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Pelosi delays sending articles of impeachment against Trump – live Trump ex-adviser Michael Flynn should face up to six months in prison, say prosecutors – live
(32 minutes later)
House to convene for the first time of the new year and a first true signal of when speaker might advance impeachment issue Sentencing for ex-national security adviser set for 28 January after federal judge rejected claim he was tricked into pleading guilty
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 Jan. 28 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.Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell reportedly plans to advance a set of rules for the looming impeachment trial without Democratic support.
Politico reports: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.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.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.”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: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.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.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.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.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 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.“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.”“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.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.”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.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.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.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi is reportedly staying mum on when she might transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate, casting even more confusion over the timeline for the eventual trial.
Republican senator Ron Johnson, who has traveled to Ukraine and previously spoken to officials who became key players in the impeachment inquiry, said he does not believe John Bolton should testify in a Senate trial.
“Having been involved, having spoken with John Bolton myself on this issue, I don’t know what additional information he might have,” Johnson said of Trump’s former national security adviser, according to the Daily Beast. “I don’t think it’d be particularly revealing.”
Other Republican senators, such as Marco Rubio, have not weighed in on the potential value of Bolton’s testimony, instead arguing that the Senate impeachment trial should be based on the information gathered by the House.
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the US would only pursue military measures that are “consistent with the international rule of law,” after Trump raised the possibility of hitting cultural sites in Iran.
Pompeo dismissed repeated questions about whether the president was still considering striking cultural sites, instead emphasizing that “every action” the US takes would comport with international law.
The secretary of state then argued the Ayatollah posed the highest threat to Iranian culture. “The real risk to Persian culture does not come from the Unites States of America,” Pompeo said.
The cabinet secretary offered no details on what “imminent” threat Iranian general Qassem Suleimani posed before he was killed in a US drone strike. “If you’re looking for imminence, you need look no further than the days that led up to the strike,” Pompeo said.
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo laughed off the idea that Iranian general Qassem Suleimani was in Baghdad for a diplomatic mission when he was killed in a US drone strike, as Iranian and Iraqi officials have claimed.
“Anyone here believe that?” Pompeo asked the reporters gathered at the State Department.
Pompeo dismissed the idea of Suleimani conducting a peace mission as “Iranian propaganda.”
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said escalating tensions between the US and Iran did not contribute to his decision not to enter the Senate race in his home state of Kansas.
The former congressman has repeatedly said he would stay in his cabinet role as long as Trump wanted him to, but Pompeo has also made repeated trips to Kansas since taking over the state department, leading to speculation about his plans.
But Pompeo reportedly informed Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell yesterday that he had decided against launching a campaign.
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo is addressing reporters at the State Department, touching on the everything from the protests in Hong Kong to the situation in Venezuela.
The cabinet secretary also made a quick mention of Iran at the beginning of his remarks, accusing Tehran of “actively working to undermine the peace process” in Afghanistan.
For more updates on Pompeo’s remarks, follow the Guardian’s live blog on the fallout from the Suleimani strike.
US forces across the Middle East are reportedly on high alert, monitoring for potential Iranian drone strikes after the killing of general Qassem Suleimani.
CNN reports:
Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren is out with a new plan to overhaul the 2005 bankruptcy law in order to help families who are looking for a way out of crushing debt.
“Thanks in part to the 2005 bankruptcy bill, our current system makes it far too hard for people in need to start the bankruptcy process so they can get back on their feet,” Warren wrote in a Medium post outlining her proposal. “My plan streamlines the process, reduces costs, and gives people more flexibility in bankruptcy to find solutions that match their financial problems.”
The 2005 law was championed by then-senator Joe Biden, now a frontrunner in the Democratic presidential primary, so Warren’s proposal implicitly criticizes her rival for his legislative record.
In the Medium post, Warren notes she served on a blue-ribbon panel in the 1990’s to review US bankruptcy laws and later fought against the passage of the 2005 law, which the credit-card industry lobbied for. “I lost that fight in 2005, and working families paid the price,” Warren wrote. “But I didn’t stop fighting to hold the financial industry accountable and to help American families.”
Warren’s plan would make it easier to file for bankruptcy, end rules making it difficult to discharge student loans and address racial and gender disparities in the bankruptcy system.
The State Department has just announced secretary of state Mike Pompeo will address reporters at 10 a.m. ET, which is about 45 minutes from now.
Pompeo’s appearance comes as questions continue to swirl about what “imminent” threat Iranian general Qassem Suleimani allegedly presented before being killed in a US drone strike.
The secretary of state may also be asked about yesterday’s confusion between the US military and the Pentagon regarding a draft memo indicating American troops were withdrawing from Iraq. Secretary of defense Mark Esper quickly disputed the accuracy of the memo, saying the US had no intention of leaving Iraq.
On top of all that foreign-policy chaos, reports emerged yesterday that Pompeo has decided to pass on a potential Senate run in his home state of Kansas.
Good morning, live blog readers!
The House of Representatives will convene for the first time of the new year today, and all eyes are on speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has not yet transmitted the articles of impeachment against Donald Trump that her chamber passed last month.
Considering Congress recessed for the holidays shortly after the articles were approved, this week will be the first true signal of when Pelosi might advance the issue of impeachment to the Senate.
Close observers of Capitol Hill had widely speculated Pelosi would transmit the articles at some point this week, but the calculus has shifted since John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, said yesterday that he would testify in a Senate trial if subpoenaed.
Now Democrats are weighing how to best leverage that news to try to influence the parameters of the Senate trial, but majority leader Mitch McConnell has made clear he has no intention of allowing the articles’ delay to affect his handling of impeachment.
Pelosi now has to weigh the potential benefit of gaining leverage with the cost of perpetually delaying a trial that will almost certainly end in the president’s acquittal. This week will likely provide many clues on how the speaker plans to proceed.
Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on today:
Trump will welcome Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the White House.
Elizabeth Warren wild hold a Brooklyn event tonight alongside former Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro, who endorsed her yesterday.
The burial of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike last week, has been postponed, due to a stampede during his funeral procession.
The blog will have much more coming up, so stay tuned.