Impeach Pres. Trump? Most 2020 Democrats tiptoe past the question
WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders in Congress have argued that impeaching President Donald Trump is a political mistake as the 2020 election nears.
Judge blocks Pres. Trump from building sections of border wall
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge on Friday blocked President Donald Trump from building key sections of his border wall with money secured under his declaration of a national emergency, delivering what may prove a temporary setback on one of his highest priorities.U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam Jr.'s order prevents work from beginning on two of the highest-priority, Pentagon-funded wall projects — one spanning 46 miles (74 kilometers) in New Mexico and another covering 5 miles (8 kilometers) in Yuma, Arizona.While the order applied only to those first-in-line projects, the judge made clear that he felt the challengers were likely to prevail at trial on their argument that the president was wrongly ignoring Congress' wishes by diverting Defense Department money."Congress's 'absolute' control over federal expenditures -- even when that control may frustrate the desires of the Executive Branch regarding initiatives it views as important -- is not a bug in our constitutional system.
Trade impasse: President Trump pledges $16B to farmers; markets slump
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump rolled out another $16 billion in aid for farmers hurt by his trade policies, and financial markets shook Thursday on the growing realization that the U.S. and China are far from settling a bitter, year-long trade dispute.U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said that the first of three payments is likely to be made in July or August and suggested that the U.S. and China were unlikely to have settled their differences by then."The package we're announcing today ensures that farmers do not bear the brunt of unfair retaliatory tariffs imposed by China and other trading partners," Perdue said.The latest bailout comes atop $11 billion in aid President Trump provided farmers last year."We will ensure our farmers get the relief they need and very, very quickly," President Trump said.
3 minutes: President Trump meeting with Dems goes bust in a flash
WASHINGTON — The curtains in the Cabinet Room were drawn.
Wisconsin US Rep. Mark Pocan: 'We must start an impeachment inquiry' against President Trump
MADISON - Wisconsin Democratic U.S. Rep.
President Trump warns Iran not to threaten US or it will face 'end'
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — President Donald Trump warned Iran early on Monday not to threaten the United States again or it'll face its "official end," shortly after a rocket landed near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad overnight.Iran's foreign minister quickly responded in kind on Twitter with his own message: #NeverThreatenAnIranian.President Trump's tweet comes after he seemingly sought to soften his tone on Iran following days of heightened tension sparked by his administration's sudden deployment of bombers and an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf over still-unspecified threats.In the time since, officials in the United Arab Emirates allege four oil tankers sustained damage in a sabotage attack.
Trump administration rejects subpoena for tax returns
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Friday missed another deadline to produce President Donald Trump's tax returns.
President Trump lifts tariffs on Mexico, Canada, delays auto tariffs
WASHINGTON — Bogged down in a sprawling trade dispute with U.S. rival China, President Donald Trump took steps Friday to ease tensions with America's allies — lifting import taxes on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum and delaying auto tariffs that would have hurt Japan and Europe.By removing the metals tariffs on Canada and Mexico, President Trump cleared a key roadblock to a North American trade pact his team negotiated last year.
President Trump: My plan will favor 'brilliant' immigrants
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump says the immigration plan he's proposing would prioritize "totally brilliant" immigrants.President Trump on Thursday laid out a merit-based plan that would give preferential treatment to high-skilled workers.
Connecticut man accused of threatening to kill Pres. Trump
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A Connecticut man has been indicted on charges that he threatened to kill President Donald Trump and sent letters he claimed contained anthrax.Gary Joseph Gravelle of New Haven faces charges including conveying false information about an explosive and threats against the president.Authorities say 51-year-old Gravelle last year sent letters addressed to Pres.
Without key players Scott Walker and Paul Ryan, Wisconsin GOP plots rebuild for 2020
MADISON, Wis. — Republicans determined to deliver Wisconsin for President Donald Trump next year will be doing it with a party working to rebuild after the departure of its two biggest stars and a rough midterm election that sent it reeling.The Wisconsin GOP heads into its state convention that starts Friday with a plan that depends on rebuilding from the ground up after former House Speaker Paul Ryan retired and Gov.
House Democrat issues subpoenas for President Trump's tax returns
WASHINGTON — A top House Democrat has issued subpoenas for six years of President Donald Trump's tax returns, giving Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig a deadline of next Friday to deliver them.Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal issued the subpoenas Friday, days after Mnuchin refused to comply with demands to turn over Pres.
Pres. Trump invokes executive privilege over unredacted Mueller report, subpoenaed materials
WASHINGTON — The White House invoked executive privilege Wednesday, claiming the right to block lawmakers from the full report from special counsel Robert Mueller on his Trump-Russia probe and escalating the battle between President Donald Trump and Congress.The administration's decision was announced just as the House Judiciary Committee was gaveling in to consider holding Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress over failure to release the full report.Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York declared the action by Trump's Justice Department was a clear new sign of the president's "blanket defiance" of Congress' constitutional rights. "Every day we learn of new efforts by this administration to stonewall Congress," Nadler said. "This is unprecedented."White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the action was rather a response to the "blatant abuse of power" by Democratic Rep.
Report: President Trump in 1985-94 claimed $1.17 billion business loss
WASHINGTON — The New York Times reported Tuesday that President Donald Trump's businesses lost more than $1 billion from 1985 to 1994, based on tax information the newspaper acquired.The Times said it has acquired printouts from the future president's official IRS tax transcripts, including figures from his federal tax form.The newspaper said President Trump reported business losses of $46.1 million in 1985, and a total of $1.17 billion in losses for the 10-year period.After comparing Trump's information with that of other "high-income earners," the Times concluded that President Trump "appears to have lost more money than nearly any other individual American taxpayer." Because of his business losses, the newspaper reported, President Trump did not pay income taxes for eight of the 10 years.The House Ways and Means Committee has asked the IRS to provide President Trump's personal and business returns for 2013 through 2018.
President Trump awards Medal of Freedom to long-time friend Tiger Woods
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump has awarded golfer Tiger Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.President Trump described Woods on Monday as a "true legend, an extraordinary athlete who has transformed golf and achieved new levels of dominance."President Trump described the litany of victories that Woods has obtained during his remarkable career and the injuries that almost derailed it.Woods, 43, won his fifth Masters title last month, overcoming personal and professional adversity to once more claim the green jacket.Woods became emotional as he spoke of his parents and thanked those who have supported him over the years, saying, "You've seen the good and bad, the highs and lows, and I would not be in this position without all of your help."
Michael Cohen, Pres. Trump's former lawyer, arrives at prison to serve 3-year sentence
NEW YORK — Michael Cohen, the former lawyer, media attack dog and fixer for President Donald Trump, said Monday there "remains much to be told" as he heads to prison to begin a three-year prison sentence for crimes including campaign finance violations related to hush-money payments made on President Trump's behalf.Cohen walked into the Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville around 11:45 a.m. A minimum-security prison camp at the prison, in the countryside 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of New York City, has become a haven for white-collar criminals."There still remains much to be told and I look forward to the day when I can share the truth," Cohen told a crush of media outside his New York City apartment before getting into a waiting Cadillac Escalade for the ride to prison.In a shot at President Trump, he said he hoped when he is released, "the country will be in a place without xenophobia, injustice and lies at the helm."Cohen appeared to read from a prepared statement and didn't answer shouted questions.
Pres. Trump taps ex-Obama border patrol chief as ICE Director
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is tapping a former border patrol chief who served in the Obama administration to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement.President Trump tweeted Sunday that Mark Morgan "will be joining the Trump Administration as the head of our hard working men and women of ICE." He added: "Mark is a true believer and American Patriot.
Joe Biden: Pres. Trump, Republicans allowing Jim Crow to return
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Former Vice President Joe Biden charged Saturday that Jim Crow is "sneaking back in" as he emphasized voting rights at his first presidential campaign stop in South Carolina, where black voters play a key role in the South's first presidential primary.In criticizing Republican efforts to adopt more stringent voting rules, including identification requirements and curtailing early voting hours, Biden recalled the racial segregation laws of the past."You've got Jim Crow sneaking back in," he said, referring to the era before the civil rights movement. "You know what happens when you have an equal right to vote?
Pres. Trump attacks social media companies after Facebook bans
STERLING, Va. — President Donald Trump criticized social media companies after Facebook banned a number of extremist figures, declaring that he was "monitoring and watching, closely!!"President Trump, who tweeted and re-tweeted complaints Friday and Saturday, said he would "monitor the censorship of AMERICAN CITIZENS on social media platforms. " He has previously asserted that social media companies exhibit bias against conservatives, something the companies have rejected as untrue.
Fines, jail time? Democrats digging in as Pres. Trump resists oversight
WASHINGTON — They're talking about jailing people at the Capitol.