Senate panel starts business meeting on the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas for Secretary of Homeland Security.
Sen. Ron Johnson R-WI still chairing the panel.
Johnson is absolutely ripping Mayorkas, and says President Biden should not have picked him for the DHS post.
Sen. Rob Portman R-OH criticizes Mayorkas, but notes there has not been a Senate confirmed leader at DHS since April 2019. Portman says he will vote to send the Mayorkas nomination to the Senate floor.
Sen. Mitt Romney R-UT echoes the statement of Portman, and will vote to send Mayorkas to the Senate floor.
Romney also made one aside about Trump, noting the US just endured four years with a President who had "a relaxed relationship with the truth."
The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has voted 7-4 to send the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to the full Senate, to head DHS.
Sen. Johnson says there will be a power sharing agreement signed soon - so he thinks this will be the end of his chairmanship.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Senate hearing underway on nomination of Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo to serve as Commerce Secretary. GOP still in charge of the committee with Sen. Roger Wicker R-MS chairing. Wicker says he expects easy confirmation for Raimondo.
On the Senate floor, Schumer addresses the GOP blockade: "I am glad the Republican Leader finally relented and we can move forward now to organize the Senate."
Unclear exactly when the organizing resolution (just like the 2001 plan for a 50/50 Senate) will be formally approved.
As I wrote this morning, the 2001 powersharing plan - which Schumer offered earlier this month - was approved without any debate or controversy 20 years ago. But this time it took much longer. jamiedupree.substack.com/p/second-trump…
Sen. Patrick Leahy D-VT now in the chair. He will preside over the Trump impeachment trial as the President Pro Tem of the Senate. Senators now coming to the floor for the arrival of the House managers.
The House managers waiting in the Ohio Clock Corridor off the Senate floor, where rioters flooded the halls just a few weeks ago.
A lot more Democrats on the Senate floor than GOP Senators. Lead manager Rep. Jamie Raskin D-MD is reading the impeachment article against former President Trump.
NYT showing again that there was a lot of energy expended by the former President to illegally reverse his election loss in Georgia. nytimes.com/2021/01/22/us/…
Mr. Trump's actions related to Georgia are already part of the impeachment process. One would expect to hear the recording of the Trump-Raffensperger phone call played in the Senate trial.
The latest arrest in the Capitol attack calls himself a "Dating + Relationship Strategist" on Twitter. justice.gov/opa/page/file/…
From the Stedman affidavit: "Witness 2 believed STEDMAN resides with his parents"
One of today's Capitol attack arrests is a man from Baker County, Florida (west of Jacksonville). Gathering some of the evidence wasn't difficult for the FBI.
Buttigieg hearing starts with Republicans chairing the hearing. Sen. Roger Wicker R-MS says because there is no power sharing agreement yet in the 50/50 Senate - he's still the Chairman of the Commerce Committee.
Wicker refers to Sen. Maria Cantwell D-WA as the 'soon-to-be chairman' - but the Senate must still approve an organizing resolution setting out a 50/50 power sharing agreement. For now, there's no final deal between Schumer & McConnell.
Buttigieg begins his testimony. He was introduced by Sen. Todd Young R-IN, which should indicate a relatively easy path to confirmation. Buttigieg opening statement at commerce.senate.gov/services/files…
Two weeks ago, supporters of President Trump were starting their assault on the Capitol, ransacking parts of the historic building. Now, Congressional leaders are honoring the new President in the Capitol Rotunda, free from any attackers.
The arrests continue on this Inauguration Day. This Florida Man thought he was in the clear after talking to the FBI. But today he was arrested for his actions in the US Capitol attack. justice.gov/opa/page/file/…
The suspect charged with trying to crush a DC police officer in the Capitol has been arrested. One note from the documents - his cell phone number is registered to his mom.