House to set up special panel on Trump assassination attempt
Republicans struggle to stay focused on V.P. Harris
Also in today’s edition of ‘Regular Order’ for July 24, 2024:
Biden to address the nation on his 2024 decision.
Tight security for Netanyahu visit.
Menendez to resign after corruption conviction.
TASK FORCE. The House is expected to approve a new bipartisan plan today to establish a special task force to investigate the July 13 shootings at a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump. "The security failures that allowed an assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life are shocking," House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a joint statement.
INVESTIGATION. The panel will have 13 members - seven Republicans and six Democrats. "The task force will be empowered with subpoena authority and will move quickly to find the facts, ensure accountability, and make certain such failures never happen again," Johnson and Jeffries said.
ANGER. The agreement came amid a rising tide of bipartisan anger at the head of the Secret Service. Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday, a day after repeatedly refusing to give lawmakers new information about the assassination attempt, during testimony at a House hearing.
CONGRESS. "I left that meeting feeling like it was all secret and no service," quipped Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD). "Her efforts to stonewall oversight of the agency were unacceptable," added Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY). "Cheatle should’ve resigned days ago," said Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL).
HEARINGS. I’ll be honest. Cheatle's Monday testimony may be one of the worst witness decisions that I've ever seen on Capitol Hill. This was not a bullshit hearing. It was about an assassination attempt of a former President. She made no effort to offer lawmakers any new information.
FBI. Before the House can vote on that assassination task force, lawmakers will try to get some answers from the FBI Director. Christopher Wray goes before the House Judiciary Committee today for a previously scheduled oversight hearing - which will likely turn into a review of the Trump assassination attempt. We’ll see if Wray shows up with any new facts - unlike the now ex-Director of the Secret Service.
HARRIS. Trying to hash out their election year message in real time against Vice President Kamala Harris, House Republicans took the first step Tuesday on a plan which denounces Harris and the Biden Administration's record on illegal immigration. "Kamala Harris co-owns this administration's failures," said Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), the House Majority Whip.
DEFENSE. Democrats ridiculed the rush by the GOP to hold a House vote to denounce Harris - just a few days after President Biden stepped aside and endorsed her for President in November. "This resolution reeks of desperation," said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA).
ISRAEL. Look for Republicans to also repeatedly attack Harris today for not attending a speech to Congress by the Israeli Prime Minister. "Why will she not come and show support our greatest ally in the Middle East?" said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA). (Sen. J.D. Vance won't be here, either.)
IMPEACHMENT. Meanwhile, it didn’t take long for a Republican to file an impeachment resolution against Harris. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) targeted Harris over immigration. The Ogles impeachment plan charges Harris with “Willful Refusal to Uphold the Immigration Laws.”
MESSAGE. The GOP effort comes as the Trump campaign's main pollster predicted that Harris will see a polling boost in the days ahead. "We will start to see public polling - particularly national public polls - where Harris is gaining or even leading President Trump," said pollster Tony Fabrizio.
DEI HIRE. As Republicans try to get their footing against Harris, House Speaker Mike Johnson warned GOP lawmakers to stay away from attacks which focus on Harris being Black or a woman. "This election will be about policies and not personalities," the Speaker said. "With regard to Kamala Harris, her ethnicity or her gender have nothing to do with this."
RACE. But for some Republicans, Harris’s ethnicity and gender were already prime targets, as they dismissed her as a 'DEI hire.' 'DEI' stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion - and has become a GOP buzzword like 'affirmative action' was on racial issues for many years.
RACE. First it was Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) calling Harris a 'DEI hire.' Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) followed suit, calling Harris 'bottom of the barrel' intellectually. "I think she was just a DEI hire,” the Wyoming Republican said.
RESUME. Prosecutor. State Attorney General. Senator. Vice President. That’s a pretty good resume. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) had this to say last night:
Kamala Harris has been the Vice President for nearly four years. She has been a Senator from America’s largest state, the Attorney General of America’s largest state, and a District Attorney for a major American city. Most people will never hold any of those positions. She has held them all. Denigrating VP Harris as a “DEI hire”—while ignoring these qualifications — is deeply offensive — indeed racist.
BIDEN. Three days after stepping aside from his bid for reelection, President Joe Biden will address the nation at 8 pm from the Oval Office to make his first public comments on his historic decision. Biden arrived back at the White House on Tuesday after spending the past six days at his beach home in Delaware, where he was recovering from COVID.
NO COMMENT. Asked by reporters what his message would be tonight, Biden wasn’t giving any hints. "Watch and listen," he told reporters after getting off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, D.C.
HARRIS. As the President returned to the White House, Harris was making her first campaign stop - in her new role. "We have earned the support of enough delegates to secure the Democratic nomination," Harris said to extended cheers in Milwaukee, the site of last week's GOP convention.
SENATE. On hand with Harris in Milwaukee was Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) - who avoided President Biden two weeks ago when he visited Wisconsin. Baldwin was asked aboard Air Force Two about the vibe at the Harris rally. "It was delightful. I mean, they were really fired up."
CONGRESS. Back on Capitol Hill, Democratic leaders in Congress officially announced their support for Harris, officially ending weeks of heartburn over President Biden’s bad debate. "We are brimming with excitement, enthusiasm, and unity," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
EXCITEMENT. I know it might not seem like it’s news to say that Democrats are excited about Harris. But I have to wave my arms to get your attention - because it's *so obvious* that *so many* Democrats are *so excited* to have *someone other* than Joe Biden leading their party.
DEMS. Two weeks ago, Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) told us about his concerns that Joe Biden’s poll numbers were tanking. Yesterday, he was all smiles about Harris. "I think she's going to be a strong candidate," Bera said. "I think you can sense the enthusiasm."
WALZ. One interesting name that has popped up as a possible pick for V.P. is Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota. He's a former Congressman who would probably be a strong addition to the ticket - even though he's not flashy.
MENENDEZ. Facing the possibility of an expulsion vote in the U.S. Senate after being convicted on bribery and corruption charges last week, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) submitted his resignation on Tuesday. The New Jersey Democrat will officially give up his Senate seat on August 20.
RESIGNATION. "While I fully intend to appeal the jury's verdict, all the way and including to the Supreme Court, I do not want the Senate to be involved in a lengthy process that will detract from its important work," Menendez wrote in his letter to the Governor of New Jersey.
INDISPENSABLE. "I'm proud of the many accomplishments I've had on behalf of New Jersey," Menendez said, rattling off some of his work. "These successes led you, Governor, to call me the 'Indispensable Senator.'" Menendez was first elected to Congress in 1992. He became a Senator in 2006.
ABSENT. Menendez has not been on Capitol Hill for any votes since his trial began back in May. I don’t expect to see him again. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) of New Jersey will get to appoint a short-term replacement for Menendez.
NETANYAHU. The big event today on Capitol Hill is a speech to Congress by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Amid fears of widespread protests, police have put up a special high security fence - which debuted after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump. The Netanyahu speech is at 2 pm EDT.
SORRY I'M BUSY. A number of Democrats won't be at today's speech, silently expressing their displeasure with Netanyahu. One of the biggest absentees is Vice President Kamala Harris, who will instead be giving a speech in Indianapolis. Normally, the V.P. would sit on the dais behind a world leader. But not today.
GOP. "Her decision to not attend (Netanyahu's) speech is petty politics," said Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY), as Republicans roundly attacked Harris - their new adversary for November.
VANCE. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) isn’t expected to attend the speech, either. Like Harris, Vance will also be on the campaign trail.
DEMS. Most Democrats don't see Netanyahu as an innocent bystander, as this speech smells - to them - like GOP politics. "I think what's going on in Gaza is horrible," said Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL). "(Netanyahu) opposes a two state solution, which is what we are for as a country."
WARNING. Speaker Johnson warned yesterday against any breach of decorum during the speech. "We will enforce a zero-tolerance policy for disturbances," Johnson said in a letter - which was a warning both to members and their guests.
MAR-A-LAGO. After speaking to Congress, Netanyahu will travel to Florida for a meeting with former President Donald Trump. The Israeli leader will double back to Washington on Thursday to meet with President Biden at the White House.
FUNDING FAILURE. One of the main goals this year for House GOP leaders was to get all 12 government funding bills passed by August 1, before an extended summer break. We all knew it would be tough for Republicans to get that done. Now we know that they are going to crash and burn.
SCHEDULE. The original plan was to put four different funding bills on the House floor this week. That was chopped down to two - and last night, Republicans delayed a final vote on an energy and water funding bill, because the GOP didn’t have the votes to pass it.
DOZEN. So far, the House has approved 4 of 12 funding bills for 2025. Originally, the House was going to work next week as well - but there was talk yesterday that GOP leaders might send everyone home as early as tonight - and not return until after Labor Day.
WORK. "Obviously, there's a lot of anticipation of getting home and campaigning," said Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX). Lawmakers will have to fashion a temporary stopgap funding bill before September 30 to keep the government running.
RAP SHEET. A man from the Washington, D.C. suburbs has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for his actions on Jan. 6. Steven Cook pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers. Video showed Cook pushing and hitting multiple officers stationed outside the Capitol. He grabbed the baton of one officer and punched another, and joined rioters in attacking police in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel.
MUSE OF HISTORY. July 24, 1974. With the House Judiciary Committee nearing a vote on articles of impeachment against President Nixon, the U.S. Supreme Court on this date ruled 8-0 that Nixon had to turn over certain Watergate tapes to Congress, rejecting his claim of executive privilege. Hundreds of people massed outside the Court and cheered as the Watergate Special Prosecutor emerged victorious.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:
The House convenes at 9 am.
The Senate meets at 10 am.
Vice President Harris gives a speech in Indianapolis.
Donald Trump has a rally in Charlotte.
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If you want to say ‘thanks’ - you can buy me a cup of coffee.
It speaks volumes about the current state of the GOP when the House Speaker has to lecture his members about being publicly racist in regard to a presidential candidate.
Also, one of the best things about The Muse of History: we get a daily glimpse into how things have changed — or not in Washington. It’s tough to picture any of what happened in 1974 happening now. No matter which side of the aisle you’re on, that should make you sad and upset.
You usually tell us “these are not normal times.” As proof a sitting Senator has been convicted of taking bribes and has resigned from the Senate. This is the 4th story in your newsletter, not the lead. I shall quote my friend “These are not normal times.”