Louisiana House Approves Congressional Redistricting Favoring Republicans
Republicans in Louisiana are set to eliminate a majority-Black congressional district that previously elected a Democrat, following a recent US Supreme Court ruling that deemed the state's map an illegal racial gerrymander.
A redistricting plan passed on Thursday by the Louisiana House would provide Republicans an opportunity to gain an additional seat in this year’s midterm elections, according to AP reports.
The plan is also designed to protect House Speaker Mike Johnson from facing a more challenging reelection campaign. It requires only a final vote in the Senate, which could take place on Friday, before being sent to Republican Governor Jeff Landry for approval.
“We drew this map in an effort to safely maximize Republican strength,” said State Representative Beau Beaullieu, a Republican and chair of the chamber’s redistricting committee.
Since the Supreme Court’s decision in late April, several other Southern states have also moved to redraw their congressional districts, capitalizing on a weakened federal Voting Rights Act.
Bondi to Face Closed-Door Questioning from House Committee Over Epstein Files
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is testifying before the US House Oversight and Reform Committee in a long-anticipated appearance that renews scrutiny over the administration’s release of the Epstein files.
The committee announced in late April that Bondi would appear before the panel as part of its investigation, shortly after Democrats on the committee filed a civil contempt resolution against her.
Bondi’s testimony comes amid criticism of the Justice Department’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The department missed the act’s December 19 deadline to release the relevant files, instead releasing what it claimed were the full files on January 31.
In previous public testimony, Bondi was assertive when questioned by lawmakers; it remains uncertain whether she will maintain the same approach during this session, which will be held behind closed doors.
The transcribed interview will allow lawmakers to seek further information on the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files and related matters, including the prison sentence of his former girlfriend and confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell.
“I think she absolutely could clear up many missing pieces if she wanted to,” said Rep. Yassamin Ansari, an Arizona Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. “Now it’s a question of whether or not she is willing to be transparent.”
Survivors of Epstein’s abuse have expressed concerns that sensitive personal information was improperly disclosed in the files, while several lawmakers have criticized some of the redactions in the documents. The Justice Department maintains that it acted in accordance with the law.
Separately, a jury in Spokane, Washington found an Afghanistan War veteran and two others guilty on Thursday of federal conspiracy charges related to a protest last June outside the city’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill reported that state health inspectors were denied full access to the privately run Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark. Detainees there are staging a hunger and labor strike over health and sanitary conditions and have reportedly been tased, pepper-sprayed, and detained.
At least six of the nine musical acts initially recruited to perform on the National Mall in Washington DC this summer, as part of a concert series planned by the Trump administration to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary, have withdrawn from the lineup just one day after it was announced.
US Vice President JD Vance stated on Thursday that Washington was “not there yet” with Iran negotiations but indicated that the parties were close, adding that the US was positioned to significantly hinder Tehran’s nuclear program. Earlier, Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing a source close to the negotiating team, reported that the text of a potential memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries had not yet been finalized or confirmed.
