Good morning.
Washington woke up to questions of boundaries — ethical, electoral, and geographic. A House Republican faces scrutiny at home. The Supreme Court freezes a political fight in New York. And the State Department is urging Americans across the Middle East to leave while they still can.
Ethics Committee Investigates Rep. Nancy Mace
The United States House Committee on Ethics has extended its review of Rep. Nancy Mace following a referral from the Office of Congressional Conduct.
According to the OCC’s report, there is “substantial reason to believe” Mace may have engaged in improper reimbursement practices tied to housing expenses in Washington, D.C. Investigators allege that during several months in 2023 and 2024, her reimbursement requests exceeded her documented property expenses by roughly $9,485.
In question is a Capitol Hill townhouse Mace co-owns. Public reporting previously noted that she expensed more than $27,000 in lodging during 2023, including several months exceeding $3,000.
Mace has argued she incurred over $100,000 in lodging costs and received roughly $29,000 after taxes in reimbursements. Her office dismissed the complaint as politically motivated and said she does not take it seriously, accusing the office of partisanship.
The Ethics Committee emphasized that extending its review does not indicate a final determination.
Supreme Court Preserves New York GOP Seat
The Supreme Court of the United States has blocked a lower court order requiring New York to redraw its 11th Congressional District before the 2026 elections.
The emergency stay preserves the current boundaries of the district — which covers Staten Island and part of Brooklyn — and keeps it in Republican hands while litigation continues.
The case revolves around Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, who holds the only GOP seat in New York City. A state judge had ruled in January that the district diluted the voting power of black and Latino residents in violation of the state constitution and ordered it redrawn.
Republicans countered that the order amounted to a racial gerrymander imposed too close to an election cycle and appealed directly to the high court.
The justices did not issue a full written opinion — typical in emergency rulings — but their decision ensures the current map remains in place for now.
State Department Urges Americans to Leave Middle East
As legal and political battles unfold at home, the United States Department of State is warning Americans abroad that the window of opportunity for evacuation may be narrow.
Assistant Secretary of State Mora Namdar issued urgent guidance advising U.S. citizens in at least 14 Middle Eastern countries to depart while commercial options remain available. Officials cited “serious safety risks” amid escalating regional conflict and the possibility of retaliatory strikes, extremist violence, airspace closures, and border restrictions.
The advisory applies to Americans in:
- Bahrain
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
- Israel
- and the Palestinian territories.
Officials stressed this is not a formal evacuation order but urged travelers to rely on commercial departures while they are still operating. Several countries have already imposed travel restrictions or temporarily closed airspace amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against Iran.
Americans are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updates from U.S. embassies and consulates.
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