OnPolitics: Late Sen. Bob Dole lies in state
Hello, OnPolitics readers!
It's been a busy Thursday for President Joe Biden.
This morning, he kicked off his inaugural two-day summit of foreign leaders to push back at the rise of authoritarianism.
The president said preserving and strengthening the world's democracies is "the defining challenge of our time"
The summit's stated mission is to "set forth an affirmative agenda for democratic renewal" and to tackle threats against democracies "through collective action." The hope is to kick off a "year of action" to strengthen democracies worldwide.
"In the face of sustained and alarming challenges to democracy and universal human rights all around the world, democracy needs champions," Biden said.
It's Amy with today's top stories out of Washington.
Late Sen. Bob Dole lies in state
Remembrances for former Sen. Bob Dole started this morning at the U.S. Capitol – his workplace for decades – where he will lie in state.
Biden joined Dole's widow, former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, and daughter, Robin, along with congressional leaders at a private ceremony in the Rotunda.
Dole was a decorated World War II veteran and Kansas Republican lawmaker who, until 2018, had been the Senate’s longest-serving Republican leader, a post he held for nearly 11 years. He was also the party's presidential nominee in 1996.
Sen. Mitch McConnell extolled former Dole’s love and sense of humor. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also gave remarks about the late senator during the ceremony.
McConnell, the only Republican to spend more time leading the Republican conference, said “the real engine” behind Dole’s longevity was the love he held for his wife and his daughter.
Who can lie in state? The Capitol Rotunda has served for nearly 170 years as a place to honor Americans who have served the country in some capacity. Presidents, military leaders and other "distinguished citizens" have lain in state or in honor in the space, according to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Real Quick: stories you'll want to read
- Reducing greenhouse gases: President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday that aims to use the federal government’s buying power to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 65 percent by 2030.
- Is 'political hostility' here to stay? As Capitol Hill grows more politically toxic, a new survey indicates most Americans are tired of the acrimony and think the sharp partisan divide is harming the nation.
- Campaign disruptions: The North Carolina Supreme Court has delayed next year's state primary from March to May, one in what may be a series of election calendar changes in states nationwide where new redistricting maps are under legal challenge.
NY Attorney General Letitia James wants a word with Trump
New York Attorney General Letitia James is seeking testimony from Donald Trump as part of an ongoing fraud inquiry involving the former president's namesake real estate business the Trump Organization, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday.
Trump's deposition, requested for early next month, would mark a new escalation of a civil investigation into financial fraud involving the former president's company.
What is the investigation about? The civil investigation, focusing on whether the company claimed false property valuations in its dealings with lenders and taxing authorities, as been running parallel to a criminal inquiry involving both James and Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance.
So far, the joint investigation has resulted in criminal tax evasion charges against Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organization's longtime chief financial officer.
State prosecutors earlier this year alleged that the Trump Organization and Weisselberg participated in an "off the books'' compensation operation that funded luxury car leases, family members' tuition payments and apartment rent starting in 2005 and running through this year.
It's almost Friday! If you're looking for weekend activities, Paste BN has a step-by-step guide to making the perfect holiday cookie. — Amy