Nicandro Iannacci  //  3/8/19  //  Daily Update

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was sentenced to nearly four years in prison. Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen sued the Trump Organization for millions of dollars in unpaid legal fees. A federal judge in California dismissed a hush-money settlement lawsuit against President Trump from adult-film actress Stormy Daniels. President Trump said he didn’t violate campaign finance laws by reimbursing Michael Cohen for a payment to Stormy Daniels. The Trump administration created a list of immigration activists and journalists that were subject to greater scrutiny during border crossings. In response to the DNC’s announcement that Fox News will not host a Democratic primary debate, President Trump suggested he might block other networks from hosting general election debates. DHS is considering a rule requiring health-care providers to disclose the secretly negotiated prices they charge insurers for services.

TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS & LITIGATION

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was sentenced to nearly four years in prison (NYT, WaPo, WSJ, BuzzFeed, Politico, The Hill).

• The Washington Post asked the court to unseal many of the files in the case.

Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said attorneys for several people under DOJ investigation have indicated interest in a presidential pardon (NYT). 

• Lanny Davis, attorney for Michael Cohen, said he indeed contacted Giuliani at Cohen’s request (WaPo, Politico). 

Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen sued the Trump Organization for millions of dollars in unpaid legal fees (WaPo, Politico, CNBC).

The House Judiciary Committee asked the White House for records about its handling of the AT&T-Time Warner merger (The Hill).

A federal judge in California dismissed a hush-money settlement lawsuit against President Trump from adult-film actress Stormy Daniels (The Hill, AP, NYT, WSJ).

President Trump said he didn’t violate campaign finance laws by reimbursing Michael Cohen for a payment to Stormy Daniels (Politico).

• It may be hard to prove that President Trump “willfully” violated campaign finance laws, writes Stephen Weissman in The Washington Post.
• Still, the President may have been a co-conspirator, writes Ciara Torres-Spelliscy for the Brennan Center.

IMMIGRATION

The Trump administration created a list of immigration activists and journalists that were subject to greater scrutiny during border crossings (NBC 7 San Diego, NYT, BuzzFeed).

• The practice is likely a violation of the First Amendment, write Esha Bhandari and Hugh Handeyside for the ACLU.

A federal appeals court ruled that asylum seekers have a right to appeal their claim if they fail a “credible fear” interview (NYT, WaPo, BuzzFeed).

• The opinion of the Ninth Circuit is here.

DEMOCRACY

Ahead of Supreme Court review, the Census Bureau is seeking to obtain data from DHS about noncitizens living in the United States (AP, NYT).

• The DOJ’s newly filed brief in Department of Commerce v. New York is here. 

In response to the DNC’s announcement that Fox News will not host a Democratic primary debate, President Trump suggested he might block other networks from hosting general election debates (The Hill).

REGULATION 

CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger testified before the House Financial Services Committee (WaPo).

• Video of the hearing is here.

DOL proposed a rule that would raise the salary threshold for workers to qualify for overtime pay (WSJ, Politico).

DHS is considering a rule requiring health-care providers to disclose the secretly negotiated prices they charge insurers for services (WSJ).

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