Daily Update | May 15, 2019
Jacob Miller // 5/15/19 //
The Alabama Senate approved a measure that would outlaw abortion at all stages of pregnancy except in cases where the mother’s life is at serious risk; it awaits signature by Governor Kay Ivey. A new law will impose financial burdens on individuals convicted of felonies that make it harder for them to vote in Florida, despite the passing of Florida’s ballot initiative to restore voting rights to felons. Action from the FCC has continued to increase tensions between the United States and China following a unanimous vote to block China Mobile, and threatening public statements from President Trump. Donald Trump Jr. has agreed that he will appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee behind closed doors, following a fight between Republican lawmakers. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis claimed he was not allowed to say which two Florida counties were hacked by Russians in the 2016 election.
TRUMP: INVESTIGATIONS AND LITIGATION
Justice Department precedent favors Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s analysis of potential obstruction of justice, even if Mueller did not make all of the arguments around statutory interpretation that he could have, argues Andrew Kent for Lawfare.
Just Security created a chart of potential wrongdoing by President Trump’s personal lawyers outlined in the Mueller report.
- See the chart here.
The Department of Justice requested that a judge allow a court of appeals to review legal questions in an ongoing lawsuit that President Trump violated the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution before the case continues (Hill).
Donald Trump Jr. has agreed that he will appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee behind closed doors, following a fight between Republican lawmakers (Politico).
Attorney General William Barr has announced an investigation into the F.B.I.’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, but should return to trying to ensure fair elections going forward, writes the New York Times Editorial Board.
IMMIGRATION
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Ronald Vitiello, a high level enforcement official, both challenged a White House plan to arrest families that had crossed the United States-Mexico weeks before many individuals were fired from the Department (Immigration Prof Blog, WaPo).
A federal judge denied Department of Homeland Security motions to separate and move cases to district court that accuse the Department of blocking migrants' right to counsel (Hill).
CIVIL RIGHTS
The Alabama Senate approved a measure that would outlaw abortion at all stages of pregnancy except in cases where the mother’s life is at serious risk; it awaits signature by Governor Kay Ivey (NYTimes, WaPo, WSJ, LATimes, Politico).
Courts have an historically had an important role in reproductive justice, and should not be de-emphasized in discussions moving forward, argues Leah Litman for Take Care.
A new law will impose financial burdens on individuals convicted of felonies that make it harder for them to vote in Florida, despite the passing of Florida’s ballot initiative to restore voting rights to felons, writes Katrina vanden Heuvel for the Washington Post.
JUSTICE & SAFETY
The Trump administration should relieve specific sanctions if it actually is concerned about the wellbeing of the Iranian people during its strategy of employing “maximum pressure,” write Tyler Cullis and Amir Handjani for Lawfare.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Private equity investor Tom Barrack, a friend of President Trump’s, was given access to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to pitch a plan around changing Middle East policy, according to emails obtained by CREW.
REGULATION
Action from the FCC has continued to increase tensions between the United States and China following a unanimous vote to block China Mobile, and threatening public statements from President Trump (Hill).
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
Public opinion favors impeachment against President Trump much more than it did for President Clinton, and even more than compared to President Nixon, putting President Trump in a weak position going forward, writes Sidney Blumenthal in an open memo on Just Security.
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE
The Justice Department’s excusing of Rudy Giuliani’s planned trip to Ukraine to gather political information invites foreign interference in the 2020 election overall, argues Francis Wilkinson for Bloomberg.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis claimed he was not allowed to say which two Florida counties were hacked by Russians in the 2016 election (Tampa Bay Times).
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters that he informed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that “interference in American elections is unacceptable and if the Russians were engaged in that in 2020 it would put our relationship in an even worse place than it has been” (Hill).
Tags:
Immigration Conflicts Regulation Civil Rights Justice & Safety Removal from Office Russian Interference