House speaker vote: McCarthy thanks Trump for final votes as fight nearly breaks out on floor
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Your support makes all the difference.Kevin McCarthy was finally elected speaker of the House of Representatives after 15 rounds of voting, clinching the gavel just after midnight on Saturday.
The longest contest for speaker of the House of Representatives in more than a century finally came to an end as six remaining Republican holdouts opted to vote “present”, giving Mr McCarthy a majority over Democrat Hakeem Jeffries.
Earlier, Republican House member Mike Rogers had to be physically restrained after lunging at Matt Gaetz amid chaotic scenes in the House.
Congressman Richard Hudson grabbed Mr Rogers by his face and physically pulled him away.
In his first speech as speaker, Mr McCarthy thanked former president Donald Trump for “helping get those final votes”.
Mr McCarthy’s bid had been delayed by a group of far-right Republicans including the likes of Lauren Boebert and Mr Gaetz.
However, on Friday he made significant progress in the 12th ballot, managing to flip a total of 14 representatives-elect in his favour after lengthy negotiations.
Exclusive: AOC says Republican chaos shows how reasonable progressives like the Squad are
Shock scenes as Republican held back in confrontation with Matt Gaetz during Speaker vote
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George Santos spotted all alone in House chamber
George Santos was isolated by an obvious cloud of political toxicity on Tuesday as the embattled congressman-elect appeared on the House floor to vote in the election for speaker of the House.
Videos and photos showed the New York Republican sitting alone, in sharp contrast to his fellow lawmakers who were conversing with other members as well as some who even brought their children to the House floor to witness the spectacle of the speaker’s election.
John Bowden reports.
George Santos spotted all alone in House chamber on first day of new Congress
Rep-elect faces storm of controversy over lies about religion, background
Ron DeSantis sworn in for second term as Florida governor
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, was sworn in to a second term Tuesday, saying freedom lives in Florida.
The ceremony took place after Florida’s three independently election Cabinet members were sworn in. He took his oath in front of the state’s historic Capitol, where the main street through the city was renamed Ron DeSantis Way for the day.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sworn in for second term
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was sworn in to a second term as he considers a potential run for president in 2024
Jan 6 committee fear GOP will leak names of security personnel who testified
The leaders of the House January 6 select committee investigation have asked the White House to help shield the identities of key witnesses who gave evidence regarding White House officials’ fears that President Trump’s desire to walk to the Capitol with a riotous mob of his supporters indicated his intention to mount a coup against the government he led at the time.
January 6 panel leaders fear GOP will leak names of security personnel who testified
Select committee leaders fear the incoming Republican majority could jeopardise the safety of national security personnel who work at the White House
Earlier: McConnell celebrates milestone even as Democrats retain Senate
Senator Mitch McConnell, 80, surpassed Montana Senator Mike Mansfield’s record of 16 years as party leader when the Senate convened on Tuesday for the new Congress.
McConnell celebrates milestone as Senate Dems retain power
Democrats will again claim the Senate majority on Tuesday, but much of the chamber’s focus is on the top Republican as Mitch McConnell becomes the longest serving Senate leader in history
ICYMI: Boebert and Gaetz mocked after appearing to get lost in the Capitol
Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert found themselves back in the crosshairs of Twitter trolls this week after video of them taking a wrong turn in the US Capitol spread online.
Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz mocked after appearing to get lost in the Capitol
‘We’re lost!’ Matt Gaetz quips
With a new Senate session beginning, Biden renominates Garcetti and others
The White House will resubmit 85 nominations out of roughly 175 that fell short in the last congressional session as the new Senate gets down to business.
Biden to renominate Garcetti, others as new Senate begins
President Joe Biden will start the new Senate session on Tuesday by resubmitting 85 nominations that fell short last year
Outgoing Democratic congressman calls successor George Santos a ‘con man’
Outgoing Congressman Tom Suozzi had harsh words for his successor, Rep-elect George Santos, in an op-ed published on Tuesday coinciding with Mr Santos’s scheduled swearing-in ceremony.
Outgoing Democratic congressman calls successor George Santos a ‘con man’
Newly elected Republican faces backlash over fictions in biography
Don Jr mocked by Kinzinger for selling Bibles on social media
Outgoing Rep Adam Kinzinger of Illinois took aim at Donald Trump Jr on Monday after the son of former President Donald Trump posted a video of himself on social media last week hawking Bibles.
Abe Asher reports.
Don Jr mocked by Adam Kinzinger for selling Bibles on social media
The outgoing GOP congressman encourages pastors and priests to ‘rise up and call this out’
Matt Gaetz twists knife over Kevin McCarthy’s failed bids: ‘I’d like to report a squatter’
Rep Matt Gaetz has twisted the knife over Kevin McCarthy’s failed attempts to be elected to the role of House speaker, branding the GOP leader a “squatter” in the speaker’s office.
On Tuesday, Mr Gaetz sent a letter to Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton asking how long before Mr McCarthy is “considered a squatter”.
“What is the basis in law, House rule, or precedent to allow someone who has placed second in three successive speaker elections to occupy the Speaker of the House Office? How long will he remain there before he is considered a squatter?” he wrote in the memo to Mr Blanton, who runs the federal agency responsible for operations at the US Capitol.
Mr Gaetz shared the letter on his Twitter page, writing: “I’d like to report a squatter.”
The Florida congressman – who has been under investigation for sex trafficking a minor – is one of the key figures attempting to derail Mr McCarthy’s bid for the speaker role.
Scattered jeers heard as George Santos casts vote for McCarthy
Newly elected House member George Santos was mocked on the House floor by at least one of his critics on Tuesday as he cast his first-ever vote in Congress for Kevin McCarthy to be elected speaker.
John Bowden has the story.
Scattered jeers heard as George Santos casts first House vote for Kevin McCarthy
New York Republican sat alone on House floor as weight of scandals persists
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