Jacqueline Sahlberg  //  5/10/18  //  Daily Update

The Treasury Department’s Inspector General is investigating whether the information about the allegation of a payment from Victor Vekselberg to Michael Cohen was leaked. The Department of Homeland Security has drafted regulations that would change the rules, and erode protections, for minors in immigration detention. President Trump suggested revoking press credentials over “negative” coverage. Mick Mulvaney, the interim director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, is folding the student loan unit into the office of Financial Education. The Russian company Concord Management and Consulting LLC entered a not-guilty plea in the Mueller prosecution.

TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS & LITIGATION

The Treasury Department’s Inspector General is investigating whether the information about the allegation of a payment from Victor Vekselberg to Michael Cohen was leaked (WashPo, Hill, Politico).

• Novartis and AT&T paid Michael Cohen $1.8 million and both companies spoke to Robert Mueller (NYTimes, WSJ)
• The allegation of the Vekselberg payment is not a smoking gun, but it may lead to proof of bribery and conspiracy, writes Jed Shugerman at Slate.
• The payment increases the odds of Michael Cohen turning on President Trump, writes Frank Bowman for Slate.

IMMIGRATION

The Department of Homeland Security has drafted regulations that would change the rules, and erode protections, for minors in immigration detention (WashPo).

CIVIL RIGHTS

The Michigan Legislature’s proposed Medicaid work requirements would have severe racially discriminatory effects, write Eli Savit and Nick Bagley at Take Care.

DEMOCRACY

President Trump suggested revoking press credentials over “negative” coverage (Hill).  

JUSTICE & SAFETY

Because President Obama made the Iran deal as a political commitment rather than as a binding commitment under international law, he paved the way for President Trump to withdraw, writes Jack Goldsmith at Lawfare.

• President Trump has said that withdrawing from the nuclear deal with Iran will make for easier negotiations with North Korea, but if the decision damages U.S. credibility, negotiations with North Korea may be more difficult (LA Times).
• It is “hard to escape the suspicion” that President Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in order to undercut President Obama, writes the LA Times Editorial Board.

In a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Gina Haspel, President Trump’s nominee to lead the CIA, said that she would not restart the CIA interrogation program (WashPo).

• Senator McCain said that Haspel’s failure to “acknowledge torture’s immorality is disqualifying” (Hill).

Three American prisoners held by North Korea have been released (NYTimes)

REGULATION

The Office of Management and Budget released the Spring 2018 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Hill)

• The Agenda is available here.

States and municipalities filed a brief asking the D.C. Circuit to rule on the merits of the Clean Power Plan (Hill).

• Read the brief here.

Mick Mulvaney, the interim director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, is folding the student loan unit into the office of Financial Education (NYTimes, LA Times, WashPo)

RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE 

The Senate Intelligence Committee released the unclassified version of the investigation on cyberattacks on U.S. voting systems, finding that Russia conducted an “unprecedented, coordinated cyber campaign” (Hill).

The Russian company Concord Management and Consulting LLC entered a not-guilty plea in the Mueller prosecution (Politico)

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