A new report from Congress’s watchdog agency is critical of the U.S. Justice Department’s handling of excessive force allegations made against law enforcement.The lengthy audit covers the Civil Rights Division that’s investigating the city of Phoenix and its police department.A sweeping federal review of Phoenix police and the city has been underway for months. One area of
30 Apr 2021
Former Trump administration lawyer Mark Paoletta told House Budget Committee ranking member Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) Thursday that the Joe Biden administration violated the Impoundment Control Act by withholding federal funds for the border wall.
A veteran of Washington’s political battles, Paoletta served as general counsel of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the powerful White House agency in charge of all federal budgeting, spending, and regulatory actions. Now a senior fellow at the Center for Renewing America, he testified before the House Budget Committee’s hearing, “Protecting our Democracy: Reasserting Congress’ Power of the Purse.”
During the hearing, Smith and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) asked Paoletta about the Biden administration’s withholding of federal funds appropriated to construct the wall along the southern border. Biden froze border wall funds on his first day in office.