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Washington Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
South Carolina lawmaker awaiting trial on child sex abuse material charges resigns from office
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina Republican lawmaker in jail awaiting trial on charges he distributed sexual abuse material involving children has resigned his seat in the state House. RJ May's resignation letter was dated Thursday but didn't arrive at the offices of House leadership until Monday morning. May wrote that 'it is in the best interests of my family and constituents to resign immediately.' It does not mention the 10 charges he faces or the more than a decade in prison that prosecutors have suggested May could face if convicted.
The Hill
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Texas Democrats who fled to Illinois forced to evacuate hotel after bomb threat
Texas state House Democrats who left their state to prevent Republicans from passing a new congressional district map were forced to evacuate their hotel after a bomb threat, but officials say everyone is safe. The St. Charles Police Department in Illinois said officers responded to a report of a bomb threat at about 7:15 a.m. local time Wednesday at a hotel where the Democrats were staying. The department's officers, along with those from the fire department and the Kane County Sheriff's Office, conducted a 'thorough' search and did not find any device, according to a release. The release said 400 people were evacuated as bomb squad units conducted their search, and everyone has been able to return to the hotel. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) said he's 'aware' of the threats and instructed the Illinois State Police to ensure that public safety is maintained. 'Threats of violence will be investigated and those responsible will be held accountable,' he said in a post on X. A group of Texas state House Democratic leaders — Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu, Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chair Ramón Romero and Legislative Black Caucus Chair Barbara Gervin Hawkins — said in a statement that a threat was made on Wednesday morning against the members, but everyone is safe. 'We are safe, we are secure, and we are undeterred,' they said. 'We are grateful for Governor Pritzker, local, and state law enforcement for their quick action to ensure our safety.' The Hill has reached out to the state police for additional information. The threat comes as Texas remains in a standoff over the Republican-led plan to redraw the state's congressional district lines to add up to five more GOP-held seats in the 2026 midterms. State House Democrats left the Texas on Sunday to go to a few other states, including Illinois, to deny the body a quorum and prevent it from being able to conduct business. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has ordered the members' arrest, arguing that they have violated their oath of office by refusing to attend the special legislative session that he called to address the redistricting plan. President Trump suggested the FBI may get involved to help Texas return the state legislators, and Sen. John Cornyn (R) sent FBI Director Kash Patel a letter requesting that the agency does so. State Rep. Ann Johnson (D), a member of the group who traveled to Illinois, said the threat is what happens as a result of 'reckless rhetoric,' pointing to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's (R) vow to 'hunt down' those who left. 'When the Attorney General tells people to 'hunt us down,' it's not just politics — it's a threat to our safety,' she said. 'I've had my life threatened before as a chief human trafficking prosecutor. I never expected those threats would come from the Governor or my colleagues in the Legislature.' She pledged that she and her colleagues 'won't be intimidated' and will remain united and committed to representing their constituents who elected them to their offices. State Rep. Jon Bucy (D), another member, said this type of discourse 'emboldens bad actors' and encourages violence. 'It's unacceptable and needs to end,' he said. 'But let me be clear: Texas Democrats are not deterred — we are determined. We will push through the threats and the noise to keep fighting for our constituents, our democracy, and our country. This is a fight worth having.'
CNN
04-08-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Texas Republicans push ahead with redistricting after Democrats flee state
Update: Date: Title: Abbott threatens to remove Democrats from state House Content: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to remove Democrats from the state House if they don't return by 4 p.m. ET today, equating the absence to an 'abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state office.' Texas House Democrats left the state in an attempt to block a partisan effort to redraw the state's congressional map orchestrated by Republicans with the support of President Donald Trump. After a similar play by Texas Democrats in 2021, new rules were put in place to fine lawmakers $500 a day if a member is absent, including 'for the purpose of impeding the action of the House.' In his statement late Sunday warning Democrats they could lose House membership, Abbott also accused them of raising money to cover their fines, which he suggested may be a felony. Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) threatened to remove Democrats from the state House if they don't return by 3 PM today. Texas House Democrats left the state to try and block an aggressively partisan redrawing of the state's congressional map orchestrated by Republicans with the support of President Donald Trump. #texas #democrats #gregabbott #congressionalmaps #trump #news #cnn Update: Date: Title: Texas Democrats and Illinois governor put "spotlight" on Trump-backed redistricting efforts Content: Texas House Democrats and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker presented a show of unity in Chicago yesterday after lawmakers left the state to halt a vote on a GOP-drawn congressional district map. 'In the coming days and weeks, Illinois will partner with the Texas House Democratic Caucus to put a spotlight on the danger that Trump and Texas Republicans pose to all Americans,' Pritzker said in a news conference. Pritzker welcomed the Texas Democrats to his state and noted that he met with a group of lawmakers nine days ago to 'learn about the challenges' facing the caucus. Asked about the potential redistricting efforts led by Democratic governors in California and New York, Pritzker said, 'Everything's got to be on the table.' State House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for his 'submission to Donald Trump' and for focusing on redistricting in the wake of last month's devastating flooding in central Texas. 'All Texans across the state have asked for is that the legislature focus and spend its time taking care of the families who are grieving,' Wu said. 'Instead, Gov. Abbott has used this tragedy, taken these families who are grieving, taken these communities who are struggling to recover, and used them as hostages in a political game.' State Rep. Chris Turner, a former chair of the Democratic caucus, noted that aside from this delegation of lawmakers in Illinois, the Texas Democrats also have representatives in Albany, New York, and Boston 'meeting with leaders in those states to tell them what's happening.'
Washington Post
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Texas Democrats leave the state to block vote on redrawn House map backed by Trump
Texas Democrats are leaving the state in an attempt to prevent the state House from holding a vote Monday on new congressional maps that Republicans hope will net them several additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterm elections. The dramatic move Sunday could expose Democrats to fines and other penalties — with the state's attorney general having previously threatened to arrest them if they took such an action. Refusing to attend legislative session is a civil violation, however, so Democrats legally could not be jailed and it's unclear who has the power to carry out the warrants.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal money for Pa. bridge and rail projects in question amid infrastructure funding freeze
Passengers board an Amtrak train at Harrisburg's station. (Capital-Star/Peter Hall) Federal funding for highway, rail, and other infrastructure projects in Pennsylvania is in question under the Trump administration, the commonwealth's top transportation official said in a state House budget hearing Wednesday. The grants from the Biden administration would pay for transportation improvements, including the replacement of a bridge carrying Interstate 83 over the Susquehanna River and a second daily Amtrak passenger train between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. 'Funds that were discretionary awards, that haven't been obligated, are sort of in question right now,' Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said. 'It doesn't mean they're lost. They've been paused, and we would be hesitant to go forward with the use of those funds absent an obligation.' He appeared before the Appropriations Committee to answer questions about Gov. Josh Shapiro's budget request for PennDOT. Carroll said he's hopeful the federal government would stand by its grant awards. 'Thirteen million Pennsylvanians are shared constituents of Gov. Shapiro and President (Donald) Trump,' he said. 'When it comes to the delivery of a transportation network, no matter what mode we're talking about, these grants were all important grants.' One of the projects Carroll highlighted is a $500 million award to rebuild the south span of the John Harris Memorial Bridge in Harrisburg, which is 65 years old and has reached the end of its useful life. It's part of the Federal Highway Administration's Bridge Investment Program, which will provide a total of $5 billion in grants to fund reconstruction, repair and restoration of 13 'nationally significant bridges' in 16 states. Another is a grant of $144 million by the Federal Railroad Administration to increase the capacity of tracks owned by Norfolk Southern Corp. to accommodate a second daily train on Amtrak's Pennsylvanian Service. Carroll said the effort to restore passenger rail service between Scranton and New York's Penn Station is ongoing 'absent any declaration from the Federal Railroad Administration to stop.' That project is one of five in the nation, some of which are in Republican-controlled states, Carroll noted, that have advanced to a service development plan. 'We have bus loads of folks, especially in the Poconos, that go back and forth every day to northern New Jersey and New York City. I have no doubt that if we have the restoration of passenger rail, we will have folks on that train every day,' Carroll said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX He said a third rail project, to restore passenger service from Reading to Philadelphia, is not as far along. That's the subject of an FRA-funded planning and development effort, but has yet to receive funding to begin the planning phase of the Scranton project. 'It would be a fool's errand for me to try and predict future steps from the FRA or any of our other federal partners when it comes to how they intend to orchestrate the delivery of these projects,' Carroll said, adding that he remains positive federal partners will recognize the importance of all three rail projects. 'I know people that are Democrats, Republicans, independents and unregistered folks [who] use our assets every day. And so I live in a world where there are no red or blue bridges. There are bridges,' Carroll said, noting the I-83 bridge project received support from every member of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation. Carroll testified in the nearly three-hour hearing about PennDOT's $11.6 billion overall budget request. Many centered on Shapiro's proposal for a $292.5 million increase in transit funding, as public transportation agencies across the state face budget constraints, looming fare hikes, and service cuts. Also in question is the future of funding to build electric vehicle charging stations along the commonwealth's interstate highways. PennDOT is slated to receive $170 million under the Biden-era Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and has committed $70 million to build eight charging centers. 'I consider that a contractual obligation. The remaining $100 million is in question. What the Trump administration and what the (U.S. Department of Transportation) and others in D.C. decide to do with that remains to be seen,' Carroll said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
