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| Barr reportedly assigns outside prosecutor to review case against ex-Trump aide Flynn – live | Barr reportedly assigns outside prosecutor to review case against ex-Trump aide Flynn – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Prosecutor will ‘scrutinize the criminal case’ again Flynn, reports say, while Trump insists he has the ‘legal right’ to intervene in DoJ cases | Prosecutor will ‘scrutinize the criminal case’ again Flynn, reports say, while Trump insists he has the ‘legal right’ to intervene in DoJ cases |
| We’ve got some new polling out of South Carolina. | |
| According to an ECU poll released today, 28% of likely Democratic primary voters in South Carolina favor the Joe Biden, dropping nine percentage points since its last survey, conducted before the Iowa caucuses. Meanwhile, Sanders is closing in on Biden’s lead, at 20% with Steyer dropping to third at 14%. | |
| Among likely voters who are African American, Biden leads with 36% compared with Sanders at 20% and Steyer with 17%. But the poll found a significant generational divide among the state’s African American electorate. | |
| African American voters who are 55 and older prefer Biden by a wide margin while Sanders holds a narrow lead among African Americans voters younger than 55. | |
| The poll suggests that the results of the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary have had an impact. After two dismal showings, Biden’s standing has dropped significantly in South Carolina, where he has staked his political fortunes. Meanwhile, Sanders, Buttigieg and Klobuchar are all enjoying a bump in the state. Still, Buttigieg and Klobuchar register only 4% and 1% support among likely African American voters, a critical constituency in the state and in the Democratic party. | |
| Well, this is awkward. | Well, this is awkward. |
| For the record, the answer is Andrés Manuel López Obrador, or as he is commonly known, AMLO. | For the record, the answer is Andrés Manuel López Obrador, or as he is commonly known, AMLO. |
| Also during his remarks Trump understated the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the US. He said there had been 12, when the CDC confirmed a 15th case on Thursday. | Also during his remarks Trump understated the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the US. He said there had been 12, when the CDC confirmed a 15th case on Thursday. |
| A New York Times report on the White House’s tepid response to the outbreak revealed that public health experts fear Trump’s “extreme fear of germs, disdain for scientific and bureaucratic expertise and suspicion of foreigners could be a dangerous mix, should he wind up overseeing a severe outbreak at home.” | A New York Times report on the White House’s tepid response to the outbreak revealed that public health experts fear Trump’s “extreme fear of germs, disdain for scientific and bureaucratic expertise and suspicion of foreigners could be a dangerous mix, should he wind up overseeing a severe outbreak at home.” |
| At the moment, Trump is addressing the National Border Security Council. He just said that he wanted to build his wall the “old-fashioned way”. | At the moment, Trump is addressing the National Border Security Council. He just said that he wanted to build his wall the “old-fashioned way”. |
| “Let’s throw up concrete. Plank!” he said, explaining that he was persuaded that the wall needed to be transparent by stories about drug dealers catapulting 150lbs-200lbs-bags of drugs over the border wall. | “Let’s throw up concrete. Plank!” he said, explaining that he was persuaded that the wall needed to be transparent by stories about drug dealers catapulting 150lbs-200lbs-bags of drugs over the border wall. |
| “Sometimes it would actually hit Border Patrol agents and other people on the other side because you couldn’t see through,” he said. “And as soon as they said that, that’s what got me, I was like, you’re right. You’ve got to be able to see what’s on the other side.” | “Sometimes it would actually hit Border Patrol agents and other people on the other side because you couldn’t see through,” he said. “And as soon as they said that, that’s what got me, I was like, you’re right. You’ve got to be able to see what’s on the other side.” |
| He also said the wall will be too hot to touch in the baking desert sun and suggested that those trying to climb it would need serious athleticism and access to a hose. | He also said the wall will be too hot to touch in the baking desert sun and suggested that those trying to climb it would need serious athleticism and access to a hose. |
| In other news, Michael Avenatti, a fallen hero of the anti-Trump resistance, was found guilty on all charges related to an attempt to extort Nike. | In other news, Michael Avenatti, a fallen hero of the anti-Trump resistance, was found guilty on all charges related to an attempt to extort Nike. |
| He was convicted by a jury in federal court in New York on Friday afternoon. | He was convicted by a jury in federal court in New York on Friday afternoon. |
| The revelation that Barr privately ordered an outside prosecutor to examine several high-profile cases, including one involving Flynn, comes days after Barr faced public outcry for intervening in the case of Roger Stone, a Trump confidante. | The revelation that Barr privately ordered an outside prosecutor to examine several high-profile cases, including one involving Flynn, comes days after Barr faced public outcry for intervening in the case of Roger Stone, a Trump confidante. |
| That decision led four career prosecutors to quit the case and raised fears about the impartiality of the Justice Department and Trump’s attorney general. | That decision led four career prosecutors to quit the case and raised fears about the impartiality of the Justice Department and Trump’s attorney general. |
| “This is a crisis of credibility,” Sasha Samberg-Champion, a former federal appellate attorney now with Relman Colfax told The Guardian recently. “Nobody knows whether decisions are being made based on the facts and the law, or whether they are based on a political whim.” | “This is a crisis of credibility,” Sasha Samberg-Champion, a former federal appellate attorney now with Relman Colfax told The Guardian recently. “Nobody knows whether decisions are being made based on the facts and the law, or whether they are based on a political whim.” |
| Read more by Ed Pilkington here: | Read more by Ed Pilkington here: |
| The New York Times is reporting that attorney general Barr has assigned an outside prosecutor to “scrutinize the criminal case” against Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser. | The New York Times is reporting that attorney general Barr has assigned an outside prosecutor to “scrutinize the criminal case” against Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser. |
| This comes less than an hour after news broke that the DOJ would not pursue criminal charges against McCabe. | This comes less than an hour after news broke that the DOJ would not pursue criminal charges against McCabe. |
| The Guardian has not independently confirmed this report. | The Guardian has not independently confirmed this report. |
| A bipartisan trio of US senators traveled to Ukraine with a message: let’s move on from impeachment, according to Reuters. | A bipartisan trio of US senators traveled to Ukraine with a message: let’s move on from impeachment, according to Reuters. |
| “I think we all are confident that President Zelenskiy does not want to be involved in U.S. politics, and we hope that any pressure (that) existed in the past to do so is over,” Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said after meeting the Ukrainian leader, Reuters reported from Kiev. | “I think we all are confident that President Zelenskiy does not want to be involved in U.S. politics, and we hope that any pressure (that) existed in the past to do so is over,” Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said after meeting the Ukrainian leader, Reuters reported from Kiev. |
| “Our message is we want to put this impeachment question behind us, and we want to be moving together, Republicans and Democrats, in supporting Ukraine.” | “Our message is we want to put this impeachment question behind us, and we want to be moving together, Republicans and Democrats, in supporting Ukraine.” |
| Murphy was accompanied to Kiev by Republican Senators Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and John Barrasso of Wyoming. | Murphy was accompanied to Kiev by Republican Senators Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and John Barrasso of Wyoming. |
| A July 25 call between Trump and Zelenskiy was at the heart of the impeachment charges against the US president, who was accused of withholding aid to Ukraine until the country agreed to investigate his political rivals. | A July 25 call between Trump and Zelenskiy was at the heart of the impeachment charges against the US president, who was accused of withholding aid to Ukraine until the country agreed to investigate his political rivals. |
| Speaking of the Nevada caucuses, a new survey out of the famously hard to poll Silver State contains some good news for Bernie Sanders, who is now the Democratic frontrunner. | Speaking of the Nevada caucuses, a new survey out of the famously hard to poll Silver State contains some good news for Bernie Sanders, who is now the Democratic frontrunner. |
| Sanders is betting big on support from young Latinx primary voters. Nevada will provide an early test ahead of Super Tuesday, where Sanders has invested heavily in courting California’s Latinx voters. | Sanders is betting big on support from young Latinx primary voters. Nevada will provide an early test ahead of Super Tuesday, where Sanders has invested heavily in courting California’s Latinx voters. |
| As in Iowa, a minimum threshold of 15% is required in each precinct in order to achieve viability. But unlike the Iowa caucuses, Nevada residents can vote early. Starting on Saturday and continuing through Tuesday, residents can cast their ballot in more than 80 polling locations, many of them on the Las Vegas strip. | As in Iowa, a minimum threshold of 15% is required in each precinct in order to achieve viability. But unlike the Iowa caucuses, Nevada residents can vote early. Starting on Saturday and continuing through Tuesday, residents can cast their ballot in more than 80 polling locations, many of them on the Las Vegas strip. |
| Surprise! Trump will extend his stay in Las Vegas so that it backs up fairly closely to the Nevada caucuses on 22 February. | Surprise! Trump will extend his stay in Las Vegas so that it backs up fairly closely to the Nevada caucuses on 22 February. |
| Trump has enjoyed counter-programming critical primary events in Iowa and New Hampshire to steal the attention from Democrats and gin up support from his base. | Trump has enjoyed counter-programming critical primary events in Iowa and New Hampshire to steal the attention from Democrats and gin up support from his base. |
| Melania Trump is spending Valentine’s Day decorating cookies and making heart-shaped wreaths with children at the National Institutes of Health. | Melania Trump is spending Valentine’s Day decorating cookies and making heart-shaped wreaths with children at the National Institutes of Health. |
| Here’s a sampling of how other politicians are celebrating the day and some are much better at it than others. | Here’s a sampling of how other politicians are celebrating the day and some are much better at it than others. |
| The Department of Justice announced on Friday that it would not pursue criminal charges against Andrew McCabe, the former deputy director of the FBI and a frequent target of Trump’s wrath. | The Department of Justice announced on Friday that it would not pursue criminal charges against Andrew McCabe, the former deputy director of the FBI and a frequent target of Trump’s wrath. |
| Trump had publicly called on the department to take action against McCabe, who became acting head of the agency after the president fired FBI director James Comey in 2017. | Trump had publicly called on the department to take action against McCabe, who became acting head of the agency after the president fired FBI director James Comey in 2017. |
| A lawyer for McCabe says that “justice has been done”. | A lawyer for McCabe says that “justice has been done”. |
| A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the Trump administration violated the law by allowing Arkansas to impose work requirements on their Medicaid programs for lower-income residents. | A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the Trump administration violated the law by allowing Arkansas to impose work requirements on their Medicaid programs for lower-income residents. |
| Arkansas moved forward the first ever work requirements in Medicaid in 2018. Kentucky has also imposed restrictions though its plans were blocked by a trial judge and the state’s new Democratic governor rescinded the plan. | Arkansas moved forward the first ever work requirements in Medicaid in 2018. Kentucky has also imposed restrictions though its plans were blocked by a trial judge and the state’s new Democratic governor rescinded the plan. |
| The issue has long divided Republicans and Friday’s ruling comes as other conservative states consider e requirements. | The issue has long divided Republicans and Friday’s ruling comes as other conservative states consider e requirements. |
| The ruling is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court. | The ruling is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court. |
| Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, tweeted on Friday: “Our democracy is in crisis.” | Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, tweeted on Friday: “Our democracy is in crisis.” |
| Congressman Adam Schiff, who led the prosecution team in Trump’s impeachment trial, has called attorney general Barr an “accomplice to trump’s attack on the rule of law.” | Congressman Adam Schiff, who led the prosecution team in Trump’s impeachment trial, has called attorney general Barr an “accomplice to trump’s attack on the rule of law.” |