House Democrats celebrate Republican chaos after helping GOP rebels oust speaker McCarthy

Posted on October 3, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

Some House Democrats celebrated the motion to vacate Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the House, while others described it as a "solemn" day in America.

All 208 House Democrats who were present voted to oust McCarthy Tuesday afternoon. Five Republican votes were needed to boot McCarthy, and eight ultimately voted with Democrats to put the nail in the coffin.

"This is a solemn day in the U.S. House of Representatives," Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said in a statement Tuesday. "Through his duplicitous misuse of power, profound disregard for the needs of the American people, and disloyalty to anyone but himself, Kevin McCarthy has proven unworthy of presiding over the House."

She added: "But the Republican civil war is bigger than one man. Right-wing MAGA extremism has enveloped the Republican Party and taken over the business of the People’s House."

GAETZ TAKES VICTORY LAP AFTER HISTORIC VOTE TO BOOT MCCARTHY FROM HOUSE SPEAKERSHIP

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., echoed the sentiment, deeming the vote a "solemn" moment in America.

"House Democrats will continue to put people over politics and work together in a bipartisan way to make life better for everyday Americans. It is our hope that traditional Republicans will walk away from MAGA extremism and join us in partnership for the good of the country," he said.

"Republicans, you’re welcome to join us and vote for Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the House," Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., a progressive "squad" member said on X.

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., another member of the squad, called McCarthy a "threat to our democracy" in a lengthy statement posted to X.

"He literally voted to overturn the 2020 election results, overthrow the duly elected President, and did nothing to discourage his Members from doing the same," Omar said of McCarthy.

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS SAY THEY WILL VOTE TO OUST MCCARTHY

Omar added McCarthy is a "weak politician."

Rep. Chuey Garcia, D-Chicago, also said on X he has "no interest in bailing out Team Extreme."

Hardline conservatives and progressive Democrats locked arms across the aisle to seal the deal on Tuesday, as the vote to vacate commenced after an hour of passionate debate with McCarthy supporters and dissenters.

Both parties pointed fingers at McCarthy, as Gaetz introduced a motion to vacate on Monday night, accusing him of breaking the promises he made to win the speaker's gavel in January. Meanwhile, Democrats condemned his "lack of interest in bipartisanship" and Republicans jabbing his failure to pass a government spending patch with additional border security provisions and not enough budget cuts.

Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey said McCarthy "empowered right wing extremists" and "consistently broke his word."

"Instead, Mr. McCarthy empowered right-wing extremists at every turn - bringing us to the brink of defaults and shutdowns, failing to uphold the debt-ceiling agreement he made with the President, relentlessly attacking women's reproductive freedom, blocking votes to prevent gun violence, and launching a baseless impeachment inquiry built on lies and conspiracy theories," she said.

MATT GAETZ INTRODUCES MOTION TO VACATE AGAINST HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY

Democrats signaled early on Tuesday that they would not be inclined to help McCarthy. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said before the vote: "Democrats are ready to find bipartisan common ground. Our extreme colleagues have shown no willingness to do the same. They must find a way to end the House Republican Civil War."

In January, it took 15 rounds of voting until McCarthy was elected.

McCarthy angered hardliners over the weekend when he passed a short-term spending bill known as a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open for 45 days, in order to avert a government shutdown and give lawmakers more time to cobble together 12 individual spending bills.

Fox News' Liz Elkind contributed to this report.

Democrats decry House impeachment hearing of Biden: ‘Waste of time’

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

Democrats vehemently decried the first House Oversight Committee’s impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden on Thursday as a "waste of time" and "illegitimate" as Congress simultaneously races against the clock to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) deal and prevent a looming government shutdown before Saturday’s deadline.

"Republican extremism is rearing its ugly head," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters Thursday morning. "They are wasting time and taxpayer dollars on an illegitimate Impeachment Inquiry when we're about 48 hours away or so from an extreme MAGA, republican government shutdown — and this is what they're focused on, an illegitimate impeachment inquiry as opposed to doing the business of the American people."

Other Democrats followed suit on X, formerly known as Twitter, adding their own criticisms of the hearing.

"The government shuts down in TWO DAYS, and House Republicans are… wasting time today holding a sham impeachment hearing??? Stop playing political games. Do your jobs. Fund the government," Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., posted to X. The congresswoman previously voted to impeach former President Donald Trump in 2021.

MACE CALLS DEM CLAIMS ON IMPEACHMENT PUSH 'COMPLETE AND TOTAL BULLS---'

California state Democrat and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said on X: "We are going to hit back on every lie and conspiracy theory."

"We are ready to push back on a sham impeachment inquiry," Garcia posted Wednesday evening.

Texas Democratic Rep. Greg Casar called the impeachment hearing "baseless."

"My job is to defend the truth, while extremist Republicans try to defend Trump through their fact-free inquiry against President Biden," Casar posted to X.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., posted a snarky photo with a thumbs up and holding a box of Bud Light with a sign saying: "TO: REP. COMER & HIS SQUAD A PROFILE IN COURAGE CAN MAKE A GUY THIRSTY. CONGRATULATIONS, THIS BUD'S FOR YOU. HUGS & KISSES: JOHN FETTERMAN."

HOUSE GOP TO PRESENT EVIDENCE AGAINST BIDEN IN FIRST IMPEACHMENT HEARING

House Republicans on Thursday morning presented evidence uncovered so far in their investigation into the Biden family’s business dealings while examining "the value" of an impeachment inquiry.

"The House Oversight and Accountability Committee has uncovered a mountain of evidence revealing how Joe Biden abused his public office for his family’s financial gain," Comer said in his opening statement. "For years, President Biden has lied to the American people about his knowledge of and participation in his family’s corrupt business schemes."

"Evidence reveals that then-Vice President Joe Biden spoke, dined, and developed relationships with his family’s foreign business targets. These business targets include foreign oligarchs who sent millions of dollars to his family," Comer said. "It also includes a Chinese national who wired a quarter of a million dollars to his son."

Comer was referring to subpoenaed Hunter Biden financial records, which revealed he received two wires originating from Beijing and linked to BHR Partners in 2019.

Fox News Digital first reported that Hunter Biden received the wire payments, which originated in Beijing, for more than $250,000 from Chinese business partners during the summer of 2019 — wires that listed the Delaware home of Joe Biden as the beneficiary address for the funds.

HUNTER BIDEN RECEIVED $250K WIRES ORIGINATING IN BEIJING WITH BENEFICIARY ADDRESS LISTED AS JOE BIDEN'S HOME

The White House did not respond to Fox News’ Digital request for comment.

"Today the House Oversight Committee has uncovered how the Biden's and their associates created over 20 shell companies, most of which were created when Joe Biden was vice president and raked in over $20 million between 2014 and 2019," Comer said. "We've also identified nine Biden family members who have participated in or benefited from these shady business schemes."

Committee Democrats repeatedly accused Republicans of taking cues from Trump in launching the inquiry and used the opportunity to highlight the former president’s myriad legal issues.

"President Trump has gone on his social media account and said we should be impeaching President Biden," ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said in his opening statement. "Kevin McCarthy said we have an impeachment inquiry. You draw the conclusion. Directly or indirectly, this impeachment inquiry was a result of President Trump's pressure."

Fox News’ Brooke Singman and Jessica Chasmar contributed to this report.

Oversight Dems admit Hunter’s longtime business partner handled Biden’s finances throughout VP tenure

Posted on September 14, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

FIRST ON FOX: House Democrats acknowledged Wednesday that Hunter Biden’s then-business partner, Eric Schwerin, handled President Biden’s finances for the duration of his vice presidency.

A spokesperson for the Democrat minority of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability told Fox News Digital that Schwerin, the former president of Hunter’s Rosemont Seneca Advisors and a frequent visitor to the Obama-Biden White House, served as then-Vice President Biden’s "bookkeeper" from 2009 to 2017.

"Notably, Mr. Schwerin, who served as then-Vice President Biden’s bookkeeper from 2009 to 2017, explained that he was not aware of any transactions into or out of the then-Vice President’s bank account related to business conducted by any Biden family member," the spokesperson said in a statement.

The statement came after Fox News Digital inquired about a section of the White House’s lengthy memo to the media on Wednesday as it scrambles to respond to House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

‘MONEY GUY’: THIS HUNTER BIDEN BUSINESS PARTNER COULD BLOW THE LID OFF BIDEN FAMILY'S BUSINESS DEALINGS

The White House issued a memo that urged news outlets to ramp up scrutiny of the impeachment inquiry announced Tuesday by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who said House Republicans have "uncovered serious and credible allegations into President Biden's conduct."

The White House memo included a 14-page fact-check of Republicans’ claims made throughout the Biden investigation with regard to the president's purported role in his son's foreign business dealings and whether the Biden family used the former vice president’s public office for personal profit.

"Republicans’ own witnesses such as Eric Schwerin, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, said President Biden was not involved in their business dealings," the White House said on page 13 of the memo.

"’In a March 2023 interview with Republican and Democratic Committee staff, Mr. Schwerin told Committee staff he was not aware of any involvement by President Biden in the financial conduct of the President’s relatives’ businesses, much less any transactions into or out of the then-Vice President’s bank account related to business conducted by any Biden family member,’" the White House continued, citing a paragraph from the Oversight Democrats’ memo in May.

A person familiar with Schwerin's role in handling then-Vice President Biden's finances told Fox News Digital that Schwerin worked on Biden's personal budget and helped coordinate with his tax preparers.

The individual also pointed to the frequency of Schwerin's communications with Biden and his top aides and said it was "inevitable" Rosemont Seneca business came up in conversations.

ERIC SCHWERIN’S ROLE IN HUNTER BIDEN’S CHINESE BUSINESS DEALS COULD BE MISSING KEY IN GOP INVESTIGATIONS

A House Oversight spokesperson for the Republican majority told Fox News Digital that the committee "never interviewed Schwerin" as claimed by committee Democrats and later by the White House.

"This is false," the spokesperson said. "The Committee never interviewed Schwerin. There was a meeting but it was about document production. There has never been a transcribed interview or deposition."

The committee Democrats spokesperson fired back in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying Schwerin, who Hunter previously admitted was a "close confidant and counsel" of then-Vice President Biden, was indeed interviewed by committee staff for multiple hours on March 31, 2023, following a request from Comer.

"In written correspondence to the Committee, Mr. Schwerin’s counsel described this as a ‘non-transcribed interview,’" the statement continued. "Majority and Minority staff had equal time and switched off asking Mr. Schwerin questions about his relationship with Hunter Biden, as well as the history, structure, and activities of Hunter Biden’s business entities, to which Mr. Schwerin responded."

Schwerin’s lawyer, however, told Fox News Digital that Schwerin was not technically a "bookkeeper" to the then-VP but rather he simply assisted the then-VP with his finances.

Fox News Digital has previously reported on Schwerin’s extensive ties to the Biden family, both personal and professional, and how he was instrumental in Hunter expanding his enterprise in China.

Peter Schweizer, the president of Government Accountability Institute and an expert on Hunter's business dealings, told "Sunday Morning Futures" host Maria Bartiromo last month that "Eric Schwerin was the money guy" in Hunter's business ventures.

Schwerin, who visited the Obama White House and then-Vice President Biden’s residence at least 36 times between 2009 and 2016, was also a founding partner and managing director of Hunter's now-dissolved firm Rosemont Seneca Partners. He was working with Hunter's firms when he was appointed in early 2015 by then-President Obama to the Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad, an independent U.S. government agency.

Hunter’s ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, who was married to the president’s son from 1993 to 2017, revealed in a memoir in June 2022 that Schwerin "managed almost every aspect of our financial life."

The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

House GOP fires back at ‘smear merchant’ Dem operative targeting families of lawmakers investigating Bidens

Posted on September 14, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

FIRST ON FOX: A longtime Democratic operative and activist says he will be investigating the families of Republican lawmakers in response to the move by the GOP to investigate President Biden and son Hunter’s overseas business dealings, sparking backlash from a pair of House Republicans.

"Gloves are off, families are on," David Brock, Democratic activist and president of Facts First USA, recently told Puck News. "We’ve been looking into how the children of those same members may have benefited from their parents’ position. We’re not shy about going after the members."

Brock, a longtime Clinton ally who founded Media Matters for America and American Bridge 21st Century, announced in November he was leaving the left-wing groups after nearly two decades to launch Facts First USA to help President Biden fight Republicans in the new Congress.

"This work has been ongoing, and we will soon have more to share publicly about a key member of Republican leadership whose family has gotten multiple jobs from their Congressional donors," a spokesperson for Facts First USA told Fox News Digital.

HUNTER BIDEN SEEN SNEAKING FROM BUSINESS WHILE VACATIONING WITH DAD IN LAKE TAHOE AMID INVESTIGATIONS

"If people want to investigate the Biden family, then what's good for the goose is good for gander. But no one should feel intimidated if they aren't doing anything improper."

Brock, who got his start as a conservative freelance reporter before switching to the Democratic Party in the mid-1990s, was once described by former Center for American Progress president Neera Tanden, who is currently a top Biden aide, of being "bats--- crazy."

He's been a prominent face in Democratic circles for nearly two decades. The New York Times reported in November that Brock's progressive groups "play important roles in the Democratic Party’s ecosystem."

BIDEN'S NIECE UPDATED HUNTER'S COMPANY ON CHINESE SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND DURING STINT AT TREASURY: EMAILS

GOP Congressman Darrell Issa, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, told Fox News Digital the move from Brock reeks of desperation.

"Nothing says desperation like threatening to sic a smear merchant on innocent families," Issa said. "This is all you need to know about how worried Democrats and the White House are about having to answer for Joe Biden’s culture of corruption."

Rep. Elise Stefanik, chair of the House Republican Conference, told Fox News Digital that Republicans will not be intimidated by "radical outside groups."

"The far left and their radical outside allies are desperately trying to cover up and distract from Joe Biden's illegal corruption," Stefanik said.

"They know they cannot pressure House Republicans into stopping our investigation into President Biden, so they are now attempting to intimidate Republicans into stopping our investigations by targeting our families with opposition research attacks from dark money groups. House Republicans will not be intimidated by these radical outside groups."

That alleged culture of corruption led to an announcement this week that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is directing House committees to launch an official impeachment inquiry against Biden looking at ties between the president and son Hunter’s overseas business dealings.

"Over the past several months, House Republicans have uncovered serious and credible allegations into President Biden’s conduct — a culture of corruption," McCarthy posted on social media Tuesday.

Democrats have insisted that the impeachment inquiry is politically motivated, and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday Republicans have "no evidence, none, that [Biden] did anything wrong."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital’s Cameron Cawthorne contributed to this report

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

Posted on September 13, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

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

Posted on September 12, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

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.

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

Posted on September 11, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

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.

Top Oversight Dem trashes Comer’s Biden probe as a ‘total bust’

Posted on September 11, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is dismissing Chairman James Comer’s probe into the Biden family as "a complete and total bust."

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., released a 14-page memo on Monday morning attacking House Republicans’ bid to investigate President Biden and his son Hunter. It comes just a day before representatives return to Capitol Hill after the August recess, and GOP leaders are expected to weigh whether to open a formal impeachment inquiry over allegations of impropriety stemming from Hunter Biden’s business dealings.

"Instead of working on legislation to promote the common good or even just keep the government running, House Republicans are weaponizing their offices and exploiting congressional power and resources to promote debunked and outlandish conspiracy theories about President Biden," Raskin’s memo, sent on the 22nd anniversary of September 11, said.

In a possible preview of Democrats’ rebuttal strategy, the Democrat accused Comer of trying to stage a "false moral equivalency" between Biden and former President Donald Trump. Raskin played a top role in Trump’s second impeachment, over the Capitol riot, as House Democrats’ Lead House Impeachment Manager at the time.

CNN LEGAL ANALYST SAYS ‘ONLY CONCLUSION’ FROM DOJ REVERSAL ON HUNTER INDICTMENT IS ‘WHISTLEBLOWERS WERE RIGHT’

"This is a transparent effort to boost Donald Trump’s campaign by establishing a false moral equivalency between Trump—the four-time-indicted former president now facing 91 federal and state criminal charges, based on a mountain of damning evidence for a shocking range of felonies, including lying to the FBI, endangering national security by illegally keeping classified documents, and conspiring to subvert the U.S. Constitution—and President Biden, against whom there is precisely zero evidence of any wrongdoing whatsoever," Raskin wrote.

"House Republicans constantly insist that they are investigating President Biden, and not his adult son. In that case, we can form an obvious judgment on their investigation: it has been a complete and total bust—an epic flop in the history of congressional investigations."

HUNTER BIDEN TRAVELED TO AT LEAST 15 COUNTRIES WITH VP DAD: ‘I CAN CATCH A RIDE WITH HIM’

A spokesperson for the House Oversight majority told Fox News Digital that the committee would continue its investigative efforts and argued that evidence was "mounting" against the president.

"Mounting evidence reveals that then-Vice President Joe Biden was ‘the brand’ that his family sold around the world to enrich the Bidens," the spokesperson said Monday.

"The Oversight Committee has a duty to continue to follow this pattern of corruption and hold President Biden accountable for abusing public office for the financial benefit of his family. Unfortunately, Democrats would rather play Biden family defense lawyer instead of working for the American people."

HUNTER BIDEN SPECIAL COUNSEL TO SEEK INDICTMENT ON GUN CHARGES

Investigating whether Biden profited off of his son’s business deals while he was vice president in the Obama administration has been a marquee item for Congress’ House GOP majority this year.

Revelations made by former Hunter Biden associate Devon Archer and elsewhere have heaped scrutiny on how much Biden knew about his son’s business, and to what extent Hunter Biden used his powerful father as leverage.

Archer said to Oversight Committee staff and several lawmakers last month that the president was on the phone with Hunter Biden at least 20 times while the latter was with business associates, across a ten-year span. Archer did not say he heard the president discuss business matters at those times.

But Biden’s allies have insisted that the hours of testimony and pages of bank records seized upon by House Republicans fail to show any proof that the president did anything improper.

Liberals turn on New Mexico governor over gun suspension: ‘Violates the US Constitution’

Posted on September 11, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is coming under fire from members of her own party after temporarily suspending open and concealed carry across Albuquerque under an emergency health order.

"I support gun safety laws. However, this order from the Governor of New Mexico violates the U.S. Constitution. No state in the union can suspend the federal Constitution. There is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution," California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu tweeted.

Lujan Grisham temporarily suspended open and concealed carry laws in Bernalillo County for at least 30 days, starting Sept. 8. The announcement was spurred by the fatal shootings of young children, including a 13-year-old girl in July, a 5-year-old girl in August and an 11-year-old boy this month.

"As I said yesterday, the time for standard measures has passed," the governor said, according to her office’s press release on the order. "And when New Mexicans are afraid to be in crowds, to take their kids to school, to leave a baseball game – when their very right to exist is threatened by the prospect of violence at every turn – something is very wrong."

NEW MEXICO REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS CALL FOR DEM GOV. GRISHAM'S IMPEACHMENT AFTER GUN ORDER: 'SHE'S ROGUE'

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

NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN TAKING UP FIREARMS CLASSES FOR SELF DEFENSE: 'REFUSING TO BE VICTIMS'

"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.

NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS OPEN, CONCEALED CARRY ACROSS ALBUQUERQUE: 'VIOLENCE AT EVERY TURN'

"It’s a good rule of thumb to make sure you never agree with someone 100% because no one is ever all ways [sic] right especially me. I will tell you this though, I will say and do what I feel is right no matter how unpopular it’s might be. If Dems don’t do enough on gun violence I have and will tell you. If I feel they approach it in a way I don’t agree with I will also tell you," he posted.

The governor on Sunday also responded to Lieu's tweet, inviting him to a police academy class to help "curb gun violence."

"Hey Ted, conceal and open carry are state laws that I have 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.

Conservatives and social media commenters were quick to mock the New Mexico governor for losing support from two liberals who champion gun control, while others, including Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, expressed shock over agreeing with a Democrat on a gun issue.

Two Republican legislators in New Mexico, Reps. Stefani Lord and John Block, have meanwhile called for Lujan Grisham’s impeachment over the order for an "abhorrent attempt at imposing a radical" agenda on residents.

NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR SHOCKS WITH COMMENT ABOUT CONSTITUTION AFTER ISSUING TEMPORARY GUN BAN: NOT 'ABSOLUTE'

"I am calling on counsel to begin the impeachment process against Governor Grisham," Lord said.

"This is an abhorrent attempt at imposing a radical, progressive agenda on an unwilling populous. Rather than addressing crime at its core, Governor Grisham is restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Even Grisham believes this emergency order won’t prohibit criminals from carrying or using weapons; a basic admission that this will only put New Mexicans in danger as they won’t be able to defend themselves from violent crime," Lord continued.

The New Mexico governor has also been hit with a few lawsuits from Second Amendment groups, including The National Association for Gun Rights, whose president said Lujan Grisham "is throwing up a middle finger to the Constitution."

The NRA also slammed the order as "shocking" in exclusive comment to Fox News Digital, and called on the governor to address "soft-on-criminal policies" to remedy crime trends instead of banning guns.

"In a shocking move, Governor Lujan Grisham is suspending Second Amendment rights by administrative fiat, ignoring the US Constitution and the New Mexico Constitution. Instead of undermining the fundamental rights of law-abiding New Mexicans, she should address the soft-on-criminal policies which truly endanger its citizens," NRA-ILA Executive Director Randy Kozuch told Fox.

Raskin rips GOP Biden probe as ‘embarrassing’ after release of more explosive bank records

Posted on August 9, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee dismissed Chairman James Comer’s Wednesday morning release of bank records that appear to show Hunter Biden was paid upward of $20 million by Eastern European oligarchs.

The 19-page memo, which provides screenshots of redacted financial records, says millions of dollars in payments came from Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings, Russian oligarch Yelena Baturina and Kazakhstani oligarch Kenes Rakishev.

The records also suggest Joe Biden attended dinners with Baturina, Rakishev and a representative from Burisma while he was vice president.

But Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., suggested Comer, R-Ky., failed to prove any wrongdoing on President Biden’s part. Raskin pointed to the fact that the bank records do not directly name Joe Biden.

‘MONEY GUY’: THIS HUNTER BIDEN BUSINESS PARTNER COULD BLOW THE LID OFF BIDEN FAMILY'S BUSINESS DEALINGS

"Committee Republicans have once again released information on financial transactions that do not involve the president. Instead, they rehash the same Hunter Biden business dealings that congressional Republicans identified at least three years ago," Raskin said.

"The evidence released since then — including the testimony of witnesses called and interviewed by the Republicans and the records reviewed as part of Chairman Comer’s probe — have all clearly established that President Biden was not involved in his son’s business dealings."

HUNTER BIDEN'S LONGTIME BUSINESS PARTNER VISITED OBAMA WH, VP RESIDENCE MORE THAN PREVIOUSLY KNOWN

Raskin accused Republicans of deliberately distorting and obfuscating facts and dismissed their entire probe of the Biden family as "embarrassing."

"Republicans have repeatedly twisted and mischaracterized the evidence in a transparent and increasingly embarrassing attempt to justify their baseless calls for an impeachment inquiry and distract from former President Trump’s dozens of outstanding felony criminal charges in three different cases," Raskin said.

OBAMA-ERA EMAILS REVEAL HUNTER'S EXTENSIVE TIES TO NEARLY A DOZEN SENIOR-LEVEL BIDEN ADMIN AIDES

According to the bank records, Hunter Biden and his former associate Devon Archer each received $83,333 per month from Burisma, totaling $3,321,379 from 2014 to 2015.

Archer spoke with House Oversight Committee staff last week in a marathon closed-door interview, during which he said the president’s son was selling the Biden "brand" and that President Biden "brought the most value to the brand."

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Archer said he heard President Biden on the phone with Hunter Biden while the latter was with their business associates on 20 occasions over the span of a decade but did not say they directly discussed business matters.

Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report