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| Donald Trump: UK ambassador is 'a very stupid guy' – live updates | Donald Trump: UK ambassador is 'a very stupid guy' – live updates |
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| Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer joined calls for labor secretary Alexander Acosta’s resignation on Tuesday over his role in securing a lenient 2008 plea deal for Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire financier charged with operating a sex trafficking ring involving underage girls. | |
| “It is now impossible for anyone to have confidence in Secretary Acosta’s ability to lead the department of labor. If he refuses to resign, President Trump should fire him,” Schumer said in a speech on the Senate floor. | |
| Schumer was the latest prominent Democrat to push for Acosta’s departure amid fresh scrunity over the ‘sweetheart deal’ he cut with Epstein while serving as Miami’s top federal prosecutor more than a decade ago. | |
| In a tweet late Monday, House speaker Nancy Pelosi said Acosta “must step down”, while dubbing his agreement with Epstein as “unconscionable”. | |
| .@SecretaryAcosta must step down. As US Attorney, he engaged in an unconscionable agreement w/ Jeffrey Epstein kept secret from courageous, young victims preventing them from seeking justice. This was known by @POTUS when he appointed him to the cabinet. #AcostaResign | |
| Epstein pleaded not guilty on Monday in a New York court to one count of sex trafficking conspiracy and a second of sex trafficking underage females. Some of the victims were as young as 14, according to the unsealed indictment. | |
| My colleague Ed Pilkington has a report on the growing brigade of Democrats seeking Acosta’s resignation, as well as the details of the deal he struck with Epstein that enabled the financier to avoid a public trial and heavy jail sentence: | |
| As the federal prosecutor leading the case in 2008, Acosta oversaw a plea deal in which Epstein was granted a highly unusual non-prosecution agreement that shielded him from all federal criminal charges relating to his more than 30 incidents of potential abuse of young girls. Under the deal, the FBI investigation that had already culminated in a 53-page draft indictment was shut down in favor of Epstein pleading guilty to two lesser state charges that controversially labelled his victims as prostitutes. | |
| Immunity was also granted to Epstein’s “potential co-conspirators”, though it did not identify individuals. Epstein ended up serving just 13 months in jail with the ability to leave the prison every day to attend his luxury business premises. | |
| 2020 presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar also called on Acosta to resign on Tuesday. | |
| Alex Acosta should resign as Labor Secretary. We need leaders committed to fighting for justice for survivors of abuse, not protecting predators. | |
| “Since when do underage girl sex ring traffickers get to go to their office every day while they serve their time? The victims should have had a say. That’s what the law says,” Klobuchar, a senator from Minnesota who opposed Acosta’s nomination for labor secretary, said in a written statement. | |
| “I didn’t vote for former Florida U.S. Attorney Acosta to begin with and he should step down.” | |
| Amy McGrath, a retired Marine fighter pilot, will run against Senate majority Leader Mitch McConnell in the 2020 election. | Amy McGrath, a retired Marine fighter pilot, will run against Senate majority Leader Mitch McConnell in the 2020 election. |
| McGrath rose to prominence in the 2018 midterms despite narrowly losing a bid for the House of Representatives. In an announcement video released on Tuesday, McGrath recalled writing a letter to McConnell as a 13-year-old girl detailing her wish to fly combat jets for the US. | McGrath rose to prominence in the 2018 midterms despite narrowly losing a bid for the House of Representatives. In an announcement video released on Tuesday, McGrath recalled writing a letter to McConnell as a 13-year-old girl detailing her wish to fly combat jets for the US. |
| “He never wrote back,” McGrath said. | “He never wrote back,” McGrath said. |
| “I’m Amy McGrath, and I’ve often wondered, how many other people did Mitch McConnell never take the time to write back or even think about?” | “I’m Amy McGrath, and I’ve often wondered, how many other people did Mitch McConnell never take the time to write back or even think about?” |
| I’m running to replace Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate. Everything that’s wrong with Washington had to start somewhere—it started with him. With your help, we can defeat Mitch and defend democracy. Join us: https://t.co/c4b0WAp4ji pic.twitter.com/DNLjFkHGua | I’m running to replace Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate. Everything that’s wrong with Washington had to start somewhere—it started with him. With your help, we can defeat Mitch and defend democracy. Join us: https://t.co/c4b0WAp4ji pic.twitter.com/DNLjFkHGua |
| McGrath’s entry into the Kentucky Senate race ended months of speculation over her plans. She was actively recruited by Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, according to reports. | McGrath’s entry into the Kentucky Senate race ended months of speculation over her plans. She was actively recruited by Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, according to reports. |
| McConnell’s campaign swiftly responded to McGrath’s announcement by releasing a video casting her as too liberal for the state of Kentucky. | McConnell’s campaign swiftly responded to McGrath’s announcement by releasing a video casting her as too liberal for the state of Kentucky. |
| Welcome to the race, Amy. #KYSen pic.twitter.com/VdmKfFvTpI | Welcome to the race, Amy. #KYSen pic.twitter.com/VdmKfFvTpI |
| Ross Perot, the two-time independent candidate for president, has died after a battle with leukemia, Dallas News reported. | Ross Perot, the two-time independent candidate for president, has died after a battle with leukemia, Dallas News reported. |
| Perot was diagnosed with leukemia in February. He was 89. | Perot was diagnosed with leukemia in February. He was 89. |
| A family spokesperson confirmed Perot’s death to the Associated Press. | A family spokesperson confirmed Perot’s death to the Associated Press. |
| A self-made billionaire from Texas, Perot emerged as one of the most successful third-party candidates in modern history during the 1992 presidential election. | A self-made billionaire from Texas, Perot emerged as one of the most successful third-party candidates in modern history during the 1992 presidential election. |
| Although he did not win any electoral college votes, Perot received nearly 19% of the popular vote -- marking the most impressive showing for an independent candidate since Theodore Roosevelt 80 years prior. Perot’s second third-party run in 1996 was less successful. | Although he did not win any electoral college votes, Perot received nearly 19% of the popular vote -- marking the most impressive showing for an independent candidate since Theodore Roosevelt 80 years prior. Perot’s second third-party run in 1996 was less successful. |
| He was famously impersonated by Dana Carvey on Saturday Night Live during the 1990s. Following his second bid for president, Perot largely stayed out of politics. | He was famously impersonated by Dana Carvey on Saturday Night Live during the 1990s. Following his second bid for president, Perot largely stayed out of politics. |
| Perot is survived by his wife, Margot, and five children. | Perot is survived by his wife, Margot, and five children. |
| Donald Trump may have disinvited Sir Kim Darroch from a dinner for the Amir of Qatar in Washington on Monday, but billionaire businessman Robert Kraft still had a seat at the table. | Donald Trump may have disinvited Sir Kim Darroch from a dinner for the Amir of Qatar in Washington on Monday, but billionaire businessman Robert Kraft still had a seat at the table. |
| Yes, the same Kraft who owns the New England Patriots who was charged as part of a prostitution investigation in south Florida. | Yes, the same Kraft who owns the New England Patriots who was charged as part of a prostitution investigation in south Florida. |
| A photo from the dinner showed Kraft seated at Trump’s table next to Christine Lagarde, the incoming president of the European Central Bank. | A photo from the dinner showed Kraft seated at Trump’s table next to Christine Lagarde, the incoming president of the European Central Bank. |
| Meant to attach this photo to previous tweet, of President Trump's dinner table with the Amir of Qatar, Christine Lagarde and Robert Kraft. pic.twitter.com/sq9l6nkuT4 | Meant to attach this photo to previous tweet, of President Trump's dinner table with the Amir of Qatar, Christine Lagarde and Robert Kraft. pic.twitter.com/sq9l6nkuT4 |
| The dinner was hosted by treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin inside the department’s Cash Room in honor of Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Trump is poised to meet with al-Thani at the White House on Tuesday. | The dinner was hosted by treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin inside the department’s Cash Room in honor of Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Trump is poised to meet with al-Thani at the White House on Tuesday. |
| Earlier this year, Trump said he was “very surprised” to see Kraft at the center of the prostitution scandal even as he defended the Patriots owner as having proclaimed his innocence. | Earlier this year, Trump said he was “very surprised” to see Kraft at the center of the prostitution scandal even as he defended the Patriots owner as having proclaimed his innocence. |
| Billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer has formally launched his campaign for president, framing himself as “an outsider” who has “led grassroots efforts that have taken on big corporations and won results for people”. | Billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer has formally launched his campaign for president, framing himself as “an outsider” who has “led grassroots efforts that have taken on big corporations and won results for people”. |
| Steyer made his bid official in an announcement video released on Tuesday, which calls for eradicating the influence of corporations on US politics. | Steyer made his bid official in an announcement video released on Tuesday, which calls for eradicating the influence of corporations on US politics. |
| “Americans are deeply disappointed and hurt by the way they’re treated by what they think is the power elite in Washington DC,” Steyer said. “And that goes across party lines and it goes across geography.” | “Americans are deeply disappointed and hurt by the way they’re treated by what they think is the power elite in Washington DC,” Steyer said. “And that goes across party lines and it goes across geography.” |
| It’s true. I’m running for president. pic.twitter.com/u8x2lZah7Z | It’s true. I’m running for president. pic.twitter.com/u8x2lZah7Z |
| Steyer is a former hedge fund investor who in recent years has been the Democratic Party’s largest donor. He has spent the past year as the face of the movement to impeach Donald Trump and also poured millions of dollars into the fight against climate change. | Steyer is a former hedge fund investor who in recent years has been the Democratic Party’s largest donor. He has spent the past year as the face of the movement to impeach Donald Trump and also poured millions of dollars into the fight against climate change. |
| The topic of impeachment is nonetheless absent from Steyer’s video, which avoids mentioning the president all together. Steyer is poised to spend $100m of his own fortune to fund his campaign. | The topic of impeachment is nonetheless absent from Steyer’s video, which avoids mentioning the president all together. Steyer is poised to spend $100m of his own fortune to fund his campaign. |
| Read my full report on Steyer’s 2020 launch here, in which my colleague Sam Levin and I break down the challenges he might face by entering a crowded Democratic field that has already held its first primary debates. | Read my full report on Steyer’s 2020 launch here, in which my colleague Sam Levin and I break down the challenges he might face by entering a crowded Democratic field that has already held its first primary debates. |
| Donald Trump has lashed out at Sir Kim Darroch as “a very stupid guy” in another Twitter tirade against the British ambassador to Washington that also took aim at Theresa May as “foolish”. | Donald Trump has lashed out at Sir Kim Darroch as “a very stupid guy” in another Twitter tirade against the British ambassador to Washington that also took aim at Theresa May as “foolish”. |
| In a fresh pair of tweets on Tuesday, the president continued to react to leaked memos in which Kim described him as “inept” and “dysfunctional”. | In a fresh pair of tweets on Tuesday, the president continued to react to leaked memos in which Kim described him as “inept” and “dysfunctional”. |
| “The wacky Ambassador that the U.K. foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy,” Trump tweeted. | “The wacky Ambassador that the U.K. foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy,” Trump tweeted. |
| “He should speak to his country, and Prime Minister May, about their failed Brexit negotiation, and not be upset with my criticism of how badly it was... handled.” | “He should speak to his country, and Prime Minister May, about their failed Brexit negotiation, and not be upset with my criticism of how badly it was... handled.” |
| Trump’s tweets came one day after he declared he would no longer deal with Darroch and claimed the British ambassador was “not liked or well thought of within the U.S.”. | Trump’s tweets came one day after he declared he would no longer deal with Darroch and claimed the British ambassador was “not liked or well thought of within the U.S.”. |
| The wacky Ambassador that the U.K. foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy. He should speak to his country, and Prime Minister May, about their failed Brexit negotiation, and not be upset with my criticism of how badly it was... | The wacky Ambassador that the U.K. foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy. He should speak to his country, and Prime Minister May, about their failed Brexit negotiation, and not be upset with my criticism of how badly it was... |
| ...handled. I told @theresa_may how to do that deal, but she went her own foolish way-was unable to get it done. A disaster! I don’t know the Ambassador but have been told he is a pompous fool. Tell him the USA now has the best Economy & Military anywhere in the World, by far... | ...handled. I told @theresa_may how to do that deal, but she went her own foolish way-was unable to get it done. A disaster! I don’t know the Ambassador but have been told he is a pompous fool. Tell him the USA now has the best Economy & Military anywhere in the World, by far... |
| ....and they are both only getting bigger, better and stronger.....Thank you, Mr. President! | ....and they are both only getting bigger, better and stronger.....Thank you, Mr. President! |
| Darroch was also uninvited from a dinner Trump hosted for the Emir of Qatar on Monday. | Darroch was also uninvited from a dinner Trump hosted for the Emir of Qatar on Monday. |
| May has meanwhile stood by Darroch amid the controversy, even as she rejected his assessment of Trump. In a written statement, Downing Street said Darroch “continues to have the prime minister’s full support”, while adding: “We have made clear to the US how unfortunate this leak is.” | May has meanwhile stood by Darroch amid the controversy, even as she rejected his assessment of Trump. In a written statement, Downing Street said Darroch “continues to have the prime minister’s full support”, while adding: “We have made clear to the US how unfortunate this leak is.” |
| “The selective extracts leaked do not reflect the closeness of, and the esteem in which we hold, the relationship,” the spokesperson said. “At the same time, we have also underlined the importance of Ambassadors being able to provide honest, unvarnished assessments of the politics in their country. | “The selective extracts leaked do not reflect the closeness of, and the esteem in which we hold, the relationship,” the spokesperson said. “At the same time, we have also underlined the importance of Ambassadors being able to provide honest, unvarnished assessments of the politics in their country. |
| Liam Fox, Britain’s international trade secretary, was set to meet on Tuesday with Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and senior adviser, in a bid to smooth over tensions. | Liam Fox, Britain’s international trade secretary, was set to meet on Tuesday with Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and senior adviser, in a bid to smooth over tensions. |
| Good morning everyone! Sabrina Siddiqui here, ready to give you the latest in Washington and beyond. | Good morning everyone! Sabrina Siddiqui here, ready to give you the latest in Washington and beyond. |
| Donald Trump is already tweeting and continues to have some choice words for Theresa May and British ambassador Kim Darroch (more on that in just a moment). The president is poised to welcome the Emir of Qatar at the White House today, but clearly his mind does travel... | Donald Trump is already tweeting and continues to have some choice words for Theresa May and British ambassador Kim Darroch (more on that in just a moment). The president is poised to welcome the Emir of Qatar at the White House today, but clearly his mind does travel... |
| I’ll also bring you the latest on the 2020 election, where the Democratic field has seen yet another entry with Tom Steyer. Because that’s just what the party needs – more candidates. All eyes are on the billionaire environmental activist, who launched his campaign today. | I’ll also bring you the latest on the 2020 election, where the Democratic field has seen yet another entry with Tom Steyer. Because that’s just what the party needs – more candidates. All eyes are on the billionaire environmental activist, who launched his campaign today. |
| So buckle up and stay tuned for more! | So buckle up and stay tuned for more! |