Washington Post: “There was a time in Denver Riggleman’s life when he sat on the banks of a creek that reeked of dead fish and peered through night-vision goggles into the thick of the Olympic National Forest. He was looking for Bigfoot.”

“Or at least, others in his group were. Riggleman, a nonbeliever who was then a National Security Agency defense contractor, had come along for the ride, paying thousands in 2004 to indulge a lifelong fascination: Why do people — what kind of people — believe in Bigfoot?”

“Now in one of his last acts as a Republican congressman from Virginia, Riggleman is asking the same questions of QAnon supporters and President-elect Joe Biden deniers.”

“As a congressional ethics office investigates Rep. Steven Palazzo’s (R-MS) campaign spending, a deeper look at his campaign finances raises questions of whether he uses his account as a second personal income,” Mississippi Today reports.

“In all, Palazzo has spent more than $115,600 on meals since he took office in 2010 — an average of $11,560 a year — not counting the nearly $188,000 he spent catering events and booking venues for his campaign…”

“Palazzo has also spent tens of thousands of dollars on hotel rooms in D.C., Mississippi and beachside Florida resorts, entertainment and golfing — including a $3,100 golf cart. The campaign also has spent nearly $42,000 on ‘gifts.'”

Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ) filed complaints in five states against Rudy Giuliani and 22 other lawyers working with the Trump campaign, calling for them to be stripped of their law licenses for filing “frivolous” lawsuits and allegedly engaging in “conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation,” the Washington Post reports.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R), who owns a gun-themed restaurant in Rifle, Colorado, has already asked Capitol Police about carrying her weapon on Capitol grounds, NBC News reports.

“The practice is allowed for lawmakers, with some limitations, under decades-old congressional regulations. The public is barred from carrying weapons in the Capitol, its grounds and office buildings.”

Washington Post: “Following unexpected Election Day setbacks, Democrats could hold as few as 222 seats when the new Congress convenes. That number, just a handful of seats over the majority threshold of 218, will drop further when Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) resigns to join the Biden administration as a senior adviser to the president.”

“The governing implications for President-elect Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Democratic congressional leaders are stark: Pushing any sort of partisan measure through the House will require near-unanimity inside their party, forcing careful negotiations with various factions of lawmakers and perhaps fewer aspirational ‘messaging’ bills meant to set out Democratic ideals but not necessarily become law.”

“Meanwhile, an emboldened Republican minority will look to wreak havoc and magnify internal disputes ahead of the 2022 midterms.”

House Democratic leaders are proceeding with plans to bring back earmarks for the 117th Congress, Roll Call reports.

The three candidates to replace retiring House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) are all on board with restoring “congressionally directed spending,” as it has come to be known.

Rep.-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted that masks used to prevent the spread of the coronavirus are “oppressive.”

Said Greene: “Our first session of New Member Orientation covered COVID in Congress. Masks, masks, masks… I proudly told my freshman class that masks are oppressive. In Georgia, we work out, shop, go to restaurants, go to work, and school without masks. My body, my choice. #FreeYourFace.”

Rep. Don Young (R-AK), the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives and 87 years old, announced he has tested positive for coronavirus.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) defended two Republican congresswomen-elect who support the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory.

Said McCarthy: “Give them an opportunity before you claim what you believe they have done, and what they will do.”

Retiring Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL) told CNN that he doesn’t understand the unquestioning loyalty many Republicans have for President Trump.

Said Rooney: “There will be books written about this hold that President Trump has over a lot of the Republican leadership and base, and I don’t understand it.”

He added: “It was never that way with previous Republican leaders, and I think the peaceful transfer of power is a critical element of our democracy.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told the New York Times she isn’t sure if she still wants to “be in politics” anymore.

Said Ocasio-Cortez: “The last two years have been pretty hostile. Externally, we’ve been winning. Externally, there’s been a ton of support, but internally, it’s been extremely hostile to anything that even smells progressive.”