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US politics: Russian bounty payments claim sparks Trump briefing row - live updates US politics: Russian bounty payments claim sparks Trump briefing row - live updates
(32 minutes later)
Reaction as reports claim that Donald Trump was briefed about Russian attempt to destabilise US forces in AfghanistanReaction as reports claim that Donald Trump was briefed about Russian attempt to destabilise US forces in Afghanistan
Washington is going to be busy today talking about the Trump administrations pandemic response. Coronavirus task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci, CDC Director Robert Redfield and other top health officials will testify before a Senate Committee later today on the latest efforts to contain the pandemic. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell will testify before the House financial services committee about their respective agency’s response.
Bernie Sanders has written for us this morning to put his proposal down on the table for re-establishing the US economy after the impact of Covid-19 - a 10% cut to the US military budget.
As Sanders puts it: “Incredibly, after adjusting for inflation, we are now spending more on the military than we did during the height of the Cold War or during the wars in Vietnam and Korea.”
He is proposing to cut funding by 10%. He quotes Republican President Dwight D Eisenhower, who said in 1953:
You can read the Sanders proposal in full here: A 10% cut to the US military budget would help support struggling Americans
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy was on the All In with Chris Hayes show last night talking about the ‘Russian bounty’ controversy. He raised what he saw as a key issue, which is that regardless of whether Donald Trump was personally briefed or not - National Security Advisor O’Brien insists that he was not - the administration as a whole still appears to have done nothing about the allegations.
You can watch the full clip here: Sen. Murphy - What on earth could Russia do to us that Trump would take seriously?
Also talking to the media last night on the topic was Felicia Arculeo, whose son Robert Hendriks was killed in an attack in Afghanistan on 8 April, 2019 that has, according to reports, been linked by intelligence agencies to the Russian bounty offer.
She told CNBC that she had not been contacted by the administration or the military, but instead “just happened to randomly see” the reports about her son’s death becoming embroiled in the row. “I got pretty upset” she said.
Arculeo suggested that the claims should be fully investigated, saying “the parties who are responsible should be held accountable, if that’s even possible.”
“At the end of the day, my son is still gone. He’s still not coming home.”
Overnight another development emerged with the Elijah McClain case. McClain, 23, was killed in Aurora, Colorado, in August last year, after being put in a chokehold by police and injected with ketamine by paramedics. At the weekend police used pepper spray to disperse a largely peaceful event featured violin-playing in honour of McClain.Overnight another development emerged with the Elijah McClain case. McClain, 23, was killed in Aurora, Colorado, in August last year, after being put in a chokehold by police and injected with ketamine by paramedics. At the weekend police used pepper spray to disperse a largely peaceful event featured violin-playing in honour of McClain.
Denver investigative reporter Brian Maass broke the news that three officers in the Aurora police department were under investigation for taking inappropriate photos at a memorial for McClain.Denver investigative reporter Brian Maass broke the news that three officers in the Aurora police department were under investigation for taking inappropriate photos at a memorial for McClain.
The department’s interim police chief, Vanessa Wilson, then released the following statement:The department’s interim police chief, Vanessa Wilson, then released the following statement:
Miranda Bryant has been looking at the tributes to McClain for us, and speaking to friends and colleagues who described him as changing their lives on a daily basis. One of his colleagues said:Miranda Bryant has been looking at the tributes to McClain for us, and speaking to friends and colleagues who described him as changing their lives on a daily basis. One of his colleagues said:
Read the full tributes here: ‘He was inspired by everything’: friends and family pay tribute to Elijah McClainRead the full tributes here: ‘He was inspired by everything’: friends and family pay tribute to Elijah McClain
National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien has issued a statement over the ‘Russian bounty’ controversy, insisting Donald Trump had not been briefed on the intelligence. He says:National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien has issued a statement over the ‘Russian bounty’ controversy, insisting Donald Trump had not been briefed on the intelligence. He says:
O’Brien’s statement then goes on to warn officials over the leaking of information to the media, and to re-state his belief in Donald Trump’s commitment to security.O’Brien’s statement then goes on to warn officials over the leaking of information to the media, and to re-state his belief in Donald Trump’s commitment to security.
Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of NAACP has written for us this morning, arguing that the George Floyd uprising has brought hope, but that campaigners must now turn protest into policy. It is a passionate rallying cry - but one that also cautions that there is much that needs to be done:Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of NAACP has written for us this morning, arguing that the George Floyd uprising has brought hope, but that campaigners must now turn protest into policy. It is a passionate rallying cry - but one that also cautions that there is much that needs to be done:
Read it in full here: Derrick Johnson - The George Floyd uprising has brought us hope. Now we must turn protest to policyRead it in full here: Derrick Johnson - The George Floyd uprising has brought us hope. Now we must turn protest to policy
David Ignatius at the Washington Post is one of several op-ed columnists to tackle this story, in an overnight piece asking “Were Trump’s aides too afraid to tell him about the Russian bounties?”. He writes:David Ignatius at the Washington Post is one of several op-ed columnists to tackle this story, in an overnight piece asking “Were Trump’s aides too afraid to tell him about the Russian bounties?”. He writes:
In the piece, he examines how Russian policy shifted in the last couple of years from allowing the US to operate freely in Afghanistan, to seemingly helping the Taliban. And Ignatius finishes with a damning indictment of the president.In the piece, he examines how Russian policy shifted in the last couple of years from allowing the US to operate freely in Afghanistan, to seemingly helping the Taliban. And Ignatius finishes with a damning indictment of the president.
Read it here: Washington Post - Were Trump’s aides too afraid to tell him about the Russian bounties?Read it here: Washington Post - Were Trump’s aides too afraid to tell him about the Russian bounties?
Tom McCarthy was reporting for us in New York in the early hours about the new claims surrounding the mystery of whether Donald Trump was briefed about Russia offering bounties for attacks on US troops in Afghanistan.Tom McCarthy was reporting for us in New York in the early hours about the new claims surrounding the mystery of whether Donald Trump was briefed about Russia offering bounties for attacks on US troops in Afghanistan.
He explains how multiple US media outlets have claimed that Donald Trump was given a written briefing months ago about the intelligence.He explains how multiple US media outlets have claimed that Donald Trump was given a written briefing months ago about the intelligence.
There has predictably been strong reaction on social media to the reports from US officials and politicians. It is believed that Trump prefers oral briefings several times a week rather than to read the daily written document prepared for US presidents.There has predictably been strong reaction on social media to the reports from US officials and politicians. It is believed that Trump prefers oral briefings several times a week rather than to read the daily written document prepared for US presidents.
You can read Tom’s full report here: ‘Russian bounties’ intelligence was in Trump written daily briefing – reportsYou can read Tom’s full report here: ‘Russian bounties’ intelligence was in Trump written daily briefing – reports
Good morning and welcome to our live US politics coverage for Tuesday. Here are some of the key points from yesterday and overnight, and what we are expecting todayGood morning and welcome to our live US politics coverage for Tuesday. Here are some of the key points from yesterday and overnight, and what we are expecting today
The president’s diary is empty today save for his intelligence briefing at 3:30pm this afternoon. Donald Trump maintains he didn’t get briefed earlier in the year on the Russian bounty issue - reports say otherwiseThe president’s diary is empty today save for his intelligence briefing at 3:30pm this afternoon. Donald Trump maintains he didn’t get briefed earlier in the year on the Russian bounty issue - reports say otherwise
Late last night the White House put out a statement praising the Supreme Court for rejecting the appeals of four death row inmates whose executions have been scheduled for the coming weeks. These would be the first federal death penalties carried out since 2003. The Supreme Court also upheld abortion rights in Louisiana yesterday.Late last night the White House put out a statement praising the Supreme Court for rejecting the appeals of four death row inmates whose executions have been scheduled for the coming weeks. These would be the first federal death penalties carried out since 2003. The Supreme Court also upheld abortion rights in Louisiana yesterday.
The number of people currently in hospital infected by coronavirus is reported to be rising fast in Arizona, California, Georgia, Nevada, Montana, South Carolina and Texas. Arizona is ditching plans to re-open the economy.The number of people currently in hospital infected by coronavirus is reported to be rising fast in Arizona, California, Georgia, Nevada, Montana, South Carolina and Texas. Arizona is ditching plans to re-open the economy.
Jerome Powell, the new chair of the Federal Reserve, is expected to speak to Congress today about the painful road to economic recovery after the impact of Covid-19.Jerome Powell, the new chair of the Federal Reserve, is expected to speak to Congress today about the painful road to economic recovery after the impact of Covid-19.
I’ll be running this live blog for the next couple of hours - you can get in touch with me by emailing martin.belam@theguardian.comI’ll be running this live blog for the next couple of hours - you can get in touch with me by emailing martin.belam@theguardian.com