Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who became an early face of Democratic resistance to President Donald Trump in the Republican's second term in the White House, has emerged as a challenger to New York Sen. Chuck Schumer as their party picks a Senate majority leader.
Van Hollen, a two-term incumbent who previously represented the state in the House and in the legislature, launched his bid Thursday, casting himself as a new face that reflects the public's desire for change after the midterm campaign delivered Democrats control of the Senate and the House.
“It’s now on us to meet this moment, and to do that we need new leadership. This is not about any one person — it’s about answering the call of the American people,” he said in a statement.
The election is set for early December and will be held behind closed doors, with voting done through secret ballot. Schumer, a five-term incumbent, has been the longtime leader of the caucus and serves as minority leader. He was majority leader from 2021 to 2025, during Democrat Joe Biden's presidency, and has projected confidence he has the votes to prevail.
Van Hollen has gotten support from a few high-profile members of the Democratic caucus. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, has backed him, saying he leads with courage and experience, as has Michigan’s incoming senator, Abdul El-Sayed. Schumer had backed El-Sayed's primary challenger, Haley Stevens, who at the end of the general election campaign backed Republican Mike Rogers.
An attorney and legislator, Van Hollen was born in Karachi, Pakistan, amid his parents’ diplomatic service there, and he captured attention early in Trump’s second term when he pushed back against the administration’s immigration agenda.
He traveled some 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) to El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported and who federal courts said should be returned. Van Hollen did not secure the release of the Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland. But meeting with him, in defiance of Trump, Van Hollen helped establish hope and momentum for Abrego Garcia’s family and captured national press attention.
With Maryland home to numerous federal agencies and workers, Van Hollen has been a vocal opponent of Trump’s cuts, including those at NASA, the National Institutes of Health and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, among others.
He has also served as the Democratic chairman of both the House and Senate campaign arms, experience that put him at ground zero of the party's political operation.
FILE - Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks during the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing on Capitol Hill, May 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
FILE - Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks during the "People's State of the Union" rally outside of the U.S. Capitol, Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
FILE - Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., attends a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security oversight hearing, May 8, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)
LONDON (AP) — London police said Friday that they are investigating children’s author and TV personality David Walliams for serious sexual offenses after news outlets reported that he used his fame to groom girls and young women for sex.
The Metropolitan Police said it had received a number of allegations of past abuse following the joint investigation by ITV News and the Guardian newspaper.
One woman said in the reports that she was sexually assaulted by Walliams at his London home when she was 15, while others accused him of grooming them when they were teens.
Police are investigating different allegations than those reported by the news outlets, but said they will look into the news stories for any evidence of other crimes.
Walliams, 55, has denied the allegations, saying he had not broken any laws and was not a sexual predator.
“I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me,” Walliams said in writing to ITV and the Guardian. “Whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did.”
Walliams is best known as the co-creator and co-star in “Little Britain,” a hugely popular TV comedy sketch show in the 2000s, but he’s also a celebrated children’s book author with some 40 published titles that sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, according to his website.
Several books, including “Gangsta Granny,” have been adapted into BBC comedy dramas and stage productions. Producers of “Fing!” — an upcoming film based on Walliams’ book — said in a statement Tuesday that they had removed his cameo appearance and that Walliams “will have no involvement in the film’s release or promotion.” He is credited as a co-writer.
U.K. distributor Sky told Variety it was dropping the movie. Angel Studios, the U.S. distributor, did not answer The Associated Press’ emailed query about its plans for the film.
Walliams was dropped last year by publisher HarperCollins after allegations were made of inappropriate behavior. Few details were published at the time, but the Guardian reported that there were concerns about his behavior for years, including an allegation he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior female employee.
He was also a judge for a decade on “Britain’s Got Talent,” though he stepped down in 2022 after apologizing for making “disrespectful comments” about auditioning contestants.
The reports into Walliams' alleged misconduct were published a day after British actor-comedian Russell Brand was sentenced to 10½ years in prison for rape and sexual assault. The two stories together drew comparisons and caused wider soul-searching over celebrities getting away with sexual misconduct in the U.K.
Brand's accusers in court had come forward after a joint investigation by The Times and Channel 4. Since his sentencing, more women have come forward to make claims against him, The Times reported. Police are also investigating two other cases against him.
The Guardian and ITV said they spoke to more than 100 people during a three-year investigation into Walliams.
Walliams had sought a court injunction to prevent the news outlets from identifying him, but a judge rejected the application, saying such a legal measure would be “an exceptionally serious interference” with the media's rights.
Walliams had claimed that publication of sexual misconduct allegations would lead him to take his own life, but Justice Matthew Nicklin said it was the responsibility of mental health services to look after his safety.
Walliams has not spoken publicly since the story was first reported Tuesday afternoon.
Police, meanwhile, encouraged any sex offense victim to come forward.
“We know reporting allegations of this nature can be daunting, but specialist officers are on hand to provide support, answer questions and guide you through the process," Det. Supt. Mike Cagney said.
FILE - David Walliams poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film "The Choral " during the London film festival in London, on Oct. 12, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP, File)
