California, 18 States Sue to Block Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
International Stabilization Force for Gaza Nears Deployment as U.S.-Led Planning Advances 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
Ukraine, US and Europe Seek Unified Peace Framework With Security Guarantees for Kyiv 
International Outcry Grows Over Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
Belarus Pledges to Halt Smuggling Balloons Into Lithuania 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
U.S. Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attack in Palmyra, Syria During Counterterrorism Mission 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
Democrats Face Uphill Battle in Midterm Elections Despite Recent Victories, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Shows 
Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz is currently facing allegations of having a sexual relationship with a minor.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has recently weighed in on the controversy surrounding Gaetz, saying that the Florida Republican should be removed from the House Judiciary Committee should the allegations be proven.
Speaking to the press Thursday, Pelosi was asked for comment on the accusations made towards Gaetz and what she thinks should be done. The House Speaker said that the allegations should be taken into consideration by the House Ethics Committee and that if the committee has proven the claims to be true, Gaetz must be removed from the House Judiciary Committee.
“If in fact, these allegations are true, of course being removed from the Judiciary Committee is the least that could be done,” said Pelosi. “From what we’ve heard so far, this would be a matter for the Ethics Committee.”
To note, the House Ethics Committee is made up of five members of both parties. The Committee may recommend punishments that range from a reprimand, a formal rebuke, or expulsion, the latter being a rare decision as the lawmakers involved would often resign first. The decision would then be at the approval of the entire House, with a two-thirds majority needing to vote for expulsion should that be the recommended decision.
The House Speaker’s comments come two months after the House, on a mostly-party line vote, voted to strip Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor-Greene of both her committees. This was in response to Greene’s history of spreading threats and false conspiracy theories on social media. The Justice Department is also looking into the accusations against Gaetz and seeing if the Florida Congressman had relationships with other underage girls, thus violating federal sex trafficking laws.
Meanwhile, Pelosi also said that she hopes Democrats could ease the current cap on state and local tax deductions as part of the bigger infrastructure package. This comes as some House Democrats from New York and New Jersey have opposed backing other tax changes unless the state and local tax cap is repealed. Republicans placed a $10,000 limit on tax deductions in their 2017 tax law, which negatively affected New York, New Jersey, and California.
“I’m sympathetic to their position,” said Pelosi. “Hopefully, we can get it into the bill.”
