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| Mueller attacks Flynn's attempt to 'minimize seriousness' of offense – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| That’s it for today. Thanks for reading and have a lovely weekend. | |
| Scott Walker signed three bills into law designed to strip powers from his incoming replacement – a Democrat. The bills, which had been passed by the Republican state legislature, limit the power of the incoming governor and attorney general as well as to limit early voting in the state. | |
| Robert Mueller rejected Michael Flynn’s claims that he was misled by the FBI. Earlier this week Flynn claimed he was tricked into lying to investigators, but Mueller said Trump’s former national security advisor had decided to lie to the FBI two weeks before doing so. | |
| Chris Christie pulled out of the running to be Trump’s chief-of-staff. “I’ve told the president that now is not the right time for me or my family to undertake this serious assignment,” Christie said. The former New Jersey governor had reportedly been the front-runner. | |
| We’ll be back on Monday with more live coverage. Until then, you can sign up for our new US morning briefing for a summary of the day’s top stories and must-reads. | |
| Rep Adam Schiff, the next chairman of the House intelligence committee, is planning to dig into Trump’s personal finances, including scouring Deutsche Bank records, according to the New Yorker’s Jeffrey Toobin: | |
| “The American people have a right to know that their President is working on their behalf, not his family’s financial interests,” Schiff said. “Right now, I don’t think any of us can have the confidence that that’s the case.” | |
| “We are going to be looking at the issue of possible money laundering by the Trump Organization, and Deutsche Bank is one obvious place to start,” Schiff told the New Yorker. | |
| Breaking: @RepAdamSchiff will probe @realDonaldTrump 's personal finances, obtain Deutsche Bank records as HPSCI chair in Jan. My @NewYorker story.https://t.co/lOuhJe4dfF | |
| I’m sure he’s got other things to worry about, but deputy secretary of state John Sullivan should really consider buying some bigger clothes. | I’m sure he’s got other things to worry about, but deputy secretary of state John Sullivan should really consider buying some bigger clothes. |
| Deputy Secretary Sullivan is on travel to Europe. In Vienna, he thanked his counterparts for #Austria’s contributions to security cooperation, engaged with civil society, including at a Christmas market, and met with @usembvienna colleagues. https://t.co/yXZWg6qRZ7 pic.twitter.com/Qq9MBRZWks | Deputy Secretary Sullivan is on travel to Europe. In Vienna, he thanked his counterparts for #Austria’s contributions to security cooperation, engaged with civil society, including at a Christmas market, and met with @usembvienna colleagues. https://t.co/yXZWg6qRZ7 pic.twitter.com/Qq9MBRZWks |
| George Papadopoulos, former foreign policy aide to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and recently released convict, has confirmed he is running for Congress. | George Papadopoulos, former foreign policy aide to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and recently released convict, has confirmed he is running for Congress. |
| And, according to Papadopoulos, he will win. | And, according to Papadopoulos, he will win. |
| It is true. I will be running for Congress in 2020, and I will win. Stay tuned. | It is true. I will be running for Congress in 2020, and I will win. Stay tuned. |
| Papadopoulos, who was released from prison last week, has suggested he may run in Orange County – an area swept by Democrats in the mid-term elections. He was the first Trump associate to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller and pleaded guilty to perjury last year. | Papadopoulos, who was released from prison last week, has suggested he may run in Orange County – an area swept by Democrats in the mid-term elections. He was the first Trump associate to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller and pleaded guilty to perjury last year. |
| The probe into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia has cost just over $25m, according to a report released on Friday. | The probe into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia has cost just over $25m, according to a report released on Friday. |
| The Department of Justice report showed the cost of Mueller’s investigation up until the end of September. The report is here. | The Department of Justice report showed the cost of Mueller’s investigation up until the end of September. The report is here. |
| In June the Washington Post reported that the 17 trips Trump has taken to his Mar-a-Lago resort while president had cost $17m. | In June the Washington Post reported that the 17 trips Trump has taken to his Mar-a-Lago resort while president had cost $17m. |
| Trump spent a further five days at Mar-a-Lago over Thanksgiving and is due to spend 16 days there over Christmas and New Year. | Trump spent a further five days at Mar-a-Lago over Thanksgiving and is due to spend 16 days there over Christmas and New Year. |
| Special counsel Robert Mueller has urged a federal judge to reject Michael Flynn’s attempts to “minimize the seriousness” of his crimes ahead of his sentencing. | Special counsel Robert Mueller has urged a federal judge to reject Michael Flynn’s attempts to “minimize the seriousness” of his crimes ahead of his sentencing. |
| In a sentencing memo earlier this week, Flynn’s lawyers claimed that FBI agents had misled the former national security adviser by not telling him how severe the penalty is for lying to the FBI. The lawyers said Flynn should be spared prison time as a result. | In a sentencing memo earlier this week, Flynn’s lawyers claimed that FBI agents had misled the former national security adviser by not telling him how severe the penalty is for lying to the FBI. The lawyers said Flynn should be spared prison time as a result. |
| But on Friday Mueller told the judge that Flynn had “made his decision” to lie to investigators two weeks before his interview with the FBI, dismissing any suggestion Flynn had been exploited or tricked. | But on Friday Mueller told the judge that Flynn had “made his decision” to lie to investigators two weeks before his interview with the FBI, dismissing any suggestion Flynn had been exploited or tricked. |
| “The Court should reject the defendant’s attempt to minimize the seriousness of those false statements to the FBI,” Mueller said. | “The Court should reject the defendant’s attempt to minimize the seriousness of those false statements to the FBI,” Mueller said. |
| Flynn is due to be sentenced on Tuesday at 11am. Mueller’s team had recommended Flynn be given a sentence at “the low end” of the zero to six months guidance range. | Flynn is due to be sentenced on Tuesday at 11am. Mueller’s team had recommended Flynn be given a sentence at “the low end” of the zero to six months guidance range. |
| Mueller’s full filing to the court is here. | Mueller’s full filing to the court is here. |
| Scott Walker has committed an “assault on democracy” by signing bills designed to limit the power of the incoming Democratic governor of Wisconsin, the Democratic Governors Association has said. | Scott Walker has committed an “assault on democracy” by signing bills designed to limit the power of the incoming Democratic governor of Wisconsin, the Democratic Governors Association has said. |
| From the DGA’s communications director Jared Leopold: | From the DGA’s communications director Jared Leopold: |
| By signing this shameful and undemocratic legislation, Governor Scott Walker is cementing his legacy of extreme partisanship and divisiveness. This power grab is an assault on democracy – and it will not stand up to legal scrutiny. This is nothing short of an attempt to overrule the will of the voters of Wisconsin. | By signing this shameful and undemocratic legislation, Governor Scott Walker is cementing his legacy of extreme partisanship and divisiveness. This power grab is an assault on democracy – and it will not stand up to legal scrutiny. This is nothing short of an attempt to overrule the will of the voters of Wisconsin. |
| In a democracy, you don’t get to change the rules just because you lost. Governor Walker has refused to come to terms with the simple fact that Wisconsin voted for change in November. We urge governors across the country to stand with us in condemning this affront to democracy and gubernatorial responsibility. | In a democracy, you don’t get to change the rules just because you lost. Governor Walker has refused to come to terms with the simple fact that Wisconsin voted for change in November. We urge governors across the country to stand with us in condemning this affront to democracy and gubernatorial responsibility. |
| DGA Statement on @ScottWalker Signing Power Grab Legislation #WIGov #WIPoliticshttps://t.co/CT96Eo1dRS | DGA Statement on @ScottWalker Signing Power Grab Legislation #WIGov #WIPoliticshttps://t.co/CT96Eo1dRS |
| Trump has been a change from Obama even at the culinary level. | Trump has been a change from Obama even at the culinary level. |
| The New York Times reports on how Trump has not involved himself in DC’s restaurant scene in a jarring contrast to his predecessor. | The New York Times reports on how Trump has not involved himself in DC’s restaurant scene in a jarring contrast to his predecessor. |
| "The only restaurant the Trumps are known to have frequented is the steakhouse at the Trump Hotel. Trump, a proud non-foodie, prefers fast food and overflowing bowls of ice cream to charred brussels sprouts or shakshuka from restaurants with wait-lists." https://t.co/HZTDa2X9TR | "The only restaurant the Trumps are known to have frequented is the steakhouse at the Trump Hotel. Trump, a proud non-foodie, prefers fast food and overflowing bowls of ice cream to charred brussels sprouts or shakshuka from restaurants with wait-lists." https://t.co/HZTDa2X9TR |
| With the question of whether outgoing Congresswoman Martha McSally will be appointed to the Senate once held by John McCain after losing her own Senate this year, McCain’s family is chiming in. | With the question of whether outgoing Congresswoman Martha McSally will be appointed to the Senate once held by John McCain after losing her own Senate this year, McCain’s family is chiming in. |
| His son-in-law, Ben Domenech tweeted some pointed criticism of McSally that was then retweeted by his wife, Meghan McCain. | His son-in-law, Ben Domenech tweeted some pointed criticism of McSally that was then retweeted by his wife, Meghan McCain. |
| 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ex0rr3l2D0 | 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ex0rr3l2D0 |
| Utah Republican Orrin Hatch walked about statements he made about Donald Trump earlier this week where he dismissed criminal allegations against the President. | Utah Republican Orrin Hatch walked about statements he made about Donald Trump earlier this week where he dismissed criminal allegations against the President. |
| “I regret speaking imprudently. I don’t believe the President broke the law, but one of the core principles of our country is that no one is above the law. That means anyone who does break the law should face appropriate consequences. | “I regret speaking imprudently. I don’t believe the President broke the law, but one of the core principles of our country is that no one is above the law. That means anyone who does break the law should face appropriate consequences. |
| Hatch issues statement regretting comments he made to me earlier this week about Trump and Cohen allegations. Says no one is above the law. Video of his initial comments in our story here https://t.co/QuTov2XW4D https://t.co/ameHMvtIKM | Hatch issues statement regretting comments he made to me earlier this week about Trump and Cohen allegations. Says no one is above the law. Video of his initial comments in our story here https://t.co/QuTov2XW4D https://t.co/ameHMvtIKM |
| Chris Christie, who announced he would not be White House chief of staff earlier today, apparently has a score settling memoir coming out next month. | Chris Christie, who announced he would not be White House chief of staff earlier today, apparently has a score settling memoir coming out next month. |
| Christie's lucrative memoir, which is expected to settle some scores, will come out in January. It's finished. Being chief of staff would have complicated that... | Christie's lucrative memoir, which is expected to settle some scores, will come out in January. It's finished. Being chief of staff would have complicated that... |
| ProPublica reports that the Trump Inaugural Committee spent money at the Trump hotel in Washington. This raises serious legal questions. | ProPublica reports that the Trump Inaugural Committee spent money at the Trump hotel in Washington. This raises serious legal questions. |
| During the planning, Ivanka Trump, the president-elect’s eldest daughter and a senior executive with the Trump Organization, was involved in negotiating the price the hotel charged the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee for venue rentals. A top inaugural planner emailed Ivanka and others at the company to “express my concern” that the hotel was overcharging for its event spaces, worrying of what would happen “when this is audited.” | During the planning, Ivanka Trump, the president-elect’s eldest daughter and a senior executive with the Trump Organization, was involved in negotiating the price the hotel charged the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee for venue rentals. A top inaugural planner emailed Ivanka and others at the company to “express my concern” that the hotel was overcharging for its event spaces, worrying of what would happen “when this is audited.” |
| If the Trump hotel charged more than the going rate for the venues, it could violate tax law. The inaugural committee’s payments to the Trump Organization and Ivanka Trump’s role have not been previously reported or disclosed in public filings. | If the Trump hotel charged more than the going rate for the venues, it could violate tax law. The inaugural committee’s payments to the Trump Organization and Ivanka Trump’s role have not been previously reported or disclosed in public filings. |
| Andrew Stiles at the Washington Free Beacon has some quirky ideas for the next chief of staff. | Andrew Stiles at the Washington Free Beacon has some quirky ideas for the next chief of staff. |
| Stiles was one of the writers to envision a Trump inauguration in 2015. | Stiles was one of the writers to envision a Trump inauguration in 2015. |
| In ex-chief of staff news, Reince Priebus is joining the Navy. | In ex-chief of staff news, Reince Priebus is joining the Navy. |
| Priebus, with lobbying from Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, appears to be on course to become a naval reserve officer. | Priebus, with lobbying from Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, appears to be on course to become a naval reserve officer. |
| Priebus’s press secretary Sean Spicer, has long been a naval reserve officer. | Priebus’s press secretary Sean Spicer, has long been a naval reserve officer. |