{"id":2383620,"date":"2024-12-26T06:45:02","date_gmt":"2024-12-26T11:45:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-most-memorable-2024-senate-moments-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-12-26T06:46:05","modified_gmt":"2024-12-26T11:46:05","slug":"the-most-memorable-2024-senate-moments-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-most-memorable-2024-senate-moments-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"The most memorable 2024 Senate moments &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-most-memorable-2024-senate-moments-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2383620&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>the article discusses meaningful\u2062 political events\u2064 in the U.S. Senate during 2024, highlighting key \u2063moments that showcased the drama and dynamics within this \u200clegislative body. Among these\u2064 was \u2064the\u200b conviction of\u2064 senator bob\u2063 Menendez on federal charges, including bribery and acting \u200bas \u2063a foreign agent, which \u200bmarked\u2064 a significant downfall for the influential New Jersey\u200c Democrat.His conviction followed a lengthy corruption scheme, and he delayed his resignation to continue drawing his salary. <\/p>\n<p>Another major development was Senator Mitch\u2062 McConnell&#8217;s \u200cdecision to step down as the senate Republican leader after a long\u200c tenure marked by recent health struggles. His departure led to a\u2062 leadership change with John Thune being selected to succeed \u2063him.<\/p>\n<p>The Republican Party also regained\u2063 control of\u200d the Senate by flipping four Democratic-held seats, shifting the \u2063balance from a 51-49 Democratic majority to a 53-47 Republican \u2064majority. This shift was notable as it resulted in the removal\u200b of remaining red-state Democrats like Joe Manchin, who\u200c himself left the \u2063democratic Party \u2063to register \u2062as an \u200cautonomous, hinting\u200c at his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/live-9-am-et-trumps-civil-fraud-trial-in-new-york-continues-on-oct-19\/\" title=\"Trump&#039;s civil fraud trial in New York continues today at 9 AM ET.\">potential\u2063 future political aspirations<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>these moments reflect a\u200d transformative year for the Senate, \u200dcharacterized by legal\u2063 controversies, leadership changes, and a shift in \u2063political power.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">The most memorable 2024 Senate moments: A convict, a defection, and a new majority<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1711138\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Who says the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Senate \">Senate <\/a>doesn&rsquo;t have its fair share of drama?<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>From a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3095972\/bob-menendez-to-resign-following-guilty-verdict\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"criminal conviction\">criminal conviction<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3230739\/trump-delivers-thune-first-big-test-senate-gop-leader\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"new leadership\">new leadership<\/a> to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kamala-harris-backed-bail-fund-freed-alleged-domestic-abuser-now-accused-of-murder\/\" title=\"Kamala Harris-Backed Bail Fund Freed Alleged Domestic Abuser Now Accused Of Murder\">vice presidential nominee<\/a> and party defections, the &ldquo;world&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/believe-it-or-not-the-house-budget-committee-is-getting-things-done-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Believe it or not, the House Budget Committee is getting things done - Washington Examiner\">greatest deliberative body&#038;rdquo<\/a>; was at the forefront of extraordinary political developments this year.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of the Senate&rsquo;s biggest moments from 2024.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Menendez convicted<\/h2>\n<p>Then-Sen. Bob Menendez was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3085035\/bob-menendez-guilty-on-all-counts-bribery-trial\/\">found guilty<\/a> in July by a Manhattan jury of a yearslong bribery and public corruption scheme.<\/p>\n<p>The New Jersey Democrat was convicted on all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-sdny\/pr\/us-senator-robert-menendez-his-wife-and-three-new-jersey-businessmen-charged-bribery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">16 federal counts<\/a>,&nbsp;including extortion, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, acting as a foreign agent for Egypt, bribery, and conspiracy. He was the seventh sitting senator to be convicted of a federal crime but the first to be charged with acting as a foreign agent.<\/p>\n<p>Menendez, a third-term senator who chaired the chamber&rsquo;s Foreign Relations Committee, accepted lavish gifts such as cash, a luxury car, and 13 gold bars in exchange for steering aid to Egypt, creating a halal meat monopoly, and obstructing criminal investigations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Bob Menendez arrives at Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo\/Stefan Jeremiah)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Menendez maintained his innocence until the bitter end and waited to resign until more than a month after his conviction, allowing him to continue receiving his $174,000 salary. His sentencing date has been delayed until Jan. 29.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) is his successor.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">McConnell relinquishes leadership post<\/h2>\n<p>Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the longest-serving Senate party leader, announced his decision in February to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/2893835\/mitch-mcconnell-resigning-as-senate-gop-leader-in-november\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">step down from leadership<\/a> in the new Congress.<\/p>\n<p>The 82-year-old suffered several health scares in recent years, including moments in which he froze midsentence while speaking to reporters. The most recent health episode came in December when he suffered a sprained wrist and scratched face from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3258846\/mitch-mcconnell-misses-senate-votes-leg-stiffness-fall\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">tripping and falling<\/a> in the Capitol.<\/p>\n<p>McConnell&rsquo;s exit as leader prompted the first changing of the guard for Senate Republicans since he rose to leader in 2007. His deputy, Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD), was chosen among GOP senators to replace him when the new Republican majority is seated on Jan. 3.<\/p>\n<p>McConnell has yet to reveal whether he&rsquo;ll seek reelection in 2026.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Republicans retake majority<\/h2>\n<p>Republicans <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3219604\/republicans-retake-senate-flip-democratic-seats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">flipped four seats<\/a> held by Sens. Joe Manchin (I-WV), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). The current 51-49 Democratic majority will become a 53-47 majority for Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>The power shift came with the ouster of the chamber&rsquo;s remaining red-state Democrats. Manchin, an independent, still caucused with the Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>Senate Democrats stemmed the bleeding by maintaining battleground seats in Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin despite Vice President Kamala Harris losing all four states.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Manchin ditches Democrats<\/h2>\n<p>Manchin <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3024128\/joe-manchin-leaves-democratic-party-and-registers-as-independent-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">left the Democratic Party<\/a> in May to register with no party affiliation, raising the specter of a possible third-party run for other political offices. He ultimately declined to run for another office and will be retired from Congress when the new session is seated on Jan. 3.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Today, our national politics are broken, and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground,&rdquo; Manchin said at the time. &ldquo;To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for America&rsquo;s sensible majority.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Despite the defection, Manchin continued to caucus with Democrats, allowing them to maintain their one-seat majority.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vance heads to Naval Observatory<\/h2>\n<p>Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) was tapped as President-elect Donald Trump&rsquo;s vice presidential <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3059239\/trump-taps-j-d-vance-as-2024-vice-presidential-nominee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">running mate<\/a> in July. The first-term senator beat out several other contenders, including Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).<\/p>\n<p>Vance, 39, served in the Marines and was the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">youngest vice presidential nominee<\/a> since President Dwight Eisenhower picked Richard Nixon in 1952.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, is introduced alongside Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), during the Republican National Convention on July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo\/Paul Sancya)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>His rise to vice president in the middle of his term means Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) will select a replacement once Vance resigns from his seat in January.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fetterman cements himself as Democratic wild card<\/h2>\n<p>Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) once boasted a celebrity status among Democrats. But that&rsquo;s no longer the case after two years in Congress of beefing with the Left.<\/p>\n<p>The staunch, unapologetic defender of Israel has created a lane of his own in the Democratic Party as a wild card. The populist has shifted right since taking office and has, on occasion, sided with Republicans on matters such as border security, Trump&rsquo;s nominees, Trump&rsquo;s hush money criminal conviction in New York, plans to create a Department of Government Efficiency, and President Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3260020\/fetterman-embraces-trump-term-biden-exits-democratic-party\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>FETTERMAN EMBRACES SECOND TRUMP TERM AS BIDEN LEAVES OFFICE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Fetterman even <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@JohnFetterman\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">joined Trump&rsquo;s social media platform, Truth Social<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I believe that it&rsquo;s appropriate and the responsibility of a U.S. Senator to have a conversation with President-elect Trump&rsquo;s nominees,&rdquo; Fetterman posted after meeting with several of Trump&rsquo;s Cabinet nominees. &ldquo;My votes will come from an open-mind and an informed opinion after having a conversation with them. That&rsquo;s not controversial, it&rsquo;s my job.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1711138\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1711138\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key 2024 Senate highlights: a conviction, a defection, and new majority<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2383621,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/biggest-moments-from-senate-in-2024.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33399,47397,47396,47395,32076],"class_list":["post-2383620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-2024-elections","tag-memorable-events","tag-political-highlights","tag-senate-moments","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/biggest-moments-from-senate-in-2024.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383620","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2383620"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2383624,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383620\/revisions\/2383624"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2383621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2383620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2383620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2383620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}