© 2024 South Carolina Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Rep. James Clyburn

  • A national newspaper reports that the husband of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and brother of U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn were given shares of a company that leased slots machines to a North Carolina tribal casino. The casino run by the Catawba Indian Nation in South Carolina needed political help to open last year. The Wall Street Journal reported that John Clyburn introduced backers of the project to people he knew and never discussed it with his brother. The newspaper reported that Michael Haley's company did physical and cybersecurity consulting for the project in 2018. A spokesperson for Nikki Haley told the newspaper she did not advocate for casino.
  • U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn says he hopes that his colleagues in both chambers see the renewed earmarks process as more transparent and accountable, to the benefit of all constituents regardless of party. The No. 3 House Democrat told The Associated Press in a recent interview that he sees "nothing political" about trying to best serve districts. Clyburn's comments came as the window for the next fiscal year closes on the requests. The once-popular practice of member-directed funding requests was banished from Congress a decade ago. Critics thought too many projects fostered a "pay to play" culture. Rebranded as "community project funding," the process has returned, as lawmakers in both parties grew frustrated by their inability to shape spending legislation.
  • U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn has filed to seek a 16th term representing South Carolina's 6th District. South Carolina's lone congressional Democrat is now 81. Clyburn filed his paperwork Monday, saying he's headed into this next campaign in good health and determined to keep working alongside close ally President Joe Biden. Clyburn was first elected in 1992 to represent the majority Black district that sweeps from around the capital city of Columbia down to Charleston. He has risen to the No. 3 Democrat in the House and is the highest-ranking Black member of Congress. Clyburn won his last election by nearly 40 percentage points.
  • U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is visiting a historically Black university in South Carolina this week to tout what the Biden administration says is a commitment to funding nuclear engineering at such institutions. Officials tell The Associated Press Granholm will tour the nuclear engineering program at South Carolina State University, in Orangeburg. Granholm will visit the school Thursday along with U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, who's an alumnus. The visit comes as President Joe Biden and other officials tout progress made in implementing the administration's $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package, following setbacks on voting rights and other economic efforts.
  • A modest room in the Capitol has been named after the first Black member of the House. He was Rep. Joseph H. Rainey, who was born into slavery in 1832 and served as a Reconstruction-era member of Congress. No. 3 House Democratic leader James Clyburn, Rainey's great-granddaughter Lorna Rainey and others used the event to talk about continuing efforts for social justice and voting rights. Clyburn, like Rainey, is from South Carolina. Clyburn lamented that there was 95 years between Reconstruction and when he was elected as South Carolina's next Black congressman.
  • Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham say it'd be good if the person named to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer doesn't have an Ivy League degree. The bipartisan message from the South Carolina lawmakers aligns with the background of a South Carolina judge they've praised as a good candidate for the seat. Eight of the court's nine current members attended law school at Harvard or Yale. President Joe Biden has pledged to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. Clyburn says Biden should be concerned about the court's lack of educational diversity, too. Graham tells CBS "It's OK" to get your law degree at a public university.
  • At Joe Biden's lowest moment in the 2020 campaign, influential Rep. Jim Clyburn suggested that Biden should pledge to put the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. Biden made that promise at a Democratic debate, and Clyburn says that was key to turning out the Black support that helped Biden win the South Carolina primary and ultimately the White House. Two years later, the hoped-for vacancy on the court has arrived and Biden is standing by his pledge.
  • House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn says he has tested positive for COVID-19, though he is fully vaccinated with a booster and has no symptoms. The South Carolina Democrat said in a statement Wednesday he tested negative ahead of President Joe Biden's visit last week to South Carolina State University. But on Sunday he took a test in preparation for a granddaughter's wedding. It was inconclusive so he took another test Monday that was positive. He has quarantined since Sunday. Three other members of Congress have said recently that they have tested positive.
  • President Joe Biden has pledged to fight for stalled voting rights and police reform legislation. That's despite not having the votes in the Senate to move either measure closer to becoming law. Biden commented while delivering the commencement address at South Carolina State University on Friday. His visit is a manifestation of a decades-long relationship between him and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat. The historically Black school is Clyburn's alma mater.
  • President Joe Biden is traveling to South Carolina. For House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn the trip Friday is a manifestation of the decades-long relationship between the two powerful Democrats. South Carolina is also a place that's played a pivotal role in cementing both of their legacies. Biden is addressing December graduates at South Carolina State University.