Latest news with #congressman
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Man accused of forcing US congressman off road turns himself in
A man who allegedly threatened a US congressman with his vehicle in Ohio has turned himself in to the authorities, police have driver was identified by the Rocky River Police Department on Friday as 36-year-old Feras Hamdan. He has pleaded not guilty to charges in relation the a video shared on social media, Max Miller, a Republican house representative, said a man honked his horn and forced him "off the road" in an attempt to get his attention. He alleged the man tried to show him a Palestinian flag, said "death to Israel" and that "he wanted to kill me and my family". Police said they put out a warrant for Mr Hamdan's arrest after the congressman filed a criminal complaint. They said Mr Hamdan turned himself shortly after. The incident, which occurred in Rocky River, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, is now under investigation by state and federal authorities, including the US Capitol Police. Mr Hamdan, who is reported to be a doctor in Ohio with a private practice, faces charges of aggravated menacing and ethnic intimidation. He appeared in court on Friday, where his bond was set at $500,000 (£371,500) by Rocky River Municipal Court Judge Joseph Burke. He was ordered to surrender his passport and is due back in court on 8 July. On Thursday afternoon, Miller posted a video on X describing the alleged incident, calling the driver "unhinged". "The deranged hatred in this country has grown out of control," he wrote in the post. Miller added that "as a Marine, a proud Jewish American and a staunch defender of Israel, I will not hide in the face of this blatant antisemitic violence".The incident comes at the heels of a fatal attack on two Democratic state politicians in Minnesota and their spouses, an incident that has raised the alarm on political violence in the US. State lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their homes on Saturday in what has been described as a "politically motivated assassination." Another lawmaker, State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot but have arrested Vance Luther Boelter in connection to the Minnesota attacks, whom investigators say had a list of 70 "targets" that included names of other Democratic Donald Trump has also been the target of political violence, with two assassination attempts against him in 2024.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold of Corpus Christi dies at 63
Former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, a four-term Republican congressman from Corpus Christi and local radio host, died this week from a heart attack after struggling with chronic liver disease, according to a close friend who worked on his radio show. He was 63. 'Blake was a good family friend,' state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, said in a text message, adding that he had texted prayers to Farenthold's family. Farenthold, a local radio personality and stepson of former state legislator Sissy Farenthold, began his congressional tenure in 2011 after he unseated the long-serving Democratic Rep. Solomon Ortiz as part of a nationwide red wave two years into President Barack Obama's first term. A software policy expert, lawyer and quieter member of the Texas delegation, Farenthold coasted to reelection every two years. He served on the Oversight, Judiciary and Transportation committees. Former Corpus Christi City Council Member Greg Smith, a longtime family friend who regularly appeared on Farenthold's radio show, credited him with working 'tirelessly to secure federal funding' on 'game-changing' local infrastructure projects. His efforts included a $625 million channel deepening project for the Port of Corpus Christi. 'He was an effective congressman,' Smith said in an interview Friday. 'He wasn't party first — he was community first.' Smith added that he texted Farenthold two weeks ago to thank him for his work on the channel deepening project. 'I was just doing my job,' Farenthold replied. Dale Rankin, the editor of the Island Moon newspaper who worked with Farenthold on his show, also emphasized Farenthold's local impact. 'He was a guy who came along at the right time when there was demand for growth at the port,' Rankin said. 'And by getting into [Congress], he was in a position to clear the way for that.' But Farenthold's time in Washington came to a fraught end in April 2018, when he resigned from Congress amid allegations of sexual harassment, an ethics investigation and pressure from the Republican leadership to step down. His seat is now represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud. Politico reported in December 2017 that Farenthold had settled a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against him by a former staffer using $84,000 in taxpayer money that he promised to pay back, but did not ever appear to do so. In announcing his retirement, Farenthold said that his lack of experience in politics paved the way for turmoil in his office. 'I'd never served in public office before," he said in 2017. 'I had no idea how to run a congressional office and, as a result, I allowed a workplace culture to take root in my office that was too permissive and decidedly unprofessional.' 'I allowed the personal stress of the job to manifest itself in angry outbursts and too often a failure to treat people with the respect that they deserved,' he added. 'That was wrong. Clearly, it's not how I was raised, it's not who I am and for that situation, I am profoundly sorry." After resigning, Farenthold took a job as a legislative liaison for The Calhoun Port Authority, spurring proposed federal legislation to block former members of Congress from lobbying their colleagues if they do not repay taxpayer money they used to settle litigation. Farenthold left his lobbying position soon after. He began appearing on local Corpus Christi radio voice Jim Lago's show before taking over after Lago's death in 2023. On his daily show that he self-produced and hosted, Farenthold, a Trump-supporting Republican, discussed politics and local news and denounced big government and elected officials he felt were moving in the wrong direction. 'He was your conservative commentator,' Smith said. 'If he made $2 an hour, I'd be surprised. But he never went out looking for it. He just wanted to bring news and commentary to the community.' Farenthold continued hosting his show, usually from his home, even as he struggled with his liver, Smith added. 'Most people would've just given up where Blake moved ahead,' he said. Farenthold is survived by two daughters and his wife, Debbie. Disclosure: Politico has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer. Get tickets. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
CBS News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Charles Rangel, longtime N.Y. congressman, to be remembered with public viewing in Harlem
Former Rep. Charles Rangel is being remembered with the first of many public viewings Monday in Harlem. The longtime New York congressman died last month at the age of 94. Public viewings will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Saint Aloysius Church, where Rangel once served as an altar boy. Another public viewing will be held Thursday at City Hall, where Rangel will lie in state for the public to pay their respects, followed by an honor guard ceremony in the evening. His funeral will be held Friday at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown. Remembering Congressman Charles Rangel Rangel spent nearly 50 years representing New York. In 1970, he defeated Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in the Democratic primary for the seat in New York's 18th congressional district. He was the first African American to chair the influential House Ways and Means Committee and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. He was a son of Harlem, affectionately called "the Lion of Lenox Avenue," and part of the so-called "Harlem Gang of Four" coalition with Basil Paterson, Percy Sutton, Herman "Denny" Farrell and former Mayor David Dinkins. They were known as the first to break down race and class barriers. Late in his career, Rangel faced a series of ethics violations. In 2010, the House Ethics Committee convicted him of 11 counts of violating House rules, and Congress censured him. But the people of Harlem stood by him, and he was reelected to the House two more times. Rangel leaves behind a son, daughter and three grandsons.
Washington Post
29-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
East Timor to deport an ex-Filipino congressman accused of masterminding a governor's murder
DILI, East Timor — East Timor said Thursday it would deport a former Filipino congressman charged with multiple murders in the Philippines and added that he was a national security threat whose presence could damage the country's image ahead of its entry to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Ex-Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. was arrested in East Timor's capital of Dili on Wednesday by immigration authorities and would immediately be deported to the Philippines for staying without a visa and after his passport was cancelled by Manila's Department of Foreign Affairs, the East Timor government said in a statement.
Bloomberg
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Charles Rangel, a Voice for the Poor in Tax Debates, Dies at 94
Charles Rangel, the dapper, voluble US congressman from New York's Harlem district who for four decades used his perch on the House tax-writing committee to advocate for inner cities and the people who live there, has died. He was 94. The former congressman died on Monday, according to a statement from the City College of New York, where he had served as statesman-in-residence. No cause of death was given.
