There were several turns in the Georgia election interference case this week. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis admitted Friday to a personal relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, but argued it has not affected her ability to oversee the complex RICO case against former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants. The filing came after co-defendant and former Trump staffer Michael Roman sought to have the case dismissed, arguing the relationship was a conflict of interest. Willis is also fending off more political challenges. On Friday, Willis was subpoenaed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan as part of a broader probe into alleged misuse of federal funds.
Congress worked on two tracks this week. On the policy front, the Senate is coming closer to a deal on immigration. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that senators plan to release details of the bill, which will include aid for Ukraine and Israel, "no later than Sunday." Meanwhile, the House voted Wednesday to pass a $78 billion tax package that includes an expansion of the child tax credit. The bill now faces an uncertain future in the Senate. House Republicans also pushed on with their controversial impeachment inquiry into Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, despite a lack of evidence. Members of the House Homeland Security Committee voted Wednesday to advance the impeachment articles to the full House for a vote.
In other news, the U.S. began retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria on Friday in response to the drone attack that killed 3 American soldiers in Jordan at the end of January. U.S. military forces struck more than 85 Iran-affiliated targets, hitting facilities such as command and control centers and drone storage sites, according to the U.S. Central Command. On Saturday, the United States and the United Kingdom launched additional airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in response to the group's continued attacks in the Red Sea, the countries confirmed in a joint statement.
President Joe Biden easily won the South Carolina's Democratic primary last night, the party's first officially sanctioned contest this year. Minnesota Democrat Dean Phillips, widely regarded as a long-shot candidate, earned just 1.7% of the vote.
And, some good news: Punxsutawney Phil officially predicted an early spring.
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