Author:

House punts government shutdown deadline to next week after Johnson forced to seek Dem support again

Speaker Mike Johnson bucked the House GOP’s right flank to pass a short-term federal funding bill on Thursday, setting up Congress to avoid a partial government shutdown. The bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), extends fiscal year 2023’s government funding levels to two deadlines – March 8 and March 22. It passed the House 320-99. Congress is currently operating under a CR passed in January that extended funding for some of their 12 appropriations bills to March 1 and others to March 8. TOP HOUSE REPUBLICANS FLEE CAPITOL HILL AMID RISING CHAOS, DIVISION: ‘A BAD WORKPLACE’ House GOP leaders were forced to seek Democratic votes, which were likely anyway, to pass the bill. They fast-tracked it under suspension of the rules, meaning it forgoes the normal process of going through the House Rules Committee and a House-wide procedural vote in exchange for raising the threshold for passage to two-thirds, instead of a simple majority. It comes after GOP rebels weaponized procedural House votes several times to deliberately sink their own party’s legislation as a protest against leadership. Many of those same rebels have pushed Johnson to allow for the government to shut down instead of extending the previous Democrat-controlled Congress’ funding levels. They argued a shutdown, even a partial one, would give House Republicans leverage to push for conservative policies.  HOUSE GOP LEADERS JETTISON PROMISE TO VOTE ON 12 INDIVIDUAL SPENDING BILLS With expected furloughs of federal employees and suspension of government programs, however, a government shutdown is a political perilous outcome for both Republicans and Democrats. This is the fourth CR the House has passed since fiscal year 2023 ended on Sept. 30. “We have to be willing to do what’s difficult to save America. I’m not scared of a government shutdown if it’s the price we need to pay to secure our border, get our debt under control, and stop the government from going after my fellow Americans,” Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., a member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, said. CONGRESS LIKELY TO PUNT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DEADLINES AGAIN, SOURCES SAY But Johnson said during his weekly press conference that it would buy negotiators just enough time to release legislative text for their first six spending bills over the weekend while avoiding the negative effects of a partial shutdown. “All of our members will have 72 hours to review it. That’s our commitment. That’s our rule. We’re respecting it. And that’s the only reason we need the process CR, to allow us time to do that,” Johnson said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “If I did it the way, I don’t know, Speaker Pelosi did, we just drop that bill and vote on it within hours – we’re not going to do that.” The CR must now pass the Senate and be signed by President Biden to avoid a partial shutdown at midnight on Friday.

Jordan subpoenas Mayorkas for documents on Texas migrant surge, razor wire cutting

FIRST ON FOX: House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan is subpoenaing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for documents related to DHS’ actions in response to an overwhelming surge of migrants into Eagle Pass, Texas, in September — accusing the agency of failing to produce documents and impeding the committee’s work. Republicans on the Committee had requested documents on multiple occasions related to the Sept. 20 surge of mostly Venezuelan nationals into Eagle Pass, which led to the closings of two bridges as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) struggled to cope. The lawmakers have been critical of the way the crisis has been handled by the administration. TOP HOUSE COMMITTEE RENEWS DEMAND FOR DOCS FROM DHS ON TEXAS BORDER WIRE CUTTING “While thousands of illegal aliens flooded into Eagle Pass, shutting down lawful commerce across the bridges, the Biden Administration’s DHS cut and removed concertina wire and fencing installed as a deterrent by the state of Texas, helping the aliens cross illegally,” Jordan said. In his cover letter to the subpoena, Jordan said that after multiple attempts to get the documents, DHS offered an in-person briefing, but later said that a briefing in Eagle Pass to a congressional delegation of over 60 lawmakers the same week had provided the lawmakers with the latest operational updates. It also cited additional briefings, including biweekly Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) briefings. 7.2M ENTERED US UNDER BIDEN ADMIN, AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN POPULATION OF 36 STATES The committee, however, said that it “does not consider the unrelated briefings DHS cites responsive to its needs.” Jordan also dismissed claims that some aspects were not provided due to ongoing legal action with Texas. “Finally, DHS has also asserted that the Committee’s requests are ‘extremely broad and vague,’” Jordan wrote. “The Committee has in good faith attempted to work with DHS to scope and prioritize its requests. However, the reality is, in the more than three months since the Committee’s initial request, DHS has produced nothing at all in response to the Committee’s November 6 and December 8 letters, and it was only months after the letters were sent that DHS even attempted to engage on the substance of such requests.”  Jordan wrote that the suspension of trade and travel at that time “is yet another example of the Biden Administration’s prioritization of illegal aliens to the detriment of Americans.” DUELING BIDEN, TRUMP VISITS TO BESIEGED BORDER COME AMID FRESH SLEW OF VIOLENT CRIMES BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS “Indeed, the events in Eagle Pass illustrate the broader effects of the Biden Administration’s open-borders policies: benefits for illegal aliens and harm and endangerment for American communities” he said. “Moreover, the Department’s failure to produce materials requested in the course of the Committee’s oversight is wholly unacceptable and impedes the Committee’s ability to fulfill its constitutional obligations.” The subpoena requests documents by March 19 related to the transport of illegal immigrants into the U.S., the closing of the bridges, policy decisions, the cutting of razor wire, related intelligence and the numbers and percentages of migrants being encountered at the border.  A DHS official told Fox News Digital that information, including on the concertina wire and a related parole program, is subject to litigation and therefore cannot be provided, but that it has provided documents not subject to those limits. The official also cited moves it had made to be responsive, including briefings on Eagle Pass, the congressional delegation and production of materials and data — including data at the sector level. The official also said that DHS, more broadly, has provided over 75 witnesses in more than 50 hearings, 20 personnel participating in transcribed interviews, and more than 20,000 pages of documents in response to lawmakers’ letters. “Consistent with longstanding precedent, and as the Committee is well aware, the Department cannot provide material that is subject to ongoing litigation,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. “This subpoena is a ploy for media attention. DHS has provided information to the Committee and made clear that additional materials will be provided as they become available.” “DHS will continue cooperating with Congressional oversight requests, all while faithfully working to protect our nation from terrorism and targeted violence, secure our borders, respond to natural disasters, defend against cyberattacks, and more.” The subpoena comes just hours before President Biden, along with Secretary Mayorkas will visit the border in Brownsville, Texas. Biden is expected to renew his calls for Republicans to pass a bipartisan Senate border bill. “During his trip, the President will receive a briefing on border security operations and an operational briefing from CBP, ICE, and USCIS. Afterwards, the President will deliver remarks to emphasize the need for Congressional Republicans to stop putting politics ahead of our border security and pass the bipartisan border security agreement,” a White House official said.

Top House Republican prepares end-run around Speaker Johnson on Ukraine aid

A top House Republican lawmaker is preparing to circumvent Speaker Mike Johnson, R– La., to force a vote on a bill related to Ukraine aid and U.S. border security. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, said that he was preparing the legislative maneuver as a fail-safe in the event Johnson does not bring a Ukraine aid bill to the floor. “It’s existential, it’s time-sensitive. Whether it’s our [bill] or somebody else’s, we’ve just got to get the money out the door,” Fitzpatrick told reporters on Thursday morning. Traditionally, House leadership of the majority party controls which bills get put up for a vote. However, the measure Fitzpatrick filed, known as a discharge petition, would allow rank-and-file members to force a vote on certain legislation with the support of a simple House majority. NATO CHIEF, EUROPEAN ALLIES DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM MACRON SUGGESTION OF TROOP DEPLOYMENT INTO UKRAINE Before it can be activated, however, the measure must sit in the House Rules Committee untouched for seven days. “All this is doing is adding a pressure point on something that’s very time-sensitive to at least have a backstop in place. So, if nobody can come to a conclusion as to what to put on the floor, if somebody’s afraid to put something on the floor, then we’re ready to go,” Fitzpatrick told Fox News Digital. He led a bipartisan bill earlier this month aimed at providing roughly $66 billion in military-only aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which would also institute strict border measures like the Trump administration’s “Remain In Mexico” policy. SENDING EUROPEAN TROOPS TO UKRAINE REMAINS AN OPTION, SAYS FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON The bill was introduced after a larger $118 billion border policy and foreign aid package failed in the Senate amid Republican protests that it did not go far enough to solve the migrant crisis. Since then, lawmakers in both the House and Senate have urged Johnson to hold a vote on some form of Ukraine aid, citing Kyiv’s recent losses in the war against Russia amid a shortage of ammunition and personnel. They have argued that helping Ukraine defeat Russian President Vladimir Putin now would prevent a wider European conflict – one that could possibly involve the U.S. in a direct conflict with Moscow. Johnson has not provided much clarity on his strategy for dealing with Ukraine. He is under immense pressure from his right flank to withhold any bills related to Ukraine aid, with a significant portion of the GOP calling for the U.S. to not get involved. It would be a major step for one of Johnson’s fellow Republicans to sideline him on a high-level item like Ukraine, but it could also afford him an opportunity to escape GOP hardliners’ wrath. Fitzpatrick said he has not discussed the discharge petition with Johnson. Fox News Digital asked Fitzpatrick whether the measure is also aimed at giving Johnson some wiggle room with GOP Ukraine aid critics. The Pennsylvania Republican smiled and nodded, saying, “Your words, not mine.” KYIV RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT AS UKRAINE WAR ENTERS THIRD YEAR: ‘I TRY TO BE OPTIMISTIC’ With the current makeup of the House, Fitzpatrick would need 217 lawmakers to sign onto his discharge petition in order for it to make it to the floor.  Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., whose district has a significant Ukrainian population, expressed hope that House negotiators are “getting closer to an agreement” and would not have to take “extraordinary” measures. “We continue to stand with them to provide lethal support, but also the appropriate oversight, and hopefully we can get to an agreement that does that and secures our border. I think the speaker understands that there is significant interest in getting such a deal done,” Molinaro said. House Freedom Caucus Policy Chair Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, was pessimistic about the move. “I think the speaker is inclined to want to put Ukraine on the floor anyway,” Roy said. “So, discharge petition or not, what’s going to happen is, we’re going to bust the [spending] caps, we’re going to spend more money, we’re not going to secure the border. Ukraine is going to get funded. And the American people are going to be wondering what the hell the difference is between the two parties.” Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson’s office for comment. Calls were not returned at press time. 

Trump campaign appeals Illinois judge’s ruling booting him from primary ballot

Former President Trump’s campaign appealed a ruling from an Illinois judge that removed the 2024 presidential candidate from state ballots on Thursday. The Trump campaign appeal contests Cook County Circuit Judge Tracie Porter’s ruling that Trump is disqualified from candidacy under the Constitutional ban on “insurrectionists.” Porter’s ruling reversed last month’s decision by the Illinois Board of Elections to keep Trump’s name on the primary ballot after a group of Illinois voters accused the former president of engaging in insurrection. According to court documents obtained by Fox News, Porter urged the board to remove Trump or “cause any votes cast for him to be suppressed,” for violating section three of the 14th Amendment, or the “disqualification clause,” for engaging in insurrection. TRUMP SAYS HE’S A ‘BELIEVER’ IN THE SUPREME COURT AFTER ORAL ARGUMENTS IN COLORADO BALLOT CASE The Trump campaign promised an appeal within hours of the ruling, and the order is currently on hold until litigation can be completed. HOUSE DEMOCRAT FROM MAINE RIPS STATE’S DECISION TO TAKE TRUMP OFF BALLOT The court battle will likely be rendered moot thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court taking up the same question in an upcoming case. In the case, the court will consider for the first time the meaning and reach of Section 3 of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. REPUBLICAN EX-JUDGE ARGUED TRUMP ENGAGED IN INSURRECTION, SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM ILLINOIS PRIMARY BALLOT The relevant section states, “No person shall… hold any office… under the United States… who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States… to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.” Trump has not been charged with inciting an insurrection, but he does face allegations of election interference in Washington, D.C. and Georgia. The court will make a decision no later than the end of June on whether Trump can be prosecuted for election interference, The Associated Press reports. Illinois is now the third state where Trump was booted from the ballot, after Colorado and Maine. Fox News’ Stepheny Price contributed to this report

VA lawmakers defeat restrictions on personal use of campaign finances

Virginia lawmakers on Wednesday defeated for another year campaign finance reform legislation that would have prohibited elected officials from spending political donations on personal expenses such as mortgages, vacations or gym memberships. Virginia — which allows unlimited donations from individuals, corporations and special interest groups — is a national outlier for lacking such a ban, and advocates at the General Assembly have been trying for more than a decade to put personal use restrictions on candidates’ spending. Their hopes that a bill would reach GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk this year ended with Wednesday’s unrecorded voice vote in a House Appropriations Committee, as that measure was the last personal use ban still alive. Another version died in the House of Delegates earlier this session for lack of a hearing. VIRGINIA ELECTION OFFICIAL URGES VOTERS NOT TO MAIL IN ABSENTEE BALLOTS AMID DELIVERY CONCERNS Democratic Del. Luke Torian, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, said that both he and Democratic House Speaker Don Scott would like to see the bill pass next year. He didn’t explain his reasoning for a delay. “So this is going to be one of the priorities that will be before us during the 2025 session,” he said. Democratic Del. Mark Sickles said he “reluctantly” motioned to carry the bill over to next year. Lawmakers have routinely characterized the issue as something they want to tackle while deferring action on it. Youngkin has not weighed in publicly on the issue, with his office saying only that he would review any legislation that reached his desk. The defeated bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Jennifer Boysko, would bar candidates from converting campaign contributions “to personal use,” defined as spending on a “commitment, obligation, or expense” that would “exist irrespective of the person’s seeking, holding, or maintaining public office.” Currently lawmakers are only barred from converting campaign funds to personal use once they close out their accounts. A 2016 Associated Press review of the state’s campaign finance system found some lawmakers frequently using campaign accounts to pay for pricey meals and hotels as well as personal expenses. The bill includes a list of prohibited expenses such as mortgages, rent, clothing, non-campaign vehicles, country club memberships or vacations. Allowable expenses include child care costs incurred as a direct result of running for or holding public office. Under the measure, the State Board of Elections would investigate complaints and in some circumstances have the option to assess a civil penalty. In a previous hearing, Republican Del. Paul Milde, a newly elected House member, said it was “beyond” him why the bill was in trouble. “The only rationale I could see for some of us resisting this after 10 years is because they … want to have the flexibility to buy things that really aren’t campaign-related things. And I just can’t believe we can’t get together on this,” he said. Boysko, whose bill cleared the Senate by a 35 to 4 vote, was not immediately available for comment. The legislation’s defeat comes as lawmakers have been advancing two pathways to commissioning reviews of their compensation and whether it should be increased.

Text messages show timeline of events to disqualify Fani Willis, Trump camp asserts

A crucial witness in the motion to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the Georgia election interference case was far more involved in the effort than previously known. Terrence Bradley — former law partner and divorce attorney of prosecutor Nathan Wade — testified under oath Tuesday regarding what he knew about Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis and special prosector Nathan Wade’s personal relationship. Bradley took the stand after Judge Scott McAfee determined Bradley that couldn’t claim attorney-client privilege. Text messages have now emerged that show Bradley cooperated extensively with Ashleigh Merchant, attorney for Trump’s co-defendent Michael Roman in the Georgia case, in the effort to disqualify Willis. KEY WITNESS IN FANI WILLIS CASE TESTIFIES HE MAY HAVE LIED IN TEXTS ABOUT FRIENDS’ AFFAIR A cache of over 400 text messages between Bradley and Merchant obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution show continuous back-and-forth exchanges about Willis’s relationship with Wade. Bradley offered input on individuals to subpoena for testimony on Willis and Wade’s relationship. He also derided Willis as “arrogant,” encouraging Merchant in her motion to disqualify the district attorney from the Trump case. “I am nervous,” Merchant wrote in a text message on January 8 — just a day after filling the motion. “This is huge.” Bradley responded, “You are huge. You will be fine. You are one of the best lawyers I know. Go be great.” JUDGE SAYS NATHAN WADE’S DIVORCE LAWYER MUST TESTIFY ON RELATIONSHIP WITH FULTON CO. DA FANI WILLIS Merchant gave Bradley a copy of her motion before filing, asking for guidance to make sure everything was accurate.  “Anything else? Anything that isn’t accurate?” Merchant texted Bradley. “Looks good,” Bradley replied. One piece of information put forth in the text messages ended up falling apart this week when Bradley testified under oath. “Do you think it started before she hired him?” Merchant asked via text on January 5, three days prior to filing the motion. “Absolutely,” Bradley replied. But in court Tuesday, Bradley claimed he was “speculating” in those text message exchanges.  FANI WILLIS, NATHAN WADE REFERRED TO GEORGIA STATE BAR FOR MISCONDUCT BY WATCHDOG GROUP Bradely said he couldn’t recall key details or specific information over two dozen times in the roughly two-hour testimony in Fulton County Superior Court on Tuesday. He also claimed he had only ever discussed Wade’s relationship with Willis once with Wade. Lawyers for Trump and his co-defendants who are accusing Willis of having had an “improper” affair with Wade will try to connect evidence that Willis and Wade lied about when their relationship began and should therefore be disqualified from the case.  During their romantic relationship, which ended last summer, Wade and Willis vacationed in wine country in California, the Caribbean and other destinations.  Roman, a GOP political operative and co-defendant in the Trump case, first alleged that Willis had a conflict of interest in the case because she benefited financially from hiring her lover. Four co-defendants have made similar accusations.  The crux of the defense’s case is whether it can prove with a money trail that Willis has a conflict of interest in the case against Trump and should be disqualified.  Fox News Digital’s Brianna Herlihy contributed to this report.

Texas law allowing police to arrest migrants suspected of being in country illegally blocked by federal judge

Senate Bill 4 was Texas’ latest attempt to deter people from crossing the Texas-Mexico border amid a surge in migration.

Panhandle wildfire rages through more than 1 million acres, becoming the largest in Texas history

Light rain and snow are expected in the area but meteorologists don’t expect the precipitation will provide significant help to quell the fire.

Republican lawmakers demand ‘consequences’ for Austin’s ‘failure of leadership’ during medical scare

Republican lawmakers confronted Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday about his “failure of leadership” during his hospitalization. Austin played defense throughout the hearing, contending that there were never any gaps in the command and control chain between President Biden’s administration and the U.S. military. He nevertheless apologized for failing to notify his superiors for multiple days during his early January hospitalization. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., began the hearing with scathing remarks. “The fact that Def. Sec. Austin could be hospitalized for three days without anyone in the administration knowing implies his advice is neither sought nor heeded in the White House,” Rogers said. MARINE KILLED IN CAMP PENDLETON TRAINING EXERCISE IDENTIFIED Austin later responded, saying it is not entirely uncommon for he and Biden to go without direct communication for multiple days. FATHERS, UNCLE OF MARINES KILLED IN CALIFORNIA HELICOPTER CRASH SPEAK OUT: ‘SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED’ Criticism of Austin was a point of rare unity for Republicans and Democrats on the committee. Ranking member Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said he agreed with nearly every point Rogers made in his opening statement, only disagreeing with the claim that there had been gaps in national security communications during the incident. Democratic lawmakers appeared satisfied with the changes Austin has already made since his early January hospitalization. He said the Pentagon has now codified procedures for both transferring authorities during emergency incidents and for notifying other key members of the administration and staff at the Pentagon. Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss., a nearly 40-year veteran of the military, argued those protocols had already been in place, however. He argued instead that it was a “failure of leadership” that caused the confusion. “I would argue that the protocols that were in place on January 2 were adequate. It was a failure of leadership in implementing the controls and protocols that were already in place,” Kelly said. “I can tell you, if the [Chief of Naval Operations] would’ve done this and just disappeared for three days, there would be actions and consequences. Maybe not to him or her, but to the person who did that. If the commandant of the Marine Corps did this without reporting upward, there would be consequences. If a private soldier or a sailor or a marine had done this or an airman, there would’ve been consequences,” he added. “I don’t think there was a threat to national security because of this, Secretary Austin. I don’t think that there ever was. The protocols were in place. I do, however, think it was an extreme lack of leadership at some level, and I hope we identify that and there are consequences,” he finished. Austin is scheduled to appear before the Armed Services Committee yet again in roughly a month.

GOP senator endorses Trump-backed Ohio Senate candidate to face vulnerable Democrat

FIRST ON FOX: A Republican senator added his name Thursday to a growing list of lawmakers supporting former President Donald Trump’s pick for Ohio senator, Republican candidate Bernie Moreno. Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., endorsed Moreno in Ohio’s GOP Senate primary to take on vulnerable Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in November, saying in a statement, “I am thrilled to endorse Bernie Moreno as Ohio’s next U.S. Senator. Bernie is a strong conservative who will put America first and help reverse the damage done by Joe Biden and the radical left’s agenda.” According to his website, Moreno is a former luxury car dealership tycoon, who started by purchasing a flailing Cleveland Mercedes-Benz dealership in 2005. He has cast himself as a political outsider and a self-made man as the Midwest’s largest luxury car dealer. In 2018, he cofounded Champ Titles, a company that digitizes car titles using blockchain. He would reportedly go on to sell most of his companies ahead of his Senate bid.   The candidate has quickly emerged as the Trump-world favorite for the nomination, racking up support from figures in the former president’s orbit.  In his endorsement, Hagerty cited Moreno’s career as a businessman, adding, “Bernie is the type of senator we need to help get our nation back on track for working American families. Bernie will be a fierce voice for the forgotten men and women of this country, and I look forward to working with him in the U.S. Senate.”  CROWDED FIELD OF POTENTIAL MCCONNELL SUCCESSORS EMERGES IN SENATE Moreno said of the endorsement, “Senator Hagerty is a relentless fighter against the Biden administration’s reckless agenda and I am so grateful to have his endorsement. I look forward to serving alongside Senator Hagerty to be a voice for the America-First agenda in the Senate.” In addition to Trump, Moreno has been endorsed by former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., Reps. Max Miller, R-Ohio, Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith R-Miss., Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Rand Paul, R-Ky., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Moreno is competing against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan in the Republican primary, which takes place March 19.  The Ohio Senate race is considered one of the most competitive in the country, rated a “Toss Up” by the Cook Political Report. It’s further being eyed as one of the biggest Republican Senate pickup opportunities.  Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.