List of All Articles with Tag 'us politics'

The federal courts' policy-making body is defending its decision in 2011 to not refer Justice Clarence Thomas to the Justice Department to investigate allegations that his pattern of nondisclosure on his financial reports broke federal law.

Lawmakers in South Carolina will reconvene Wednesday morning after debating for more than 12 hours on a bill that would ban most abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy.

Timothy Parlatore, an attorney for Donald Trump who played a key role in the Mar-a-Lago documents investigation and once testified before the grand jury, is leaving the former president's legal team, two sources familiar with the exit tell CNN.

Students of the New College of Florida have planned to host an alternative graduation ceremony to oppose what they said was the “hostile takeover” of the institution through conservative trustees appointed by Ron DeSantis earlier this year. The graduation, which will be separate from the official ceremony, is being organised by New College seniors, with support from the alumni-run Novo Collegian Alliance, which has a little more than $105,000 of the $130,000 funding goal for the ceremony through their GoFundMe page. Called “[New] Commencement: On Our Terms”, the event “is an alternative commencement and grad celebration led by students, for students, and against the hostile takeover of New College of Florida”, according to the GoFundMe page. Governor DeSantis appointed six new members to the Board of Trustees in January, leading to backlash from students who opposed the views of the conservatives. The tapping of Scott Atlas as the speaker for the graduation ceremony on Friday also became a flashpoint between students and the administration. A controversial figure, Dr Atlas served as top adviser to Donald Trump during the Covid-19 pandemic and often provided views contradictory to medical professionals. The board, however, hailed his resume as “impressive” while announcing him as the speaker at the commencement ceremony. “Dr Atlas’s perspective and resume are impressive; he is a champion and fighter for free speech and a renowned national leader,” said Richard Corcoran, the school’s president, in a statement. “We are happy to welcome him here at New College, where we place a high value on personal freedom and individual autonomy, as Dr Atlas does.” In their alternative commencement ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, the students invited Maya Wiley, an attorney and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, as the keynote speaker. The event will be followed by a private gathering on 19 May at an undisclosed location, reported the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. “We’re now guaranteed a graduation surrounded by the New College community members that truly want to celebrate who we are, rather than those attempting to change our culture,” Madison Markham, a graduating senior and one of the students planning the event, was quoted as saying by Politico. According to the outlet, while the students opposed the changes brought by Mr DeSantis, they were unable to have a significant impact on them. The moves by the board included the removal of school’s president Patricia Okker, and replacing her with Mr Corcoran, a former Republican House Speaker, who earns $699,000 annually, more than double his predecessor, as per the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. At least five faculty members have been denied tenure, prompting one of the trustees to quit the board and resign as a professor from the university, reported Politico. “The new administration that has spent the past four months attacking our students and community cannot, in good faith, celebrate our graduating students and their accomplishments,” said the GoFundMe page. “Commencement is supposed to be a celebration of graduating students and the people who have shaped this school to be what it is. And we’re proud of who we are! So, we’re taking the celebration plans into our own hands,” it said. “We want this event to be a fulfilling and memorable experience for graduating students that keeps the focus on STUDENTS, rather than an administration desperately trying to maintain normality and instill conformity.” Read More DeSantis criticizes Trump for implying Florida abortion ban is 'too harsh' Florida teacher under investigation for showing Disney movie with LGBT+ character speaks out How Republicans and right-wing media turned Jordan Neely’s killer into a hero US seeks dismissal of corruption charges against Florida 2018 Democratic governor nominee Gillum Trump and DeSantis to court Iowa voters at duelling events today

An appeals court hearing Wednesday in the blockbuster abortion pill case will set the stage for how the Supreme Court will eventually approach the legal dispute, where anti-abortion activists are asking the courts to pull the main drug used in medication abortions off the market.

President Joe Biden once hoped his trip to Asia this week would strengthen American alliances, counter China's influence and prove to Americans he's got the stamina for another term in office.

A Republican-led investigation into the origins of Covid-19 has unearthed additional, though circumstantial, evidence supporting the theory that the virus likely escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China, but it did not find any "smoking gun" evidence to prove the theory, according to a new report released on Wednesday.

Donald Trump has lashed out what he described as “cockroaches” in Washington, DC, following the release of the Durham report. The 300-page report – from an investigation led by Trump-appointed special counsel John Durham – railed against the FBI for opening a probe into alleged ties between Mr Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and the Russian government. “THEY ARE SCUM, LIKE COCKROACHES ALL OVER WASHINGTON, D.C.,” the former president frothed on Truth Social in response to the findings. Meanwhile, Mr Trump’s name has cropped up in a bombshell $10m lawsuit brought against Rudy Giuliani, the ex-New York City mayor and his former personal attorney. Mr Giuliani’s former aide Noelle Dunphy is suing him over sexual harassment that she alleges took place between 2019 and 2021 while she worked for him as a business development manager and public relations consultant. Mr Giuliani has strongly denied the claims. In the lawsuit, Ms Dunphy also claims that she was told that her employer and then-president Mr Trump were offering to sell presidential pardons for $2m apiece. She further claims that she was forced to give Mr Giuliani oral sex while he was on speakerphone to Mr Trump. Read More Trump slams ‘cockroaches’ in DC following release of Durham report DeSantis criticizes Trump for implying Florida abortion ban is 'too harsh' Wounded man who invaded Senate with knife sentenced to prison for Capitol riot Yes, creeps like Trump and the allegations against Giuliani really, really matter Durham report takeaways: a 'seriously flawed' Russia investigation and its lasting impact on the FBI

A French appeals court on Wednesday upheld a one-year prison sentence for former President Nicolas Sarkozy on a conviction for corruption and influence peddling. His lawyer said he will take the case to France’s highest court and insisted that Sarkozy is innocent. The 68-year-old ex-president would not have to serve time until a final ruling, and if definitively convicted, he could ask to serve his sentence at home. Sarkozy, 68, was convicted in 2021 of trying to bribe a magistrate in exchange for information about a legal case in which he was implicated. It was the first time in modern French history that a former president had been convicted of corruption and sentenced to prison. Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, denies wrongdoing and appealed the original ruling. The Paris appeals court on Wednesday upheld the conviction and the sentence, according to a court official. His lawyer, Jacqueline Laffont, called the decision “stupefying” and “unjust.” Sarkozy is entitled to ask to be detained at home with an electronic bracelet, standard practice for sentences of two years or less. He also received a two-year suspended sentence, which he will not have to serve if he commits no new offense in the next five years. It is one of multiple legal cases Sarkoky has faced. He was convicted later in 2021 of illegal campaign financing of his unsuccessful 2012 re-election bid. Last week, prosecutors asked for him to be sent to trial on charges that he took millions in illegal financing for his 2007 campaign by the regime of late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide

Democrat Dianne Feinstein has denied that she was ever absent from the Senate after having spent months away recovering from shingles. Last week the 89-year-old California senator, the longest-serving Democrat in the current Senate, returned after her bout with shingles and cast a vote on the floor looking noticeably thinner and using a wheelchair, reported Associated Press. Her office said she would operate on a reduced schedule as she continued to recover. However, while interacting with reporters from the Slate and Los Angeles Times Ms Feinstein denied that she was ever absent. “No, I haven’t been gone,” she said to LA Times’s Ben Oreskes on Tuesday when asked how her Senate colleagues have responded to her return, reported Slate. “....I haven’t been gone, I’ve been working,” she said. Mr Oreskes then asked her whether she had been working from home. “No, I’ve been here. I’ve been voting,” she said. “Please, you either know or don’t know.” Ms Feinstein faced calls to resign from her party colleagues due to questions around her cognitive abilities. With Feinstein back in the Senate, and voting in the committee, the panel approved three federal district court judge nominations that had been stalled. Her 10-week absence meant that the committee’s votes were tied along party lines and Democrats could not move forward with any nominees without Republican support. Party colleagues including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ro Khanna of California had called for her to resign. Ms Feinstein announced earlier this year that she would not seek re-election. She has more than a year and a half left until her term expires in January 2025. She also did not assume the role of Senate President Pro Tempore earlier this year, which is usually reserved for the senior most senator of the majority party. Read More With Feinstein back in Senate, 3 of Biden's judicial nominees move forward California's Feinstein returns to Senate after monthslong absence Chuck Schumer ‘forced to have serious and painful talks’ with Dianne Feinstein over apparent cognitive decline What should Democrats do about Dianne Feinstein? Republican abortion debate inches toward resolution in South Carolina Trump fumes over Durham report as Giuliani accused of pardon scheme - live

Republicans have their candidate in Kentucky, Democrats have their majority in Pennsylvania and the 2024 GOP presidential primary has another clash between former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the books.

President Joe Biden's pledge to the world that "America is back" after a period of political turbulence is looking a little shaky after a debt showdown with Republicans forced him to shorten an Asia-Pacific trip designed to showcase US power amid a challenge from China.