Biden, Harris expected in Georgia for Rosalynn Carter memorial
Good morning, US politics blog readers. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and their spouses are today set to attend a tribute service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter in Atlanta, who died on Sunday at the age of 96. A noted advocate for people with mental health conditions and family caregivers, she is survived by her husband, Jimmy Carter, the former president who is expected to attend the ceremony, along with Bill and Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Melania Trump. The service starts at 1pm eastern time.
Many of the guests will be escaping from a Washington DC that is slowly getting back to work after the Thanksgiving holiday, and among the business that we may see developments in today is the saga of George Santos. Earlier this month, the Republican chair of the House ethics committee Michael Guest introduced a resolution to expel him from office after the release of a damning report into his conduct. Today, the House is expected to start a two-day clock to vote on the resolution, which may lead to Santos – who has admitted to lying about much of his resume and is facing federal fraud charges – being booted out of office.
Here’s what else is going on today:
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Mike Pence reportedly spoke with lawyers for the special prosecutor investigating Donald Trump over the January 6 insurrection, and said the former president almost caused a “constitutional crisis”.
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Yet another Republican does not think impeaching Biden is a good idea.
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Two House Democrats have proposed a resolution in opposition to a proposal from a Republican congressman to expel some Palestinians from the country.
Key events
Joe and Jill Biden have left the White House on this chilly Tuesday to attend Rosalynn Carter’s tribute service in Atlanta:
Here’s more from the Associated Press on the life of Rosalynn Carter, a former first lady who was viewed as a political enforcer of her husband during his four years in office, and later became one of the country’s best known advocates for mental health:
The Washington chattering class, often unsure what to make of outsiders, dubbed Rosalynn Carter the “Steel Magnolia” when she arrived as first lady.
A devout Baptist and mother of four, she was diminutive and outwardly shy, with a soft smile and softer Southern accent. That was the “magnolia”. She also was a force behind Jimmy Carter’s rise from peanut farmer to winner of the 1976 presidential election. That was the “steel”.
Yet that obvious, even trite moniker almost certainly undersold her role and impact across the Carters’ early life, their one White House term and their four decades afterward as global humanitarians advocating peace, democracy and the eradication of disease.
Through more than 77 years of marriage, until her death on Sunday at the age of 96, Rosalynn Carter was business and political partner, best friend and closest confidant to the 39th president. A Georgia Democrat like her husband, she became in her own right a leading advocate for people with mental health conditions and family caregivers in American life, and she joined the former president as co-founder of the Carter Center, where they set a new standard for what first couples can accomplish after yielding power.
“She was always eager to help his agenda, but she knew what she wanted to accomplish,” said Kathy Cade, a White House adviser to the first lady and later a Carter Center board member.
Carter aides and friends to give tribute at service, family to read scripture
Today’s tribute service for Rosalynn Carter will be held at the Glenn Memorial United Methodist church on the campus of Atlanta’s Emory University beginning at 1pm eastern time, the Carter Center announced.
Tributes to the former first lady will be delivered by Judy Woodruff, a journalist, Kathryn Cade, a friend and longtime aide, and Jason Carter, her grandson. Another grandson and three of Rosalynn Carter’s great-grandchildren are expected to read scripture.
While Joe and Jill Biden, Kamala Harris and Douglas Emhoff will attend, none of them are scheduled to speak. Other notable guests include Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Georgia governor Brian Kemp and his wife, Marty Kemp.
The Carter Center is calling today’s event a departure ceremony and tribute service, which will be followed by a funeral tomorrow in the Carter’s home town of Plains, Georgia.
Biden, Harris expected in Georgia for Rosalynn Carter memorial
Good morning, US politics blog readers. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and their spouses are today set to attend a tribute service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter in Atlanta, who died on Sunday at the age of 96. A noted advocate for people with mental health conditions and family caregivers, she is survived by her husband, Jimmy Carter, the former president who is expected to attend the ceremony, along with Bill and Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Melania Trump. The service starts at 1pm eastern time.
Many of the guests will be escaping from a Washington DC that is slowly getting back to work after the Thanksgiving holiday, and among the business that we may see developments in today is the saga of George Santos. Earlier this month, the Republican chair of the House ethics committee Michael Guest introduced a resolution to expel him from office after the release of a damning report into his conduct. Today, the House is expected to start a two-day clock to vote on the resolution, which may lead to Santos – who has admitted to lying about much of his resume and is facing federal fraud charges – being booted out of office.
Here’s what else is going on today:
-
Mike Pence reportedly spoke with lawyers for the special prosecutor investigating Donald Trump over the January 6 insurrection, and said the former president almost caused a “constitutional crisis”.
-
Yet another Republican does not think impeaching Biden is a good idea.
-
Two House Democrats have proposed a resolution in opposition to a proposal from a Republican congressman to expel some Palestinians from the country.