Hetali Lodaya  //  12/12/19  //  Daily Update

Commentary continues about the House's articles of impeachment. A federal judge in California reaches the same conclusion as one in Texas and blocks wall funding. And the House asks the Supreme Court to move quickly in a case involving the President's financial records.

REMOVAL FROM OFFICE 

The White House expects “full exoneration” of the articles of impeachment in the Senate. (WaPo) 

The articles of impeachment as written generally accomplish their goals, though a few changes could make them stronger, argue Scott R. Anderson, Susan Hennessey, Quinta Jurecic, and Margaret Taylor at Lawfare. 

Today’s debates miss the historical lesson that impeachment was intended by the framers partially as a tool for national security, writes Charles Edel at Lawfare. 

The House should take its time to thoroughly develop the case and introduce more articles of impeachment, argues Jamelle Bouie at WaPo.

There shouldn’t be a concern that narrow articles of impeachment mean that bringing up other topics will result in unfair propensity arguments during the Senate trial, writes Michael Dorf at Dorf On Law.

TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS AND LITIGATION 

A summary of the status of various litigation against the president is at Lawfare. 

A federal judge may drop a case brought by a former national security officer regarding the president’s claims of absolute immunity. (Politico)

IMMIGRATION 

A second federal judge, this time in California, declared the president’s use of military funds for a border wall to be unlawful. (The Hill)

• The opinion is here.

Michael Cohen has asked a judge to reduce his sentence because he cooperated. (The Hill) 

House lawyers have filed a letter urging the Supreme Court to complete its review of a Second Circuit decision about subpoenaing the president’s financial records, saying delay in access could have an effect on the 2020 election. (WaPo) 

The overall number of deportations dropped last year. (WaPo)

CIVIL RIGHTS 

The text of the president’s order regarding anti-semetism defines Jews as a group protected by Title VI. (Religion Clause)

RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE 

Further analysis of the DOJ watchdog report of the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation is at Just Security. 

DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz testified regarding the report yesterday. (WaPo) 

The president met with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov; they have conflicting accounts of what they discussed. (Guardian)