Happy Christmas week! 🎅❄️🎄Washington, D.C., has totally cleared out since lawmakers passed a government funding extension late Friday. This process is always a mess, but they almost always figure it out. Here's what's happening today: - The House Ethics Committee released its Matt Gaetz report.
- It found "substantial evidence" of statutory rape and drug use.
- Biden commuted the sentences of all but three federal death row prisoners.
- Holiday travel is expected to break records.
- An owl flew down a family's chimney and became their new Christmas tree topper.
I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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Well, there it is. The Matt Gaetz report is out: |
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The House Ethics Committee released its highly anticipated report from its yearslong investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). The gist: It found "substantial evidence" that Gaetz paid a 17-year-old high school student for sex when he was 35, used illicit drugs like cocaine and ecstasy and obstructed Congress's investigation into his conduct. Keep in mind: Gaetz denies having sexual contact with a minor. Just last week, Gaetz said he had engaged in "embarrassing, though not criminal" behavior in the past. Excerpt: "The committee concluded there was substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible gifts, the provision of special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress." What we know about the report, via The Hill's Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell 🔎 READ the full report |
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➤ GAETZ TRIED STOPPING ITS RELEASE: |
Gaetz filed a lawsuit this morning against the House Ethics Committee to stop the panel from releasing its report. Would it be unusual for the committee to release this report?: The committee does not have jurisdiction over former members, but there is also some precedent, though rare, for releasing reports on former lawmakers. 🗨️ Live updates of today's developments |
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➤ WHAT IS GAETZ PLANNING TO DO NEXT?: |
Over the weekend, he openly floated the idea of running for Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) seat if Rubio is confirmed as secretary of State. |
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Wow, Biden removed nearly every prisoner from death row: |
President Biden commuted the sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row, converting them to life without the possibility of parole. How many death row cases are left?: That leaves just three "hard cases" before President-elect Trump takes office. Some examples of who was pardoned: "Billie Jerome Allen, who was sentenced to death in 1998, Carlos David Caro, who has been on death row for more than 15 years, and Len Davis, who has been on death row for more than 25 years." 📝 Full list of Biden's death row commutations Timing: Two weeks ago, Biden set a new daily record for pardons, commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 people and pardoning 39 others. Biden has also been under fire for pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, after insisting he would not. Read Alex Gangitano's explainer on the pardons: 'Biden commutes sentences of nearly every prisoner on federal death row' Who are the three inmates not on the commutation list?: - Robert D. Bowers, the gunman behind the deadly 2018 antisemitic Tree of Life synagogue attack, which killed 11 people in Pittsburgh.
- Dylann Roof, who murdered nine people at a Black church in Charleston, S.C.
- Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the brothers behind the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013.
What to know about the three prisoners excluded from Biden's commutations |
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Tom Cotton bashed Biden: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) slammed Biden's decision as "politically convenient." Cotton posted on X: "Once again, Democrats side with depraved criminals over their victims, public order, and common decency. … Democrats are the party of politically convenient justice." Read Cotton's full post The New York Times put an August editorial back on its home page: "America Does Not Need the Death Penalty," the Times's editorial board argues. |
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Guess they're having a change of heart?:
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Some Silicon Valley big tech companies have given hefty donations to fund President-elect Trump's inauguration. Which companies?: - Meta donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund.
- Amazon matched Meta with its own $1 million donation.
- OpenAI's Sam Altman gave $1 million from his personal funds.
Yes, but: "Some of the biggest names in tech have not written out checks for the inaugural fund but have traveled to Florida in recent weeks to meet with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort. This included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and Amazon owner Jeff Bezos." Why this matters: It signals a shift of Silicon Valley's relationship with Trump after past tensions. Read Miranda Nazzaro's reporting: 'Why Big Tech is funding Trump's inauguration' |
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The Gingrich's nabbed some cool appointments: Trump chose Callista Gingrich as his ambassador to Switzerland. Her husband, former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), was Trump's ambassador to the Vatican in his first administration. In the White House, we all fam: Trump announced that Katie Miller will work in the new "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) advisory board. Miller worked in Trump's first administration and is married to his incoming deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. |
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'Tis the season to stress over TSA lines, fa la la la la la la: |
A record number of Americans are expected to travel over the holiday season, according to AAA. Expect lots of traffic, long security lines and crowded airports. Here's the situation in some areas: |
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- The New York Times: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wants to Ban Drug Ads on TV. It Wouldn't Be Easy.
- The Washington Post: Trump signals plans to use all levers of power against the media
- The Wall Street Journal: GOP Spending Rebellion Is Ominous Sign for Trump's All-Republican Government
- Axios: Media's suck-up moment
- Vox: The uncomfortable question about "Latino" voters
- The Wall Street Journal: Democrats Are Adrift as Donald Trump Prepares to Take Power
- CNN: Ivanka Trump is done with politics and says she isn't coming back
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🍪 Celebrate: Today is National Pfeffernusse Day! 🦉 That's a hoot!: An owl flew down a family's chimney in Arlington, Va., and decided to become a Christmas tree topper. Yes, there's video. 📹 Watch 🎨 Did you know Vincent van Gogh's 'Starry Night' was controversial among scientists?: The Washington Post's Carolyn Y. Johnson explains "The hidden science swirling in 'The Starry Night.'" |
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It's a quiet day. The House and Senate are finally out! President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington. (all times Eastern) |
- Jan. 3: The Senate meets next.
- Jan. 3: The House meets next.
- Jan. 9-12: Biden will visit Pope Francis, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Italy. This will likely be his last foreign trip as president.
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