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| James Comey says he hopes Trump isn't impeached – live news | James Comey says he hopes Trump isn't impeached – live news |
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| Thanks for reading along. Here’s what happened Thursday night: | |
| Cesar Sayoc, the Florida man accused of sending pipe bombs to prominent Democrats, Trump critics, and CNN, pleaded guilty today. | |
| Trump signed an executive order threatening the withdrawal of federal funding for research from colleges and universities, if they don’t enforce free speech. The move was in response to conservatives who have called for crackdowns on campuses that they believe are censoring their views. University representatives and free speech advocates criticized the executive order, saying rules are already in effect and the order is politically directed. | |
| After the Trump Administration refused to release documents detailing the president’s communications with Putin, House Democrats say they are exploring other means of getting them. | |
| House Democrats, whose requests for documents on Trump’s communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin were rebuffed by the White House today, have responded saying they are “consulting on appropriate next steps”. | House Democrats, whose requests for documents on Trump’s communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin were rebuffed by the White House today, have responded saying they are “consulting on appropriate next steps”. |
| Schiff, Engel and Cummings respond to WH rejection of demand for info about Trump-Putin meetings: “We will be consulting on appropriate next steps. Congress has a constitutional duty to conduct oversight and investigate these matters, and we will fulfill that responsibility.” pic.twitter.com/FjbwpBZw77 | Schiff, Engel and Cummings respond to WH rejection of demand for info about Trump-Putin meetings: “We will be consulting on appropriate next steps. Congress has a constitutional duty to conduct oversight and investigate these matters, and we will fulfill that responsibility.” pic.twitter.com/FjbwpBZw77 |
| Earlier today, White House lawyer Pat Cipollone issued a letter to the three committee chairmen, arguing that the president’s right to confidential communication with Putin and other foreign leaders is protected. | Earlier today, White House lawyer Pat Cipollone issued a letter to the three committee chairmen, arguing that the president’s right to confidential communication with Putin and other foreign leaders is protected. |
| “The President must be free to engage in discussions with foreign leaders without fear that those communications will be disclosed and used as fodder for partisan political purposes,” Cipollone wrote, according to CNN. | “The President must be free to engage in discussions with foreign leaders without fear that those communications will be disclosed and used as fodder for partisan political purposes,” Cipollone wrote, according to CNN. |
| In an Op-Ed published in the Washington Post Tuesday, Elijah Cummings, the Democratic chairman of the House Oversight committee, wrote that the White House had not turned over any documents or made officials available for testimony. | In an Op-Ed published in the Washington Post Tuesday, Elijah Cummings, the Democratic chairman of the House Oversight committee, wrote that the White House had not turned over any documents or made officials available for testimony. |
| “The White House is engaged in an unprecedented level of stonewalling, delay and obstruction,” Cummings wrote, adding: | “The White House is engaged in an unprecedented level of stonewalling, delay and obstruction,” Cummings wrote, adding: |
| President Trump’s actions violate our Constitution’s fundamental principle of checks and balances. If our committee must resort to issuing subpoenas, there should be no doubt about why. This has nothing to do with presidential harassment and everything to do with unprecedented obstruction”. | President Trump’s actions violate our Constitution’s fundamental principle of checks and balances. If our committee must resort to issuing subpoenas, there should be no doubt about why. This has nothing to do with presidential harassment and everything to do with unprecedented obstruction”. |
| Responding to conservative activists who have accused colleges of censorship, President Trump signed an executive order today requiring free speech protections on campuses across the country. The order threatens the withdrawal of federal funding for research for all who don’t comply. | Responding to conservative activists who have accused colleges of censorship, President Trump signed an executive order today requiring free speech protections on campuses across the country. The order threatens the withdrawal of federal funding for research for all who don’t comply. |
| “Even as universities have received billions and billions of dollars from taxpayers, many have become increasingly hostile to free speech and to the First Amendment,” he said during the signing ceremony. “These universities have tried to restrict free thought, impose total conformity and shut down the voices of great young Americans.” | “Even as universities have received billions and billions of dollars from taxpayers, many have become increasingly hostile to free speech and to the First Amendment,” he said during the signing ceremony. “These universities have tried to restrict free thought, impose total conformity and shut down the voices of great young Americans.” |
| It’s unclear how the order will be enforced and how free speech will be measured and monitored, but more details have been promised to come soon. | It’s unclear how the order will be enforced and how free speech will be measured and monitored, but more details have been promised to come soon. |
| Trump's hyped free speech order that he's talking about right now will ask colleges to do what they already have to.https://t.co/51n9CHOPxK | Trump's hyped free speech order that he's talking about right now will ask colleges to do what they already have to.https://t.co/51n9CHOPxK |
| While some view the order as unnecessary, requiring universities to abide by rules already on the books, others are worried that it will open up opportunities for over-reach by the Administration. | While some view the order as unnecessary, requiring universities to abide by rules already on the books, others are worried that it will open up opportunities for over-reach by the Administration. |
| Ted Mitchell, the president of the American Council on Education, an organization that represents 1,700 college presidents told Time Magazine that the order was “a solution in search of a problem”. | Ted Mitchell, the president of the American Council on Education, an organization that represents 1,700 college presidents told Time Magazine that the order was “a solution in search of a problem”. |
| “No matter how this order is implemented, it is neither needed nor desirable, and could lead to unwanted federal micromanagement of the cutting-edge research that is critical to our nation’s continued vitality and global leadership,” he added. | “No matter how this order is implemented, it is neither needed nor desirable, and could lead to unwanted federal micromanagement of the cutting-edge research that is critical to our nation’s continued vitality and global leadership,” he added. |
| The order has been criticized for its political nature and heralded by religious and conservative groups. Per Time: | The order has been criticized for its political nature and heralded by religious and conservative groups. Per Time: |
| Several free speech groups opposed the order, including the American Civil Liberties Union, which took issue with ‘the partisan nature of the administration’s rollout of this executive order.’ | Several free speech groups opposed the order, including the American Civil Liberties Union, which took issue with ‘the partisan nature of the administration’s rollout of this executive order.’ |
| The top Republican on the Senate education committee, Sen. Lamar Alexander, said he supports the push for free speech but raised concerns about Trump’s approach. | The top Republican on the Senate education committee, Sen. Lamar Alexander, said he supports the push for free speech but raised concerns about Trump’s approach. |
| ‘I don’t want to see Congress or the president or the department of anything creating speech codes to define what you can say on campus,’ said Alexander. ‘The U.S. Constitution guarantees free speech. Federal courts define and enforce it. The Department of Justice can weigh in’”. | ‘I don’t want to see Congress or the president or the department of anything creating speech codes to define what you can say on campus,’ said Alexander. ‘The U.S. Constitution guarantees free speech. Federal courts define and enforce it. The Department of Justice can weigh in’”. |
| Gabrielle Canon here, taking over for Ben Jacobs. | Gabrielle Canon here, taking over for Ben Jacobs. |
| Cesar Sayoc, the man arrested for sending explosives to 13 prominent Trump critics last year, has plead guilty today. | Cesar Sayoc, the man arrested for sending explosives to 13 prominent Trump critics last year, has plead guilty today. |
| Sayoc, a 56-year-old Florida man who had been living in a van covered with anti-liberal stickers sent 16 pipe bombs to 13 targets including CNN, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and George Soros last October. None of the devices detonated, but sparked panic across the country. | Sayoc, a 56-year-old Florida man who had been living in a van covered with anti-liberal stickers sent 16 pipe bombs to 13 targets including CNN, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and George Soros last October. None of the devices detonated, but sparked panic across the country. |
| Cesar Sayoc: what we know about the pipe bomb suspect | Cesar Sayoc: what we know about the pipe bomb suspect |
| A weepy Cesar Sayoc pleads guilty to 65 counts with a guidelines range of life imprisonment plus 120 months.“Apparently because the government believes it has power over the hereafter,” Judge Rakoff quipped.Sept. 12 sentencing date.More to come. | A weepy Cesar Sayoc pleads guilty to 65 counts with a guidelines range of life imprisonment plus 120 months.“Apparently because the government believes it has power over the hereafter,” Judge Rakoff quipped.Sept. 12 sentencing date.More to come. |
| Donald Trump announced via Twitter that the United States would recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. | Donald Trump announced via Twitter that the United States would recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. |
| Trump also signed an executive order intended to protect free speech on college campuses which would tie federal funds to free speech. | Trump also signed an executive order intended to protect free speech on college campuses which would tie federal funds to free speech. |
| Former FBI director James Comey expressed his hope that Trump would not be impeached in an op-ed in the New York Times. | Former FBI director James Comey expressed his hope that Trump would not be impeached in an op-ed in the New York Times. |
| Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed a fetal heartbeat bill to effectively ban abortion in the Magnolia State after six months. | Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed a fetal heartbeat bill to effectively ban abortion in the Magnolia State after six months. |
| In an interview with Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo set to air tomorrow morning, Donald Trump criticizes John McCain yet again. | In an interview with Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo set to air tomorrow morning, Donald Trump criticizes John McCain yet again. |
| I’m not a fan. He was horrible what he did with repeal and replace. What he did to the Republican party and to the nation, and to sick people that could have had great health care was not good. So I’m not a fan of John McCain and that’s fine. | I’m not a fan. He was horrible what he did with repeal and replace. What he did to the Republican party and to the nation, and to sick people that could have had great health care was not good. So I’m not a fan of John McCain and that’s fine. |
| Trump also said that McCain gave the Steele dossier to the FBI “for very evil purposes, that’s not good.” | Trump also said that McCain gave the Steele dossier to the FBI “for very evil purposes, that’s not good.” |
| Former President Barack Obama will meet with freshman House Democrats next week. | Former President Barack Obama will meet with freshman House Democrats next week. |
| Politico reports that Obama will appear at a reception hosted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday night for the over sixty newly elected House Democrats. | Politico reports that Obama will appear at a reception hosted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday night for the over sixty newly elected House Democrats. |
| Former FBI director James Comey has written an op-ed for the New York Times about what he would like to see in the Mueller Report. | Former FBI director James Comey has written an op-ed for the New York Times about what he would like to see in the Mueller Report. |
| Comey expresses his hope that the report is a “demonstration to the world — and maybe most of all to our president and his enablers — that the United States has a justice system that works because there are people who believe in it and rise above personal interest and tribalism. That system may reach conclusions they like or it may not, but the apolitical administration of justice is the beating heart of this country. I hope we all get to see that.” | Comey expresses his hope that the report is a “demonstration to the world — and maybe most of all to our president and his enablers — that the United States has a justice system that works because there are people who believe in it and rise above personal interest and tribalism. That system may reach conclusions they like or it may not, but the apolitical administration of justice is the beating heart of this country. I hope we all get to see that.” |
| Comey also comes out in opposition to impeaching Trump. | Comey also comes out in opposition to impeaching Trump. |
| I hope that Mr. Trump is not impeached and removed from office before the end of his term. I don’t mean that Congress shouldn’t move ahead with the process of impeachment governed by our Constitution, if Congress thinks the provable facts are there. I just hope it doesn’t. Because if Mr. Trump were removed from office by Congress, a significant portion of this country would see this as a coup, and it would drive those people farther from the common center of American life, more deeply fracturing our country. | I hope that Mr. Trump is not impeached and removed from office before the end of his term. I don’t mean that Congress shouldn’t move ahead with the process of impeachment governed by our Constitution, if Congress thinks the provable facts are there. I just hope it doesn’t. Because if Mr. Trump were removed from office by Congress, a significant portion of this country would see this as a coup, and it would drive those people farther from the common center of American life, more deeply fracturing our country. |
| While speaking about student loans at the White House, President Donald Trump ad libs “I’ve always been very good with loans. I love loans. I love other people’s money.” | While speaking about student loans at the White House, President Donald Trump ad libs “I’ve always been very good with loans. I love loans. I love other people’s money.” |
| Democratic longshot Andrew Yang will debate conservative pundit Ben Shapiro about circumcision. | Democratic longshot Andrew Yang will debate conservative pundit Ben Shapiro about circumcision. |
| Yang, a entrepreneur who has already qualified for the first presidential debates by receiving 65,000 donations to his campaign, announced his opposition to circumcision earlier this week. | Yang, a entrepreneur who has already qualified for the first presidential debates by receiving 65,000 donations to his campaign, announced his opposition to circumcision earlier this week. |
| That prompted Shapiro to challenge him to a debate on the topic. Yang agreed although no date has been set. | That prompted Shapiro to challenge him to a debate on the topic. Yang agreed although no date has been set. |