Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Tuesday sent a letter to Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz to request an investigation into “whether any potentially unlawful or improper communications have occurred between Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, the White House, and other entities.” The move comes after three Senate Democrats filed a federal lawsuit Monday asking a judge to oust acting Whitaker and install Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein instead. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), all members of the Judiciary Committee, said President Trump circumvented both the law and the Constitution by designating Whitaker. They argue that undermines the Constitution’s demand that the president only appoint top officials with the “advice and consent” of the Senate. “The U.S. Senate has not consented to Mr. Whitaker serving in any office within the federal … [Read more...] about Chuck Schumer Demands Probe into Communications Between White House, Whitaker
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NYT: Chuck Schumer Lobbied Senators to Stop Criticizing Facebook, Where His Daughter Works
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reportedly lobbied senators on behalf of Facebook, which employs his daughter, convincing senators to stop criticizing the social network. According to a report from the New York Times on Facebook’s internal handlings, “Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate leader, intervened on [Facebook’s] behalf,” and “has long worked to advance Silicon Valley’s interests.”In one incident, Schumer reportedly lobbied Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) to stop criticizing Facebook and instead focus on tackling “right-wing disinformation.” “In July, as Facebook’s troubles threatened to cost the company billions of dollars in market value, Mr. Schumer confronted Mr. Warner, by then Facebook’s most insistent inquisitor in Congress,” the Times claimed. “Back off, he told Mr. Warner, according to a Facebook employee briefed on Mr. Schumer’s intervention. Mr. Warner should be looking for ways to work with … [Read more...] about NYT: Chuck Schumer Lobbied Senators to Stop Criticizing Facebook, Where His Daughter Works
Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer re-elected as Senate leaders
By Steven Rosenberg | PUBLISHED: November 14, 2018 at 8:43 am | UPDATED: November 14, 2018 at 8:43 am By LISA MASCARO | AP Congressional Correspondent WASHINGTON — Senators chose Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for another term leading Republicans and Chuck Schumer for Democrats in closed-door party elections Wednesday lacking the high drama underway on the House side in the midterm election fallout. Both senators were chosen by acclamation, according to those familiar with the private caucus meetings. McConnell, the Kentucky Republican who expanded GOP ranks in last week’s midterm, faced no contest for the job. Democrats returned Schumer’s entire leadership team, despite the loss of several incumbents in last week’s election. During a brief photo op in McConnell’s Capitol office ahead of voting, McConnell presented his newly elected senators who will take their seats in January. Among them was Florida’s Rick Scott, the Republican governor whose … [Read more...] about Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer re-elected as Senate leaders
Chuck Schumer: Spending Bill Could Hinge on Protection For Mueller
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday that Democrats might make their support for the next spending bill contingent on legislation protecting special counsel Robert Mueller. In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” the New York Democrat stopped short of saying he’d be willing to risk a government shutdown in the matter. "The appointment of Mr. Whitaker should concern every American –Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative – who believes in rule of law and justice," Schumer said. "He has already prejudged the Mueller situation. If he stays there, he will create a constitutional crisis by inhibiting Mueller or firing Mueller, so Congress has to act." Schumer cited Whitaker's previous comments that were critical of the Russia probe, and noted a letter Democratic leaders in the House and Senate sent to the chief ethics officer of the Justice Department asking for an opinion on whether Whitaker should recuse … [Read more...] about Chuck Schumer: Spending Bill Could Hinge on Protection For Mueller
Chuck Schumer Calls On Rick Scott To Recuse Himself From Florida’s Recounts
POLITICS 11/11/2018 11:07 am ET Updated 1 hour ago Schumer said the state's governor, who is leading in the Senate race, “has a self-interest in jaundicing" the process. By Hayley Miller Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Sunday urged Gov. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to recuse himself from recount procedures in Florida following midterm elections that resulted in three tight races ― including one in which Scott is a candidate. Schumer suggested any role Scott would play as governor in the recounts represents a major conflict of interest, given that he is challenging Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson in the Senate race that is one of those still up in the air. Unofficial returns give Scott a razor-thin lead. “Scott should recuse himself immediately,” Schumer said on CNN’s “State Of The Union.” “He has a self-interest in jaundicing this election. He should be out of it all together.” Schumer says … [Read more...] about Chuck Schumer Calls On Rick Scott To Recuse Himself From Florida’s Recounts