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Jacob Miller  //  6/8/18  //  Daily Update

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The Department of Justice stated in a brief that it would not defend the Affordable Care Act against a case brought by Texas’ Attorney General and lawmakers in 19 other states. The Environmental Protection Agency decided not to look at air, water or ground contaminants for evaluating the risks associated with potentially toxic chemicals after extensive lobbying from the chemical industry. President Trump has scapegoated refugees and has promoted prejudiced policies that have overwhelmingly hurt them across the world. President Trump claimed publicly that similar tactics to those used in withdrawing the Iran Nuclear Deal would be successful in negotiations with North Korea. Carter Page’s interactions with Russia date back to 2004 as he slowly became more and more involved with Russia during the 2016 election.

 

TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS & LITIGATION

Attorneys for 200 Democratic lawmakers encouraged U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan to allow their lawsuit alleging President Trump is violating the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution to move forward (WaPo, Politico). 

President Trump tweeted that special counsel was not necessary for the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, and that the Department of Justice could have handled it (WaPo).

 

IMMIGRATION

The Trump administration’s policy of separating children and parents at the United States border makes their justifications for refusing to allow for shelters for minor women seeking abortions outlined in Azar v. Garza, writes Leah Litman for Take Care.

The Trump Administration’s policy of separating children and parents has led to horrifying consequences for a family, writes Miriam Jordan for the New York Times.

• The policy has not deterred undocumented immigrants from continuing to cross the border according to recent data (WaPo).

President Trump has scapegoated refugees and has promoted prejudiced policies that have overwhelmingly hurt them across the world, write Bill Frelick and Brian Root for the Los Angeles Times.

 

CIVIL RIGHTS 

The Supreme Court affirmed principles in Masterpiece Cakeshop that will protect minority rights, including LGBT rights, write Nelson Tebbe and Larry Sager for Take Care, cross posted from Balkinization.

The decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop was a troubling extension of Free Exercise Clause norms that will be difficult for courts to follow, write Robert Tuttle and Ira Lupu for Take Care.

Civil rights groups sued Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson for delaying enforcement of a 2015 provision requiring enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, but blame should be more widespread, argues Karen Attiah for the Washington Post.

 

DEMOCRACY

The recent primary elections show that the Republican Party has become a cult of personality around President Trump, writes the New York Times Editorial Board.

 

JUSTICE & SAFETY

President Trump heads to Quebec for the G-7 summit amid tension among U.S. allies regarding tariffs (NYTimes, LATimes, WSJ).

• French President Emmanuel Macron threatened to potentially exclude the United States from the joint statement that will be issued at the end of the G-7 summit (WaPo).

President Trump claimed publicly that similar tactics to those used in withdrawing the Iran Nuclear Deal would be successful in negotiations with North Korea (NYTimes). 

President Trump proposed potentially inviting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to the United States if the meeting goes well (WaPo).

World leaders should acknowledge the United States’ economic growth at the G-7 summit, writes Lawrence Kudlow for the Washington Post.

 

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Congressional Republicans criticized Environmental Protection Agency Chief Scott Pruitt, but did not call on him to resign (WaPo).

• The Washington Post offered a ranking of Pruitt’s abuses of power here.

 

REGULATION

The Department of Justice stated in a brief that it would not defend the Affordable Care Act against a case brought by Texas’ Attorney General and lawmakers in 19 other states (WaPo, Politico). 

The Environmental Protection Agency decided not to look at air, water or ground contaminants for evaluating the risks associated with potentially toxic chemicals after extensive lobbying from the chemical industry (NYTimes).

The Consumer Protection Bureau offered little explanation for firing members of its Consumer Advisory Board, writes former chairwoman of the advisory board Ann Baddour for the New York Times.

 

REMOVAL FROM OFFICE 

Professor K. Sabeel Rahman reviewed Laurence Tribe and Joshua Matz’s new book To End A Presidency: The Power of Impeachment and discussed the importance of caution in impeaching a president throughout history for Take Care.

 

RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE

Former British spy Christopher Steele investigated Russian Interference in soccer prior to his investigation into interference with President Trump’s election, writes Ken Bensinger for the New York Times.

Carter Page’s interactions with Russia date back to 2004 as he slowly became more and more involved with Russia during the 2016 election, writes David Ignatius for the Washington Post. 

 

Tags:

Immigration Conflicts Regulation Democracy Civil Rights Justice & Safety Removal from Office Russian Interference

 

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