Trump Corruption

The New York Times reports: President Trump said on Friday that Iran had planned to attack multiple embassies across the Middle East, including the American Embassy in Baghdad, after first asserting that he did not believe anyone had a right to more details on the intelligence that prompted the killing of an Iranian general. “I can reveal that I believe …

The right wing Daily Caller reports: President Donald Trump said in a new interview on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” that he would use executive privilege to prevent former White House aide John Bolton from testifying in an impeachment trial. “Why not call Bolton? Why not allow him to testify? This thing is bogus. Why not allow Bolton to testify?” …

The Washington Examiner reports: The Department of Justice doesn’t want the Supreme Court to fast-track a case that could result in Obamacare being thrown out ahead of the presidential election, despite its position that the healthcare law should be abolished. If the court agrees with the Trump administration, then President Trump and Republicans will be spared the possibility of having …

The Associated Press reports: The White House is considering expanding its much-litigated travel ban to additional countries amid a renewed election-year focus on immigration issues by President Donald Trump, according to four people familiar with the deliberations. A document outlining the plans has been circulating the White House, but the countries that would be affected are blacked out, according to …

Politico reports: The de Blasio administration has referred findings from a review of the Trump Organization’s property tax filings to the Manhattan district attorney’s office, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday morning. In October, WNYC reported that President Donald Trump’s business portfolio would cite lower income from its properties when reporting to the Department of Finance, which is in charge …

The Hill reports: President Trump said his order to launch the drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani came amid pressure from Senate Republicans he views as key allies in his upcoming impeachment trial, the Wall Street Journal reported and New York Times reported this week. The articles did not name the GOP senators, but many of Trump’s allies …

Roll Call reports: Republican senators were told by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday to keep their schedules flexible for the end of next week when they might take up impeachment. Congress is scheduled to leave Washington for a weeklong break at the end of next week that includes the MLK Day holiday on Jan. 20. An attendee at …

Rudy Giuliani writes for the Daily Caller: The Constitution is silent on the Supreme Court’s role in an impeachment except to provide that it is presided over by the chief justice. However, the Constitution is also silent on the court’s power to declare federal and state laws and government action unconstitutional. It was determined by former Chief Justice John Marshall …

Bloomberg News reports: The New York City Bar Association has asked Congress to investigate U.S. Attorney General William Barr, saying his recent actions and statements have positioned the Justice Department and its prosecutors as “political partisans willing to use the levers of government to empower certain groups over others.” The request disclosed on Thursday appears to be the first time …

Reuters reports:  The United States will withdraw or deny visas to any International Criminal Court personnel investigating possible war crimes by U.S. forces or allies in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday. The court, which sits in The Hague, responded that it was an independent and impartial institution and would continue to do its work “undeterred” by …

The Washington Post reports: The Trump administration is seeking to delay a Democratic effort to require the Secret Service to disclose how much it spends protecting President Trump and his family when they travel — until after the 2020 election, according to people familiar with the discussions. The issue has emerged as a sticking point in recent weeks as Treasury …

The Wall Street Journal reports: The Trump Organization plans to cut off bids on its Washington, D.C., hotel on Jan. 23. The Trump Organization leased the property, within the Old Post Office building, from the federal government, and, with extensions, the lease lasts almost 100 years. A new lease owner could adjust the branding and managing of the building. President …

The Hill reports: President Trump on Wednesday accused the Obama administration of providing funding to Iran that facilitated the country’s missile strikes a day earlier against Iraqi bases that house U.S. forces. “The missiles fired last night at us and our allies were paid for with the funds made available by the last administration,” Trump said in prepared remarks from …

The Associated Press reports: Federal prosecutors on Tuesday charged a major donor to President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee with obstructing a federal investigation into whether foreign nationals unlawfully contributed to the inaugural celebrations. The donor, Imaad Zuberi, recently pleaded guilty in a separate case in Los Angeles to campaign finance violations, tax evasion and failing to register as a foreign …

The New York Times reports: Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, informed Republicans on Tuesday that he planned to move forward with President Trump’s impeachment trial without committing to additional witnesses or admitting new evidence, over the objections of Democrats who are insisting on both. Mr. McConnell shared his intentions with senators over lunch in the Capitol, declaring that he …

Politico reports: Senate Republican leaders are preparing to move forward on a set of impeachment trial rules without Democratic support. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is on the verge of having sufficient backing in his 53-member caucus to pass a blueprint for the trial that leaves the question of seeking witnesses and documents until after opening arguments are made, according …

The Washington Post reports: Michael Flynn deserves up to 6 months in prison, the U.S. says in a reversal for former Trump national security adviser. The retired three-star Army general turned against prosecutors after initially cooperating in special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s probe and pleading guilty to lying to investigators about his contacts with Russia’s ambassador. A federal judge …

Politico reports: Sen. Mitt Romney said Monday that he wants to hear from John Bolton after the former national security adviser offered to testify in the Senate’s impeachment trial. “Of course,” said the Utah Republican when asked if he wants Bolton to testify. “He has firsthand information and, assuming that articles of impeachment reach the Senate, I’d like to hear …

“If I were a Democrat in the House, I would be moving to re-open the impeachment on the basis of the newly-acquired evidence, these new emails of people getting instructions directly from the president to hold up on the sending of the funds. “That would justify holding the articles of impeachment, because there’s new evidence and perhaps new articles. “If …

The Washington Post reports: The deliberations that went into President Trump’s decision to assassinate Iranian general Qasem Soleimani are looking more slapdash and reckless by the hour. What we’re now seeing will require House Democrats to make a serious and sustained effort to get to the bottom of it all. And guess what: We may soon get just such an …