Latest news with #HouseCommittee
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Trump pardons ex-Connecticut Governor Rowland and commutes Chicago gang leader Hoover's sentence
President Donald Trump has pardoned Connecticut's former Republican Gov. John Rowland, who was convicted in two federal criminal cases, including one that contributed to his resignation Trump also commuted the prison sentence for notorious Chicago gang leader Larry Hoover, a White House spokesman told Fox News Digital. Rowland was released early from federal custody in 2018 after his 2014 conviction for election fraud and obstruction of justice. That was his second stint in prison after his 2004 federal corruption conviction. In July 2004, Rowland resigned less than halfway through his third term as governor instead of testifying before a special House Committee inquiry. He pleaded guilty that year to his role in a pay-to-play scheme that included $90,000 in luxury flights on Key Air, an Oxford, Connecticut-based airline, to Las Vegas and Florida. Trump Announces Pardon For Todd And Julie Chrisley After Reality Tv Stars' Fraud, Tax Evasion Convictions He served 10 months in federal prison and several months of house arrest in that case. Read On The Fox News App Trump also commuted the sentence of Larry Hoover. Hoover, the co-founder of the Chicago gang Gangster Disciples, has been serving a life sentence at a supermax prison in Colorado. Trump Pardons Former Virginia Sheriff Convicted Of Taking $75K In Bribes He was originally imprisoned for a 1973 murder and later convicted in 1998 for operating a criminal enterprise. At the time of his 1998 conviction, Hoover was serving a 200-year sentence for the killing of drug dealer William "Pooky" Young. He later renounced his criminal activities and sought a reduced sentence. It was unclear when Hoover would be released from prison. During a 2018 meeting with Trump, Kanye "Ye" West campaigned for Hoover's freedom. "So, it's very important for me to get Hoover out, because in an alternate universe, I am him," West said, according to a White House transcript of the meeting. "And I have to go and get him free because he was doing positive inside of Chicago, just like how I'm moving back to Chicago, and it's not just about, you know, getting on stage and being an entertainer and having a monolithic voice that's forced to be a specific party." Trump also pardoned rapper Kentrell Gaulden, the Louisiana-based artist known as NBA YoungBoy who was convicted of possessing weapons as a felon and released from prison earlier this year. Also pardoned were former U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y.; Kevin Eric Baisden; Mark C. Bashaw; former reality television personalities Todd and Julie Chrisley; and Tanner Mansell and John Moore, who were both convicted of stealing fish gear in federal waters. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Trump pardons ex-Connecticut Governor Rowland and commutes Chicago gang leader Hoover's sentence
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Roy offers compromise on minimum mandatory prison for drug crimes
A key House committee endorsed minimum mandatory prison terms for drug sellers who cause death or possess significant amounts of fentanyl, but with an escape hatch that would let a judge issue a different, lesser punishment if an individual offender met several qualifying conditions. House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee Chairman Terry Roy, R-Deerfield, told his panel he spent weeks fine-tuning his proposal under one package combining the two Senate bills that are top priorities of Gov. Kelly Ayotte: • Fentanyl possession (SB 14): This would impose at least a 3½- year prison term for anyone having at least 20 grams of fentanyl and a seven-year minimum for someone caught with at least 50 grams and, • Death resulting (SB 15): Anyone caught selling drugs known to have caused the death of another would face at least 10 years in prison with a term of up to life behind bars. Roy said he started out knowing full well about the long-held skepticism of the House of Representatives to such bills. 'Many of us on both sides of the aisle are not big fans of minimum mandatory (bills),' Roy began. 'We are all aware of many studies that conclude they are not quite effective in reducing crime.' But Roy said the devastation of fentanyl that fueled New Hampshire's opioid epidemic made him determined to find some compromise language. 'We do know that fentanyl is destroying so many lives in our state and people bringing in this poison into our state have to be sent a message that we are done playing,' Roy said. Roy's amendment would allow a judge to hand down a different punishment if that offender: • Had no recent record: No prior conviction for violent felonies or similar drug offenses within the past seven years; • Had no guns: The offender is not involved in any potential or threatened use of firearms or other deadly weapons; • Was not a player: The accused is not to be seen by authorities as a leader of the drug operation; • Had significant cooperation: To the extent possible, the offender has to show they have provided substantial assistance to law enforcement in related prosecutions and, • Had no deception: The offender can't be involved in any way in selling drugs with fentanyl hidden inside them. To receive a lesser punishment, the defendants would have to submit to court-ordered substance use evaluation and complete within nine months drug treatment as long as it's available in the state. Under Roy's proposal, anyone caught violating their probation would be sentenced to a minimum term, three and a half years for a fentanyl crime, at least five years for causing someone's death. Critics: Minimum mandatory looks tough but accomplishes little Completion of a lesser sanction would require at least 250 hours of community service for a fentanyl crime, 300 hours for someone who causes another's death. Rep, Buzz Scherr, D-Portsmouth, was a leading appellate criminal defense lawyer. 'I have substantial problems with mandatory minimums given the history of the war on drugs. Incarcerations have been shown not to have the kind of impact we intended it to have even though the intent was good,' Scherr said. Roy's panel broke along party lines on the proposal 9-7, with all Republican members in support and all Democrats in opposition. House Democrats praised Roy for trying to soften the minimum mandatory provisions. Rep. David Meuse, D-Portsmouth, said there's no evidence that judges in the state have issued lenient penalties against serious drug dealers. 'What I am not seeing is how this bill makes anything any better,' Meuse said. 'This is an opportunity to perform in politics.' While campaigning for governor, Ayotte said she learned in the 15 years since she was attorney general New Hampshire had fallen behind with tough criminal penalties for drug crimes compared to surrounding states. 'We're out of step and I'm for restoring New Hampshire's image for having among the toughest penalties on fentanyl in the nation,' Ayotte said during a recent interview. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, sponsored both bills and has been pressuring Roy's committee for weeks to take action. Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais came to the State House in January to testify for both bills. It's unclear whether the Senate and Ayotte will support Roy's changes. Roy is right about the House's past on the topic with libertarian Republicans often joining Democrats against these bills. A year ago, then-Gov. Chris Sununu supported these two ideas that cleared the Senate. The House last spring voted 340-24 to block the fentanyl bill's passage by placing it on the table and sent the other one off to study. What's Next: The full House of Representatives early next month will vote on whether to support Roy's compromise. Prospects: There's still good odds this happens, but this changes the calculus a bit. Assuming Roy can get his bill through if the Senate balks at it, this could face more talks before a conference committee to reach consensus between the House and Senate. klandrigan@
E&E News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
Northern Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly dies at 75
Gerry Connolly, a longtime Democratic member of Congress from Northern Virginia known for his advocacy of the federal workforce, died Wednesday. He was 75 years old. The longtime lawmaker's death was announced by his family via a statement from his congressional office. 'We were fortunate to share Gerry with Northern Virginia for nearly 40 years because that was his joy, his purpose, and his passion,' the family said in its statement. 'His absence will leave a hole in our hearts, but we are proud that his life's work will endure for future generations.' Advertisement On April 28, Connolly said he would not seek reelection in 2026 and also said he would step down from his role as the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, saying his esophageal cancer had returned.
RTHK
15-05-2025
- Politics
- RTHK
Legco subcommittee finishes vetting security laws
Legco subcommittee finishes vetting security laws Paul Lam, right, said the subcommittee's efficiency demonstrates the collaboration of the executive and lawmakers in safeguarding national security. Photo: RTHK A Legco subcommittee completed the vetting of subsidiary national security laws on Thursday, after spending more than five hours examining the provisions clause by clause. The subcommittee was formed during a special House Committee meeting in the morning and aimed to scrutinise the new subsidiary laws by negative vetting. Subcommittee chairman Martin Liao said he'll report its work to the House Committee on Friday. Liao was among the same group of 15 lawmakers on the subcommittee who vetted the national security bill under Article 23 of the Basic Law last year. No one present at Thursday's meetings said they planned to move any amendments. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam thanked the subcommittee for its work. The minister said the efficiency showed that the executive and legislature had worked together to fulfil their constitutional duties to safeguard national security by improving relevant laws. "We have spent more than five hours, and the number of questions plus opinions expressed by members of the Legislative Council exceeded 150," Lam told reporters. "So I think any reasonable person would have agreed that the whole process is extremely serious, and that thorough discussion had been given to all relevant provisions." Lawmaker Regina Ip, who was on the subcommittee, said she too was satisfied with its work. "We actually exceeded the time allowed for us to do the scrutiny. Two meetings were provided for, but we actually ran three sessions, running into more than five hours and we raised more than 150 questions. "I think all of us discharged our duties very vigorously and very conscientiously, and I'm satisfied that the legislative procedure is a completely satisfactory one." Security minister Chris Tang stressed that the government will keep improving security laws if necessary.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Mr. Moore...Mr. Moore?': Lawmakers caught sleeping during committee meetings
The Brief Rep. Blake Moore was shaken awake by Rep. Michelle Fischbach to vote during an all-night Ways and Means Committee hearing. Two other lawmakers, Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Debbie Dingell, dozed off during a 20-hour House Committee meeting. Dingell and Schakowsky joked about their exhaustion while fighting for healthcare access in late-night sessions. WASHINGTON - Seems like even the country's lawmakers know that politics can be a bit of a snoozefest as a few had to be woken up during committee sessions. The backstory On Wednesday, Representative Blake Moore of Utah had to be shaken awake, by Minnesota Rep. Michelle Fischbach, to cast his vote on an amendment during an all-night Ways and Means Committee hearing. The meeting started around 2:30 p.m. local time and continued on through the night. The meeting focused on discussing and voting on amendments to a Republican reconciliation bill. RELATED: Democrats are deeply pessimistic about future of the party, poll finds Footage showed Moore sound asleep in his chair as he was called on to vote on an amendment around 5 a.m. Wednesday local time Two other lawmakers also fell asleep during a marathon U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce markup meeting that lasted for more than 20 hours. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, 80, of Illinois, and Rep. Debbie Dingell, 71, of Michigan, each appeared to fall asleep at different points during the meeting that was held to discuss and vote on amendments to the budget bill. What they're saying Dingell commented on the situation in a post on X, saying: "Been up for 31 hours straight fighting Republicans trying to gut Medicaid. Closed my eyes to think about an America where everyone has access to quality, affordable health care." Schakowsky also posted a comment, saying: "We're on hour 25 of our marathon markup where my colleagues and I are fighting all day and night to protect health care access for all Americans." RELATED: Biden's team considered wheelchair amid health concerns: New book The Source Storyful contributed to this report. The information in this story comes from various sources, including footage of Rep. Blake Moore sleeping during a Ways and Means Committee hearing, as well as comments from Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Debbie Dingell shared on X (formerly Twitter). This story was reported from Los Angeles.
