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Tom Howell Jr.

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Tom Howell Jr.

thowell@washingtontimes.com

Tom Howell Jr. covers politics and the White House for The Washington Times. He can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Tom Howell Jr.

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a meeting of the House GOP conference in Washington on Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) **FILE**

Target countries call Trump’s tariff threat counterproductive, plead for cooperation

The foreign governments targeted in President-elect Donald Trump's latest tariff threat said higher U.S. levies designed to rein in drugs and illegal migration could violate the North American free-trade deal Mr. Trump himself negotiated in his first term, and that dialogue is better than confrontation.

November 26, 2024

Special counsel Jack Smith arrives to speak about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, at a Department of Justice office in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) ** FILE **

Trump freed from election fraud charges; special counsel extends prohibition on prosecution

A federal judge on Monday granted special counsel Jack Smith's request to dismiss the federal election fraud case against President-elect Donald Trump, bringing an end to the criminal charges that accused Mr. Trump of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

November 25, 2024

Special counsel Jack Smith turns from the podium after speaking about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, at a Department of Justice office in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) **FILE**

Jack Smith moves to dismiss election interference case against Trump

Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday moved to dismiss his election subversion case against President-elect Donald Trump, citing the election and precedents that dictate a sitting president cannot be criminally prosecuted.

November 25, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump speaks with talks with Brendan Carr before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in Brownsville, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP)

Trump’s pick for FCC chair says fighting censorship is his No. 1 priority

President-elect Donald Trump's pick to chair the Federal Communications Commission said Monday he wants to "smash the censorship cartel" to rebuild trust in media sources and ensure broadcasters serve the public interest.

November 25, 2024

Cars are parked in front of a Macy's store at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills, Ill., June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Macy’s says an employee hid up to $154M in delivery expenses, delays earnings report

Macy's says an employee hid up to $154 million in expenses through false accounting entries for delivery expenses.

November 25, 2024

Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court during jury deliberations in his criminal hush money trial in New York, May 30, 2024. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool) **FILE**

Judge delays Trump sentencing, sets December deadline for dismissal motions

New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan is postponing President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing and ordered lawyers to submit motions in December on whether the case should be dismissed.

November 22, 2024

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger participates during an election forum, Sept. 19, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, file)

Raffensperger certifies Georgia’s election for Trump, four years after certification nightmare

Georgia's chief election official has certified the state's election results and congratulated President-elect Donald Trump, reveling in a routine process after the 2020 contest roiled his office.

November 22, 2024

The Treasury Building is viewed in Washington on May 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) ** FILE **

Biden sanctions major Russian bank

The White House cracked down on Russia Thursday by targeting over 50 people in its financial sector and Gazprombank, the largest remaining bank not sanctioned by the U.S.

November 21, 2024

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks before Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks on the tax code, and manufacturing at the Johnny Mercer Theatre Civic Center, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Savannah, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) **FILE**

MTG to lead House panel working with Elon Musk on cutting costs, regulations

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer plans to put Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in charge of a subcommittee that will work closely with President-elect Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency.

November 21, 2024

U.S. President Joe Biden attends the G20 Summit leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Biden turns 82, extending record as oldest president

President Biden turned 82 on Wednesday, sparking well-wishes from Washington allies and solidifying his record as the oldest sitting U.S. president in history.

November 20, 2024

Former President Donald Trump, standing with defense attorney Todd Blanche, speaks at the conclusion of proceedings for the day at his trial at Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, Pool) ** FILE **

Trump’s attorneys urge N.Y. judge to dismiss hush money conviction

Lawyers for President-elect Donald Trump demanded Wednesday the immediate dismissal of his New York hush money conviction as the judge weighs whether to impose a sentence as planned, delay proceedings or toss out the case completely.

November 20, 2024

Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump speaks at a campaign rally with Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Van Andel Arena, Nov. 5, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Mich. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Sen. Rick Scott lobbies for Lara Trump to fill expected Senate vacancy

Sen. Rick Scott of Florida thinks his home-state Gov. Ron DeSantis will select Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of President-elect Donald Trump, to fill the seat left by Sen. Marco Rubio, who is set to become secretary of state.

November 20, 2024

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at Macomb Community College, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Warren, Mich. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

RFK Jr. targets corporate influence at health agencies, vows to examine root causes of disease

President-elect Donald Trump wants to let Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "go wild on health."

November 19, 2024

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks to the media after a jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Manhattan DA Bragg agrees to Trump sentencing delay

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Tuesday he will agree to a delay in President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing, but he will object to any attempt to dismiss the incoming leader's criminal convictions.

November 19, 2024

In this May 9, 2013, file photo, a worker pushes shopping carts in front of a Wal-Mart store in La Habra, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Walmart exec says Trump tariffs might hike prices

A top Walmart official on Tuesday said the retail behemoth might have to raise prices on some items if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his tariff plans.

November 19, 2024

Former President Donald Trump, seen through a camera viewfinder, speaks to members of the media at Manhattan criminal court in New York, on May 2, 2024. President-elect Trump on Monday said he'll work with a “free, fair and open” press as he aims to fulfill his campaign promise to solidify America. (Jeenah Moon/Pool Photo via AP)

Trump says he’ll work with ‘fair’ press, but has ‘upper hand’

President-elect Donald Trump on Monday said he'll work with a "free, fair and open" press as he aims to fulfill his campaign promise to solidify America.

November 18, 2024

In this April 22, 2013, file photo, MSNBC's &quot;Morning Joe&quot; co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, right, attend the 2013 Matrix New York Women in Communications Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

‘Morning Joe’ hosts reveal shock visit to patch things up with Trump

MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski opened their program Monday with quite the revelation: They visited Mar-a-Lago to "restart communications" with President-elect Donald Trump after years of antipathy.

November 18, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump speaks during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump celebrates victory, toasts Cabinet picks at Mar-a-Lago gala

President-elect Donald Trump said he'll select North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to run the Department of the Interior and joked his presidential term should start early during a celebration gala late Thursday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

November 15, 2024

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event, Sept. 27, 2024, in Walker, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Trump to nominate RFK Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary

President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday announced that he will nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services.

November 14, 2024

Republican National Committee Co-chair Lara Trump addresses the media at the Oakland County GOP Headquarters, Friday, June 14, 2024 in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, open to filling Rubio’s Senate seat in Fla.

Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump said Thursday she would "seriously consider" filling the seat left vacant by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida if he joins President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet.

November 14, 2024