Congress

Jeffries stays out of the way as Dems mutiny against senior panel leaders

Published

2 years ago

December 4, 2024

House Democrats are poised to unseat several senior committee leaders, and Hakeem Jeffries is letting it happen.

Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, 76, announced this week that he would step down from the top Democratic spot on the Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, 77, dropped his bid to continue leading Democrats on Judiciary in the face of a tough challenge from 61-year-old Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland. And Rep. David Scott of Georgia, 79, is facing multiple challenges for the top Democratic spot on the Agriculture Committee.

It’s akin to a mutiny, especially given Democrats’ typical deference to seniority in who leads panels. But party lawmakers are increasingly anxious about the incoming Trump administration and full GOP control of Congress. Many feel it’s crucial to have leaders who are proven fighters and can effectively push back on Republican priorities like harsh limits on legal immigration. It echoes the argument many used when they called on President Joe Biden to step off the ticket over the summer.

At the center of it all is Jeffries, the minority leader, and his leadership team, who also skipped the seniority line in many ways when they rose to the top ranks two years ago. They have publicly stayed out of it, loath to stand in the way of lawmakers who, like them, chafed at the party’s strict adherence to seniority.

“The caucus will guide these kinds of discussions,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, the No. 3 House Democrat. “We’re confident that at this time it’s going to take a Democratic Caucus that’s firing on all cylinders to push back against extremism and to make sure we can carry forward the bipartisan principles that we’ve talked about.”

“The caucus wants to make sure the right folks are leading these committees,” he added.

Contrast that approach with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who would vocally support her preferred committee heads. Several Democrats believe that, by not pushing back on challengers, leadership is tacitly endorsing the removal of the old guard.

“I think they’re trying to create a level playing field,” Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.), who is challenging Scott for the ranking position on the Agriculture Committee, said of leadership in a brief interview. Scott has long faced significant concerns over his health and his ability to lead the panel.

Leaders have apparently been working the issue behind the scenes. Members of Jeffries’ extended leadership team held private conversations to hear out the lawmakers who launched bids against sitting committee chairs, four people familiar with the conversations said. And 52-year-old Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota launched her own bid for the top Democratic spot on the Agriculture Committee after leadership didn’t waive her off, one person familiar with the conversation said.

A former member of Pelosi’s leadership team, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, said he preferred the deference to seniority but didn’t believe that should be the only measure.

“I’m for seniority. But if seniority is all you consider, then seniority becomes something that won’t work well over the long run. So I think the burden of proof is on the person who’s saying that the senior person ought not to have it,” Hoyer said.

It’s the latest example of how leadership has maneuvered behind the scenes to pave the way for a new generation of Democrats to rise up. Lawmakers have long groused about the limited pathways to ascend in the caucus without the committee term limits that their Republican counterparts put in place.

“I think we, as Democrats, could do a better job with elevating some of our younger members who have great experience. And [you should] not have to be in Congress for 30 years before you can have a meaningful role in leadership and on policy,” said retiring Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.).

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is 35 years old and has a reputation for publicly bucking leadership.

In addition to the drama surrounding Judiciary, Natural Resources and Agriculture, there’s also a blooming fight over who will lead Democrats on the Oversight Committee, now that Raskin is set to take the Judiciary spot. Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia has already stepped into the race to replace him, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has said she’s having conversations with leadership and committee members to possibly launch her own campaign. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois and Ro Khanna of California are also eyeing the perch.

The race could test just how far Democrats are willing to take the shakeup — Ocasio-Cortez is 35 years old and has a reputation for publicly bucking leadership. She called the current situation “an important moment of generational change in the caucus.”

Some of the most vocal public voices for change in the party come from younger, purple-district lawmakers who’d also called on Biden to step aside after his disastrous debate against Trump.

“I came out very early saying that I thought it would be good to have an open Democratic primary in the presidential, so you could probably guess how I’m feeling,” said Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.). “There’s nothing wrong with a little healthy competition.”

“We have to look at every, every dimension of how we’ve both operated policy-wise and operated politically, campaign-wise,” echoed Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.). “And there needs to be accountability. So I think it’s time for a new generation of folks to step up, and we’ll be supporting them to do so.”

The last iteration of House Democratic leadership has also played a quiet role. The influential California delegation, of which Pelosi is a senior member, has been advocating for fellow Californian Rep. Jared Huffman behind the scenes as he tried to land the top Democratic spot on Natural Resources, according to two people familiar with the conversations.

The regional splits among House Democrats has also played a role in the challenges. The Steering and Policy Committee, an internal panel that adjudicates committee assignments, is largely composed of members picked by leadership and elected by regional blocs, giving more influence to large groups like California lawmakers.

In a telling sign of how the tide has shifted against some of the senior committee leaders, the Congressional Black Caucus, which has previously backed Scott as the top Agriculture Democrat, hasn’t issued a statement of support for him so far.

Its outgoing chair, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), told reporters Wednesday that the Black Caucus had invited every Agriculture Committee candidate to a forum with the powerful bloc “for them to outline their goals and objectives for why they seek the position.”

Scott wasn’t present for the Black Caucus’ leadership elections on Wednesday.

Congress

House Oversight requests Alan Dershowitz testify in Epstein probe

Published

5 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

The House Oversight Committee requested that Alan Dershowitz, the lawyer who once represented Jeffery Epstein, testify as part of its investigation into the federal government’s handling of the Epstein files.

The interview is tentatively slated for 10 a.m. on July 9, with a video and transcript of the testimony being released “as expeditiously as practical,” Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) wrote in a letter to Dershowitz on Friday.

“Due to public reporting, documents released by the Department of Justice, documents obtained by the Committee, and your former role as Mr. Epstein’s attorney, the Committee believes you have information that will assist in its investigation,” Comer wrote.

Comer told reporters on Wednesday that he wanted to hear from Dershowitz, who helped Epstein secure a controversial plea deal in his 2008 sex abuse case.

“I’m looking forward to testifying,” Dershowitz wrote in a text message to Blue Light News on Friday, adding that he is “trying to adjust my schedule” for July 9.

Congress

Cornyn tells Mike Lee to lay off John Thune

Published

7 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Sen. John Cornyn isn’t a card-carrying member of the Senate GOP’s growing YOLO caucus. But with less than seven months left in office after losing his primary, the Texas Republican appears to be feeling newly free to speak his mind.

The latest clap-back came Thursday night and the early hours of Friday morning, when Cornyn called a conservative influencer a “grifter” and told Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) on social media to stop publicly blaming fellow Republicans — including Senate Majority Leader John Thune — for the fact that the GOP elections bill doesn’t have support to pass inside the party.

“You don’t have the votes” for the SAVE America Act, Cornyn posted on X. “@LeaderJohnThune can’t change that. It is math.”

He was directing his comments at Lee, who had just penned a post telling Thune, “let’s do this!”

Cornyn continued, “Try focusing on Democrats instead of Republicans. Republican on Republican attacks are hurting our chances to win the majority in November.”

Lee responded to ask, “on what planet is this an attack on Republicans?” and appeared to suggest a staffer was tweeting on Cornyn’s behalf: “Once my friend John Cornyn realizes that you’re saying this in his name—whoever you are—I don’t think he’ll be happy with you.”

Cornyn, however, is known for posting himself on his social media accounts in a chamber where many Senate accounts are run solely by staff. And he’s been making it clear all week that he will push back on Trump and his party when he thinks it’s needed.

In multiple conversations with reporters in the Capitol, Cornyn said that Republicans need to “stop the circular firing squad.” And he added that he won’t intentionally be “a thorn in [Trump’s] side,” but he’s also “not going to go out of my way to try to appease him.”

“I want him to succeed, I want the Republican Party to succeed, I want the country to succeed,” Cornyn said this week. “But on a case-by-case basis, when I think there’s been overreach or just a bad idea, I’m not going to hesitate to weigh in.”

The four-term senator’s comments come after he lost his primary last month to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who Trump endorsed in the final days of the runoff.

Cornyn said in an interview with The New York Times that he was not a “wounded bear” but that he believed Trump’s insistence on “slavish adherence” was going to backfire for Republicans in the midterms and result in “the most miserable two years of his life” if Democrats flip the House or Senate.

“I think it is going to be a pretty bumpy ride for the next seven months,” Cornyn said.

Congress

Capitol agenda: What Schumer told us about AI

Published

11 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Chuck Schumer wants Congress to pass AI legislation. But he’s casting doubt on it happening this year.

“In this Congress, it’s hard,” the Senate minority leader said in an interview Thursday.

Schumer’s reality check isn’t a complete door-slam. But it underscores the steep climb lawmakers face to bridge a slew of intra-party and inter-chamber divides about what Washington’s approach should be toward the emerging opportunities and risks from the rapidly developing technology.

The problems are multi-pronged.

The White House, whose posture toward AI has shifted dramatically in recent weeks, is angling to enact legislation that would preempt state laws in favor of a national standard. Most recently, administration officials have been exploring a plan to attach preemption legislation to bills designed to shore up kids’ safety online. But there are issues — House Republicans aren’t in love with the Senate GOP’s kid safety bills and Senate Majority Leader John Thune has warned that many senators have concerns “about not trampling states’ rights in the process.”

Democrats aren’t unified on what to do next, with the public broadly skeptical about AI.

Some House and Senate Democrats are leery of state preemption and want to wait until next year to tackle AI, when they might be in power. Opposition from key Democrats is a major factor derailing an attempt by Reps. Lori Trahan and Jay Obernolte to strike a deal on legislation that would set nationwide safety and transparency rules while restricting state action. And Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have proposed a moratorium on AI data centers pending stricter government oversight.

Schumer is striking a balanced tone on how to proceed, arguing that there are “tremendous benefits” from AI but that “we also have to have guardrails.”

“We should get something done on AI, and it’s … got to be balanced — keep innovation strong, but have guardrails to prevent the dangers,” he said. “That’s a hard needle to thread, but I would very much like to see that get done the sooner the better.”

What else we’re watching:

— FISA LAPSE, CLAYTON NOMINATION: Thune is vowing to move “fairly quickly” to confirm Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence, with the FISA Section 702 spy authority set to lapse at midnight thanks to a stalemate between Democrats and the White House over the position.

— GOP ADVANCES BIG DEFENSE BOOST — Republicans have taken the first steps toward granting President Donald Trump’s request for the largest budget ever for the Pentagon. Senate Armed Services members on Thursday approved a draft of their annual defense authorization bill outlining priorities for $1.14 trillion in defense spending next year. The House Appropriations defense subcommittee advanced $1.1 trillion in fiscal 2027 funding for the Defense Department in a closed-door markup.

Calen Razor and Connor O’Brien contributed reporting.