Kerry Picket
Articles by Kerry Picket
House chairman leading impeachment calls Mayorkas ‘greatest domestic threat’
The House on Wednesday announced its first hearing on impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, officially kicking off the quest to oust the man who's overseen the most chaotic border in modern history. Published January 3, 2024
Maine Secretary of State Bellows says home targeted in swatting incident
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said on her Facebook page Saturday that her house was swatted. Published December 30, 2023
GOP lawmakers say strategy to kick Trump off ballot is 2020 COVID election laws all over again
Republicans say legal maneuvers to remove former President Donald Trump from several states' GOP primary ballot are no different from when liberal activists successfully used the courts to change election laws during the COVID pandemic before the 2020 presidential campaign. Published December 30, 2023
Swatting hits law professor Jonathan Turley
George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley says he's the latest victim of swatting, an action of fake calls for police response. Published December 30, 2023
Only 3.4% of U.S. journalists are Republicans: Survey
The number of full-time American journalists who say they're Republicans plummeted in the past decade, while Democrats in that profession rose. Published December 30, 2023
Chinese spy balloon communicated with Beijing through U.S. internet provider, claims news report
The Chinese surveillance vessel that floated across the U.S. at the start of 2023 fed information to China through an American internet service provider. Published December 30, 2023
Law enforcement increasingly enlists artificial intelligence to fight crime
It's not yet to the point of science fiction's "Minority Report," where police can arrest someone for "precrime" before they ever commit the act, but police across the country are turning to artificial intelligence to do their jobs. Published December 27, 2023
Judge blocks California law banning handgun carry in most public places
California's Democratic lawmakers were unchastened by Wednesday's federal-court ruling putting a hold on their latest gun control laws before they were to take effect Jan. 1. Published December 21, 2023
House Judiciary Committee subpoenas AG Garland over DOJ’s attempted surveillance of Congress
The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday for information about the Justice Department's attempts to spy on members of Congress and congressional staff. Published December 19, 2023
New York GOP-backed candidate for Santos seat says she won’t back abortion ban
Mazi Melesa Pilip, the New York GOP-backed candidate chosen to run in an upcoming special election to fill the vacated seat left open by expelled former Rep. George Santos, has revealed she does not support a federal ban on abortion. Published December 19, 2023
GOP House member touts bill that would ban colleges forcing students to sign ‘diversity’ pledges
Rep. Dan Crenshaw wants to end the practice of forcing students to sign "diversity, equity and inclusion" DEI statements at higher education institutions. Published December 19, 2023
Former Jan. 6 committee chair confirms probe records sent to prosecutors investigating Trump
Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, chairman of the now-defunct House Jan. 6 Select Committee, has confirmed to Republican lawmakers that the panel sent records to prosecutors who have filed charges against former President Donald Trump, after initially saying he had not preserved such material. Published December 18, 2023
Dem staffer out from Senate job after revelation of sex video shot in Capitol Hill hearing room
A Capitol Hill staffer accused of filming himself having gay sex in a congressional hearing room has been separated from his job in Senator Ben Cardin's office. Published December 16, 2023
‘Messy’ democracy: Speaker Johnson has same difficulties as McCarthy but more loyal allies
It's been a rough seven weeks for new House Speaker Mike Johnson, but despite Mr. Johnson's inexperience and initial stumbles, Republicans are in no hurry to replace him. Published December 15, 2023
Bipartisan group of senators fail to stop FISA spying provision in year-end Pentagon bill
Sen. Rand Paul failed to strip the reauthorization of the government's chief surveillance power from the annual Pentagon policy spending bill Wednesday night as a bipartisan group of lawmakers fell six votes short. Published December 13, 2023
Bipartisan effort emerges in Senate to remove FISA spy power from year-end Pentagon bill
A bipartisan group of senators is trying to strip reauthorization of the government's chief surveillance power from the annual Pentagon policy spending bill, threatening plans to finish the must-pass bill before Congress adjourns for the year on Thursday. Published December 13, 2023
New York court orders commission to redraw state’s congressional districts
New York's highest court ordered the state's redistricting commission Tuesday to draw a new congressional map, a decision considered a victory for Democrats in their effort to recapture the House in 2024. Published December 12, 2023
House Freedom Caucus elects Bob Good as new chairman
The House Freedom Caucus has elected Rep. Bob Good of Virginia as its new chairman, putting a backer of Ron DeSantis' presidential bid in charge of the arch-conservative group that is most closely associated with former President Donald Trump. Published December 12, 2023
Speaker Johnson withdraws both House FISA bills
House Speaker Mike Johnson pulled both pieces of competing legislation to overhaul the federal government's chief spy power under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Published December 11, 2023
House showdown expected between rival bills to overhaul U.S. spy powers
The House will vote Tuesday on two competing bills to overhaul the federal government's chief spy power under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Published December 11, 2023
