House Ethics Committee to discuss Gaetz report amid calls for its release
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A key meeting of the House Ethics Committee could affect the nomination of former Congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general. And President-elect Donald Trump looks on as Elon Musk’s SpaceX launches its latest Starship test flight. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024.
House Ethics Committee to discuss Gaetz report amid calls for its release
The bipartisan House Ethics Committee will meet Wednesday, Nov. 20, where it is expected the group will discuss whether to release a report on its investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz. Gaetz is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general — a position that requires Senate approval.
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It is not yet known if the committee will hold a vote on the matter. Since Gaetz resigned as a member of the House after Trump nominated him, the probe has ended, but there have been continued calls from both sides of the aisle to see the committee’s findings.
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The Ethics Committee was looking into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use against Gaetz. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and a similar Justice Department investigation led to no charges. The DOJ found the accusers lacked credibility.
However, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, nearly 100 House Democrats came together to pen a letter urging for the immediate release of the report. The letter, led by Illinois Congressman Sean Casten (D) and sent to the committee chairman, read in part:
“Given the seriousness of the charges against Representative Gaetz, withholding the findings of your investigation may jeopardize the Senate’s ability to provide fully informed, constitutionally required advice and consent regarding this nomination. Representative Gaetz’s abrupt resignation from Congress should not circumvent the Senate’s ability to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities.”
🚨 NEWS: I led nearly 100 House Democrats in a letter urging the House Ethics Committee to release the Gaetz report immediately.
— Rep. Sean Casten (@RepCasten) November 19, 2024
This information must be made available for the Senate to provide its constitutionally required advice and consent. pic.twitter.com/oF7CnNMDdk
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he’s against the public release of the report because Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress.
A Trump transition team official said the president-elect has been “heavily working the phones” to get Republican senators to support Matt Gaetz.
While attending the latest SpaceX launch in Texas on Tuesday, Nov. 19, Trump was asked by a reporter if he was reconsidering Gaetz as attorney general. He said, “No.”
Vice President-elect JD Vance will be at the Capitol Wednesday for meetings with Gaetz and key GOP senators, as well as Trump’s pick for secretary of state, former Fox News host and U.S. Army veteran Pete Hegseth. Hegseth is also facing scrutiny from members of Congress.
This all comes as reports came out Tuesday that a hacker gained access to sworn testimony of two women involved in the Gaetz investigation, including that of a woman who claimed Gaetz had sex with her when she was 17 years old and another who said she witnessed the encounter. Reports said the information has not yet been made public by the hacker.
Trump picks Lutnick, McMahon, Oz for cabinet positions
As for the latest picks for the incoming Trump administration, the president-elect selected billionaire Wall Street executive Howard Lutnick as his commerce secretary on Tuesday.
The CEO of brokerage and investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald is currently serving as co-chair of Trump’s transition team. Trump said Lutnick will lead his tariff and trade agenda.
Trump also nominated Linda McMahon, the other co-chair on his transition team to head the Department of Education. During his campaign, Trump called for the dismantling of that department.
McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, was the Small Business Services secretary during Trump’s first term. She has served one year on the Connecticut Board of Education.
I am honored to be nominated by @realDonaldTrump to lead CMS. I look forward to serving my country to Make America Healthy Again under the leadership of HHS Secretary @RobertKennedyJr. pic.twitter.com/aYIQJHG5Ej
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) November 19, 2024
Trump also picked Dr. Mehmet Oz to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which lies within the Department of Health and Human Services. The heart surgeon-turned-television host will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s choice for health secretary.
Oz unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022, losing to Democratic Sen. John Fetterman.
Trump watches as SpaceX launches Starship rocket
On Tuesday, as President-elect Trump looked on from SpaceX’s Starbase in Brownsville, Texas, the company — owned by his close ally Elon Musk — celebrated its sixth successful launch of its Starship rocket. However, not every part of the plan went off without a hitch.
After nailing it on the first try last month, the company aborted its highly anticipated booster catch attempt Tuesday. Instead, spectators watched as the booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico. Despite that, the mission was overall a success.
https://publish.twitter.com/?query=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FSpaceX%2Fstatus%2F1859060296851268040&widget=TweetSpaceX also said Tuesday’s test flight marked the first time Starship has successfully ignited one of its Raptor engines while in space, which would be necessary for returning to orbit.
It was the latest test for the world’s biggest and most powerful rocket, which SpaceX and NASA hope to use to get astronauts back on the moon and eventually Mars.
Netanyahu offers $5M reward for each hostage freed from Gaza
As cease-fire talks to end the fighting in Gaza continue to stall, Israel estimates around a hundred hostages remain in Hamas custody. Now, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is offering a $5 million reward for anyone who returns a hostage and to provide those who do with safe passage out of Gaza.
Netanyahu announced the reward during a visit to Gaza on Tuesday, where he was shown the Israeli military’s Netzarim corridor — a key access road and buffer zone constructed by Israel’s army to dissect northern Gaza from the southern part.
החמאס לא ישלוט בעזה. מי שיעז לפגוע בחטופינו – דמו בראשו. אנחנו נרדוף אתכם, ואנחנו נשיג אתכם. pic.twitter.com/6Coj7l410O
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 19, 2024
At the same time, Netanyahu vowed Israel would hunt down and punish anyone who hurts a hostage.
Of the 101 captives still estimated to remain in Gaza, about a third of them are believed to already be dead.
Comcast to spin off its NBCUniversal cable channels
According to multiple news outlets, Comcast is planning to spin off its NBCUniversal cable networks into a separate company. The spinoff would include MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Oxygen, E!, Syfy and the Golf Channel.
Comcast’s NBCUniversal division would keep the cable network Bravo, the NBC broadcast network, its Peacock streaming service, and all other assets, like NBC Sports and the Universal theme parks.
Reports say the spinoff is expected to take about a year to complete and an official announcement could come as early as Wednesday.
René Magritte’s ‘L’empire des Lumières’ sells for record $12 million
Famous René Magritte painting “L’empire de Lumieres,” or “Empire of Light,” sold at auction Tuesday for $121.2 million; a record for the late Belgian Surrealist artist.
As one of the largest paintings in a succession of 27 works with the same title, the 1954 canvas is well known among 20th century art experts for its scale, pristine condition and subtle details.
#WorldRecord René Magritte’s seminal ‘L’empire des lumières’ shatters the record price for any work by the artist and any Surrealist work of art, selling for US$121,160,000 after nearly 10 minutes of bidding, closing out MICA: THE COLLECTION OF MICA ERTEGUN Part I.#2021NY pic.twitter.com/pHdL3t82ur
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) November 20, 2024
The painting came from the collection of the socialite Mica Ertegun. Christie’s auction house described the artwork as the “crown jewel” of its former owner. It had been expected to sell for around $95 million.
The New York Times reported Magritte is now the 16th artist whose work broke the $100 million threshold.
Tags: Howard Lutnick, JD Vance, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, U.S. Department of Justice, Capitol Hill, Fox, Texas, U.S. Army, SpaceX, Hackers, Illinois, Fox News, J.D. Vance, U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, U.S. Congress, Matt Gaetz, Starship, Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House
TODAY – THE BIPARTISAN HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE WILL CONVENE – HOLDING A MEETING WHERE IT IS EXPECTED THE GROUP WILL DISCUSS WHETHER TO RELEASE A REPORT ON ITS INVESTIGATION INTO FORMER CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ.
HE OF COURSE IS PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S PICK FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL – A POSITION THAT REQUIRES SENATE APPROVAL.
IT IS NOT YET KNOWN IF THE COMMITTEE WILL BE HOLDING A VOTE ON THE MATTER.
SINCE GAETZ RESIGNED AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE AFTER TRUMP NOMINATED HIM, THE PROBE HAS ENDED – BUT THERE HAVE BEEN CONTINUED CALLS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO SEE THE COMMITTEE’S FINDINGS.
THE ETHICS COMMITTEE WAS LOOKING INTO ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND ILLICIT DRUG USE AGAINST GAETZ.
GAETZ HAS DENIED ANY WRONGDOING AND A SIMILAR JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION LED TO NO CHARGES. THE D-O-J FOUND THE ACCUSERS LACKED CREDIBILITY.
HOWEVER, ON TUESDAY, NEARLY 100 HOUSE DEMOCRATS CAME TOGETHER TO PEN A LETTER URGING FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE REPORT.
THE LETTER — LED BY ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN SEAN CASTEN AND SENT TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN – READ IN PART QUOTE “GIVEN THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CHARGES AGAINST REPRESENTATIVE GAETZ, WITHHOLDING THE FINDINGS OF YOUR INVESTIGATION MAY JEOPARDIZE THE SENATE’S ABILITY TO PROVIDE FULLY INFORMED, CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED ADVICE AND CONSENT REGARDING THIS NOMINATION. REPRESENTATIVE GAETZ’S ABRUPT RESIGNATION FROM CONGRESS SHOULD NOT CIRCUMVENT THE SENATE’S ABILITY TO FULFILL ITS CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.”
AS WE HAVE REPORTED EARLIER — HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON IS AGAINST THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF THE REPORT – DUE TO GAETZ NO LONGER BEING A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
A TRUMP TRANSITION TEAM OFFICIAL SAYS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT HAS BEEN QUOTE “HEAVILY WORKING THE PHONES” TO GET REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO SUPPORT MATT GAETZ.
WHILE ATTENDING THE LATEST SPACEX LAUNCH IN TEXAS ON TUESDAY — TRUMP WAS ASKED BY A REPORTER IF HE WAS RECONSIDERING GAETZ AS ATTORNEY GENERAL. TRUMP RESPONDED “NO.”
THE VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT, JD VANCE, WILL BE AT THE CAPITOL TODAY FOR MEETINGS WITH GAETZ, KEY GOP SENATORS, AS WELL AS TRUMP’S PICK FOR SECRETARY OF STATE – FORMER FOX NEWS HOST, U-S ARMY VETERAN PETE HEGSETH, WHO IS ALSO FACING SCRUTINY FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
THIS ALL COMES AS REPORTS CAME OUT TUESDAY THAT A HACKER GAINED ACCESS TO SWORN TESTIMONY OF TWO WOMEN INVOLVED IN THE GAETZ INVESTIGATION – INCLUDING THE TESTIMONY OF A WOMAN WHO CLAIMED GAETZ HAD SEX WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS 17 YEARS OLD AND ANOTHER WHO SAYS SHE WITNESSED THE ENCOUNTER.
REPORTS SAY THE INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC, BY THE HACKER, AS OF THIS RECORDING.
AS FOR THE LATEST PICKS FOR THE INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE PRESIDENT-ELECT SELECTED BILLIONAIRE WALL STREET EXECUTIVE HOWARD LUTNICK AS HIS COMMERCE SECRETARY ON TUESDAY.
THE CEO OF BROKERAGE AND INVESTMENT FIRM CANTOR FITZGERALD IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS CO-CHAIR OF TRUMP’S TRANSITION TEAM.
TRUMP SAYING LUTNICK WILL LEAD HIS TARIFF AND TRADE AGENDA.
TRUMP ALSO NOMINATING LINDA MCMAHON – THE OTHER CO-CHAIR ON HIS TRANSITION TEAM – TO HEAD THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
DURING THE CAMPAIGN, TRUMP CALLED FOR THE DISMANTLING OF THE DEPARTMENT.
MCMAHON, THE FORMER CEO OF WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT WAS THE SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES SECRETARY DURING TRUMP’S FIRST TERM.
SHE HAS SERVED ONE YEAR ON THE CONNECTICUT BOARD OF EDUCATION.
AND TRUMP ALSO PICKED DR. MEHMET OZ TO HEAD THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES – WHICH LIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
THE HEART SURGEON TURNED TELEVISION HOST WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH ROBERT F. KENNEDY, TRUMP’S CHOICE FOR HEALTH SECRETARY.
OZ UNSUCCESSFULLY RAN FOR U-S SENATE IN PENNSYLVANIA IN 20-22, LOSING TO DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN.
NOW TURNING TO TUESDAY’S ROCKET LAUNCH. AS PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP LOOKED ON FROM SPACE-X’S “STARBASE” IN BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS — THE COMPANY, OWNED BY HIS CLOSE ALLY ELON MUSK, CELEBRATED ITS SIXTH SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF ITS STARSHIP ROCKET… BUT NOT EVERY PART OF THE PLAN WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH.
AFTER NAILING IT ON THE FIRST TRY LAST MONTH — THE COMPANY ABORTED ITS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED BOOSTER CATCH ATTEMPT TUESDAY. INSTEAD, SPECTATORS WATCHED AS THE BOOSTER SPLASHED DOWN IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.
HOWEVER, THE MISSION WAS OVERALL A SUCCESS.
SPACE-X ALSO SAID TUESDAY’S TEST FLIGHT MARKED THE FIRST TIME STARSHIP HAS SUCCESSFULLY IGNITED ONE OF ITS RAPTOR ENGINES WHILE IN SPACE — WHICH WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR RETURNING TO ORBIT.
IT WAS THE LATEST TEST FOR THE WORLD’S BIGGEST AND MOST POWERFUL ROCKET- WHICH SPACE-X AND NASA HOPE TO USE TO GET ASTRONAUTS BACK ON THE MOON AND EVENTUALLY MARS.
AS CEASE-FIRE TALKS TO END THE FIGHTING IN GAZA CONTINUE TO STALL — ISRAEL ESTIMATES AROUND A HUNDRED HOSTAGES REMAIN IN HAMAS CUSTODY.
NOW, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IS OFFERING A FIVE MILLION DOLLAR REWARD FOR ANYONE WHO RETURNS A HOSTAGE – AND PROVIDE THOSE WHO DO WITH SAFE PASSAGE OUT OF GAZA.
NETANYAHU ANNOUNCED THE REWARD DURING A VISIT TO GAZA ON TUESDAY… WHERE HE WAS SHOWN THE ISRAELI MILITARY’S NETZARIM CORRIDOR — A KEY ACCESS ROAD AND BUFFER ZONE CONSTRUCTED BY ISRAEL’S ARMY TO DISSECT NORTHERN GAZA FROM THE SOUTHERN PART.
AT THE SAME TIME — NETANYAHU VOWED ISRAEL WOULD HUNT DOWN AND PUNISH ANYONE WHO HURTS A HOSTAGE.
OF THE 101 CAPTIVES STILL ESTIMATED TO REMAIN IN GAZA… ABOUT A THIRD OF THEM ARE BELIEVED TO ALREADY BE DEAD.
NBC HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR AIRING A NUMBER OF SPINOFFS OVER THE DECADES – REMEMBER “JOEY” – BUT REPORTS SAY IT’S ABOUT TO BE PART OF ONE OF ITS OWN.
ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE NEWS OUTLETS – COMCAST IS PLANNING TO SPIN-OFF ITS N-B-C UNIVERSAL CABLE NETWORKS INTO A SEPARATE COMPANY.
THE SPINOFF WOULD INCLUDE M-S-N-B-C, C-N-B-C, U-S-A, OXYGEN, E!, SYFY AND THE GOLF CHANNEL.
COMCAST’S N-B-C UNIVERSAL DIVISION WOULD KEEP THE CABLE NETWORK BRAVO, THE N-B-C BROADCAST NETWORK, ITS PEACOCK STREAMING SERVICE, AND ALL OTHER ASSETS — LIKE N-B-C SPORTS AND THE UNIVERSAL THEME PARKS.
REPORTS SAY THE SPINOFF IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT A YEAR TO COMPLETE AND AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT COULD COME AS EARLY AS TODAY.
FAMOUS RENÉ MAGRITTE PAINTING L’EMPIRE DE LUMIERES — OR “EMPIRE OF LIGHT” — SOLD AT AUCTION TUESDAY FOR 121 MILLION DOLLARS – A RECORD FOR THE LATE BELGIUM SURREALIST ARTIST.
AS ONE OF THE LARGEST PAINTINGS IN A SUCCESSION OF 27 WORKS WITH THE SAME TITLE, THE 19-54 CANVAS IS WELL KNOWN AMONG 20-TH CENTURY ART EXPERTS FOR ITS SCALE, PRISTINE CONDITION AND SUBTLE DETAILS.
CHRISTIE’S AUCTION HOUSE DESCRIBED THE ARTWORK AS THE “CROWN JEWEL” OF ITS FORMER OWNER.
IT HAD BEEN EXPECTED TO SELL FOR AROUND 95 MILLION DOLLARS.
THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS MAGRITTE IS NOW THE 16TH ARTIST WHOSE WORK BROKE THE 100 MILLION DOLLAR THRESHOLD.
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