Daily Update | January 10, 2019
Hilary Robin Rosenthal // 1/10/19 //
The current government shutdown is the second longest ever. President Trump walked out of shutdown talks when Democrats rejected funds for the border wall. Justice Kavanaugh writes his first opinion for the Supreme Court. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein expects to leave the Justice Department if new attorney general Matthew Whitaker is confirmed. Congress has summoned Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin to deliver a briefing about the Trump administration’s plans to end sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg V. Deripaska. President Trump threatens to block federal emergency funds for California fire relief if officials there do not “get their act together” to prevent forest fires.
TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS AND LITIGATION
A bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller is likely to get another vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, reports Burgess Everett.
A law firm— Alston & Bird— that has represented Russian interests is involved in the mysterious Mueller subpoena case (The Hill).
DEMOCRACY
The current government shutdown is the second longest ever, analyzes Gilbert Gates.
President Trump walked out of shutdown talks when Democrats rejected funds for the border wall, writes Jennifer Haberkorn.
- He walked out calling the meeting a “total waste of time” after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told him the Democrats wouldn’t approve funding for a border wall (WSJ).
- Many legal experts do not think the Constitution or courts could prevent President Trump from declaring a national emergency to fund a wall on the southern border, writes David Savage.
JUSTICE & SAFETY
President Trump threatens to block federal emergency funds for California fire relief if officials there do not “get their act together” to prevent forest fires, write Rebecca Ballhaus and Jim Carlton.
The Justice Department charges a former commanding officer of Guantanamo Bay military base with obstruction of justice for allegedly lying about a violent confrontation, reports Devlin Barrett.
REGULATION
President Trump formally nominates Andrew Wheeler, currently acting head of the EPA, to be the EPA administrator (Politico).
RULE OF LAW
Justice Kavanaugh writes his first opinion for the Supreme Court, comments Ronald Mann.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein expects to leave the Justice Department if new attorney general Matthew Whitaker is confirmed (Wash Po, WSJ).
Congress has summoned Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin to deliver a briefing about the Trump administration’s plans to end sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg V. Deripaska (NY Times).
Tags:
Immigration Rule of Law Conflicts Democracy Justice & Safety