Sheldon Whitehouse

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Defiant Bondi Tangles With Democrats at Hearing

Attorney general goes on the attack before Senate panel

(Newser) - Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, and one word in particular is coming up in coverage: "combative." Bondi frequently sparred with Democrats on the panel on a range of issues. A look at early highlights:
  • When Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin asked Bondi
...

49-49 Vote in Senate Kills Anti-Tariffs Measure

McConnell and Whitehouse, who both supported the resolution, were absent

(Newser) - A couple of absences in the Senate on Wednesday doomed a bipartisan measure to block President Trump's tariffs. GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell and Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse both had expressed support for the resolution but missed the vote, NBC News reports. That led to a 49-49 tie; the measure...

Dem Senators Want Special Counsel for Clarence Thomas

Whitehouse, Wyden ask AG Garland to investigate Thomas' 'suspicious silence' over gifts

(Newser) - After a slew of jarring stories tying Clarence Thomas to multiple undisclosed gifts, loans, and other perks from ultra-wealthy friends, two Democratic senators are now trying to get to the bottom of it. The Hill reports that Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Ron Wyden of Oregon have requested...

Alito Says Congress Lacks Right to Regulate Court

Democrats backing ethics code argue justices have always been subject to legislation

(Newser) - Justice Samuel Alito has offered an unsolicited, firm opinion about efforts to impose a code of ethics on him and his colleagues. "Congress did not create the Supreme Court," Alito said. "I know this is a controversial view, but I'm willing to say it. No provision...

Senator on Club Membership: 'I Don't Spend a Lot of Time There'

RI Dem Sheldon Whitehouse is in the hot seat again about his ties to an allegedly 'all white' Newport club

(Newser) - A Democratic senator from Rhode Island is playing defense after he was grilled this week about his family's long-standing membership at an exclusive beach club. GoLocal Providence describes Bailey's Beach Club in Newport—which has had Sheldon Whitehouse, his wife, and other relatives as members for decades—as...

Senator: FBI's Kavanaugh Investigation Was a Joke

Sheldon Whitehouse wants the attorney general to investigate

(Newser) - The Brett Kavanaugh controversy might not be over just yet. Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse says the FBI's inquiry into sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing in 2018 was a joke, and the senator is calling on the attorney general to take a look. Whitehouse...

Josh Hawley Begins Fighting Back
Josh Hawley's 8th-Grade
Yearbook Had Telling Signature
the rundown
Jan 25, 2021 10:30 AM CST

Josh Hawley's 8th-Grade Yearbook Had Telling Signature

'Josh Hawley, president 2024'

(Newser) - Josh Hawley has been roundly condemned by Democrats in the wake of the Capitol riot because of his prominent role in backing former President Trump's election challenge. On Monday, however, the Missouri senator fought back in two notable ways. He scored the cover of the right-leaning New York Post ...

Judicial Nominee Pulls Name After '2 Worst Minutes' on TV

Video of Matthew Petersen failing to answer basic legal questions went viral last week

(Newser) - Last week Matthew Petersen was on his way to becoming a judge on the US District Court for the District of Columbia. Then Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse tweeted a video of Petersen at his Judiciary Committee hearing failing to answer a series of basic legal questions from Republican Sen. John Kennedy,...

Who Replaces Eric Holder?
 Who Replaces Eric Holder? 
Sep 25, 2014 7:08 PM CDT

Who Replaces Eric Holder?

Deval Patrick, Kamala Harris turning up on lots of lists

(Newser) - With Eric Holder leaving the post of attorney general, attention shifts to who will succeed the man President Obama today praised as "the people's lawyer." (Read Obama's full remarks here .) Whoever it is will surely face a bruising confirmation battle given Republicans' disdain of Holder,...

Thousands March Against Keystone Oil Pipeline

Greens also call for standards on current power plants

(Newser) - A crowd that organizers tallied at 35,000 marched on the White House today to pressure President Obama into nixing the Keystone XL oil pipeline, reports The Hill . The environmental activists came together in the National Mall and heard speeches before heading to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. "They’ve got...

Lieberman Wins: Dems to Drop Medicare Buy-In

Health bill takes another hit as leaders seek votes

(Newser) - Senate Democrats, in danger of losing the votes they need to pass health care reform, bowed to Joe Lieberman last night and acknowledged that they are ready to drop the plan to allow people over 55 to buy coverage under Medicare. That idea itself was a compromise intended to appeal...

Clinton to Dems: 'The Worst Thing to Do Is Nothing'
Clinton to Dems: 'The Worst Thing to Do Is Nothing'
HEALTH CARE REFORM
Nov 10, 2009 7:28 PM CST

Clinton to Dems: 'The Worst Thing to Do Is Nothing'

And, former prez adds, tea-baggers mad 'because we are winning'

(Newser) - Bill Clinton pounded Democratic senators on health-care reform today, telling them that passing a bill this year is imperative. “Just pass the bill, even if it’s not exactly what you want,” Clinton said. “When you try and fail, the other guys write history. … The worst...

Anti-Torture Memo May Embarrass Bush Camp
Anti-Torture Memo May Embarrass Bush Camp
analysis
May 13, 2009 4:52 PM CDT

Anti-Torture Memo May Embarrass Bush Camp

(Newser) - Probably the most newsworthy item out of today’s Senate hearing into alleged torture techniques is that a memo written by a former State Department counselor who questioned their legality has been located and may be released, writes Zachary Roth for Talking Points Memo. Philip Zelikow’s memo, which he...

DOJ Probes Itself Over Torture Memos

Ethics chief reveals inquiry into advice that OK'd waterboarding

(Newser) - The Department of Justice is probing its own legal approval of waterboarding for the CIA, the New York Times reports. DOJ ethics chief H. Marshall Jarrett confirmed today that his office is conducting the first public inquiry of the 5-year-old advice and may issue a non-classified report when it is...

Bush Chides House Dems for Law Expiration

Eavesdropping measure expires at midnight

(Newser) - With a law that expands the government's power to eavesdrop due to expire at midnight, President Bush scolded Congress today for sitting idly by and allowing it to happen. Bush said Congress' failure to act could cause the US to “lose a vital lead that could prevent an attack,...

Mukasey Silent on Torture, Vocal on Spying

AG nominee's testimony a "massive hedge," says Democratic senator

(Newser) - Michael Mukasey remained mum today on whether interrogation methods such as waterboarding constitute torture. But the president’s nominee for attorney general spoke out in favor of the White House’s eavesdropping program, the NY Times reports, frustrating and confusing Democrats on the second day of his confirmation hearings. Mukasey...

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