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| Trump-Russia investigation almost complete, says acting attorney general – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thanks for staying with us through another eventful day. We’ll see you tomorrow. | |
| Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker announced that Robert Mueller’s investigation is close to finished. | |
| President Trump accepts Speaker Pelosi’s State of the Union invitation. | |
| At a White House press briefing on Venezuela, National Security Adviser John Bolton accidentally flashed his handwritten notes that included something about “5,000 troops to Colombia”. | |
| Former Starbucks CEO and possible “centrist independent” 2020 presidential candidate Howard Schultz makes his first stop on his book tour and it turns into a town hall meeting of sorts. And no town hall meeting is complete without at least one heckler. | |
| The Guardian’s Erin Durkin is at former Starbucks CEO and possible independent 2020 presidential candidate Howard Schultz’s first stop of his book tour, which has turned into a town hall of sorts. | |
| Speaking at a New York Barnes and Noble, he ruled out any possibility that he would run as a Democrat, despite his life-long affiliation with the party. | |
| “If I run for president, I’m running as a centrist independent,” Schultz said. “If I ran as a Democrat, I would have to say things that I know in my heart I do not believe, and I would have to be disingenuous.” | |
| Much of the criticism that has been lobbed at Schultz is that running for president seems more like a vanity project for an “egotistical billionaire asshole,” as one protester put it, that will do nothing but divide the liberal vote and hand the election to President Trump. | |
| Earlier today, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s tweeted that he refused to run in 2016 for this reason. | |
| In 2020, the great likelihood is that an independent would just split the anti-Trump vote and end up re-electing the President. That's a risk I refused to run in 2016 and we can't afford to run it now. https://t.co/SmHM6cYUg7 pic.twitter.com/iQ2CK5o2k6 | |
| “Mike Bloomberg has built a great business, was a great mayor,” Schultz said. “I have tremendous respect for him, but I don’t agree with his conclusion.” | |
| Americans who don’t affiliate with either party, Schultz said, “have never had a legitimate choice to vote for what they believe in.” | |
| Trump also took to Twitter today to take a jab at Schultz. | |
| Howard Schultz doesn’t have the “guts” to run for President! Watched him on @60Minutes last night and I agree with him that he is not the “smartest person.” Besides, America already has that! I only hope that Starbucks is still paying me their rent in Trump Tower! | |
| Schultz called the president’s attacks “childish.” | |
| “Nobody wants to see Donald Trump removed from office more than me,” he said. “If I decide to run for president as an independent, I will believe and have the courage and the conviction to believe that I can win,” he said, though he added he could not yet answer whether he would bow out if polls show he is helping Trump. “I’m certainly not going to do anything to put Donald Trump back into the Oval Office.” | |
| Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is having his first public event since he said he was exploring an independent bid for president as a “centrist independent”. He was immediately heckled. | Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is having his first public event since he said he was exploring an independent bid for president as a “centrist independent”. He was immediately heckled. |
| Protester stands up almost immediately at Schultz event: "You'll help elect Trump, you billionaire, egotistical asshole. Go back to getting ratio'd on twitter. go back to Davos with the other billionaire elite." | Protester stands up almost immediately at Schultz event: "You'll help elect Trump, you billionaire, egotistical asshole. Go back to getting ratio'd on twitter. go back to Davos with the other billionaire elite." |
| Roger Stone, the longtime ally of President Trump who was indicted last week in the Russia probe, is set to be arraigned in federal court in Washington DC on Tuesday at 11am EST. | Roger Stone, the longtime ally of President Trump who was indicted last week in the Russia probe, is set to be arraigned in federal court in Washington DC on Tuesday at 11am EST. |
| And Jerome Corsi, a right-wing author and conspiracy theorist, is already volunteering to testify, Reuters is reporting, and to “let the chips fall where they may.” Corsi had been one of two people Stone sought to use as intermediaries to communicate with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange about hacked Democratic Party emails in the 2016 election campaign, according to the indictment. | And Jerome Corsi, a right-wing author and conspiracy theorist, is already volunteering to testify, Reuters is reporting, and to “let the chips fall where they may.” Corsi had been one of two people Stone sought to use as intermediaries to communicate with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange about hacked Democratic Party emails in the 2016 election campaign, according to the indictment. |
| “I’m happy to be a witness,” Corsi told Reuters in an interview. “If it’s for Roger’s benefit or not for Roger’s benefit so be it but I’m going to tell the truth to the best of my ability.” | “I’m happy to be a witness,” Corsi told Reuters in an interview. “If it’s for Roger’s benefit or not for Roger’s benefit so be it but I’m going to tell the truth to the best of my ability.” |
| While Corsi is ready to go, Stone’s legal team appears to be having some trouble. | While Corsi is ready to go, Stone’s legal team appears to be having some trouble. |
| Roger Stone is due in federal court in DC tomorrow morning for an arraignment. His lawyers, who don't belong to the court's bar, have been having some issues today following the process for getting permission to appear in court pic.twitter.com/MijTkbAegW | Roger Stone is due in federal court in DC tomorrow morning for an arraignment. His lawyers, who don't belong to the court's bar, have been having some issues today following the process for getting permission to appear in court pic.twitter.com/MijTkbAegW |
| Stone has maintained that he will not testify against Trump, but he said on ABC’s This Week that he’d consult with his attorneys about potentially cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is close to finishing his investigation into links between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives. | Stone has maintained that he will not testify against Trump, but he said on ABC’s This Week that he’d consult with his attorneys about potentially cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is close to finishing his investigation into links between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives. |
| The tens of thousands of immigration court hearings canceled during the five-week federal government shutdown could cause delays in the country’s already severely backlogged immigration court that will take years to sort through, the Associated Press is reporting. | The tens of thousands of immigration court hearings canceled during the five-week federal government shutdown could cause delays in the country’s already severely backlogged immigration court that will take years to sort through, the Associated Press is reporting. |
| Over 86,000 immigration court hearings were canceled during the standoff, the biggest number in California, followed by Texas and New York, according to an estimate from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. It estimates the courts have more than 800,000 pending cases overall. | Over 86,000 immigration court hearings were canceled during the standoff, the biggest number in California, followed by Texas and New York, according to an estimate from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. It estimates the courts have more than 800,000 pending cases overall. |
| The shutdown over President Donald Trump’s demand for funding for a border wall to keep out migrants has only added to the delays in the system, where cases can already take years to be resolved, said Jennifer Williams, deputy attorney in charge of the immigration law unit at Legal Aid in New York City. | The shutdown over President Donald Trump’s demand for funding for a border wall to keep out migrants has only added to the delays in the system, where cases can already take years to be resolved, said Jennifer Williams, deputy attorney in charge of the immigration law unit at Legal Aid in New York City. |
| “They’re going to be playing catch-up for years,” she said. | “They’re going to be playing catch-up for years,” she said. |
| The shutdown did not affect hearings for immigrants being held in immigration detention. It also had no bearing on applications for green cards and U.S. citizenship, which are handled by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and are funded by filing fees. | The shutdown did not affect hearings for immigrants being held in immigration detention. It also had no bearing on applications for green cards and U.S. citizenship, which are handled by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and are funded by filing fees. |
| The cancellations were bad news for the many asylum applicants who have been waiting years to win approval so that they can bring loved ones to this country. It could be years before they are given new court dates, immigration attorneys said. | The cancellations were bad news for the many asylum applicants who have been waiting years to win approval so that they can bring loved ones to this country. It could be years before they are given new court dates, immigration attorneys said. |
| But for those with weak asylum cases, the canceled hearings could be a good thing, enabling them to keep on living in the U.S. and fend off deportation for now. | But for those with weak asylum cases, the canceled hearings could be a good thing, enabling them to keep on living in the U.S. and fend off deportation for now. |
| And he accepts! (And no “madame” speaker this time) pic.twitter.com/euE3o2ep0S | And he accepts! (And no “madame” speaker this time) pic.twitter.com/euE3o2ep0S |
| Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former personal lawyer, has agreed to testify behind closed doors before the House Intelligence Committee next month, the Associated Press is reporting. | Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former personal lawyer, has agreed to testify behind closed doors before the House Intelligence Committee next month, the Associated Press is reporting. |
| House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff of California announced that Cohen would testify before the intelligence panel on February 8. Cohen was initially scheduled to appear in an open hearing before the House Oversight Committee one day earlier, but he abruptly announced last week he was postponing his scheduled congressional testimony, citing “ongoing threats against his family” from Trump and the President’s attorney, Rudy Giuliani. | House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff of California announced that Cohen would testify before the intelligence panel on February 8. Cohen was initially scheduled to appear in an open hearing before the House Oversight Committee one day earlier, but he abruptly announced last week he was postponing his scheduled congressional testimony, citing “ongoing threats against his family” from Trump and the President’s attorney, Rudy Giuliani. |
| Cohen has also been subpoenaed to appear in mid-February before the Senate Intelligence Committee, and the committee is in touch with Cohen’s legal team about that appearance, too. | Cohen has also been subpoenaed to appear in mid-February before the Senate Intelligence Committee, and the committee is in touch with Cohen’s legal team about that appearance, too. |
| “We will continue to work with Mr. Cohen and law enforcement in order to protect Mr. Cohen and his family,” Schiff said in a statement, in which he thanked Cohen for agreeing to talk to the intelligence panel voluntarily. | “We will continue to work with Mr. Cohen and law enforcement in order to protect Mr. Cohen and his family,” Schiff said in a statement, in which he thanked Cohen for agreeing to talk to the intelligence panel voluntarily. |
| More from the Associated Press on the Mueller investigation: | More from the Associated Press on the Mueller investigation: |
| Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker says the special counsel’s Russia investigation is “close to being completed.” | Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker says the special counsel’s Russia investigation is “close to being completed.” |
| Whitaker made the comment Monday during an unrelated news conference at the Justice Department in Washington. | Whitaker made the comment Monday during an unrelated news conference at the Justice Department in Washington. |
| He says he’s been “fully briefed” on the special counsel’s investigation. He took over control overseeing the probe after Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigned at the president’s request in November. | He says he’s been “fully briefed” on the special counsel’s investigation. He took over control overseeing the probe after Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigned at the president’s request in November. |
| Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign to sway the 2016 presidential election. Whitaker says he hopes to receive Mueller’s report as soon as possible. | Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign to sway the 2016 presidential election. Whitaker says he hopes to receive Mueller’s report as soon as possible. |
| Donald Trump has nominated William Barr to serve as the next attorney general. His confirmation hearing was held earlier this month and he’s awaiting a confirmation vote in the Senate. | Donald Trump has nominated William Barr to serve as the next attorney general. His confirmation hearing was held earlier this month and he’s awaiting a confirmation vote in the Senate. |
| Paul Manafort’s Feb. 8 sentencing was postponed Monday, Reuters is reporting, after prosecutors for the special counsel’s office accused President Trump’s former campaign chairman of breaching his plea agreement in a parallel case in Washington. | Paul Manafort’s Feb. 8 sentencing was postponed Monday, Reuters is reporting, after prosecutors for the special counsel’s office accused President Trump’s former campaign chairman of breaching his plea agreement in a parallel case in Washington. |
| Judge T.S. Ellis in the Eastern District of Virginia said in a court order he wanted to delay the sentencing until the other judge ruled on whether Manafort had knowingly lied to investigators in breach of his plea deal, noting that such a decision “may have some effect on the sentencing decision in this case.” | Judge T.S. Ellis in the Eastern District of Virginia said in a court order he wanted to delay the sentencing until the other judge ruled on whether Manafort had knowingly lied to investigators in breach of his plea deal, noting that such a decision “may have some effect on the sentencing decision in this case.” |
| The Trump administration announced sanctions against Venezuela’s state-owned oil giant. The sanctions are meant to help punish “those responsible for Venezuela’s tragic decline”, the US treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin, told reporters at a White House briefing today. | The Trump administration announced sanctions against Venezuela’s state-owned oil giant. The sanctions are meant to help punish “those responsible for Venezuela’s tragic decline”, the US treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin, told reporters at a White House briefing today. |
| The hope is that the sanctions would boost Juan Guaidó, the opposition leader who last week declared himself interim president and was recognized by the United States. | The hope is that the sanctions would boost Juan Guaidó, the opposition leader who last week declared himself interim president and was recognized by the United States. |
| Referring to the situation in Venezuela, National Security Adviser John Bolton said at the same briefing that “the president has made it clear that all options are on the table.” The notes scrawled on his notepad illustrated just what those options could be. | Referring to the situation in Venezuela, National Security Adviser John Bolton said at the same briefing that “the president has made it clear that all options are on the table.” The notes scrawled on his notepad illustrated just what those options could be. |
| So this notepad that National Security Advisor John Bolton was holding today at the White House briefing on Venezuela says:"Afghanistan -> Welcome the Talks. 5,000 troops to Colombia."If confirmed this would be a pretty terrible OPSEC breach.https://t.co/KS0Issfvps pic.twitter.com/IOrSprG567 | So this notepad that National Security Advisor John Bolton was holding today at the White House briefing on Venezuela says:"Afghanistan -> Welcome the Talks. 5,000 troops to Colombia."If confirmed this would be a pretty terrible OPSEC breach.https://t.co/KS0Issfvps pic.twitter.com/IOrSprG567 |
| JUST IN: Acting AG Whitaker on the Russia investigation: “The investigation is, I think, close to being completed, and I hope that we can get the report from [Special Counsel] Mueller as soon as we -- as possible.” pic.twitter.com/4fTXIixhy2 | JUST IN: Acting AG Whitaker on the Russia investigation: “The investigation is, I think, close to being completed, and I hope that we can get the report from [Special Counsel] Mueller as soon as we -- as possible.” pic.twitter.com/4fTXIixhy2 |
| Hey all, Vivian Ho on the West Coast taking over for Ben Jacobs. Stay tuned for more. | Hey all, Vivian Ho on the West Coast taking over for Ben Jacobs. Stay tuned for more. |
| Nancy Pelosi has invited Donald Trump to the Capitol to give the State of the Union yet again | Nancy Pelosi has invited Donald Trump to the Capitol to give the State of the Union yet again |
| Sarah Sanders held the first White House press briefing of the year | Sarah Sanders held the first White House press briefing of the year |
| A new estimate from the Congressional Budget Office posits that the government shutdown cost the U.S. economy $11 billion. | A new estimate from the Congressional Budget Office posits that the government shutdown cost the U.S. economy $11 billion. |
| A longtime top Obama aide has signed on with Howard Schultz’s potential third party bid for the White House. | A longtime top Obama aide has signed on with Howard Schultz’s potential third party bid for the White House. |
| NEWS: Former Obama WH adviser Bill Burton is joining Howard Schultz’s team as a top aide and communications strategist, per two people familiar with the hire. Burton was unavail for comment, Schultz spokes declined to comment. | NEWS: Former Obama WH adviser Bill Burton is joining Howard Schultz’s team as a top aide and communications strategist, per two people familiar with the hire. Burton was unavail for comment, Schultz spokes declined to comment. |
| Nancy Pelosi has just invited Trump to deliver the speech on February 5. | Nancy Pelosi has just invited Trump to deliver the speech on February 5. |
| NEWS: Speaker Pelosi has invited President Trump to give #SOTU address on February 5, 2019 in the House Chamber. pic.twitter.com/5C4m0b4gAc | NEWS: Speaker Pelosi has invited President Trump to give #SOTU address on February 5, 2019 in the House Chamber. pic.twitter.com/5C4m0b4gAc |
| Sarah Sanders says “the charges in the indictment against [Roger] Stone have nothing to do with the president.” | Sarah Sanders says “the charges in the indictment against [Roger] Stone have nothing to do with the president.” |
| Sanders doesn’t have any information about whether Trump might pardon Roger Stone and won’t raise it with him. | Sanders doesn’t have any information about whether Trump might pardon Roger Stone and won’t raise it with him. |
| "I'm not going to get into that at this point," Sarah Sanders says about a possible Roger Stone pardon. Says she's not aware of conversations about that happening. | "I'm not going to get into that at this point," Sarah Sanders says about a possible Roger Stone pardon. Says she's not aware of conversations about that happening. |
| White House press secretary Sarah Sanders accuses Speaker Nancy Pelosi of not acting in good faith over the State of the Union. | White House press secretary Sarah Sanders accuses Speaker Nancy Pelosi of not acting in good faith over the State of the Union. |
| Sanders on Nancy Pelosi and state of the union address: "I certainly don't think she acted in good faith at the front end since she cited security concerns that didn't exist." | Sanders on Nancy Pelosi and state of the union address: "I certainly don't think she acted in good faith at the front end since she cited security concerns that didn't exist." |
| As Sarah Sanders speaks from the podium, worth noting that two of the three cable news networks are not broadcasting her briefing. | As Sarah Sanders speaks from the podium, worth noting that two of the three cable news networks are not broadcasting her briefing. |
| Sarah Sanders is at the White House podium and the only network taking her live is Fox News. CNN & MSNBC both sticking with regular programming. | Sarah Sanders is at the White House podium and the only network taking her live is Fox News. CNN & MSNBC both sticking with regular programming. |