Rosie O'Donnell (pictured in a 2015 HBO special) stirred up controversy in a tweet by offering senators money to vote her way. (Courtesy HBO)
Rosie O'Donnell's tax bill 'bribe' proves irksome
It doesn't look like Rosie O'Donnell will get in serious trouble following tweets in which she offered to pay off Republican lawmakers to vote against the controversial GOP tax bill.
Newsweek reports that former "View" co-host — known for a longstanding feud with President Donald Trump — made the indecent (and ineffective!) proposal, offering $2 million each to Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Jeff Flake before Tuesday's Senate vote on the healthcare bill. (It passed 51-48 on Wednesday.)
While right wingers went wild on social media suggesting a possible crime, New York comedy writer Nick Jack Pappas amusingly tweeted, "How dare Rosie O'Donnell try to bribe Congress for their vote. Doesn't she know only lobbyists and corporations get to do that?"
O'Donnell had another less-than-positive message for Collins: Posting a photo of the Maine Republican's family, she asked Collins if she thought her loved ones would be proud of her for voting for the tax overhaul, which has been criticized for helping the rich at the expense of the poor and middle class.
"Woman, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, you have betrayed us all," tweeted O'Donnell. "Dear god, ask for forgiveness, redeem your soul tomorrow."
In a previous online blast, O'Donnell had even nastier words for Trump after the president weighed in on NBC's decision to fire "Today" show anchor Matt Lauer. Sharing his response to that news story, she took a picture of Trump's tweet, put the words "child rapist" over it, and shared it with fans.
MARONEY FILES SUIT
Speaking of sex abuse, Olympian McKayla Maroney filed a lawsuit against USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee accusing them of trying to keep her claims of ongoing misconduct by the team's physician quiet.
In the suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Wednesday, the gold medalist said officials paid her to sign a confidential non-disclosure agreement to keep secret her allegations about being sexually abused by former team doctor Larry Nassar.
The 22-year-old revealed on Twitter in October that Nassar allegedly molested her for seven years beginning when she was 13.
Maroney, Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas — teammates on the "Fierce Five," the gold-medal-winning team from the London Olympics in 2012 — have publicly accused Nassar of sexually assaulting them during medical exams. Maroney is the first to take legal action.
Khloe Kardashian went public with "news" of her pregnancy (reported in tabloids in October) by posting a photo on Wednesday showing her belly and dad Tristan Thompson's hands wrapped around it.
Actor Steven Yeun is 34. … Actress Julie Delpy is 48. … Actor Kiefer Sutherland is 51. … Actor-comedian Andy Dick is 52. … Actor-comedian Ray Romano is 60. … Actor Samuel L. Jackson is 69 … Actress Jane Fonda is 80. … Talk-show host Phil Donahue is 82.
— Staff, wire reports health care billJeff FlakeKhloe KarashianMcKayla MaroneyRosie O'DonnellSusan Collins
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