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| White nationalism a 'persistent, pervasive threat', says FBI chief – live | White nationalism a 'persistent, pervasive threat', says FBI chief – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Michael Cohen is hoping to delay the date he is due to report to prison by offering Congress new information he says he recently discovered, CNN reports. | |
| In a letter released today, his lawyers told legislators that the president’s former attorney found a hard drive containing files they might find useful for their investigation into Trump’s finances. | |
| Per CNN: | |
| They said they hoped Cohen would receive a reduced term and that the May 6 date Cohen is scheduled to report to prison ‘will be substantially postponed while he is fully cooperating with prosecutors and Congress’. | |
| The letter adds, ‘However, with 30 days left before he surrenders to prison, time is no longer a luxury he is capable of’”. | |
| As part of their ongoing inquiry into Trump’s finances, House Democrats are now requesting documents from Capital One, Politico reports. | As part of their ongoing inquiry into Trump’s finances, House Democrats are now requesting documents from Capital One, Politico reports. |
| According to a request made last month from Chairs from the House Oversight and Reform Committee, House Financial Services Committee, and House Intelligence Committee, the finance giant has been asked for details on the president’s revocable trust, the Trump organization, and his other business subsidiaries. | According to a request made last month from Chairs from the House Oversight and Reform Committee, House Financial Services Committee, and House Intelligence Committee, the finance giant has been asked for details on the president’s revocable trust, the Trump organization, and his other business subsidiaries. |
| Capital one representativ Brent M. Timberlake responded to the requests, telling the chairmen that, while the company was preserving the documents, they could not turn them over without a subpoena. | Capital one representativ Brent M. Timberlake responded to the requests, telling the chairmen that, while the company was preserving the documents, they could not turn them over without a subpoena. |
| From Politico: | From Politico: |
| ‘Given the confidentiality obligations we have as a financial institution, including under state and federal law, we respectfully request that any production of materials be made pursuant to a subpoena rather than an informal request,’ Timberlake wrote. | ‘Given the confidentiality obligations we have as a financial institution, including under state and federal law, we respectfully request that any production of materials be made pursuant to a subpoena rather than an informal request,’ Timberlake wrote. |
| In their letter to Capital One CEO Richard D. Fairbank, Cummings, Waters and Schiff said their request was related to their committees’ investigations centering on Trump’s ‘potential foreign conflicts of interest, compliance with the foreign and domestic Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution, and any counterintelligence threats arising from links or coordination between U.S. persons and other foreign entities, including any financial or other compromise or leverage over the president and his business interests’. | In their letter to Capital One CEO Richard D. Fairbank, Cummings, Waters and Schiff said their request was related to their committees’ investigations centering on Trump’s ‘potential foreign conflicts of interest, compliance with the foreign and domestic Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution, and any counterintelligence threats arising from links or coordination between U.S. persons and other foreign entities, including any financial or other compromise or leverage over the president and his business interests’. |
| They specifically named the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., as a ‘focal point’ of their investigation”. | They specifically named the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., as a ‘focal point’ of their investigation”. |
| Gabrielle Canon here, taking over for Adam Gabbatt. | Gabrielle Canon here, taking over for Adam Gabbatt. |
| House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is promising to sue in order to stop Trump from “stealing”, which is how she categorizes the president’s move to move funds from other federal programs to finance his US-Mexico border wall. | House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is promising to sue in order to stop Trump from “stealing”, which is how she categorizes the president’s move to move funds from other federal programs to finance his US-Mexico border wall. |
| This afternoon she announced that the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group voted to authorize the lawsuit, under the grounds that it violates the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution. | This afternoon she announced that the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group voted to authorize the lawsuit, under the grounds that it violates the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution. |
| “The President’s sham emergency declaration and unlawful transfers of funds have undermined our democracy, contravening the vote of the bipartisan Congress, the will of the American people and the letter of the Constitution,” Pelosi wrote in an issued statement. | “The President’s sham emergency declaration and unlawful transfers of funds have undermined our democracy, contravening the vote of the bipartisan Congress, the will of the American people and the letter of the Constitution,” Pelosi wrote in an issued statement. |
| “The House will once again defend our Democracy and our Constitution, this time in the courts. No one is above the law or the Constitution, not even the President.” | “The House will once again defend our Democracy and our Constitution, this time in the courts. No one is above the law or the Constitution, not even the President.” |
| The President’s unlawful transfers of funds violate the Constitution. The House will once again defend our Democracy and our Constitution, this time in the courts. https://t.co/9Fas9D3uQ3 pic.twitter.com/XG1Isz7l5S | The President’s unlawful transfers of funds violate the Constitution. The House will once again defend our Democracy and our Constitution, this time in the courts. https://t.co/9Fas9D3uQ3 pic.twitter.com/XG1Isz7l5S |
| •FBI director Christopher Wray warned that white nationalism is a “persistent, pervasive threat”, breaking with Donald Trump’s comments in the wake of the New Zealand terror attacks. “The danger. I think, of white supremacists, violent extremism or another kind of extremism is of course significant,” Wray said. Trump played down the threat of white nationalism after a white nationalist murdered 50 people in Christchurch, New Zealand in March. | •FBI director Christopher Wray warned that white nationalism is a “persistent, pervasive threat”, breaking with Donald Trump’s comments in the wake of the New Zealand terror attacks. “The danger. I think, of white supremacists, violent extremism or another kind of extremism is of course significant,” Wray said. Trump played down the threat of white nationalism after a white nationalist murdered 50 people in Christchurch, New Zealand in March. |
| •Congress has passed a resolution to end US military assistance for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen, in an unprecedented attempt to curtail the president’s power. The House voted 247 to 175 to send the resolution to the president’s desk, where it is likely to be met with a veto. The Senate passed the resolution last month, with seven Republicans breaking rank to support the resolution. | •Congress has passed a resolution to end US military assistance for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen, in an unprecedented attempt to curtail the president’s power. The House voted 247 to 175 to send the resolution to the president’s desk, where it is likely to be met with a veto. The Senate passed the resolution last month, with seven Republicans breaking rank to support the resolution. |
| •Trump lashed out over claims the Mueller report is more damaging than attorney general Bill Barr revealed. The New York Times cited several of Mueller’s investigators as saying Barr’s four page summary, released last week, failed to accurately portray their findings. Trump, without foundation, claimed the Times “had no legitimate sources” for the report – a deflection he has previously used regarding negative press. | •Trump lashed out over claims the Mueller report is more damaging than attorney general Bill Barr revealed. The New York Times cited several of Mueller’s investigators as saying Barr’s four page summary, released last week, failed to accurately portray their findings. Trump, without foundation, claimed the Times “had no legitimate sources” for the report – a deflection he has previously used regarding negative press. |
| •Three more women have said Joe Biden physical behavior made them feel uncomfortable. The women, one of whom was a White House intern when Biden was vice-president, recounted their stories to the Washington Post. Seven women have now said Biden’s actions towards them were inappropriate. On Wednesday Biden said he would be “more mindful about respecting personal space in the future”. | •Three more women have said Joe Biden physical behavior made them feel uncomfortable. The women, one of whom was a White House intern when Biden was vice-president, recounted their stories to the Washington Post. Seven women have now said Biden’s actions towards them were inappropriate. On Wednesday Biden said he would be “more mindful about respecting personal space in the future”. |
| Lindsay Graham has joined those calling for Donald Trump to release his tax returns, in an extremely rare act of defiance towards the president. | Lindsay Graham has joined those calling for Donald Trump to release his tax returns, in an extremely rare act of defiance towards the president. |
| “I think you should release your tax returns if you’re running for president in 2020,” Graham told reporters on Thursday, | “I think you should release your tax returns if you’re running for president in 2020,” Graham told reporters on Thursday, |
| “I think everybody should,” Graham said. “That’s just my view, it’d be good for the country.” | “I think everybody should,” Graham said. “That’s just my view, it’d be good for the country.” |
| House Democrats formally demanded the past six years of Trump’s tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service this morning. | House Democrats formally demanded the past six years of Trump’s tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service this morning. |
| Graham called Trump a “race-baiting xenophobic bigot” during the 2016 presidential campaign, but appears to have changed his mind since then, and was one of relatively few to support Trump’s national emergency declaration over the border wall. | Graham called Trump a “race-baiting xenophobic bigot” during the 2016 presidential campaign, but appears to have changed his mind since then, and was one of relatively few to support Trump’s national emergency declaration over the border wall. |
| FBI director Christopher Wray has said white nationalism is a “persistent, pervasive threat” – breaking with Donald Trump’s comments in the wake of the New Zealand terror attacks. | FBI director Christopher Wray has said white nationalism is a “persistent, pervasive threat” – breaking with Donald Trump’s comments in the wake of the New Zealand terror attacks. |
| “The danger. I think, of white supremacists, violent extremism or another kind of extremism is of course significant,” Wray said during a House appropriations committee hearing on Thursday. | “The danger. I think, of white supremacists, violent extremism or another kind of extremism is of course significant,” Wray said during a House appropriations committee hearing on Thursday. |
| “We assess that it is a persistent, pervasive threat. We tackle it both through our joint terrorism task forces on the domestic terrorism side as well as through our civil rights program on the civil side through hate crime enforcement.” | “We assess that it is a persistent, pervasive threat. We tackle it both through our joint terrorism task forces on the domestic terrorism side as well as through our civil rights program on the civil side through hate crime enforcement.” |
| After a white nationalist murdered 50 people in Christchurch, New Zealand in March, Trump played down the threat of white nationalism. | After a white nationalist murdered 50 people in Christchurch, New Zealand in March, Trump played down the threat of white nationalism. |
| “I don’t really,” Trump said when he was asked if white nationalism was growing. “I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems, I guess.” | “I don’t really,” Trump said when he was asked if white nationalism was growing. “I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems, I guess.” |
| The Queer Eye crew are on Capitol Hill today. They seem to be enjoying themselves: | The Queer Eye crew are on Capitol Hill today. They seem to be enjoying themselves: |
| We have the most diverse American congress ever, I’m lifted up in seeing that a United States that values Equality & protection for all is currently fighting for that. We’re making it rain pantsuits & equality in 2020. pic.twitter.com/k7J2cCpXep | We have the most diverse American congress ever, I’m lifted up in seeing that a United States that values Equality & protection for all is currently fighting for that. We’re making it rain pantsuits & equality in 2020. pic.twitter.com/k7J2cCpXep |
| THE FUTURE IS FEMALE.@SpeakerPelosi @AOC pic.twitter.com/m2Mtyc9ZVx | THE FUTURE IS FEMALE.@SpeakerPelosi @AOC pic.twitter.com/m2Mtyc9ZVx |
| The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell to its lowest level since late 1969, Associated Press is reporting. | The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell to its lowest level since late 1969, Associated Press is reporting. |
| “Weekly applications for jobless aid fell 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 202,000, the Labor department said Thursday. That is the lowest since the week of December 6 1969,” AP said. | “Weekly applications for jobless aid fell 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 202,000, the Labor department said Thursday. That is the lowest since the week of December 6 1969,” AP said. |
| It’s some good news even as other data, such as weak consumer and business spending, and sluggish growth overseas, point to slower US growth this year. | It’s some good news even as other data, such as weak consumer and business spending, and sluggish growth overseas, point to slower US growth this year. |
| The jobs report for March is released tomorrow, which will be another indicator of how the US economy is faring. February’s report was disappointing, with the US adding just 20,000 jobs, well below the 180,000 economists had expected. | The jobs report for March is released tomorrow, which will be another indicator of how the US economy is faring. February’s report was disappointing, with the US adding just 20,000 jobs, well below the 180,000 economists had expected. |
| Donald Trump has scrapped his stated plan to close the border with Mexico, saying instead he would give the country a “one-year warning”. | Donald Trump has scrapped his stated plan to close the border with Mexico, saying instead he would give the country a “one-year warning”. |
| Six days ago Trump said he would close the border this week, unless Mexico “immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States through our southern border”. | Six days ago Trump said he would close the border this week, unless Mexico “immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States through our southern border”. |
| But speaking to reporters this afternoon Trump backtracked on his border closure threat, which had been criticized by advisers and business leaders. | But speaking to reporters this afternoon Trump backtracked on his border closure threat, which had been criticized by advisers and business leaders. |
| Trump said: | Trump said: |
| We’re going to give them a one-year warning, and if the drugs don’t stop or largely stop, we’re going to put tariffs on Mexico and products, particularly cars. | We’re going to give them a one-year warning, and if the drugs don’t stop or largely stop, we’re going to put tariffs on Mexico and products, particularly cars. |
| [...] | [...] |
| And if that doesn’t stop the drugs, we close the border. | And if that doesn’t stop the drugs, we close the border. |
| The president of the United States, tweeting a meme that was doing the rounds this morning: | The president of the United States, tweeting a meme that was doing the rounds this morning: |
| WELCOME BACK JOE! pic.twitter.com/b2NbBSX3sx | WELCOME BACK JOE! pic.twitter.com/b2NbBSX3sx |
| Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t remember Trump ever posting about this: | Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t remember Trump ever posting about this: |
| The Department of Justice has released a statement defending attorney general Bill Barr’s summary of the Mueller report, after the New York Times said several of Mueller’s investigators were unhappy with Barr’s synopsis. | The Department of Justice has released a statement defending attorney general Bill Barr’s summary of the Mueller report, after the New York Times said several of Mueller’s investigators were unhappy with Barr’s synopsis. |
| New from Department of Justice on Barr letter and Mueller report. pic.twitter.com/XJqLydVDtS | New from Department of Justice on Barr letter and Mueller report. pic.twitter.com/XJqLydVDtS |
| In a statement department of justice spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said the report could not be released as “every page” was marked as containing potentially damaging information. | In a statement department of justice spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said the report could not be released as “every page” was marked as containing potentially damaging information. |
| Kupec said: | Kupec said: |
| Given the extraordinary public interest in the matter, the attorney general decided to release the report’s bottom-line findings and his conclusions immediately – without attempting to summarize the report – with the understanding the report itself would be released after the redaction process. | Given the extraordinary public interest in the matter, the attorney general decided to release the report’s bottom-line findings and his conclusions immediately – without attempting to summarize the report – with the understanding the report itself would be released after the redaction process. |
| She added that the DoJ is working with the special counsel on “appropriate redactions to the report so that it can released to Congress and the public”. | She added that the DoJ is working with the special counsel on “appropriate redactions to the report so that it can released to Congress and the public”. |
| Trump is meeting China’s vice president at 4pm. Here’s some brief remarks from Trump on trade talks with China, per the White House pool report: | Trump is meeting China’s vice president at 4pm. Here’s some brief remarks from Trump on trade talks with China, per the White House pool report: |
| Trump promised to talk more later on the deal but he voiced optimism that the talks are progressing. “They very much want to make a deal.” | Trump promised to talk more later on the deal but he voiced optimism that the talks are progressing. “They very much want to make a deal.” |
| But [Trump] said: “It has to be a great deal. If it is not a great deal, we’re not doing it.” | But [Trump] said: “It has to be a great deal. If it is not a great deal, we’re not doing it.” |
| He said the talks are “very well along.” And said: “Everything is covered” though “we could have done a quickie” covering fewer things. | He said the talks are “very well along.” And said: “Everything is covered” though “we could have done a quickie” covering fewer things. |
| Vogue takes a look at the dogs, musical tastes, and hobbies of the women running for the Democratic presidential nomination. | Vogue takes a look at the dogs, musical tastes, and hobbies of the women running for the Democratic presidential nomination. |
| The story was prompted by complaints that white male candidates like Beto O’Rourke and Pete Buttigieg are getting more attention for their endearing personal quirks. | The story was prompted by complaints that white male candidates like Beto O’Rourke and Pete Buttigieg are getting more attention for their endearing personal quirks. |
| This tweet basically inspired this story! https://t.co/pw9EJErGJ4 | This tweet basically inspired this story! https://t.co/pw9EJErGJ4 |