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The Republican-led House on Tuesday narrowly rejected a push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over how he has carried out the war in Iran and other military hostilities in Yemen, Venezuela and the Caribbean.The vote was 211-204 to send the impeachment resolution to committee, effectively killing the effort. Even vocal GOP critics of Hegseth said they didn't think that the secretary's action rose to the level of "high crimes and misdemeanors."The impeachment resolution was authored by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a fierce critic of Hegseth and President Donald Trump; both helped oust Massie in his GOP primary race earlier this year. Because Massie had filed the motion as "privileged," Republican leaders were forced to call a vote within two legislative days.Hegseth "has violated the norms of war, and it's to the disadvantage and the dishonor of our country, and to the danger of our soldiers in future conflicts," said Massie, the lone Republican who supported moving to an impeachment vote."Somebody's got to put their foot down and say, are we going to follow the laws that are on the books? Are we going to follow the Constitution?" he continued. "And the best way to do that is to have an impeachment against Pete Hegseth."House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who is on track to be elected speaker in January, has said Democrats will "run Pete Hegseth out of town" when they take over Congress next year.But Hegseth is safe for now, and Trump said he is standing by his Defense secretary, who has clashed with not only Democrats but a handful of Republicans in the Senate and the House.The vote came at the end of a dramatic day in Washington that Hegseth kicked off with a morning news conference at the Pentagon, where he slammed the impeachment as a "political spectacle.""It's a farce, and it's a stunt and everybody knows it," Hegseth said.He argued that all of the military actions cited by Massie were "lawful" and called the impeachment a direct affront to the men and women carrying out those missions. Hegseth also equated Tuesday's impeachment vote to the two Democratic-led votes to impeach Trump during his first term — first over a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the second over the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol."If standing with President Trump puts me in that company, I'll take that company every day of the week," Hegseth said.Shortly after Hegseth's appearance, Trump posted his support for the Defense secretary on Truth Social, saying he "gets an "A" PLUS, PLUS, PLUS for his defense against a disgruntled, angry, defeated, former Congressman, Thomas Massie, a TOTAL LOSER!"Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has been a polarizing figure in Washington, surviving a bruising Senate confirmation battle in 2025. Congress 5 hours ago How does the impeachment process work for Cabinet secretaries? Congress Nov 9 Rep. Thomas Massie launches bid to impeach Pete Hegseth However, one GOP critic, outgoing Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said he has had plenty of disagreements with Hegseth but didn't like how the impeachment resolution was led by Massie."I don't really align with the impeachment itself," Bacon, an Air Force veteran, told reporters before the vote. "But I surely, if you would have put in [a line] about firing 80 generals, if we talk about firing 80 generals and not spending appropriated money, I'd feel a little differently about it."Another Republican leaving Congress this year, Rep. Darrell Issa of California, suggested Massie was pushing impeachment because he was upset about his primary defeat. And he added that even if it did pass the House, there are not 67 senators who would vote to convict him in a Senate trial."It's going to die in the Senate; it's just that simple. It doesn't really matter what happens in the House. The Secretary has committed no high crimes or misdemeanors," Issa said. "The Senate often has to protect against the rashness of the House."Massie's resolution included eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth.The first article charges Hegseth "with waging the Iran war despite no declaration of war, statutory authorization, attack on the United States, or imminent threat," according to Massie.Three others that are related to Iran fault Hegseth with continuing the war after both the House and Senate directed the removal of U.S. forces; continuing hostilities after the War Powers Resolution's 60-day termination period had expired; and ignoring laws that minimize civilian casualties.Another article charges Hegseth with directing "extrajudicial killings" of suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean, secondary strikes on survivors, and overseeing orders to U.S. personnel not to rescue shipwrecked persons.The others say Hegseth illegally seized and deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro "to assert U.S. control over Venezuela's oil reserves"; used the Defense Department to retaliate against and demote Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., for telling service members they should not follow unlawful orders; and carried out an unlawful war in Yemen.Hegseth on Tuesday morning defended his record and said every operation was a lawful one. "We destroyed terror regimes' capabilities. We sank the boats carrying poison into our communities. We put a narco dictator in handcuffs. These are not high crimes. This is the job, and it's the job well done," he said.
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The 82-year-old estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was ordered to jail Tuesday because he removed an electronic monitoring device from his ankle, just days after he was charged with possession of child sexual abuse material.Thomas Markle was arrested and appeared in federal court in Tampa, Florida, after authorities learned he had cut off the device at 1:45 a.m., First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said."Release conditions are court orders, not suggestions," he said.Markle's arrest on Friday in Lakeland, Florida, followed the seizure of approximately 78 items from storage units in the Los Angeles area, including slides, film negatives and books that contained suspected child sexual abuse images, said Essayli, a federal prosecutor in California. British Royal Family 6 hours ago Meghan Markle makes first public appearance since her father's arrest Florida Nov 6 Meghan Markle's father arrested in Florida over alleged child sexual abuse images He was living in a senior care center at the time, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Lindsay Griffin agreed Tuesday that Markle now must be kept in custody. Authorities have not said where Markle will be held while his case remains in court ahead of a likely transfer to California.In her written order, Griffin noted Markle’s "housing situation" had become "untenable," but did not elaborate. Essayli told The Associated Press that he didn’t know why the ankle device was cut off.The judge last week ordered a mental competency exam for Markle and a report by Nov. 20.He had a stroke earlier this year when he was living in the Philippines and he had to have his left leg amputated. That forced him to return to the U.S.The Sun, a British tabloid newspaper, reported that Meghan's half brother found a collection of child sexual abuse images while clearing out their father's home in the Philippines. That discovery led to information about the two U.S. storage units in California, which Markle had rented since 2008.Markle’s daughter, Meghan, married Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in 2018. They have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. She is an American citizen and an actor who starred in the U.S. television drama "Suits."She recently said she was "deeply distressed" by allegations that a collection of child sexual abuse images had been found at her father's former home. She also revealed that a letter containing "troubling allegations" about him had been sent to police in London in 2019."It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated," Meghan said of the letter. "I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications' distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children was for one reason: to protect them."If you or someone you know is a victim of child abuse or sexual exploitation, free and confidential support is available 24/7 through the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Call or text 1-800-422-4453 or visit Childhelp. You can also report online child sexual exploitation, abuse material, or trafficking via the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
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The Republican-led House on Tuesday narrowly rejected a push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over how he has carried out the war in Iran and other military hostilities in Yemen, Venezuela and the Caribbean.The vote was 211-204 to send the impeachment resolution to committee, effectively killing the effort. Even vocal GOP critics of Hegseth said they didn't think that the secretary's action rose to the level of "high crimes and misdemeanors."The impeachment resolution was authored by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a fierce critic of Hegseth and President Donald Trump; both helped oust Massie in his GOP primary race earlier this year. Because Massie had filed the motion as "privileged," Republican leaders were forced to call a vote within two legislative days.Hegseth "has violated the norms of war, and it's to the disadvantage and the dishonor of our country, and to the danger of our soldiers in future conflicts," said Massie, the lone Republican who supported moving to an impeachment vote."Somebody's got to put their foot down and say, are we going to follow the laws that are on the books? Are we going to follow the Constitution?" he continued. "And the best way to do that is to have an impeachment against Pete Hegseth."House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who is on track to be elected speaker in January, has said Democrats will "run Pete Hegseth out of town" when they take over Congress next year.But Hegseth is safe for now, and Trump said he is standing by his Defense secretary, who has clashed with not only Democrats but a handful of Republicans in the Senate and the House.The vote came at the end of a dramatic day in Washington that Hegseth kicked off with a morning news conference at the Pentagon, where he slammed the impeachment as a "political spectacle.""It's a farce, and it's a stunt and everybody knows it," Hegseth said.He argued that all of the military actions cited by Massie were "lawful" and called the impeachment a direct affront to the men and women carrying out those missions. Hegseth also equated Tuesday's impeachment vote to the two Democratic-led votes to impeach Trump during his first term — first over a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the second over the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol."If standing with President Trump puts me in that company, I'll take that company every day of the week," Hegseth said.Shortly after Hegseth's appearance, Trump posted his support for the Defense secretary on Truth Social, saying he "gets an "A" PLUS, PLUS, PLUS for his defense against a disgruntled, angry, defeated, former Congressman, Thomas Massie, a TOTAL LOSER!"Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has been a polarizing figure in Washington, surviving a bruising Senate confirmation battle in 2025. Congress 5 hours ago How does the impeachment process work for Cabinet secretaries? Congress Nov 9 Rep. Thomas Massie launches bid to impeach Pete Hegseth However, one GOP critic, outgoing Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said he has had plenty of disagreements with Hegseth but didn't like how the impeachment resolution was led by Massie."I don't really align with the impeachment itself," Bacon, an Air Force veteran, told reporters before the vote. "But I surely, if you would have put in [a line] about firing 80 generals, if we talk about firing 80 generals and not spending appropriated money, I'd feel a little differently about it."Another Republican leaving Congress this year, Rep. Darrell Issa of California, suggested Massie was pushing impeachment because he was upset about his primary defeat. And he added that even if it did pass the House, there are not 67 senators who would vote to convict him in a Senate trial."It's going to die in the Senate; it's just that simple. It doesn't really matter what happens in the House. The Secretary has committed no high crimes or misdemeanors," Issa said. "The Senate often has to protect against the rashness of the House."Massie's resolution included eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth.The first article charges Hegseth "with waging the Iran war despite no declaration of war, statutory authorization, attack on the United States, or imminent threat," according to Massie.Three others that are related to Iran fault Hegseth with continuing the war after both the House and Senate directed the removal of U.S. forces; continuing hostilities after the War Powers Resolution's 60-day termination period had expired; and ignoring laws that minimize civilian casualties.Another article charges Hegseth with directing "extrajudicial killings" of suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean, secondary strikes on survivors, and overseeing orders to U.S. personnel not to rescue shipwrecked persons.The others say Hegseth illegally seized and deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro "to assert U.S. control over Venezuela's oil reserves"; used the Defense Department to retaliate against and demote Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., for telling service members they should not follow unlawful orders; and carried out an unlawful war in Yemen.Hegseth on Tuesday morning defended his record and said every operation was a lawful one. "We destroyed terror regimes' capabilities. We sank the boats carrying poison into our communities. We put a narco dictator in handcuffs. These are not high crimes. This is the job, and it's the job well done," he said.
Trump has handpicked his Hegseth replacement
Forget the press secretary "joke." As Donald Trump seeks to survive the catastrophic fallout of the 2026 midterms, he doesn't need a new spokesperson. He needs a new gladiator at the Pentagon.The internet has had a field day with Trump's Truth Social post offering Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White the White House press secretary job — with plenty of speculation that the president confused him with Dana W. White, the former Pentagon spokesperson.Trump has since said he was only kidding. But look at what he actually wrote. He called White a "violent Fighter and Warrior." He wanted UFC champions as "assistants" to "defend us against the Lunatic Left." Um, OK.First, as many readers know, I was a press secretary on Capitol Hill for years, and the last thing one should be is a violent fighter. But in the upcoming Trump 2.5, that might be the number-one requirement for working in the White House.The biggest harbinger of this was Trump's choosing the deranged and combative Stephen Miller as chief of staff, who will carry on the venom of MAGA politics even though a majority of Americans voted against it. With that in mind, it is easy to see how his embattled, impeachment-dodging defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, could be replaced by the equally mano-a-mano UFC CEO.I don't think this is some wild hallucination on my part. It's the logical final evolution of an administration obsessed with turning the Department of Defense into a high-testosterone cage match. Didn't we get a sample of that this past summer with a literal one on the White House lawn?And White is Trump's excuse for putting a corporate CEO in charge of the Pentagon. He's a cheapened-down CEO version of Charles Erwin, Robert McNamara or the egomaniac Donald Rumsfeld, who were corporate titans prior to their tenures at Defense.Hegseth's lack of experience running anything legitimate was perhaps his biggest downfall. Well, let's be honest, it's hard to rank all the things Hegseth was deficient in.But one of the things he was proficient in was bellicose bombast, bullying and bravado. He has almost destroyed the lustrous history of exceptional leadership in the military. He brought to the Pentagon a relentless push away from a modern, structured military bureaucracy and toward an overly aggressive, lethal, hypermasculine "warrior class" mindset that was the antithesis of keeping peace.That is exactly how a UFC brawl is promoted, and how Trump has promoted White. He all but drew the connection himself when he praised White in those terms as a potential press secretary last week.By floating White's name, Trump isn't looking for someone to fight with the press. He's looking to double down on the "high-T" muscle-bound MAGA ethos that has tried to impose itself on the U.S. military. Hegseth was the perfect fit for MAGA theology. White would be its heir apparent.Right now, the media is largely blind to this connection. Reporters are busy with internet jokes about the name confusion with the former Pentagon spokesperson while missing the bigger story. White is more than a potential spokesperson. He represents Trump's next iteration of fighting.The political reality is that Hegseth's reign is coming to an end. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pushing back, including Republican Thomas Massie, who today went to the House floor to introduce impeachment articles against Hegseth.And incoming Democrats, most notably Hakeem Jeffries, who has taken the unusual step — for him — of openly supporting impeachment, saying it's a "hard yes." The current defense secretary is in Trump's target zone of people to blame for the massive GOP midterm wipeout, when most voters voiced their strong disapproval of the Iran war.Hegseth is a goner, for sure.That's why White looks so ripe. He offers a massive, seemingly untouchable shield of media noise and aggressive swagger. He also offers a continuation of the "warrior ethos," "high T," and no "beardos, weirdos or trannies."That is the locker-room language of the new Pentagon under Hegseth, and no one knows locker rooms better than White.Then there's the calendar. Trump has a small window to make this possibility a reality. The current GOP Senate majority has a rapidly closing window before the newly elected Democratic Congress takes over in January. If Trump wants to jam a norm-shattering, hyper-loyalist combatant and shameless promoter into one of the most powerful positions in the world, it would require a lightning-fast confirmation during this exact lame-duck session.Would Republican senators go along? Some would surely balk. But Trump has never needed unanimity. He needs 51 votes, including one from JD Vance. So, will enough Republicans look away one last time rather than pick a fight with him?Bizarre and totally unhinged as it may be, the move would perfectly fulfill Trump's primary post-midterm goal: violently seizing the news day back from victorious Democrats. Forget the impeachment votes, the investigations and the voters who just delivered a rebuke. Suddenly, the story would be whether the head of the UFC can run the Pentagon.So go ahead and chuckle at White and Trump's press secretary "joke." When Trump reaches for a "violent Fighter and Warrior" with the word "Secretary" on his lips, don't assume he had the White House briefing room in mind.
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The House is voting Tuesday on whether to advance a Republican-led effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has accused lawmakers of undermining American troops in war zones by targeting him over mere "policy disagreements.”The procedural vote will either block the impeachment resolution or set up a final vote Wednesday. With Democratic leadership backing the effort brought by GOP Rep. Thomas Massie, the outcome will likely hinge on whether Republican lawmakers break ranks after their sweeping losses in the midterm elections.Hegseth dug in for a congressional fight in his first news conference in months on Tuesday, portraying Massie as a rogue lawmaker and arguing that he had committed none of the high crimes required in the Constitution for his removal. He framed the effort as an indictment against the nation's service members and their successes while undermining American forces "in real time.""This is not patriotism," Hegseth said. "This is sabotage."Massie’s resolution includes eight counts of impeachment. It largely focuses on the war in Iran but also includes references to Hegseth’s role in carrying out military actions in Yemen and Venezuela.Massie, a Kentucky Republican leaving Congress in January after losing his primary to a Trump-backed opponent, says Hegseth has "knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders.”Tuesday morning, Hegseth gave a defiant and politicized defense of his stewardship of the U.S. military in his first news conference at the Pentagon in six months. He chose to hit back at the rising bipartisan anger over battlefield strategy while offering few details about intermittent operations against Iran or fatal strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in Latin America.President Donald Trump praised Hegseth's performance at the briefing in a social media post, while Vice President JD Vance said in his own post that the impeachment effort is "a ridiculous show that stands in for actual policymaking." Congress 4 hours ago How does the impeachment process work for Cabinet secretaries? Congress Nov 9 Rep. Thomas Massie launches bid to impeach Pete Hegseth Hegseth said the impeachment resolution "tells our enemies — Iran, the cartels, every adversary watching — the United States will actually punish its own warriors and its own civilian leadership for successfully executing lawful military operations."Massie filed the resolution in the House on Monday, giving Republican leaders two days to bring it to a vote. Tuesday’s vote is a procedural attempt to stop the impeachment push outright by sending the matter back to committee.If the impeachment resolution advances, it would set the stage for a dramatic vote Wednesday on whether to impeach a key Trump Cabinet member following sweeping losses for Republicans in last week’s midterm elections, which many at least partly blamed on the Iran conflict and its economic impact. If the resolution were to pass the House, it would ultimately be sent to the Senate, where a two-thirds vote would be needed for Hegseth’s removal."The law requires our military to withdraw from hostilities within 60 days if Congress does not authorize the activity," Massie wrote on social media Tuesday. The Iran war “has been underway for 256 days. Congress has not authorized it. Hegseth is breaking the law.”What constitutes "high crimes and misdemeanors" is not spelled out in the Constitution, leaving it to lawmakers to decide what are impeachable acts.Hegseth said Massie's concerns are not impeachable, calling them "policy disagreements, not high crimes, not misdemeanors, not treason, not bribery, not the kinds of offenses the founders intended when they wrote the impeachment clause."House Speaker Mike Johnson called it a "political gambit for attention" and predicted that Republicans would defeat it "one way or the other."House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is on the cusp of becoming the nation's first Black House speaker, said Monday that he is a "hard yes" on the resolution. He called Hegseth the "architect" of the war in Iran.In the Senate, meanwhile, next steps were uncertain if the impeachment resolution cleared the House.Outgoing GOP Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said Tuesday that she wants to ensure "that the right information is flowing from the Pentagon to the president.""Is he being truthful in the way the war is going?" Ernst said of Hegseth.
Pentagon declares 'total victory' after House Republicans block effort to impeach Pete Hegseth – US politics live
Republicans secure majority of votes to send articles introduced by Thomas Massie to committee, meaning there won't be a full vote on chamber floorHouse Republicans block effort to impeach Pentagon chief Pete HegsethSign up for the US Breaking News emailDuring his press conference, Hegseth was resolute that the articles of impeachment are baseless, and that all attacks were carried out legally."As for the articles themselves, Iran, the cartels, Maduro, Yemen, everyone was a lawful operation ordered by the commander-in-chief, then ordered by myself, notified to Congress and executed by American warriors who did their jobs," he said. "We destroyed terror regimes' capabilities. We sank the boats carrying poison into our communities. We put a narco dictator in handcuffs. These are not high crimes. This is the job, and it's the job well done." Continue reading...
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The House is set to vote Tuesday on whether to advance an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has accused lawmakers of undermining American troops in war zones by targeting him over mere "policy disagreements.”The procedural vote will either block the impeachment resolution or set up a final vote Wednesday. With Democratic leadership backing the effort brought by GOP Rep. Thomas Massie, the outcome will likely hinge on whether Republican lawmakers break ranks after their sweeping losses in the midterm elections.Hegseth dug in for a congressional fight in his first news conference in months on Tuesday, portraying Massie as a rogue lawmaker and arguing that he had committed none of the high crimes required in the Constitution for his removal. He framed the effort as an indictment against the nation's service members and their successes while undermining American forces "in real time.""This is not patriotism," Hegseth said. "This is sabotage."Massie’s resolution includes eight counts of impeachment. It largely focuses on the war in Iran but also includes references to Hegseth’s role in carrying out military actions in Yemen and Venezuela.Massie, a Kentucky Republican leaving Congress in January after losing his primary to a Trump-backed opponent, says Hegseth has "knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders.”Tuesday morning, Hegseth gave a defiant and politicized defense of his stewardship of the U.S. military in his first news conference at the Pentagon in six months. He chose to hit back at the rising bipartisan anger over battlefield strategy while offering few details about intermittent operations against Iran or fatal strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in Latin America.President Donald Trump praised Hegseth's performance at the briefing in a social media post, while Vice President JD Vance said in his own post that the impeachment effort is "a ridiculous show that stands in for actual policymaking." Congress 3 hours ago How does the impeachment process work for Cabinet secretaries? Congress Nov 9 Rep. Thomas Massie launches bid to impeach Pete Hegseth Hegseth said the impeachment resolution "tells our enemies — Iran, the cartels, every adversary watching — the United States will actually punish its own warriors and its own civilian leadership for successfully executing lawful military operations."Massie filed the resolution in the House on Monday, giving Republican leaders two days to bring it to a vote. Tuesday’s vote is a procedural attempt to stop the impeachment push outright by sending the matter back to committee.If the impeachment resolution advances, it would set the stage for a dramatic vote Wednesday on whether to impeach a key Trump Cabinet member following sweeping losses for Republicans in last week’s midterm elections, which many at least partly blamed on the Iran conflict and its economic impact. If the resolution were to pass the House, it would ultimately be sent to the Senate, where a two-thirds vote would be needed for Hegseth’s removal."The law requires our military to withdraw from hostilities within 60 days if Congress does not authorize the activity," Massie wrote on social media Tuesday. The Iran war “has been underway for 256 days. Congress has not authorized it. Hegseth is breaking the law.”What constitutes "high crimes and misdemeanors" is not spelled out in the Constitution, leaving it to lawmakers to decide what are impeachable acts.Hegseth said Massie's concerns are not impeachable, calling them "policy disagreements, not high crimes, not misdemeanors, not treason, not bribery, not the kinds of offenses the founders intended when they wrote the impeachment clause."House Speaker Mike Johnson called it a "political gambit for attention" and predicted that Republicans would defeat it "one way or the other."House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is on the cusp of becoming the nation's first Black House speaker, said Monday that he is a "hard yes" on the resolution. He called Hegseth the "architect" of the war in Iran.In the Senate, meanwhile, next steps were uncertain if the impeachment resolution cleared the House.Outgoing GOP Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said Tuesday that she wants to ensure "that the right information is flowing from the Pentagon to the president.""Is he being truthful in the way the war is going?" Ernst said of Hegseth.
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The House Oversight Committee's review of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein blasted the Justice Department's handling of the case from the outset and in the decades since, and called for federal investigators to take a closer look at the late sex offender and his associates."One thing is abundantly clear in the Epstein matter: the federal government failed over the course of decades and multiple administrations to ensure justice and protect Epstein survivors," the committee's Republicans said in a report released Tuesday. "DOJ must make renewed efforts to provide this needed justice and accountability to Epstein survivors.""Too many survivors and other witnesses informed this Committee that they were never approached or properly questioned by federal authorities," the 137-page report continued. "The DOJ should interview or, in some cases, reinterview key individuals who were part of the inner circle of Epstein and Maxwell," a reference to Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.In a statement, Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., said, "Epstein operated with impunity, shielded and enabled by powerful connections and a justice system that repeatedly failed his victims.""The evidence we uncovered makes clear that the Department of Justice must interview or re-interview key witnesses, investigate Epstein associates accused of criminal activity, and ensure survivors have access to their records," Comer said. Lawsuits Nov 4 Billionaire Leon Black sues Rep. Robert Garcia, alleging defamation over Epstein comments Lawsuits Oct 31 'Grasping at straws': Judge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein letter In a statement, a Justice Department spokesperson said, "With all due respect, the Chairman's recommendations have already been addressed. The Attorney General has repeatedly said that the Epstein case is not closed and there is no statute of limitations on human trafficking.""The Department will continue following all additional investigative leads in matters relating to Jeffrey Epstein. Any victims with evidence and information are encouraged to reach out to the FBI," the statement said.Sky and Amanda Roberts, the brother and sister-in-law of late Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre, thanked Comer for "his continued efforts to investigate Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators" and echoed the report's call for the Justice Department to release more documents."We know that the names of many perpetrators have not yet been brought to light, including those our sister Virginia Roberts Giuffre was trafficked to, people she reported to the FBI," they said.Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. (Dept. of Justice)The wealthy and politically connected Epstein died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.He'd previously been investigated on charges he sexually abused dozens of women and girls over a decade earlier, but cut a deal with federal prosecutors in 2008 that allowed him to plead guilty to state charges involving a single underage victim.The deal resulted in Epstein serving 13 months in a Palm Beach County jail, where he was allowed to leave almost daily through a work-release program and have his own private security detail. He could have faced up to life behind bars had he been convicted in a federal complaint that was shelved as a result of the deal.The Justice Department and FBI said in a joint memo last year that Epstein had preyed on more than 1,000 victims, but the only other person to be charged in the case was Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking and conspiracy charges in 2021 and is serving a 20-year prison term.That joint memo said there was no evidence showing that other people should be charged in the investigation, and despite earlier vows to the contrary from top administration officials, no further information about Epstein's case would be released.The political backlash to that memo led to the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), a law the mandated that documents related to the case be made public. Millions of pages of documents have been released, but some are still being withheld or were released with what critics have said are too many redactions."Despite extraordinary efforts undertaken by DOJ staff to expedite the release of EFTA records, questions remain as to whether the DOJ has released all relevant documents," the report released Tuesday said.The Republican report chided the department for releasing names of some victims in documents that it said should have been redacted, while redacting the names of Epstein allies who it said should have been identified."These failures underscore the importance of meaningfully engaging with and working alongside victims to ensure their privacy is protected and their concerns are considered before sensitive records are released," the report said. "Survivors of the crimes of Epstein and Maxwell also continue to ask the DOJ for their own means of accessing their personal files and documents. As of this report, DOJ has not permitted that to occur."The House report said one way Epstein was able to operate was by getting his victims to sign nondisclosure agreements.The report called for Congress to "pass legislation protecting the ability of individuals with knowledge of sexual abuse and survivors to speak freely about these crimes, regardless of nondisclosure agreements."The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, said in a statement that the Republican investigation was "incomplete," and that Democrats will continue the probe when they take the majority in January.Comer held "zero public hearings" on Epstein, and DOJ "continues to illegally withhold over 2.5 million pages of documents," Garcia said."We will not allow the President and his allies to dismiss this investigation," Garcia said. "We intend to hold real public hearings uplifting survivors and asking tough questions of the powerful men who associated with Epstein, including Donald Trump. Our work is just getting started."Democrats on the committee released their own report last month that called for an independent special counsel to investigate Epstein's ties to President Donald Trump.The two had a social relationship that ended before Epstein was first hit with criminal charges. The Democratic report alleged the Justice Department worked to cover up Trump's connections to Epstein, and said an independent special counsel is necessary because Attorney General Todd Blanche was compromised because he was Trump's personal attorney before joining the administration.Blanche has defended the Justice Department against the criticisms that it took too long to release the files and mishandled redactions, saying, "You're talking about working through 6 million pieces of paper."The White House said the allegations in the Democratic report were untrue and politically motivated. Trump has denied any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein's criminal activity and said he had a falling out with Epstein because he thought he was a "creep."The Republican report ripped Democrats for focusing on Trump in their own findings, saying they were "obsessed" with the president and had engaged in an "unfounded witch hunt." Congress 6 hours ago House Republicans elect Rep. Jim Jordan as their next leader Congress 1 hour ago House nears test vote on impeaching Hegseth as he decries 'political spectacle' Ting Cui, Owen Hayes and Kyle Stewart contributed.
'Enjoy jail!' Pete Hegseth's combative impeachment defense draws Nuremberg comparison
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a Tuesday morning press conference to cast the House effort to impeach him as the latest chapter in Democrats' campaign against President Donald Trump.The embattled Pentagon chief compared the push to Trump's two impeachments, neither of which ended in a conviction, and insisted this effort will also fail, Axios reported."Now they're trying a third time. This time against a member of his cabinet," Hegseth said. "They will fail again, and if standing with President Trump puts me in that company, I'll take that company every day of the week."He went after Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), the outgoing Kentucky Republican leading the effort, calling him "disgruntled" and downplaying the charges as a policy dispute over impeachable offenses. He also tried to recast the effort as an attack on the troops."If they want to come for the warriors, they're going to have to come through me," Hegseth said, defending the military operations as "ordered by the commander-in-chief, then ordered by myself, notified to Congress and executed by American warriors who did their jobs. . . . We sank the boats carrying poison into our communities."The impeachment articles accuse Hegseth of waging war on Iran without congressional authorization, ordering extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean boat strikes, and taking part in the kidnapping of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The House must act on the resolution by Wednesday, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise's floor schedule lists a procedural motion on it among items that may be considered Tuesday. Only 399 members voted Monday night, 202 of them Democrats, which MS NOW said could leave Democrats with an effective majority if attendance stays thin.Critics online were not persuaded by Hegseth's last-ditch speech."Worked great at Nuremberg," wrote The Lincoln Project's Rick Wilson, responding to Hegseth's press conference."Hegseth continues to call on right-wing people whose questions are basically why are he and Trump amazing and why do Democrats suck," wrote MeidasNews' Ron Filipkowski."Guy's nuts," cringed writer Roy Edroso."This is how accountability works, Pete," wrote political scientist Steve Saideman."Unless I'm mistaken Hegseth didn't even try to refute the charges in the impeachment," posted popular Bluesky user Grudgie the Whale."Rumsfeld was evil but at least he could read a room. Jesus Christ," wrote MS NOW producer Adam Weinstein."Bro I don't think you wanna rely on the judgment of history," posted journalist Philip Bump."Your regular reminder the Secretary of Defense is a dangerous idiot," highlighted radio host Kai Ryssdal."Yeah, that's how you prosecute war crimes, Whiskey Pete," challenged historian Kevin Kruse. "You start with the people who ordered soldiers to violate the law and then you work your way down the chain of command to prosecute the ones who pulled the trigger. So glad you're starting to get how this works. Enjoy jail!""On the one hand, yes, he's just passing the buck trying to avoid consequences," agreed writer and organizer Leonard Pierce. "On the other hand, he's not wrong and if the Democrats go after Hegseth and let Trump off the hook they will have squandered a generational opportunity."
David Walliams, U.K. comedian and author, accused of preying on teenage girls
British comedian and author David Walliams has been accused by multiple women of using his celebrity status to prey on them at a young age, often for sex, according to a three-year investigation by the Guardian and ITV News. Walliams has denied the allegations.
On TV
South Park — 29x5: "TBA" (Comedy Central)
NOVA — 53x17: "Evolution: On the Run" (PBS)
Abbott Elementary — 6x6: "Competition" (ABC)
Ava recruits Janine to prepare the step team for a competition, and Melissa calls in a favor for Gregory.
New Music

iVy — "存在する理由" ()

In theaters
Ebenezer (115 minutes)
An elderly miser embarks on a supernatural journey after visits from the ghost of his former business partner and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come force him to confront his past and fight for a second chance at happiness.
Victorian Psycho (102 minutes)
When eccentric young governess Winifred Notty arrives at a remote Gothic manor, a string of unsettling events leads the household to suspect she isn't who she claims to be—but the truth may be far more dangerous than they imagine.
Madden (110 minutes)
Chronicles John Madden's incredible journey alongside best friend and true original Al Davis—from a Super Bowl-winning partnership with the Raiders, to becoming football’s most recognizable voice, to building the worldwide Madden NFL video game.
Launching today
Mir | Demo Flight — Agency for Defense Development (05:00 UTC)
Note: Launch vehicle name is provisional. First orbital full version launch of the South Korean military small satellite launch vehicle, after 2 sub-orbital tests of individual stages on 30 March and 30 December 2022, and 1 orbital test flight without the 2nd stage on 4 December 2023. Details TBD.
Falcon 9 Block 5 | USSF-627 — SpaceX (02:49 UTC)
A classified mission for the United States Space Force. It is possibly a batch of classified LEO satellites based on SpaceX’s Starshield satellite bus, based on locations of rocket stage drop zones being exact fits with previous Starlink Group 15 launches.
Useless Fact

Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny) was allergic to carrots.

The loonie
CAD → USD
0.7052
▼ 0.0029
CAD → EUR
0.6314
▼ 0.0006
Today In History
2004 — Death of Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat—who was president (1996–2004) of the Palestinian Authority (PA), chairman (1969–2004) of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and leader of Fatah, the largest of the constituent PLO groups—died in Paris
1992 — Church of England Ordains Women as Priests
In 1992, the Church of England voted to ordain women as priests, with the first ordination taking place two years later. This marked a significant milestone in the acceptance of women's roles in the Anglican clergy.
1975 — Angola Gains Independence from Portugal in 1975
Angola declared independence from Portugal in 1975 after the Portuguese withdrew from the country.
1966 — Gemini 12 - Last Spacecraft in Gemini Series
Gemini 12, the last spacecraft in the Gemini series and the first to make an automatically controlled reentry into Earth's atmosphere, was launched
1920 — Armistice Day marked by unknown soldier burials
Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of World War I, was marked with the burial of unknown soldiers in tombs in Paris and London, and a similar ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, in 1921
1918 — World War I ends
At 5:00 am on this day in 1918, the Allied powers and Germany signed an armistice document in the railway carriage of Ferdinand Foch, the commander of the Allied armies, and six hours later World War I came to an end
1889 — Washington Statehood
Washington was admitted to the union as the 42nd U.S. state
1880 — Ned Kelly, Famous Australian Bushranger, Hanged
Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, who was the most famous of the bushrangers (bandits of the Australian outback), was hanged in Melbourne
1872 — Birth of American Actress Maude Adams in 1872
American actress Maude Adams was born in 1872. She was best known for her portrayals of James Barrie's heroines and Shakespearean roles like Juliet, Viola, and Rosalind.
1865 — Mary Edwards Walker Awarded U.S. Medal of Honor
For her work as a surgeon during the American Civil War, physician Mary Edwards Walkerbecame the first woman to be granted the U.S. Medal of Honor; the award was rescinded in 1917 but reinstated in 1977.Discover more famous female firsts
1831 — Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion of 1831
Enslaved Black American Nat Turner was hanged after leading a slave rebellion that resulted in the deaths of some 60 white people; in addition, many innocent enslaved people were massacred in the accompanying hysteria
1813 — British Victory at Crysler's Farm, 1813
British troops under Colonel J.W. Morrison defeated U.S. forces led by General John Boyd at the Battle of Crysler's Farmduring the War of 1812
1778 — Iroquois Attack on Cherry Valley, New York
During the American Revolution, Iroquois, in direct retaliation for colonial assaults on two Indian villages, attacked a New York frontier settlement in the Cherry Valley Raid. How much do you know about the American Revolution?
1493 — Columbus Sights St. Martin Island in 1493
In 1493, Christopher Columbus sighted the island of St. Martin during his second voyage to the Caribbean.
1417 — Martin V Elected Pope, Ending Great Schism
Martin V was unanimously elected pope, bringing an end to the Great Schism

This is today, boiled down to the essentials. The full stash lives at logicalchaos.ca. Go get lost in it.