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American Press
8 hours ago
- Politics
- American Press
Ethical dilemma for Landry: Governor faces charges while his lawyer seeks changes for future claims
Louisiana's Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. (Associated Press Archives) Louisiana is poised to adopt new measures that watchdogs warn raise barriers to holding public officials accountable via the state's ethics board. The legislation was drafted by the personal attorney of Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, who faces charges brought by the board for violating state ethics laws. Proponents say the measures give those accused of ethics violations more opportunities to respond to allegations, increases transparency and limits abuses of a process they claim is often unjust. But watchdog groups — and the Board of Ethics — warn the changes will undermine the board's ability to hold public officials accountable. While the changes would not apply to Landry's current charges, the legislation further bolsters the governor's power over a state board largely made up of his own appointees. Having overwhelmingly passed in the House and Senate this week — only three lawmakers voted against it — the bill awaits Landry's signature. Republican Rep. Gerald 'Beau' Beaullieu, who sponsored the bill, said it was brought forth after officials complained that the board's investigation process was 'more like being investigated by the Gestapo.' Landry's office declined to comment. Another bill would share the names of complainants with officials they are accusing of wrongdoing, as well as limit the board's ability to launch investigations. Governor's lawyer behind legislation Landry's private attorney, Stephen Gelé, drafted the legislation, which the governor supports. Gelé is defending Landry against ethics charges brought in 2023 for undisclosed free plane rides to Hawaii when he served as the state's attorney general. Gelé said negotiations are progressing to 'amicably resolve the charges.' Last year, Gelé warned lawmakers that the ethics board's investigatory powers are 'dangerous, unwarranted, and threaten well-established fundamental constitutional rights' and he has sought to rein them in with new legislation. The bill's supporters say it gives the board more discretion about whether to pursue investigations and bring charges, cuts down on waste of taxpayer dollars and strengthens due process rights for the accused. Yet these changes are raising red flags. In a letter to lawmakers, the Board of Ethics warned that the bill's requirement to share copies of all subpoenas with officials under investigation allows them to 'influence a witness's documents or responses.' Critics say the bill undercuts the board's authority by granting local courts the power to quash investigations, gives officials opportunities to run out the clock on the board's one-year timeline to bring charges and prevents the board from investigating violations that were disclosed by public officials seeking the board's advisory opinion. The bill also requires a two-thirds board vote to approve an investigation into a sworn complaint and another two-thirds vote on whether to file charges. Current policy requires only majority votes. Barry Erwin, president of the Council for a Better Louisiana, a nonpartisan government accountability group, said the bill's two-thirds vote requirements constitute a 'high bar to overcome' for a board of political appointees. 'I just think in real life, in very political situations, it's hard for some of these board members to act with the independence in the system we had before,' Erwin said. A bill that will reduce complaints The other bill under consideration — which Gelé said he did not craft and Landry has not publicly supported — would require anyone bringing an ethics complaint to disclose their name and file the complaint in person at the ethics board offices in Baton Rouge. The bill passed in the House with only seven lawmakers opposed and is pending final passage in the Senate. In a legislative committee hearing, David Bordelon, general counsel for the ethics board, warned that the bill would enable officials 'to intimidate a witness or potentially alter information that's requested.' Bordelon said the measure would 'drastically reduce the number of complaints.' The legislation's sponsor, Republican Rep. Kellee Hennessey Dickerson, said her bill is part of a fight for 'truth' and 'justice.' 'For those of us who have been through it, it helps develop peace of mind, knowing who your accuser is, especially when you are spending thousands upon thousands of dollars to try and clear your good name,' said Dickerson, who was fined $1,500 for an ethics violation in 2023. She argued people frequently file complaints to harass their political opponents. Bordelon countered that the board dispassionately evaluates complaints and provides the accused with the opportunity to defend themselves if charges are brought. The bill also prevents the ethics board from launching investigations based on non-governmental sources such as media reports. Governor dominates state ethics board Following legislation passed last year, the governor directly appoints nine of the board's 15 members, with the Legislature appointing the rest. Officials with the legislative and executive branches now have more control over those who may be tasked with investigating them, watchdogs note. 'It's gone from a process that was as much arm's length away from politics as we could make it, and we had it that way for many years, to a process now that is very much more political than we've ever seen it,' Erwin said. 'It's going to be very difficult for the board to act in a way that guarantees that kind of oversight we want to have.'
American Press
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- American Press
'Duck Dynasty' patriarch and conservative cultural icon Phil Robertson dies
Phil Robertson of the Duck Dynasty reality television program speaks at a Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, campaign stop on Feb. 19, 2016, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Associated Press Archives) Phil Robertson, who turned his small duck calling interest in the sportsman's paradise of northern Louisiana into a big business and conservative cultural phenomenon, died Sunday, according to his family. He was 79. Robertson's family announced in December on their Unashamed With the Robertson Family podcast that the patriarch of the clan had Alzheimer's disease. The statement on social media from Robertson's daughter-in-law didn't mention how he died. 'Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus. We are grateful for his life on earth and will continue the legacy of love for God and love for others until we see him again,' Korie Robertson wrote. Phil Robertson skyrocketed to fame in the early 2010s when the A&E network created a reality show, presented like a sitcom. It followed the adventures of Robertson, his three sons — including Willie, who runs the family's Duck Commander company, their wives and a host of other relatives and friends. Phil Robertson and his boys were immediately recognizable by their long beards and their conservative, Christian and family-oriented beliefs. That got Robertson into trouble, too. He told a magazine reporter in 2013 that gay people are sinners and African Americans were happy under Jim Crow laws. A&E suspended him from 'Duck Dynasty' but reversed course in a few weeks after a backlash that included Sarah Palin. At the time, Robertson's family called his comments coarse, but said his beliefs were grounded in the Bible and he 'is a Godly man.' They also said that 'as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm.' A lifelong Louisiana man Robertson was born in north Louisiana and spent his life in the woods and lakes that make up the region called Sportsman's Paradise. Robertson played football at Louisiana Tech and taught school. He also loved to hunt and created a duck call in the early 1970s that he said replicated the exact sound of a duck. The calls were the centerpiece of the Duck Commander business Robertson would grow into a multimillion-dollar enterprise before A&E came calling. The family just didn't sell outdoor and hunting gear, but a lifestyle. 'The Robertsons face everything from beavers to business deals in their own special way — with a twist of downhome practicality and a sharp sense of humor,' A&E wrote in its promotion for 'Duck Dynasty.' Tributes pour in Appreciations for Robertson appeared on social media shortly after this death was announced, largely from conservative politicians. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas wrote on X, 'The great #PhilRobertson passed today. He loved Jesus & he was utterly fearless. One of my fondest memories was duck hunting with Phil — he was the best shot I ever met. And, in 2016, he recorded this amazing commercial for me. Rest in peace, my friend.' 'Saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson — a man of deep faith, bold conviction, and unwavering love for his family,' wrote Ben Carson, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary, also on X. 'I'll never forget the time I spent with Phil and his wonderful family at their homestead in West Monroe, LA. We rode through the swamp stopping at his favorite duck blinds before being welcomed by Miss Kay with a warm, home-cooked meal, surrounded by their extended family and close friends.' A&E shared their own tribute to the 'Duck Dynasty' X account, writing: 'We are saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson, a hunting industry pioneer and the patriarch of the beloved Robertson family. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences and respect their privacy as they grieve.'
American Press
22-05-2025
- Politics
- American Press
Judge blocks Trump's executive order to shut down the Education Department
Department of Education. (Associated Press Archives) A federal judge on Thursday blocked President Donald Trump's executive order to shut down the Education Department and ordered the agency to reinstate employees who were fired in mass layoffs. It marks a setback to one of Trump's campaign promises. Meanwhile, House Republicans stayed up all night to pass their multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package, with Speaker Mike Johnson defying the skeptics and unifying his ranks to muscle Trump's priority bill to approval. With last-minute concessions and stark warnings from Trump, the Republican holdouts largely dropped their opposition to salvage the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' that's central to the GOP agenda. Here's the latest: Republican tax bill guts clean energy tax credits that Democrats approved three years ago in climate law The big tax breaks package passed by House Republicans early Thursday would gut clean energy tax credits that Democrats approved three years ago while supporting increased mining, drilling and other traditional energy production. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, repeals or phases out more quickly clean energy tax credits passed in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act during former President Joe Biden's term. Biden's climate law has been considered monumental for the clean energy transition, but the House bill effectively renders moot much of the law's incentives for renewable energy such as wind and solar power. Clean energy advocates said the bill walks back the largest government investment in clean energy in history. Netanyahu links shooting of Israeli Embassy staffers to antisemitism and Oct. 7 attacks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the shooting of two of his country's embassy staff in Washington, D.C. was a 'horrific' act of antisemitic violence. 'Yaron and Sarah weren't the victims of a random crime,' Netanyahu said. 'The terrorist who cruelly gunned them down did so for one reason and one reason alone — he wanted to kill Jews.' In a video released by his office Thursday, speaking in English, he said the two staffers were planning to get engaged during a trip to Jerusalem next week. Netanyahu said the suspect shouted 'Free Palestine' as he was taken away, drawing a direct line between the shooting and the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. 'This is exactly the same chant we heard on October 7th.' Netanyahu concluded the video by saying, 'I especially want to thank President Trump and the American people for their forthright stand with Israel and with the Jewish people.' Leavitt says Trump signs every legal document In response to questions about former President Joe Biden's use of the autopen to sign some documents, Leavitt said that Trump signs 'any document that has legal implications.' 'He signs pretty much every document that is needed for the president's signature, with the exception of maybe some letters to children,' she said. But one of Trump's most controversial acts, invoking the 18th-centruy wartime Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants, was something that Trump later claimed he didn't sign. 'I don't know when it was signed, because I didn't sign it,' Trump told reporters in March.
American Press
18-05-2025
- Health
- American Press
Biden has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer
President Joe Biden. (Associated Press Archives) Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office said Sunday. Biden was seen by doctors last week after urinary symptoms and a prostate nodule were found. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone. 'While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,' his office said. 'The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.' Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness using what's known as a Gleason score. The scores range from 6 to 10, with 8, 9 and 10 prostate cancers behaving more aggressively. Biden's office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive. When prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it often spreads to the bones. Metastasized cancer is much harder to treat than localized cancer because it can be hard for drugs to reach all the tumors and completely root out the disease. However, when prostate cancers need hormones to grow, as in Biden's case, they can be susceptible to treatment that deprives the tumors of hormones. Outcomes have improved in recent decades and patients can expect to live with metastatic prostate cancer for four or five years, said Dr. Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center. 'It's very treatable, but not curable,' Smith said. 'Most men in this situation would be treated with drugs and would not be advised to have either surgery or radiation therapy.' Many political leaders sent Biden their wishes for his recovery. President Donald Trump, a longtime political opponent, posted on social media that he was saddened by the news and 'we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.' Biden's vice president, Kamala Harris, said on social media that she was keeping him in her family's 'hearts and prayers during this time.' 'Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership,' Harris wrote. The health of Biden, 82, was a dominant concern among voters during his time as president. After a calamitous debate performance in June while seeking reelection, Biden abandoned his bid for a second term. Harris became the nominee and lost to Trump, a Republican who returned to the White House after a four-year hiatus. But in recent days, Biden rejected concerns about his age despite reporting in the new book 'Original Sin' by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson that aides had shielded the public from the extent of his decline while serving as president. In February 2023, Biden had a skin lesion removed from his chest that was a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. And in November 2021, he had a polyp removed from his colon that was a benign, but potentially pre-cancerous lesion. In 2022, Biden made a 'cancer moonshot' one of his administration's priorities with the goal of halving the cancer death rate over the next 25 years. The initiative was a continuation of his work as vice president to address a disease that had killed his older son, Beau, who died from brain cancer in 2015. His father, when announcing the goal to halve the cancer death rate, said this could be an 'American moment to prove to ourselves and, quite frankly, the world that we can do really big things.'
American Press
12-05-2025
- Politics
- American Press
Landry pushes Trump to weigh primary challenger to Bill Cassidy, sources say
US. Sen. Bill Cassidy. (Associated Press Archives) President Donald Trump and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry have discussed U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow challenging U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in next year's Republican primary, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. The Republican governor's promotion of a new challenger to Cassidy reflects unease within Trump's base about the two-term senator. Cassidy voted to convict Trump in Trump's 2021 impeachment trial over the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. And Cassidy, who is a medical doctor, expressed doubts about Trump's pick of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the nation's health secretary before voting to confirm Kennedy. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate and have a favorable electoral map in the 2026 midterms to help them keep control. But Cassidy is among several GOP senators up for re-election next year who are facing challenging primaries over past moves to distance themselves from Trump. For the senator, 'the biggest hurdle is going to be the impeachment vote. That's what he has to overcome. And I don't think he has the mindset to say, 'I made a mistake,'' said Eddie Rispone, the Republican nominee for Louisiana governor in 2019 and a Cassidy supporter. 'And Louisiana is a big Trump state.' Landry, a close Trump ally, spoke last month with the president about Letlow as a potential Senate candidate, according to two people with knowledge of the conversation. They were granted anonymity to share contents of a conversation they were not authorized to discuss publicly. A spokesperson for Letlow declined to comment on a potential campaign for Senate or the discussion between Landry and Trump. Landry's office declined to comment. Landry, elected in 2023, has been advocating for Letlow to consider a run, according to the people who confirmed their April conversation about Letlow. A Senate seat would be a safe bet for a Republican given that Trump received 60% of the vote in carrying Louisiana last year. Republican insiders describe Landry and Cassidy not as close, but as having a cordial working relationship despite a difference in their feelings of loyalty to Trump, which creates some distance between Cassidy and segments of the party base in the state. 'Senator Cassidy delivers conservative results for the people of Louisiana,' Cassidy spokesperson Ashley Bosch said in a statement. 'He's worked hard to support the President's agenda and we're confident voters will re-elect him next year.' Letlow is a three-term Republican representative from northeast Louisiana. She won the seat in a special election in March 2021 after her husband, Luke, had been elected but died of complications from COVID-19. Letlow sits on the influential House Appropriations Committee. Her district was a mostly rural swath of northeast Louisiana when she arrived in Congress. It has shifted as a result of a redistricting map ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2024 and now also include parts of metropolitan Baton Rouge, where Cassidy lives. Cassidy already faces one major challenger, Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, a former congressman. Some Republican activists in the state condemned Cassidy for his 2021 vote to convict Trump, a vote Cassidy said afterward he was 'at peace' casting. The state Republican executive committee voted unanimously to censure Cassidy. The Republican committee in Bossier Parish, which includes the city of Shreveport in northwest Louisiana, adopted a censure measure describing Cassidy as 'an object of extreme shame' and called for his resignation. Trump revived his public contempt for Cassidy a year ago after the senator spoke out when the then-former president promised to pardon those convicted in connection with the Capitol riot; Trump did that after taking office in January. In an April 2024 post on Truth Social, Trump called Cassidy 'one of the worst Senators in the United States Senate' and a 'disloyal lightweight.' Louisiana's new congressional primary election system also could be a wrinkle for Cassidy. Until the new system was adopted this year, congressional candidates from all parties seeking the same office ran on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. In these so-called jungle primaries, only a candidate who received 50% of the vote would win the office outright. If no one reached the threshold, the top two finishers would face each other in a runoff. Next year, only voters who note Republican affiliation on their voter registration — and those who affiliate with no party — will be able to participate in the GOP Senate primary. The effect is seen as a potential challenge for Cassidy, who had benefited from the less-partisan nature of the old system. 'It does tighten it a little bit for him, because you do have the far-right Republicans — for them, it's going to be hard to forgive him for that impeachment vote,' Rispone said. Still, Cassidy has a clear fundraising advantage, with more than $7.4 million in his campaign account at the end of the first quarter. Cassidy has also begun laying the campaign groundwork in Louisiana and is expected to announce his candidacy formally in the coming weeks. And in a sign things might not be as bad with Trump as they were, Cassidy received different sort of recognition from the president at an economic event at the White House this month. 'We have some great people, great senators, here,' Trump said. 'Bill Cassidy, thank you, Bill.'
