Daily Update | August 6, 2018
Nicandro Iannacci, Ian Eppler // 8/6/18 //
In a tweet, President Trump acknowledged that the purpose of the June 9, 2016 meeting between Trump campaign staff and Russians was to gather information on Hillary Clinton. A federal judge upheld a previous ruling that DACA must be restarted, pointing to the Trump administration’s failure to offer a “rational explanation” for ending it. Sworn statements in a class-action lawsuit against a migrant detention center in Virginia allege a pattern of abuse at the facility. President Trump’s hateful rhetoric toward the press may incite violence against them. The United States and Mexico are nearing agreement on revisions to NAFTA. U.S. SOS Mike Pompeo said the United States will fully enforce Iranian sanctions scheduled to go into effect on Monday.
TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS & LITIGATION
In a tweet, President Trump acknowledged that the purpose of the June 9, 2016 meeting between Trump campaign staff and Russians was to gather information on Hillary Clinton, but claimed he did not know about the meeting in advance (NYTimes, Politico, WaPo, WSJ, LATimes).
Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort’s trial continues.
- Manafort’s accountant testified that she knowingly falsified financial records (NYTimes, Politico, WSJ).
- Deep in debt, Manafort may have seen the Trump campaign as a means of reviving his career, report Matt Apuzzo, Eileen Sullivan and Sharon LaFraniere in the New York Times.
- Lydia Wheeler wraps up the first week of the trial in The Hill.
In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the FBI released documents on its relationship with Christopher Steele (The Hill).
- The documents are available here.
IMMIGRATION
A federal judge upheld a previous ruling that DACA must be restarted, pointing to the Trump administration’s failure to offer a “rational explanation” for ending it (NYTimes, WaPo, LATimes, Politico).
- The court’s previous ruling is here.
Another federal judge said that the Trump administration is “100%” responsible for reuniting migrant parents and children separated at the border (NYTimes, WaPo, WSJ, LATimes, Politico).
Sworn statements in a class-action lawsuit against a migrant detention center in Virginia allege a pattern of abuse at the facility (NYTimes).
Two workers at shelters for migrant children in Arizona have been charged with sexual abuse of children in their care (NYTimes).
The Trump administration’s marked increase in immigration enforcement may deter immigrant communities from reporting crime, argues Tonyaa J. Weathersbee at The Marshall Project.
CIVIL RIGHTS
In a letter to members of Congress, the HHS Administration for Community Living denied allegations that its principal deputy administrator supported “segregation” of people with disabilities (Disability Scoop).
DEMOCRACY
According to Maine SOS Matt Dunlap, an initial review of newly obtained documents from President Trump’s “election integrity” commission reveals no evidence to support claims of widespread voter fraud (ProPublica, AP, WaPo, LATimes, Politico).
Why is the Trump administration seeking to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census? Vanita Gupta explains in an interview with the New York Times editorial board.
- The question will jeopardize the accuracy of the census, argue Hilda Solis and Arturo Vargas in The Los Angeles Times.
President Trump’s hateful rhetoric toward the press may incite violence against them, argues Bret Stephens at The New York Times.
JUSTICE & SAFETY
WIth no regular contact from federal law enforcement, political campaigns appear to be on their own in defending themselves against cyberattacks and misinformation online (AP).
- The DNC warned party candidates not to use devices made by Chinese companies ZTE Corp and Huawei (Reuters).
U.S. SOS Mike Pompeo said the United States will fully enforce Iranian sanctions scheduled to go into effect on Monday (WaPo).
- The Trump administration’s increased reliance on sanctions as a policy tool is raising concerns (WaPo).
- President Trump said any meeting with the Iranian government is “up to them” (Politico).
President Trump is preparing to issue two executive orders addressing cyber threats to the U.S. supply chain (The Hill).
The Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on a Russian bank accused of working with North Korea (NYTimes).
U.S. SOS Mike Pompeo urged Turkey to release an American pastor imprisoned on espionage charges (NYTimes, WaPo).
The United States and Mexico are nearing agreement on revisions to NAFTA (NYTimes).
President Trump and members of his administration appear to disagree on a range of foreign policy issues (NYTimes).
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The Kushner Companies finalized a deal to sell a Manhattan office tower to a Canadian company. Jared Kushner’s efforts to use connections derived from government service to try to sell the building had raised ethical concerns (WaPo).
REGULATION
The Trump administration’s rumored proposal to unilaterally reduce capital gains taxes is of questionable legality, writes Neil Buchanan at Justia.
The newly announced Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation rule loosening fuel economy standards does not sufficiently account for climate costs and costs to consumers stemming from reduced fuel economy, contends Romany Webb at Climate Law Blog.
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to vacate the DC Circuit’s ruling on the Obama administration’s net neutrality rule after the FCC rescinded the rule (Hollywood Reporter).
RULE OF LAW
If the Trump administration revokes security clearances for political reasons, those subject to revocation may have a procedural due process claim, argues Vartan Shadarevian at Just Security.
The Trump administration is destroying the ideal of the nonpartisan civil service, writes Anne Applebaum in the Washington Post.
CHECKS & BALANCES
Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s vision of the separation of powers as protecting individual liberty reflects a narrow conception of liberty, argues Carolyn Shapiro at Take Care.
Newly proposed Senate bills that would prohibit the President from withdrawing from NATO without Congressional consent and impose additional sanctions on Russia may reflect Congressional efforts to reassert itself on foreign policy, writes Molly McKew at Lawfare.
President Trump’s erratic imposition of tariffs has led members of Congress to reevaluate Congress’ role in regulating trade, notes Kathleen Claussen at Lawfare.
Democratic control of one or more house of Congress may be President Trump’s “worst political nightmare” thanks to the potential for oversight, writes Mike DeBonis in the Washington Post.
FEDERALISM
States and cities are taking on an increasing role in immigration regulation in the Trump era, notes Tim Henderson at Pew Stateline.
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE
Marina Butina, the Russian woman recently charged with acting as an unregistered agent of Russia, made connections in the conservative movement that went well beyond the NRA, report Matthew Rosenberg, Mike McIntire, Michael LaForgia, Andrew E. Kramer and Elizabeth Dias in the New York Times.
- In the final weeks of the 2016 campaign, Butina socialized with a former Trump campaign aide, reports Rosalind Helderman in the Washington Post.
Tags:
Immigration Rule of Law Conflicts Checks & Balances Federalism Regulation Democracy Civil Rights Justice & Safety Russian Interference