Show Notes
On March 18, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence held an open hearing entitled “Worldwide Threats,” which featured testimony from National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, Acting National Security Director and Commander of U.S. Cyber Command William Hartman, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director James Adams. The committee questioned the intelligence community leaders on the ongoing war in Iran, the Russia-Ukraine War, the cyberthreats posed by China and Russia, foreign threats to U.S. elections, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On Sept. 29, the full D.C. Circuit heard oral argument over Judge Boasberg’s inquiry. Justice Department attorney Brett Shumate argued that Judge Boasberg’s probe into other contemnors beyond Secretary Kristi Noem was out of line, ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt warned that the Trump administration was attempting to strip federal courts of their ability to hold the government accountable, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Sept. 29, former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a hearing about his team’s investigations into President Donald Trump for the events of Jan. 6, 2021 and Trump's retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. The committee questioned Smith about his subpoena of toll records of members of Congress, accused him of conducting investigations into Republicans due to political bias, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On July 15th and 16th, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for Todd Blanche, President Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Republicans on the committee praised Blanche’s extensive experience in the Department of Justice and his record of prosecuting violent crime. Democrats, meanwhile, raised concerns about Blanche’s loyalty to President Trump and his handling of the Epstein files.
On July 15th, the Senate Intelligence Committee held a confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton, President Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence. Republicans on the committee asked Clayton about his experience working with the intelligence community as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, while Democrats pressed him about claims of alleged fraud in the 2020 presidential election and subpoenas issued to journalists from the New York Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On June 3, the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled, “Oversight Hearing – Department of Justice.” Over the course of two hours, the representatives questioned acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on whether the Justice Department would commit to scrapping its proposed $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” the current standing of the agreement in the Trump family’s settlement that bars the IRS from bringing claims against the Trump family and its businesses for past tax issues, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.