Capitol Hill's latest updates: Familiar faces, familiar places

The song "I'll Be Seeing You" by Billie Holiday features lyrics about returning to familiar places.

Recently, at the U.S. Capitol, those who work in Congress were reunited with many familiar faces and old friends.

First, there was Vice President-elect and Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio.

Despite being a senator for only two years, Vance is now running for the vice presidency at the age of 40. He will be the youngest vice president since John Breckenridge served with President James Buchanan in 1857.

Since President-elect Trump drafted him as his running mate in July, Vance has been seen at the Capitol less frequently. He was present in June for votes, but absent during the Fourth of July. After being selected as Trump's running mate, Vance was rarely seen at the Capitol during the August recess. He only made a brief appearance in September for a doctor's appointment with the attending physician to Congress. Following the election, Vance has not been spotted at the Capitol.

Vance did not immediately return to Capitol Hill after parachuting out. However, he came back last week for votes and to facilitate meetings between senators and cabinet nominees, including defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth in his office in the Russell Senate Office Building and former Rep. and attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., in the Strom Thurmond Room in the Senate wing of the Capitol.

Vance made an unusual detour to the House Intelligence Committee's secure rooms on the Capitol side. The purpose, participants, and discussions of this visit remain unclear.

When Vance and his entourage vanished from the Strom Thurmond Room, a group of reporters attempted to trace his location.

The press corps discovered another individual: former Trump Chief of Staff and former Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C.

"Meadows stated that he was merely leading a tour when questioned about his purpose for being there. He clarified that it was a private visit."

Gaetz soon returned to the Strom Thurmond Room to speak with Vance.

After being tapped as the President-elect's first attorney general candidate, Gaetz resigned from Congress and the House the next day. Last week, Vance escorted Gaetz into the Senate wing of the Capitol for individual forums with members of the Judiciary Committee.

Following his meetings with senators, an animated Gaetz exited the Capitol, leaving through the House entrance.

"I've been receiving valuable advice from senators. I'm eager to attend a hearing. People have been very encouraging. They've expressed confidence in a fair process. Today marks a positive momentum for the Trump-Vance administration," said Gaetz. "We'll address fentanyl. We'll guarantee that the DoJ won't engage in censorship anymore. And we'll steer the country back on track."

Gaetz withdrew from consideration 18 hours later.

Gaetz stated that his nomination was unfairly becoming a distraction and that it was time to move forward without a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle.

Colleague Alexis McAdams reported that Gaetz reached the conclusion on his own.

Despite winning re-election, Gaetz made it clear in his resignation letter to the House that he did not intend to serve in the new Congress starting in January.

Gaetz is no longer a congressman, won't be Attorney General, and won't be a future congressman.

It seems likely that Gaetz won't frequently be present at the Capitol in the future.

Former members are always allowed back into the building until they want to.

I followed Sen. Chuck Grassley to the Hart Senate Office Building and persuaded Sen. Chris Coons to chat with reporters by the Senate Carriage Entrance. Afterward, I saw a man standing in a first floor hallway near the Brumidi Corridors, checking his phone. No one else seemed to notice him. I'm not sure if other reporters recognized who he was.

"Are you glad you're not here on a day like this?" I asked.

The man chuckled and nodded in agreement.

It was former Sen. David Vitter, R-La.

Another former member of Congress also visited the Capitol that day, mainly to meet with House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., and discuss the investigation into Gaetz's conduct.

Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., said, "F--k it. I'll come."

And there he was.

Nearly a year ago, the House expelled Santos due to having less credibility than Milli Vanilli.

Santos told the press corps that he was completely unrestrained in talking to them.

Santos was searching for Guest, the writer of the House Ethics Committee report that resulted in the expulsion of the New York Republican.

Santos, who was expelled from the House, is now considered a former member with access to the Capitol complex. Despite promises to fix the loophole, House members never followed through.

Santos of Guest threatened to scream at his office through the door if he runs away from her.

Did one reporter ask if you have been in touch with Gaetz?

"He's busy lobbying the Senate," replied Santos.

On the same day as the Capitol meeting, Gaetz withdrew his nomination for attorney general just hours beforehand.

How do you feel about Trump's nominees up to this point, a reporter inquired.

Santos stated, "It's great, it's fantastic, and it's transformative. It's a wrecking ball to the swamp. They're dealing with an existential crisis and are grappling for their lives because the American people have served them with an existential crisis and a mandate with Donald Trump."

Did a reporter ask Santos if it was fair to say Guest had an ax to grind because he led the charge against Santos?

"Santos retorted, "He filed an expulsion resolution of errors full of misleading information that contradicted the report, despite the footnote stating that we do not recommend any kind of punishment because it's not a complete report. So he's full of sh-t.""

Even though Gaetz is no longer a member of the House, reporters questioned whether the Ethics Committee should release its report on him.

"Santos replied, "I don't blame him because he's not scared.""

"Do you plan to request a pardon?" asked another reporter.

"Santos stated, "I haven't had that conversation, and I don't plan on having it.""

Santos informed his audience that he had "no intention of seeking office again."

Despite being expelled, Santos may still appear at the Capitol without any restraint.

Vance, like Gaetz, Meadows, Vitter, Santos, and others, is a former member of Congress and can return to the Capitol at any time.