Maloney, Engel, Schiff Ask Mulvaney to Appear at Deposition
Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D), Eliot Engel (D) and Adam Schiff (D) wrote a letter to Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney (R) inviting him to appear at a deposition this Friday.
According to the representatives, the evidence gathered in the impeachment inquiry suggests that Mulvaney may have played an integral role in Trump’s plan to pressure the Ukrainian government to investigate his political opponents.
“Based on evidence gathered in the impeachment inquiry and public reporting, we believe that you possess substantial first-hand knowledge and information relevant to the House’s impeachment inquiry,” reads the letter. “Specifically, the investigation has revealed that you may have been directly involved in an effort orchestrated by President Trump, his personal agent, Rudolph Giuliani, and others to withhold a coveted White House meeting and nearly $400 million in security assistance in order to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to pursue investigations that would benefit President Trump’s personal political interests, and jeopardized our national security in attempting to do so.”
Read the full letter here.
Espaillat Introduces Green Climate Fund Authorization Act
Last Monday, Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights, Sugar Hill) introduced a bill to authorize federal appropriations for climate financing.
Espaillat submitted the bill in response to the Trump Administration’s official withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. The Green Climate Fund Authorization Act of 2019 would authorize appropriations to the Green Climate Fund, an independent, multilateral fund established to help developing countries limit emissions.
“It remains critical that we continue our efforts to promote a bold and swift transition to a clean energy economy,” said Espaillat. “Today, as the Trump Administration formally announces its intent to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, we must demonstrate through our actions that the U.S. remains a leader in the fight against climate change.”
Kallos to Sponsor Medicare Enrollment Event
The office of Council Member Ben Kallos (D-Yorkville, Lenox Hill) will be sponsoring a Medicare open enrollment event today.
Kallos will be hosting the event with Medicare Rights, a nonprofit working to ensure access to affordable healthcare. Attendees will get the chance to learn about Medicare eligibility and connect themselves to programs that help pay Medicare costs.
The event will take place today from 4-6 p.m. at the Knickerbocker Community Room, 1751 2nd Ave.
Hoylman Introduces Bill to Strike Mental Health Question from Bar Applications
Earlier this week, State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Chelsea, Midtown) introduced legislation to strike a question about mental health from New York Bar applications.
As of now, a question on the application to take the New York bar exam asks students if they have “a mental, emotional, psychiatric, nervous, or behavioral disorder”. Hoylman’s bill would remove the question entirely.
“Law students feel more stressed and experience more mental health issues than ever before, whether it’s student debt or the job market, or the demands of being a law student,” said Hoylman. “This is the last thing they should have to contemplate as they apply to the bar.”
