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

Spike Lee, President of the Jury at the 73rd Festival de Cannes

The American director Spike Lee is to serve as President of the Jury at the next Festival de Cannes. He becomes the first Black person to lead the jury.

At 62, the filmmaker, who is also a screenwriter, actor, editor and producer, has made numerous films that have become cult objects, and he brought the questions and contentious issues of the times to contemporary cinema. But he’s never lost sight of the public, setting out to raise their awareness of his causes in film after film.

Surrounded by his Jury, which will be announced in mid-April, Spike Lee will award the Palme d'or at the close of the 73rd edition, which will take place from 12 to 23 May 2020.

Cory Booker running for re-election to the U.S. Senate

Moments after telling supporters that he would be suspending his presidential campaign, Cory Booker filed for re-election to the U.S. Senate where he has served since 2013.

Booker filed with the Federal Election Commission on Monday in order to start raising money for the November election.

The Senator does face a primary challenge from progressive activist Lawrence Hamm, who is chair of Bernie Sanders’ New Jersey presidential campaign.

Booker is expected to win the endorsement of all 21 Democratic county organizations in New Jersey, and is the overwhelming favorite to win renomination.

The filing deadline is March 30 and the New Jersey primary is June 2.

Cory Booker ends presidential campaign

Today NJ Senator Cory Booker ended his 2020 presidential campaign. He released the following statement via Twitter:

It’s with a full heart that I share this news—I’m suspending my campaign for president.

To my team, supporters, and everyone who gave me a shot—thank you. I am so proud of what we built, and I feel nothing but faith in what we can accomplish together.

Regina King wins Critics Choice Award for her role in HBO’s Watchmen

Let’s just come out and say it. Regina King is one of the most talented actors of this or any other generation, and she had a storage unit full of awards to prove it.

King took home another award last night by winning the Best Actress in a Drama Series category at the 25th annual Critics Choice Awards. She won for her role as Angela Abar/Sister Night in the HBO series Watchmen.

This is Regina King’s 3rd Critics Choice Award. She has won previously for her work in the movie If Beale Street Could Talk and the television series American Crime.