Special Counsel Jack Smith has requested the opportunity to testify publicly before the House and Senate Judiciary Committees in response to accusations of politically motivated prosecutions from House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan. Smith’s legal team stated his willingness to address allegations surrounding his investigations into former President Trump, contingent on Justice Department guidance to avoid violating grand jury secrecy. This request comes as Jordan demanded a closed-door interview with Smith, claiming the special counsel aimed to silence Trump. Notably, Smith recently defended his team’s apolitical nature and commitment to public service in an interview with former prosecutor Andrew Weissmann.
Read More
Ahead of the House Judiciary Committee hearing, FBI Director Kash Patel prepared himself with motivational notes, a recently released photo indicates. The notes, including phrases like “Good fight w/ Swalwell” and “Brush off their attacks,” highlight his approach to the contentious hearing. During the hearing, Patel struggled to recall details and faced questions regarding the Epstein files and his interactions with various lawmakers. He also faced scrutiny for the FBI’s handling of the case and the lawsuits he is facing from former FBI officials.
Read More
During a House Judiciary Committee hearing addressing visa integrity, Representative Jasmine Crockett questioned the basis for Melania Trump’s EB1 visa, also known as the “Einstein visa,” given the requirements of significant achievements. Crockett highlighted Melania’s modeling career, which she argued didn’t align with the visa’s stipulations. A Cato Institute representative humorously defended Melania, stating her marriage to Donald Trump was an accomplishment, sparking a back-and-forth with Crockett. The hearing occurred amid Melania Trump’s recent public appearances and subsequent absence from the public eye.
Read More
The House Judiciary Committee rejected a Democratic amendment that would have prohibited ICE from using federal funds to detain or deport US citizens. This unanimous Republican vote against the amendment, proposed in response to alleged unconstitutional detentions of US citizens under the Trump administration, directly contrasts with the committee’s simultaneous advancement of legislation allocating significant funding for increased migrant detention and deportation. The vote follows a series of legal challenges to the administration’s immigration enforcement practices, highlighting a potential for continued conflict between the government and the courts over the rights of US citizens. This action further underscores the ongoing tension between the administration’s immigration policies and constitutional protections.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker