House Judiciary Committee opens next impeachment phase with rancor, legal debate

WASHINGTON – Three constitutional lawyers characterized President Donald Trump’s actions toward Ukraine as a serious abuse of power that constitutes high crimes and misdemeanors during impeachment hearings Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee. “When President Trump invited – indeed, demanded…

Officials warn Pentagon cuts could force closing of Bethesda military medical university

WASHINGTON- The military’s medical school in Bethesda, Maryland, has been targeted by the Defense Department for significant budget cuts that could force the closure of the university, officials say. As a part of a Pentagon-wide review of “time, money, and…

Six things riders might like to know from Metro’s update to Congress

WASHINGTON – The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s recent update to Congress contained a half-dozen takeaways for commuters and visitors who ride the Metro rail system in the national capital region. Metro, which first began operations in 1976 and now…

A divided House approves path to possible Trump impeachment

WASHINGTON — House Democrats Thursday formalized the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, as they shifted the proceedings to a more public phase and made the case for the president’s removal from office. The House passed a resolution by a…

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau holds stance against added payday borrower protections

WASHINGTON – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has not budged on its June decision cutting additional protections.  “There was insufficient evidence and legal support for these requirements,” CFPB Director Kathleen Kraninger wrote in a Sep. 23 letter to Rep. Maxine…

‘Our North Star’: Congress mourns loss of Cummings

WASHINGTON – Rep. Elijah Cummings was fondly remembered in Washington Thursday across the political spectrum as a leader with a strong moral compass and deep commitment to civil rights as a politician in Baltimore for over 36 years. Members of…

One year after Khashoggi’s murder, vigil outside Saudi embassy demands justice

WASHINGTON – One year ago, Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and never emerged.  The global impact of his murder was reflected Wednesday night as crowds gathered outside the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi…

Pelosi sets formal impeachment inquiry into Trump; Maryland Democrats concur

WASHINGTON – For the fourth time in history, Congress is opening an impeachment inquiry into the president of the United States, an extraordinarily fast-moving development after months of debate among Democrats over whether to proceed with such a constitutionally serious…

Raskin decries administration as Cummings launches new probe into Pence, emoluments

WASHINGTON – The House Oversight and Judiciary Committees have opened investigations into Vice President Mike Pence’s stay at a Trump golf resort during his trip to Ireland this week, the latest inquiry into the administration as Democrats continue to weigh…

Maryland lawmakers blister Trump acts in Mueller report, stop shy of impeachment call

Maryland’s Democratic lawmakers on Thursday expressed outrage at President Donald Trump’s conduct detailed in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report but stopped short of saying whether Congress should initiate impeachment proceedings.