Government funding: President Biden overnight signed into law the bipartisan bill to keep the government funded for the next several weeks. The legislation did not provide funding for aid to Ukraine nor aid to Israel. A longer-term government funding bill must now be passed in order to head off a possible government shutdown early in 2024. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who was responsible for creating the temporary funding bill now must line up enough votes to pass the next government funding bill.
George Santos: Both Republican and Democrat members of the House of Representatives indicate that a vote will be held after the Thanksgiving holiday on whether to expel New York Republican George Santos from the House. A report by the House Ethics Committee presented new evidence of criminal behavior by Santos and recommended that the Department of Justice look into taking further action against him. He already is under federal indictment. Shortly after the Ethics Committee report was released yesterday Santos said he would not be running for re-election.
Israel-Hamas war: The U.N. World Food Program said today that starvation is imminent in Gaza and that it has been forced to stop emergency delivery of supplies because the Gaza communications system is no longer functioning and it has run out of fuel. Israel said today it will allow two tanker trucks each day to bring fuel into Gaza for use in powering generators for communications. Israel said today it has proof that Hamas had a command center set up at the Al-Shifa Hospital. Israel’s military said it has found the bodies of two hostages near the Al-Shifa Hospital.
Trump’s speech: A New York appeals court judge has temporarily lifted the gag order against Donald Trump that was imposed by Judge Arthur Engoron. Trump had been ordered to stop his intimidation of court personnel including Engoron’s court clerk. Engoron is presiding at the trial of Trump, sons Donald Jr. and Eric and The Trump Organization for bank, insurance and tax fraud. Judge David Friedman said the gag order violated Trump’s free speech rights and should be stayed while a full appeals court process plays out.
DePape guilty: David DePape has been found guilty of breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s house in San Francisco and attacking her husband Paul Pelosi. The jury deliberated about eight hours before returning its verdict. DePape could be sentenced to up to 50 years in prison. During the trial DePape admitted to the break-in and said he planned to take Nancy Pelosi hostage and break her kneecaps.
Allegations against Combs: Sean Combs, known to his fans as Puff Daddy or Diddy, has been accused of sex trafficking and sexual assault in a lawsuit filed in Federal Court in New York. A former girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, filed the lawsuit. The lawsuit also names three of Combs’ companies along with Epic Records. The lawsuit alleges that Combs beat, raped and sexually trafficked Ventura during their relationship that lasted for a decade.
