Caroline Cox  //  8/21/18  //  Daily Update

Writing to state and local leaders, President Trump criticized the “Abolish ICE” movement. The Trump Administration has left unfilled thirteen inspector general positions that serve as watchdogs for federal agencies. President Trump criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions for not firing Bruce Ohr, a civil servant who the President has indicated might have his security clearance revoked. The Trump Administration is expected to announce a new proposal to replace the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan. Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh sought to ask President Clinton graphic questions during the Kenneth Starr’s investigation in 1998.

TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS & LITIGATION

The jury in Paul Manafort’s trial for bank and tax fraud continues to deliberate (WaPo, Politico).

A guilty verdict in Paul Manafort’s trial would place President Trump in the difficult political choice of whether to issue a pardon, writes Michael Dorf at Dorf on Law.

President Trump called special counsel Robert Mueller and lawyers on his team “thugs” in continuing complaints about the Russia investigation (WaPo). 

White House Counsel Don McGahn’s legal strategy provides hints about White House’s view of the special counsel investigation, argues Andy Wright at Just Security.

IMMIGRATION

President Trump praised Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a celebration for federal immigration officers despite growing controversy over ICE (WaPo).

• The New York Times reports that President Trump praised one agent for speaking “perfect English.”

Writing to state and local leaders, President Trump criticized the “Abolish ICE” movement (NYT).

CIVIL RIGHTS

A fired White House speechwriter has associations with white nationalists, which critics claim reflects on President Trump’s politics (WaPo).

DEMOCRACY

Former CIA director John Brennan should place a constitutional due process argument at the center of a legal case against President Trump’s revocation of his security clearance, argues Vartan Shadarevian at Just Security.

• The Washington Post reports that President Trump stated he would welcome such a suit from Brennan.
• Jack Goldsmith at Lawfare discusses the “unfortunate trends” that the Brennan controversy exemplifies.
• U.S. Representative Jim Himes asserts that the revocation of Brennan’s security clearance is a threat to national security.

JUSTICE & SAFETY

The Trump Administration’s plans for a U.S. Space Force within the military illustrates the unnecessary militarization of outer space, argues Alice Slater at The Hill.

The Trump Administration has left unfilled thirteen inspector general positions that serve as watchdogs for federal agencies, writes Nina Ullom at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.  

REGULATION

President Trump’s statements at a recent fundraiser indicated that his disapproval of the Federal Reserve’s actions to increase interest rates (WSJ).

The Trump Administration is expected to announce a new proposal to replace the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan (NYT, Legal Planet).

CHECKS AND BALANCES

President Trump criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions for not firing Bruce Ohr, a civil servant who the President has indicated might have his security clearance revoked (NYT).

Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh sought to ask President Clinton graphic questions during the Kenneth Starr’s investigation in 1998 (Politico, NYT, WaPo).

• The Washington Post published a copy of the memo here.

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