Trump Corruption

Talking Points Memo reports: The State Department on Monday removed a blog post promoting President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida following criticism from ethics advocates and Democrats, and questions from reporters. The post boasting Mar-A-Lago as the “Winter White House” was posted to the State Department’s ShareAmerica website and had also been posted by the U.S. embassies in the …

Raw Story reports: CNN’s Anderson Cooper wasn’t happy with President Donald Trump’s habit need to spread false information. On Monday’s “AC360,” Cooper warned that believing Trump’s “fake facts” could desensitize Americans to the truth that former Secretary Hillary Clinton won the popular vote. “I don’t even know that I need to say this, he did not beat Hillary Clinton in …

USA Today reports: An article about Mar-a-lago started making the Twitter rounds Monday afternoon after users — including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. — noticed that it was appearing on the official website for the U.S. embassy in London. But where did it come from? The post, which describes the Trump property as the “winter White House” and details …

Mashable recaps: Ever wondered exactly what kind of influence Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have in the White House? Well John Oliver is here to tell you. In an epic 25-minute rant on Last Week Tonight, Oliver breaks down exactly what the couple many think of as a “moderating influence” on Trump actually do — and what, if anything, makes …

Law Newz reports: The White House announced Sunday that President Donald Trump will have dinner Thursday with the U.S. Supreme Court. “That evening, the President will have dinner with the Justices of the Supreme Court, including his successfully confirmed nominee Justice Neil Gorsuch,” the announcement read. Judging by the wording, it seems like all nine are expected show up, though …

The Huffington Post reports: Senior White House officials on Sunday urged Democrats not to shut the government down over partial funding for President Donald Trump’s proposal to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Lost in their appeals, however, was the president’s oft-repeated promise that Mexico would pay for it. Trump vowed that Mexico would pay for a “big, beautiful …

Business Insider reports: President Trump announced on Twitter that he will be holding a rally in Pennsylvania on April 29. “Next Saturday night I will be holding a BIG rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it!” Trump tweeted on Saturday afternoon. The rally will be held on the same night as the White House Correspondents Dinner, which the president said …

The New York Daily News reports: Continuing its federal shakeups, the Trump administration dismissed Obama-appointed U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Friday. Murthy was relieved of his duties effective immediately, and his position will be temporarily filled by Deputy Surgeon General Sylvia Trent-Adams as the White House looks for a replacement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said …

The Hill reports: Former Trump advisor Carter Page defended himself during a CNN appearance on Saturday, amidst mounting reports about his alleged contacts with Russian officials during the presidential campaign. “I was never, nothing I was ever asked to do or no information I was ever asked for, was anything beyond what you could see on CNN,” Page told CNN’s …

CNN reports: The FBI gathered intelligence last summer that suggests Russian operatives tried to use Trump advisers, including Carter Page, to infiltrate the Trump campaign, according to US officials. The new information adds to the emerging picture of how the Russians tried to influence the 2016 election, not only through email hacks and propaganda but also by trying to infiltrate …

Business Insider reports: The House Intelligence Committee announced on Friday that it had extended invitations to three former officials with knowledge of Russia’s interference in the US election to testify in an open hearing in May, over a month after the committee’s chairman first scrapped the session. “Yesterday, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence sent two letters related to …

The Independent reports: Exxon Mobil has reportedly applied to the US Treasury Department for a waiver from US sanctions on Russia, which – if granted – would mean that it can resume its joint venture with Russian-state owned oil giant PAO Rosneft. Citing people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported that Exxon had been seeking US permission …

Politico reports: During his campaign, Donald Trump promised to pay the legal bills of supporters who beat up protestors at his rallies, but a POLITICO analysis found that Trump’s campaign hasn’t always paid its own legal bills in a timely or transparent fashion. The analysis of court and campaign filings found that Trump’s campaign committee is still spending heavily to …

CNBC reports: President Donald Trump promoted his “buy American, hire American” policy again Tuesday — but his family’s companies haven’t always followed that pledge themselves. After touring a Snap-on tools plant in Wisconsin on Tuesday afternoon, Trump signed an executive order pushing the hiring of domestic workers by American companies. “We are sending a powerful signal to the world. We …

The Associated Press reports: On April 6, Ivanka Trump’s company won provisional approval from the Chinese government for three new trademarks, giving it monopoly rights to sell Ivanka brand jewelry, bags and spa services in the world’s second-largest economy. That night, the first daughter and her husband, Jared Kushner, sat next to the president of China and his wife for …

Politico reports: When the Trump administration initially announced last Friday that it would not release a log of visitors to the White House, reversing a practice begun by former President Barack Obama, White House communications director Michael Dubke said the move would protect the nation’s national security interests as well as the privacy of those visiting the Trump administration. But …

The Independent reports: Donald Trump has accused protesters who took to the streets of cities across the US to demand he publish his tax returns of being part of an organised conspiracy paid for by persons unknown. The billionaire said his election as US President meant the release of tax returns was irrelevant, writing on Twitter: “Someone should look into …

The Hill reports: President Trump on Saturday reportedly took a longer route than usual on his way back to his Mar-a-Lago resort in what reporters said appeared to be an attempt to avoid large crowds of Tax March protesters. According to pool reports, Trump’s motorcade made a long loop to get back to Mar-a-Lago after leaving Trump International Golf Club …

The Read Deal reports: A Miami-based paint company stiffed three years ago by President Donald Trump’s Doral golf resort may finally get paid. The Third District Court of Appeals on Friday rejected the Trump National Doral Miami’s petition to throw out a lower court’s prior ruling affirming a nearly $35,000 construction lien The Paint Spot placed on the property, and …

Politico reports: President Donald Trump will not release records of visitors to the White House, his administration announced Friday, breaking with President Barack Obama and raising concerns about transparency. The Obama administration had posted the visitor logs online. But White House communications director Michael Dubke said in a statement Trump had decided to withhold them because of “the grave national …