Tag Archives: Trump cabinet

REPORT: Rick Perry To Resign By End Of November

Politico reports: Energy Secretary Rick Perry is expected to announce his resignation from the administration by the end of November, according to three people familiar with his plans. Perry, who had been Texas’ longest-serving governor before joining President Donald Trump’s Cabinet in 2017, has largely avoided the controversies that felled others in the administration. But his travels to Ukraine lately …

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US House Committees Subpoena Pompeo On Ukraine

Via press release: Today, Rep. Eliot L. Engel, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Adam Schiff, the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent a letter to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo for documents, including many he has refused to …

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Trump Is Flooding His Cabinet With Former Lobbyists

The Associated Press reports: In less than three years, President Donald Trump has named more former lobbyists to Cabinet-level posts than his most recent predecessors did in eight, putting a substantial amount of oversight in the hands of people with ties to the industries they’re regulating. The Cabinet choices are another sign that Trump’s populist pledge to “drain the swamp” …

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House Panel Launches Ethics Probe Of Elaine Chao

The Associated Press reports: The House Oversight Committee says it is investigating whether Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao acted improperly to benefit herself or her family’s shipping company. Two Democratic leaders sent a letter Monday asking Chao to turn over documents related to the New York-based company, Foremost Group. Chao’s father and sisters own the company, which transports material to and …

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Scalia’s Son To Finally Get Labor Secretary Nomination

Axios reports: President Trump on Tuesday announced his intention to nominate Eugene Scalia, son of the late conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, as labor secretary. Why it matters: The Cabinet position has been filled by acting Secretary Patrick Pizzella since Alex Acosta resigned in July amid backlash for his involvement in negotiating the sweetheart plea deal Jeffrey Epstein received …

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Collective Net Worth Of Current Trump Cabinet: $3.2B

Forbes reports: Want a stable government job? Don’t join Donald Trump’s cabinet. In just two and a half years, the president has replaced 12 of his 23 cabinet positions—some more than once. The current lineup includes 17 millionaires, 2 centimillionaires and 1 billionaire. They’re worth $3.2 billion in all. Amid all the upheaval, the richest have stayed in place. Betsy …

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REPORT: Commerce Dept In Upheaval, Ross Sleeps Through Meetings When He’s Not Kissing Trump’s Ass

Politico reports: Constant infighting among top officials. Sudden departures of senior staffers without explanation. A leader who is disengaged and prone to falling asleep in meetings. The Commerce Department has reached its apex of dysfunction under Wilbur Ross, according to four people with knowledge of the inner workings of the department. The 81-year-old Commerce secretary, who has for months endured …

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Trump To Nominate Scalia’s Son As Labor Secretary

Politico reports: President Donald Trump is likely to nominate Eugene Scalia, son of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, to be the next Labor secretary, according to three sources familiar with the plans. The younger Scalia, a partner at the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, is a management-side attorney who in 2006 argued on behalf of Wal-Mart against …

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REPORT: Wilbur Ross On Chopping Block Over Census

NBC News reports: President Donald Trump has told aides and allies that he is considering removing Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross after a stinging Supreme Court defeat on adding a citizenship question to the census, according to multiple people familiar with the conversations. While Trump has previously expressed frustration with the 81-year-old Ross, in particular over failed trade negotiations, Ross’s long …

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BREAKING: Labor Secretary Alex Acosta Resigns

The Washington Examiner reports: Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta resigned amid the controversy surrounding his handling, as an assistant U.S. Attorney, of the 2008 prosecution of billionaire Jeffrey Epstein for sex crimes. Democrats have argued that Acosta went easy on Epstein, a politically connected donor who was indicted on sex-trafficking charges on July 8. Acosta has defended his management of Epstein’s …

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Fox News Analyst: Acosta Will Be Out By Tomorrow

The Hill reports: Fox News senior judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano predicted Thursday that Trump Labor Secretary Alex Acosta will be out of the administration by the end of the week. “I don’t think he will be around by Friday,” Napolitano told “Fox & Friends” co-host Griff Jenkins of the embattled Labor chief, who is facing renewed scrutiny over his role …

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LIVE VIDEO: Acosta Presser On Jeffrey Epstein Scandal

The Miami Herald reports: U.S. Labor Secretary Alex Acosta has called a Wednesday press conference to discuss the controversy around his handling of a federal sex trafficking case in South Florida against accused convicted sex offender and wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein. Acosta, President Donald Trump’s labor secretary since April 2017, has been under intense pressure from Democrats and some Republicans …

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Acosta To Cut Fund To Battle Sex Trafficking By 80% Amid Uproar Over Sweetheart Deal For Jeffrey Epstein

The Guardian reports: Alexander Acosta, the US labor secretary under fire for having granted Jeffrey Epstein immunity from federal prosecution in 2008, after the billionaire was investigated for having run a child sex trafficking ring, is proposing 80% funding cuts for the government agency that combats child sex trafficking. Acosta’s plan to slash funding of a critical federal agency in …

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Nancy Pelosi: Labor Sec Must Resign Over Epstein Deal

The Washington Post reports: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Monday night became the highest-profile lawmaker to call for the resignation of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, citing his handling as a U.S. attorney of an earlier case against Jeffrey Epstein that resulted in a minimal sentence. Pelosi’s call for Acosta to “step down” followed Monday’s indictment of the billionaire financier …

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White House “Looking Into” Labor Sec. Alex Acosta After Bombshell Report On Plea Deal With Pedophile

The Associated Press reports: White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday declined to say whether President Donald Trump still has confidence in Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, a day after a federal judge ruled the Justice Department broke the law while Acosta was a U.S. attorney. A judge said Acosta — then the U.S. attorney in Miami — signed …

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Ethics Office Rejects Wilbur Ross’ Financial Disclosure

Politico reports: The head of the Office of Government Ethics has refused to approve Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’s 2018 financial disclosure report, citing an inaccuracy concerning the former investing mogul’s holdings of BankUnited stock. The action is the latest blow for Ross, who has repeatedly drawn scrutiny over his personal finances since he was nominated for the Commerce job. He …

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Senate Votes To Confirm Bill Barr As Attorney General

The Hill reports: The Senate voted Thursday to approve William Barr as attorney general, giving the Justice Department its first confirmed chief since President Trump ousted Jeff Sessions last fall. More than 50 senators voted for Barr’s nomination, giving him enough support to be confirmed. The vote caps off a relatively low drama fight over Trump’s second nominee for the …

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Trump Taps Oil Lobbyist For Secretary Of Interior

Reuters reports: President Trump is picking David Bernhardt, a former energy lobbyist, to be the Interior Department’s next secretary. Bernhardt, whose past clients include oil companies and others with business before the Interior Department, became the agency’s deputy secretary in 2017 and has led the department on an interim basis since former Secretary Ryan Zinke resigned amid ethics scandals in …

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LIVE VIDEO: Confirmation Hearing For William Barr

NPR reports: President Trump’s choice to lead the Justice Department, William Barr, is likely to enter a contentious scene when he answers questions from lawmakers beginning Tuesday morning. Barr, who previously served as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing. Senators are sure to question him about …

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Acting Secretary Of Defense Patrick Shanahan On First Day: I Look Forward To Carrying Out Trump’s Vision

Via press release from the Pentagon: Under the direction of President Trump, the Department of Defense remains focused on safeguarding our nation. We have deep respect for Secretary Mattis’ lifetime of service, and it has been a privilege to serve as his deputy secretary. As acting secretary of defense, I now look forward to working with President Trump to carry …

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