Kerry Johnson

But some lawmakers and nonprofit groups say Trump overrode that law and replaced the IGs with some of his own loyalists.

Now, Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, and several others are backing a new bill that would prohibit any president from nominating their own political appointees to serve in those roles.

So far, the bill has no Republican sponsors.

Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

Maduro says he's still president of Venezuela.

His lawyer signaled they may challenge the narco-terrorism and cocaine charges by arguing Maduro's entitled to head-of-state immunity.

A court in New York will have to determine whether Maduro can be considered the legitimate leader of the country.

But U.S.

presidents enjoy a lot of leeway in foreign affairs, including which governments to recognize.

Legal scholars say Maduro might have an argument that he deserves immunity for possible official acts in the indictment, such as using the military to organize flights.

Two years ago, the U.S.

Supreme Court gave President Trump and future American presidents evidence

substantial immunity for their official acts in office.

Kerry Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

The GOP-led House Judiciary Committee dropped the nearly 300-page transcript on New Year's Eve.

Jack Smith fielded questions about his work building criminal cases against now-President Donald Trump over Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his alleged refusal to turn over secret documents to the FBI.

Smith told lawmakers the election case was built on Republicans.

who put their allegiance to the country before their political party, and that several state and federal officials would have been witnesses for the prosecution.

The Justice Department dropped both cases against Trump after last year's election, following a long policy that the sitting president cannot be prosecuted.

Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.