Daily Update | October 5, 2017
Caroline Cox // 10/5/17 //
The Trump Administration’s phase-out of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program begins on Thursday night. New York prosecutors were close to charging Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. with felony fraud in 2012, and the timeline suggests that political donations to the district attorney helped thwart the indictments. The EPA will soon announce its proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan, President Obama’s major climate change regulation. Senate Intelligence Committee leaders also announced their conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 elections.
IMMIGRATION
The second travel ban's reference to "honor killings" displayed anti-Muslim animus that must be affirmatively cured in order for the third travel ban to be valid, explains Sarah Mahmood (Take Care).
The Trump Administration’s phase-out of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program begins on Thursday night (LA Times).
JUSTICE & SAFETY
The general overseeing disaster relief in Puerto Rico announced his plans to increase hospital access as more troops arrive to the island (WaPo).
The White House has stepped back from President Trump’s pledge to wipe out Puerto Rico’s debt (NYT).
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
New York prosecutors were close to charging Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. with felony fraud in 2012, and the timeline suggests that political donations to the district attorney helped thwart the indictments (ProPublica).
Jed Shugerman and other historians have corrected an amicus brief in the SDNY Emoluments Case and apologized to Josh Blackman and Seth Tillman for certain statements (and citations) in a footnote of that brief (Shugerblog).
REGULATION
The EPA will soon announce its proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan, President Obama’s major climate change regulation (Reuters, NYT).
The Trump Administration’s order to federal agencies not to calculate the cost of global warming to projects is facing challenges in court (LA Times).
Democrats are criticizing President Trump’s choice for the head of EPA’s chemical safety and pollution prevention office as unsuited for the job (The Hill).
The Treasury Department announced its plans to withdraw the Obama Administration’s proposed estate tax rules (The Hill).
RULE OF LAW
Judge Bolton should allow Sheriff Arpaio's criminal contempt convicton to remain on the books even if she recognizes President Trump's pardon as valid, explains Bernadette Meyler (Take Care).
- Yesterday, Judge Susan Bolton concluded that President Trump's pardon was valid (Politico).
CHECKS & BALANCES
At oral argument in Gill v. Whitford, Justice Kennedy displayed a keen interest in the First Amendment principles at stake in partisan gerrymandering, explains David Gans (Take Care).
Republican senators are showing increasingly showing their willingness to break with President Trump (Politico).
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson states that he will stay at the State Department, challenging reports of conflict with the White House (WaPo, NYT).
- The New York Times has video of Secretary Tillerson’s remarks.
- The Washington Post analyzes why Secretary Tillerson would stay on.
- Reactions to Secretary Tillerson’s statements are available here and here.
The leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is seeking information on Kellyanne Conway’s private jet flights with former HHS Secretary Tom Price (Politico, WaPo).
The House Judiciary Committee has unveiled a bill that would place restraints on law enforcement’s access to data gathered by the NSA (WaPo).
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE
Leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee cautioned that the government should expect Russian attempts to interfere with upcoming elections (NYT).
Senate Intelligence Committee leaders also announced their conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 elections (WaPo, The Hill).