Daily Update | August 8, 2019
Nicandro Iannacci // 8/8/19 //
The House Judiciary Committee filed a lawsuit to force former White House Counsel Don McGahn to comply with a subpoena to testify. The DHS inspector general is investigating allegations of harassment and possible CBP violation of U.S. laws in connection with a government database of lawyers, journalists, and advocates. President Trump has expressed support for extensive background checks for gun sales but is getting pushback from the NRA and White House aides. DOD, GSA and NASA published a rule banning federal agencies from purchasing telecommunications equipment from Huawei and four other Chinese companies.
TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS & LITIGATION
The House Judiciary Committee filed a lawsuit to force former White House Counsel Don McGahn to comply with a subpoena to testify (WaPo, WSJ, POLITICO, The Hill).
- The complaint is here.
IMMIGRATION
ICE arrested more than 600 immigrants working in the U.S. illegally in multiple raids across Mississippi (NYT, WSJ).
The State Department is denying significantly more visas from Mexican applicants, largely on “public charge” grounds (POLITICO).
The DHS inspector general is investigating allegations of harassment and possible CBP violation of U.S. laws in connection with a government database of lawyers, journalists, and advocates (BuzzFeed News).
CIVIL RIGHTS
The White House is considering an executive order to address alleged anti-conservative bias on tech platforms (POLITICO).
JUSTICE & SAFETY
President Trump has expressed support for extensive background checks for gun sales but is getting pushback from the NRA and White House aides (WaPo).
The president said he is “strongly considering” commuting the sentence of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich (R-Ill.) (NYT, WaPo, WSJ).
The Trump administration ordered a freeze on foreign aid money from the State Department and USAID (NYT).
Kimberly Breier, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, resigned after less than one year in the post (NYT, WaPo).
DOD, GSA and NASA published a rule banning federal agencies from purchasing telecommunications equipment from Huawei and four other Chinese companies (The Hill).
The Trump administration announced that it will seek a trade deal with Britain as soon as possible after the country has left the European Union (AP).
The Trump administration is also hoping for another round of nuclear talks with North Korea in the coming weeks, despite recent missile tests (AP).
REGULATION
The FCC denied a complaint against Verizon for alleged violation of net neutrality rules (Ars Technica).