Daily Update | July 24, 2018
Jacqueline Sahlberg, Ian Eppler // 7/24/18 //
The President's legal team has offered Special Counsel Robert Mueller an opportunity to interview President Trump about potential collusion with Russia during the campaign, but not obstruction of justice. Twelve audio recordings seized from former Trump attorney Michael Cohen’s office were turned over to federal prosecutors after President Trump’s legal team waived attorney-client privilege with respect to the recordings. The Department of Education is expected to announce new regulations that would expand the ability of employers to pay disabled employees below the minimum wage. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that the Trump administration was considering stripping security clearance from several former national security officials who have criticized the administration. Senate Democrats requested documents from the Department of the Treasury on financial ties between Maria Butina, who was recently indicted on charges of serving as an unregistered agent of Russia, and the NRA.
TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS AND LITIGATION
The President's legal team has offered Special Counsel Robert Mueller an opportunity to interview President Trump about potential collusion with Russia during the campaign, but not obstruction of justice, reports Rebecca Ballhaus in the Wall Street Journal.
A federal judge delayed the start of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort’s criminal trial until July 31 to give Manafort’s defense team more time to review recently disclosed documents (Politico, The Hill, WSJ).
The judge also granted immunity to 5 witnesses expected to testify against Manafort (CNN).
Twelve audio recordings seized from former Trump attorney Michael Cohen’s office were turned over to federal prosecutors after President Trump’s legal team waived attorney-client privilege with respect to the recordings (Politico).
The recent Supreme Court decision in Lucia v. SEC, addressing the definition of “officer of the United States” under the Constitution’s Appointments Clause, may have implications for Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s status, write Josh Blackman and Seth Barrett Tillman at Lawfare.
IMMIGRATION
The Senate Judiciary Committee can and should investigate federal immigration enforcement practices at the border, writes Sarah Tuberville at the Project on Government Oversight.
The deadline to reunite children separated from parents looms and as of today, the Trump Administration told the court that it had reunited or “appropriately discharged” 1,187 of the 2,551 children over the age of five, explains Amrit Cheng for the ACLU.
The number of denaturalization cases has increased under President Trump (NYTimes).
In New York City, immigrants feel unsafe under President Trump’s enforcement practices (Marshall Project).
CIVIL RIGHTS
President Trump is attacking the First Amendment again, writes Jennifer Rubin for the Washington Post.
JUSTICE & SAFETY
Federal law bans U.S. military cooperation with Russia, but Secretary Mattis could waive the restriction and Congress could tighten it, writes Tess Bridgeman for Just Security.
Republicans are aiding and abetting President Trump’s attacks on justices, writes the Washington Post Editorial Board.
REGULATION
The Trump administration is expected to revoke a longstanding federal waiver that allows California to impose stricter automobile emissions standards than those imposed at the federal level, a move likely to provoke litigation, report Ryan Beene, Jennifer A Dlouhy, John Lippert, and Ari Natter in Bloomberg.
- The decision would be the “single most consequential and devastating act” that the Trump Administration has taken against Obama Administration climate policies, writes Ann Carlson for Legal Planet.
- Sixteen states have committed to following California’s emissions standards, and all would be likely to sue, writes Megan Geuss for Ars Technica.
With the backing of the administration, Congress is considering plans to roll back protections for wildlife under the Endangered Species Act, note Carol Davenport and Lisa Friedman in the New York Times.
Accidentally released emails revealed that the Department of the Interior, in evaluating proposals to shrink several national monuments, dismissed evidence that the monuments boosted the economy by promoting tourism and emphasized the potential benefits from development on former monument land, reports Juliet Eliperin in the Washington Post.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order that may undermine demand for renewable energy and support coal, but a narrow interpretation of the order by other agencies may reduce its impact, writes Dan Farber at Legal Planet.
The Department of Education is expected to announce new regulations that would expand the ability of employers to pay disabled employees below the minimum wage (Disability Scoop).
RULE OF LAW
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that the Trump administration was considering stripping security clearance from several former national security officials who have criticized the administration (NYTimes, Politico, WaPo, WSJ)
CHECKS & BALANCES
The Senate confirmed Robert Wilkie, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He was the first VA Secretary to not be confirmed unanimously (WaPo, WSJ).
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE
Senate Democrats requested documents from the Department of the Treasury on financial ties between Maria Butina, who was recently indicted on charges of serving as an unregistered agent of Russia, and the National Rifle Association (The Hill).
Tags:
Immigration Rule of Law Checks & Balances Regulation Democracy Civil Rights Russian Interference