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Joe Biden campaigning in South Carolina ahead of crucial Democrat primary – live
House launches inquiry into potential interference by attorney general in Roger Stone case – live
(32 minutes later)
Secretary of state appearing before House committee on foreign affairs to give evidence on US policy in the Middle East
Four prosecutors had quit case after Trump intervened while Pompeo appears before House committee on foreign affairs
The House Judiciary Committee is launching a wide-ranging probe of attorney general William Barr and the US Justice Department, demanding briefings, documents and interviews with 15 officials - including the prosecutors who quit the Roger Stone case - as it tries to determine whether there has been improper political interference in federal law enforcement.
Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler, the Democratic congressman of New York, this morning sent Barr a letter listing a series of matters that the committee finds “deeply troubling,” the AP reports.
This includes Barr’s involvement in the case of Donald Trump’s longtime confidant Roger Stone, in which the president also intervened prior to Stone’s sentencing last week.
Stone was convicted in November of lying to Congress and other charges. Barr overruled prosecutors who had recommended that Stone be sentenced to seven to nine years in prison, leading the four top prosecutors on the case to step down from it.
Nadler also is questioning Barr about his involvement in other cases related to friends and associates of Trump and about internal investigations into department employees who investigated Trump after the 2016 election.
“Although you serve at the President’s pleasure, you are also charged with the impartial administration of our laws,” Nadler wrote to Barr.
“In turn, the House Judiciary Committee is charged with holding you to that responsibility.”
The committee is asking for briefings on the issues listed and interviews with 15 Justice Department officials involved in those matters, including the four prosecutors who resigned from the Stone case.
Breaking news: The House is asking the Department of Justice to present as witnesses the four career prosecutors who quit the legal case of Roger Stone after Donald Trump intervened to defend his convicted friend before his sentencing.
Stone was sentenced to a lengthy prison term last week in federal court in Washington, DC.
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and progressive firebrand congresswoman Ilhan Omar just had a spirited exchange at the foreign affairs committee hearing that is still underway on Iran and Iraq. You can watch the livestream here.
Pompeo argued that the assassination by the US of Iran’s military top dog, Qassem Suleimani, in Iraq at the beginning of January has made things “far safer” for the American people.
But committee member Omar asked how that could be when, in prior Iranian-backed, storming protests at the US embassy in Baghdad, “the people who were at the US embassy said they were not warned” and yet in the fall-out from the killing of Suleimani, US diplomats, such as Iran specialist Brian Hook, have needed a special “counter assault team” when at public eventsw.
Omar cited special protection measures taken when Hook, special representative for Iran and senior policy adviser to Pompeo, attended an event in Los Angeles where he defended the US strike on Suleimani.
Uncle Sam’s nightmare?
Uncle Sam’s nightmare?
Here’s what the conservative-leaning Economist magazine thinks of the prospect of a Donald Trump vs Bernie Sanders match-up in the 2020 election.
Here’s what the conservative-leaning Economist magazine thinks of the prospect of a Donald Trump vs Bernie Sanders match-up in the 2020 election.
It’s more really terrible timing for Joe Biden. On the eve of the South Carolina primary, where strong support from black voters is crucial to his floundering campaign, he’s just been obliged to clarify a story that’s been dogging him and admit that he was NOT once arrested in South Africa while trying to visit that greatest civil rights icon, Nelson Mandela, in prison.
It’s more really terrible timing for Joe Biden. On the eve of the South Carolina primary, where strong support from black voters is crucial to his floundering campaign, he’s just been obliged to clarify a story that’s been dogging him and admit that he was NOT once arrested in South Africa while trying to visit that greatest civil rights icon, Nelson Mandela, in prison.
His campaign had been struggling to deal with reports for days that this “arrest” he has boasted of never happened and a recent, incomplete, explanation was that Biden was forcibly separated from a group of African campaigners, in a process of being coerced to go through segregated doors in apartheid South Africa during a congressional human rights trip in the 1970s.
His campaign had been struggling to deal with reports for days that this “arrest” he has boasted of never happened and a recent, incomplete, explanation was that Biden was forcibly separated from a group of African campaigners, in a process of being coerced to go through segregated doors in apartheid South Africa during a congressional human rights trip in the 1970s.
Appearing on CNN this morning, Biden was finally obliged to tell the truth of it, after yet another series of unforced errors in his campaign that has been nosediving since a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses in early February.
Appearing on CNN this morning, Biden was finally obliged to tell the truth of it, after yet another series of unforced errors in his campaign that has been nosediving since a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses in early February.
Biden, however, is still just ahead of Bernie Sanders is South Carolina polling.
Biden, however, is still just ahead of Bernie Sanders is South Carolina polling.
He also told CNN that Democrats “cannot shoot and miss” in their efforts to oust Donald Trump from the White House in November.
He also told CNN that Democrats “cannot shoot and miss” in their efforts to oust Donald Trump from the White House in November.
Hello, everyone, the US politics live blog helm now switches from London to (today) New York and we’ll take you through the rest of another action packed day before handing over to our colleagues in Oakland, California for the evening.
Hello, everyone, the US politics live blog helm now switches from London to (today) New York and we’ll take you through the rest of another action packed day before handing over to our colleagues in Oakland, California for the evening.
Just a reminder that although we may touch here and there on the US political angle of the coronavirus outbreak in this blog, all the main US and global news on this vital story is being covered in our separate, dedicated live blog, here, and in other US-related coronavirus articles.
Just a reminder that although we may touch here and there on the US political angle of the coronavirus outbreak in this blog, all the main US and global news on this vital story is being covered in our separate, dedicated live blog, here, and in other US-related coronavirus articles.
Although, here’s the next New Yorker cover:
Although, here’s the next New Yorker cover:
The session has now returned to the discussion of Qassem Suleimani, and the US strike to kill him.
The session has now returned to the discussion of Qassem Suleimani, and the US strike to kill him.
Pompeo said that “He was in the region actively plotting to kill Americans” and that “It was my judgement that this reduced risks to America to take this strike.”
Pompeo said that “He was in the region actively plotting to kill Americans” and that “It was my judgement that this reduced risks to America to take this strike.”
He said it would reduce risks short, medium and long-term.
He said it would reduce risks short, medium and long-term.
Texan Republican Michael McCaul spoke to back the strikes. He said “Americans in the region are certainly safer because of this decision. I was in some of these discussions and the president was very clear ‘I do not want to go with war with Iran’. They crossed a red line when they attacked our embassy.”
Texan Republican Michael McCaul spoke to back the strikes. He said “Americans in the region are certainly safer because of this decision. I was in some of these discussions and the president was very clear ‘I do not want to go with war with Iran’. They crossed a red line when they attacked our embassy.”
There have been some sharp words of criticism for Pompeo’s unwillingness to appear at this session - with it being pointed out that it has taken him two months to appear. Brad Sherman asked if it would take two months from now before he would appear to answer questions about coronavirus. Pompeo has only agreed to appear for two hours, and this has been contrasted with the eleven hour session that Hillary Clinton endured when the same committee, with Pompeo as part of it, interrogated her about Benghazi.
There have been some sharp words of criticism for Pompeo’s unwillingness to appear at this session - with it being pointed out that it has taken him two months to appear. Brad Sherman asked if it would take two months from now before he would appear to answer questions about coronavirus. Pompeo has only agreed to appear for two hours, and this has been contrasted with the eleven hour session that Hillary Clinton endured when the same committee, with Pompeo as part of it, interrogated her about Benghazi.
Although the theme of the House Foreign Affairs Committee session this morning was due to be Iran and Iraq, discussion has immediately and inevitably pivoted to discussing the coronavirus outbreak.
Although the theme of the House Foreign Affairs Committee session this morning was due to be Iran and Iraq, discussion has immediately and inevitably pivoted to discussing the coronavirus outbreak.
Rhode Island Democrat David Cicilline attacked the administration, saying that after three years the American people weren’t sure they could trust the government to handle the crisis
Rhode Island Democrat David Cicilline attacked the administration, saying that after three years the American people weren’t sure they could trust the government to handle the crisis
Pompeo has criticised Iran for not sharing information about the outbreak in the country, and confirmed that the US had offered to help Iran. He was also a little testy about the change of topic.
Pompeo has criticised Iran for not sharing information about the outbreak in the country, and confirmed that the US had offered to help Iran. He was also a little testy about the change of topic.
California Democrat Ami Bera has suggested that US policy of isolating Iran has hampered Iranian efforts to combat the virus outbreak.
California Democrat Ami Bera has suggested that US policy of isolating Iran has hampered Iranian efforts to combat the virus outbreak.
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo has just begun his appearance before the House committee on foreign affairs. The title of the session is “Evaluating the Trump Administration’s Policies on Iran, Iraq and the Use of Force”. Pompeo has already deposited an opening witness statement, which you can read here.
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo has just begun his appearance before the House committee on foreign affairs. The title of the session is “Evaluating the Trump Administration’s Policies on Iran, Iraq and the Use of Force”. Pompeo has already deposited an opening witness statement, which you can read here.
The session is being live-streamed here.
The session is being live-streamed here.
Amy Klobuchar has just tweeted to highlight a negative comparison from Connecticut senator Chris Murphy between the way that president Barack Obama set about preparing for potential medical emergencies, and the de-funding of those plans that has been done by the Trump administration. “Leadership is thinking ahead and thinking farther than the next tweet” she says.
Amy Klobuchar has just tweeted to highlight a negative comparison from Connecticut senator Chris Murphy between the way that president Barack Obama set about preparing for potential medical emergencies, and the de-funding of those plans that has been done by the Trump administration. “Leadership is thinking ahead and thinking farther than the next tweet” she says.
Klobuchar is due to campaign today in Virginia and Tennessee.
Klobuchar is due to campaign today in Virginia and Tennessee.
29 February
South Carolina votes – with Biden hoping to hoist himself back into contention with a strong win
3 March
Super Tuesday: more than a dozen states including California and Texas vote, with one-third of Democratic delegates up for grabs on this day alone. Bernie Sanders is expected to lead, with Biden, Bloomberg, Warren and Buttigieg all hoping to emerge as his clear opponent.
17 March
Another big day, with votes in key states of Florida and Illinois.
28 April
The north-east has its say, with votes in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and their neighbours.
13 July
Democratic convention begins
24 August
Republican convention begins
3 November
Election day
Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney is currently talking at CPAC, being interviewed by Stephen Moore. You can watch a video stream of it live. He’s been talking about Congress being “broken”, and has just described his job as “the coolest job in the world”.
He has also revealed that Donald Trump did not sleep on his overnight flight back from India, and that the president texts, emails and calls him from 6am every morning until midnight.
He is now talking about what Donald Trump will do in his second term - suggesting a 1% cut in corporation tax to 20% because the president thinks “it is a better number”.
So says Steve Phillips in the New York Times opinion section today. It’s quite an in-depth look at how the people that Sanders particularly appeals to are sections of the electorate that could potentially hold huge sway in November - with little demographic nuggets like this: “Mr. Trump won Arizona, for example, by 91,000 votes, and 160,000 Latinos have turned 18 in that state since then.”
Read it here - New York Times: Bernie Sanders Can Beat Trump. Here’s the Math.
There’s also been a couple of bits of positive polling news for Bernie Sanders today. First off, it looks like he could deprive Elizabeth Warren of victory in her own state of Massachusetts.
Read it here - Politico: Warren at risk of losing her home state
There’s also data showing that Sanders’ debate performances have enhanced his standing with engaged Democrat voters, who now think he stands the best chance among the contenders of taking on and beating Donald Trump for the White House.
Read it here - ABC News: Recent debates give emboldened Bernie Sanders electability edge
Bernie Sanders steamrollered through the Nevada primary and Donald Trump played down the coronavirus threat. Who’s up and who’s down this week in US politics?
Best week: Bernie Sanders
The leftwing senator from Vermont’s landslide victory in Nevada forced Democratic and media doubters to admit he was now the man to beat (even the day before the New York Times was still calling him the “nominal” frontrunner). But heavy lies the crown… with his new status came the avalanche of attacks from opponents that Sanders sceptics have long-warned the self-proclaimed “democratic socialist” would face if he ever began to lead the pack. His “honeymoon” to Moscow, unwise articles he wrote for an underground zine in the 60s and 70s about cancer, orgasms and rape fantasies… Indeed, Sanders fanned the flames himself this week with typically unapologetic comments about Fidel Castro, telling CBS News he was “opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba” but adding: “He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?” There will be much more of this if Sanders’ success continues with a strong showing in South Carolina tomorrow and victory on Super Tuesday, 3 March.
Good week: Joe Biden
Whisper it, but is Biden back? Democratic centrists will eventually have to coalesce around someone to take on Sanders, and after flirting with Pete Buttigieg, Mike Bloomberg and Amy Klobuchar, they may end up concluding that the former vice-president – for all his faults – looks the strongest. He was more focused and aggressive at the debate in South Carolina on Tuesday night, and employed some amusing self-deprecation at one point when he gave way to the moderator: “Why am I stopping? No one else stops. It’s my Catholic school training.” Relying on his firewall of African-American support, Biden has solidified his lead in South Carolina and can reasonably hope for a strong victory there on Saturday that might reboot his campaign. He can expect to scoop up a fair number of delegates on Super Tuesday too, particularly in Texas and North Carolina, although Sanders is increasingly leaving him for dust in California. Can he stage a comeback? Cutting out the questionable stories about being arrested in South Africa might help.
Not a great week: Mike Bloomberg
Bloomberg had a better debate this week, but his social-media tactics came under fire after his team posted a controversial set of satirical tweets featuring false comments supposedly made by Sanders about various dictators. It wasn’t his first offence – many objected to the misleadingly-edited video his team had put out after the debate in Nevada – and the Bernie tweets were deleted. “It’s the embracing of a cynical outlook: ‘lol nothing matters’,” Whitney Phillips of Syracuse University told the Guardian. “It’s leaning into nihilism.” Bloomberg’s national poll ratings have flatlined since his disastrous first debate performance – he remains in third place behind Biden and Sanders – and he has dipped back below Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg too in the crucial Super Tuesday state of California, when he enters the race proper.
Bad week: Donald Trump
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned this week that the coronavirus Covid-19 could could cause “severe disruption” to the lives of ordinary Americans, adding: “It’s not so much a question of if this will happen any more, but rather more exactly when this will happen, and how many people in this country will have severe illness.” Donald Trump didn’t like that. On a trip to India earlier that day he had already told reporters that the coronavirus was “very well under control in our country” and “is going to go away”. He later hit out at the media for “doing everything possible to make the Caronavirus [sic] look as bad as possible, including panicking markets, if possible”. That last element seemed key – an economic slowdown caused by the virus could seriously damage Trump’s chances of re-election, and the stock market is his favourite measure of his own success. The day after a less-than-reassuring press conference in which Trump put vice-president Mike Pence in charge of the anti-virus effort, the Dow had its worst-ever daily drop and the S&P 500 posted its largest fall since August 2011.
Worst week: Mike Pence.
Well, would you want to head up the coronavirus response? Such a poisoned chalice is the VP’s new job that there was even speculation Trump could eventually use it as a pretext for dropping Pence from the 2020 ticket – perhaps replacing him with a telegenic woman such as former UN ambassador Nikki Haley. Not to worry, though, Pence is “really very expert at the field” of healthcare, as Trump told his press conference on Wednesday. So expert that he notoriously wrote on his website in 2000: “Despite the hysteria from the political class and the media, smoking doesn’t kill.”
Yes, it is a crucial primary on Saturday for Joe Biden. But that equally applies to the other candidates vying to be the main rival to early front-runner Bernie Sanders. Surely someone will have to drop out of this crowded field after Super Tuesday, so that the more centrist candidates can unite around one “anti-Sanders” option?
Here’s Moira Donegan with a look at what could happen next for Elizabeth Warren and how her campaign has become energised since that Nevada debate performance.
And here is Sam Levin in Los Angeles with a look at how Warren has found trans activists rallying behind her:
One of the problems facing Joe Biden as he goes into the South Carolina primary is that he is attempting to defy history. Over on Bloomberg Paul Murray has put together a series of charts showing historical polling data for the primaries since 1980. He says of Biden:
To put it bluntly: “no candidate has held a polling lead going into the first nominating contest, lost that lead and then come back to win the nomination.”
That’s quite some challenge for Biden. You can see the data here.
“It’s the perfect time for businesses, health care systems, universities and schools to look at their pandemic preparedness plans, dust them off, and make sure that they’re ready,” Trump said Wednesday at his White House news conference on the coronavirus.
Accordingly schools across the United States are canceling trips abroad, preparing online lessons and even rethinking their “perfect attendance” awards as they brace for the possibility that Covid-19 could begin spreading in their communities.
There’s also a big question mark about how the healthcare system could cope if there was a sharp increase in the number of cases in the US.
And there’s a specific factor that could make a difference to how the coronavirus might spread - the uninsured. Carl Gibson is one of those 27.5 million people - here are his thoughts on what the impact of the coronavirus could be.
Here is Amanda Holpuch in New York, looking at how it is low-income Americans who are most likely to be at risk.
There’s also a potentially worrying development in terms of how America has been handling the virus. The Washington Post was reporting last night that a whistleblower has come forward to say that officials at the Department of Health and Human Services sent workers to receive the first Americans evacuated from Wuhan, China, without proper training for infection control or appropriate protective gear. They then wren’t tested to see if they had contracted the new coronavirus themselves.
The Democratic race is in full swing, with votes in South Carolina on Saturday and then in over a dozen states including California on Super Tuesday, 3 March. Who are the key contenders as the race enters its next phase?
Bernie Sanders
Who:
Veteran socialist senator from Vermont and Democratic frontrunner who thinks his ship may finally have come in.
Strengths:
Huge army of passionate voters. Distinctive and consistent policy platform. Powerful momentum from success in first three contests of primary race.
Weaknesses:
Leftwing policies and “socialist” label may prove a bridge too far for many moderate Americans. Decades of outspoken affinity with leftwing causes is already being weaponised against him.
Key quote:
“Every other major country on Earth has achieved universal health care. This is the wealthiest nation in the world and there is no reason we cannot do the same.”
Key policies:
Universal public healthcare system and abolition of health insurance. Paid parental leave. Free college tuition. Support for radical Green New Deal to tackle climate change and create jobs.
Joe Biden
Who:
Personable former vice-president to Barack Obama whose shaky performance in the primary race has seen his lead disintegrate and his frontrunner status disappear.
Strengths:
Pundits thought his folksy manner, working-class roots and moderate policies would appeal to rust-belt voters won by Donald Trump in 2016.
Weaknesses:
Voters seemed less convinced after a series of muddled debates and gaffe-prone public appearances. Although many make the argument that “your uncle would vote for him”, it’s hard to find anyone actually excited about the prospect of President Biden.
Key quote:
“I ain’t a socialist, I ain’t a plutocrat, I’m a Democrat.”
Key policies:
“Public option” to compete with private health insurance. Green New Deal. Repealing capital punishment. Decriminalisation of cannabis.
Michael Bloomberg
Who:
Billionaire businessman and former New York mayor distrusted by many liberals who has steadily climbed in the polls thanks to big spending.
Strengths:
Limitless spending power. Centrist policies that may win over some Republicans. Record of business success that contrasts favorably with Trump’s.
Weaknesses:
Originally elected in New York as a Republican, Bloomberg is viewed by many liberals as a Democrat in name only and the kind of super-rich businessman they exist to rein in. Controversies over alleged sexist, racist and anti-trans remarks, a discriminatory policing policy known as “stop and frisk”, and the treatment of women at his business have not helped.
Key quote:
“Two billionaires [running]? Who’s the second one?”
Key policies:
Universal background checks for gun purchases, assault weapons ban and crackdown on gun trafficking. Net zero carbon emissions by 2050. “Public option” for healthcare.
Elizabeth Warren
Who:
Liberal Massachusetts senator and financial services expert who has been crowded out by Sanders and the moderates.
Strengths:
Less leftwing than Sanders, much less rightwing than Bloomberg, more experienced than Buttigieg, more convincing than Biden. Would be the first woman president.
Weaknesses:
Not as ideologically pure as Sanders, not as rich as Bloomberg, not as fresh as Buttigieg, less appeal in the heartland than Biden. Sexism is probably playing a role in dragging her down.
Key quote:
“I’d like to talk about who we’re running against: a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians. No, I’m not talking about Donald Trump. I’m talking about Mayor Bloomberg.”
Key policies:
Wealth tax on those worth more than $50m. Universal childcare. Relief of student loan debts. Supports the Green New Deal, public healthcare replacing health insurance and breaking up the big tech companies.
Pete Buttigieg
Who:
Small-town Indiana mayor who would be first gay president and needs to build on strong early start in Iowa or risk fading away.
Strengths:
Millennial military veteran who presents himself as the young and upbeat voice of moderation, compromise and national unity.
Weaknesses:
His main political experience comprises eight years as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, a city of 100,000 people. As mayor he made enemies of many black voters – something that has hobbled him in the Democratic race. It remains to be seen how homophobia would affect his chances if he became the nominee.
Key quote:
“We need a president focused on the future and ready to leave the politics of the past in the past.”
Key policies:
Backs a publicly run health insurance scheme, background checks for gun-buyers, a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and a moderate climate change plan.
Also running
Businessman Tom Steyer has poured money into South Carolina and is hoping for a strong showing there. Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar has had her moments but it’s hard to see where she goes from here. The quixotic Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard made the most impact when she sued Hillary Clinton for calling her a Russian asset.
Ahead of his appearance at the House committee of foreign affairs this morning, Mike Pompeo has published his opening witness statement, and it is fair to say that he does not mince his words about the Trump administration’s attitude to Iran. Among other things he says:
Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism – and anti-Semitism.
Its forces, and the militias it supports, prop up Syria’s Bashar Assad, undermine democracy in Lebanon and Iraq, and steal humanitarian aid in Yemen.
Iran is responsible for downing a civilian airliner in January. 176 people were killed. The regime lied about that tragedy, and still hasn’t turned over the black box.
The regime just rigged an election – yet again denying the Iranian people the free and fair elections they’ve sought for 41 years.
You can read the full statement here.
Good morning - there’s quite a bit on the agenda today.
It is the final full day of campaigning before the South Carolina primary, and Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Tom Steyer are all in the state today. Joe Biden has been considered the frontrunner in the southernmost state to vote so far, but he needs a decisive victory over Sanders if he’s to convince people that his campaign has a chance of eclipsing the leftwing senator and making a strong push for the nomination.
Donald Trump will also be out campaigning in South Carolina. There’s no Republican primary, but nevertheless he’s attending a rally at 7pm EST in North Charleston. Amy Klobuchar, meanwhile, is visiting Virginia and Tennessee with an eye on Super Tuesday.
We can expect a lot of focus on the coronavirus. Much of Trump’s upbeat messaging about the outbreak was designed to keep the markets steady. That approach seems to have failed as Wall Street and markets around the world tanked yesterday on fears about the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed that two people in the US have the coronavirus from person-to-person transmission, rather than exposure to the disease overseas.
There’s a host of big names appearing at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Fort Washington, Maryland, just outside of Washington DC. Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler, Donald Trump Jr, Candace Owens, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump and the so-called “Anti-Greta” Naomi Seibt are all appearing today. There are sessions on what the map of Israel should look like, how to fight the left’s “voter fraud machine”, “how the left justifies acts of violence” and the culture war. It should be a lively day. You can see the full line-up here.
And another big draw is that secretary of state Mike Pompeo will be appearing before the House committee on foreign affairs to be grilled on US policy on Iran and Iraq. You’ll be able to watch the session here.
