Pruitt faces renewed questions over cost of security detail

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is facing renewed questions about the size and cost of his 24-hour security detail, adding to a string of ethically questionable arrangements or actions on his part that have surfaced over the past year. Pruitt's security team currently consists of 19 agents and includes a fleet of at least 19 vehicles, a source with direct knowledge of Pruitt's security detail said.

Nydia Velazquez Denounces Courthouse Arrest Of Illegal Immigrant Facing Domestic Violence Charges

Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez denounced immigration authorities for arresting an illegal immigrant inside a New York City courthouse on Friday, saying the controversial tactic "has no place" in the city. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents nabbed Panamanian national Diogenes Pinzon as he walked out of an eighth-floor courtroom in Brooklyn Criminal Court Friday morning, reported the New York Daily News, citing court officials.

GOP keeps up hope in California battleground

U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, an Ohio Republican, Chair of National Republican Congressional Committee, speaks during a news briefing at the 2018 House and Senate Republican Member Conference Feb. 1, 2018, at the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. IRVINE, Calif.

March for Our Lives organizers plan weekend town halls with lawmakers

The student organizers behind the "March for Our Lives" are planning a series of town hall this weekend and will use empty chairs to symbolize lawmakers who were invited but who don't attend. As of Friday morning, 33 Democratic lawmakers had pledged to take part in "The Town Halls for Our Lives" events in their home states.

The governor’s race: Schiavoni rejects ‘inexperienced’ label Updated at

Ohio Sen. Joe Schiavoni has spent more than a year crisscrossing Ohio, hoping to build a groundswell in his bid for governor. And as he's done so, the Democrat from Boardman seems to be universally liked - even by his opponents, who on the debate stage have largely spared him the brickbats they've hurled at one another.

Hearing planned on electric competition

Following Attorney General Maura Healey's call for an end to the competitive electric supply market, House and Senate lawmakers are gearing up to hold an oversight hearing to question companies cited by Healey about what she described as deceptive business practices. The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, co-chaired by Rep. Thomas Golden of Lowell and Sen. Michael Barrett of Lexington, is planning the hearing, according to the committee, to "consider immediate protective measures and the implications of those actions," learn about best practices in other states and explore issues related to the market that Healey said were beyond the scope of her review.

Facebook’s new rules aim to thwart the kind of ads bought by…

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said Friday in a posting on the site that the new rules "will make it a lot harder for anyone to do what the Russians did during the 2016 election and use fake accounts and pages to run ads. less Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said Friday in a posting on the site that the new rules "will make it a lot harder for anyone to do what the Russians did during the 2016 election and use fake accounts ... more Facebook will soon require political campaigns, advocacy groups and other entities that purchase ads about hot-button policy debates to disclose more information about themselves, as the social giant looks to prevent malicious actors from secretly spreading disinformation on its site.

Department of Justice seizes Backpage, Sen. McCaskill releases statement

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - After the Department of Justice has seized Backpage and "all affiliated accounts," Sen. McCaskill released the following statement: "This is great news for survivors, advocates, and law enforcement in Missouri and across the country, but it's also long-overdue, and further proof of why our bipartisan legislation is so critical.

GOP lawmaker resigns, still owes $84,000 for sexual harassment settlement Source: Cox Media Group

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GOP Rep. Farenthold resigns after sexual harassment claims

Texas Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold abruptly resigned Friday, four months after announcing he wouldn't seek re-election amid sexual harassment allegations. "While I planned on serving out the remainder of my term in Congress, I know in my heart it's time for me to move along and look for new ways to serve," Farenthold said in a video statement, adding that his action was effective as of 5 p.m. In December, Farenthold had posted another video denying a former aide's 2014 accusations, including that he'd subjected her to sexually suggestive comments and behavior and then fired her after she complained.

Facebook backs political ad bill, sets limits on ‘issue ads’

SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON - 7 April 2018: Facebook Inc backed for the first time on Friday proposed legislation requiring social media sites to disclose the identities of buyers of online political campaign ads and introduced a new verification process for people buying "issue" ads, which have been used to sow discord online. The change in stance, announced in a Facebook post by Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, comes a few days before he is scheduled to answer questions in congressional hearings about how the company handles its users' data.

Trey Gowdy’s Job Is Important. Why Isn’t He Doing It?

If you follow the activities of Rep. Trey Gowdy , you could be forgiven for having no idea that he oversees the chief investigative arm of the legislative branch. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which Gowdy chairs, is designed to be a watchdog for the American people.