Below is my column on the curious approach of the House Democrats investigating Trump. Whatever this might be, it is not a particularly promising way to build a case for impeachment.
Here is the column:
Continue reading “Recon By Fire: House Democrats Seek To Prove Nothing Succeeds Like Excess”
We previously discussed the media objections to a move by Harvard Professor Alan Dershowtiz to bar media from part of the upcoming hearing in the Second Circuit hearing concerning the plea deal given to Jeffrey Epstein. A convicted sex offender who regularly entertained powerful men like Bill Clinton on his infamous “Lolita Express” and island estate, Epstein also secured seals to bar a review of material in the case. I previously wrote about the case and the disgraceful deal cut by now Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta which not only gave Epstein little jail time but effectively protected all of his high-powered friends. The hearing was held this week and it was reportedly heated with counsel for the victims, former federal judge Paul Cassell, openly asserting that sealed documents establish that Dershowitz (who represented Epstein and helped negotiate the deal) did have relations with the underaged girls that Epstein reportedly made available to his powerful friends. Dershowitz vehemently denies the allegations and says that three documents, if released, would show that the victims are lying.
Continue reading “Former Judge Paul Cassell Levels Sex Abuse Allegation Against Alan Dershowitz Before Second Circuit”
While President Donald Trump has been criticized for his pressuring of Justice officials like former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and others, he has actually selected highly qualified people for vacancies in the Department. That was the case with Attorney Bill Barr and that is the case with the nomination this week of U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu as Associate Attorney General of the United States. Liu, 46, is an exceptionally well qualified nominee and, just as Trump has been rightfully criticized for some of his actions, he should be praised for this nomination. (For full disclosure, Liu is married to one of my colleagues, Michael Abramowicz.)
Continue reading “Trump Selects Jessie Liu As Associate Attorney General”
Almost two-thirds of registered voters think President Donald Trump committed crimes before becoming president — a truly staggering figure that shows that Trump may have damaged his critics but has done little to improve his own standing. According to a Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday, nearly half of voters — 45% — think Trump committed crimes while serving as President. Nevertheless, as previously reported, Trump still holds overwhelming support among Republicans and a 46 percent favorability response.
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One of the curious aspects of the public hearing before the House Oversight Committee was the limited interest in past discussions of a pardon by Cohen with Trump or his legal team. Only a passing reference was made in the hearing, but Cohen said unequivocally that “I have never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from Mr. Trump.” The Wall Street Journal has a report that cast some doubt on that sworn statement. It is reporting that Cohen’s lawyer at the time Stephen Ryan not only pressed for a pardon after the FBI raid on Cohen but suggested that, absent a pardon, he might flip. If true, the story could be another instance where the truth of Cohen’s testimony is subject to challenge despite a pledge from the Committee Chair Elijah Cummings that he would push for a perjury prosecution for any false statements. Cohen already has been accused of perjury and there has already been a call for a request for a perjury investigation from GOP members.
Continue reading “WSJ: Michael Cohen’s Lawyer Asked Trump Legal Team About Pardon”
The New Yorker is reporting that President Donald Trump ordered Gary Cohn, then Trump’s chief economic adviser, to block the AT&T-Time Warner merger last summer. If true, the action could raise an additional allegation of the abuse of power and a direct lie to the American public. Months later, Trump expressly denied playing any role in the decision to sue to oppose the $85 billion merger. Trump’s intense dislike for CNN (owned by Time Warner) had been a long source of speculation that he was seeking to punish the cable network for its criticism of him and his Administration.
Continue reading “Report: Trump Pressured The Justice Department To Oppose The AT&T Warner Merger”
While there is a general view that the Trump Administration is in a free fall with ominous investigations and calls for impeachment, the polls show a different picture. Trump actually has not dropped with all of the bad press and is holding his base. Indeed, he is close to where President Barack Obama was at this time in his term. Moreover, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll,the polls shows people with a highly negative view of the socialist wing of the Democratic party and less than forty percent believe Michael Cohen. Those are all good signs for Trump even as the legal developments loom negatively on his future. Trump however is registering at a 46 percent popularity in the latest polling.
Continue reading “Polls Show Trump Holding Base And Even Improving Among Voters”Below is my column in The Hill newspaper on the implications of the testimony of Michael Cohen last week. This weekend, House and Senate Democrats publicly claimed to have evidence of obstruction and collusion, though the most important news is that all of the Committees are issuing a storm of subpoenas.
Here is the column:
Continue reading “Cohen Gives Democrats Roadmap For Collateral Crimes”
The Trump Administration has long had a troubling pattern of referencing Trump properties or products, including ethics warnings being given high-ranking officials. Other complaints, including those filed in federal court, allege that use of Trump properties like the Trump Hotel in Washington constitute unconstitutional emoluments. That history makes President Donald Trump’s recent tweet pitching the Trump golf course in Scotland all the more baffling, particularly when it made a direct reference to the golf course between great for the “U.K. relationship” with the United States.
Continue reading “Pitchman or President? Trump Under Fire For Tweet Boosting Trump Golf Course”
Below is my column in the BBC on the growing threats to President Donald Trump from allegations of collateral crimes after the testimony of Michael Cohen.
Here is the column:
Continue reading “Congress and Cohen Build The Case For Collateral Crimes”
There is a deeply troubling story in the New York Times concerning the long fight over President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner’ security clearance. After a long refusal to give him a top secret clearance, Kushner was finally cleared and President Trump indicated that he played no role in the decision and that it was made by the intelligence officials. There is now a report that intelligence officials refused to change their position and maintained that Kushner should not be given a clearance. Trump then reportedly overrode the opposition from both his national security and legal staffs in ordering that Kushner be given the clearance. The order was sufficiently alarming that both Trump Chief of Staff, (former Gen. and Homeland Security Secretary) John Kelly, and his White House Counsel Don McGahn, wrote internal memos on their objections as a record. As someone who has worked in the field with a top secret special intelligence clearance since the Reagan Administration, I find this report to be chilling. It is exceptionally rare and the further highlights the problems caused by nepotism in government. Congress has also objected that the White House has not cooperated into its oversight investigation into the matter.
Continue reading “Report: Trump Ordered Kushner Clearance Over Objections Of Intelligence and Legal Staff”President Donald Trump shocked many around the world on Thursday by declaring that he believes North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is innocent of any knowledge of the mistreatment of American Otto Warmbier that led to his death. That statement smacked of willful blindness to the guilt of a man who routinely orders the execution of officials and makes others transcribe copious notes to be sure that he continues to exercise tight control over the country. The comment rekindled memories of Trump saying that he believed Vladimir Putin on Russian meddling in the election and rejected the views of American intelligence on North Korea in favor of Putin’s assurances on that country’s missile program. It also reminded many of Trump’s continued opposition to hold the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia accountable for the murder of a Washington Post journalist in Turkey despite the contrary findings of U.S. intelligence. Update: Warmbier’s parents have issued a scathing rebuke in response to the President’s statement.
Continue reading ““I Will Take Him At His Word”: Trump States That He Believes Kim Jong Un Had No Knowledge Of Warmbier’s Mistreatment”
I will be testifying this morning at a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. The hearing will be on the National Emergencies Act of 1976 and the current controversy (and litigation) over President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration on the southern border. The hearing will be on C-Span and will start at noon at 2141 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515.
Continue reading “Turley To Testify In House Judiciary Committee On Trump Declaration”
As expected, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to terminate President Donald Trump’s national emergency proclamation. The vote was 245 to 182 with 13 Republicans voting against the President. The matter now goes to the Senate where Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Maine Sen. Susan Collins have indicated that they will likely join Democratic members to rescind the order. However, even if passed, there is a need for a supermajority to override the promised veto from President Trump.
Continue reading “House Votes To Rescind Trump Border Emergency Declaration”
Just when you thought that the politics in Washington, D.C. could not get more grotesque, it does. In a shocking tweet, House Oversight Committee, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, tweeted out a clear threat to Michael Cohen that his appearance before Congress just might lead to the disclosure of affairs with multiple women. It is clearly highly inappropriate and, even as one of Cohen’s longest critics, it is outrageous to threaten the release of immaterial personal dirt on a witness who is reportedly ready to implicate the President in wrongdoing.
Continue reading “Trump Ally Under Fire For Appearing To Threaten Cohen With Disclosure of Affairs”