Biden marks ‘Bloody Sunday’ by signing voting rights order, and other top stories in politics from March 08, 2021.
Former President Donald Trump has returned to New York City for the first time since departing the White House in January.
The former US leader was spotted in a vehicle enroute to Trump Tower on Sunday evening amid reports of his expected return.
It is unclear how long the former president plans to stay in the city.
Meanwhile, his successor President Joe Biden is set to sign his ambitious Covid-19 relief bill into action later this week.
The $1.9 trillion relief package is expected to sail through the House on Sunday, where it will then be sent to the president’s desk for a final signature.
Top New York Democrats urge Cuomo to consider stepping down amid harassment allegations
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing growing calls to resign after fresh sexual misconduct allegations were lodged against him over the weekend.
Mr Cuomo’s former press aide Karen Hinton told The Washington Post that she had been made to endure a “very long, too long, too tight, too intimate” hug from the governor while in a dimly lit hotel room back in December 2000.
She said Mr Cuomo embraced her and then pulled her back towards him when she tried to move away.
Ana Liss, a former policy and operations aide to the governor, accused Mr Cuomo of calling her a “sweetheart” and asking inappropriate questions about her love life.
Mr Cuomo has so far remained defiant, denying the allegations against him and refusing to step down.
Top New York Democrats, however, have come forward to demand his resignation, with state Senate majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins asserting that the state does not need the “daily distraction”.
“We need to govern without daily distraction,” she said in a statement. “For the good of the state, Governor Cuomo must resign.”
Assembly speaker Carl Heastie supported the call, asserting that Mr Cuomo needs to “seriously consider whether he can effectively meet the needs of the people of New York”.
Read more on the allegations against Mr Cuomo here:
Chantal Da Silva8 March 2021 08:48
Biden’s Covid-19 relief package expected to sail through House
President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill is expected to be signed into action this week.
The bill is expected to get final approval from the House on Tuesday before being sent to the US leader himself for a signature.
Democrats are seeking to get the bill on the president’s desk before March 14, when unemployment aid programs are set to expire.
The plan received Senate approve in a 50-49 vote along party lines, with some Republicans pushing back against the hefty spending package.
Chantal Da Silva8 March 2021 08:29
NYPD providing additional security around Trump Tower amid ex-leader’s return
NYPD officers were pictured outside Trump Tower in New York City on Sunday night ahead of former President Donald Trump’s return to the city.
In photos published by Getty, a number of NYPD officers and police vehicles can be seen outside the building, with local media reporting that the police force will be providing additional security during Mr Trump’s visit.
The former president appeared to arrive in NYC on Sunday evening, with photos showing Mr Trump waving from from the backseat of a vehicle.
It is unclear how many officers have been assigned to providing security.
Chantal Da Silva8 March 2021 08:24
Donald Trump returns to NYC for first time since leaving White House
Former President Donald Trump appears to have returned to New York City in his first visit to the Big Apple since his departure from the White House back in January.
Video published online also appears to show the same vehicle driving down the streets of Manhattan as a lone supporter shouts “Welcome back to New York Mr Trump!”
It is unclear how long the former president will remain in the city.
Chantal Da Silva8 March 2021 08:16
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live blog following the latest in US politics as former President Donald Trump returns to New York City, while his successor President Joe Biden’s Covid-19 relief package is set to sail through the House.
Chantal Da Silva8 March 2021 08:08