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WASHINGTON — While the U.S. House of Representatives was in recess for two weeks earlier this month, Rep. Dean Phillips, D-3Research and development District has traveled to the place in rural Vietnam where his father, an army captain, died in a plane crash 54 years ago.
It was a tearful moment when Phillips arrived on site. He collected some of the red earth in the area, put it in a plastic bag to take home and hugged actor Woody Harrelson, who along with several other friends had gone on the trip with him. The group held what Phillips called a “little ceremony,” saying some prayers and leaving some flowers at the site.
“It was one of the most important events of my entire life,” said Phillips.
He said the group first toured northern Vietnam before heading to the fatal crash site.
Phillips did not know his father, Artie Pfeiffer, because he was only six months old when his father died. His mother later married Eddie Phillips, heir to the Phillips Distilling Company.
Phillips said his birth father grew up with “limited means, but big dreams,” and that the ROTC scholarship allowed him to attend the University of Minnesota Law School.
Instagram Capt. Artie Pfeiffer
Phillips wanted to visit his father’s crash site in order to get a better idea of who he was, but said he could not make the trip, which was paid for by the congressman and not of official business, until he was ready.
“I knew it was going to be a very emotional journey,” he said. He also said the trip was “very healing”.
Just a few years ago, Phillips was surprised to find a box of memorabilia that included a recording of his father singing a hit that was popular in 1969, “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” to animals. In that recording sent to Phillips’ mother, Phifer said, “These words fit the situation to a tee,” and sent his love to his wife and “Baby Dean.”
The Vietnamese media widely reported Phillips’ trip to the site of his father’s death. But the trip with Harrelson may have gotten more attention during a stopover in Seoul, South Korea when the legislator and actor met a host of K-Pop stars from BigBang, BLACKPINK, and famous South Korean actor, Park Bo-gum at a recording studio. The group photo went viral.
“I had the most incredible time with these talented guys in Seoul two nights ago,” Harrelson said in a post of the photo on Instagram. “They were so friendly and friendly, I didn’t want to leave!”
Phillips also praised the South Korean stars as “kind and warm”.
Eamer raises campaign funds with the specter of impeachment against Trump
Immediately after former President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum last weekend on social media that he was about to be arrested and that his supporters should “protest, protest, protest,” prominent House Republicans, including Rep. Tom Emmer, the 6th Rep.y District, seized Trump’s anger as an opportunity to raise campaign funds.
A Manhattan grand jury hears evidence of Trump’s alleged role in making payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Confirmed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the case centers on a $130,000 payment from an attorney Trump’s ex Michael Cohen to Daniels, to prevent her from making public allegations that she and Trump once had a sexual relationship.
Bragg appears to be investigating whether Trump falsified business records and broke campaign finance or other campaign-related laws while making Cohen payments to Daniels.
On Monday, Emmer’s campaign sent out an email appeal.
President Trump expects to be impeached as soon as this week! This has never happened before in our nation’s history. The liberal mob thinks they can get away with anything and no one will stand up to them. Not today. That’s why we’re asking all conservatives to stand with us now. “.
She asked for contributions of $25 to $500 and urged potential donors to refrain from unchecking a box that allows such contributions to be repeated each month.
On Wednesday, Emmer’s campaign sent out another appeal, this time asking supporters to respond to a “Trump Witch Survey” that asked, among other things, “Do you think it was wrong for Diver Manhattan to arrest Donald J. Trump?” and “Do you think this is a witch hunt?”
At the end of the appeal is a request for donations to the Emmer Campaign Fund.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., also put forward an appeal based on Trump this week.
“Barriers are being erected around the Manhattan Criminal Court — as our nation awaits an announcement about whether President Donald J. Trump will be impeached despite not having committed a crime,” warns McCarthy’s appeal. “Please make a contribution to stand with President Trump at this critical moment — to 1,500% impact.”
Trump, who denies having an affair with Daniels, is also using the perceived threat of indictment to raise money for the “Trump Save America Joint Fundraiser,” a fund he can use to pay legal expenses.
‘never say never’
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan was in Washington, D.C., this week as part of a caucus of conservative Democratic lawmakers, who are celebrating their surge in numbers and diversity after last November’s election.
Flanagan, inside 5y During the year in office, she said she was one of the “senior members” of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association (DLGA), and as such ran a committee to introduce three new Democratic governors, Austin Davis of Pennsylvania, Kim Driscoll of Massachusetts and Arona Miller of Maryland.
Flanagan said the importance of the country’s deputy governors should not be underestimated. She also noted that many former state governors, including Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman (D), had access to higher positions.
When asked if she had aspirations for higher office, Flanagan answered what many politicians say when asked similar questions: “Never say never.”
“Right now, I’m so happy to be second in command,” she said.
The DLGA visited the White House on Wednesday to meet with a large number of Biden administration officials, as well as number two Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris.
“He’s my favorite second man,” said Flanagan. She said her favorite husband is Tom Weber.
Flanagan said the strongest “moment” she had in the White House was her meeting with Susan Rice, a domestic policy adviser to the Biden administration.
But perhaps the most lucrative meeting will be with Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans and former lieutenant governor of Louisiana, the White House infrastructure czar tasked with unleashing billions of dollars in a massive infrastructure bill.
Editor’s note: In an earlier version of the story, Artie Pfefer was misidentified as an Air Force captain. He was a captain in the army.
