Supreme Court compels depositions for Arizona Republican leaders in voting law dispute
A Monday decision from the U.S. Supreme Court compels Arizona’s top Republican leaders to sit for depositions in an ongoing federal lawsuit concerning state voting rights. In their brief order, the justices refused to block the testimony from Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma and Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen – both Republicans – where they must explain, under oath, why they supported state laws requiring proof of citizenship to vote. Civil rights groups have argued that those laws, passed last year, are racially discriminatory. The Biden administration has also filed a separate lawsuit. Toma and Petersen, meanwhile, have defended the laws from legal challenges after the state’s governor and attorney general refused to do so. A federal district court judge ordered Toma and Petersen to sit for depositions explaining their reasons for defending the law. THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: TRUMP HOLDS COMMANDING LEAD OVER DESANTIS, HALEY, WITH 50 DAYS UNTIL IOWA CAUCUSES The court’s decision on Monday effectively rejects claims from Toma and Petersen that a deposition would violate legislative privilege – meaning that lawmakers are shielded from criminal and civil liability. The GOP lawmakers had filed an emergency request with the court. A federal judge tossed out the state laws in September on the grounds that federal laws control proof-of-citizenship mandates. The case has not gone into effect or to trial, but it could potentially have significant ramifications in a swing state going into the 2024 presidential election. The lawsuits included a coalition of civil, political, and voting groups including Mi Familia Vota, Living United for Change in Arizona, the national and state Democratic Party, and three other individuals. Fox News’ Shannon Bream and Bill Mears contributed to this report.
Third time the charm: Will George Santos survive the latest move to oust him from the House?
Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., has survived two other efforts to oust him from Congress in recent weeks. But the third time may be the charm for lawmakers who believe Santos is unfit to serve. The House likely votes in the coming days on a measure to expel Santos for his myriad of alleged misdeeds, campaign finance abuses and generally, contriving an entire, faux life story and lying his way into a seat in the House of Representatives. The House sidetracked two previous efforts to expel Santos – never directly casting a ballot on his worthiness to be a House member. Those who opposed the plan to expel Santos weren’t defending him. They just noted that a court has never convicted Santos of alleged wrongdoing. Prior to Thanksgiving, the House Ethics Committee hadn’t completed its investigation into the conduct of Santos. SANTOS ACCUSES COLLEAGUES OF VOTING HUNGOVER, SLEEPING AROUND IN PROFANITY-LADEN TIRADE AGAINST ETHICS REPORT Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution grants each body of Congress authority to have the ultimate authority of who gets sworn-in, determine its own rules of proceedings, mete out discipline and “with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.” Expulsions are extremely rare in the House. The two-thirds threshold is steep. The worst thing to happen to those pushing to give Santos the boot would be to have a failed expulsion vote. A majority certainly may have wanted to expel Santos. But the House needs two-thirds to do so. That’s 290 yeas needed to expel if all current 434 members cast ballots. Just hours into the job, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., expressed concern about providing Santos “due process.” Lawmakers were mindful of the precedent set to expel other lawmakers. In 1861, the House voted to expel late Reps. John Bullock Clark, D-Mo., John William Reid, D-Mo., and Henry Cornelius Bennett, D-Ky., for siding with the Confederacy during the Civil War. The House voted to expel former Rep. Ozzie Myers, D-Penn., after he was convicted of taking bribes as part of an FBI sting in 1980. Lawmakers expelled late Rep. Jim Traficant, D-Ohio, in 2002. A court found Traficant guilty of conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion charges. So, the House has expelled a grand total of five lawmakers in history. And Santos didn’t associate with the Confederacy (as far as we know). Santos faces a litany of criminal charges. But his trial doesn’t start until February. Therefore, is the bar high enough for expulsion? MIKE JOHNSON ON THE CLOCK We’ll know in a few days. The House Ethics Committee published an incriminating report at the conclusion of its inquiry into Santos just before Thanksgiving. Within hours, House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., announced he would introduce a resolution to expel Santos. The lack of an Ethics Committee report gave lawmakers pause – as well as a fig leaf to hide behind – to hold off on expelling Santos. That may not be the case now. And as always, it’s about the math. The House leadership brass may want to make sure it has the votes to expel Santos before calling this vote. As bad as a failed expulsion vote would have been before, the damage would be exponentially worse if the body stumbled to toss Santos after the Ethics Committee report. Note that previous resolutions to expel Santos – and even censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. – were what the House terms as “privileged” resolutions. Lawmakers craft a privileged resolution such as one for expulsion in a way that it advances to the front of the legislative line. The House must consider a privileged resolution immediately or within two legislative days. But heretofore, Guest introduced his measure in a way that is NOT privileged. It isn’t automatically in the queue to come up when lawmakers return to Capitol Hill. Moreover, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., did not post anything about expulsion for Santos on the official House docket late last week. This may be a safety valve for leaders on both sides to make sure they have the votes to actually expel Santos, if and when Guest’s plan comes to the floor. This could also give Santos a chance to resign ahead of time. If lawmakers dither with pulling the trigger on Santos, one wonders if Santos might even draft his own expulsion resolution, make it privileged, and dare the House to expel him. Former House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, would occasionally summon lawmakers to his office and beseech them to resign when their conduct ran afoul of acceptable standards. In fact, Boehner and other House Speakers often didn’t have to plead with offending members. Expectations were implied. Lawmakers who strayed from the straight and narrow knew what they had to do. THE DIVIDE: HOW A PROTEST OVER ISRAEL EXPOSED A SERIOUS RIFT IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY Late last week, Santos took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to rant about his potential expulsion. “I know I’m going to get expelled when this expulsion resolution goes to the floor,” declared Santos, characterizing himself as the “Mary Magdalene of the United States Congress.” Santos claims that the House is populated “by felons galore” and lawmakers “with all sorts of sheisty backgrounds.” Santos also said that his time in Congress should be “done when I say it’s done. When I want it to be done. Not when they want it to be done.” Santos contends he won’t resign from Congress. However, the New York Republican did reverse himself, announcing he would not stand for re-election. Santos also announced a press conference on the steps of the Capitol at 8 am et on Thursday. Santos can’t just summon the press to the Capitol steps if he’s no longer a member by that point. But the House schedule is far from clear at this writing. A removal of Santos will drop the GOP majority to 220 Republicans compared to 213 Democrats. That means Republicans can only lose three votes on their side and
California GOP Rep. David Valadao’s office vandalized by anti-Israel protestors
A California congressman is the latest victim of antisemitism attacks happening across the country as Rep. David Valadao’s (R-Calif.) Hanford office was vandalized Monday morning, according to a post on X from Rep. Valadao. Rep. Valadao posted a photo of his Hanford office Monday afternoon covered in “Murdered by Israel” posters and fake blood. “This morning, my Hanford office was vandalized by anti-Israel protestors. I strongly support the right to peaceful protest, but violence and vandalism are never acceptable. In a democracy, harassment and intimidation is not how you make your voice heard,” Rep. Valadao posted. Valadao’s office tells Fox News Digital the vandalism happened at their Hanford office just shortly before staff arrived Monday morning. NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS BLASTS STUDENTS’ ‘VILE SHOW OF ANTISEMITISM’ THAT FORCED TEACHER TO HIDE IN OFFICE “Our office has filed the proper reports with local law enforcement and Capitol Police. We hope to see those responsible held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Valadao’s office said. Valadao continued his post by calling out the protesters and denouncing their claims. MISS UNIVERSE JUDGE HIT WITH DEATH THREATS AFTER DEBATE AGAINST PALESTINIAN ACTIVIST: ‘YOU WILL BE KILLED’ “If these protestors truly cared about Palestinian children they would also support the eradication of Hamas terrorists, who are actively using Palestinian hospitals and schools as cover for their military operations and putting thousands of Palestinian civilians at risk,” Valadao posted. Valadao finished his post by stating that his office would remain open and accessible by appointment.
Pennsylvania to require written, verbal consent for pelvic, rectal exams by med students
A new Pennsylvania law will require doctors to get a patient’s verbal and written consent before medical students can perform pelvic or rectal exams on someone who receives anesthesia. At a press conference Monday, supporters touted the recently enacted legislation, which goes into effect in January. Tracking how often medical students are asked to perform pelvic, rectal or prostate exams on anesthetized patients is difficult, but concern about the procedures has led to a broad national effort to require informed consent for the procedures. At least 20 states have similar measures, with Colorado advancing some of the most extensive legislation so far. PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRAT JACK STOLLSTEIMER ENTERS 2024 RACE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL Often, patient paperwork contains broad consent for a range of procedures that might be medically necessary while someone is anesthetized. But the documents can also include consent for educational purposes, allowing students to conduct medically unnecessary exams as part of their training. Some doctors have called the legislative effort governmental overreach that will diminish trust. Supporters say the laws increase transparency and protect medical students from being made to conduct exams without informed consent. “If a coherent person declines a pelvic, prostate or rectal exam, one would not be performed. Their response would not be open to interpretation,” said Rep. Liz Hanbidge, D-Montgomery, a primary sponsor of the Pennsylvania legislation. “Unconscious persons should never be viewed as merely an object for learning.” South Philadelphia resident Keren Sofer approached her legislator in 2019 after she believed an exam was performed on her without consent. “Every single person, every time I shared my experience, were shocked because they too thought that being treated with dignity, respect and transparency in a medical facility — and especially when under anesthesia — was a given,” she said Monday. The law will impose at least a $1,000 penalty for violations by health care providers. If a student in a training program conducts an exam without consent, the health care provider will be held liable, according to the legislation.
WATCH: Biden official butchers popular phrase coined by Ronald Reagan about government’s role in everyday life
A senior Biden administration official was caught on camera butchering a popular phrase coined by the late former President Ronald Reagan about the federal government’s role in the everyday lives of Americans. “As, I think it was President Reagan said, ‘We’re from the government. We’re here to help,’” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told those gathered at the Western Governors Association Winter Meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on Monday. The context of his comments centered on the federal government working with state governors on funding priorities related to education, but were drastically different from what Reagan actually said in his often cited quote, which he first uttered during a news conference on Aug.12, 1986. WATCH: JEAN-PIERRE GIVES TERSE RESPONSE WHEN QUESTIONED ON POSSIBLE STAFF SHAKEUP AMID BIDEN POLLING CRISIS “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help,” Reagan said. According to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute, the former president’s comments referred “to how the government tends to be inefficient, to such a degree that instead of helping, it often causes harm instead.” BIDEN CHALLENGER GOES ALL IN ON PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, WON’T RUN FOR RE-ELECTION TO CONGRESS “This view expresses the need for a more diminutive form of government where an individual or organization can complete an activity more effectively than the whole government,” it added, a stark contrast from the point Cardona appeared to be making. Fox News Digital has reached out to Cardona for comment.
White House scraps Christmas fireplace stockings after Biden acknowledges grandchild for first time
The White House is opting to ditch the annual Christmas tradition of hanging stockings for President Biden’s grandchildren, a move that allows it to avoid devoting a decoration for the president’s seventh grandchild, who he only recently acknowledged for the first time. In a ceremony Monday afternoon, first lady Jill Biden unveiled the White House’s 2023 Christmas decorations, which included various themed trees, rooms and displays. However, in a departure from the 2021 and 2022 displays, the fireplace in the White House State Dining Room was decorated without any stockings and, instead, with garland and toy soldier robots, The New York Post reported. “The holidays offer a time for reflection and a break from our hurried lives, a season to be fully present with our friends and our families,” Jill Biden remarked Monday. “It’s also a season of gratitude.” The first lady described the decorations in the White House State Dining Room as bringing the “magic wonder and the joy of the holidays” all together in a recreation of Santa’s workshop. She failed, though, to mention that the Christmas stockings would be removed from the room’s fireplace this year. FORMER TOP UKRAINE PROSECUTOR COMES OUT SWINGING AGAINST JOE AND HUNTER BIDEN: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW The decision to forego stockings for the Bidens’ grandchildren comes four months after Biden first acknowledged his seventh grandchild, Navy Joan Roberts, for the first time in July. Navy, who is five-years-old, is the daughter of Biden’s son Hunter and ex-stripper Lunden Roberts. “Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward,” Biden said in a statement to Fox News Digital on July 28. “This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter. Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy.” DEVON ARCHER ‘ABSOLUTELY’ REVEALED SMOKING GUN ABOUT BIDENS, SAYS REP PAT FALLON That statement came after years of Biden ignoring the fact that he had seven grandchildren, instead referring to his “six grandchildren.” At a White House “take your child to work day” event in April, Biden again claimed to have just six grandchildren. “I have six grandchildren, and I’m crazy about them. And I speak to them every single day. Not a joke,” he said. Hunter Biden had long denied being Navy Joan’s father, but a 2019 DNA test proved otherwise. He has since fought to lower child support payments. Navy Joan was born in August 2018, and Roberts filed a paternity suit in May 2019. Both parties agreed to temporary child support following the DNA test results. Hunter Biden and Roberts reached an agreement to settle their paternity and child support suit in March 2020, according to the Democrat-Gazette. The case was then reopened after he requested changes to the child support payments. In June, Hunter settled his Arkansas child support case with Navy Joan’s mother. A court filing showed Hunter agreed to give his daughter some of his paintings, and the child’s mother agreed to withdraw her counterclaim to change their child’s last name to “Biden.” The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Fox News Digital reporter Joe Schoffstall contributed to this report.
Top Mississippi Democrat gets 2 years probation in tax case
A longtime Mississippi lawmaker was sentenced Monday to two years of probation and has already paid nearly $85,000 in restitution, months after he pleaded guilty to a federal charge of willfully making a false statement on a tax return. Democratic Rep. Earle Banks of Jackson was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves. Banks’ conviction does not prevent him from continuing to serve at the state Capitol and he intends to remain in office, according to his attorney Rob McDuff. Banks, 69, is a funeral director and attorney. He has been in the House since 1993. POT DISPENSARY OWNER SUES MISSISSIPPI OVER ADVERTISING BAN, CLAIMS FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATION When he pleaded guilty in May, Banks admitted failing to report more than $500,000 of income from the 2018 sale of real estate that had been in his family for many years, McDuff said. A federal charging document showed Banks claimed adjusted gross income of $38,237, even though he knew he had received more than $500,000 from the sale of real estate. FORMER MS EMPLOYEE FILES WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT SEEKING $382 MILLION AFTER FUNDS MISUSED Banks has paid restitution of $84,766, McDuff said Monday. Banks could have faced up to three years in prison for the guilty plea. Conviction of many felony charges disqualifies people from holding public offices in Mississippi, but convictions for manslaughter or violating federal tax laws do not prevent people from seeking or holding office, including a legislative seat. Banks was unopposed for reelection this year in House District 67, which is entirely in Hinds County. He ran unsuccessfully for a Mississippi Supreme Court seat in 2012.
Melania Trump expected to attend Rosalynn Carter tribute service, former President Trump not on guest list
Former first lady Melania Trump is expected to join her contemporaries and other leaders at a memorial tribute service for the former first lady Rosalynn Carter. Trump will be joined by other living former first ladies – including Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush – the Carter Center said Monday in a news release announcing the guest list for the Tuesday service at Emory University in Atlanta. JIMMY CARTER HAD ONE OF THE ‘GREATEST SECOND ACTS’ IN AMERICAN HISTORY, CONSERVATIVE HISTORIAN SAYS In addition to the former first ladies, President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden as well as Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are all slated to attend the invitation-only service. Former President Donald Trump was not among the guests listed to attend the event. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Trump campaign. Carter passed away in Georgia last week at age 96 after being admitted to a hospice. Her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, will also attend her tribute service. The couple were married for 77 years. The tribute service will also feature the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, which will play some of Rosalynn Carter’s “most beloved tunes,” the Carter Center said.
New Mexico Supreme Court upholds Democrat-drawn congressional map
The New Mexico Supreme Court upheld a Democratic-drawn congressional map that divvied up a conservative, oil-producing region and reshaped a swing district along the U.S. border with Mexico, in an order published Monday. All five justices signed a shortly worded order to affirm a lower court decision that the redistricting plan enacted by Democratic state lawmakers in 2021 succeeded in substantially diluting votes of their political opponents — but that the changes fell short of “egregious” gerrymandering. The Republican Party argued unsuccessfully that the new district boundaries would entrench Democratic officials in power, highlighting the 2022 defeat of incumbent GOP Congresswoman Yvette Herrell by Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez. EXPERTS EXAMINE HOW SUPREME COURT COULD OVERHAUL VOTING RIGHTS LITIGATION IN POSSIBLE GERRYMANDERING CASE Democratic state lawmakers argued that the 2nd District in southern New Mexico remains competitive, with just a 0.7% margin of victory in the 2022 election. The district is one of about a dozen in the national spotlight as Republicans campaign to keep their slim U.S. House majority in 2024. Courts ruled recently in Alabama, Louisiana and Florida that Republican-led legislatures had unfairly diluted the voting power of Black residents. Legal challenges to congressional districts are also ongoing in Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. State Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce said the legal outcome in New Mexico “leaned heavily on the closeness of the previous election” in which a “popular Republican incumbent” was defeated by a lesser-known rival. “We are contemplating our next course of action,” said Pearce, who represented the 2nd District in Congress before running unsuccessfully for governor in 2018. State District Court Judge Fred Van Soelen had ruled in October that recent changes to New Mexico’s congressional districts do not violate the state constitution. Democrats hold every statewide elected office in New Mexico, along with its three House and two Senate seats. SUPREME COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF BLACK VOTERS IN ALABAMA RACIAL GERRYMANDERING CASE Though Republicans won control of the U.S. House from Democrats in the 2022 election, the closely divided chamber more accurately reflects the ratio of Republicans to Democrats among voters nationally than at any time in recent years, according to an Associated Press analysis. New Mexico was among several states to use a citizens advisory board with the aim of tempering political inclinations — without taking redistricting powers away from state lawmakers. Groups, including Common Cause, said the process resulted in fairer maps. But Republicans in the state’s legislative minority argued that they were effectively shut out of the final legislative process amid conversations beyond legislative hearings via email and text messages that were subpoenaed at trial. Democrats gained a 12% advantage in voter registrations over Republicans in the newly drawn 2nd District, where major party registration previously was roughly evenly split, Judge Van Soelen noted.
Soros pushed $15M to nonprofit linked to Biden super PAC to test ‘critical’ policy issues, tax docs reveal
A George Soros-funded group pushed more than $15 million to a nonprofit tied to President Biden’s main outside super PAC for the 2024 elections to evaluate crucial policy matters, records reveal. Tax documents provided to Fox News Digital show that the Open Society Policy Center, an advocacy nonprofit in the Soros-bankrolled Open Society Foundations network, funneled $15.18 million to Future Forward USA Action in 2022 for research and “content testing on critical policy issues.” Future Forward USA Action is the dark money nonprofit arm of the Future Forward PAC, which Biden’s team heightened as the leading external group to rake in big money and aid his re-election efforts. “For someone who claims to disdain dark money, President Biden seems quite comfortable with the king of dark money propping up an outside group spending big to push his agenda,” Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, told Fox News Digital. “George Soros’ projects are notorious for pushing policies that undermine safety, democracy and the rule of law. By funneling money through this Biden-tied group, Soros is signaling that he and Biden are birds of a feather.” BIDEN’S RE-ELECTION EFFORTS BOLSTERED BY MASSIVE DONATIONS FROM GEORGE SOROS AND OTHER BILLIONAIRES It’s unclear precisely what kind of research and “critical” issues the Soros money went toward. Future Forward USA Action and the Open Society Foundations did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. The cash was likely a substantial part of Future Forward’s preparations before Biden and his confidants publicly elevated its PAC as the central outside political fundraising vehicle to back his candidacy this past summer. Meanwhile, Soros has donated significant amounts to backing Biden’s candidacy in the past and recently cut a $250,000 check to his victory fund. The financier’s son Alex, who now leads the Open Society Foundations network, has also been a frequent Biden White House visitor. CONTROVERSIAL GEORGE SOROS-BACKED VIRGINIA PROSECUTOR OUSTED FROM OFFICE AFTER FINAL VOTES COUNTED Biden is poised to benefit from considerable dark money due to the past arrangements and actions between Future Forward’s nonprofit and PAC. Since the 2020 election, Future Forward USA Action – which does not identify its donors – has steered $77 million into the Future Forward PAC, according to a search of Federal Election Commission records. During that time, the PAC raised roughly $181 million, meaning that more than 40% of the Biden PAC’s funds came from its affiliated dark money nonprofit. The records also show Future Forward’s PAC and nonprofit share employees. In June, the PAC reported $55,798 in in-kind donations for “staff time and overhead” from its nonprofit arm. These actions will likely continue throughout the 2024 cycle, ultimately leaving the public in the dark about significant benefactors assisting the leading outside group backing Biden as the election draws closer. Senior White House adviser Anita Dunn said Future Forward “really earned its place as the pre-eminent super PAC” to back Biden for the upcoming elections after they dropped $141 million on independent expenditures during the last presidential election cycle. “In 2020, when they really appeared from nowhere and started placing advertising, the Biden campaign was impressed by the effectiveness of the ads and the overall rigorous testing that had clearly gone into the entire project,” Dunn told The New York Times in July. Future Forward’s leader, Chauncey McLean, previously told the publication they would continue operating in the shadows as much as possible. “We keep a low profile because we’re just not the story, we’re just not important,” McLean said. “I just don’t see any reason for popping our head up. That’s not going to change.”