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Thursday, December 14, 2023

House Votes to Move Forward with Impeachment Inquiry Into Biden

Fox News: The House has voted to formalize its impeachment inquiry into President Biden on Wednesday, taking a critical step that GOP leaders have argued is necessary to force the White House into complying with their investigation. The measure passed 221 to 212, with every Republican voting in favor of it and all present Democrats voting against (Fox News). RNC Research: The House of Representatives has officially voted to continue its impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. Every Democrat voted against it (X).

Judge Pauses Jan 6 Case Against Trump to Allow Appeal Process to Resolve

CBS: The federal judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s case involving the 2020 election has agreed to temporarily pause proceedings while Trump appeals a decision over whether he is entitled to broad immunity from criminal prosecution. In a brief order Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan largely granted Trump’s request to halt the proceedings while he pursues his appeal. Chutkan said Trump’s appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit means she must automatically stay further proceedings that would move the case toward trial. Chutkan wrote that Trump’s move gives the higher court jurisdiction over the case. She noted that if the case is returned to her she will consider “whether to retain or continue the dates of any still-future deadlines and proceedings, including the trial scheduled for March 4.” The case would return to her if Trump’s immunity claim is ultimately rejected, allowing the prosecution to move forward (CBS). Fox News: Trump is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights. The Supreme Court’s next scheduled conference day for consideration of such matters is Jan. 5, 2024. The court’s brief order did not signal what it ultimately would do (Fox News).

Turkish Lawmaker Collapses Just After Stating Israel Cannot “escape the wrath of God” in Speech

Daily Wire: A Turkish lawmaker collapsed on Tuesday immediately after declaring that Israel cannot “escape the wrath of God.” Video from the Turkish Grand National Assembly showed Saadet Party Kocaeli Deputy Hasan Bitmez, 53, giving a speech before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when he collapsed. “Even if history remains silent, the truth will not remain silent. They think that if they get rid of us, there will be no problem,” he said in a translation of his speech. “However, if you get rid of us, you will not be able to escape the torment of conscience. Even if you escape the torment of history, you will not be able to escape the wrath of God.” Immediately after making the remarks he turned and collapsed onto the floor as people rushed in to help him (Daily Wire). Reporter: Ariel Oseran: Turkish parliament member Hasan Bismet strongly condemned Israel, shouting that it will “suffer the wrath of Allah”. Moments later Bismet suffered a heart attack and collapsed (X).

Iran’s Foreign Minister Threatens Large Explosion in Middle East if War in Gaza Continues

Fox News: Iran’s foreign minister has warned that the war in Gaza could lead to a “big explosion” of conflicts in the Middle East, with Lebanon and Yemen already “involved” and more countries poised to join. “At least every week, we receive a message from the U.S. telling us that U.S. bases in Syria and Iraq are targeted by some groups,” Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told the Doha Forum on Monday. “At any moment, there is a possibility of a big explosion in the region, one not controllable by any party,” he explained via translator. The ominous warning follows the U.S. veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution that sought an immediate cease-fire. U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative Robert A. Wood called the demand for an unconditional cease-fire “dangerous” and “a recipe for disaster for Israel, for Palestinians and for the entire region.” The militant groups have launched a total of 90 attacks against U.S. bases and troops in the Middle East since Oct. 17 and several attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea, including the hijacking of a cargo ship this month (Fox News). Daily Wire: He said that the reason Iranian-backed terrorist groups had launched dozens of attacks against U.S. forces in the region over the last two months was because they were “defending the Arab and Muslim people of Gaza.” “We do not recognize Israel as a government. It has just been an occupying power for 75 years,” he claimed, demanding that the U.S. “abandon their unconditional and unwavering support for Israel.” The remarks come after Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists hit an oil tanker that was passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb on Monday with a cruise missile. President Joe Biden has come under mounting pressure for not being able to muster the courage to respond to the attacks from the Houthi terrorists and other Iranian-backed Islamic terror groups in the region that have repeatedly attacked U.S. forces (Daily Wire).

Rutgers University Suspends Students for Justice in Palestine Group After Multiple Campus Disruptions

Times of Israel: Rutgers University suspended its campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine on Monday, joining a growing number of American universities that have restricted the pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel group’s operations as campus activism has spiked surrounding the Israel-Hamas war. The chapter has two business days to appeal the “interim” suspension. The university did not say how long the suspension would last if upheld. A dean’s letter to the group stated that it had violated several university policies, including those forbidding “disruptive or disorderly conduct,” failure to comply with university directives, improper behavior by campus guests, and “inappropriate use of space.” It referenced student complaints that members of SJP had disrupted “classes, a program, meals, and students studying” (Times of Israel). Fox News: Rutgers joins DC’s George Washington University, New York City’s Columbia University, and Brandeis University in Massachusetts in taking disciplinary actions against SJP, while becoming the first public university to do so (Fox News).

Hunter Biden is a No Show for His Deposition

Katie Pavlich: After arriving on the Senate side of Capitol Hill, Hunter Biden made a statement to the media and refused to go over to the House side for the deposition, blowing off a congressional subpoena issued by the House Oversight Committee. The House sergeant-at-arms has no jurisdiction on the Senate side where Hunter made his statement. After his remarks, he quickly got in the car he arrived in and left. Previously Biden’s attorneys demanded their client testify only in a public hearing, despite closed door depositions being a routine first step in investigations. Republicans agreed to a public hearing after the closed door deposition (Townhall). Rep. James Comer: Hunter Biden today defied lawful subpoenas and we will now initiate contempt of Congress proceedings. We will not provide special treatment because his last name is Biden (X). Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: Rather than follow the lawful subpoena for a deposition issued by Chairman Rep. James Comer, Hunter Biden decided to play circus outside the Capitol this morning. President Trump’s own children sat for hours of depositions after being subpoenaed countless times by the Democrats. We must immediately move forward to hold Hunter in contempt of Congress (X). Donald Trump Jr.: Hunter Biden just refused to show up for his congressional testimony. I’m looking forward to the same amount of outrage from the media as they’d have if I blew off any of my 5 congressional subpoenas… but since they’re covering for Joe Biden & his corruption I won’t hold my breath (X). RNC Research: Hunter Biden arrives at the Capitol, but insists he will only answer questions under his own rules despite a lawful subpoena — and Democrat precedent (X). Townhall: JAMES COMER: Hunter Biden “does not get to dictate the terms of this subpoena” (X).

Supreme Court to Hear Case Taking the Abortion Pill Off the Market

Wall Street Journal: The Supreme Court said Wednesday it would decide a challenge to the federal regulations issued since 2016 that relaxed restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone, ensuring the court’s power over reproductive rights will remain in the forefront during a presidential election year. A lower court invalidated those regulations, issued by the Food and Drug Administration, but they have remained in force while the justices weighed whether to hear the Biden administration’s appeal. In 2022, a divided court rescinded the constitutional right to abortion it first had recognized in the 1973 case, Roe v. Wade. Since then, the battle over women’s rights to end unwanted pregnancies largely has played out in the states (Wall Street Journal). Lila Rose: SCOTUS has decided to hear a case that may take the abortion pill off market. Mifepristone (the abortion pill) has one authorized use—to kill human embryos. This lethal pill isn’t healthcare, it’s homicide. It was approved unlawfully & has killed millions of children (X).

Boston Mayor Holds Holiday Party Where White People Are Not Invited

Fox News: Boston’s Democratic mayor has come under fire after she sent out invitations for a holiday party intended only for minority city councilors. Michelle Wu, the city’s first Asian American mayor, recently had her aide, Denise DosSantos, send out an email for the event. “Honorable members: On behalf of Mayor Michelle Wu, I cordially invite you and a guest to the Electeds of Color Holiday Party,” the email said. The city leader quickly drew criticism after it became apparent the email was sent to all city councilors, seven of whom are White. The invitation was meant only for the city’s six councilors “of color.” Fifteen minutes after the email was sent out, DosSantos apologized and clarified that the invitation was only meant for minority city councilors. However, she did not apologize for planning a party that excluded White city leaders (Fox News). Libs of TikTok: Mayor Wu, the Mayor of Boston invited only “electeds of color” to a Holiday Party. The email was mistakenly sent to all city councilmembers, including the white ones. One white councilmember called it “divisive.” The party is still scheduled to take place and only black councilmembers are invited (X).

U.N. Climate Change Summit Vows to Triple Green Energy Infrastructure in Seven Years

National Review: For the first time in the nearly 30-year history of the United Nations summit on climate change, all nations gathered unanimously agreed to a resolution that called for “transitioning away from fossil fuels” and committed member states to tripling existing green-energy infrastructure by 2030. The nearly 200 member countries gathered at the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai agreed to transition away from fossil fuels “in a just, orderly and equitable manner” before entirely eliminating carbon emissions by 2050. While previous U.N. climate agreements committed member states to work toward slowing global warming, the deal announced Wednesday was the first to include an explicit commitment to do away with “fossil fuels.” As part of an effort to stop global temperatures from rising another 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next decade, member states agreed to triple their existing green energy infrastructure, including solar panels and wind turbines, by 2030 (National Review).

10.

Democrats Claim Justice Clarence Thomas Should Recuse Himself from Trump Immunity Case

Townhall: Senate Democrats have found yet another reason to go after Justice Clarence Thomas, this time by bringing up recusal when it comes to deciding whether former and potentially future President Donald Trump has immunity in cases to do with his handling of classified documents and his actions on and leading up to January 6, 2021. Special Counsel Jack Smith made such a request of the Supreme Court. The Court has agreed to grant an expedited review of the cert petition. Chief among those Democrats is Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL). “There’s been enough information raised about Mr. Thomas and his spouse that he ought to think twice about recusal in this case,” Durbin claimed. Another Democrat on the Committee, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), also chimed in, ready to say that Thomas should recuse himself (Townhall). Hill: Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), another member of the Judiciary Committee, said Justice Thomas has both a conflict of interest and the appearance of a conflict of interest in any case about Trump’s efforts to subvert the 2020 election. Hirono said “recusal usually applies when there’s an actual conflict and when there’s an appearance of conflict” (Hill).