Political Headlines
Top Democrat presses Hegseth on supporting accused war criminals that Trump pardoned
SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Pete Hegseth told senators on the committee investigating his qualifications to be secretary of defense on Tuesday that "restrictive rules of engagement" have "made it more difficult to defeat our enemies" as Democrats on the panel suggested he undervalued the laws of war.Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Defense, told Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the committee, that it would be his priority "that lawyers aren't the ones getting in the way" of military effectiveness.Reed said Hegseth's advocacy for pardons for convicted war criminals when he was a Fox News host raised questions about his respect for the military judicial process as the members of the committee questioned ... Read More
‘Men have no place in women’s sports’: House GOP votes to roll back Title IX changes
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The House passed the "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act," which could change Title IX protections and ensure only "biological females" participate versus biological females in athletics, on Tuesday on a vote of 218-206-1.Two Democrats voted in favor of the House GOP's signature legislation: Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez. North Carolina Rep. Don Davis, a Democrat, voted present. The three bucked House Democratic leadership in doing so.Republicans are now touting this bill as bipartisan even though only two Democrats crossed the aisle to vote in favor of the bill."Today was an improvement. It's bipartisan," Johnson said about the bill at his victory presser. "We had two Democrats join us."Title IX ... Read More
Michelle Obama to skip Trump inauguration
Rob Carr, Pool via AFP via Getty Images, FILE(WASHINGTON) -- Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday, her office confirmed to ABC News."Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration," the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama said in a statement.This is the second presidential event in two weeks that the former first lady will have missed. She was noticeably absent from former President Jimmy Carter's funeral on Thursday, Jan. 9, at Washington National Cathedral, where she would have been assigned to sit next to Trump.Michelle Obama's planned absence was first reported by the Associated Press.Michelle Obama has ... Read More
Virginia Foxx to be only woman leading House committees in 119th Congress
Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx, 81, was tapped by House Speaker Mike Johnson to serve as the chairwoman of the powerful House Rules Committee, two GOP sources told ABC News, becoming the only woman to lead a House committee in the 119th Congress.The House GOP conference voted to approve Foxx's selection during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday."For two decades, Dr. Foxx has been a stalwart in the House and a leader in multiple policy areas," Johnson said in a statement. "Her drive and personality have established her as among the most universally respected members of our Republican Conference. Dr. Foxx is an example of how Members should serve, and our Conference will benefit greatly ... Read More
Johnson says flags will be raised for Trump’s inauguration
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is going to order that the flags at the Capitol, which are at half-staff due to the death of former President Jimmy Carter, be raised for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration -- defying a White House proclamation.Leaving a GOP press conference Tuesday morning, Johnson nodded his head when asked if he would be raising the flags next week. He later confirmed his decision in a post on X."On January 20th, the flags at the Capitol will fly at full-staff to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President, Donald Trump. The flags will be lowered back to half-staff the following day to continue honoring ... Read More
Hegseth grilled about sexual misconduct allegations, view on war crimes
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's embattled pick for defense secretary, faced senators on Tuesday for a contentious confirmation hearing.Hegseth was grilled by members of the Armed Services Committee on allegations of misconduct and sexual impropriety he's denied -- as well as his position on military policy issues, including women in combat and diversity goals.Hearing wraps after 4.5 hoursThe Armed Services Committee gaveled out at 1:45 p.m., after hours of questions posed to Hegseth.The hearing largely centered on allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement that Hegseth's faced. Hegseth has denied those accusations, bemoaning them as a "coordinated smear campaign."Senators also debated Hegseth's qualifications and whether he is experienced enough to lead an ... Read More
Biden to issue executive order to bolster AI infrastructure in the US
Caroline Purser/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- With just days left in his administration, President Joe Biden will sign a new executive order focused on bolstering the infrastructure needed to for advanced AI operations in the U.S., according to the White House."I am signing an historic Executive Order to accelerate the speed at which we build the next generation of AI infrastructure here in America, in a way that enhances economic competitiveness, national security, AI safety, and clean energy," Biden said in a Tuesday statement on the announcement.The order will direct the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to lease federal sites where the private sector can build AI infrastructure "at speed and scale," he said."These efforts are designed to accelerate ... Read More
US to ban Russian, Chinese software and hardware in vehicles
Ditto/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The United States is going to ban Russian and Chinese software in vehicles, according to the Department of Commerce, due to national security concerns.The final rule, posted on the federal register Tuesday morning, comes after the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security previewed the rule months ago.During the rulemaking process, the Bureau of Industry and Security found that certain technologies originating from China or Russia present an undue and unacceptable risk to U.S. national security."Cars today aren't just steel on wheels – they're computers," outgoing Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a news release Tuesday. "They have cameras, microphones, GPS tracking, and other technologies that are connected to the internet. Through this rule, the Commerce Department ... Read More
FBI did not interview woman who accused Pete Hegseth of sexual assault in 2017: Sources
(WASHINGTON) -- The FBI's probe into defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth did not include an interview with a woman who accused the former Fox News anchor of sexual assault in 2017, sources familiar with the situation told ABC News.The top senators on the Armed Services Committee were briefed on the FBI's background investigation last week but sources said investigators did not speak to the accuser.A police report previously obtained by ABC News, stated that a woman -- who is identified only as Jane Doe -- told investigators in October 2017 that she had encountered Hegseth at an event afterparty at a California hotel where both had been drinking and claimed that he sexually assaulted her.No charges were filed, although Hegseth ... Read More
Jack Smith, in final report, says voters saved Trump from being convicted in Jan. 6 case
ABC NewsSpecial counsel Jack Smith's final report lays out in no uncertain terms federal prosecutors' position that Donald Trump -- who is set to be inaugurated president in less than a week -- would have been convicted on multiple felonies for his alleged efforts to unlawfully overturn the results of the 2020 election, had voters not decided to send him back to the White House in the 2024 election.That was one of the primary conclusions included in Smith's final report on his election interference investigation, which the Justice Department released early Tuesday morning after a federal judge, late Monday night, cleared the way for the report's release.The report lays out the probe that resulted in Trump being charged in 2023 ... Read More
Speaker Mike Johnson suggests ‘conditions’ needed on disaster aid for LA wildfires
Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday that "there should probably be conditions" on aid to help California deal with devastating wildfires when asked if he's open to sending funding, signaling a possible political battle over helping the traditionally Democratic state."I think there should probably be conditions on that aid. That's my personal view. We'll see what the consensus is. I haven't had a chance to socialize that with any of the members over the weekend because we've all been very busy, but it'll be part of the discussion," Johnson said.He did not offer specifics and ABC News has asked his office to clarify.Johnson said the House Republican Conference will have a "serious discussion" about aid ... Read More
Biden says hostage-release, ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel ‘on the brink’
xRoberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- In a speech touting his foreign policy legacy, President Joe Biden on Monday said the U.S. was "pressing hard" to close a deal that would see some of the hostages held by Hamas freed in exchange for a period of peace in Gaza."On the war between Israel and Hamas, we're on the brink of a proposal that I laid out in detail months ago finally coming to fruition," Biden said during an address at the State Department, adding that he had learned during his long career in public service "to never, never, never, ever give up.""The Palestinian people deserve peace and the right to determine their own futures. Israel deserves peace and real security. And the ... Read More
Senate Democrats urge Garland to preserve evidence from Trump investigations
Jefferson Siegel-Pool/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee want the Justice Department to preserve all records related to special counsel Jack Smith's investigations into Donald Trump, in addition to all existing and future records related to the department's investigations and prosecutions of efforts to interfere with the transfer of power following Trump's 2020 election loss, they wrote Monday in a letter to the DOJ obtained by ABC News.Trump has vowed to shut down all ongoing investigations into his dealings upon returning to the Oval Office later this month. The letter, addressed to current Attorney General Merrick Garland and signed by all Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, comes just one week before Trump's inauguration."As President-elect Trump has repeatedly ... Read More
More than a dozen Trump nominees will face Senate scrutiny this week
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images, FILE(WASHINGTON) -- Many of President-elect Donald Trump's nominees to serve in top Cabinet and senior advisory roles are slated to appear on Capitol Hill this week for hearings before Senate committees, a key test for many of them.The marathon of nomination hearings will color the week leading up to Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration. Republicans hope that by holding these hearings now, many of the nominees will be ready for consideration on the Senate floor shortly after Trump is sworn into office.In total, 14 of Trump's nominees will appear before their respective Senate panels before the week is out. More hearings will come in the following weeks.There's expected to be no shortage of fireworks as some of the ... Read More
Melania Trump speaks out about new doc detailing her move back to White House
Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Incoming first lady Melania Trump appeared on "Fox & Friends" Monday where she promoted her new documentary, indicating that production crews have started filming her day-to-day with the transition team and how it will show her return to the White House next week.She said she will spend most of her time in Washington."I will be in the White House. And you know when I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach. But my first priority is, you know, to be a mom, to be a first lady, to be a wife. And once we are in on ... Read More
What we know about the shooter
WASHINGTON (AP) — The man identified as the shooter in the apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump was a 20-year-old from a Pittsburgh suburb not far from the campaign rally where one attendee was killed. Investigators were working Sunday to gather more information about Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, who they say opened fire at the rally before being killed by Secret Service days before Trump was to accept the Republican nomination for a third time. An FBI official said late Saturday that investigators had not yet determined a motive. Two spectators were critically injured, authorities said. Relatives of Crooks didn’t immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press. His father, Matthew Crooks, told CNN late ... Read MorePrayers for Trump also pour in from political rivals
Prayers for the former president are also coming from his political opponents. “I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country,†said Sen. Chuck Schumer in a statement. “We should all condemn what happened today and I am hoping for the health of the former president and everyone else at the rally,†Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy posted on the social platform X. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a post on X that his “thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump†and expressed thanks “for the decisive law enforcement response.†... Read MoreTop of page
