Optimism growing that U.S. foreign investment bill will pass: official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Negotiators working to revise a bill before Congress that would tighten scrutiny of foreign investment in order to limit Chinese efforts to acquire sophisticated U.S. technology are optimistic the measure will be signed into law …
Senate Ethics Committee admonishes Menendez for improper gifts
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics said on Thursday that Senator Robert Menendez violated congressional rules by “knowingly and repeatedly” accepting impermissible gifts over a six-year period and must repay their fair ma…
Democratic senators urge FCC to halt media ownership rule changes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – More than 20 Democratic U.S. senators on Thursday urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai not to approve any transfers of broadcast TV licenses as part of proposed mergers pending a federal court ruling.
Grilled by lawmakers, Trump’s EPA chief calls ethics scandals lies
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt on Thursday rejected a litany of ethics complaints against him as distortions intended to derail President Donald Trump’s agenda, and put much of the blame for any agency mi…
Senate confirms ambassador to Germany
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee to be ambassador to Germany on Thursday, just before Chancellor Angela Merkel was due in Washington for talks on Berlin’s desire that Trump preserve the international nuc…
Trump distances himself from his personal lawyer as probe moves forward
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump distanced himself from his longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen on Thursday, hours before a judge ruled that documents seized from Cohen by the FBI should be reviewed by an independent court…
Pompeo becomes U.S. secretary of state as North Korea, Middle East issues await
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate confirmed Mike Pompeo as President Donald Trump’s secretary of state on Thursday, and the former CIA director set off immediately on a trip to meet key allies in Europe and the Middle East.
EPA chief rejects ethics scandals as lies, distractions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt told lawmakers during a heated congressional hearing on Thursday that allegations of ethical missteps plaguing his tenure are untrue and are intended to derail President Don…
Judge appoints ‘special master’ to review seized Trump lawyer documents
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A judge ruled on Thursday that an independent official called a special master should be the first to examine documents seized by FBI agents from U.S. President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Pompeo becomes U.S. secretary of state as Iran, North Korea issues await
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate confirmed Mike Pompeo as President Donald Trump’s secretary of state on Thursday, putting the former CIA director in a pivotal role to handle U.S. foreign policy challenges such as North Korea and Iran.