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White House departures: speculation mounts over future of top Trump staffers – live White House departures: speculation mounts over future of top Trump staffers – live
(35 minutes later)
The federal investigation of Bernie Sanders’s wife Jane and her stewardship of a failed Vermont college has apparently ended. This clears one potential obstacle for Sanders mounting a presidential bid in 2020.
New into @CNN: top Bernie Sanders adviser Jeff Weaver tells me that the US Attorney in Vermont has recently notified Jane Sanders, who is married to @SenSanders , that they have closed their investigation into the Burlington College land deal.
Prosecutors for Robert Mueller have asked about Nigel Farage in the Russia investigation.
Jon Swaine and Stephanie Kirchgaessner report for the Guardian that Jerome Corsi, a Roger Stone associate who expects to be indicted, says he has been asked about Farage in the course of the investigation.
The announcement yesterday that West Virginia state senator Richard Ojeda would mount a quixotic presidential campaign is an indication of another trend among Democrats – that many of their biggest stars in the 2018 election were losing candidates.
Hanna Trudo at National Journal notes the interesting path forward for candidates who gained national attention but failed to receive enough votes at the ballot box.
Democrats are vowing to scrutinize Trump’s appointment of Matt Whitaker as acting attorney general once they formally take the majority in January. However, Republicans are far less concerned about Whitaker and comments that he made about the Mueller investigation prior to joining the justice department last year.Democrats are vowing to scrutinize Trump’s appointment of Matt Whitaker as acting attorney general once they formally take the majority in January. However, Republicans are far less concerned about Whitaker and comments that he made about the Mueller investigation prior to joining the justice department last year.
Q: Do you have any concerns about the comments that Whitaker has made about the Mueller probe?GRASSLEY: “As long as he made them as a private citizen, no.”Q: Do you have any concerns about the comments that Whitaker has made about the Mueller probe?GRASSLEY: “As long as he made them as a private citizen, no.”
A Trump administration official has been indicted in Alabama for violating state ethics laws.A Trump administration official has been indicted in Alabama for violating state ethics laws.
Trey Glenn, the south-east regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has been indicted for incidents dating to before his tenure in the administration when he worked to block EPA efforts to clean up a Birmingham neighborhood.Trey Glenn, the south-east regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has been indicted for incidents dating to before his tenure in the administration when he worked to block EPA efforts to clean up a Birmingham neighborhood.
As rumors surrounding the future of John Kelly as chief of staff swirl, one possible contender for the job is ruling himself out. OMB head Mick Mulvaney is now telling people that he is not interested in the position.As rumors surrounding the future of John Kelly as chief of staff swirl, one possible contender for the job is ruling himself out. OMB head Mick Mulvaney is now telling people that he is not interested in the position.
And this position from Mulvaney is widely seen as a surrender/acknowledgment that Ayers likely has the job. Ayers has the support of the Trump family. https://t.co/Afv4EALcDkAnd this position from Mulvaney is widely seen as a surrender/acknowledgment that Ayers likely has the job. Ayers has the support of the Trump family. https://t.co/Afv4EALcDk
Mick Mulvaney is no longer interested in chief of staff, per person close to him. Had previously talked to POTUS about it over a dinner.Mick Mulvaney is no longer interested in chief of staff, per person close to him. Had previously talked to POTUS about it over a dinner.
The lame duck session of Congress will begin today with three new members of the House of Representatives. All three won both special elections last week.The lame duck session of Congress will begin today with three new members of the House of Representatives. All three won both special elections last week.
Representative-elect Kevin Hern, (R-OK), Oklahoma’s first congressional districtRepresentative-elect Kevin Hern, (R-OK), Oklahoma’s first congressional district
Representative-elect Joe Morelle (D-NY), New York’s 25th congressional districtRepresentative-elect Joe Morelle (D-NY), New York’s 25th congressional district
Representative-elect Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Pennsylvania’s seventh congressional districtRepresentative-elect Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Pennsylvania’s seventh congressional district
Gwinnett county, Georgia will begin counting provisional ballots this afternoon. There are 2,400 to 2,500 outstanding ballots in the suburban Atlanta county including 1,500 in Georgia’s seventh congressional district a race that has yet to be called.Gwinnett county, Georgia will begin counting provisional ballots this afternoon. There are 2,400 to 2,500 outstanding ballots in the suburban Atlanta county including 1,500 in Georgia’s seventh congressional district a race that has yet to be called.
Incumbent Rob Woodall currently leads Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux by 900 votes in the race.Incumbent Rob Woodall currently leads Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux by 900 votes in the race.
One of the biggest upsets on election night was the victory of Democrat Max Rose in New York’s 11th congressional district comprising Staten Island and part of Brooklyn.One of the biggest upsets on election night was the victory of Democrat Max Rose in New York’s 11th congressional district comprising Staten Island and part of Brooklyn.
Ginia Bellafante for the New York Times captures some of the political and cultural reasons behind his win.Ginia Bellafante for the New York Times captures some of the political and cultural reasons behind his win.
Mira Ricardel, a top aide to John Bolton, is reported on the way out according to the Wall Street Journal.Mira Ricardel, a top aide to John Bolton, is reported on the way out according to the Wall Street Journal.
Ricardel joins the homeland security secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, as well as potentially chief of staff John Kelly on the chopping block.Ricardel joins the homeland security secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, as well as potentially chief of staff John Kelly on the chopping block.
The president has now weighed in on the recount process in Florida.The president has now weighed in on the recount process in Florida.
When will Bill Nelson concede in Florida? The characters running Broward and Palm Beach voting will not be able to “find” enough votes, too much spotlight on them now!When will Bill Nelson concede in Florida? The characters running Broward and Palm Beach voting will not be able to “find” enough votes, too much spotlight on them now!
The effect that Donald Trump has had on American politics was made clear last week when Democrats won a number of districts that had been gerrymandered to be Republican.
By upending traditional coalitions, the president turned safe districts drawn for suburban Republicans blue. In Illinois, Democrats won two House seats drawn for Republicans. However, Republicans held on to a rural downstate seat drawn in 2010 for a Democrat.
At least nine House candidates attending new member orientation in Washington DC haven’t officially won their races and several are not considered likely to win.
At least 9 Hse candidates go through orientation session, even though their races aren't called. CA: Harder, Kim, Cisneros, Porter, Rouda. GA: Boudeaux. ME: Golden. TX: Ortiz Jones. UT: McAdams
Things are getting off to an interesting start on Capitol Hill where Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is participating in a sit-in in the office of Nancy Pelosi to demand “a Green New Deal”.
The protest, which is led by two groups, Justice Democrats and Sunrise Movement , bashes Pelosi for “her intention to promote a ‘bipartisan marketplace of ideas’ and re-launch a toothless special committee from 2007 on climate change which resulted in weak cap-and-trade legislation passing the House in 2009 before failing in the Democratic-controlled Senate”.
The cap and trade bill barely passed the House by a margin of 219-212 and didn’t receive a vote in the Senate. The vote was considered politically toxic by many Democrats and help contribute to a number of them losing their seats in the midterms.
Alexandra Ocasio Cortez makes her first visit to Nancy Pelosi’s office — for a climate change protest. pic.twitter.com/PXTBoGcWcb
There is more reporting on a shakeup within the Trump administration. ABC News is reporting that Trump is considering Nick Ayres, the current chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, as a replacement for John Kelly.
The White House has issued a statement on the CNN lawsuit:
“We have been advised that CNN has filed a complaint challenging the suspension of Jim Acosta’s hard pass. This is just more grandstanding from CNN, and we will vigorously defend against this lawsuit.
CNN, who has nearly 50 additional hard pass holders, and Mr. Acosta is no more or less special than any other media outlet or reporter with respect to the First Amendment. After Mr. Acosta asked the President two questions—each of which the President answered—he physically refused to surrender a White House microphone to an intern, so that other reporters might ask their questions. This was not the first time this reporter has inappropriately refused to yield to other reporters.
The White House cannot run an orderly and fair press conference when a reporter acts this way, which is neither appropriate nor professional. The First Amendment is not served when a single reporter, of more than 150 present, attempts to monopolize the floor. If there is no check on this type of behavior it impedes the ability of the President, the White House staff, and members of the media to conduct business.”
Forget 2020, the 2019 elections are already happening.
The off-year will see three states, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi, holding gubernatorial elections.
In Kentucky, Democrat Rocky Adkins is already preparing to challenge incumbent Republican Matt Bevin. Adkins, the House minority leader in the Kentucky House of Representatives, will face state attorney general Andy Beshear in the state’s primary election.
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown is contemplating a 2020 presidential bid after winning his re-election bid last week.
His opponent, Republican Jim Renacci, is not happy about it. The congressman has been complaining on Facebook.
.@JimRenacci doesn't seem happy with @SherrodBrown's announcement that he's thinking about running for president. pic.twitter.com/52b74IuDmm
Newly elected senators are already getting temporary offices set up in the Capitol less than one full week after the midterms.
It begins: the temporary basement Senate offices are up pic.twitter.com/zi6djp2Cx0
Bruce Poliquin, a Republican congressman from Maine, is suing to invalidate the state’s ranked choice election law.
A law approved twice via referendum in Maine allows voters to rank their choices for office. If no candidate receives 50%, voters’ second choice is then counted.
Poliquin currently has a narrow lead over Democrat Jared Golden by a margin of 46.2% to 45.5%. However, 8% of the vote went to left-leaning independent candidates and the expectation is that most of those voters had Golden as their second choice. The lawsuit seeks to prevent the second choice ballots from being counted, which would make Poliquin the winner.
Another Mueller indictment is apparently coming.
Jerome Corsi, a conspiracy theorist who played a key role is pushing attacks on John Kerry’s war service in 2004, said he expects to be indicted. Corsi insisted in a online broadcast Monday that he was the victim of “a perjury trap”.