The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee is requesting records related to firms partially owned by the husband of Rep. Ilhan Omar. It's an extraordinary step of scrutinizing the spouse of a sitting House member. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky sent a letter to Timothy Mynett, a former Democratic political consultant who is married to Omar. Comer is requesting records related to a pair of companies that had a substantial jump in value between 2023 and 2024. Comer's request marked a highly unusual move by the chair of a committee with a history of taking on politically-charged investigations, but almost always focused on government officials outside of Congress.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have finalized an agreement with House Republicans to testify this month in a House investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. They bowed to the threat of a contempt of Congress vote against them. Hillary Clinton will testify before the House Oversight Committee on Feb. 26. Bill Clinton will appear on Feb. 27. It will mark the first time that lawmakers have compelled a former president to testify. The arrangement comes after months of negotiating between the two sides as Republicans sought to make the Clintons a focal point in a House committee's investigation into Epstein.
By MICHELLE L. PRICE and BILL BARROW Associated Press
Former President Donald Trump is blasting federal emergency responders whose work in North Carolina has been stymied by armed harassment and a deluge of misinformation. But Trump said Monday that he was not concerned that the aftermath of Hurricane Helene would affect election results in the battleground state. Trump was asked whether it was helpful to criticize hurricane relief workers after the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently paused its work in the area because of reports they could be targeted by militia. He responded by again attacking the agency and repeating the falsehood that the response was hampered because FEMA spent its budget helping people who crossed the border illegally.
By ZEKE MILLER, JILL COLVIN and JOSH BOAK Associated Press
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to hold two campaign debates, on June 27 hosted by CNN and on Sept. 10 hosted by ABC. CNN says its debate will be held in its Atlanta studios and "no audience will be present." The Democratic president earlier Wednesday announced he won't participate in fall presidential debates sponsored by the nonpartisan commission that's organized them for more than three decades. Biden proposed two debates with the Republican ex-president, excluding third-party candidates. Trump says, "Let's get ready to Rumble!!!" CNN holds open the door to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s participation if he or any other third-party candidate meets polling and ballot access requirements.
