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USA Today
19 minutes ago
- Politics
- USA Today
FL redistricting gamble? DeSantis weighs pushing GOP-friendly map
There's nothing preventing Floridas's governor from calling a special session in the state legislature to redraw the maps. With one redistricting win in the bag, could Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis go for more? Republicans hold a narrow edge in the U.S. House and President Donald Trump is calling for GOP-led states to redraw maps to help the party ahead of the 2026 elections. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has already called his state's legislature in to do so – and Democrats are wary that DeSantis will do the same. More: Texas GOP eyes redistricting, Dems poised to hit back. What to know. DeSantis notched a victory July 17 when the Florida Supreme Court upheld congressional district lines largely drawn by him, cementing GOP-friendly maps. Even with another legal battle pending, there's nothing in state or federal law preventing DeSantis from calling a special session to redraw the maps seven years before the next required redistricting session under the U.S. Constitution. More: Florida Supreme Court upholds DeSantis-backed congressional district maps Such a move, however, carries its own perils. Republicans already have a 20-8 advantage over Democrats in Florida's congressional delegation. Even with the GOP's surging lead in active registered voters, it could be difficult to draw another Republican district, which would likely require splitting a heavily Democratic district into other GOP districts. Drawing new maps to favor your party but ultimately helping the opposing party is called a 'dummymander.' 'There's also a real question of how much they could realistically do. They do risk a dummymander,' said Matthew Isbell of MCI Maps, a Democratic consultant and redistricting expert. 'If you try to divide things up too much in Orlando and Tampa, then you risk making other districts vulnerable, and there probably is a limit to what the (Florida Supreme Court) would allow.' DeSantis, though, hasn't been shy about pushing the legislature to redo Florida's congressional districts. A history of drawing new lines In 2022, the state's GOP-led legislature's first attempt to draw new lines was vetoed by DeSantis, who rejected the original District 5, a minority access district then held by U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Black Democrat from Tallahassee. The district stretched from Jacksonville west to Tallahassee, encompassing communities of African-American voters along the way. DeSantis wanted a more compact district based in Jacksonville and claimed the original District 5 was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. When DeSantis called lawmakers in for a special session to redraw the maps, they passed his preferred lines. A group of voting rights organizations sued over the decision to remove the old district, arguing it violated the state constitution's prohibition on removing minority access districts. But the Florida Supreme Court rejected the claim and upheld the maps. Florida was awarded an extra congressional district after the 2020 Census to account for its population increase. Following the passage of the new maps, after the 2022 election, the GOP advantage in Florida's congressional delegation grew from 15-11 to 20-8 over Democrats. 'We helped elect four additional Republicans to the U.S. Congress, and we probably wouldn't have the majority if that hadn't happened,' DeSantis told a crowd in Greenville, South Carolina, on June 2, 2023, when he was running for President. Republicans currently hold a 220-212 advantage over Democrats in the U.S. House. Three House Democrats have died since March. If Democrats hold those seats in special elections, they would need to net three districts in the November 2026 elections to take control of the chamber. Trump told reporters on July 15 that he wanted the new Texas maps to produce five new GOP districts and that he wanted four other states to redraw their maps, too, but didn't specify which states. A spokesman for DeSantis didn't respond to an email seeking comment on whether he'd call a special session for redistricting. But the governor recently said he'd like a new census that excludes non-citizens. DeSantis claimed Florida, despite having a large number of non-citizen residents, missed out on getting an extra district last time because non-citizens were counted. 'My legislature will redistrict those lines, we'll get it to where it's fair,' DeSantis said July 1. That would depend on an unprecedented redo of the U.S. Census, though. Strained relationship between DeSantis, House could hinder redistricting push Whether the state legislature would go along with any DeSantis push for redistricting is another question. DeSantis' once-mighty sway with the GOP-led legislature has given way after his loss in the presidential primary to a testy relationship with Republican legislative leaders, especially House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami. Perez initially resisted DeSantis' call for a crackdown on unauthorized immigrants earlier this year, offering his alternative before reaching a compromise, and his move to enact a sales tax cut was slammed by DeSantis as crowding out his push for property tax cuts. Perez is unlikely to acquiesce to DeSantis on redistricting – unless Trump directly calls for it. 'It's really about the legislature, and it's really probably then about Trump,' Isbell said. 'If Trump calls on the lawmakers to do it, then I think there's a risk. But if DeSantis says it, the legislature's going to tell him (no).' In the meantime, Democrats are taking notice of the GOP redrawing push. 'Well, two can play that game,' Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on X in response to the news that Trump wants five new GOP districts out of the Texas redistricting session. But California has an independent redistricting commission, and it's unclear how Newsom would maneuver his state legislature to produce more Democratic maps. Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried is also alarmed. 'We are next. Instead of (focusing) on the affordability crisis that Trump is making worse, DeSantis and Florida Republicans will continue to bend a knee,' Fried posted, also on X. No, just the seats we can steal…wtf.'A couple of other states' aka Florida. We are next. Instead of focuses on the affordability crisis that Trump is making worse, Desantis and Florida Republicans will continue to bend a knee. Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@ Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer.
Los Angeles Times
19 minutes ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
All eyes on Ghislaine Maxwell as longtime Epstein aide seeks prison relief
House Speaker Mike Johnson is sending the chamber home for summer recess a day to prevent a bipartisan vote on releasing the files from moving on the House floor. Uproar over the Trump administration's handling of files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation continues to grip Washington, prompting the Justice Department on Tuesday to schedule an unusual meeting with Epstein's top confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell, and the House Oversight Committee to move to subpoena her testimony amid bipartisan calls for transparency in the case. The renewed focus on Maxwell comes amid persistent questions over Trump's years-long friendship with Epstein, the late and disgraced financier whose sprawling sex-trafficking ring victimized more than 200 women and girls. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison for her role in perpetuating one of the most expansive sex-trafficking rings in modern U.S. history. Advertisement It is the first time the Justice Department has approached Maxwell's counsel for a meeting, according to the deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, who wrote in a statement that he would take the meeting himself 'to ask: What do you know?' 'No one is above the law — and no lead is off-limits,' said Blanche, formerly one of Trump's personal attorneys. Politics Trump resists bipartisan calls to release Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein President Trump's loyal base and Democrats alike are now calling for the entire Department of Justice file of Epstein material to be released, an appeal so far rejected by Trump and his aides. And yet, Republicans and Democrats alike are expressing suspicion over the Justice Department's moves, questioning whether its outreach to Maxwell could be an effort to cut a cooperation agreement with a figure holding unique insights on the president's friendship with Epstein. Advertisement Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, called Trump 'the ultimate dealmaker' earlier this month, and said this week that Maxwell's team is 'grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case.' 'Ghislaine Maxwell is a federal prisoner right now. Obviously, she wants a pardon, so she will probably sing from whatever hymnal Donald Trump tells her to sing from,' Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland and ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, told CNN this week. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced a binding resolution that would compel the release of FBI files related to the Epstein investigation, drawing a rebuke from Trump on social media Tuesday. And Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), a longtime ally of the president, told reporters that he did not trust what the Justice Department was telling the public about the case. Advertisement 'No, I don't. I don't. I don't trust them,' he said. 'I'm big on clarity and transparency, and that's a good reason people don't trust government in either party.' Burchett motioned in the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday to have the panel proceed with a subpoena for Maxwell to appear for public testimony, a move that was adopted by voice vote. But to prevent a bipartisan vote on releasing the files from moving on the House floor, House Speaker Mike Johnson planned to send the chamber home for summer recess a day early, telling reporters that there was no purpose in Congress pushing the administration 'to do something they're already doing.' Epstein, a wealthy financier with a deep bench of powerful friends, died in a New York City prison in August 2019 facing federal charges over a child sex-trafficking conspiracy. The New York City medical examiner and the inspector general of the Justice Department both ruled Epstein's death was a suicide. But suspicions of conspiracy have surrounded his case and his untimely death due to his known association with some of the country's most powerful men. Voices Barabak: Here's why Jeffrey Epstein's tangled web is conspiratorial catnip Combining an ancient trope with modern cynicism, the sex-trafficking scandal has ingredients that keep it fresh long after other conspiracies faded. President Trump used it for political gain. Photos of Trump, Epstein and Maxwell are widely available, and Trump has acknowledged their friendship in the past. Advertisement 'I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,' Trump told New York magazine in 2002. 'He's a lot of fun to be with.' 'It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side,' he said. 'No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.' Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sent a raunchy 50th birthday card to Epstein that included a sketch of a naked woman, featuring breasts and a squiggly 'Donald' signature mimicking pubic hair. The sketch also included a note that read, 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Maxwell compiled the album, according to the report. Trump has begged and scolded his supporters to move on from the controversy, despite stoking conspiracies around the existence of a list of Epstein's clients throughout the 2024 presidential election. 'I would say these files were made up by [former FBI Director James] Comey and [former President] Obama, made up by the Biden' administration, Trump now says, 'and we went through years of that with the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax.'
Hindustan Times
21 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Epstein files fight leads US House Republicans to start summer break a day early
* Epstein files fight leads US House Republicans to start summer break a day early House Republicans avoid vote on Epstein files resolution * Democrats, some Republicans push for Epstein document release * Bondi asks federal judge to unseal grand jury transcripts By David Morgan WASHINGTON, - The top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives said on Tuesday he would send lawmakers home a day early for a five-week summer recess to avoid a political fight over files on disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move averts a push by Democrats and some Republicans for a vote on a bipartisan resolution to require the Justice Department and FBI to release all government documents on Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019. "What we refuse to do is participate in another one of the Democrats' political games. This is a serious matter. We are not going to let them use this as a political battering ram," House Speaker Mike Johnson, of Louisiana, told reporters. Many of President Donald Trump's supporters who embraced a slew of conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein saw their hopes raised when the administration vowed to release a slew of new documents on the case, only to backtrack and say it had concluded that there was no evidence to support the theories. That opened a rare breach between Trump and parts of his Make America Great Again base of support. Majorities of Americans and Trump's Republicans say they believed the government is hiding details on the case, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. On Monday, Democrats sought to use a House Rules Committee meeting to force a vote on the Epstein resolution introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna. The panel serves as gatekeeper for floor-bound legislation. Republicans instead suspended the hearing, preventing the panel from approving bills for floor consideration this week. The House had been expected to hold the week's final votes on Thursday. But House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the chamber's No. 2 Republican, told reporters there would be votes on Tuesday and Wednesday for less important legislation considered under suspension of the rules. A subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite and Epstein's longtime girlfriend, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of sex trafficking in 2021. Under mounting pressure from Trump supporters for the release of material, Attorney General Pam Bondi has asked a federal judge to unseal grand jury transcripts in the cases of both Epstein and Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 of five federal charges related to her role in Epstein's alleged sexual abuse of underage girls. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
UPI
21 minutes ago
- Politics
- UPI
House panel seeks testimony from Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell
1 of 2 | House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. (L), speaks with Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., prior to an Oversight Committee hearing in July 2024 in Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, a House Oversight subcommittee unanimously approved a motion to subpoena former Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, directing committee chair Comer to subpoena Maxwell to testify regarding Epstein and his alleged ties to President Donald Trump and others. File Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI | License Photo July 22 (UPI) -- A House Oversight subcommittee unanimously approved a motion to subpoena former Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell amid renewed interest in the case. Only four subcommittee members were present when the vote on the subpoena motion was held on Tuesday at the request of Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., NBC News reported. The motion directs committee chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., to subpoena Maxwell to testify before the Oversight Committee regarding former financier Epstein and his alleged ties to President Donald Trump and others. "The committee will seek to subpoena Ms. Maxwell as expeditiously as possible," a committee spokesperson told The Hill. "Since Ms. Maxwell is in federal prison, the committee will work with the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons to identify a date when [the] committee can depose her." Maxwell is imprisoned for 20 years in Florida due to her 2021 conviction on federal sex trafficking charges arising from her activities with Epstein. She was accused of grooming teen girls, whom convicted sex offender Epstein had abused sexually. Maxwell's trial and conviction occurred after Epstein killed himself while jailed and awaiting trial on related federal charges in New York City. Many House Republicans and Democrats seek Maxwell's testimony on the matter, resulting in Tuesday's unanimous vote to subpoena her. The subpoena request occurs amid criticism over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case files. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced the House will recess until Sept. 2 after concluding business on Wednesday. Johnson accused House Democrats of engaging in "political games" over the Epstein case files by using the House Rules Committee to potentially force votes related to the Epstein files. "We're not going to let them use this as a political battering ram," Johnson told media on Tuesday. "The Rules Committee became the ground for them to do that." He said the Trump administration already is addressing the matter. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday directed Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche to seek a meeting with Maxwell to review the details of the former case against Epstein. "I have communicated with counsel for Ms. Maxwell to determine whether she would be willing to speak with prosecutors," Blanche said in a social media post. He anticipates meeting with Maxwell "in the coming days." Bondi earlier said she would make public the files from the Epstein case, but recently said there is no client list and nothing of note to share. The attorney general's handling of the matter triggered disagreement among House Republicans and others, which led to Tuesday's actions in the House and by the Department of Justice. This week in Washington House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., speaks during a press conference after the House passed the GENIUS Act at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. The act, which passed with a bipartisan vote, outlines the first federal rules for stablecoins, a popular form of digital currency. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
Daily Mail
21 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dumb and Dumber star tells Nicolle Wallace he hopes Trump voters suffer financial hardship
'Dumb and Dumber' star Jeff Daniels blasted Republicans and wished Donald Trump voters suffer financial hardship during a recent interview. Daniels called the president a 'snake oil salesman' while speaking on MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace's podcast, 'The Best People.' The two discussed his upcoming role as Ronald Reagan in the upcoming film 'Reykjavik' when Wallace asked him how the 40th president compares to the current administration. Daniels went on a rant about the collapse of the Republican party and expressed his desire for Trump voters to lose their money. 'I'm just an actor, what do I know? But when Mitch [McConnell] started stacking the courts 25 years ago, I said it on your show once, they can see it coming,' Daniels said. 'The new America that is diverse and treats everyone with equality and respect and dignity, you know, kind of like Jesus did. We're ready for that. And Mitch and company could see it coming. 'They were going to be the minority, so they just started and then here we are, and now you got it, and now you're losing money. I hope you're losing tons of money, those of you who thought this would be okay.' Wallace called out voters in Michigan who voted from Trump and said the tariffs are going to negatively impact them. 'I mean, Michigan voted for Trump this time again,' Wallace said. 'I mean, the tariffs are going to hurt your neighbors, they're going to hurt.' Daniels agreed that everyday people will suffer because of Trump's policies and said he believes people will eventually realize the president is to blame. 'Which I think, at the end of the day, that's what's going to do it. "Wait a minute, the grocery bill is what? $180 more? I can't get that car that we have to have unless I pay another $8,000. What? Who do I blame for that? Who do I see about that?" One person,' he said. 'I think he's a snake oil salesman, and I think people will see that.' Daniels said that Kamala Harris would have been a better choice for president because she would have lead the country like Abraham Lincoln. 'She would have been a good choice. I don't care what they say, because she would have done what Lincoln did,' he said. '[Lincoln] surrounded himself with the people who would disagree with him, not the people who would, you know, take a knee and go, "Yeah, more tariffs, sir, more."' Daniels returned to television in 2024, starring in the Netflix series A Man In Full as Charlie Croker, a real estate agent who's gotten used to living the high life. Prior to that he played Chief Del Harris in the crime drama American Rust for Showtime. It premiered back in September 2021 and ran through January of the following year, before being canceled after one season. In recent years the actor also starred in the leading man role in the Hulu drama miniseries The Looming Tower (2018), the heralded Netflix miniseries Godless (2017) and the political drama series The Newsroom (2012-2014), which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series in 2013. During his career in Hollywood Daniels has also star in such films as The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Something Wild (1986), Gettysburg (1993), Dumb and Dumber (1994), Speed (1994), The Hours (2002), The Squid And The Whale (2005), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), Infamous (2006) Steve Jobs (2015), and The Martian (2015).
