Trump’s nominees head to Capitol Hill in attempt to win over senators: Live updates

Biden was already facing calls last from opponents of capital punishment to commute the sentences of death row inmates and halt what could very well be a second Trump-led effort to accelerate the use of the death penalty in federal cases beginning next year. The president is now also seeing those calls taken on Pope Francis, the highest Catholic authority in the world and a man for whom the US president has repeatedly expressed great respect.

Lydia Spencer-Elliott reports.

The judge overseeing Giuliani’s defamation case in Washington DC has agreed to give him yet another extension of time to respond to a motion to hold him in contempt.

Giuliani blew an initial deadline, then explained to the court that he couldn’t find an attorney to represent him. He has been representing himself. The judge turned him down, noting that he didn’t even file his request correctly. Giuliani tried again, and the judge is now agreeing to give him another chance — as long as he agrees to stop making false claims about the election workers that he is court-ordered from speaking out against after defaming them.

He has until January 2 to file a response. The defamed election workers who want to hold him in contempt have until January 7. A hearing on the contempt motion will be moved to January 10, given that Giuliani “needs this time in order to ‘find an attorney,’” according to Judge Beryl Howell, and “given the potential scope and severity” what contempt for Giuliani could mean — including “compensatory and coercive fines, as well as imprisonment.”

“Any further extension requests so he can obtain counsel will be viewed with continuing skepticism, since defendant is apparently able to obtain the assistance of counsel in this matter,” the judge added.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst issued a supportive statement after her meeting Monday with defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth:

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has called on FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign.

“Your and Deputy Director Abbate’s failure to take control of the FBI has hindered my work and others’ work throughout multiple Congresses on matters that needed timely information, and has prevented the truth on some issues from ever reaching the American people,” Grassley wrote in a 11-page letter. “You’ve also shown a continuing double standard and failure to carry through on promises. For the good of the country, it’s time for you and your deputy to move on to the next chapter in your lives.”

Dr Janette Nesheiwat was a teenager when she accidentally knocked a loaded gun over, which fired upon impact and fatally shot her father in the head.

The incident occurred in February 1990 at her family’s home in Umatilla, Florida, according to a report by the New York Times.

Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, told CNN on Monday that he had a “very good” meeting with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, who has appeared skeptical of the former Fox & Friends host.

But the 44-year-old didn’t say if the senator would back him.

“It was a very good meeting with the senator,” Hegseth told CNN. “I’ve known her for 10 years. The more we talk the more we’re reminded, as two combat veterans, how dedicated we are to defense. She has been dedicated to making the Pentagon work for warfighters for a long time …. I appreciate her commitment to the process and we look forward to working together.”