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Sen. Cassidy
backs Blanche
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana says he’ll vote for Todd Blanche as attorney general, likely paving the way for Blanche to be confirmed to lead President Donald Trump’s Justice Department.
Cassidy announced his support Friday on the Senate floor, saying Blanche isn’t perfect but no one is.
Blanche’s confirmation had been thrown into doubt over opposition from two other Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine.
Blanche’s path to confirmation has been complicated over a settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service that has drawn intense scrutiny by Republicans and Democrats alike.
Senate passes
sanctions bill
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate has approved a punishing Russian sanctions bill that was a top priority for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Passage of the package Friday signals renewed bipartisan support for Ukraine as the war drags on. The legislation would penalize countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas and other exports. It comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Capitol late last month and watched from the gallery as the Senate took the first procedural votes on the legislation.
The legislation allows the president to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas, including China and India. The package next goes to the House, but some Democrats have concern it gives Trump too much tariff authority.
Hamilton to
lead FEMA
(AP) -- The Senate has confirmed Cameron Hamilton as head of the embattled Federal Emergency Management Agency. Hamilton was among 74 nominations approved by the Senate on Friday.
The former Navy SEAL is returning to the agency he briefly led last year. FEMA’s future has been uncertain since President Donald Trump threatened to eliminate it. Hamilton’s nomination suggests Trump may be moving on from that idea, but his administration is promising major changes in federal disaster response.
Democrats accuse the Republican president of politicizing disaster aid. The Senate also approved David Cummins to lead the Transportation Security Administration and Daniel Perez for ambassador to Brazil.
New video
shows shootings
(AP) -- Surveillance video shows a gunman at an In-N-Out Burger in Idaho killing one of three victims by firing through a drive-up window, before shooting more people outside the fast-food chain restaurant.
Police in Twin Falls said at a news conference Friday that they still don’t have a motive for the shootings last Saturday. Video shows Williams walking up to the drive-thru window four times and firing shots. Two people died after being shot outside the restaurant and in a parking lot.
Among the three people killed were a worker at the chain and a man who dedicated his life to helping others get sober. Seven people were wounded. The 24-year-old gunman, Chad Williams, killed himself.