Category: US Senate

Klobuchar leads call for Biden to prioritize Violence Against Women Act programs in budget

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Biden was sponsor of measure in 1994 when it became law

Senate Democrats are urging President Joe Biden to provide strong backing for the Violence Against Women Act in his fiscal 2022 budget request, in light of increased reports of domestic violence during the pandemic and lack of supplemental funding for the law’s programs. 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., along with 26 other Senate Democrats sent a letter to Biden on Friday, asking the president to prioritize support for Justice Department programs that provide services for survivors of gender-based violence in his fiscal 2022 budget request to Congress.

“We are very concerned that, as a result of the pandemic, cases of domestic violence and sexual assault have increased in communities across the country. Local law enforcement report more domestic violence-related calls and rape crisis centers are seeing increased need for services,” the senators wrote. “The pandemic has also made it more difficult for service providers to respond to the increased need for crisis intervention, legal services, and transitional housing.” Continue reading.

Officers maced, trampled: Docs expose depth of Jan. 6 chaos

Two firefighters loaned to Washington for the day were the only medics on the Capitol steps Jan. 6, trying to triage injured officers as they watched the angry mob swell and attack police working to protect Congress.

Law enforcement agents were “being pulled into the crowd and trampled, assaulted with scaffolding materials, and/or bear maced by protesters,” wrote Arlington County firefighter Taylor Blunt in an after-action memo. Some couldn’t walk, and had to be dragged to safety.

Even the attackers sought medical help, and Blunt and his colleague Nathan Waterfall treated those who were passing out or had been hit. But some “feigned illness to remain behind police lines,” Blunt wrote.  Continue reading.

Cotton to block Garland’s quick confirmation to lead Biden DOJ

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Cotton said that Garland refused “to answer basic questions” in his written answers on immigration, the death penalty and guns.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) will slow down the confirmation of Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Justice.

In a series of tweets Wednesday evening, Cotton said that Garland refused “to answer basic questions” in his written answers on immigration, the death penalty and guns.

“Ensuring the Senate has time to debate these issues and get answers is the same thing that Senate Democrats did for Bill Barr,” Cotton wrote. “We’re not going to have one standard for Trump’s nominees and another for Biden’s.” Continue reading.

Trump appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot

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Federico Klein, a former State Department aide, was picked up Thursday on charges stemming from the Jan. 6 takeover of Congress.

The FBI on Thursday arrested Federico Klein, a former State Department aide, on charges related to the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, marking the first known instance of an appointee of President Donald Trump facing criminal prosecution in connection with the attempt to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s victory.

Klein, 42, was taken into custody in Virginia, said Samantha Shero, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Washington Field Office.

An FBI lookout bulletin issued two weeks after the Capitol assault included a photo of Klein, prompting two tipsters to contact the FBI and finger him as the man in that picture, according to an affidavit filed in federal court in Washington.

Senate votes to take up COVID-19 relief bill

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Senate Democrats voted on Thursday to take up a sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus bill, teeing off what’s expected to be a days-long sprint to pass the legislation. 

The Senate voted 50-50 to proceed to the coronavirus relief legislation, with Vice President Harris breaking the tie to advance the bill. 

“The Senate is going to move forward with the bill. No matter how long it takes, the Senate is going to stay in session to finish the bill this week,” Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said from the Senate floor on Thursday ahead of the vote.  Continue reading.

WATCH: QAnon Shaman’s mom defends her son’s honor while spewing conspiracy theories about 2020 election

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Martha Chansley, the mother of the so-called QAnon Shaman, defended her son’s actions during an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes.

In an interview set to be aired on Sunday, Chansley grew defensive when asked whether she thought her son, 33-year-old Jacob Chansley, did anything wrong when he took part in a violent mob that stormed the United States Capitol building on January 6th.

“What do you mean by ‘wrong?'” she asked incredulously. “He didn’t — he went through open doors! He was escorted into the Senate! So I don’t know what’s wrong with that!” Continue reading.

Capitol Police asks National Guard to extend deployment

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Capitol Police on Thursday requested the National Guard extend its deployment of National Guardsmen at the Capitol amid heightened security concerns almost two months after the Jan. 6 attack.

“Today, US Capitol Police Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman formally asked the Department of Defense to extend the support provided by the National Guard to remain at the Capitol beyond March 12th,” the police said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, a Defense Department official said the Pentagon was reviewing a draft request from Capitol Police to extend the deployment, which started after the Jan. 6 insurrection. Continue reading.

GOP pulling out all the stops to delay COVID-19 package

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Senate Republicans are taking on a risky strategy to use all the procedural tactics at their disposal to delay President Biden’s popular $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package as long as possible in hopes that they can turn public opinion against the legislation. 

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a staunch ally of former President Trump, is leading the resistance effort and says he is trying to recruit about a dozen Republican colleagues to delay final passage of the legislation until Saturday or Sunday.

Johnson told colleagues Wednesday that he would force the Senate clerks to read the entirety of Senate Democrats’ substitute relief bill, which is expected to span more than 600 pages, something that will delay the floor debate and amendments by 10 hours. Continue reading.

Capitol Rioter Who Assaulted Police Traveled On Turning Point USA Bus

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A retired firefighter who threw a fire extinguisher at police officers during the January 6 Capitol insurrection was put under pretrial house arrest on Tuesday. Robert Sanford had surrendered himself to federal authorities on multiple charges nearly a week after the insurrection. HuffPo’s Ryan J. Reilly reported that according to Sanford’s attorney, the defendant traveled to Washington, D.C., on a bus organized by Turning Point Action, founded by Trump loyalist Charlie Kirk.

Following the insurrection, Kirk deleted a January 4 tweet saying his organization was sending 80 buses of Trump supporters to the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6. A Turning Point Action spokesperson claimed that the organization had sent only seven buses to the capital and that the student protesters were not involved in the day’s violence.

During his January 4 podcast, Kirk stated, “Turning Point Action is being financially supportive of that rally. We are sending buses.” Continue reading.

Senate passes massive COVID-19 relief bill, sending changes back to House

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Democratic leaders in the House will need to convince members to back changes

The Senate approved a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package Saturday, sending it back to the House where Democratic leaders will need to convince their members to back changes to unemployment insurance and tax rebate checks.

The 50-49 party-line vote capped off the more than 24 hours of continuous voting, courtesy of the fast-track process Democrats are using to advance the pandemic aid package. Under budget reconciliation, senators could offer as many amendments as they wanted.

Republicans filed nearly 600 amendments to the bill, but only brought up a fraction of those for debate and votes. Democrats were mostly united throughout the process, rejecting 29 Republican amendments. Overall, six amendments were adopted, including two GOP proposals. Continue reading.