CNN – US Politics

By Veronica Stracqualursi and Kristen Holmes, CNN A Democratic-led House select committee says it has uncovered evidence of political interference by the Trump administration into the federal government’s coronavirus response last year, including attempts to alter or block data reports from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detailing the dire effects of the

By Brian Fung and Geneva Sands, CNN Congress should not attempt to address the threat of ransomware by making ransom payments to cybercriminals illegal, a top FBI official told US lawmakers Tuesday. Banning ransom payments could inadvertently create opportunities for further extortion by ransomware gangs, said Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s cyber division.

By Jeremy Herb, CNN The House select committee investigating the January 6 attack at the Capitol held its first hearing on Tuesday with harrowing testimony from four officers who shared their stories of being attacked by the rioters. The three-hour hearing was the opening act for the committee that’s preparing to investigate all of the

By Phil Mattingly and Lauren Fox, CNN President Joe Biden met with Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema on Tuesday at the White House as his administration ramped up its push for a path forward for its sweeping dual track infrastructure agenda. Sinema is the lead Democratic negotiator in the bipartisan infrastructure talks — negotiations that for

By CNN Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of two Republicans on the new select committee investigating the Capitol insurrection, on Tuesday called out members of his own party for treating January 6 as another “partisan fight.” Read his opening statement, as prepared for delivery, distributed by his office: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to my

By Hannah Rabinowitz and Marshall Cohen, CNN A married couple who stormed the US Capitol on January 6 and later downplayed the level of violence pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court, where a judge pledged to use the case to send a message that their behavior was “reprehensible.” The plea hearing for the two

By Devan Cole, CNN A star-studded concert featuring a variety of artists spanning the musical and entertainment worlds will take place in New York’s Central Park later this month, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday, promising the event will be a “historic, monumental moment for all New Yorkers and all Americans.” “WE LOVE NYC: The

Rep. Liz Cheney, one of two Republicans on the new select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection, said Tuesday that the panel needs to rise above politics and overcome efforts to “obscure the facts.” Read her opening statement, as prepared for delivery, distributed by her office: Thank you very much, Chairman Thompson. Thank you to

By Jamie Gangel and Chandelis Duster, CNN Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his bid for re-election, snubbing George P. Bush despite his firm support after Trump has belittled some members of the Bush family. “Ken is strong on Crime, Border Security, the Second Amendment, Election Integrity and, above

By Brad Lendon, CNN US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that China’s claims and actions in the Indo-Pacific threaten the sovereignty of nations around the region while Washington is committed to building partnerships that guarantee the vital interest of all nations. “Beijing’s claim to the vast majority of the South China Sea has

By Evan Perez, CNN Justice Correspondent The Justice Department formally declined to assert executive privilege for potential testimony of at least some witnesses related to the January 6 Capitol attack, a person briefed on the matter said. The decision paves the way for some former Justice Department officials to testify on what they witnessed in

By Holmes Lybrand, Tara Subramaniam and Janie Boschma, CNN When the House Select Committee investigating the events of January 6 convenes for the first time, it will be against a backdrop of Republican objections and falsehoods. After House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected two of Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s picks to serve on the committee, leading

By Kaitlan Collins, John Harwood, Kevin Liptak, Jeremy Diamond and Kate Sullivan, CNN The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday changed its masking recommendations as it grows more concerned over the Delta variant of Covid-19, urging vaccinated people in certain areas of the country to resume wearing masks indoors in public areas.

By Ryan Nobles and Melanie Zanona, CNN In what could be a preview of what is to come, House Republicans have planned a number of events on Tuesday designed to distract and undermine the first hearing of the January 6 select committee. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who has made clear that he will not