Hilary Robin Rosenthal  //  2/4/19  //  Daily Update

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is continuing to refuse to resign amid blackface controversy. President Trump’s reelection campaign spending rose sharply to $23 million in the last months of 2018, driven by rallies and advertising. Bans on LGBTQ “conversion therapy” for minors are now under threat. Mueller's team reportedly seized “voluminous and complex” evidence from Roger Stone in the Special Counsel investigation. President Trump taps Ronny Jackson to be his top medical adviser, despite an investigation into Jackson on allegations of mismanagement and misconduct. U.S. national parks are struggling with up to $11 million in revenue loss resulting from the government shutdown. 

TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS & LITIGATION

Longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone could face a gag order, writes Zoe Tillman.

Mueller's team reportedly seized “voluminous and complex” evidence from Roger Stone in the Special Counsel investigation (NBC).

• The Special Counsel’s Office filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking an exception to the Speedy Trial due to the voluminous evidence; see the motion here (Lawfare).

IMMIGRATION

USCIS is announcing crisis-level delays in the agency’s processing of applications and petitions for immigration benefits under the Trump administration (AILA). 

Brianne J. Gorod writes about how the National Emergencies Act is not a blank check for President Trump, especially when there is no national emergency.

Undocumented workers continue to lose their jobs at various Trump properties, report Miriam Jordan and Ben Protess.

Al Otro Lado Legal Director Nora Phillips was reportedly denied entry to Mexico in apparent retaliation for her human rights work (ImmigrationProf Blog).

DEMOCRACY

President Trump’s reelection campaign spending rose sharply to $23 million in the last months of 2018, driven by rallies and advertising (Politico).

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is continuing to refuse to resign amid blackface controversy, reports Marc Caputo.

• Northam denies prior knowledge of racist photo and rejects calls to resign (The Hill).

President Trump taps Ronny Jackson to be his top medical adviser, despite an investigation into Jackson on allegations of mismanagement and misconduct (WaPo).

Miranda Green details how the U.S. national parks are struggling with up to $11 million in revenue loss resulting from the government shutdown.

CIVIL RIGHTS

Controversy surrounding a Virginia abortion-rights bill has drawn harsh rebukes from members of Congress and the White House (The Hill).

Bans on LGBTQ “conversion therapy” for minors are now under threat thanks to the Supreme Court, writes Mark Stern.

JUSTICE & SAFETY

The United States is suspending its participation in a key arms control agreement—the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty-- with Russia (Politico).

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