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| Republican senators denounce Trump's attack on congresswomen – live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| It’s been a lively Monday so far, with no signs of it slowing down. Here’s what’s occurred so far: | |
| It started slowly (very slowly), but Republicans in Congress are starting to step up and slam Donald Trump for his racist tweets against the Squad. Some object to the style, some to the style and the substance. | |
| Trump held a raucous press conference and accused firebrand progressives of hating America and saying if that was the case “you can leave”. | |
| Nancy Pelosi announced that House Democrats will be drafting a resolution condemning Trump’s racist tweet storm, and voting on it | |
| Author E. Jean Carroll is weighing whether to sue the president. He’s accused of raping her in the past when he attacked her in upscale New York department store Bergdorf Goodman. | |
| Politically-connected convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had his bail hearing in New York, in the latest case against him, postponed to Thursday. Two alleged victims spoke in court against him being let out of jail. | |
| The Trump administration announced a new rule seeking to bar asylum applications for migrants entering the US via a third country. The ACLU immediately said the rule was “patently unlawful” | |
| The South Carolina Senator has responded to Donald Trump’s attacks on the Squad. | The South Carolina Senator has responded to Donald Trump’s attacks on the Squad. |
| Tim Scott, who is the only black Republican in the US Senate, tweeted just now. | |
| No matter our political disagreements, aiming for the lowest common denominator will only divide our nation further. My full statement below: pic.twitter.com/QXuV8arXso | No matter our political disagreements, aiming for the lowest common denominator will only divide our nation further. My full statement below: pic.twitter.com/QXuV8arXso |
| Appointed by then-SC governor Nikki Haley to replace the retiring Jim DeMint, Scott later won a special election in 2014 and was elected to a full term in 2016. | Appointed by then-SC governor Nikki Haley to replace the retiring Jim DeMint, Scott later won a special election in 2014 and was elected to a full term in 2016. |
| “This needs to stop” | “This needs to stop” |
| Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joins what is now a small but shrill (in the best sense of the word) chorus of protest from GOP members of Congress, inc Hurd, Collins, Toomey, against Donald Trump’s attacks on a group of progressive freshman Democrats. | Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joins what is now a small but shrill (in the best sense of the word) chorus of protest from GOP members of Congress, inc Hurd, Collins, Toomey, against Donald Trump’s attacks on a group of progressive freshman Democrats. |
| There is no excuse for the president’s spiteful comments –they were absolutely unacceptable and this needs to stop. | There is no excuse for the president’s spiteful comments –they were absolutely unacceptable and this needs to stop. |
| Trudeau, prime minister of Canada has joined Britain’s (still, just) Prime Minister Theresa May in condemning Donald Trump’s racist attack on the Squad. | Trudeau, prime minister of Canada has joined Britain’s (still, just) Prime Minister Theresa May in condemning Donald Trump’s racist attack on the Squad. |
| “That is not how we do things in Canada,” Trudeau said today. | “That is not how we do things in Canada,” Trudeau said today. |
| Speaking at a press conference with Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of NATO, Trudeau said that sort of talk isn’t welcome. | Speaking at a press conference with Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of NATO, Trudeau said that sort of talk isn’t welcome. |
| “I think Canadians and indeed people around the world know exactly what I think about those particular comments. That is not how we do things in Canada. A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian. The diversity of our country is actually one of our greatest strengths and a source of tremendous resilience and pride for Canadians and we will to continue to defend that,” Trudeau said, the CBC reports. | “I think Canadians and indeed people around the world know exactly what I think about those particular comments. That is not how we do things in Canada. A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian. The diversity of our country is actually one of our greatest strengths and a source of tremendous resilience and pride for Canadians and we will to continue to defend that,” Trudeau said, the CBC reports. |
| Now Trump calls Pelosi racist as row over his tweets about Squad roars on | Now Trump calls Pelosi racist as row over his tweets about Squad roars on |
| Alternative headline: fierce, unpleasant debate continues at bottom of barrel. | Alternative headline: fierce, unpleasant debate continues at bottom of barrel. |
| Per White House Pool reporters, Donald Trump said it was racist of Speaker Nancy Pelosi to suggest last week that he wants to “make American white again.” | Per White House Pool reporters, Donald Trump said it was racist of Speaker Nancy Pelosi to suggest last week that he wants to “make American white again.” |
| Then he referred to comments that member of Congress Ilhan Omar (D-MN) made that he said were about al Qaeda. | Then he referred to comments that member of Congress Ilhan Omar (D-MN) made that he said were about al Qaeda. |
| Oh dear. Omar has previously seen a spike in death threats when the president attacks her. | Oh dear. Omar has previously seen a spike in death threats when the president attacks her. |
| The White House exterior had been packed with supporters, who applauded the president’s comments at the Made in America presentation. Moments earlier, Trump signed an executive order that he said will make “Buy America” product requirements “stronger”. | The White House exterior had been packed with supporters, who applauded the president’s comments at the Made in America presentation. Moments earlier, Trump signed an executive order that he said will make “Buy America” product requirements “stronger”. |
| They require 95 % of a product be made in country, for steel and aluminum to be considered made in America, and 75% for other products to qualify. Currently the requirement is 50%. | They require 95 % of a product be made in country, for steel and aluminum to be considered made in America, and 75% for other products to qualify. Currently the requirement is 50%. |
| Then he continued on his warpath with the progressives, when he said “these are people” - he means AOC, Omar and their left-wing allies - “who hate our country”. | Then he continued on his warpath with the progressives, when he said “these are people” - he means AOC, Omar and their left-wing allies - “who hate our country”. |
| “I’m not happy with them,” he added. | “I’m not happy with them,” he added. |
| As gathered media shouted questions, Trump said “It doesn’t concern me” that many people saw the tweets he sent yesterday as racist, “because many people agree with me.” | As gathered media shouted questions, Trump said “It doesn’t concern me” that many people saw the tweets he sent yesterday as racist, “because many people agree with me.” |
| Trump just closed out a brief but raucous press conference at the White House. | Trump just closed out a brief but raucous press conference at the White House. |
| He’s doubling down on his criticism of firebrand progressives in the House. | He’s doubling down on his criticism of firebrand progressives in the House. |
| “These are people who hate our country,” Trump said of AOC, Pressley, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar. | “These are people who hate our country,” Trump said of AOC, Pressley, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar. |
| “All I am saying is if they’re not happy here, they can leave. They can leave and you know what I’m sure there’ll be many people that won’t miss them. They have to love our country.” | “All I am saying is if they’re not happy here, they can leave. They can leave and you know what I’m sure there’ll be many people that won’t miss them. They have to love our country.” |
| He, of course, denies that the tweets he sent yesterday are racist. | He, of course, denies that the tweets he sent yesterday are racist. |
| And, whether this increases divisions in the Democratic party or not, between progressives and moderates, personified by public tension between AOC and Pelosi, the Speaker is busy announcing a resolution condemning the president’s attacks. | And, whether this increases divisions in the Democratic party or not, between progressives and moderates, personified by public tension between AOC and Pelosi, the Speaker is busy announcing a resolution condemning the president’s attacks. |
| We’ll have a video of this for you very soon. Meanwhile, a reminder of how, earlier, Trump called on the Squad to apologize.... | We’ll have a video of this for you very soon. Meanwhile, a reminder of how, earlier, Trump called on the Squad to apologize.... |
| When will the Radical Left Congresswomen apologize to our Country, the people of Israel and even to the Office of the President, for the foul language they have used, and the terrible things they have said. So many people are angry at them & their horrible & disgusting actions! | When will the Radical Left Congresswomen apologize to our Country, the people of Israel and even to the Office of the President, for the foul language they have used, and the terrible things they have said. So many people are angry at them & their horrible & disgusting actions! |
| Moderate Republican Susan Collins has now weighed in on Trump’s attacks on the Squad. | Moderate Republican Susan Collins has now weighed in on Trump’s attacks on the Squad. |
| GOP ME Sen Susan Collins: I disagree strongly with many of the views and comments of some of the far-left members of the House Democratic Caucus..but the President’s tweet that some Members of Congress should go back to the ‘places from which they came’ was way over the line | GOP ME Sen Susan Collins: I disagree strongly with many of the views and comments of some of the far-left members of the House Democratic Caucus..but the President’s tweet that some Members of Congress should go back to the ‘places from which they came’ was way over the line |
| The president is speaking at the White House, further attacking the progressive Democrats he went after on Twitter at the weekend and this morning. | The president is speaking at the White House, further attacking the progressive Democrats he went after on Twitter at the weekend and this morning. |
| “These are people, in my opinion, who hate America,” Donald Trump said. | “These are people, in my opinion, who hate America,” Donald Trump said. |
| He’s referring to “the Squad”, Democratic progressive newcomers to Capitol Hill, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley. | He’s referring to “the Squad”, Democratic progressive newcomers to Capitol Hill, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley. |
| “If you’re not happy here, you can leave,” he said. | “If you’re not happy here, you can leave,” he said. |
| House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced a resolution condemning Donald Trump for his racist tweets (which some loyalists have insisted are NOT racist...). | House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced a resolution condemning Donald Trump for his racist tweets (which some loyalists have insisted are NOT racist...). |
| Democrats are drafting the resolution today. | Democrats are drafting the resolution today. |
| “This weekend, the president went beyond his own low standards using disgraceful language about Members of Congress,” Pelosi wrote in a letter to House Democrats announcing the party’s plans, Politico reports. | “This weekend, the president went beyond his own low standards using disgraceful language about Members of Congress,” Pelosi wrote in a letter to House Democrats announcing the party’s plans, Politico reports. |
| It’s unclear when the House will be called to vote on this, following an avalanche of attacks by Trump on freshman congress members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley and Ilhan Omar. | It’s unclear when the House will be called to vote on this, following an avalanche of attacks by Trump on freshman congress members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley and Ilhan Omar. |
| But Pelosi said: “This morning, the president doubled down on his attacks on our four colleagues suggesting they apologize to him,” she added. “Let me be clear, our Caucus will continue to forcefully respond to these disgusting attacks.” | But Pelosi said: “This morning, the president doubled down on his attacks on our four colleagues suggesting they apologize to him,” she added. “Let me be clear, our Caucus will continue to forcefully respond to these disgusting attacks.” |
| After months of delay, Donald Trump is expected to nominate a successor to Jim Mattis as secretary of defense on Monday. It will be Mark Esper, who has been serving as acting secretary of defense since June, when Patrick Shanahan abruptly quit after serving as the acting secretary for six months. Mattis resigned last December. The leadership vacuum at the Pentagon has raised questions in Congress at a time of heightened tensions with Iran, the Associated Press reports.Once Esper’s nomination is received by the Senate, Esper would step aside pending confirmation. His confirmation hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. In Esper’s absence, the civilian head of the Navy, Richard Spencer, would be acting defense secretary. That arrangement would last only a few days, if Esper is confirmed quickly by the Senate as expected. | After months of delay, Donald Trump is expected to nominate a successor to Jim Mattis as secretary of defense on Monday. It will be Mark Esper, who has been serving as acting secretary of defense since June, when Patrick Shanahan abruptly quit after serving as the acting secretary for six months. Mattis resigned last December. The leadership vacuum at the Pentagon has raised questions in Congress at a time of heightened tensions with Iran, the Associated Press reports.Once Esper’s nomination is received by the Senate, Esper would step aside pending confirmation. His confirmation hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. In Esper’s absence, the civilian head of the Navy, Richard Spencer, would be acting defense secretary. That arrangement would last only a few days, if Esper is confirmed quickly by the Senate as expected. |
| Two Jeffrey Epstein accusers offered emotional entreaties in court on Monday, asking for a judge not to release the politically-connected financier before his sex trafficking trial. | Two Jeffrey Epstein accusers offered emotional entreaties in court on Monday, asking for a judge not to release the politically-connected financier before his sex trafficking trial. |
| One victim, who identified herself in court as Courtney Wild, told the judge: “I was sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein, starting at the age of 14,” Victoria Bekiempis reports this hour from court, for the Guardian. | One victim, who identified herself in court as Courtney Wild, told the judge: “I was sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein, starting at the age of 14,” Victoria Bekiempis reports this hour from court, for the Guardian. |
| She said that it was not necessarily easier because of the publicity to come forward, as she said defense attorneys have argued in court. | She said that it was not necessarily easier because of the publicity to come forward, as she said defense attorneys have argued in court. |
| “He’s a scary person to have walking the streets,” she said. | “He’s a scary person to have walking the streets,” she said. |
| She had a reserved air, wearing a white shirt and black pants as she nervously addressed the judge towards the end of Epstein’s hearing in federal court in New York on Monday. | She had a reserved air, wearing a white shirt and black pants as she nervously addressed the judge towards the end of Epstein’s hearing in federal court in New York on Monday. |
| The second accuser, Annie Farmer, stood up and said: “I was 16 years old when I had the misfortune of meeting Jeffrey Epstein here in New York.” | The second accuser, Annie Farmer, stood up and said: “I was 16 years old when I had the misfortune of meeting Jeffrey Epstein here in New York.” |
| She spoke about how it was difficult to come forward in public, because of his wealth and privilege. The judge asked her if she was saying that Jeffrey Epstein engaged in sexual contact with her. | She spoke about how it was difficult to come forward in public, because of his wealth and privilege. The judge asked her if she was saying that Jeffrey Epstein engaged in sexual contact with her. |
| She said: “He was inappropriate with me.” The Judge asked her is she would go into details. | She said: “He was inappropriate with me.” The Judge asked her is she would go into details. |
| She said: “I would prefer not to go into the details at this time.” | She said: “I would prefer not to go into the details at this time.” |
| The judge in the case had already said he would not decide on bail today, probably on Thursday. Prosecutors think Epstein’s an extreme flight risk. | The judge in the case had already said he would not decide on bail today, probably on Thursday. Prosecutors think Epstein’s an extreme flight risk. |
| Epstein has asked for house arrest, his attorneys basically arguing that if he was going to flee he could have done so long ago. He’s currently in jail in Manhattan. | Epstein has asked for house arrest, his attorneys basically arguing that if he was going to flee he could have done so long ago. He’s currently in jail in Manhattan. |
| “Racist, Xenophobic” - Congressman from border country attacks Trump after racist tweets | “Racist, Xenophobic” - Congressman from border country attacks Trump after racist tweets |
| Texas Congressman Will Hurd said: | Texas Congressman Will Hurd said: |
| Texas Republican Will Hurd to CNN's Christiane Amanpour: "Those tweets are racist, and xenophobic... It’s also behavior that’s unbecoming of the leader of the free world. He should be talking about things that unite, not divide us." | Texas Republican Will Hurd to CNN's Christiane Amanpour: "Those tweets are racist, and xenophobic... It’s also behavior that’s unbecoming of the leader of the free world. He should be talking about things that unite, not divide us." |
| Here’s Pennsylvania Republican Senator Pat Toomey’s statement, proving that even if congressional Republicans are in lock-step with the White House, some are prepared to break rank not just in the gossip parlors but in public, too. #MeToomey | Here’s Pennsylvania Republican Senator Pat Toomey’s statement, proving that even if congressional Republicans are in lock-step with the White House, some are prepared to break rank not just in the gossip parlors but in public, too. #MeToomey |
| Pat Toomey's statement: pic.twitter.com/wDXZJ75ivY | Pat Toomey's statement: pic.twitter.com/wDXZJ75ivY |
| “I accused Donald Trump of sexual assault. Now I sleep with a loaded gun” | “I accused Donald Trump of sexual assault. Now I sleep with a loaded gun” |
| E. Jean Carroll gave this amazing interview to the Guardian’s Ed Pilkington recently and if you missed it it’s, well, unmissable. Click for the pix of her talking to Donald and Ivana at a party, stay for the brilliant words and photoshoot. | E. Jean Carroll gave this amazing interview to the Guardian’s Ed Pilkington recently and if you missed it it’s, well, unmissable. Click for the pix of her talking to Donald and Ivana at a party, stay for the brilliant words and photoshoot. |
| ‘I accused Donald Trump of sexual assault. Now I sleep with a loaded gun’ | ‘I accused Donald Trump of sexual assault. Now I sleep with a loaded gun’ |
| It will remain to be seen if Carroll sues.... | It will remain to be seen if Carroll sues.... |
| The author and columnist is now thinking of suing Trump over an alleged rape. | The author and columnist is now thinking of suing Trump over an alleged rape. |
| E. Jean Carroll accused him of a sexual attack in a top New York department store in the past, in a revelatory bombshell first published by New York magazine. | E. Jean Carroll accused him of a sexual attack in a top New York department store in the past, in a revelatory bombshell first published by New York magazine. |
| The alleged assault occurred long before New York lifted its statute of limitations against rape, but, now, Carroll said she is “thinking about hiring a really smart attorney” to pursue legal action against the president. | The alleged assault occurred long before New York lifted its statute of limitations against rape, but, now, Carroll said she is “thinking about hiring a really smart attorney” to pursue legal action against the president. |
| “I hadn’t thought about pressing charges, but now people are convincing me that it’s smart,” she told The Daily Beast. “If I get a really smart attorney, we might be able to get around [the statute]. I’ll be exploring it.” | “I hadn’t thought about pressing charges, but now people are convincing me that it’s smart,” she told The Daily Beast. “If I get a really smart attorney, we might be able to get around [the statute]. I’ll be exploring it.” |
| Previously, Carroll appeared on The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell and when she was asked if she planned on filing charges, she said she would not. | Previously, Carroll appeared on The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell and when she was asked if she planned on filing charges, she said she would not. |
| “I would find it disrespectful to the women who are down on the border who are being raped around the clock down there without any protection,” Carroll explained. | “I would find it disrespectful to the women who are down on the border who are being raped around the clock down there without any protection,” Carroll explained. |
| What the new asylum rule affects | What the new asylum rule affects |
| The new rule emerging from the Trump administration today will apply to the initial asylum screening, known as a “credible fear” interview, at which migrants must prove they have credible fears of returning to their home country. | The new rule emerging from the Trump administration today will apply to the initial asylum screening, known as a “credible fear” interview, at which migrants must prove they have credible fears of returning to their home country. |
| It applies to migrants who are arriving to the US, not those who are already in the country. | It applies to migrants who are arriving to the US, not those who are already in the country. |
| Trump administration officials say the changes are meant to close the gap between the initial asylum screening that most people pass and the final decision on asylum that most people do not win. | Trump administration officials say the changes are meant to close the gap between the initial asylum screening that most people pass and the final decision on asylum that most people do not win. |
| The treaties countries must have signed, according to the new rule, are the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1967 Protocol or the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the AP writes. | The treaties countries must have signed, according to the new rule, are the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1967 Protocol or the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the AP writes. |
| But, for example, while Australia, France and Brazil have signed those treaties, so have Afghanistan and Libya, places the US does not consider safe. | But, for example, while Australia, France and Brazil have signed those treaties, so have Afghanistan and Libya, places the US does not consider safe. |
| Along with the administration’s recent effort to send asylum seekers back over the border , Trump has tried to deny asylum to anyone crossing the border illegally and restrict who can claim asylum, and the attorney general recently tried to keep thousands of asylum seekers detained while their cases play out. | Along with the administration’s recent effort to send asylum seekers back over the border , Trump has tried to deny asylum to anyone crossing the border illegally and restrict who can claim asylum, and the attorney general recently tried to keep thousands of asylum seekers detained while their cases play out. |
| Nearly all of those efforts have been blocked by courts. Meanwhile, conditions have worsened for migrants who make it over the border seeking better lives. | Nearly all of those efforts have been blocked by courts. Meanwhile, conditions have worsened for migrants who make it over the border seeking better lives. |
| Immigration courts are backlogged by more than 800,000 cases, meaning many people won’t have their asylum claims heard for years despite more judges being hired. | Immigration courts are backlogged by more than 800,000 cases, meaning many people won’t have their asylum claims heard for years despite more judges being hired. |
| People are generally eligible for asylum in the US if they feared return to their home country because they would be persecuted based on race, religion, nationality or membership in a particular social group. | People are generally eligible for asylum in the US if they feared return to their home country because they would be persecuted based on race, religion, nationality or membership in a particular social group. |
| During the budget year for 2009, there were 35,811 asylum claims, and 8,384 were granted. During 2018 budget year, there were 162,060 claims filed, and 13,168 were granted. | During the budget year for 2009, there were 35,811 asylum claims, and 8,384 were granted. During 2018 budget year, there were 162,060 claims filed, and 13,168 were granted. |
| Another Republican steps up on Trump tweets | Another Republican steps up on Trump tweets |
| Another Michigander... https://t.co/ktUhnhENEm | Another Michigander... https://t.co/ktUhnhENEm |