Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Biden mourns the death of former Chilean leader Sebastian Pinera in helicopter crash
President Biden on Wednesday mourned former Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, who died in a helicopter crash on Tuesday. Published February 7, 2024
Trump to appeal immunity ruling to ‘safeguard the presidency,’ campaign says
Former President Donald Trump will appeal a major court decision that says he does not enjoy presidential immunity against criminal prosecution for his efforts to reverse the 2020 election results, his campaign said Tuesday. Published February 6, 2024
Chris Christie predicts Trump’s second term would lack talent
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says former President Donald Trump got solid people to work in his first administration but thinks a second term would be "mayhem" with a "huge personnel problem." Published February 6, 2024
Trump not immune from prosecution; court says stance puts ‘system of separated powers’ on the line
Former President Donald Trump is not immune from criminal prosecution for his efforts to reverse the 2020 election results while in office, a federal appeals court said Tuesday in a blunt ruling that said the ex-president's stance would "collapse our system of separated powers." Published February 6, 2024
Trump says ailing commercial property industry shows his real estate deals were sound
Former President Donald Trump is pointing to turmoil in the commercial real estate and banking industry to argue his real estate transactions were pristine and should not be sanctioned by a New York judge weighing whether the Trump Organization committed fraud. Published February 6, 2024
Matt Gaetz pushes a House resolution proclaiming Trump is not an insurrectionist
Rep. Matt Gaetz is gathering support for a House resolution that says former President Donald Trump did not engage in an insurrection in the 2021 Capitol riot, an official act of Congress that would potentially influence the Supreme Court's ruling on barring the ex-president from the ballot. Published February 5, 2024
Rep. Victoria Spartz changes her mind, will run for reelection
Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana said Monday she plans to seek another term in the House. Published February 5, 2024
CDC targets menthol cigarette use in new ads
The Biden administration said Monday it will target menthol cigarettes in this year's anti-smoking awareness campaign. Published February 5, 2024
Georgia DA admits relationship with prosecutor but fights to stay on Trump case
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis admitted Friday she has a personal relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, a lawyer she enlisted to investigate former President Donald Trump, but insisted she did not benefit financially from the hiring and should not be disqualified from the sprawling Georgia case alleging that Mr. Trump and his allies tried to improperly influence the state's presidential vote in 2020. Published February 2, 2024
Jack Smith election case against Trump delayed amid immunity appeal
Special counsel Jack Smith's election subversion case against former President Donald Trump has been dropped from the public docket in Washington, indicating the court will miss its March 4 trial date while it waits for the Supreme Court to weigh in on Mr. Trump's claim of presidential immunity. Published February 2, 2024
Democratic Rep. Andy Kim leads N.J.’s first lady in Senate primary poll
Rep. Andy Kim of New Jersey enjoys a double-digit lead over Tammy Murphy, the wife of Gov. Phil Murphy, among Democratic primary voters in the race for a Senate seat held by embattled Sen. Bob Menendez, according to a new poll. Published February 2, 2024
U.K. judge dismisses Trump’s lawsuit over Steele dossier
A high court judge in London dismissed former President Donald Trump's lawsuit over the "Steele dossier" that made salacious and unsubstantiated claims about the ex-president and caused a political firestorm when it was leaked in 2017. Published February 1, 2024
Biden to make initial offers in Medicare drug-price negotiation
President Biden said his administration will send proposed prices Thursday to the makers of 10 prescription drugs singled out for cost negotiations under Medicare. Published February 1, 2024
Oregon governor, Portland leaders declare emergency to combat fentanyl
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Democratic local officials have declared a 90-day state of emergency to combat rampant fentanyl use in Portland. Published January 31, 2024
Trump searching for a lawyer to lead his appeal against E. Jean Carroll verdict
Donald Trump says he is searching for a lawyer to lead his appeal against the $83 million defamation judgment a New York jury awarded to E. Jean Carroll. Published January 31, 2024
Pelosi, Democrats nominate Jose Andres for Nobel Peace Prize, citing food relief efforts
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats nominated D.C. chef Jose Andres and his World Central Kitchen for the Nobel Peace Prize on Wednesday. Published January 31, 2024
Tight-lipped Biden says he’s decided on payback for deadly militia strike
A tight-lipped President Biden said Tuesday he's decided how to respond to the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops at a remote base in Jordan on Sunday, but offered no details and again said he doesn't want the U.S. embroiled in a wider conflict in the Middle East. Published January 30, 2024
U.S. and Chinese officials meet to begin implementing fentanyl-chemical deal
The White House says a U.S. delegation met with Beijing counterparts Tuesday to plot ways to stem the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals from China to places like Mexico, where cartels use them to manufacture the deadly synthetic opioid. Published January 30, 2024
Biden says he’s decided how to retaliate for drone strike that killed U.S. troops
President Biden said Tuesday he's decided how to respond to the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan, but said he doesn't want a wider conflict in the Middle East. Published January 30, 2024
RFK Jr. says border situation is unsustainable but fixable
Presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday the migrant influx at the southern U.S. border is "not sustainable" and pledged to fix it overnight if he is elected. Published January 30, 2024
