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Trump ex-adviser Michael Flynn should face up to six months in prison, say prosecutors – live Trump says strike against 'monster' Suleimani was retaliation – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Sentencing for ex-national security adviser set for 28 January after federal judge rejected claim he was tricked into pleading guilty US president’s claim about the strike that killed the Iranian general contrasts with officials who said it was meant to prevent attack
Although Trump said he would obey international laws forbidding attacks on cultural sites, the president seemed to complain about the necessity for such restraint.
“They kill our people, they blow up our people and then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions,” Trump told reporters gathered in the Oval Office.
“But I’m OK with it. It’s OK with me. I will say this, if Iran does anything that they shouldn’t be doing, they’re going to be suffering the consequences and very strongly.”
Trump initially said the strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Suleimani was “retaliation,” but the president then claimed the strike was carried out due to an imminent threat on Americans, echoing senior officials.
“We saved a lot of lives by terminating his life, a lot of lives were saved,” Trump said. “They were planning something and you’re going to be hearing about it or at least various people in Congress are going to be hearing about it tomorrow.”
Defense officials have so far dodged questions about the specific nature of the threat Suleimani posed.
Trump appeared to back off of his earlier threat to target Iranian cultural sites, which would violate international law.
“If that’s what the law is, I like to obey the law,” the president told reporters gathered in the Oval Office.
Senior administration officials, including secretary of state Mike Pompeo and defense secretary Mark Esper, have vowed that any American military effort would comply with international laws of warfare.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office alongside the Greek prime minister, Trump claimed the US strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Suleimani was “retaliation.”
“He was a monster. And he’s no longer a monster. He’s dead,” Trump said, according to the White House pool report.
But senior US officials have previously said the strike was meant to prevent an “imminent” attack on Americans, although they have refused to provide further details on the threat.
While speaking to reporters, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell also said Trump’s threat to strike Iranian cultural sites was “not appropirate,” marking a rare rebuke from the Republican leader.
Senior officials, including secretary of state Mike Pompeo and defense secretary Mark Esper, have tried to downplay Trump’s threat by emphasizing they would act within the confines of international law, which would obviously rule out striking cultural sites.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell informed his Republican caucus about the planned rules for an eventual impeachment trial during a meeting today.Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell informed his Republican caucus about the planned rules for an eventual impeachment trial during a meeting today.
The New York Times reports:The New York Times reports:
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has just confirmed earlier reports that he has the votes to set rules for the looming impeachment trial without Democratic support.Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has just confirmed earlier reports that he has the votes to set rules for the looming impeachment trial without Democratic support.
The Kentucky Republican has said he intends to follow the same framework established during Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial in 1999.The Kentucky Republican has said he intends to follow the same framework established during Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial in 1999.
Trump said in a tweet that he had a “very good meeting” with Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi deputy defense minister and brother of the crown prince, after the foreign official shared a photo of the pair in the Oval Office yesterday.Trump said in a tweet that he had a “very good meeting” with Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi deputy defense minister and brother of the crown prince, after the foreign official shared a photo of the pair in the Oval Office yesterday.
The meeting did not appear on Trump’s official schedule yesterday, and the White House did not release a readout, as is standard procedure.The meeting did not appear on Trump’s official schedule yesterday, and the White House did not release a readout, as is standard procedure.
In a statement, the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association critcized the president and his team for not disclosing the meeting sooner:In a statement, the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association critcized the president and his team for not disclosing the meeting sooner:
Following a campaign event in New York City this morning, Democratic 2020 candidate Joe Biden slammed Donald Trump’s assassination of Iran’s top general, Qassem Suleimani, last week, Joanna Walters writes.Following a campaign event in New York City this morning, Democratic 2020 candidate Joe Biden slammed Donald Trump’s assassination of Iran’s top general, Qassem Suleimani, last week, Joanna Walters writes.
The former US vice president lamented the lack of “level-headed words” from the Trump administration to explain the aggressive action, nor signals that would “take us off the path of conflict”.The former US vice president lamented the lack of “level-headed words” from the Trump administration to explain the aggressive action, nor signals that would “take us off the path of conflict”.
“All we’ve heard are shifting explanations, evasive answers and repeated assertions of an imminent threat, without the necessary evidence to support that conclusion,” Biden added.“All we’ve heard are shifting explanations, evasive answers and repeated assertions of an imminent threat, without the necessary evidence to support that conclusion,” Biden added.
Then he decried the president’s adherence to the truthThen he decried the president’s adherence to the truth
“This is a president with a history of lying about virtually everything and has destroyed his own credibility as well as that of the US on the global stage...no-one around the world seems to be taking his word for it.”“This is a president with a history of lying about virtually everything and has destroyed his own credibility as well as that of the US on the global stage...no-one around the world seems to be taking his word for it.”
Here’s where the day stands so far:Here’s where the day stands so far:
Prosecutors recommended 0 to 6 months of prison time for Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in 2017.Prosecutors recommended 0 to 6 months of prison time for Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in 2017.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell reportedly has the votes to adopt rules for the impeachment trial without Democratic support. The Kentucky Republican hopes to model the proceedings on Bill Clinton’s trial.Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell reportedly has the votes to adopt rules for the impeachment trial without Democratic support. The Kentucky Republican hopes to model the proceedings on Bill Clinton’s trial.
Defense secretary Mark Esper said the US is not leaving Iraq after a draft memo from the US military seemed to indicate a withdrawal was imminent. Esper also told CNN, “We are not looking to start a war with Iran, but we are prepared to finish one.”Defense secretary Mark Esper said the US is not leaving Iraq after a draft memo from the US military seemed to indicate a withdrawal was imminent. Esper also told CNN, “We are not looking to start a war with Iran, but we are prepared to finish one.”
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
In his CNN interview, secretary of defense Mark Esper also said the “imminent” threat that Iranian general Qassem Suleimani posed to Americans could be measured in days.In his CNN interview, secretary of defense Mark Esper also said the “imminent” threat that Iranian general Qassem Suleimani posed to Americans could be measured in days.
Trump administration officials have previously dodged questions about the specific threat that Suleimani posed, raising questions about the planning of the attack.Trump administration officials have previously dodged questions about the specific threat that Suleimani posed, raising questions about the planning of the attack.
Speaking to CNN, secretary of defense Mark Esper said the US is not leaving Iraq, after a draft memo from the US military seemed to indicate a withdrawal was imminent.Speaking to CNN, secretary of defense Mark Esper said the US is not leaving Iraq, after a draft memo from the US military seemed to indicate a withdrawal was imminent.
“The United States is not withdrawing from Iraq,” Esper said, saying the US was committed to continuing “the important ‘defeat ISIS’ mission.”“The United States is not withdrawing from Iraq,” Esper said, saying the US was committed to continuing “the important ‘defeat ISIS’ mission.”
The cabinet secretary echoed the president’s comments about not looking to start a war with Iran by killing the country’s top general, Qassem Suleimani.The cabinet secretary echoed the president’s comments about not looking to start a war with Iran by killing the country’s top general, Qassem Suleimani.
“We are not looking to start a war with Iran, but we are prepared to finish one,” Esper said.“We are not looking to start a war with Iran, but we are prepared to finish one,” Esper said.
He also deflected a question about Trump’s threat to strike Iranian cultural sites. “We do not violate the laws of armed conflict,” Esper said.He also deflected a question about Trump’s threat to strike Iranian cultural sites. “We do not violate the laws of armed conflict,” Esper said.
Prosecutors argued Michael Flynn’s aggressive new posture in the case, arguing he was tricked into pleading guilty, should impact the former national security adviser’s sentence.
Federal prosecutors had previously recommended probation for the former Trump administration official because of his “substantial assistance” in several investigations, including special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe.
But Flynn has more recently launched a series of attacks against the FBI and the Justice Department.
The sentencing of Michael Flynn has been set for 28 January after a federal judge rejected the former national security adviser’s claim that he was tricked into pleading guilty to lying to the FBI.
“Regardless of Mr Flynn’s new theories, he pled guilty twice to the crime, and he fails to demonstrate that the disclosure of the requested information would have impacted his decision to plead guilty,” US district court judge Emmet Sullivan wrote in an opinion delivered last month.
The prosecutors overseeing the case against Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser, have recommended zero to six months of incarceration after he pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI.
Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, said leadership had not ruled out the possibility of issuing a subpoena to John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser.
Bolton has said he would testify in a Senate impeachment trial if he were subpoenaed, but it’s unclear how he would respond to a House subpoena.
House Democrats previously decided against subpoenaing Bolton because he signaled he would join a lawsuit seeking a judge’s ruling on whether to comply with a congressional subpoena or White House guidance not to cooperate with the impeachment investigation.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell reportedly plans to advance a set of rules for the looming impeachment trial without Democratic support.
Politico reports:
Appearing at the US Capitol for the first time in 2020, House speaker Nancy Pelosi deflected reporters’ repeated questions about when she might transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
Pelosi has delayed sending the articles in the hope of gaining leverage over the parameters of the Senate trial, but majority leader Mitch McConnell has made it clear he has no intention of allowing the strategy to affect his handling of the trial.
This is a headline that Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg did not need: “Buttigieg Fails To Secure Delegates In Illinois’ Most Diverse Districts.”
HuffPost reports:
Buttigieg has surged to the top of polls in the first caucus state of Iowa, but his struggles to attract support from voters of color have raised questions about his long-term durability in the nominating contest.
Congressman Justin Amash, a former Republican who left the party over his opposition to Trump, criticized Senate Republicans who have argued the eventual impeachment trial should only allow evidence collected by the House.
Marco Rubio and other Republican senators raised this objection after John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, said he would testify in the trial if he were subpoenaed.
It’s still unclear whether Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer can convince four of his Republican colleagues to join the Democratic effort to subpoena Bolton and three other administration officials.
The White House said in a statement that Trump is monitoring the situation in Puerto Rico, where an earthquake this morning left at least one person dead.
“The President has been briefed on the earthquakes that Puerto Rico has experienced over the past month, including the earthquake early this morning,” spokesman Judd Deere said in the statement.
“Administration officials, including FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor, have been in touch with the Governor and her team today, and we will continue to monitor the effects and coordinate with Puerto Rico officials.”
The island has been hit with a series of earthquakes since December 28, but this morning’s 6.4-magnitude quake was the strongest yet.
Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s deputy defense minister, shared a photo from an Oval Office meeting yesterday with Trump, saying the pair discussed “efforts to confront regional and international challenges.”
The meeting did not appear on the president’s public schedule yesterday, and the White House did not offer a readout from the meeting, which came as US-Iranian tensions escalate following the killing of general Qassem Suleimani.
Khalid is the younger brother of the Saudi crown prince and previously served as the country’s ambassador to the US. Khalid was reportedly the person who instructed Jamal Khashoggi to go to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where the dissident journalist was then killed by agents sent by the crown prince.