former President Donald Trump, said the Trump and Biden classified documents scandals are "apples and oranges."