New: There are now 123 front-line workers in the Capitol complex who have have tested positive—or are presumed positive—for COVID-19, according to House Admin GOP Spokesperson Ashley Phelps.
Story coming.
New: Speaker Pelosi will not withdraw her nomination of Rep. Donna Shalala to the Congressional Oversight Commission after the Miami Herald reported she failed to disclose her stock transactions, a requirement for all members of Congress under the STOCK Act.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, a member of the Jan. 6 select committee, says Mark Meadows produced 9,000 documents of "extraordinary relevance" to their investigation.
There are eight investigations into 17 U.S. Capitol Police officers related to the events of the Jan. 6 riot, according to a House aide familiar with the investigations.
New: Florida Rep. Donna Shalala has filed a 62-page periodic transaction report, which shows she was buying and selling stocks well into her first year in Congress.
Rep. Donna E. Shalala still has bipartisan backing for her appointment to a bicameral commission overseeing hundreds of billions in coronavirus relief despite not complying with federal law to report her stock sales.
Jason Miller, Trump campaign adviser, said “Mayor Giuliani” had too much to drink on election night 2020. He was “definitely intoxicated,” Miller said. Rudy Giuliani spoke to Trump several times that night and urged Trump to claim election was being stolen.
Catholic Nun led out of Russell Senate Office Building after she was arrested by Capitol Police for protesting the conditions at the U.S. southern border.
#CatholicDayOfAction
Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Thomas Massie of Kentucky all had their mask fine appeals denied by the House Ethics Committee.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger is introducing a bill today that would make all members of Congress put stocks, commodities and other investments in a blind trust while in office. The member's spouse and dependent children would also be subject to this proposed measure.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., said in "due course" the select committee will disclose the identities of the House Republicans who were contacting Mark Meadows.
Rep. Tim Ryan after briefing from USCP Chief Yogananda Pittman on potential security threats re March 4-6: “It is heartbreaking that in the United States Capitol continues to be a target – not by foreign adversaries – but by our fellow Americans.”
The “Justice for J6” rally Saturday to advocate the release of jailed pro-Trump insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 lacked much drama, with only a small number of protesters matched by a heavy media and law enforcement presence.
Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., misused official resources for personal and non-official purposes, and solicited improper gifts from subordinates, the Office of Congressional Ethics found.
“Based on the evidence, the Court finds that it is more likely than not that President Trump and Dr. Eastman dishonestly conspired to obstruct the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021,” Carter said.
Drew Hammill, a spokesperson for Pelosi, said "Congresswoman Shalala has the Speaker’s complete confidence as she works to hold the Administration accountable to the taxpayer through the CARES Congressional Oversight Commission."
Rep. Marie Newman persuaded a potential primary opponent not to run against her by offering him a six-figure job in her congressional office upon her victory, a contract the Illinois Democrat violated, a lawsuit filed by Iymen Chehade alleges.
New: There are now 123 front-line workers in the Capitol complex who have have tested positive—or are presumed positive—for COVID-19, according to House Admin GOP Spokesperson Ashley Phelps.
Story coming.
Today is my first day
@politico
where I'll be covering transportation and writing the Morning Transportation newsletter. I'm thrilled to get started! Please reach out with tips, etc to cmarquette
@politico
.com
New: House panel investigating the Capitol attack is asking Rep. Scott Perry to voluntarily provide them with information, including the Pennsylvania Republican's communications with former President Donald Trump and others involved in planning the events of Jan. 6.
"Rep. Shalala has taken responsibility for her mistake in missing filings required under the STOCK Act and has been working with the Ethics Committee to address this issue since she became aware of it,” he added.
Rep. Marie Newman, D-Ill., promised a job in her congressional office to Iymen Chehade, a potential primary opponent, to procure political support, the Office of Congressional Ethics found.
Rep. Alex Mooney and his family vacationed at the Ritz-Carlton in Aruba, mostly on the dime of HSP Direct—a company the lawmaker has significant personal ties to—which likely constitutes an impermissible gift under House rules, according to a report by the OCE.
The only two Republicans who voted to discipline Gosar are the only two GOP members of the Jan. 6 select committee: Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who serves as vice chair, and Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.
"Since coming to Congress, Congresswoman Shalala has taken aggressive steps to avoid even the suggestion of a conflict of interest over her personal investments," Hammill said in an email.
Rep. Jimmy Gomez plans to introduce a resolution to expel Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress tomorrow. It has 72 Democratic cosponsors and no Republican support. Greene has already been stripped of her committee assignments.
Deadline for all Capitol Police Dignitary Protection Division agents to get first shot of COVID-19 vaccine was Oct. 25.
A spokesperson said four agents "out of hundreds" asked for an exemption.
"None will be fired. None resigned or retired," the spokesperson said.
New: All of the Capitol Police’s Dignitary Protection Division agents — those who protect members of congressional leadership — must get the COVID-19 vaccine or they will be reassigned, according to an internal department memo obtained by CQ Roll Call.
New: Rep. Alex Mooney spent thousands of campaign dollars on personal expenses, including numerous fast food meals and family trips to WV resorts, while failing to properly report more than $40,000 in expenditures, the Office of Congressional Ethics found.
The aide also tells Roll Call there are three USCP officers who are currently suspended with pay.
Additionally, there are also investigations into social media posts and social media activity of USCP officers.
Statement from Rep. Henry Cuellar: “Congressman Cuellar will fully cooperate in any investigation. He is committed to ensuring that justice and the law are upheld.”
New: House Ethics Committee recommends Rep. David Schweikert be formally reprimanded and pay back $50,000 for campaign finance violations, allowing his office to misuse taxpayer dollars on trips, among other violations.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren said it was “weird” that Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger dismissed the actions of Rep. Barry Loudermilk’s tour group as not suspicious and said one of them was a rioter on Jan. 6.
“That day, it was just hours of hand to hand combat,” Capitol Police officer Caroline Edwards said, noting that the west front of the Capitol became a war zone.”
Senate passes bill (by unanimous consent) to award four congressional gold medals to the Capitol Police and those who protected the Capitol on Jan. 6. Medals will be displayed at USCP headquarters, MPD headquarters, Smithsonian Institution and the Capitol.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi read the rebuke as Gosar stood in the chamber’s well to receive his public shaming. Gosar stood without a mask looking up at Pelosi as she read the censure resolution.
The number of transactions in the report exceeds 500. Shalala failed to report many more than the rough estimate of "a half-dozen transactions" her spokesperson told Roll Call last week.
Breaking: Former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., was sentenced to two years probation for lying to the FBI and concealing information during an investigation into his campaign’s receipt of tens of thousands of dollars in illegal foreign contributions. He avoids any time in prison.
A lot of mention of Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund today. Here are a few Roll Call stories that shed some light on Sund's tenure as the leader of the Capitol Police.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is showing members on the floor the photoshopped photo Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted of herself holding a gun near images of Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib. The post says "Sqaud's Worst Nightmare."
After former Capitol Police Officer Michael A. Riley was indicted on charges of obstructing the investigation into the Jan. 6 insurrection, the entire Capitol Police Board wrote him a letter saying he represented the department and Congress with "honor and distinction."
Harry Dunn, a Capitol Police officer who delivered gripping testimony before the inaugural hearing of the House select committee to investigate the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, has taken steps to resign from the department.
Rodney Davis, the top Republican on the House Administration Committee, says he plans to launch and investigation into the Jan. 6 select committee if the GOP wins the House and he becomes chairman.
Kentucky Republican Hal Rogers has been fined $5,000 for dodging security screening at the entrance to the House floor. He is appealing the fine with the House Ethics Committee. In the past, the panel has rejected similar appeals by Reps. Louie Gohmert and Andrew Clyde.
"Not only did President Trump refuse to tell the mob to leave the Capitol, he placed no call to any element of the U.S. government to instruct that the Capitol be defended," Cheney said.
President Joe Biden signed the Capitol Police Emergency Assistance Act of 2021, which allows the Capitol Police chief to request help from DC National Guard or federal law enforcement agencies in emergencies without having to go through the Capitol Police Board.
“The guy who was threatening to kill Nancy Pelosi and Jerry Nadler the next day was the guy taking the photographs,” Lofgren said.
She said they have the man’s name but are not going to release it at this time.
Office of Congressional Ethics report on Rep. John Rutherford says "there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Rutherford failed to file timely PTRs for various reportable transactions, in violation of federal law and House rules."
PTRs=periodic transaction reports
The House voted 223-207 to censure Rep. Paul Gosar and remove him from his committee roles for posting an animated video depicting him killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an action he has refused to acknowledge as inappropriate.
Cheney said the final two June hearings will show how Trump “summoned a violent mob” and then “failed to take immediate action” to instruct his supporters to leave the Capitol.
“No, none whatsoever,” McCarthy said Friday of whether the select committee announcement gave him any pause on opposing an independent 9/11-style commission that one of his own colleagues helped negotiate.
Capitol Police just sent this out: “The USCP is preparing to disrupt a Suspicious Vehicle in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Building. A loud bang may be heard in the area. There is no cause for alarm, and no action needs to be taken by Congressional Staff.”
"He took pictures of the staff of the Judiciary [Committee]—that’s kind of chilling. You know, I was evacuated through that tunnel that he was taking pictures of. So we have some questions about it," she said.
The Capitol Police Office of Inspector General is committing its entire staff to the review of events on Jan. 6. The office is enlisting outside, trusted expert inspectors to assist with manpower, a congressional aide told CQ Roll Call.
Capitol Police alerting staff to evacuate the Cannon House Office Building: EVACUATE: Cannon due to Police Activity. Occupants should:
* Remain calm and move in a safe manner to the exits.
* If nearby, take annunciators on the way out.
* Close doors behind you but do not lock.
New: All of the Capitol Police’s Dignitary Protection Division agents — those who protect members of congressional leadership — must get the COVID-19 vaccine or they will be reassigned, according to an internal department memo obtained by CQ Roll Call.
“It's weird because you can see in the video this guy, who was a rioter, was taking pictures of the tunnel, he was taking pictures of the stairwell," Lofgren told reporters.
Also, by enlisting congressional staff to plan that trip to Aruba on official time and using official resources, Mooney likely violated federal law, the OCE said.
A Capitol Police officer accidentally discharged their firearm Tuesday morning in the Cannon House Office Building, three sources familiar with the matter said.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, R-Ohio, are both no votes on Meadows contempt resolution. They voted for Bannon contempt resolution in October.
Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., is 24th member in history of Congress to be censured. Vote was 223-207. Two Republicans voted for the measure (Cheney and Kinzinger). One Republican, Rep. David Joyce of Ohio, voted present.
The Capitol Police’s Office of Inspector General is opening an investigation into the department that will examine the events surrounding the Jan. 6 pro-Trump insurrection at the Capitol that resulted in five deaths, a House aide with knowledge of the inquiry told CQ Roll Call.
The Capitol Police officer who shot and killed a pro-Trump insurrectionist attempting to climb through a broken window to access the Speaker’s Lobby will not be criminally charged, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
Rep. Greg Stanton plans to introduce a bill this week that would require all uniformed, on-duty U.S. Capitol Police officers to use body-worn cameras. h/t
@nielslesniewski
“I want to discuss with him today. I think he had his day in court. I think if he wants to appeal he could go do that as a private citizen. But I think out of respect you can let me talk to him today, but I think when someone's convicted, it's time to resign,” McCarthy said.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the New York Times report in which John Bolton says that President Trump’s decision to withhold $391 million in military aid from Ukraine contingent on an investigation into the Biden’s is a game changer.
Caroline Edwards, a Capitol Police officer who was seriously injured defending the Capitol on Jan. 6, says she was called "Nancy Pelosi's dog" and a "traitor."
The inspector general review is not limited to officer conduct and could be much broader to include intelligence failures, planning failures, leadership and management shortcomings surrounding last week’s takeover of the Capitol complex.
This resolution to expel Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from the House now has 67 cosponsors. Rep. Jimmy Gomez plans to introduce the resolution later in the week to add more cosponsors.
There are 61 Democratic co-sponsors on Rep. Jimmy Gomez’s resolution to remove Greene from Congress, according to Eric Harris, a spokesperson for Gomez. The California Democrat hopes to introduce the resolution this week, possibly as early as Tuesday.
"As you will see, Representative Perry contacted the White House in the weeks after January 6th to seek a Presidential Pardon. Multiple other Republican congressmen also sought Presidential Pardons for their roles in attempting to overturn the 2020 election," Cheney said.
Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy on a federal vote by mail mandate: “I would not support a federal mandate of taking over elections. States have the power to run elections and they should."
“There is nowhere I feel safe,” Ruby Freeman, one of the Fulton County election workers who was falsely accused by Trump and Giuliani of engaging in a voter fraud plot, said. “Do you know how it feels to have the president of the United States target you?”
Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejects two of GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy's picks for Jan. 6 Select Committee: Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
Pelosi on McCarthy picks for 1/6 Select Committee:
"I must reject the recommendations of Representatives Banks and Jordan to the Select Committee.
“The unprecedented nature of January 6th demands this unprecedented decision.”