Trump transition and cabinet picks live updates

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the incoming administration’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, continues to tout the use of raw milk, California health authorities acted Sunday to recall raw milk that had been contaminated with bird flu.

While no illnesses have been reported, the state’s Department of Public Health warned residents against drinking the batch of cream top, whole raw milk from Fresno County’s Raw Farm LLC and advised consumers to return the product to where it was purchased.

Some Republican senators are “privately hoping” that other controversial Trump cabinet nominees will follow Matt Gaetz’s lead and drop out of the running, according to a report.

Gaetz bowed out of consideration to be attorney general last Thursday following intense scrutiny over resurfaced sexual allegations from his past. The former congressman said he was “unfairly becoming a distraction” to the Trump administration’s agenda.

Now some GOP lawmakers are turning their attention to Trump’s cabinet picks of Pete Hegseth, tapped for defense secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health and human services secretary and Linda McMahon as education secretary, The Hill reports.

Hegseth and Kennedy Jr are likely to face tough questions over sexual misconduct allegations, which they deny, at Senate hearings next year, while McMahon could be asked about accusations of failing to prevent the sexual abuse of teenage WWE workers.

“My expectation, not just my hope, is that some of these people may be weeded out in the process before they ever get to a hearing,” one Republican senator who requested anonymity told The Hill.

Congressman Adam Schiff reprimanded the Justice Department and court system for failing after Jack Smith motioned to dismiss the cases against Donald Trump.

“The Justice Dept and the court system failed to uphold the principle that no one is above the law. DOJ by neglecting to promptly investigate the events of Jan 6, and the courts by willfully delaying progress of the case and providing immunity. The public deserved better,” Schiff wrote.

Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced he will step down from his position, effective December 13, ahead of Donald Trump taking off in January.

“Today is a bittersweet day for me, as I announce my resignation as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. It is bitter in the sense that I am leaving my dream job, leading an institution I love that is filled with the finest public servants in the world. It is sweet in that I am confident I am leaving at a time when the Office is functioning at an incredibly high level – upholding and exceeding its already high standard of excellence, integrity, and independence,” Williams said.

Williams pursued cases against Senator Bob Menendez, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, Ghislaine Maxwell, and recently Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Edward Kim, the Deputy United States Attorney, will become the Acting United States Attorney upon Williams’ departure.

Trump, on Monday, endorsed Jimmy Patronis – the chief financial officer to the state of Florida – to replace outgoing congressman Matt Gaetz to represent Florida’s 1st congressional district, despite Patronis not launching a bid for the seat yet.

Patronis, who has served as chief financial officer of Florida since 2017, is a Republican who promoted a bill that would give Trump up to $5 million in taxpayer funds to pay his legal bills. Although the bill was filed, it was later withdrawn after Governor Ron DeSantis threatened to veto it.

Trump called Patronis a “wonderful friend” and highlighted his stance on protecting gun rights, bolstering the military, securing the border and growing the border.

Patronis has until Monday to submit his notice of resignation to run in the Republican primary.

“Should he decide to enter this Race, Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JIMMY, RUN!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Smith also asked the 11th Circuit Appeals Court to abandon his appeal to re-instate the classified documents case against Trump on Monday – but noted he would continue pursuing the case against co-defendants Walt Nautu and Carlos de Oliveira.

The classified documents case accused Trump and his co-defendants of knowingly and willfully retaining boxes that contained classified information, some containing national security information, at Trump’s home Mar-a-Lago home after leaving office.

Prosecutors said Trump did not cooperate with authorities’ attempt to give the documents back to the National Archives when he left office. Trump denied all wrongdoing and all three co-defendants pleaded not guilty.

A district judge in Florida initially dismissed the case against the three earlier this year, claiming Smith was improperly appointed. Prosecutors were in the midst of appealing that ruling when Trump was elected president.

“The American People re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate to Make America Great Again. Today’s decision by the DOJ ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump, and is a major victory for the rule of law. The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country,” Steven Cheung, Trump Communications Director, said in a statement

Last year, the Justice Department brought a criminal indictment against Trump for his actions leading up to and after the 2020 presidential election. Now, that indictment – and the damning accusations – are likely to be thrown out.

Alex Woodward explains the case here:

Smith said they were following precedent that states a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime. Since Trump is expected to take office before proceedings in the case have unfolded, it applies to Trump.

Smith said his team consulted with legal experts to make the determination.

The indictment accused Trump of trying to overturn the 2020 election results, in part by installing “fake electors”, and then inciting an attack on the Capitol on January 6 for spreading lies about mass voter fraud.

Smith stressed while they were asking Judge Tanya Chutkan to dismiss the indictment, it was not due to the strength of the case but rather based on Constitutional precedent.

“That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” Smith wrote.