Rep. Jim Clyburn to support new leadership in Democratic House minority

Rep. Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking Black American in Congress, has said previously he expects to stay in Congress next year and hopes to remain at the leadership table.

Multiple sources stated that Clyburn also wants to remain in the top tiers of leadership, and that he would run for the assistant leader role. That was the No. 3 spot the last time Democrats were in the minority, but would fall to the No. 4 slot in the next Congress, behind Caucus chair, according to the sources.

Clyburn issued a statement paving the way for a new trio to lead House Democrats following Nancy Pelosi's decision to step down as speaker. saying he looks forward "to doing whatever I can to assist our new generation of Democratic Leaders, which I hope to be Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar."

Read his full statement below:

“Speaker Pelosi has left an indelible mark on Congress and the country, and I look forward to her continued service and doing whatever I can to assist our new generation of Democratic Leaders which I hope to be Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar,” Clyburn said in the statement.

The trio was spotted sitting next to Clyburn and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer during Pelosi's announcement. And Jeffries has been pitching himself to members with Clark and Aguilar as the No. 1, 2 and 3 for the caucus in leadership.

"I'm not going to get involved in making my choice in this public way. But I have said to both of (Hoyer and Jeffries) that I will not pursue the position of leader of our party," Clyburn said on “CNN This Morning” Wednesday.

Democrat Hakeem Jeffries wins reelection to U.S. House in New York's 8th Congressional District

Democratic Caucus Chair Democrat Hakeem Jeffries won reelection to U.S. House in New York's 8th Congressional District.

Jefferies won with 72% of the vote.

Hakeem Jeffries Democrat 93,295 +72.4%72.4%

Yuri Dashevsky Republican 35,486 +27.6%27.6

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries statement on Governor Andrew Cuomo sexual harrasement allegations

New York congressman, Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY 8th District) released the following statement in regard to the mounting sexual harasement allegations against New York Governor, Andrew Coumo:

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries: Tara Reade allegation against Biden 'needs to be investigated seriously'

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), a member of House Democratic leadership, said allegations of sexual assault leveled against former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, must be investigated.

“It’s got to be taken seriously because this is a serious allegation raised by a serious individual and needs to be investigated seriously. We’ve probably got to hear from him [Biden] at some point directly,” Jeffries said Wednesday on WNYC when asked about allegations brought by Tara Reade, who worked for Biden when he was in the Senate.

Jeffries added that he still had to “delve deeper” into the allegations and was “not really in a position to say what is the appropriate mechanism” as he had been prioritizing responding to the coronavirus.

Reade came forward last month with allegations that Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 while she worked for the then-Delaware senator. Her claim began to pick up traction when a former neighbor of Reade's came forward to say that Reade told her about the allegation in the mid-1990s, marking the first time the accusation was corroborated on the record.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Val Demings and Hakeem Jeffries selected as House impeachment managers

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi selected a very diverse group of House impeachment managers which includes two African Americans.

The two are Rep. Val Demings (D-FL 10th District) and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY 8th District).

Demings is a retired law enforcement officer with 27 years on the force who served as Chief of the Orlando Police Department.

She sits on the following House committees:

Committee on Homeland Security

Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security

Committee on the Judiciary

Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations (Vice Chair)

Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Subcommittee on Defense Intelligence and Warfighter Support

Subcommittee on Intelligence Modernization and Readines

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries served as a clerk for Judge Harold Baer, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. He then worked in the litigation department of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison before becoming an assistant litigator for Viacom and CBS. During Jeffries' time at Paul, Weiss he also served as director of intergovernmental affairs for the New York State Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors and as the president of Black Attorneys for Progress.

He is currently the Democratic Caucus Chair which is the fourth position in House leadership and heads organization of all Democratic Party members in the House.

Jeffries sits on the following Committees:

State House Committee on Banks

State House Committee on Codes

State House Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions

State House Committee on Correction

State House Committee on Housing

State House Committee on Judiciary

State House Subcommittee on Banking in Underserved Communities

State House Subcommittee on Mitchell-Lama

State House Subcommittee on Transitional Services

State House Subcommittee on Trust and Estates

Besides Demings and Jeffries the managers are:

Rep. Jerrold Nadler

Rep. Adam Schiff

Rep. Zoe Lofgren

Rep. Jason Crow

Sylvia Garcia

For the First Time in History, Two African Americans will Hold Top Leadership Positions in Congress

Congressional Black Caucus Member Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08) has been elected chair of the Democratic Caucus, and Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (D-SC-06) was elected Majority Whip, making it the first time in history that two African Americans will hold top leadership positions in Congress at the same time. In response to these elections, the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA-02), released the following statement:

“When the Congressional Black Caucus was founded in 1971, I know our 13 founding members dreamed of the day when we would have more than one member in our ranks competing for top leadership positions in Congress. Today was that day, and I know they are proud.

“When Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries articulated to our colleagues why they were the best candidate for Democratic Caucus chair, it was one of the best displays of black brilliance that I have seen in a long time. The unfortunate part of their race against each other was that one of them had to lose.

“I congratulate Congressman Jeffries on being elected Democratic Caucus chair; he has more than demonstrated during his time in Congress that he is ready to lead in this position.

“I also congratulate Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn on being elected Majority Whip. There are few Democrats who have done more than Assistant Democratic Leader Clyburn to mentor young members of Congress and make sure that Democrats win elections.

“When former congressman George Henry White, the last African-American congressman to leave Congress before the Jim Crow Era, left office in 1901, he said in his famous farewell address, ‘This is perhaps the Negroes' temporary farewell to the American Congress, but let me say, Phoenix-like he will rise up some day and come again.’

“Next Congress, the CBC will have 55 members, including two who will be in top leadership positions and five who will chair full House committees – former congressman George Henry White was right, and the Phoenix has risen.”