This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/may/14/trump-news-today-live-russia-fbi-investigation-barr-mueller-democrats-china-tariffs-latest
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Barr assigns attorney to find how Trump-Russia investigation began – live updates | Barr assigns attorney to find how Trump-Russia investigation began – live updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Picking up on Trump’s suggestion earlier today that his son Don Jr has testified enough, the Republican chairman of the senate intelligence committee, which has subpoenaed Trump Jr for further testimony, declines to say what would happen next in the frankly rather extremely plausible event that Trump Jr defies the subpoena: | |
| Senate Intel Chairman Richard Burr declines to comment about pursuing contempt for Donald Trump Jr if he defies subpoena “I’m not going to discuss any engagement with witnesses,” Burr said off the floor | |
| Perfect timing for this discovery, as US secretary of state Mike Pompeo is about to meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin and can bring this up: | |
| TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — After #FBI briefing, #Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says #Russia hackers accessed voter databases in 2 Florida counties. | |
| It’s unclear when the hacking occurred. | |
| Trump spoke with reporters briefly before departing for New Orleans. He suggested that his son, Donald Jr, who has been subpoenaed to testify by the Republican-led Senate intelligence committee, had already testified enough (members have Congress have expressed concern that Trump Jr might have misled them). | |
| Trump also addressed a New York Times report from yesterday with this eye-popping lede: | |
| WASHINGTON — At a meeting of President Trump’s top national security aides last Thursday, Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan presented an updated military plan that envisions sending as many as 120,000 troops to the Middle East should Iran attack American forces or accelerate work on nuclear weapons, administration officials said. | |
| Never heard of it, Trump tells reporters. | |
| Trump, before leaving WH, said:—there’s a squabble with China but he has a good relationship with Xi and US having a good dialogue—doesn’t know anything about 120,000 troops —Don Jr spent 20+ hours testifying —a Q about whether he has confidence in Chris Wray “ridiculous.” | |
| When I asked @realDonaldTrump if the U.S. is winning the trade war he told me: “ You wanna know something, we always win. “ | |
| The House Judiciary panel has set a 21 May hearing for testimony from former White House counsel Don McGahn, a key figure in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, the Associated Press reports: | |
| But it’s unclear if he’ll show. | |
| The committee posted notice Tuesday of the hearing. McGahn was a vital witness for Mueller’s probe into Russia election meddling and contacts with Donald Trump’s campaign. McGahn told Mueller of Trump’s attempts to thwart his investigation and remove Mueller. | |
| The White House has said McGahn cannot turn over documents the committee seeks and prefers he not testify, reflecting Trump’s strategy of resisting congressional investigations. | |
| Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler has said the committee would hold McGahn in contempt if he does not appear at the hearing. | |
| An attorney for McGahn didn’t immediately respond for comment | |
| Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts senator running for president, has declined to follow the lead of fellow Democrats who have either appeared in or committed to appear in town halls organized by Fox News. | Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts senator running for president, has declined to follow the lead of fellow Democrats who have either appeared in or committed to appear in town halls organized by Fox News. |
| In rejecting the offer, Warren says she does not want to feed the Fox “hate-for-profit” machine and accuses the network of giving “a megaphone to racists and conspiracists”: | In rejecting the offer, Warren says she does not want to feed the Fox “hate-for-profit” machine and accuses the network of giving “a megaphone to racists and conspiracists”: |
| Fox News is a hate-for-profit racket that gives a megaphone to racists and conspiracists—it’s designed to turn us against each other, risking life and death consequences, to provide cover for the corruption that’s rotting our government and hollowing out our middle class. | Fox News is a hate-for-profit racket that gives a megaphone to racists and conspiracists—it’s designed to turn us against each other, risking life and death consequences, to provide cover for the corruption that’s rotting our government and hollowing out our middle class. |
| But Fox News is struggling as more and more advertisers pull out of their hate-filled space. A Democratic town hall gives the Fox News sales team a way to tell potential sponsors it's safe to buy ads on Fox—no harm to their brand or reputation (spoiler: It’s not). | But Fox News is struggling as more and more advertisers pull out of their hate-filled space. A Democratic town hall gives the Fox News sales team a way to tell potential sponsors it's safe to buy ads on Fox—no harm to their brand or reputation (spoiler: It’s not). |
| I’m running a campaign to reach all Americans. I take questions from the press and voters everywhere I go. I’ve already held town halls in 17 states and Puerto Rico—including WV, OH, GA, UT, TN, TX, CO, MS & AL. | I’m running a campaign to reach all Americans. I take questions from the press and voters everywhere I go. I’ve already held town halls in 17 states and Puerto Rico—including WV, OH, GA, UT, TN, TX, CO, MS & AL. |
| I’ve done 57 media avails and 131 interviews, taking over 1,100 questions from press just since January. Fox News is welcome to come to my events just like any other outlet. But a Fox News town hall adds money to the hate-for-profit machine. To which I say: hard pass. | I’ve done 57 media avails and 131 interviews, taking over 1,100 questions from press just since January. Fox News is welcome to come to my events just like any other outlet. But a Fox News town hall adds money to the hate-for-profit machine. To which I say: hard pass. |
| And then there were 23. | And then there were 23. |
| Steve Bullock, the Democratic governor of Montana, announced on Tuesday that he is entering the presidential race after pushing a progressive agenda in a conservative state. | Steve Bullock, the Democratic governor of Montana, announced on Tuesday that he is entering the presidential race after pushing a progressive agenda in a conservative state. |
| Among a crowded field of more than 20 Democratic candidates, Bullock attempted to distinguish himself in his campaign launch video by touting his ability to work with Republicans and his record of fighting corporate spending in elections. | Among a crowded field of more than 20 Democratic candidates, Bullock attempted to distinguish himself in his campaign launch video by touting his ability to work with Republicans and his record of fighting corporate spending in elections. |
| “I don’t have the luxury of just talking to people who agree with me,” Bullock said in the video. | “I don’t have the luxury of just talking to people who agree with me,” Bullock said in the video. |
| In the 2016 election, Donald Trump won Montana by 21 percentage points and Bullock was re-elected by 4 percentage points. | In the 2016 election, Donald Trump won Montana by 21 percentage points and Bullock was re-elected by 4 percentage points. |
| Before Montana voters elected Bullock governor in 2012, he was the state’s attorney general. | Before Montana voters elected Bullock governor in 2012, he was the state’s attorney general. |
| The 53-year-old supported same-sex marriage, expanded access to the federal health insurance plan Medicaid and protected public lands. He is also pro-choice and supports an assault weapons ban. | The 53-year-old supported same-sex marriage, expanded access to the federal health insurance plan Medicaid and protected public lands. He is also pro-choice and supports an assault weapons ban. |
| Read further: | Read further: |
| Montana governor Steve Bullock enters 2020 presidential race | Montana governor Steve Bullock enters 2020 presidential race |
| US secretary of state Mike Pompeo is to meet Vladimir Putin in Russia at a time of heightened fears of a clash between the US and Iran, a Moscow ally. | US secretary of state Mike Pompeo is to meet Vladimir Putin in Russia at a time of heightened fears of a clash between the US and Iran, a Moscow ally. |
| It is the first high-level meeting between US and Russian leaders since the partial release of the Mueller report, which at length documents the Russian sabotage of the 2016 election. Donald Trump and Putin spoke on the phone shortly after the report was published. | It is the first high-level meeting between US and Russian leaders since the partial release of the Mueller report, which at length documents the Russian sabotage of the 2016 election. Donald Trump and Putin spoke on the phone shortly after the report was published. |
| A Kremlin spokesman, before the meeting on Tuesday, accused the US of applying a “maximum pressure policy” against Iran, a reference to a harsh US sanctions regime and military deployments to the Middle East. | A Kremlin spokesman, before the meeting on Tuesday, accused the US of applying a “maximum pressure policy” against Iran, a reference to a harsh US sanctions regime and military deployments to the Middle East. |
| “President Putin has said repeatedly that he could not understand the maximum pressure policy,” Peskov told journalists on Tuesday morning. | “President Putin has said repeatedly that he could not understand the maximum pressure policy,” Peskov told journalists on Tuesday morning. |
| Tensions with Iran are the latest crisis troubling the US-Russia relationship, which was severely disrupted by accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections. Pompeo and Putin are expected to discuss issues from nuclear arms control to the recent unrest in Venezuela, where Russia backs the government of Nicolás Maduro and the US backs opposition leaders. | Tensions with Iran are the latest crisis troubling the US-Russia relationship, which was severely disrupted by accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections. Pompeo and Putin are expected to discuss issues from nuclear arms control to the recent unrest in Venezuela, where Russia backs the government of Nicolás Maduro and the US backs opposition leaders. |
| Pompeo arrived in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday afternoon, telling the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov: “I am here today because President Trump is committed to improving this relationship.” | Pompeo arrived in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday afternoon, telling the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov: “I am here today because President Trump is committed to improving this relationship.” |
| Read further: | Read further: |
| Pompeo to meet Putin in Russia amid fears over US-Iran clash | Pompeo to meet Putin in Russia amid fears over US-Iran clash |
| On one side, the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives demands documents from Donald Trump and aides: tax records, business documents, emails, legal opinions. The constitution prescribes that Congress oversee the other two branches of government and subpoenas are a favorite tool. | On one side, the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives demands documents from Donald Trump and aides: tax records, business documents, emails, legal opinions. The constitution prescribes that Congress oversee the other two branches of government and subpoenas are a favorite tool. |
| On the other side, Trump responds: No. | On the other side, Trump responds: No. |
| Some analysts call it a constitutional crisis unfolding in real time; others say we’re not there until a court issues an order which Trump then actually defies. But in a little more than an hour we could have a major development in one of the big Trump-House standoffs. | Some analysts call it a constitutional crisis unfolding in real time; others say we’re not there until a court issues an order which Trump then actually defies. But in a little more than an hour we could have a major development in one of the big Trump-House standoffs. |
| The House Oversight and Reform Committee has subpoenaed one of Trump’s accounting firms, Mazars USA, for eight years of Trump’s financial records. The president sued to stop the release of the records. And at 11am judge Amit Mehta in the Washington DC district will convene a hearing and make a ruling about whether the records must be turned over. | The House Oversight and Reform Committee has subpoenaed one of Trump’s accounting firms, Mazars USA, for eight years of Trump’s financial records. The president sued to stop the release of the records. And at 11am judge Amit Mehta in the Washington DC district will convene a hearing and make a ruling about whether the records must be turned over. |
| While it’s not known how Mehta will rule, the judge earlier denied a Trump request to slow-walk the case, in a move taken not to be a good sign for Trump. | While it’s not known how Mehta will rule, the judge earlier denied a Trump request to slow-walk the case, in a move taken not to be a good sign for Trump. |
| On the subject of markets – the Dow Jones Industrial Average has opened up slightly, a half a point in the green on the day so far. It fell a bit more than three points on Monday. | On the subject of markets – the Dow Jones Industrial Average has opened up slightly, a half a point in the green on the day so far. It fell a bit more than three points on Monday. |
| Donald Trump spent at least an hour and some 1,400 characters on Tuesday morning tweeting a defense of his tariffs on Chinese goods, which China has responded to with retaliatory tariffs, precipitating a dive on Monday in the US markets. Asian markets fell less sharply and European markets opened Tuesday slightly up. | Donald Trump spent at least an hour and some 1,400 characters on Tuesday morning tweeting a defense of his tariffs on Chinese goods, which China has responded to with retaliatory tariffs, precipitating a dive on Monday in the US markets. Asian markets fell less sharply and European markets opened Tuesday slightly up. |
| Trump said on Tuesday that “Tariffs have rebuilt our Steel Industry - it is booming!”, “we are in a fantastic position”, “We are in a much better position now than any deal we could have made” and “Other countries are already negotiating with us because they don’t want this to happen to them.” | Trump said on Tuesday that “Tariffs have rebuilt our Steel Industry - it is booming!”, “we are in a fantastic position”, “We are in a much better position now than any deal we could have made” and “Other countries are already negotiating with us because they don’t want this to happen to them.” |
| Companies from Apple to Boeing to Caterpillar have reason to disagree with Trump’s rosy assessment, and economists warn that the retaliatory trade war just commenced could drive up costs for consumers. | Companies from Apple to Boeing to Caterpillar have reason to disagree with Trump’s rosy assessment, and economists warn that the retaliatory trade war just commenced could drive up costs for consumers. |
| “Enjoy!” Trump concluded. | “Enjoy!” Trump concluded. |
| Read further on Trump’s tariffs: | Read further on Trump’s tariffs: |
| Trump defends China tariffs as trade war leaves allies and opponents in bind | Trump defends China tariffs as trade war leaves allies and opponents in bind |
| Hello and welcome to our daily politics coverage. | Hello and welcome to our daily politics coverage. |
| US attorney general William Barr has put the power of the justice department behind a Donald Trump talking point by assigning a US attorney to examine the origins of an FBI investigation into Russia and the Trump campaign, according to the Associated Press. | US attorney general William Barr has put the power of the justice department behind a Donald Trump talking point by assigning a US attorney to examine the origins of an FBI investigation into Russia and the Trump campaign, according to the Associated Press. |
| Barr told Congress in April that he believes “spying did occur” on Trump’s 2016 campaign, though he later said he didn’t use the word with negative connotations. The appointment of a US attorney to investigate the investigation follows years of Trump and his supporters claiming the justice department and FBI spied on his campaign. | Barr told Congress in April that he believes “spying did occur” on Trump’s 2016 campaign, though he later said he didn’t use the word with negative connotations. The appointment of a US attorney to investigate the investigation follows years of Trump and his supporters claiming the justice department and FBI spied on his campaign. |
| Jim Baker, FBI general counsel at the time the Russia investigation was launched, pushed back forcefully on Friday against Trump’s conspiracy theory. | Jim Baker, FBI general counsel at the time the Russia investigation was launched, pushed back forcefully on Friday against Trump’s conspiracy theory. |
| “[The campaign probe] was about Russia. We’ve written about this. It was about Russia, period, full stop,” Baker said in an interview at the Brookings Institution. “When the Papadopoulos information comes across our radar screen it’s coming across in the sense we were always looking at Russia. I don’t know how long the FBI had its focus on Russia, but it predates the Soviet Union...we have been thinking about Russia as a threat actor and the Soviet Union before for decades and decades.” | “[The campaign probe] was about Russia. We’ve written about this. It was about Russia, period, full stop,” Baker said in an interview at the Brookings Institution. “When the Papadopoulos information comes across our radar screen it’s coming across in the sense we were always looking at Russia. I don’t know how long the FBI had its focus on Russia, but it predates the Soviet Union...we have been thinking about Russia as a threat actor and the Soviet Union before for decades and decades.” |
| Relatedly, a Guardian exclusive revealed today that Steve Bannon, while serving as Trump’ adviser in 2017, sought to ensure the FBI saw itself as an ally of the White House. | Relatedly, a Guardian exclusive revealed today that Steve Bannon, while serving as Trump’ adviser in 2017, sought to ensure the FBI saw itself as an ally of the White House. |
| Steve Bannon sought alliance with FBI in 2017 White House meeting | Steve Bannon sought alliance with FBI in 2017 White House meeting |
| Also today, the president travels to Louisiana this afternoon to make a speech about energy infrastructure and the economy. He’ll stick around for a fundraiser before returning to Washington. | Also today, the president travels to Louisiana this afternoon to make a speech about energy infrastructure and the economy. He’ll stick around for a fundraiser before returning to Washington. |
| Separately, we expect to hear from Senate leaders from both parties in press conferences this afternoon, as the legislature remains locked in a standoff with Trump over subpoenas for testimony and documents from Donald Trump Jr, attorney general William Barr, the former White House counsel Don McGahn and others. | Separately, we expect to hear from Senate leaders from both parties in press conferences this afternoon, as the legislature remains locked in a standoff with Trump over subpoenas for testimony and documents from Donald Trump Jr, attorney general William Barr, the former White House counsel Don McGahn and others. |