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Bipartisan push to reform censure process emerges in Congress after flurry of complaints brought against lawmakers

By Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pushing to make the censure process more difficult after the House weighed three separate complaints against sitting members this week. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday he is “very interested in raising the threshold” of votes to censure a member, expressing

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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach

Trump accuses Democratic lawmakers who urged military to disobey illegal orders of ‘seditious behavior, punishable by death’

CNN By Samantha Waldenberg, Arlette Saenz, Kit Maher, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested that Democratic lawmakers who urged service members and intelligence officials to disobey illegal orders should be put to death, sparking an outcry among Democrats on Capitol Hill that the president was seeking to incite violence. “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable

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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach

Trump accuses Democratic lawmakers who urged military to disobey illegal orders of ‘seditious behavior, punishable by death’

CNN By Samantha Waldenberg, Arlette Saenz, Kit Maher, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested that Democratic lawmakers who urged service members and intelligence officials to disobey illegal orders should be put to death, sparking an outcry among Democrats on Capitol Hill that the president was seeking to incite violence. “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable

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The National Christian Church in the central business district in Abuja

Nigerian officials in Washington after Trump’s threats of military action over violence against Christians

By Haley Britzky, Jennifer Hansler, CNN (CNN) — Nigerian officials are meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau this week amid increasing focus from the Trump administration on Christians in Nigeria and as President Donald Trump has floated potential US military action in the country. Trump said earlier this

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio

State Department to identify DEI policies and mass migration as ‘human rights infringements’

By Jennifer Hansler, CNN (CNN) — The US State Department will require its diplomats describe enforcement of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, alleged facilitation of mass migration, and government funding that supports abortion medications as “human rights infringements” in its next human rights report, a senior State Department official said Thursday, as the Trump

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Judge halts Trump’s deployment of national guard in Washington, DC

By Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump and the Defense Department illegally deployed the National Guard in Washington, DC, a federal judge ruled Thursday. Washington, DC’s attorney general’s office had sued the Trump administration in early September over the National Guard’s deployment in the city, which came as Trump surged federal law enforcement

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Former Vice President Dick Cheney arrives to hear his daughter Liz Cheney speak in Jackson Hole

Bush, Biden and former vice presidents honor Dick Cheney, while Trump, Vance snubbed for funeral invitation

CNN By Jamie Gangel, Michael Williams, Eric Bradner, CNN (CNN) — Political figures from across the aisle gathered Thursday in Washington, DC, for former Vice President Dick Cheney’s funeral — sending off a key figure of pre-MAGA Republican politics. The funeral, which was attended by two former presidents and all living former vice presidents, was

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Justice Department is investigating handling of Adam Schiff mortgage fraud probe led by Ed Martin and Bill Pulte

By Katelyn Polantz, Hannah Rabinowitz, Devan Cole, Casey Gannon, CNN (CNN) — The Justice Department is investigating whether people impersonated federal agents in mortgage fraud probes of prominent Democrats, a development that could complicate efforts to prosecute political enemies of President Donald Trump, people briefed on the matter told CNN. The new probe led by

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Trump accuses Democratic lawmakers who urged military to disobey illegal orders of ‘seditious behavior, punishable by death’

By Samantha Waldenberg, Arlette Saenz, Kit Maher, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested that Democratic lawmakers who urged service members and intelligence officials to disobey illegal orders should be put to death, sparking an outcry among Democrats on Capitol Hill that the president was seeking to incite violence. “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by

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Vice President Dick Cheney listens as President George W. Bush

Bush, Biden and former vice presidents honor Dick Cheney, while Trump, Vance snubbed for funeral invitation

By Jamie Gangel, Michael Williams, Eric Bradner, CNN (CNN) — Political figures from across the aisle gathered Thursday in Washington, DC, for former Vice President Dick Cheney’s funeral — sending off a key figure of pre-MAGA Republican politics. The funeral, which was attended by two former presidents and all living former vice presidents, was a

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How Trump reversed course on the Epstein files as his administration faces lingering suspicion about their release

By Adam Cancryn, Evan Perez, Kristen Holmes, Kaitlan Collins, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday sought to bring a swift end to perhaps the most damaging saga of his term, signing a measure compelling the release of the Epstein files after losing a monthslong, tooth-and-nail fight to prevent their disclosure. The decision represents

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Son of US citizen held in Saudi Arabia says Trump administration secured his father’s return home

By Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, CNN (CNN) — The son of a United States citizen held in Saudi Arabia for criticizing the Saudi government said Wednesday the Trump administration secured his father’s release and thanked US officials for helping bring him home. “They really delivered when it comes to my father’s situation. I understand Saudi Arabia

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House moves to repeal controversial ‘Arctic Frost’ provision that allows GOP senators to seek $500,000 payouts

By Ellis Kim, Alison Main, Manu Raju, Morgan Rimmer, Ted Barrett, CNN (CNN) — The House on Wednesday unanimously moved to repeal a controversial provision in the government funding law that allows senators to sue the Justice Department for up to $500,000 when their phone records are seized without their knowledge. The provision, included in

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GOP Rep. Nancy Mace announced on November 19 that she would seek to censure her Republican colleague

Nancy Mace’s complaint against fellow Republican Cory Mills referred to House Ethics Committee

By Veronica Stracqualursi, Ellis Kim, CNN (CNN) — The House on Wednesday night referred a Republican’s push to ​censure her fellow GOP colleague to the chamber’s Ethics Committee, beating back an effort to swiftly remove him from his committee assignments. Lawmakers voted 310-103 to send GOP Rep. Nancy Mace’s complaint against Florida Rep. Cory Mills

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The many times Trump has promoted the Saudi crown prince’s Khashoggi denials

By Daniel Dale, CNN (CNN) — After a reporter reminded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday that “US intelligence concluded that you orchestrated the brutal murder of a journalist,” Saudi dissident and Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggi, President Donald Trump stepped in to describe Khashoggi as “somebody that

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Judge Boasberg to resume criminal contempt inquiry into Trump officials involved in Alien Enemies Act deportation flights

By Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — A federal judge said Wednesday that he plans to “promptly” move ahead with an effort to find out which Trump administration officials were responsible for flouting his orders in a high-stakes immigration case – and whether they will face punishment for their actions. The comments from US District Judge

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What to know about Lindsey Halligan’s big grand jury revelation at James Comey’s vindictive-prosecution hearing

By Hannah Rabinowitz, Holmes Lybrand, Katelyn Polantz, Casey Gannon, CNN (CNN) — The hearing Wednesday morning in the case against former FBI Director James Comey ended with a revelation by prosecutors and a conundrum: if a full grand jury never reviewed the final set of charges handed up against Comey, are they void? The question

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Federal officials unveil more charges against the former Olympic snowboarder accused of running international drug ring

By Hannah Rabinowitz, Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — Federal officials unveiled additional charges on Wednesday against a former Olympic snowboarder for Canada who has been wanted for allegedly running a drug trafficking ring. The new charges against Ryan James Wedding include murder, witness tampering, money laundering and drug trafficking, Attorney General Pam Bondi said at

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NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch speaks at a press conference at NYPD headquarters on September 09

Jessica Tisch accepts Zohran Mamdani’s offer to remain New York police commissioner

By Gloria Pazmino, CNN New York (CNN) — New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday that Jessica Tisch accepted his offer to stay at the helm of the nation’s largest police force. The announcement secures Mamdani’s highest-profile appointment as he prepares to take office in January. It will require significant compromise from both Tisch

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Tom Steyer, the billionaire Democratic activist, enters California governor’s race

By Arit John, CNN (CNN) — Tom Steyer, the billionaire Democratic activist and former presidential candidate, became the latest contender Wednesday in the race to succeed California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Steyer launched his campaign around the theme of affordability, echoing messaging that helped Democratic candidates win key races earlier this month, and taking on corporations.

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Congress greenlights bill forcing Trump’s DOJ to release Epstein files after monthslong GOP effort to quash it

By Sarah Ferris, Morgan Rimmer, CNN (CNN) — Lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday took the significant step of ordering President Donald Trump’s Justice Department to publicly release all of its investigative files into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after months of nasty infighting within the GOP. Congress is sending the measure — which remarkably

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‘Blackmail’: Indiana Senate Republicans say no to redistricting despite Trump’s primary threats

By Eric Bradner, CNN (CNN) — The Indiana Senate voted Tuesday to adjourn until January as its Republican supermajority continues to resist pressure from President Donald Trump to redraw the state’s congressional lines. Gov. Mike Braun responded by threatening to “compel” the Senate into a special session to vote on redistricting at Trump’s behest. It

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Trump claims slain journalist Khashoggi was ‘extremely controversial,’ defends Saudi crown prince

By Kevin Liptak, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday angrily dismissed a question about the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, claiming the Saudi dissident journalist was “extremely controversial” and insisting the subject was only raised during his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to embarrass his visitor. “You’re mentioning somebody that

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Trump administration accelerates push to dismantle Education Department as it offloads work to other agencies

By Sunlen Serfaty, CNN (CNN) — The Department of Education on Tuesday announced a further dismantling of the agency by transferring much of its remaining workload to other federal agencies in a bid to convince Congress the department is no longer needed. Under an interagency agreement, six offices will be moved to partner with four

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Trump has signed a bill directing DOJ to release Epstein case files. Here’s what we know about them

By Haven Orecchio-Egresitz, Kara Scannell, Evan Perez, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump said on social media Wednesday he has signed the bill that directs the Justice Department to publicly release all records amassed by federal prosecutors during the sex trafficking investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. The question of

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Letitia James says charges against her stem from ‘illegal and unethical behavior’ by Trump administration

By Kara Scannell, Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — New York Attorney General Letitia James says the Trump administration engaged in “outrageous” conduct to overcome hurdles to bring the mortgage fraud case against her and urged a judge to throw out the indictment. James’ lawyers point to the collective actions of President Donald Trump; Bill Pulte,

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Federal Reserve governor says Trump ally ‘cherry-picked’ details to make mortgage fraud claim

By Kara Scannell, CNN (CNN) — Lawyers for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said allegations she committed mortgage fraud are “baseless” and urged the Justice Department to drop its inquiry. The Justice Department indicated this summer it would review Cook’s mortgages after receiving a referral from Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance

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Judge says James Comey indictment may be tainted by ‘profound investigative missteps’

By Katelyn Polantz, CNN (CNN) — A federal judge on Monday scorched the Justice Department’s handling of years-old evidence in its case against former FBI Director James Comey, raising the possibility that interim US Attorney Lindsey Halligan may have botched the grand jury proceeding and the indictment could be tainted. “The record points to a

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Larry Summers says he is ‘deeply ashamed’ after new Jeffrey Epstein emails and will pause public engagements

By MJ Lee, CNN (CNN) — Larry Summers said Monday night that he was “deeply ashamed” about his relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, telling CNN that he would pause all public engagements as he works to “rebuild trust and repair relationships” — but the Harvard University professor added that he will continue

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks to reporters in Washington

Larry Summers says he is ‘deeply ashamed’ after new Jeffrey Epstein emails and will pause public engagements

CNN By MJ Lee, CNN (CNN) — Larry Summers said Monday night that he was “deeply ashamed” about his relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, telling CNN that he would pause all public engagements as he works to “rebuild trust and repair relationships” — but the Harvard University professor added that he will

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Trump ramps up the pressure on Republicans resisting his redistricting push

By Eric Bradner, CNN Indianapolis (CNN) — Republicans in Indiana have for months been hearing conflicting messages: Demands to join the nationwide redistricting arms race from President Donald Trump’s administration and his allies – and nearly unanimous opposition to the idea from their constituents, even in deep-red districts that back the president. Groups pushing for

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What to know about the controversial ‘Arctic Frost’ provision tucked into the funding bill that’s dividing GOP lawmakers

By Morgan Rimmer, Ted Barrett, Ellis Kim, CNN (CNN) — The bill that ended the government shutdown included a provision requiring the Justice Department and FBI to notify the Senate when a lawmaker is under investigation and if their personal information is being subpoenaed. Lawmakers can also sue the DOJ under the provision, and can

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene presides over a hearing of the House Oversight Subcommittee at the US Capitol in Washington

‘Humbly, I’m sorry’: Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’s turning a new leaf after years of divisive comments

CNN By Aileen Graef, CNN (CNN) — Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said Sunday she will stop using “toxic” rhetoric, marking what would be a dramatic shift in a political brand hallmarked by derogatory comments. The commitment comes amid a rift with Donald Trump that has spilled into public view, with the president attacking the

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Lawmaker calls for accountability over timing of fellow House Democrat’s retirement: ‘Election subversion is wrong’

By Aleena Fayaz, CNN (CNN) — Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez said Sunday that “election subversion is wrong no matter who’s doing it,” as she criticized Democratic Rep. Chuy García over the timing of his decision to retire, which meant that his hand-picked successor was the only person registered to run for his seat. During last

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Lawmaker calls for accountability over timing of fellow House Democrat’s retirement: ‘Election subversion is wrong’

CNN By Aleena Fayaz, CNN (CNN) — Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez said Sunday that “election subversion is wrong no matter who’s doing it,” as she criticized Democratic Rep. Chuy García over the timing of his decision to retire, which meant that his hand-picked successor was the only person registered to run for his seat. During

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Preservationists sue over Trump’s latest plans to refashion a federal building to match his aesthetic

By Piper HudspethBlackburn, Betsy Klein, CNN (CNN) — Historic preservationists sued President Donald Trump over his plans to paint an ornate office building housing his staff next to the White House, warning the structure could be “irreversibly” damaged.” The suit, filed Friday by the DC Preservation League and Cultural Heritage Partners, asks the US District

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US military carried out 21st strike on alleged drug boat, killing 3

By Kit Maher, CNN (CNN) — The Pentagon on Saturday conducted the 21st known strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat, US Southern Command announced Sunday. “Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,” Southern Command posted on social media. “Three male narco-terrorists aboard

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‘Humbly, I’m sorry’: Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’s turning a new leaf after years of divisive comments

By Aileen Graef, CNN (CNN) — Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said Sunday she will stop using “toxic” rhetoric, marking what would be a dramatic shift in a political brand hallmarked by derogatory comments. The commitment comes amid a rift with Donald Trump that has spilled into public view, with the president attacking the Georgia

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Trump pulling out all the stops to welcome Saudi crown prince for first White House visit since Khashoggi killing

By Kevin Liptak, Kristen Holmes, Alayna Treene, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump is planning to receive Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday with all the trappings of a state visit, sources familiar with the matter said, including a welcome ceremony in the morning and a formal

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Trump likely to face long military commitment and chaos if he ousts Maduro in Venezuela, experts say

By Kylie Atwood, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump has said he believes Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s days are numbered, and that land strikes inside Venezuela are possible. Experts say that the US doesn’t currently have the military assets in place to launch a largescale operation to remove Maduro from power, though Trump has approved

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Del. Stacey Plaskett speaks during a mark up meeting with the House Budget Committee on Capitol Hill on May 16

House Democrat exchanged texts with Epstein during 2019 congressional hearing

By Annie Grayer, Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat who represents the US Virgin Islands in Congress as a non-voting delegate, exchanged texts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 congressional hearing, the delegate’s office confirmed to CNN. “During the hearing, Congresswoman Plaskett received texts from staff, constituents and the

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A drone view captures the Federal Prison Camp

Prison employees have been terminated after Ghislaine Maxwell’s email messages were shared, her lawyer says

CNN By MJ Lee, Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — Employees of a minimum-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas, where convicted child-sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell is serving time have been terminated, one of Maxwell’s lawyers said Friday, after a whistleblower this week released to Rep. Jamie Raskin alleged correspondence between Maxwell and her lawyer. Leah Saffian,

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A drone view captures the Federal Prison Camp

Prison employees have been terminated after Ghislaine Maxwell’s email messages were shared, her lawyer says

By MJ Lee, Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — Employees of a minimum-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas, where convicted child-sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell is serving time have been terminated, one of Maxwell’s lawyers said Friday, after a whistleblower this week released to Rep. Jamie Raskin alleged correspondence between Maxwell and her lawyer. Leah Saffian, a

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Portrait of American financier Jeffrey Epstein (left) and real estate developer Donald Trump as they pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate

‘I am the one able to take him down’: New Epstein emails detail his soured view of former close friend Donald Trump

By Andrew Kaczynski, CNN (CNN) — For years, President Donald Trump has sought to downplay his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender who for years moved in the same social circles as Trump in Palm Beach and Manhattan. Trump has alternately called Epstein a “terrific guy” — in 2002 — and

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Members of the 576th Flight Test Squadron monitor an operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III missile at Vandenberg Air Force Base

Exclusive: Department of Energy officials to meet with White House to tamp down Trump’s idea of explosive nuclear testing

By Ella Nilsen, René Marsh, Alayna Treene, CNN (CNN) — Top energy and nuclear officials in the Trump administration are planning to meet with the White House and National Security Council in the coming days to dissuade President Donald Trump from resuming testing of the nation’s nuclear weapons, sources told CNN. Energy Secretary Chris Wright,

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Trump says he’s asking Justice Department to investigate Epstein’s ties to slew of high-profile figures

By Kristen Holmes, Adam Cancryn, Donald Judd, Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump said Friday he will ask Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to many other high-profile figures, in an extraordinary step that comes just days after Democrats released emails from the late Epstein that mention

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