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1 week ago

Biden farewell speech live updates: Biden calls for Constitutional amendment ending presidential immunity

President Joe Biden warned ‘oligarchy is taking shape in America’ during his final address from the Oval Office

Oliver O'Connell,Joe Sommerlad
Thursday 16 January 2025 02:04 GMT
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Heated exchange breaks out between Sen. Adam Schiff and Pam Bondi during hearing

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President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, calling for a Constitutional amendment ending presidential immunity.

“We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office,” Biden said.

Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents have some immunity from prosecution for “official acts,” after President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers filed an appeal in his federal election interference case arguing for total presidential immunity

Biden also warned of an “oligarchy” forming in the US.

“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedom and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said.

This remark comes as Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, serves as a close ally to Trump, whose net worth is projected to be more than $6 billion. Musk gave millions to the president-elect’s campaign last year through his America PAC and is now set to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency.

Biden is now leaving office with a low approval rating — though higher than his predecessor and successor did.

1 week ago

Former director of National Intelligence (DNI) John Ratcliffe, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be director of the CIA, at his confirmation hearing
Former director of National Intelligence (DNI) John Ratcliffe, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be director of the CIA, at his confirmation hearing (REUTERS)
Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 16:22
1 week ago

Bondi says she will follow law on appointments

Bondi, who joined Trump briefs saying that special counsel Jack Smith was illegally appointed because he wasn’t approved by Congress (which isn’t the law), says she will “follow the law” when it comes to those appointments.

Alex Woodward15 January 2025 16:15
1 week ago

Coons ask Bondi who her client would be as attorney general

Democratic Senator Chris Coons coming in with actual questions:

“Who would be your client?” he asks.

Bondi replies: “The people of America would be my client … It’s also my job to advise the president.”

Is Trump eligible to run for another term? Coons asks.

“No, senator. Not unless they change the constitution,” she responds.

What would you do if the White House directed you to drop a case? Coons asks.

Bondi says firmly “If I thought that would happen, I would not be sitting here today. That will not happen. Will not happen.”

Alex Woodward15 January 2025 16:14
1 week ago

Busy day on Capitol Hill for Trump nominees

Other than Pam Bondi and Marco Rubio, there are three other Senate confirmation hearings currently underway on Capitol Hill:

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 16:10
1 week ago

Rubio skirts mentioning Russia or Ukraine in opening remarks

In his opening remarks, Senator Marcio Rubio did not mention Russia or Ukraine directly.

Here’s what he said, per VOA: “In our very own hemisphere, Narco-terrorists, dictators, and despots take advantage of open borders to drive mass migration, to traffic in women and children, and to flood our communities with deadly fentanyl and violent criminals. Іn Moscow, in Tehran, and Pyongyang, dictators rogue states now sow chaos and instability. They align with and fund radical terror groups, and then they hide behind their veto power at the United Nations Security Council, or by the threats of nuclear war. The post war, global order is not just obsolete, it is now a weapon being used against us”.

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 16:06
1 week ago

Bondi says ‘politics will not play a part’ in DOJ cases

Senator Amy Klobuchar asks Bondi: “You will provide an assurance to every member of this committee that the Justice Department will only follow the facts in the law and the White House will play no role in cases investigated or brought?”

Bondi: “Senator it will be my job, if confirmed as attorney general, to make those decisions. Politics will not play a part.”

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 16:04
1 week ago

I believe the Justice Department must be independent and must act independently ... Politics will not play a part.

Pam Bondi, Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, at her Senate confirmation hearing
Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 16:02
1 week ago

Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright, President-Elect Trump’s nominee to be the next Energy Secretary, is sworn in at his Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, led by new chair Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)
Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright, President-Elect Trump’s nominee to be the next Energy Secretary, is sworn in at his Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, led by new chair Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) (AFP via Getty Images)
Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 15:58
1 week ago

Watch: Moment protesters interrupt Rubio confirmation hearing

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 15:51
1 week ago

Rubio: ‘Post-war global order is not just obsolete... It is now a weapon being used against us’

Senator Marco Rubio sums up his approach to foreign policy in his opening remarks: “The post-war global order is not just obsolete. It is now a weapon being used against us.”

He later says: “We will never be indifferent to the suffering of our fellow man. But ultimately, under President Trump, the top priority of the United States Department of State will be the United States.”

Here’s what he had to say about China:

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 15:47

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