Daily Update | July 17, 2018
President Trump, in an extraordinary joint press conference, appeared to side with Russian president Vladimir Putin over the U.S. intelligence community on Russian responsibility for interfering in the 2016 presidential election. New York State announced the launch of an investigation into whether Jared Kushner's family real estate company harassed tenants at a Brooklyn waterfront property so that they would leave their rent-stabilized apartments. A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump Administration from deporting reunited families that had been separated under the administration’s “zero tolerance” policy. The FCC announced serious concerns with the Sinclair Broadcast Group’s plan to acquire rival Tribune Media. Republican House members called on the Justice Department’s Inspector General to to investigate whether Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein threatened congressional aides in a January meeting.
TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS AND LITIGATION
New York State announced the launch of an investigation into whether Jared Kushner's family real estate company harassed tenants at a Brooklyn waterfront property so that they would leave their rent-stabilized apartments (CNN).
- The investigation was announced on the same day 20 current and former tenants brought a $10 million lawsuit against the Kushner Companies, writes Charles V. Bagli in the New York Times.
IMMIGRATION
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump Administration from deporting reunited families that had been separated under the administration’s “zero tolerance” policy (LA Times).
DEMOCRACY
Several former federal cyber and technology officials called on the Census Bureau to prepare adequate cybersecurity measures to defend the integrity of the upcoming Census count (The Hill).
- Read the letter here.
JUSTICE & SAFETY
The Russian government runs a state-sanctioned cybercrime syndicate, writes John P. Carlin in the New York Times.
If confirmed, Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court could have a profound impact on gun regulations, David G. Savage writes in the Los Angeles Times.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
President Trump’s re-election campaign has already spent nearly $1 million at Trump Organization properties, raising serious ethical concerns, Dylan Scott writes in Vox.
The First Lady’s spokesperson may have violated the Hatch Act by using a Trump campaign slogan in a tweet, according to a watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), writes Michelle Ye Hee Lee in the Washington Post.
- Read CREW’s letter to the Office of Special Counsel here.
REGULATION
The FCC announced serious concerns with the Sinclair Broadcast Group’s plan to acquire rival Tribune Media (NYT).
- Read the chairman’s statement here.
A recent decision by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals will allow hospitals around the country to seek more money from Medicare (NYT).
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that the U.S. would consider waivers for countries that need more time to end oil imports from Iran in order to avoid sanctions (Reuters).
RULE OF LAW
Republican House members called on the Justice Department’s Inspector General to to investigate whether Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein threatened congressional aides in a January meeting, Mike DeBonis writes in the Washington Post.
CHECKS & BALANCES
Many critics’ categorical arguments against nationwide injunctions are misplaced or overbroad, argues Zachary D. Clopton in Take Care.
The House of Representatives hearing last week with FBI agent Peter Strzok is a reminder of the limits of congressional oversight, writes Molly E. Reynolds in Lawfare.
An independent watchdog group is seeking to compel the National Archives and Justice Department to release all records relating to Brett Kavanaugh’s time in the executive branch (The Hill).
FEDERALISM
In the wake of Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, the states now present the best avenue for addressing partisan gerrymandering, argue Sam Wang, Ben Williams, and Rick Ober in the American Prospect.
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE
President Trump, in an extraordinary joint press conference, appeared to side with Russian president Vladimir Putin over the U.S. intelligence community on Russian responsibility for interfering in the 2016 presidential election (NYT, WaPo, WSJ).
After today’s performance, those currently serving in the federal government must consider whether they can continue to ethically do so, writes Rolf Mowatt-Larssen in Just Security.
Mariia Butina, a Russian woman who built connections with the National Rifle Association and Republican political operatives, was criminally charged accused of working with Americans to carry out a secret Russian effort to influence American politics (NYT, WaPo, WSJ).
- Read the complaint and supporting affidavit here.
- Philip Bump lays out a timeline of Butina’s activities during the 2016 election in the Washington Post.
Several Russians, including some linked to the Kremlin, participated in meetings in the Seychelles in early 2017 that have become a subject of investigation for Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference, Erin Banco reports in NJ.com.
The indictment of 12 Russians for hacking into the Democratic National Committee’s emails raises several uncomfortable questions, writes Jack Goldsmith in Lawfare.
- The indictment should make the Kremlin squirm, Leonid Bershinsky argues in Bloomberg.
Several legal options exist for the U.S. to gain custody over the 12 Russians indicted for 2016 election email hacks, argues Steven Arrigg Koh in Just Security.
Tags:
Immigration Rule of Law Conflicts Checks & Balances Federalism Regulation Democracy Justice & Safety Russian Interference