Latest news with #ChuckSchumer
Epoch Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Epoch Times
LIVE NOW: Schumer, Senate Democrats Discuss the Effects of Trump's Tariffs
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other Democrat senators discuss the effects of President Donald Trump's tariffs at 3:30 p.m. ET on July 31.
Reuters
10 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Top Senate Democrat criticizes Union Pacific deal to buy Norfolk Southern
WASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Union Pacific's (UNP.N), opens new tab plan to acquire Norfolk Southern (NSC.N), opens new tab in a $85 billion deal to create the first U.S. coast-to-coast freight rail operator. Schumer said Thursday the deal would push "us even further down the road of dangerous consolidation and monopoly power... This is a hostile takeover of America's infrastructure." He added "decades of railroad mergers have led to worse service, worse safety, worse working conditions, higher costs for shippers – which ultimately means higher prices for consumers."
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Epstein files fight heats up: Democrats use century-old law to demand answers
WASHINGTON, July 31 — Democrats moved Wednesday to force Donald Trump to release files from the investigation into notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, invoking an obscure law to keep up the pressure on an issue that has roiled the US president's administration. The White House has been facing increasingly intense demands to be more transparent about the case of the disgraced financier, who died in federal prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. The president raised further questions about his past relationship with Epstein on Tuesday when he told reporters he fell out with his former friend after he 'stole' female employees from the spa at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The Justice Department angered Trump supporters earlier this month when it confirmed that Epstein had died by suicide and had no secret 'client list' — rebuffing conspiracy theories held by Trump's far-right supporters about supposedly high-level Democratic complicity. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee wrote to the Justice Department asking for the materials under a section of federal law known as the 'rule of five.' 'The public has a right to know who enabled, knew of, or participated in one of the most heinous sex trafficking operations in history,' Schumer told reporters at the Capitol. 'Let me remind everyone of what's happened in recent months. Donald Trump campaigned on releasing the Epstein files. He broke that promise.' The measure — introduced a century ago but rarely used — requires government departments to provide relevant information if any five members of the Senate's chief watchdog panel request it. Republicans divided It is not clear if it could be enforced in court, but even if the effort fails it keeps the spotlight on an issue that has upended Trump's summer, dividing Republicans and leading to the early closure of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Trump has urged his supporters to drop demands for the Epstein files, but Democrats in Congress — with limited Republican support — have also been seeking a floor vote to force their release. House Oversight Committee Democrats, backed by some Republicans, approved a subpoena last week for the Justice Department to hand over the documents, although the demand has yet to be sent. Lawmakers have also been seeking testimony from Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in prison for her role in his alleged crimes. Maxwell's lawyer has said she would speak to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee if granted immunity for her testimony. 'The Oversight Committee will respond to Ms Maxwell's attorney soon, but it will not consider granting congressional immunity for her testimony,' a spokesman for the panel said. Democrats have tried to attach votes on the Epstein files to unrelated bills multiple times, prompting Speaker Mike Johnson to send lawmakers home for the summer a day early last week, shutting down the efforts. Senate Democrats launched a separate effort to get the files released via a bill called the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but this cannot even be taken up until the House reconvenes in September. Meanwhile the Supreme Court's justices are expected to consider at a September 29 conference ahead of their October term whether to hear an appeal by Maxwell of her sex trafficking conviction. 'This crime by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell was not a victimless crime…. It was about exploiting women, in fact, girls — girls who were mercilessly and repeatedly subject to abuse and trafficking,' said Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut. — Reuters
Axios
a day ago
- Politics
- Axios
Democrats invoke rare Senate rule to force release of Epstein documents
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other Senate Democrats announced Wednesday that they'll use an obscure federal law known as the "Rule of Five" in an attempt to force the Justice Department to release more documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Why it matters: Congressional Democrats are trying to capitalize on the Epstein issue, which has dogged President Trump and opened fissures between him and some of his most ardent supporters. What they're saying: "Today's letter matters," Schumer said. "It's not a stunt, it's not symbolic. It's a formal exercise of congressional power under federal law." Schumer said the request covers "all documents, files, evidence and other materials" in the Justice Department and FBI's possession related to the case. The intrigue: The "Rule of Five" law allows any five members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to request federal agencies to provide information about "any matter within the jurisdiction of the committee." The Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives can use the same law with a group of seven members.
Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
White House knocks Chuck Schumer over Jim Crow claim: ‘Professional gaslighter'
The Trump White House is hitting back hard against "professional gaslighter" Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., after the senator claimed that Republicans "want to revert to Jim Crow" by requiring an ID to vote. Democrats held a press conference on Tuesday to mark their reintroducing of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would add new restrictions on states wanting to amend their voting laws. During the press conference, Schumer said, "We've got to fight fire with fire" to "protect democracy." He took particular aim at the SAVE Act, which has already passed the House, and would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. "We're not going to let them revert to Jim Crow," he said. "And if you don't think they want to revert to Jim Crow just look what they did in the SAVE Act, which went back to Jim Crow for the whole nation, by so making it hard, they said you need I.D. and they made it so hard to show I.D. that probably half the people in America couldn't vote." Schumer went on to slam the Trump-backed "one, big, beautiful bill," which was passed and signed into law earlier this month. He accused Republicans of "taking away people's healthcare [and] taking food out of the mouths of hungry children to give billionaires a tax break." "No principle and no conscience, shame!" Schumer exclaimed. In response, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields mocked "jihadist Chuck Schumer," whom he called "a professional gaslighter who would rather race-bait than work with President Trump to execute his historic agenda." Fields predicted that "the continued attempts by Democrats to fearmonger and fail the Black community will only drive these voters away from the failing Democratic Party." Schumer was also widely criticized by conservatives on social media. Popular conservative influencer Paul Szypula commented that Schumer "says black people and poor people wouldn't be able to vote in America if there was voter ID. His statement is extremely insulting to black people and poor people." "Schumer is proving why he has such an abysmal approval rating," he added. Popular account Libs of TikTok also chimed in, mocking Schumer for saying "Republicans 'don't believe in democracy' because they want voter ID to make sure AMERICAN citizens are the only ones voting in AMERICAN elections." Political commentator Greg Price also commented, saying Democrats "think deportations are fascism and that requiring an ID to vote is Jim Crow. Should consider making it a little less obvious what they're true intentions are."
