The Texas Quorum Drama Isn't New — Involving the FBI Is
First, as I've explained before, there's nothing new about legislators fleeing to try to block a vote. This practice of 'breaking the quorum' has been a part of US history since before the states were united. Second, there's nothing remotely strange about the legislative majority ordering the arrest of members who've fled. That, too, is a venerable tradition in our troubled republic.
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CNBC
10 minutes ago
- CNBC
West Virginia governor deploys hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Saturday that he is deploying members of the West Virginia National Guard to Washington, D.C., in support of the Trump administration's efforts to ramp up a military presence in the nation's capital. Morrisey's office said that the National Guard mobilization will include 300-400 troops, plus "mission-essential equipment" and "specialized training." "West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation's capital," Morrisey, a Republican, said in a statement. "The men and women of our National Guard represent the best of our state, and this mission reflects our shared commitment to a strong and secure America." The statement also said Morrisey's decision to deploy his state's National Guard came after a request from the Trump administration and that the troops would be operating under the command of West Virginia's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Jim Seward. In a statement, a White House official confirmed that the national guardsman had been called to D.C., saying, "As part of President Trump's ongoing effort to make D.C. safe and beautiful, additional National Guard troops will be called in to Washington DC — the National Guard's role has not changed. The National Guard will protect federal assets, create a safe environment for law enforcement officials to carry out their duties when required, and provide a visible presence to deter crime." The governor's move comes just days after President Donald Trump announced that he was deploying 800 members of the National Guard to D.C. and directing federal law enforcement agents to assist local police with patrolling and executing warrants in the city. Trump's stated aim of cracking down on crime in Washington comes as crime rates in the city are at their lowest levels in decades. Washington residents almost immediately began to notice an increase in law enforcement on the streets, as local police and federal law enforcement set up checkpoints in neighborhoods across the city. Residents and tourists also noticed the increased presence of military and law enforcement around tourist-heavy areas like Union Station and the National Mall. Initially, Attorney General Pam Bondi sought to take over control of the Metropolitan Police Department, but backed down after the city sued the Trump administration. Chief Pamela Smith remains in day-to-day control of the city's police force. Democrats have slammed the president's decision, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calling the move earlier this week "illegitimate" and an "unjustified power grab."
New York Times
10 minutes ago
- New York Times
New Orleans Mayor Joins Long Line of Louisiana Politicians Accused of Corruption
Hundred-dollar bills stashed in a freezer. Riverboat casino licenses sold to the highest bidder. Truckloads of granite traded in a quid pro quo. Louisiana has a long and colorful history of political corruption allegations, which for decades have ensnared lawmakers at many levels of government. The most recent was Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans, who was indicted on Friday after a lengthy federal investigation. According to the charges laid out in the indictment, Ms. Cantrell abused public funds to facilitate a romantic relationship with her bodyguard, a city police officer, and then sought to cover up the personal time they spent together in New Orleans and on out-of-state trips while he claimed to be on duty. Ms. Cantrell's lawyer said on Friday that he needed to review the indictment before commenting; he declined to comment again on Saturday. Here's a look back at some of the most significant corruption scandals in Louisiana history: Richard Leche After the assassination of Huey Long, a popular Louisiana governor turned United States senator, in 1935, Richard Leche emerged as his successor. But Mr. Leche's single term as governor came to an early end when he resigned in 1939 amid corruption allegations. His resignation failed to stave off charges, and in 1940, he was convicted of mail fraud in a plot that prosecutors said involved a dealer selling trucks to the state's Highway Department at excessively high prices, and then giving Mr. Leche a kickback. He served five years in prison before President Harry S. Truman pardoned him in 1953. Huey and Earl Long Earl Long, the lieutenant governor under Leche in 1939, was swept into the state's highest office when his predecessor resigned. Mr. Leche's scandals loomed over Mr. Long's first term, and in 1940, Long was himself charged with embezzlement. The charges didn't stick, however, and Mr. Long would go on to win the governorship in two elections, holding office from 1948 to 1952 and from 1956 to 1960, in a career defined by personal excess and eccentric behavior. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Forbes
10 minutes ago
- Forbes
Urban Deployments Raise Questions: What Is Our Military For?
As noted in a recent report by the Center for American Progress, in 2022 Donald Trump stated that 'the next President should use every power at his disposal to restore order — and, if necessary, that includes sending in the National Guard or the troops' to conduct law enforcement activities on U.S. soil. In 2023, said that if restored to office, that he he would send troops to U.S. cities to combat crime: 'The next time, I'm not waiting. … We don't have to wait any longer.' Ominously, the president has talked of using troops to combat 'the enemy within." That time has come. Earlier this year the Trump administration deployed 700 Marines to Los Angeles to deal with immigration protests. At the time, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said 'We don't take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilizing California National Guard troops.' The new target of troops deploying to a U.S. city is in Washington, DC. On Saturday August 16th West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey annnounced a plan to deploy hundreds of National Guard member of his state's National Guard to Washington, DC, stating that 'West Virginia is proud to stand with President [Donald]The question is why? Violent crime in Washington, DC is projected to be down 26% this year from 2024. The demonstrations in Los Angeles were overwhelmingly peacaful until the show of force – police, National Guard and Marines – prompted clashes between protesters and military and law enforcement officials. Local law enforcement officers have gone so far as to fire munitions that have left both protesters and journalists injured. Many veterans have taken exception to the deployments, and some have filed an amicus brief in support of California Governor Gavin Newsom's opposition to the troop presence. One of them, Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, said 'This is the politicisation of the armed forces. It casts the military in a terrible light." President Trump's rationale for sending troops into U.S. cities is the Insurrection Act of 1807, which does indeed allow the president to deploy troops for domestic law enforcement in the event of an insurrection. But neither the immigration protests in Los Angeles nor the crime rate in DC qualify as an insurrection, by any stretch of the imagination. The deployments are deeply disturbing, and should be questioned by our elected leaders across the spectrum, along with veterans and average citizens concerned about federal overreach. Questions about the troop deployments need to be louder and more persistent. This is not a partisan issue. It is a basic issue about the role of the. military in a democracy. We can't afford to ignore it and go about business as usual.
