Daily Update | February 1, 2018
Jacob Miller // 2/1/18 //
President Trump signed an Executive Order to keep the Guantanamo Bay prison open. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is imploring the White House not to release the memo alleging FISA surveillance abuses. Two top Russian spy chiefs met with CIA Director Mike Pompeo, raising concerns among some U.S. officials.
IMMIGRATION
President Trump calls for a “fair compromise” on immigration during State of the Union (WSJ, NPR, Hill).
- The plan would fundamentally alter the U.S. immigration system, writes Donald Kerwin for The Hill.
- President Trump “poisoned” the debate on immigration, writes the Washington Post editorial board.
Almost 7,000 Syrian refugees will be allowed to stay in the U.S. for another 18 months (NYT).
The Trump Administration will prioritize recent asylum applications (WSJ).
President Trump’s immigration policies did not diminish the number of border crossings (CATO).
CIVIL RIGHTS
President Trump signed an Executive Order to keep the Guantanamo Bay prison open (Politico)
- Read the EO here.
- Trump has chosen to embrace the lawlessness of Guantanamo, writes Noa Yachot for the American Civil Liberties Union.
JUSTICE & SAFETY
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is imploring the White House not to release the memo alleging FISA surveillance abuses (WSJ, WaPo, CNN).
- The legal claim behind the memo is dubious, writes Orin Kerr for Lawfare.
- FBI Director Wray could face a showdown with the White House over the memo (WaPo).
Trump addressed National Security concerns during the State of the Union (Lawfare).
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, resigned after reports emerged that she traded tobacco stocks amid an anti-smoking campaign (Politico, NYTimes).
Housing and Urban Development lawyers warned Secretary Ben Carson that having his son help organize a “listening tour” last June could violate federal ethics rules (WaPo).
REGULATION
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Politico, LATimes).
The Environmental Protection Agency delayed the Obama administration’s Clean Water Rule another two years while seeking to repeal it (The Hill).
South Carolina Representative Trey Gowdy, who chaired the panel investigating Benghazi, announced he would not run for re-election (LATimes).
RULE OF LAW
The Department of Justice dropped its corruption case against New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez (Politico).
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE
President Trump asked Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein if he was “on his team” during a December meeting (CNN).
F.B.I. Director Christopher Wray stated publicly he had “grave concerns” about House Republicans’ plan to release Rep. Nunes’ memo criticizing the bureau’s surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser (NYTimes, WaPo, Politico, LATimes, WSJ).
Releasing classified information through Rep. Nunes’ memo without vetting it first sets a dangerous precedent and increases the chances of a constitutional crises, writes Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) for the Washington Post.
The release of Rep. Nunes’ memo is actually aimed at inhibiting Robert Mueller’s investigation into President Trump, argues Charlie Savage for the New York Times.
Rep. Nunes’ memo lacks credibility, and there is no conflict of interest for Mueller’s investigative team, write Noah Bookbinder, Norman Eisen, Caroline Fredrickson, and Kristin Amerling in a newly published report.
- Read the report here.
The Trump Administration did not violate federal law when it failed to issue new sanctions on Russia, writes Robert Chesney for Lawfare.
Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) asked Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to bring up the issue of potential Russian Interference in elections throughout the world during his travel to Mexico and Latin America (CBS News).
Two top Russian spy chiefs met with CIA Director Mike Pompeo, raising concerns among some U.S. officials (WaPo).
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Tags:
Immigration Rule of Law Conflicts Regulation Civil Rights Justice & Safety Russian Interference