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House avoids unprecedented four-member expulsion week as Swalwell and Gonzales resign instead
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It may have been possible to bequeath this as «expulsion week.»
Instead, this might be «resignation week.»
The House has only expelled six Members in the history of the republic. But it was possible as recently as Monday that the House was primed to wrestle with a mind-boggling four expulsions.
It takes a two-thirds vote to expel a Member. The House last expelled one of its own in late 2023: former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.). Before that, you have to go back to 2002 when the House kicked out late Rep. Jim Traficant (D-Ohio).
5TH ACCUSER COMES FORWARD AGAINST REP ERIC SWALWELL AHEAD OF EXPECTED RESIGNATION
Here was the chopping block:
Calls to expel former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) piled up after reports surfaced that he sexually assaulted a former aide and several other women. Swalwell initially said he would fight the allegations. Then he dropped his bid to become governor of California after a host of once close allies abandoned their support. Swalwell has now resigned, avoiding the ignominious scene of an expulsion.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., appeared on MS NOW 26 times and on CNN 24 times in 2026 alone, according to the Media Research Center. (Ronaldo Bolaños/Getty Images)
Then there was former Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas). At first, Gonzales denied an affair with an aide who committed suicide by setting herself on fire. Gonzales was locked in a tough primary runoff against Republican Congressional candidate Brandon Herrera. But after pressure, Gonzales finally dropped out of the runoff and isn’t standing for re-election. However, Gonzales intended to stay on until his term expired on January 3 next year. But now Gonzales is out the door, too.
TWO DEMOCRATIC REPS CALL FOR SWALWELL TO EXIT CONGRESS AS CONTROVERSY SWIRLS AROUND HIS BID FOR CA GOVERNOR
So two down, two to go.
This is where things grow complicated.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) could face expulsion soon. In late March, the House Ethics Committee held a rare «trial,» declaring she improperly obtained an astonishing $5 million in COVID relief funds. The Ethics panel will likely recommend a punishment for Cherfilus-McCormick next week. The full House doesn’t have to consider or adhere to the prescribed discipline. The congresswoman proclaims her innocence. She faces a criminal trial in Florida in February 2027.
WHY ERIC SWALWELL WAS FORCED TO QUIT CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S RACE AFTER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
«The facts are indisputable at this point and so I believe it will be the consensus of this body that she should be expelled,» forecast House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said lawmakers should expel Rep. Sheila Cherfilius-McCormick, D-Fla., after a House ethics panel found her guilty of more than 25 ethics violations. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images; Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Rep. Greg Stuebe (R-Fla.) filed a resolution to bounce Cherfilus-McCormick from the body a few months ago.
And for the Republicans, there’s Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.). Mills is accused of «stolen valor» and exaggeration of his military record. But what triggered the current expulsion push is an allegation that the congressman struck his girlfriend in early 2025. A judge imposed a restraining order against Mills. However, police never charged the congressman. The Ethics Committee is also investigating whether he violated federal campaign rules. But the formal ethics probe of the Florida Republican isn’t as far along as the Cherfilus-McCormick inquiry.
SWALWELL RESIGNATION COLLIDES WITH CHINA-LINKED SCANDAL AS CRITICS DEMAND FILE RELEASE
Johnson is mindful of that fact.
«With regard to Mills, I’m not sure the status of the Ethics Committee investigation and that’s one of the things I’ll be looking into today,» said Johnson.
Four troubled Members. Two Democrats and two Republicans. It was that parity which may have primed the House to take the unprecedented step of expelling those four Members before Swalwell and Gonzales announced their resignations. But a push to expel Cherfiulus-McCormick and not Mills creates a host of problems in the House.
GONZALES HIT WITH EXPULSION VOTE THREAT AHEAD OF EXPECTED RESIGNATION
It’s about the math.
The House swore-in Rep. Clay Fuller (R-Ga.) on Monday night. Fuller won a special election last week to succeed former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) who resigned. That GOP gain is likely offset by an anticipated victory by Democratic Congressional candidate Analilia Mejia in a Thursday special election in New Jersey. This is a Democratic seat which has been vacant since New Jersey Gov. and former Congresswoman Mikie Sherill (D) resigned from the House last fall.
Republican congressional candidate Clay Fuller, left, speaks next to President Donald Trump, during a visit to the Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome, Georgia, Feb. 19, 2026. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
With Swalwell and Gonzales out and Fuller in, the current breakdown is 431 Members: 217 Republicans and 213 Democrats. Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.) dropped his affiliation with the GOP. The addition of Fuller and presumed win by Meija would make the breakdown 217 to 214 and one independent – with one vacancy, covering 432 Members. After the Swalwell and Gonzales resignations, the remaining open seat is a solidly Republican district in northern California, long held by late Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.). He died in January.
ERIC SWALWELL WAS CABLE NEWS STAR FOR YEARS BEFORE RAPID FALL FROM GRACE
But what happens if the House moves against Cherfilus-McCormick and not Mills? That creates an imbalance between the parties – something which was lost when the potential expulsion of four Members was on the table.
«What about this issue of parity,» yours truly asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
«The issue of parity hasn’t been something that we’ve had a conversation about. We’ve been working through what’s in front of us today and that’s what we’re going to continue to do,» replied Jeffries.
LAWMAKERS PUT EXPULSION THREATS ATOP HOUSE AGENDA AS RETURN SETS UP HIGH-STAKES WEEK
I followed up.
«But isn’t that a concern, though, if they take action against Cherfilus-McCormick? Her ethics process is further along than Mr. Mills,» I asked.
«The ethics process is still incomplete and we’ll see what the Ethics Committee has to recommend next week,» replied Jeffries.
‘SMART DECISION’: SWALWELL’S RESIGNATION SPURS PRAISE FROM BOTH PARTIES AFTER BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS EMERGE
That’s in reference to the upcoming ethics panel meeting, recommending punishment for the Florida Democrat.
It was one thing if the House may have bounced four Members, two Republicans and two Democrats, all at once. But it’s dicier now that Gonzales and Swalwell stepped aside. It’s further complicated considering the uneven status of the ethics inquiries regarding Cherfilus-McCormick and Mills.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., speaks after being sworn in during a ceremony in the Broward County Commission chambers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Jan. 27, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
It seems that Congress is now in a period of establishing new precedents on a regular basis. A record-breaking government shutdown – only superseded by another record-breaking government shutdown. In addition, the House is experiencing a dramatic increase in the raw number of «censures» which it doles out to Members. Censure is the second-highest mode of punishment in the House, just below expulsion.
JONATHAN TURLEY: ERIC SWALWELL’S ENABLERS KNEW THE TRUTH — AND PROTECTED HIM ANYWAY
The House censured late Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) in late 2010. Prior to that, the House last reprimanded late Reps. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) and Daniel Crane (R-Ill.) in 1983. But since 2021, the House has censured five Members: Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) – when he served in the House – Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Al Green (D-Texas).
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) recently characterized the censure explosion as the «political» weaponization of the ethics process.
It’s possible the House might not take any immediate action regarding Cherfilus-McCormick and Mills. Lawmakers from both sides may be more willing to expel one of their own – and maybe take one for the team on their side – if a similar outcome is guaranteed across the aisle.
SWALWELL’S FALL FROM GRACE SPARKS DEMOCRAT RUSH TO RETURN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AMID SCRUTINY
With such a tight majority, Republicans may not want to cede power to Democrats if the House expels a GOP Member as they try to cling to the majority. By the same token, it’s doubtful Democrats are willing to absorb a hit when they are within sneezing distance of the majority – if they don’t see a political equilibrium and document consequences for the Republican majority.
Moreover, tracking where the votes lie for disciplinary action is nearly impossible. What further complicates this is whether any expulsion motion actually comes to a true, up/down vote. There are often motions «to table» or kill any resolution to impose discipline against a Member. The same with motions «to refer» or dispatch allegations against a Member to the Ethics Committee for additional scrutiny. For instance, the Ethics panel is all but done probing Cherfilus-McCormick and is investigating Mills. So it’s unclear what would happen with any possible motion «to refer.»
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And let’s be frank: some lawmakers either really want to be on the record voting to discipline one of their colleagues or want no part of it at all. Resolutions to sit in judgment of a colleague is one of the hardest votes lawmakers take. Right up with a vote to go to war. That’s why some prefer the political fig leaf of a «motion to refer» or «motion to table» to an actual up/down vote to punish one of their own.
So this could have been «expulsion week» on Capitol Hill. It’s certainly «resignation week.» And if there’s no other disciplinary action, some lawmakers will be resigned to that outcome.
politics, us, eric swalwell, congress, house of representatives politics, mike johnson
INTERNACIONAL
US-backed pipeline proposal targets global reliance on Strait of Hormuz amid Iran threats
US launches Project Freedom in Strait of Hormuz amid escalating Iran tensions
Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer announce the US initiative ‘Project Freedom’ to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump issues a stern warning to Iran against any interference with shipping lanes. Bryan Llenas reports from Tel Aviv on recent drone attacks attributed to Iran by the UAE, and South Korea’s investigation into a vessel attack in the volatile region.
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A new U.S.-backed proposal to build a network of overland energy pipelines bypassing the Strait of Hormuz is gaining attention as tensions in the region expose a critical vulnerability in the global energy system.
A policy memo reviewed by Fox News Digital outlines the concept, known as «ARAM Express,» a proposed consortium between the United States and Gulf partners to develop a multidirectional overland network for oil, gas and petrochemicals, originating with Richard Goldberg of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
The plan envisions pipelines extending westward to the Red Sea and Mediterranean, as well as southern routes toward the Arabian Sea, creating multiple export pathways that would reduce reliance on the strait, through which roughly one-third of the world’s seaborne oil currently flows.
TRUMP OPENS HORMUZ UNDER FIRE WITH ‘PROJECT FREEDOM’ AS IRAN WARNS OF ATTACKS
USS George H.W. Bush transits the Arabian Sea as U.S. forces enforce a naval blockade against Iran and support Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command. (Fox News)
The proposal would rely on broad international participation, with European and Asian buyers investing in infrastructure and securing long-term supply agreements.
«European buyers are desperate for long-term supply resilience, and Asian customers are equally exposed,» Goldberg said. «Even China cannot tolerate the risk of a sustained disruption.»
The push comes as Iran’s threats to commercial shipping and ongoing U.S. efforts to secure the waterway under President Donald Trump’s «Project Freedom» highlight the risks posed by a single chokepoint to global energy flows.
Roughly one-third of the world’s seaborne oil passes through the narrow waterway, making it a critical artery for global markets. With Iran threatening shipping and U.S. forces now guiding vessels through the strait under President Donald Trump’s «Project Freedom,» the White House is framing the crisis in global terms.
«The President will not allow Iran to hold the global economy hostage and undermine the free flow of energy,» said White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers, describing the launch of «Project Freedom» as a humanitarian effort to restore navigation through the strait.
That framing aligns with a growing view among U.S. officials and analysts that the risk is not only immediate but also structural.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz signaled that Washington’s partners are already looking beyond the strait itself.
«I know our Gulf partners and allies are seriously thinking through that,» Waltz told Fox News Digital when asked about long-term alternatives during a conference call with reporters Monday.
«I know they’re looking at additional alternatives to frankly diversify their pathways and diversify their economies,» he added.
MIKE WALTZ PUSHES UN RESOLUTION TO STOP IRAN MINING KEY GLOBAL SHIPPING ROUTE
The surge in regional piracy risk is exacerbated by the volatility of the Strait of Hormuz as Iranian-backed threats persist in the Persian Gulf and global energy flows are shifting. (Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Cassandra Thompson/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
A vulnerability years in the making
The idea that Hormuz represents a structural weakness is not new. But until now, it has largely been tolerated, with global markets relying on stability in the Gulf to keep energy flowing.
That assumption is now under strain.
Even with U.S. naval power deployed to secure the waterway, the current crisis has highlighted how quickly disruption, or even the threat of it, can ripple through global supply chains.
«This isn’t just a long-term idea anymore,» said Rich Goldberg of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank. «There is a real threat to the Strait of Hormuz that isn’t going away so long as the regime in Tehran remains.»
AS IRAN WEAKENS, QUESTIONS GROW OVER MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN’S REGIONAL AMBITIONS
The proposal would rely on broad international participation, with European and Asian buyers investing in infrastructure and securing long-term supply agreements. (U.S. Central Command)
Saudi Arabia: Building around the risk
Saudi Arabia stands out as the country among Gulf states that has invested most heavily in reducing reliance on Hormuz.
Its East-West pipeline allows crude oil to travel from eastern fields on the Gulf to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, bypassing the strait entirely. From there, shipments can move toward Europe, Africa and Asia without entering the chokepoint.
«Saudi Arabia has treated the Strait of Hormuz risk with planning, not panic,» said Salman Al-Ansari, a Saudi geopolitical analyst.
«The East-West pipeline is strategic insurance,» he told Fox News Digital, «A Hormuz closure would be disruptive, but not paralyzing. Saudi Arabia has spent years reducing that vulnerability, and today it is uniquely positioned to absorb shocks and keep global flows moving.»
Al-Ansari argued that the kingdom’s strategy goes beyond energy exports, positioning the country as a broader logistics hub.
«Ports, pipelines, land bridges, storage and Red Sea access are all part of one Saudi contingency architecture,» he said.
HORMUZ CHOKE POINT PERSISTS AS IRAN HALTS OIL TRAFFIC DESPITE TRUMP CEASEFIRE
The plan envisions pipelines extending westward to the Red Sea and Mediterranean, as well as southern routes toward the Arabian Sea, creating multiple export pathways that would reduce reliance on the strait, through which roughly one-third of the world’s seaborne oil currently flows. (Fadel Senna / AFP via Getty Images)
UAE and the fragmentation of the Gulf model
Saudi Arabia is not the only player adapting.
The United Arab Emirates also has developed alternative export capacity through its pipeline to Fujairah, outside the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, some analysts argue that recent regional dynamics point to a deeper shift, one that goes beyond infrastructure and into the political structure of the Gulf itself.
Yonatan Adiri, an Israeli entrepreneur and former adviser to former Israeli President Shimon Peres, said the traditional model of a unified Gulf energy system centered on Hormuz is beginning to break down.
«The whole arrangement … it’s starting to expire,» Adiri said, referring to the long-standing reliance on the strait as a central artery for Gulf exports.
He pointed to emerging economic and geopolitical realignments, including new corridors and shifting alliances, that are fragmenting the region’s traditional energy architecture.
«The UAE stepping away from OPEC is not just about production policy,» Adiri said, referring to the country’s decision to leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries effective May 1, 2026. «It reflects a broader shift toward an independent strategy — building its own routes, partnerships and leverage rather than relying on a collective system.»
These changes are driven in part by broader global competition, according to Adiri, particularly efforts by the United States and its partners to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
«The entire system is being rethought,» he said, describing a shift toward diversified routes that reduce reliance on single choke points.
WHY GULF STATES AREN’T JOINING THE WAR AGAINST IRAN — DESPITE ATTACKS ON THEIR SOIL
Cargo ships are anchored in the Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. (Reuters/Stringer/File Photo/File Photo)
Uneven exposure across the Gulf
Despite these developments, not all Gulf states are equally prepared.
«If you’re Kuwait, you’re in a world of hurt,» Goldberg said, pointing to countries that lack meaningful alternatives to maritime exports.
Qatar, one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas, remains heavily dependent on the strait, with limited options to reroute supply if shipping is disrupted.
This uneven exposure could reshape regional dynamics, giving countries with alternative routes greater resilience and leverage in future crises.
Political limits and long-term questions
While the technical case for alternative routes is growing stronger, political constraints remain.
One of the most sensitive issues is whether future corridors could involve Israel, even indirectly.
«As for routes involving Israel, even indirectly, the politics are extremely difficult under current circumstances,» Al-Ansari said. «I genuinely do not see it happening now.»
At the same time, he suggested that such cooperation could become more realistic in the future under different political conditions.
A system in transition
For now, the U.S. and its allies remain focused on stabilizing the immediate situation in the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring that ships can pass safely and global markets continue to function.
But as tensions persist, the current crisis is forcing a broader reassessment.
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While the technical case for alternative routes is growing stronger, political constraints remain. (Altaf Qadri/The Associated Press )
The question is no longer just how to secure the strait, but whether the global energy system can afford to depend on it to the extent it has for decades.
If the current trajectory continues, Hormuz may remain critical, but no longer dominant, experts argue, as countries invest in new routes, new partnerships and a more diversified energy map.
Fox News Digital reached out to Saudi Arabia and the UAE for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
war with iran, middle east, saudi arabia, trade, iran, geopolitics, energy
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La calificadora Moody’s ratifica la nota Ba1 de Guatemala y mantiene la perspectiva estable
Moody’s reafirmó la calificación de Guatemala en Ba1 y mantuvo la perspectiva estable, lo que posiciona al país centroamericano a un solo nivel del grado de inversión e implica un reconocimiento al avance institucional y la prudencia fiscal, de acuerdo con información del Ministerio de Finanzas Públicas citada por Minfin.
Esta ratificación consolida una tendencia favorable iniciada en 2025, cuando S&P Global Ratings elevó su nota a BB+ y Fitch Ratings también mejoró su evaluación, alineando a las tres principales agencias internacionales en un diagnóstico común: estabilidad del perfil crediticio guatemalteco.
El dato más reciente sobre la economía nacional indica que Guatemala creció 4,3% en 2025, resultado que supera el 4,1% estimado previamente y confirmado por las autoridades monetarias tras la revisión efectuada en abril, según Minfin.
Esta evolución se da en un contexto en el que el país sostiene una de las deudas públicas netas más bajas de América Latina, fenómeno destacado por Moody’s Ratings en su informe. La agencia cita también el rol de las remesas y el gasto público como factores clave en el dinamismo económico.
La decisión de Moody’s se fundamenta en tres áreas: el refuerzo institucional, el crecimiento sólido y la resiliencia externa. El informe expresa: “La confirmación de la calificación Ba1 de Guatemala equilibra el impulso institucional en mejora, el sólido crecimiento tendencial, el historial de gestión fiscal prudente y la limitada vulnerabilidad externa, frente a las persistentes restricciones estructurales económicas e institucionales en comparación con países de mayor calificación”, según la propia calificadora.
La ratificación se produce tras la aprobación de instrumentos legislativos como la Ley de Infraestructura Vial Prioritaria, la Ley de Alianzas Público-Privadas y la Ley de Competencia, reformas impulsadas por el gobierno del presidente Bernardo Arévalo y destinadas a fortalecer la competitividad y atraer inversiones. Moody’s resalta estos logros como indicadores de que la agenda de reformas se mantiene en marcha.
La permanencia en el nivel Ba1 obedece también a la evaluación de desafíos persistentes. Moody’s advierte que la capacidad estatal, la baja base de ingresos y el déficit significativo de infraestructura continúan afectando el desempeño económico.
Estas debilidades, originadas en un “largo historial de baja formación de capital físico y humano”, restringen la capacidad productiva y dificultan tanto las funciones administrativas y regulatorias estatales como la captación de inversión extranjera directa y la competitividad exportadora.
Pese a estas restricciones, Moody’s señala que la fortaleza fiscal de Guatemala se apoya en un “largo historial de gestión prudente de la deuda y una carga de deuda gubernamental baja”. Sin embargo, la estructura rígida del gasto y los ingresos limitados afectan la flexibilidad del gobierno en el manejo fiscal y la asequibilidad de la deuda, de acuerdo con el reporte de Minfin.
La perspectiva estable asignada por la agencia responde a la expectativa de una mejora gradual. Moody’s sostiene que los avances en materia institucional “tardarán en traducirse en fundamentos económicos o fiscales materialmente más sólidos”, dado que la aplicación de políticas enfrenta barreras estructurales.
Por otro lado, advierte que los riesgos externos —como el endurecimiento de las políticas migratorias de Estados Unidos y la volatilidad de los precios internacionales— pueden incidir en el flujo de remesas, aunque estos efectos se ven mitigados por los “sólidos colchones externos y la gestión macroeconómica prudente”.
En el sistema financiero, el techo soberano en moneda local permanece en Baa1, tres escalones por encima de la nota soberana, reflejo de la “limitada intervención gubernamental en la economía y el riesgo político contenido”. El techo de moneda extranjera se mantiene en Baa3, dos niveles por debajo del techo local, y evidencia la persistencia de una “alta relación de préstamos en moneda extranjera respecto a depósitos, superior al 100% en el sistema bancario guatemalteco frente a sus pares regionales”.
El Ministerio de Finanzas Públicas coordina la gestión del riesgo país a través de la Mesa Interinstitucional para el Análisis de la Calificación del País (MINAPA), encargada de canalizar la interlocución con inversionistas, agencias calificadoras y organismos multilaterales. Según Minfin, la cartera intensificará esta estrategia de comunicación con los mercados para respaldar el proceso de reforma y avanzar hacia el grado de inversión.
Moody’s,Guatemala,Ba1,calificación,crédito,economía,perspectiva,estable,finanzas
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Elizabeth Warren’s Bezos Met Gala jab backfires as critics mercilessly drag ‘un-American’ lawmaker
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Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., drew intense criticism on Monday after she claimed on X that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos should pay more in taxes in response to him sponsoring the Met Gala, with conservatives questioning the senator’s record and accusing her of misrepresenting facts.
«The answer to everything, up to and apparently including bankrupting an airline at the cost of something like 15,000 jobs and the entire concept of budget airfare, is ‘Jeff Bezos has a lot of money though,’» venture capitalist and media founder Mike Solana wrote in response to Warren’s post.
Solana was referring to the recent demise of Spirit Airlines. Conservative commentators claim Spirit could have been saved if Warren hadn’t pushed to block JetBlue’s acquisition of the budget carrier on anti-trust grounds in 2024.
«If Jeff Bezos can drop $10 million to sponsor the Met Gala, he can afford to pay his fair share in taxes,» Warren said on Monday, sparking the glut of pushback from social media users.
WASHINGTON POST ARGUES THERE’S ‘LITTLE TO GAIN BY RAISING TAXES ON THE RICH,’ RATES ALREADY HIGH ENOUGH
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., questions Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 16, 2023. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
Following news that Bezos had cut an eight-figure check to fund the Met Gala, liberals in the entertainment industry such as Mark Ruffalo and Taraji P. Henson joined Warren in criticizing Amazon and Bezos for their allegedly unethical business practices. Protesters appeared outside the gala on Monday holding signs criticizing Bezos. One demonstrator was detained for trying to break into the event.
Warren’s message backfired online, as commenters pointed to the demise of Spirit Airlines and took issue with her tax policies across the years.
«Jeff Bezos employs over 1.5 million people at Amazon,» X user Gina Milan wrote. «You’re responsible for 17,000 workers losing their jobs and for blocking the merger that ultimately killed Spirit Airlines.»
Spirit put downward pressure on prices at other airlines and its folding could lead to an increase in overall travel prices, industry analysts told USA Today. Estimated job losses stemming from Spirit’s shuttering include approximately 15,000 direct employees and an additional 2,000 indirect employees.
«This myth just won’t die,» Reason Magazine reporter Billy Binion posted, responding to Warren’s assertion that Bezos isn’t paying enough in taxes. «In 2024 alone, it’s estimated Jeff Bezos paid almost $3 billion in taxes. Painting rich people as tax avoiders plays great on social media, but it’s not reality. The U.S. has the most progressive tax system in the developed world.»
Forbes estimates that Bezos paid $2.7 billion in taxes in 2024 after he sold $13.6 billion worth of Amazon stock. He reduced his tax burden that year by donating $2.5 billion in Amazon shares to charity over the three prior years. Bezos paid nearly $1 billion in taxes between 2014 and 2018, according to a ProPublica analysis of tax documents.
To minimize tax burdens, billionaires like Bezos often take out loans secured against their massive stock holdings to acquire spending money, according to securities filings reviewed by ProPublica. Since the IRS doesn’t consider loans income, this setup gives the wealthy access to cash without having to pay income taxes.
FROM ‘JUMP ON A BUS’ TO TAX CRACKDOWNS: BLUE STATES CHASE WEALTHY RESIDENTS FLEEING TO RED HAVENS
Billionaire Jeff Bezos attends the DealBook Summit. Critics on social media have accused Bezos of allowing the Washington Post to suffer amid hundreds of staff layoffs. (Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for The New York Times)
Some on social media pushed Warren for specifics on how she plans to make Bezos pay his «fair share.»
«What’s his fair share?» Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, asked Warren. «What tax rate?»
Warren has proposed a wealth tax, charging households with net worths above $1 billion an annual tax worth 6% of their total wealth. Under Warren’s proposal, households with net worths between $50 million and $1 billion would be subject to a similar 2% tax.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks to a staff member before the Senate Banking Committee hearing on oversight of credit reporting agencies on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on April 27, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
CALIFORNIA’S HATRED FOR CAPITALISM IS KILLING THE GOOSE THAT LAID ITS GOLDEN EGG
Much of the growth in wealth experienced by Bezos and other billionaires comes through the unrealized gains of their assets, which Warren’s tax would target.
Writer Mike Coté pointed out that Bezos is «so rich that he can simply leave the jurisdiction or get citizenship elsewhere» if Warren’s tax plans were signed into law.
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«Liz Warren does not want progressive taxation,» he continued. «She wants confiscatory taxation. It’s fundamentally un-American. And it doesn’t work.»
Warren’s office did not respond to a request for comment sent by Fox News Digital Tuesday morning.
jeff bezos, taxes, amazon, elizabeth warren, senate elections
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