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Dear Friend,
This week, I questioned former Special Counsel Jack Smith at a Judiciary Committee hearing about the evidence he collected that led him to believe, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Donald Trump conspired to overturn the 2020 election and illegally retained classified documents. I also signed a discharge petition to bring the Restore Trust in Government Act to a floor vote that would end the practice of members of Congress and executive branch officials trading individual stocks, voted for major appropriations bills one of which will direct $14.7 million to Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, voted against a Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill that contains money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and repeated my call for its removal from Memphis and abolition, announced a January 31 tax-preparation clinic, denounced the Citizens United Supreme Court case and the harm it has done over the past 16 years, attended the commemoration of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday with activities at the National Civil Rights Museum, attended Kappa Alpha Psi’s Founders’ Day event, welcomed former Vice President Kamala Harris to Memphis, visited the German Ambassador’s residence, and offered a Bill Day cartoon, a Friday Flashback and a weekly health tip about the expected winter storms. Keep reading and follow me on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram to see what I am doing as it happens.
Hearing Evidence of Donald Trump’s Criminal Actions
Cosponsoring a Ban on Stock Trading by Members of Congress and Executive Branch Officials
Voting for $14.7 million in Community Projects for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, including $3.1 Million for Clayborn Temple
Calling for ICE to End its Lawlessness and Leave Memphis
Holding a Tax-Preparation Clinic on January 31
Denouncing Citizens United Ruling on its 16th Anniversary
Attending National Civil Rights Museum Commemoration of Dr. King Federal Holiday
Attending Kappa Alpha Psi Founders’ Day
Welcoming Former Vice President Harris to Memphis
Visiting the German Ambassador’s Residence
A Bill Day Cartoon
The Friday Flashback
Weekly Health Tip
Quotes of the Week
Hearing Evidence of Donald Trump’s Criminal Actions
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who obtained federal grand jury indictments against Donald Trump for conspiracy to overturn the result of the 2020 election and for illegally retaining classified documents, appeared before the Judiciary Committee on Thursday. In my line of questioning, I asked Mr. Smith about Donald Trump’s attempts to intimidate witnesses and his independence of politics. I also commended the special counsel as a great American the whole country can respect and look up to. See my exchange with Mr. Smith here. Before the hearing, I appeared on CNN to preview what I expected to come out of the hearing. See that broadcast here.
Cosponsoring a Ban on Stock Trading by Members of Congress and Executive Branch Officials
On Wednesday, I signed a discharge petition to force a floor vote on the Restore Trust in Government Act, which I have cosponsored, that would ban stock trading by members of Congress, the president and vice president. While most public servants act ethically, a series of abuses have undermined public trust and shown that stronger guardrails are needed. See my release on the effort here.
Voting for $14.7 million in Community Projects for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, including $3.1 Million for Clayborn Temple
On Thursday, I voted for major appropriations bills and am pleased that one of them will be directing $14.7 million for projects I requested to Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District. That measure contains money for historic Clayborn Temple where striking sanitation workers gathered in 1968 and which burned down last April. See my release on the spending measures here.
Calling for ICE to End its Lawlessness and Leave Memphis
On Thursday, I voted against an appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security that contains funding for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. I’ve called for the abolition of ICE and have condemned its lawlessness. Enough is enough. See a release on the vote here.
Holding a Tax-Preparation Clinic on January 31
I will be hosting a tax preparation clinic on Saturday, January 31, with representatives of the United Way of the Mid-South and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. It’s an opportunity to get your taxes done free and done right. The event is at the Southland Mall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s not necessary but consider RSVP-ing to my Memphis office at (901) 544-4131 or by clicking on this link. I hope to see you there. If you cannot make it, you should also be aware that the IRS offers a Free File option at https://www.irs.gov/file-your-taxes-for-free.
Denouncing Citizens United Ruling on its 16th Anniversary
Wednesday was the 16th anniversary of the disastrous Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) Supreme Court decision that has allowed huge amounts of corporate money to distort our elections. I continue to work to make our campaign finance laws transparent and equitable. Citizens United has done immense harm to our democracy and to the public’s expectations for good and unbiased public policy.
Attending National Civil Rights Museum Commemoration of Dr. King Federal Holiday
On Monday, I attended the events at the National Civil Rights Museum to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. See the statement I put out to observe the federal holiday here.
Attending Kappa Alpha Psi Founder’s Day
On Saturday, I had the honor of attending the Memphis Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Founders’ Day Public Program. During my time in Congress, I have been privileged to serve alongside many distinguished Kappa men, including my friend and mentor, Congressman John Conyers. John was a tireless champion for civil rights, dedicating 15 years of his life to the effort to establish a national holiday honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For generations, Kappa Alpha Psi members have exemplified leadership, service, and an unwavering commitment to achievement in every field of human endeavor. I am honored to represent their voices in Congress.
Welcoming former Vice President Harris to Memphis
Last Friday evening, I attended former Vice President Kamala Harris’s book-signing at The Orpheum for her new book 107 Days about her abbreviated campaign for president in 2024. Ms. Harris had the code name “Pioneer” by the Secret Service, and she certainly was one as the first female Vice President. I welcomed her to Memphis where an enthusiastic crowd turned out to see their hero and role model.
Visiting the German Ambassador’s Residence
On Wednesday, I was invited to German Ambassador Jens Hanefeld's residence for a discussion on China and gave opening remarks to a bipartisan group of members of Congress and the German Bundestag. I thanked the German people for their contributions to our efforts in Afghanistan where 50 German soldiers died. Their participation was at our request and joined with many other NATO countries, including Denmark. That collaboration is just one example that demonstrates the need for Europe and the United States to remain allies and an indication that Russia was not our friend, nor was China. They both have weapons of mass destruction, which are not for museums, but for us.
A Bill Day Cartoon – “Liberty Bell Crack”
The Friday Flashback
This is me at the Memphis in May Barbecue Festival in 1983.
Weekly Health Tip
It is going to be extremely cold and wintry over the next several days. The National Weather Service has good advice for if you’re caught in a snow storm in your home, in your car or outside here. The American Red Cross provides Winter Storm Safety, including ways to prevent frozen pipes, here.
Quotes of the Week
“These efforts have become a defining feature of Mr. Trump’s second term, and it can be easy to become numb to them. We urge you not to. His usurpation of law enforcement power threatens us all. His meddling with the independence of the Fed undermines the economy. His attacks on members of Congress and the news media threaten people’s right to speak freely and hold the government accountable. His move to control investigation and prosecution from the White House portends an America where the state uses force to promote the political interests of its leaders, rather than uphold the laws passed by our representatives.” – New York Times editorial “For Trump, Justice Means Vengeance” on January 17
As always, I remain
Sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress
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