The House Oversight Committee held its first impeachment inquiry hearing. The hearing veered into several procedural tangents as Democrats attempted to submit their own evidence or introduce motions that required lengthy votes. Republicans for their part managed to highlight new documents that shed light both on the Biden family business dealings and on how the Justice Department handled an investigation into them.
Separately, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) continued to defend himself and refused to resign over corruption allegations despite mounting pressure from his fellow Democrats.
Despite the high stakes of the pending shutdown, as well as the serious allegations Menendez is facing, the Senate still found time to argue over its dress code. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had implemented the relaxed rules to benefit Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA). But the move has prompted backlash about slumping standards in the upper chamber. The Senate dress code had previously required men to wear a coat, tie, and long pants on the Senate floor. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) brought forth a bipartisan bill to properly reinstate a dress code, and it passed by unanimous consent on Wednesday.
Finally, the week ended on a somber note as Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), a five-term senator and the oldest member of Congress, died at age 90.