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| Nancy Pelosi says 'the White House is crying out for impeachment' – live | Nancy Pelosi says 'the White House is crying out for impeachment' – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| There’s an interesting article in the Atlantic about how Barack Obama is “more popular than Jesus” among Democrats, but the crowded field seeking the party’s nomination for the 2020 election doesn’t quite know what to do with his popularity: | |
| Obama remains firm that he won’t endorse soon, while aides are stressing that he might get involved later in the process—presumably, the thinking goes, to stop a candidate he sees as too divisive or likely to lose from becoming the nominee. (This hasn’t been specified, but most assume it would be to stop Bernie Sanders.) | |
| Obama and his aides have carefully guarded when and how to deploy him; some have even theorized he could be called on to broker who the 2020 nominee is, if the primaries finish without a clear winner and Democrats face a contested convention. | |
| House speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected calls to impeach Donald Trump, saying it would be playing into the wishes of him and his White House. She also expressed concerned about the president’s well-being. “I wish that his family or his administration or staff would have an intervention for the good of the country,” Pelosi said. | House speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected calls to impeach Donald Trump, saying it would be playing into the wishes of him and his White House. She also expressed concerned about the president’s well-being. “I wish that his family or his administration or staff would have an intervention for the good of the country,” Pelosi said. |
| Bank CEO Stephen Calk was charged by the Southern District of New York for attempting to buy a spot in the Trump administration by approving high-risk loans for former Trump campaign advisor, Paul Manafort. Manafort himself has been charged for various crimes. | Bank CEO Stephen Calk was charged by the Southern District of New York for attempting to buy a spot in the Trump administration by approving high-risk loans for former Trump campaign advisor, Paul Manafort. Manafort himself has been charged for various crimes. |
| Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign released a list of 56 legal cases she worked on during her time as a law professor, just before a Washington Post investigation with more detail on the cases was published. | Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign released a list of 56 legal cases she worked on during her time as a law professor, just before a Washington Post investigation with more detail on the cases was published. |
| Trump called his former secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, “dumb as a rock” - again - following reports that Tillerson told a Congressional committee that Vladimir Putin out-prepared Trump in a 2017 meeting. | Trump called his former secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, “dumb as a rock” - again - following reports that Tillerson told a Congressional committee that Vladimir Putin out-prepared Trump in a 2017 meeting. |
| And today’s political pup is Ladybird, who belongs to a scheduler in the office of Senator Martha McSally, a Republican from Arizona. | And today’s political pup is Ladybird, who belongs to a scheduler in the office of Senator Martha McSally, a Republican from Arizona. |
| #LadyBird Update: still growing, still chewing on everything, still legislating. pic.twitter.com/PPvJGdGv9n | #LadyBird Update: still growing, still chewing on everything, still legislating. pic.twitter.com/PPvJGdGv9n |
| Pete Buttigieg, a military veteran and Democratic candidate for president, has accused Donald Trump of faking disability to avoid serving in the Vietnam war.The US president received five deferments from the draft, four for university and one for the medical reason of bone spurs in his heels. Last year the New York Times reported claims that a doctor made the diagnosis as a favour to Trump’s father.Buttigieg, who took a seven month leave of absence from his job as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, to serve in Afghanistan as a lieutenant in the navy reserve, said: “I have a pretty dim view of his decision to use his privileged status to fake a disability in order to avoid serving in Vietnam.”Speaking at a Washington Post event on Thursday, the 37-year-old continued: “I mean, if he were a conscientious objector, I’d admire that, but this is somebody who, I think it is fairly obvious to most of us, took advantage of the fact that he was a child of a multimillionaire in order to pretend to be disabled so that somebody could go to war in his place.“I know that dredges up old wounds from a complicated time during a complicated war, but I am also old enough to remember when conservatives talked about character as something that mattered in the presidency, and so I think it deserves to be talked about.” | Pete Buttigieg, a military veteran and Democratic candidate for president, has accused Donald Trump of faking disability to avoid serving in the Vietnam war.The US president received five deferments from the draft, four for university and one for the medical reason of bone spurs in his heels. Last year the New York Times reported claims that a doctor made the diagnosis as a favour to Trump’s father.Buttigieg, who took a seven month leave of absence from his job as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, to serve in Afghanistan as a lieutenant in the navy reserve, said: “I have a pretty dim view of his decision to use his privileged status to fake a disability in order to avoid serving in Vietnam.”Speaking at a Washington Post event on Thursday, the 37-year-old continued: “I mean, if he were a conscientious objector, I’d admire that, but this is somebody who, I think it is fairly obvious to most of us, took advantage of the fact that he was a child of a multimillionaire in order to pretend to be disabled so that somebody could go to war in his place.“I know that dredges up old wounds from a complicated time during a complicated war, but I am also old enough to remember when conservatives talked about character as something that mattered in the presidency, and so I think it deserves to be talked about.” |
| Buttigieg also described the challenge of taking on Trump in a debate as “crazy uncle management”. | Buttigieg also described the challenge of taking on Trump in a debate as “crazy uncle management”. |
| Pelosi just wrapped the press conference, where she made clear that she is not pushing for impeachment despite describing the president’s actions as impeachable. | Pelosi just wrapped the press conference, where she made clear that she is not pushing for impeachment despite describing the president’s actions as impeachable. |
| “I think impeachment is a very divisive place for us to go in the country,” Pelosi said. | “I think impeachment is a very divisive place for us to go in the country,” Pelosi said. |
| She also repeatedly expressed concern about the president’s well-being, which she said reflected a broader concern about the well-being of the US. Pelosi said: | She also repeatedly expressed concern about the president’s well-being, which she said reflected a broader concern about the well-being of the US. Pelosi said: |
| Again, I pray for the president of the United States. I wish that his family or his administration or staff would have an intervention for the good of the country. | Again, I pray for the president of the United States. I wish that his family or his administration or staff would have an intervention for the good of the country. |
| Before the press conference, Pelosi told colleagues Trump’s actions were “villainous” according to NBC News. | Before the press conference, Pelosi told colleagues Trump’s actions were “villainous” according to NBC News. |
| House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she still does not plan to pursue impeachment, though the president would like Democrats to pursue it for political reasons. | House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she still does not plan to pursue impeachment, though the president would like Democrats to pursue it for political reasons. |
| “The White House is just crying out for impeachment - that’s why he [Trump] flipped yesterday,” Pelosi said in an ongoing press conference. | “The White House is just crying out for impeachment - that’s why he [Trump] flipped yesterday,” Pelosi said in an ongoing press conference. |
| Pelosi said impeachment would be divisive, but she was listening to the members of her caucus who are pushing for it. | Pelosi said impeachment would be divisive, but she was listening to the members of her caucus who are pushing for it. |
| When Donald Trump visits the UK next month, he will be joined by his children and their spouses, according to ABC News. | When Donald Trump visits the UK next month, he will be joined by his children and their spouses, according to ABC News. |
| The children are set to attend a dinner with Queen Elizabeth II and will potentially meet with Prince William and Kate, according to the report. | The children are set to attend a dinner with Queen Elizabeth II and will potentially meet with Prince William and Kate, according to the report. |
| The three-day trip starts 3 June and coincides with D-Day commemorations. | The three-day trip starts 3 June and coincides with D-Day commemorations. |
| Trump visited the UK in 2018, but this would be his first state visit. | Trump visited the UK in 2018, but this would be his first state visit. |
| Large protests are expected during his trip, including the resurrection of a baby Trump blimp over London. | Large protests are expected during his trip, including the resurrection of a baby Trump blimp over London. |
| Federal prosecutors have charged a bank CEO, Stephen Calk, for approving millions of dollars in high-risk loans to Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman, with the hope it would pan out to a position in the Trump administration. | Federal prosecutors have charged a bank CEO, Stephen Calk, for approving millions of dollars in high-risk loans to Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman, with the hope it would pan out to a position in the Trump administration. |
| The Southern District of New York (SDNY) said Thursday morning that Calk tried to buy himself a role in the Trump administration while serving as CEO of The Federal Savings Bank in Chicago. | The Southern District of New York (SDNY) said Thursday morning that Calk tried to buy himself a role in the Trump administration while serving as CEO of The Federal Savings Bank in Chicago. |
| “As alleged, Stephen M Calk abused the power entrusted to him as the top official of a federally insured bank by approving millions of dollars in high-risk loans in an effort to secure a personal benefit, namely an appointment as Secretary of the Army or another similarly high-level position in the incoming presidential administration,” said US attorney, Audrey Strauss, in a statement. | “As alleged, Stephen M Calk abused the power entrusted to him as the top official of a federally insured bank by approving millions of dollars in high-risk loans in an effort to secure a personal benefit, namely an appointment as Secretary of the Army or another similarly high-level position in the incoming presidential administration,” said US attorney, Audrey Strauss, in a statement. |
| In March, Manafort was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for charges including bank fraud, tax fraud and conspiracy. | In March, Manafort was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for charges including bank fraud, tax fraud and conspiracy. |
| According to the Mueller report, 14 referrals were made to other law enforcement authorities. One was for Cohen, one for Greg Craig. The other 12 were unknown. The Calk indictment is now known. 11 remain. | According to the Mueller report, 14 referrals were made to other law enforcement authorities. One was for Cohen, one for Greg Craig. The other 12 were unknown. The Calk indictment is now known. 11 remain. |
| Abolitionist Harriet Tubman’s debut on the $20 bill has been delayed until after Donald Trump leaves office, Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin said yesterday. | Abolitionist Harriet Tubman’s debut on the $20 bill has been delayed until after Donald Trump leaves office, Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin said yesterday. |
| Tubman was supposed to appear on the $20 in 2020, under an Obama administration initiative that would have made Tubman the only woman or person of color on an American note. Tubman escaped enslavement, rescued at least 70 people enslaved people on the underground railroad and campaigned for women’s rights. | Tubman was supposed to appear on the $20 in 2020, under an Obama administration initiative that would have made Tubman the only woman or person of color on an American note. Tubman escaped enslavement, rescued at least 70 people enslaved people on the underground railroad and campaigned for women’s rights. |
| Mnuchin said the bill release would be delayed until at least 2026, leaving former president and slaveholder, Andrew Jackson, as the famous face on the $20 bill. | Mnuchin said the bill release would be delayed until at least 2026, leaving former president and slaveholder, Andrew Jackson, as the famous face on the $20 bill. |
| Mnuchin did this out of concerns the president would cause an uproar about the bill’s redesign, according to the New York Times, citing senior Treasury department officials. | Mnuchin did this out of concerns the president would cause an uproar about the bill’s redesign, according to the New York Times, citing senior Treasury department officials. |
| Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to Barack Obama, said of Mnuchin’s announcement: “Not moving forward is an insult not just to the African American community, but to all Americans who believe we should honor an American who contributed so greatly to the nation’s history.” | Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to Barack Obama, said of Mnuchin’s announcement: “Not moving forward is an insult not just to the African American community, but to all Americans who believe we should honor an American who contributed so greatly to the nation’s history.” |
| Trump opposed the decision to put Tubman on the $20 while running for president in 2016, saying she should be put on the much less common $2 bill instead. | Trump opposed the decision to put Tubman on the $20 while running for president in 2016, saying she should be put on the much less common $2 bill instead. |
| Jackson signed the Indiana Removal Act of 1830, which forced thousands of Native Americans off their lands, including the forced relocation of about 16,000 Cherokees in what became known as the Trail of Tears. | Jackson signed the Indiana Removal Act of 1830, which forced thousands of Native Americans off their lands, including the forced relocation of about 16,000 Cherokees in what became known as the Trail of Tears. |
| Jackson’s portrait hangs in the Oval Office and Trump has praised him for being a populist. | Jackson’s portrait hangs in the Oval Office and Trump has praised him for being a populist. |
| Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign released a list of 56 legal cases she worked on during her time as a law professor on Wednesday night, just before a Washington Post investigation with more detail on the cases was published. | Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign released a list of 56 legal cases she worked on during her time as a law professor on Wednesday night, just before a Washington Post investigation with more detail on the cases was published. |
| Together, the list and investigation provide the most in-depth information released on Warren’s legal work, which dates back to at least 1991. | Together, the list and investigation provide the most in-depth information released on Warren’s legal work, which dates back to at least 1991. |
| It is not uncommon for a law professor to also do legal work, which led some to criticize the Post investigation. Others championed Warren for managing to work on so many cases while having a robust academic career. | It is not uncommon for a law professor to also do legal work, which led some to criticize the Post investigation. Others championed Warren for managing to work on so many cases while having a robust academic career. |
| Warren is a nationally recognized expert in bankruptcy law and served on government advisory panels in the 1990s and 2000s before running for office for the first time in 2012. | Warren is a nationally recognized expert in bankruptcy law and served on government advisory panels in the 1990s and 2000s before running for office for the first time in 2012. |
| Trump’s former secretary of state Rex Tillerson told a Congressional committee this week that Vladimir Putin out-prepared Donald Trump during their 2017 meeting in Germany. | Trump’s former secretary of state Rex Tillerson told a Congressional committee this week that Vladimir Putin out-prepared Donald Trump during their 2017 meeting in Germany. |
| Tillerson told lawmakers the conversation, which was supposed to be short, turned into a two hour meeting that surveyed geo-political issues, according to the Washington Post, which cited anonymous sources. | Tillerson told lawmakers the conversation, which was supposed to be short, turned into a two hour meeting that surveyed geo-political issues, according to the Washington Post, which cited anonymous sources. |
| “Committee aides said that Tillerson refrained from openly disparaging the president but that his inability to answer certain questions was revealing,” the Post reported. | “Committee aides said that Tillerson refrained from openly disparaging the president but that his inability to answer certain questions was revealing,” the Post reported. |
| Trump appointed Tillerson to one of the most senior positions in American government and in response to the report tweeted that Tillerson was “a man who is ‘dumb as a rock’ and totally ill prepared and ill equipped to be Secretary of State.” | Trump appointed Tillerson to one of the most senior positions in American government and in response to the report tweeted that Tillerson was “a man who is ‘dumb as a rock’ and totally ill prepared and ill equipped to be Secretary of State.” |
| Tillerson has made few public comments about Trump since he was fired in March 2018. | Tillerson has made few public comments about Trump since he was fired in March 2018. |
| When Tillerson was critical of Trump in a December 2018 review, the president also responded that his appointee was “dumb as a rock.” | When Tillerson was critical of Trump in a December 2018 review, the president also responded that his appointee was “dumb as a rock.” |
| Some context on this choice - it came after Trump aides chucked the transition plan and as Trump’s current lawyer, Giuliani, tried unsuccessfully for Sec of State job. Bob Gates and Condi Rice recommended Tillerson. Trump thought he had “the look.” https://t.co/G4S7aYMvMh | Some context on this choice - it came after Trump aides chucked the transition plan and as Trump’s current lawyer, Giuliani, tried unsuccessfully for Sec of State job. Bob Gates and Condi Rice recommended Tillerson. Trump thought he had “the look.” https://t.co/G4S7aYMvMh |
| Good morning, | Good morning, |
| It’s time for the US politics live blog to begin - I promise we won’t storm out on you. | It’s time for the US politics live blog to begin - I promise we won’t storm out on you. |
| Donald Trump abruptly left a meeting with Democratic leaders yesterday, making the extraordinary declaration he would not work with Democrats unless they stopped investigations into the Mueller report findings and Trump’s business dealings. | Donald Trump abruptly left a meeting with Democratic leaders yesterday, making the extraordinary declaration he would not work with Democrats unless they stopped investigations into the Mueller report findings and Trump’s business dealings. |
| White House aides have downplayed Trump’s threat, which comes as Democrats weigh impeachment. | White House aides have downplayed Trump’s threat, which comes as Democrats weigh impeachment. |
| House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has been reluctant to back impeachment proceedings but she will face pressure today from members of her party who support its symbolic value as well as using it as a tool to access documents Trump is trying to stop Congressional investigators from getting. | House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has been reluctant to back impeachment proceedings but she will face pressure today from members of her party who support its symbolic value as well as using it as a tool to access documents Trump is trying to stop Congressional investigators from getting. |
| This morning, Trump called his former Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, “dumb as a rock” following reports that Tillerson testified this week that Vladimir Putin was more prepared than Donald Trump for their 2017 meeting in Hamburg, Germany. | This morning, Trump called his former Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, “dumb as a rock” following reports that Tillerson testified this week that Vladimir Putin was more prepared than Donald Trump for their 2017 meeting in Hamburg, Germany. |