A road to impeachment: House Republicans may yet impeach Biden

Posted on June 22, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

The Republican-led House of Representatives may yet impeach President Biden.

But House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., had to intervene to halt a snap impeachment this week by Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.

"Privileged" resolutions are a special commodity in the House. They are used in only special circumstances pertaining to the Constitution. That includes discipline of Members or impeachment. Such resolutions head to the front of the legislative line. The House must entertain such privileged matters almost immediately.

Boebert grew tired of what she thought was dithering by House Republicans on potentially impeaching President Biden over the southern border. That’s to say nothing of questions many GOPers hold about the ethics of the President, alleged or perceived crimes and the misdeeds of Hunter Biden. But despite robust inquires into all of those matters by the House Oversight, Judiciary and Ways & Means Committees, Boebert had enough. She would go it alone and try to impeach Mr. Biden with her own privileged resolution.

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"I was tired of politicians telling us something that we wanted to hear back home, getting to where we send them and trust them to be our voice and doing something completely different. This isn't a talking point for me. This is an action item," said Boebert in an interview.

Any member may bring up a privileged resolution. But they’re usually the province of the minority party since they don’t control the floor. Still, Boebert and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., recently deployed privileged resolutions to go around House leaders and force action on their pet initiatives.

Luna tried twice with a privileged resolution to censure Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. The first measure failed. But the second one succeeded.

MCCARTHY SIDELINES LAUREN BOEBERT'S PUSH FOR QUICK VOTE ON BIDEN IMPEACHMENT

This is ironic because Republicans long touted a return to "regular order" in their quest to run the House. In his effort to secure the Speakership, McCarthy promised that he wouldn’t just hand down bills from on high. He wanted legislation to gurgle up through subcommittees and committees before hitting the floor. Leaders wouldn’t drop legislation on lawmakers in the dead of night.

An attempt to punish a lawmaker with censure – the second most serious form of official discipline in the House – customarily goes through committee. The same with articles of impeachment. The Ethics Committee would usually spend months investigating the alleged misdeeds of a Member before sending a censure citation to the floor. Impeachment of the President could consume months of closed door depositions, public hearings and floor debate. That was the process for impeaching former President Trump in late 2019. However, the House was much more hasty in impeaching Mr. Trump the second time after the Capitol riot.

But nothing says a member can’t introduce a privileged resolution to censure a fellow lawmaker or even impeach the President without going through the additional machinations. If the House votes to censure or impeach, you are censured or impeached. The mechanics aren’t required.

Even if that’s the "regular order." Or, the "regular order"

BOEBERT FORCING VOTE ON BIDEN IMPEACHMENT HITS NERVE WITH HER OWN PARTY: ‘PLAYGROUND GAMES'

"Maybe we’re redefining regular order," said Luna in an interview. "Maybe we’re redefining what the typical process would be and that Members have more of a voice."

Allowing his rank-and-file to have a "voice" is key to McCarthy’s political success as Speaker. He promised to give Members more say in the legislative process. The Speaker certainly agreed with censuring his Golden State nemesis Schiff for his role in the Russia probe. And even though McCarthy is no fan of President Biden, he knows that impeachments of Presidents come at tremendous political cost.

As Speaker, McCarthy must protect the integrity of the institution, the Speakership and the seriousness of impeachment. That’s to say nothing of guarding vulnerable Republicans from battleground districts who look askance at impeachment.

Lots of Congressional Republicans hint at impeachment to keep them in the good graces of conservative voters back home. But they know that impeachments are rare, and they may never have to vote on such a proposal, despite the feisty rhetoric. So to Boebert, talk was cheap.

That’s why she circumvented the customary committee process for impeachment, depositing a privileged resolution on the floor without the typical volutions.

"Bringing up this privileged motion to impeach Joe Biden absolutely forces members to put their money where their mouth is. If most of the Republicans (governed) as they (campaigned), then we would be a lot better off," said Boebert.

But Boebert’s approach failed to impress some of her GOP colleagues.

"We can't turn impeachment into the equivalent of a vote of no confidence in the British Parliament," said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn. "When we do that we cheapen what impeachment is. It's supposed to be a tool of last resort. Not a first resort."

Boebert failed to appear at a meeting of all House Republicans Wednesday morning to present her impeachment resolution and gain support for it.

"I don’t think that one minute of speaking time at (the Republican) Conference was going to persuade anyone," said Boebert. "I don’t think that is something that took precedence for my busy schedule."

For the record, nearly every House Republican also attends those same meetings and somehow finds a way to wedge those weekly conclaves into their schedules.

"I believe in team sports you should work together. And this was an individual who was undermining the team," said Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., about Boebert. "Impeachment shouldn’t be something that is frivolous and treated in that way."

McCarthy needed to thread the needle on Boebert’s resolution. But he too was unimpressed with the gambit by the Colorado Republican.

"You just don’t flippantly put something on the floor," said McCarthy. "You follow the investigation wherever it takes you."

McCarthy then met with Boebert.

"I don’t think that my actions are flippant," Boebert said afterward. "I believe they are very intentional."

THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO CENSURING SCHIFF THIS WEEK

But McCarthy wasn’t going to let Boebert’s impeachment resolution on the floor. He also wasn’t going to expose vulnerable Republicans to a scenario where they voted to table the impeachment resolution and then caught flak from arch conservatives in their districts. However, McCarthy wanted to block Democrats from tabling the resolution, too.

So McCarthy crafted a special provision to handle Boebert’s impeachment resolution. The House would vote on a "rule" to send the impeachment measure to the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees. How much those committees investigated is then up to them. But McCarthy’s plan made sure to keep Boebert’s resolution alive. And it simultaneously inoculated anti-impeachment Republican lawmakers so they couldn’t face criticism for dismissing Boebert’s effort.

In addition, lawmakers like Fitzpatrick and Bacon got their wishes, too. Committees could now continue to investigate the President – with the possibility of impeachment.

"The timeline of our investigation is pretty much in our heads," said House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn. "We kind of know the pathway."

Boebert said she’d like to see the House impeach President Biden by the end of the year.

"If there’s ever a hesitation that the articles are not coming to the floor, then we’ll make sure that happens," said Boebert, noting she’d dial up another privileged resolution.

"We have to be ready to vote for any number of fanciful ideas that the House Republican Conference comes up with," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. "They are trying to out-MAGA and out-extreme each other."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., intends to impeach Mr. Biden, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Washington, DC, U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves. But on Wednesday afternoon. Greene and Boebert engaged in an animated conversation on the House floor. Greene accused Boebert of stealing her impeachment idea. It was reported Greene called Boebert "a little b*tch."

"They had a discussion," said McCarthy, trying to downplay the rhubarb between Greene and Boebert.

Yours truly pressed McCarthy on if the confrontation was truly a "discussion."

"I think it’s healthy that people have discussions," replied McCarthy.

When asked for her side of the story, Boebert simply walked away from a pack of reporters gathered on the Capitol steps.

"Thank you all so much. Have a great day," said Boebert.

Texas Republican pushes Biden impeachment over ‘false’ compassion for migrants, ‘reach’ of cartels into US

Posted on June 22, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, scorched President Biden in a House floor speech Thursday demanding his impeachment, accusing the administration and Democrats of expressing "false" compassion toward migrants while allowing the "dangerous hand of cartels" to stretch into the United States.

On Wednesday night, the House Rules Committee reported a rule to refer House Resolution 503 to the Committee on Homeland and Security and Judiciary laying out articles of impeachment against President Biden "for his failure to secure the southern border of the United States."

"The laws of the United States are there expressly and specifically laid out to ensure that our border will be protected, that our nation will be secure," Roy told the House floor Thursday. "That is the fundamental question before us is when the Executive Branch fails to follow the law, when the Executive Branch fails to adhere to its duty to defend the Constitution, the laws of the United States, then what is it that the Congress – that the People's House – is supposed to do in response?"

"The founders gave us a mechanism, and here today we are talking about putting forward and referring these articles to the Homeland Security Committee for determination of the extent to which the homeland is, in fact, not secure as a direct consequence of the refusal of the administration, well beyond maladministration, but very specifically the refusal to follow the laws of the United States that is resulting in the direct consequence of the death and damage to the American people.," he continued.

DESANTIS ANNOUNCES NATIONWIDE COALITION OF 90 SHERIFFS TO PUSH BACK AGAINST BORDER CRISIS

Roy said since Biden took office, there have been more than 5 million illegal migrant encounters along the southwest border – including more than 240,000 illegal immigrants encountered at the border in May alone. Since the "relaxed enforcement" of Title 42, he argued about 2 million illegal immigrants have successfully evaded border agents, based on "relatively conservative accounting," Roy said. He said data shows 125 individuals from the terrorist watch list have been encountered this fiscal year, compared to about 98 in all the last fiscal year and about 10 in the last year of the Trump administration.

In his floor speech, Roy referenced a recent opinion from U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas Reed O’Connor laying out how illegal immigrants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal migrants. The sentencing information shows that on behalf of the Juarez cartel, the defendants participated in a migrant smuggling conspiracy.

The smuggling organization charged $10,000 to smuggle an adult illegal immigrant to the U.S. and between $12,000 to $14000 to smuggle a child.

The order lays out how authorities discovered that there was an illegal immigrant in Baltimore who was being held for ransom so that his family would not be abused by the Juarez cartel. The cartel member allegedly told the husband, "They would do things to his daughter he would not like," if he did not make a payment of $23,000, Roy said.

"This is the state of affairs in our country. And this is the consequence to those migrants who were seeking to come here when my colleagues in the false name of compassion state that open borders is somehow good for them," Roy said. "But this is causing crime to extend into our communities. This is causing us to experience the dangerous hand of cartels. Just this morning, we had more news about cartels and their reach into Texas, into the United States. It is an everyday occurrence. Bailouts, damage to ranches, harm to Texans, death to Texans, fentanyl. How many more fentanyl moms? How many more angel moms? How many more Americans need suffer because this president refuses to follow the laws of the United States that he raised his hand and swore an oath to defend?"

NEARLY 17 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THE US, 16% INCREASE SINCE 2021: ANALYSIS

In a fiery response, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., slammed the House Rules Committee for convening Wednesday night to deploy emergency procedures to refer the Biden impeachment resolution to committee.

"What a spectacular emergency. Truly something that needed to be done immediately," McGovern scoffed. "We all know the truth. The real emergency here was that the Georgia wing and the Colorado wing of the MAGA caucus got into a fight right over -- right over there on the House floor about who gets to impeach the president first. The truth is that Speaker McCarthy has lost control of this House, and it is being run by the MAGA fringe. This is nuts."

Since the end of Title 42 on May 11, the Democrat argued that unlawful entries along the southern border have plummeted. As of June 6, Customs and Border Protection reported over 70% fewer encounters between points of entry or unscheduled encounters per day, McGovern said, adding that "fentanyl seizures have increased under the Biden presidency."

"They would rather talk about building a stupid wall along our southern border that they know won't work," McGovern said of Republicans. "Or about a non-binding resolution they put on the floor this week that demonizes migrants but does nothing to fix our immigration system. I mean, they have a policy disagreement with President Biden and their first impulse isn't let's pass an immigration bill. Their first impulse is to impeach him. Our founding fathers must be rolling over in their graves."

Before yielding his time, Roy responded to McGovern’s remarks.

"I would just note that this morning, Texas DPS troopers arrested a Gulf cartel operative in the Rio Grande Valley moving smugglers across the river, having paid thousands of dollars, moving five illegal immigrants into the United States," Roy countered. "This is somebody that had been affiliated with a dangerous cartel. It's happening every day of the state of Texas because this administration refuses to do its job."

Boebert forcing vote on Biden impeachment hits a nerve with her own party: ‘Playground games’

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

Several House Republicans said Wednesday they were frustrated with Rep. Lauren Boebert's attempt to bypass the committee process to push for an immediate vote to impeach President Biden.

Boebert, R-Colo., filed a privileged resolution on the House floor Tuesday evening aimed at impeaching Biden over the border crisis, and it appeared to catch members of her own party off guard. A privileged resolution allows lawmakers to force a vote on the House floor without going through the committee, a move that some Republicans seem to oppose.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., would not say if he would support Boebert's resolution but suggested he was unhappy about how her resolution skirted his committee despite its months-long investigation into corruption accusations against the Biden family.

"I don't like how she presented it by bypassing the committee process, especially when the investigation in the oversight committee, which she's on, is producing new information almost daily," Comer told Fox News Digital."

EXCLUSIVE: BOEBERT INTRODUCES NEW IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES AGAINST BIDEN OVER BORDER CRISIS

"I feel like we've got some more work to do on the Oversight Committee before we issue a report, then once we issue a report, depending on what's in that report, then the Judiciary Committee would be the committee that would then have hearings on any potential wrongdoing and potential impeachment," he said. "So I wish she had gone about it a different way."

"I think the previous majority cheapened impeachment," Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., told Fox News Digital. "I think it was politicized. This shouldn't be playground games."

"This should be serious, should go through the Judiciary Committee or Oversight committee. And if there [are] real facts for impeachment, then you go there, but doing this is wrong," he said, agreeing with Comer.

"I would prefer regular order, I think regular order has worked for us," said Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D. "I think we fought really hard to get rank-and-file members to have committee access and all of those things. That was a big part of the 15-vote speaker fight, so I think we should use it."

IT'S TIME TO BRING IMPEACHMENT CHARGES AGAINST JOE BIDEN

Bacon said he would vote with Democrats to kill the resolution when it comes up, something that could happen today; so did Rep. Ryan Zinke. R-Mont., who previously served as President Trump's Interior Secretary and recalled the impeachment process Democrats underwent during that administration.

GOP REP. OGLES INTRODUCES IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES AGAINST BIDEN, HARRIS

"I loathe how they treated President Trump. If you want to go through impeachment, it should go through Judiciary, they should look at all the evidence and have a case that is clear," Zinke said. "I think it should be pursued. I think it should be done, absolutely, so the American people can see it all transparent. I think Jim Jordan, and that committee of jurisdiction is the right place."

"But doing a privilege motion off the floor is, to me, theater, and smacks of self-service and not service," he added.

Boebert was not at Wednesday morning's regular party-wide meeting, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., told reporters. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer was noncommittal when asked about her move, stating, "People have a right to do what they want to do."

With the thinly-divided House chamber, Democrats just need a handful of Republicans to vote with them to table Boebert's motion.

Rep. Boebert says she will use a privileged motion to bring impeachment articles against Biden

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., revealed on Twitter she will bring articles of impeachment against President Biden using a privileged motion.

"BREAKING: I am bringing my articles of impeachment against Joe Biden to the House Floor in a privileged motion, meaning that every Member of Congress must vote on holding Joe Biden accountable," Boebert tweeted Tuesday evening.

The Republican lawmaker has contended Biden remains negligent on the U.S. border, failing to keep Americans safe from an influx of deadly fentanyl and criminal activity as well as failing to relieve the strain on the country’s immigration system.

"Biden intentionally ceded command & control of our border to cartels. His dereliction of duty caused the deaths of over 900 Coloradans from fentanyl, enabled sex-trafficking, & allowed an invasion," she wrote in a subsequent tweet. "I brought my articles of impeachment up via a privileged motion to force a vote."

EXCLUSIVE: BOEBERT INTRODUCES NEW IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES AGAINST BIDEN OVER BORDER CRISIS

The motion will require all House members to go on the record regarding the impeachment articles, according to the congresswoman.

Last week, during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Boebert accused Biden of mishandling his "constitutional duty to secure our southern border" and said she would introduce the impeachment articles if her party leaders failed to do so.

"Given the severity of the violation of Joe Biden's constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of the president, United States to the best of his ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, this is something that we must do with our majorities in the House of Representatives," Boebert told Fox News Digital Tuesday. "This is our duty because Joe Biden has neglected the constitutional duty of the office of President of the United States."

IT'S TIME TO BRING IMPEACHMENT CHARGES AGAINST JOE BIDEN

"I introduced the articles of impeachment in the last Congress and had fully intended to introduce them this Congress, but I was also giving some other committees and leadership the opportunity to lead on this," Boebert continued.

She added: "It's about Joe Biden's failure to secure the southern border."

"And I did this so at any time, if the committees and or leadership does not step up and actually do something about the president's failure to secure our southern border and keep the country safe, then I will call my legislation my articles of impeachment for a privileged motion," Boebert explained.

GOP REP. OGLES INTRODUCES IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES AGAINST BIDEN, HARRIS

Her motion may not result in an immediate vote, however, as leadership has two days in accordance with House rules to decide how to proceed.

"Under Rule IX in the House, we can bring up certain pieces of legislation under a privileged motion. So I would go to the House floor and call up my articles of impeachment and read it in its entirety. And at that point, leadership has a maximum of two days to respond and see if it's going to be sent to committee or a vote on the articles themselves," Boebert told Fox.

Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., has also introduced articles of impeachment against President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during this session of Congress. They were introduced on June 12, and Boebert is a cosponsor.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., also introduced articles of impeachment against Biden and other Biden officials including Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and U.S. attorney Matthew Graves. She may also use a privileged motion to force a vote. Boebert is not a cosponsor.

Boebert, who has remained a vocal critic of the Biden administration since she was first elected in 2020, won her first re-election contest by a mere 546 votes. The closeness prompted a recount, which confirmed the result.

Immigration levels over the southern border with Mexico have witnessed historic highs under Biden.

Fox News' Houston Keene and Aubrie Spady contributed to this report.

If At First You Don’t Succeed

Posted on June 19, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

And that’s exactly what freshman Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., intends to do in the coming days. Luna is intent on compelling the House of Representatives to censure Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

Most Republicans have nothing but enmity for Schiff following his role leading up to and through the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

"You had Adam Schiff, who was chairman of the Intel Committee, lying day after day to the American public that he had proof (of collusion) by former President Trump with Russia," said House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Fox last month. "Now it’s time that people have consequences for their actions."

ADAM SCHIFF NOT OUT OF THE WOODSHED YET: HOP WILL MOVE AGAIN TO CONDEMN HIS ‘FALSE ACCUSATIONS’

In the spring, Luna prepped a resolution to expel Schiff. The House referred that measure to the Ethics Committee. It’s doubtful that plan was ever going anywhere. The House has only expelled five Members in history. And the Constitution dictates a two-thirds vote.

So, Luna settled on censure.

Censure is one of the three formal modes of discipline in the House – right between reprimand and expulsion. A reprimand is exactly what it sounds like. If the House votes to reprimand a Member, they stand in the well of the House chamber before the entire body and the Speaker admonishes the offender for their conduct. Censure looks exactly the same – only the Speaker castigates you with a little more soul.

Consider the dynamic: McCarthy and his personal level of antipathy toward Schiff, standing atop the dais, glaring down at Schiff in the well, awaiting a scolding from the Speaker.

ADAM SCHIFF LIED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: REP. ANNA PAULINA LUNA

Luna attempted to arrange that political stagecraft in the House chamber last week when she prepared what the House calls a "privileged" resolution to censure Schiff. The House must consider such specialized measures right away or within two days. If the House adopted Luna’s resolution, lawmakers would require Schiff to present himself to McCarthy for reproval and also face an additional inquiry by the Ethics Committee. However, approval of the resolution would also slap the California Democrat with a staggering $16 million fine. That’s what Luna’s office estimates to be half the cost of the Russia probe for former President Trump.

But that plan to fine Schiff killed the censure resolution in the House last Wednesday. The House never even got a straight, up or down vote on censure. The House voted to table – or lay aside – Luna’s plan, 225-196. Twenty Republicans joined all Democrats to euthanize that censure effort.

Fox spoke with several of those GOPers who voted to table the measure. One noted that Republicans are always touting getting the House back to "regular order." That GOPer observed that Luna’s resolution never went before a committee first. Second, the Republican pointed out that such "privileged" resolutions are typically the province of the minority. The House majority controls the floor. So that member questioned why Luna didn’t bring the resolution before the House Republican Conference and talk it through first. That said, any Member may craft a privileged resolution and bring it to the floor if they see fit.

Most of the Republicans who voted to table the original plan didn’t like the $16 million fine. Granted, there aren’t many House GOPers who get along with Adam Schiff. But they worried that approval of such a fine could open Pandora’s Box.

"You wait until Democrats are back in the majority," said one of the 20 GOPers who voted present. "If we pass that, they will stick it to us."

There is also the concern that levying such a stiff fine on a lawmaker could force them to leave Congress to find other work. One lawmaker worried that a fine of that magnitude – imposed by a simple majority – didn’t match the spirit of the Constitutional bar, requiring a two-thirds vote for expulsion. Therefore, this resolution effectively lowered the bar for expulsion.

Undaunted, Luna went back to work and tweaked her censure plan for Schiff.

"He knowingly used his position as chairman of House Intelligence to lie to the American people. To lie to his fellow colleagues," said Luna on Fox Business. "So he will be held accountable."

The updated censure plan basically has the same goal of the first: censure Schiff and refer him to the Ethics Committee for further adjudication. However, it drops the fine. That said, a couple of Republicans with whom Fox spoke wondered why the House would vote to censure Schiff – a serious sanction unto itself – and then send the California Democrat to the ethics panel for further investigation. One source familiar with the resolution said there were other alleged transgressions involving Schiff which could merit further inquiry by the Ethics Committee.

The source also indicated the ethics panel also has the ability to make a criminal referral to the Justice Department. But the chances of that are slim. That’s because the Ethics Committee is split five to five between Democrats and Republicans. Moreover, Republicans don’t like Schiff because of some of his activities related to Congress. The "Speech or Debate" clause of the Constitution in Article I, Section 6 mostly inoculates lawmakers from prosecution related to their official duties in Congress.

ADAM SCHIFF DODGES BULLET: HOUSE VOTES AGAINST BILL CENSURING HIM FOR TRUMP-RUSSIA ‘LIES’

So, the new resolution to censure Schiff likely comes up by mid-week in the House. It’s doubtful the House would vote to table or set aside the new resolution if Luna worked things out with her GOP colleagues. This vote would likely mean an up or down vote on censure for Schiff.

The House has only censured 25 members in history. The last was Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., in 2021. The Democratic-led House censured Gosar after he shared an edited, animated video on social media which looked like he was killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. The House also voted to censure former Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., in late 2010 for a host of offenses, including using House resources for personal benefit.

After the House voted to sidestep the initial resolution, Schiff embraced becoming a target of the GOP.

"It’s a badge of honor when you take on the MAGA crowd. They clearly think I am effective in holding the former President accountable," said Schiff to colleague Hillary Vaughn.

But Luna accused Schiff of flaunting his reprieve.

"It brings me joy to see that he thinks that," said Luna.

The Florida Republican said that Schiff "was singing a different tune" after she informed him of her mulligan.

However, Schiff could reap political benefit of censure. He’s running to succeed Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in the Senate next year. Feinstein isn’t seeking re-election. Schiff’s toughest challenge at the ballot box comes from two Democrats: Reps. Katie Porter, D-Calif., and Barbara Lee, D-Calif.

"It’s an in-kind contribution to Adam Schiff’s campaign," said Los Angeles Times political columnist Mark Barabak of Luna’s attempt to censure Schiff. "Any hour that we’re talking about House Republicans going after Adam Schiff is a good day for his Senate campaign."

Still, Democrats say censure is retribution.

"This is the new normal," observed Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill. "Be careful how well you do your job or you might be on the outside looking in."

There is concern about the weaponization of censure. A tit-for-tat. But Luna will try to sanction Schiff this week. No one wants the ignominy of becoming only the 26th member in House history to face censure. However, the political reality for Schiff is the house is penalizing him for going to the mat with former President Trump. That’s an achievement of which Schiff’s Senate opponents can only dream.

Adam Schiff not out of the woodshed yet: GOP will move again to condemn his ‘false accusations’

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said Thursday that Republicans will try again to censure Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., for making "false accusations" against former President Trump, after the House voted down a censure resolution against Schiff on Wednesday.

In that vote, 20 Republicans rejected Luna’s censure resolution, in part because it recommended a $16 million fine against Schiff for telling "lies" about collusion between former President Trump and Russia, something that several investigations were never able to prove. Luna says that number is roughly half the cost of investigating Trump, probes that were never able to show collusion.

One lawmaker, Rep. Tom Massie, R-Ky., said the inclusion of language about fining Schiff violates the Constitution. Because Massie and several other Republicans opposed that language, the House voted 225-196 to set the censure resolution aside.

But Luna, R-Fla., said Thursday that she reached an agreement with those 20 Republicans on new censure language and said the House is expected to vote on it soon.

ADAM SCHIFF DODGES BULLET: HOUSE VOTES AGAINST BILL CENSURING HIM FOR TRUMP-RUSSIA ‘LIES’

"We came to terms and negotiations and the language that will censure and refer him to an ethics investigation because of the fact that he knowingly used his position as the chairman of House Intelligence to lie to the American people, to lie to his fellow colleagues, and also too, violated the rights, the civil liberties of individuals like Carter Page," Luna told FOX Business. "So he will be held accountable.

"And it brings me joy to see that he thinks that, you know, even just yesterday, that he got off the hook with it because he was singing a different tune," she added. "And he was very uncomfortable when I saw him in the hallways of Congress to let him know that he would be censured next week."

A spokesperson for Luna also told Fox News that the congresswoman has "agreed upon language with our 20 colleagues and looks forward to holding Schiff responsible for bringing dishonor to our country and the House of Representatives."

When asked Thursday about the possibility of another censure vote, Schiff accused Republicans of helping Trump distract the public from his ongoing legal battles about holding classified documents.

THESE 20 REPUBLICANS SAVED ADAM SCHIFF FROM CENSURE OVER TRUMP-RUSSIA ‘LIES’

"This is what it takes to gratify Donald Trump," said Schiff. "She obviously wants to distract from the president's legal troubles, and you‘ve got the MAGA people like Steve Bannon who are out promoting this."

A draft of Luna’s new resolution obtained by Fox News makes no mention of a fine against Schiff and also drops language accusing him of telling "lies" about Trump-Russia collusion. Instead, the new language notes several times that Schiff made "false" statements and allegations about Trump colluding with Russia to win the 2016 election.

"For years, Representative Schiff has spread false accusations that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia," it reads.

"On March 20, 2017, Representative Schiff perpetuated false allegations from the Steele Dossier accusing numerous Trump associates of colluding with Russia into the Congressional Record," it adds.

SCHIFF IMMEDIATELY STARTS FUNDRAISING OFF HOUSE GOP'S PUSH TO CENSURE HIM

"As ranking minority member and Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Representative Schiff behaved dishonestly and dishonorably on many other occasions, including by publicly, falsely denying that his staff communicated with a whistleblower to launch the first impeachment of President Trump," the draft reads.

The resolution concludes by saying Schiff is censured for "misleading the American public and for conduct unbecoming" of member of the House. It says Schiff will "present himself in the well of the House" and will be censured by a public reading of the resolution, and says the House Committee on Ethics will investigate Schiff’s "falsehoods, misrepresentations, and abuses of sensitive information."

EXCLUSIVE: Boebert introduces new impeachment articles against Biden over border crisis

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

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., introduced articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden on claims that he mishandled his "constitutional duty to secure our southern border."

While the congresswoman is giving others the opportunity to act, Boebert warned that if leadership does not "actually do something about the president's failure to secure our southern border and keep the country safe" then she will introduce the impeachment legislation under a privileged motion.

"It's about Joe Biden's failure to secure the southern border," Boebert told Fox News Digital. "And I did this so at any time, if the committees and or leadership does not step up and actually do something about the president's failure to secure our southern border and keep the country safe, then I will call my legislation my articles of impeachment for a privileged motion."

GOP REP. OGLES INTRODUCES IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES AGAINST BIDEN, HARRIS

Boebert explained what her impeachment process would look like if she decides to call her impeachment legislation.

IT'S TIME TO BRING IMPEACHMENT CHARGES AGAINST JOE BIDEN

Boebert also cosponsored her Tennessee GOP colleague Rep. Andy Ogles' articles of impeachment against the president and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday.

"I support any article of impeachment that is filed that qualifies Joe Biden for impeachment under our Constitution," Boebert said Tuesday. "So I'm happy to be a co-sponsor of Andy Ogles articles of impeachment."

The congresswoman urged Republicans to use their majority to take immediate action against the Biden administration.

"Given the severity of the violation of Joe Biden's constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of the president, United States to the best of his ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, this is something that we must do with our majorities in the House of Representatives," Boebert stressed. "This is our duty because Joe Biden has neglected the constitutional duty of the office of president of the United States."

GOP Rep. Ogles introduces impeachment articles against Biden, Harris

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

FIRST ON FOX: Tennessee Republican Rep. Andy Ogles introduced articles of impeachment on Monday against President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Ogles’ articles accuse Biden of having "weaponized" the presidency, both in his tenure as president and vice president, to "shield the business and influence peddling schemes of his family from congressional oversight and public accountability."

Additionally, the articles accuse Biden of acting in a "manner contrary to the public trust and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States" with his handling of the southern border crisis.

Ogle's effort will likely face an uphill climb in the House, where a small minority of Republicans have pushed for Biden's impeachment.

CNN ANALYST SHOCKED BY HUNTER BIDEN CASE BEING SLOW-WALKED BY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT: ‘THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS!’

Harris’ impeachment articles take aim at her track record as vice president as well as her handling of the southern border crisis, accusing the vice president of having "extraordinary incompetence in the execution of her duties and responsibilities and an indifference to Americans suffering as a result of America’s ongoing southern border crisis."

"Joe Biden hasn’t just failed the American people with his abysmal excuse for ‘leadership’ — he’s violated his sworn oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States," Ogles told Fox News Digital.

"Joe Biden has repeatedly abused his position of power, both as vice president and president, to cover up his illicit family business dealings and exploitation of taxpayer resources," the Tennessee Republican continued.

"The American people know they can’t depend on the so-called ‘Department of Justice’ to investigate the Biden family’s corruption, and so it’s up to the U.S. Congress to hold him accountable once and for all," Ogles added.

Ogles said, "Biden is a disgrace to the Oval Office and should be stripped of his position and held responsible for his high crimes against the United States" and that his "accomplice" Harris "has demonstrated her extraordinary incompetence time and again."

"She has allowed the land invasion at our southern border to continue unchecked, threatening the livelihoods of millions and the lives of thousands who have been murdered at the hands of illegal aliens and died from illicit fentanyl," Ogles said.

Specifically, Biden’s articles accuse him of having failed to comply with "congressional requests for information and documentation, violating a personal commitment to transparency."

Additionally, the articles also accuse the president of withholding "a critical FD–1023 form until threatened with a congressional subpoena" that "reportedly details a bribery scheme in which members of the Biden family, including Joseph Robinette Biden, received $5,000,000 each to assist Burisma Holdings," the Ukrainian company of which Hunter Biden sat on the board.

In her impeachment articles, Harris is accused of having "consistently refused to visit the southern border to ascertain the root causes of the ongoing crisis, aside from a single trip hundreds of miles away from the epicenter of the migrant crisis."

"In permitting an invasion of illegal aliens and illicit drugs into the United States, as well as facilitating the extenuation of a major humanitarian crisis, Vice President Kamala Devi Harris has directly betrayed the public trust of the United States, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States," the articles read.

Ogles’ impeachment articles come as Biden faces a special counsel investigation into his handling of classified documents after leaving the vice presidency in 2017.

The White House did not immediately give comment on the impeachment articles.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hires prominent lawyer for impeachment trial

Posted on June 8, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

A new lawyer for Ken Paxton on Wednesday raised skepticism that the embattled Texas attorney general's impeachment trial could be done quickly and attacked the case that could lead to the Republican's permanent removal from office as a sham.

Tony Buzbee is a prominent Houston attorney whose high-profile client list includes former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and women who accused NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual harassment and assault. His hiring sets up a clash between some of the state’s most well-known lawyers over Paxton's political future.

"The impeachment articles that have been laid out by the House are baloney," Buzbee said during a news conference at the Republican Party of Texas’ Austin headquarters. "The allegations are untrue."

The impeachment trial in the Texas Senate is set to begin no later than Aug. 28. "If we're really going to have a trial, it's going to take a lot longer than that," Buzbee said.

TEXAS HOUSE VOTES TO IMPEACH REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON

Buzbee joins several member of the attorney general's staff who are set to square off against two high-profile lawyers the House brought in to present the case against Paxton, who was suspended from office following his impeachment on 20 articles including abuse of public trust and bribery.

Buzbee and one of Paxton's longtime criminal defense attorneys, Dan Cogdell, criticized the House's rapid impeachment process as rushed and secretive. Lawmakers allied with Paxton mounted similar complaints in May before 60 of the House’s 85 Republicans, including Speaker Dade Phelan, voted to impeach.

"There was no due process before the House," said Cogdell, who represents Paxton in a long-stalled securities fraud case and a separate FBI investigation into many of the same allegations that led to his impeachment.

The case for Paxton's impeachment is set to be presented by Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin, who over decades in Texas have become practically as recognizable in courtrooms as the politicians and famous figures they have represented.

Buzbee said the current timeframe would not give Paxton's legal team enough time to take testimony from more than 60 witnesses and review thousands of documents. He suggested the trial might need to be put off until next summer.

SEN. CRUZ DEFENDS TEXAS AG PAXTON AMID IMPEACHMENT EFFORTS FROM ‘SWAMP IN AUSTIN’

The trial date start, as well as a June 20 Senate meeting to consider trial rules, were set by a Senate vote. It was not immediately clear if those dates could be changed without a similar vote by the 31 senators.

Paxton has been under FBI investigation for years over accusations by members of his own staff that he used his office to help a donor. He was separately indicted on securities fraud charges in 2015, though he has yet to stand trial.

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Buzbee didn't directly address the substance of most of the allegations against Paxton during the 40-minute news conference. But he did contest that the donor, real estate developer Nate Paul, bribed the attorney general by paying for renovations to his Austin home. The lawyer showed images of receipts that he suggested disproved the claim.

Buzbee declined to say who was paying for his services, save that "I'm not being paid by the public."

Republicans push resolution to ‘recognize and honor’ Daniel Penny for ‘heroism and courage’

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Latest Political News on Fox News

EXCLUSIVE: Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee introduced a resolution Thursday to "recognize and honor" Daniel Penny – a military veteran charged with manslaughter – for his "heroism and courage" on a New York City subway train earlier this month.

The resolution aims to set the record straight about what happened this month, and it recognizes Penny’s heroism in stepping up to protect himself and other frightened passengers in the subway car.

Penny is charged with manslaughter in the May 1 chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man, aboard a subway train. Penny, a 24-year-old Marine veteran, was questioned by police that day and released, but cellphone video, which showed two other men holding Neely's arms as Penny held Neely in a chokehold for several minutes, went viral online. A medical examiner later ruled Neely's death a homicide, even though prosecutors noted Neely was yelling threats toward other subway passengers when Penny intervened.

Disturbed by the treatment received by Penny, Ogles, with assistance from other Republicans in the House, is making it clear where he stands on the issue.

DANIEL PENNY BREAKS SILENCE OVER JORDAN NEELY DEATH: 'HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE'

"The disgusting political abuse of power by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is an egregious assault on our justice system. On May 1, Daniel Penny took action to protect himself and innocent commuters on the F Train from an out-of-control individual," Ogles, who has represented Tennessee's Fifth Congressional District since January, told Fox News Digital. "DA Bragg and the mainstream media were quick to jump to the defense of Jordan Neely, who had a record of 42 arrests, including three assaults on women riding the New York subway."

"Instead of joining in with the full-throttled woke mob in unjustly demonizing Mr. Penny, I introduced a resolution to recognize and honor him for his heroism and courage," Ogles added.

In agreement with Ogles, Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene told Fox that Penny – referred to by his critics as a "White supremacist" and a "vigilante" – is the ideal "American hero."

"The world needs more men like Daniel Penny. He is exactly what an American hero looks like," Greene said in a statement.

The resolution, according to its text, recognizes "Daniel Penny of West Islip, New York, for his heroism and courage in apprehending a threat to public safety."

Neely, 30, was homeless and had more than 40 prior arrests, but his supporters have demanded Penny be charged with murder. Penny, who is charged with second-degree manslaughter and is free on $100,000 bond, spoke out for the first time Saturday, saying in a recent interview with the New York Post that his choice to step in had "nothing to do with race."

JORDAN NEELY PROTESTERS ARRESTED IN CLASH WITH COPS AT NYC VETERANS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF DANIEL PENNY

Penny said he was "deeply saddened" by Neely's death and insisted it is "tragic what happened to him."

"I judge a person based on their character. I’m not a White supremacist," Penny said. "I mean, it’s, it’s a little bit comical. Everybody who’s ever met me can tell you, I love all people, I love all cultures."

"Hopefully, we can change the system that’s so desperately failed us," he added.

Penny told the Post that he was on his way to the gym when Neely entered his subway car on May 1. Neely, who reportedly suffered from mental illness, began yelling about going to jail and being hungry and tired.

Passengers have said Neely was yelling and acting erratically when Penny intervened by putting him in a chokehold. Penny's lawyers have argued that the Marine veteran was trying to defend himself and passengers by restraining Neely.

Authorities are still determining to what extent Neely was threatening the train's passengers. Freelance journalist Juan Alberto Vazquez, who filmed the incident, said Neely was yelling and threw his jacket to the ground, but that he did not physically attack anyone.

But an eyewitness told Fox News Digital that Penny was a "hero" and recalled that Neely was using words like "kill" and "bullet" when he was yelling.

"It was self-defense, and I believe in my heart that [Penny] saved a lot of people that day that could have gotten hurt," the retiree told Fox News Digital.

The 24-year-old veteran told the Post that he did not regret the encounter and did not feel ashamed.

Fox News' Danielle Wallace, Andrea Vacchiano, and Rebecca Rosenberg contributed to this article.