More obstruction? More blatant tries at covering things up?

Trump reverses course again on Russia investigation


http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/video/trump-reverses-russia-investigation-62846578

With Mueller on Justice staff, Barr has sway over testimony

"WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Robert Mueller was expected to step down days after concluding his investigation in March. Yet he remains a Justice Department employee — and the department won't say why".

http://www.apnews.com/3ef5e453bd0e4a1087cfdc0e144a708c

Trump Denies Democrats His Tax Returns and Prepares for a Contempt Showdown


"WASHINGTON — The Trump administration ruled out turning over President Trump’s tax returns to the House on Monday and girded for a looming contempt of Congress resolution against Attorney General William P. Barr".

http://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/us/politics/house-contempt-attorney-general-barr.html

I honestly do not understand why the person who actually conducted the investigation should be silenced by anyone. We paid for it, we should know what happened based on actual testimony. Any other argument is simply political.

Pelosi says Trump is 'goading us to impeach him'

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who has resisted calls from some members of her party to begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump, said Tuesday that the president seems to be daring Democrats to take that politically fraught step".

http://news.yahoo.com/pelosi-says-trump-is-goading-us-to-impeach-him-161052477.html

The Top 10 Lies In The Trump Budget

"There are three reasons why, as predicted, the Trump 2019 budget was barely a topic of conversation by the end of the day it was released let alone by the weekend’s talk shows.

First, the White House stepped all over its own budget story by announcing its infrastructure plan hours before it released the full budget. That was also the same day the Senate began debating immigration and the Rob Porter situation became a big juicy political scandal the administration completely mishandled. Add the Florida school shooting; the congressional testimonies by the directors of the CIA, FBI and National Security Agency that Russia was engaged in a cyber war with the United States; the scandal involving the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and the indictments for the Russian involvement in the 2016 election and it’s easy see why the Trump 2019 plan never had a chance".

http://www3.forbes.com/investing/the-top-10-lies-in-the-trump-budget/?utm_source=PErecirc&utm_medium=referral

FBI Director Says No Evidence of Illegal 'Spying' on Trump Campaign

"(WASHINGTON) — FBI Director Christopher Wray said Tuesday that he does not consider court-approved FBI surveillance to be “spying” and said he has no evidence the FBI illegally monitored President Donald Trump’s campaign during the 2016 election".

http://time.com/5585190/fbi-director-no-evidence-spying-trump-campaign/



New threats by Trump on trade take bigger toll on U.S. farmers


"President Trump’s recent tweets threatening to escalate his trade war with China sent soybean and corn futures plummeting Monday, in the latest hardship for U.S. farmers". Already reeling from reduced demand for their crops after China imposed a 25 percent retaliatory tariff on soybeans, farmers struggling to deal with flooding rains faced the prospect that Trump might fail to reach a deal with Beijing to end a costly trade war.

http://news.yahoo.com/new-threats-by-trump-on-trade-takes-bigger-toll-on-us-farmers-182802363.html

UPDATE 1-Trump slams China on trade, says won't lose to Beijing

"WASHINGTON, May 6 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday slammed China over its trade practices, saying the United States was losing billions to Beijing and vowing to protect American commerce as tension escalated following his weekend threat to hike tariffs".

http://www.reuters.com/article/usa-china-trade-trump-idUSL2N22I08S

Asia stocks mostly higher after Trump trade threat

"BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets rebounded Tuesday after Beijing said trade negotiators were preparing to go to Washington despite President Donald Trump's threat to escalate their tariff war.

Benchmarks in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Sydney rose, while Tokyo declined after reopening following a long holiday.

Trump's surprise threat Sunday of more tariff hikes triggered fears China might pull out of talks aimed at ending the fight over its technology ambitions. Markets recovered after Beijing said envoys were preparing to go to Washington. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said talks would start Thursday".

http://apnews.com/d06990e31c644a88a780e835bcfa32e5

AG Bill Barr believes special counsel Robert Mueller should be allowed to testify


"Attorney General William Barr still believes special counsel Robert Mueller should be allowed to testify before Congress, despite President Donald Trump's apparent objection, according to a source familiar with the attorney general's thinking.

As the head of the Justice Department and Mueller's boss, Barr could attempt to block the testimony if he chooses".

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ag-bill-barr-believes-special-counsel-robert-mueller/story?id=62861537

Refusal to hand over Trump’s tax returns sets up legal fight

"WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has made it official: The administration won’t be turning President Donald Trump’s tax returns over to the Democratic-controlled House".

http://www.apnews.com/ce215295783e419d8896d50bc7907107

Trump meetings with Putin broke the law, groups allege

"A lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges that President Trump violated the Presidential Records Act and the Federal Records Act by “intentionally failing” to keep written accounts of meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and others".


http://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-meetings-with-putin-broke-the-law-groups-allege-203415696.html

Deutsche Bank Takes ‘No Position’ on Trumps’ Bid to See Subpoena

"(Bloomberg) -- Two U.S. House of Representatives committees said they’re in "good-faith negotiations" to allow President Donald Trump to see copies of subpoenas directing Deutsche Bank AG and Capital One Financial Corp. to turn over his bank records, as well as those of his three oldest children and some Trump businesses".

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-07/deutsche-bank-takes-no-position-on-trumps-bid-to-see-subpoena

allowed to testify ... now I have heard it all. Is it still not a country where people are permitted to make their OWN decision about testifying WHEN ASKED TO TESTIFY?

Who else do they need 'permission' from?

I don't know why my answer to you was deleted. But, I'll try again. Except for this time, I will keep it shorter. Look at Nixon. Through all the crap he got caught in. Not once did he ever try to keep anyone from testifying. Look at Bill Clinton and all the crap he was caught in. Not once did he ever try to stop anyone from testifying. Only one president has ever said a word about trying to keep someone or anyone from testifying, Trump.

In reversal, Trump says Mueller ‘should not testify’ before Congress


http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-democrat-says-mueller-and-judiciary-committee-tentatively-agree-on-may-15-for-his-testimony-on-russia-investigation/2019/05/05/576dabae-6f45-11e9-8be0-ca575670e91c_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.f19cac8efb3b

Trump tax returns from 1985-94 show $1 billion in losses: NY Times

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's businesses lost a total of more than $1 billion from 1985 to 1994, according to the New York Times, which said it obtained printouts from Trump's official Internal Revenue Service tax transcripts.

The newspaper said Trump posted losses in excess of $250 million in both 1990 and 1991, which appeared to be more than double any other individual U.S. taxpayer, based on IRS data.

Trump lost so much money that he was able to avoid paying income taxes for eight of the 10 years, the Times said".

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-taxes/trump-tax-returns-from-1985-94-show-1-billion-in-losses-ny-times-idUSKCN1SD2R4

I've had three jobs in my life. I worked in a yarn mill. After that, I was a policeman for several years. But my heart was in automotive. I've worked in autobody for the past 30 years. I've had my own shop now for 20 years. I have three people on the payroll. Yes, there have been times where I lost money on a job. One year I lost 5000 bucks. But I cleared 80 thousand after payroll and shop expenses. How can a man that is supposed to be the greatest dealmaker of them all lose 1-billion dollars? He can't be that great of a businessman. WOW!

Democrats could hold AG Barr in contempt of Congress. What is that and can it actually be used?

"WASHINGTON – At every investigative avenue pursued by congressional Democrats is the Trump administration ready for a fight.

A request for the president’s tax returns? A letter from his attorneys demanding they remain secret. Testimony from key current or former aides? The White House is threatening to invoke executive privilege. Financial documents related to the president’s assets? Two separate lawsuits".

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/05/03/contempt-congress-william-barr-democrats/3647317002//

White House Tells Lawmakers Don McGahn Will Not Turn Over Documents

"The House Judiciary Committee requested the documents from McGahn in April, but the White House says lawmakers subpoenaed the wrong person".

"The Trump administration ordered former White House counsel Don McGahn not to comply with part of a House committee subpoena.

The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed McGahn in April, asking him to testify about the special counsel's obstruction of justice investigation. It also asked him to turn over a long list of documents".

http://www.newsy.com/stories/white-house-don-mcgahn-will-not-turn-over-documents/


This is going to wind up in Federal Court before it's over with.

House Speaker Pelosi: Trump making impeachment case by ignoring subpoenas

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday President Donald Trump was moving closer to impeachment with his effort to thwart congressional subpoenas and obstruct lawmakers' efforts to oversee his administration".

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-pelosi/house-speaker-pelosi-trump-making-impeachment-case-by-ignoring-subpoenas-idUSKCN1SE1KJ

New York Senate OKs giving US House Trump state tax return

"ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s Senate easily approved a bill Wednesday that would allow three congressional committees to get access to President Donald Trump’s state tax returns, giving Democrats a potential end-run around the administration’s refusal to disclose the president’s federal returns".


http://www.apnews.com/116f602be4e34de2b73a35fe7ac02cb2


Trump asserts executive privilege over full Mueller report as Democrats vote to hold Attorney General Bill Barr in contempt

"President Donald Trump on Wednesday asserted executive privilege over the full, unredacted report from special counsel Robert Mueller just as the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler, debated holding Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress for not turning over Mueller's full findings in response to a committee subpoena".


http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/democrats-prepare-hold-attorney-general-bill-barr-contempt/story?id=62888034

House committee votes to hold Attorney General Barr in contempt

"The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress for failing to turn over an unredacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and President Trump’s efforts to obstruct the probe.

“This is not a step we take lightly,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said before the vote. “This is a culmination of three months of requests, discussions, and negotiations with the Department of Justice.”

The final vote was 24-16, along party lines".

http://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/08/us/politics/trump-executive-privilege-mueller-report.html

http://www.yahoo.com/news/house-judiciary-william-barr-contempt-202200206.html

In Rare Bipartisan Move, Reps. Adam Schiff and Devin Nunes Threaten to Subpoena DOJ for Mueller Files

"The House Intelligence Committee’s Democratic chairman and Republican ranking member are threatening to hit the Justice Department with a rare bipartisan subpoena if the department doesn’t hand over testimony and briefing materials produced by Special Counsel Robert Mueller during the Russia investigation".


http://www.thedailybeast.com/in-rare-bipartisan-move-reps-adam-schiff-and-devin-nunes-threaten-to-subpoena-doj-for-mueller-files

'Game on': Christie dares Democrats to impeach Trump

"One day after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Donald Trump is “goading us to impeach him,” the president's erstwhile confidant Chris Christie basically dared Democrats to do just that.

Interviewed Wednesday at the SALT Conference in Las Vegas alongside former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Christie, who endorsed Trump in 2016 after dropping his own presidential bid, said Democrats could seek to impeach Trump but know it would be “politically stupid.”

“If they want to do it, game on. If they want to do it, go ahead and do it, but stop skirting around the edges and acting as if you may do, but you may not do it and try to make a political point out of it,” Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, said. “Either do it or don’t, otherwise, let’s have a political election in 2020 and people can decide these issues then".

"The Trump White House has defied congressional subpoenas seeking a full, unredacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian election interference in the 2016 presidential election. The House Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over the report. “We are now in a constitutional crisis,” said Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y. "


http://news.yahoo.com/game-on-christie-invites-democrats-to-impeach-trump-211823992.html


Fitness to serve the Presidency, however, is not limited to a legal threshold. Senator Graham, the South Carolina legislator, passionately stated that Richard Nixon could have been impeached for failing to comply with subpoenas from Congress. “You don’t even have to be convicted of a crime to lose your job in this constitutional republic,” Graham said. “If this body determines that your conduct as a public official is clearly out of bounds in your role because […] Impeachment is not about punishment, impeachment is about cleansing the office.” “Impeachment is about restoring honor and integrity to the office,” he added.
Why was Republican Senator Graham correct then and not now?

Trump Admin Inflated Iran Intel, U.S. Officials Say

"On Sunday, the National Security Council announced that the U.S. was sending a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Persian Gulf in response to “troubling and escalatory” warnings from Iran—an eye-popping move that raised fears of a potential military confrontation with Tehran. Justifying the move, anonymous government officials cited intelligence indicating Iran had crafted plans to use proxies to strike U.S. forces, both off the coast of Yemen and stationed in Iraq. National Security Adviser John Bolton also discussed the intelligence on the record. A consensus appeared to be emerging: that Iran was gearing up for war".

http://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-administration-inflated-iran-intelligence-us-officials-say

US dismisses Iran's threats to withdraw from nuclear deal, imposes new sanctions on Iran's metal industries

"One year after President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal, Iran has warned the pact's remaining signatories that it would stop implementing parts of the agreement if they don't improve economic cooperation with the country".


http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-dismisses-irans-threats-withdraw-nuclear-deal-weighs/story?id=62905628

http://news.yahoo.com/us-dismisses-irans-threats-withdraw-nuclear-deal-imposes-192900729.html

New concerns Trump administration may be laying legal groundwork for military action against Iran

" "

Trump Admin Inflated Iran Intel, U.S. Officials Say

"On Sunday, the National Security Council announced that the U.S. was sending a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Persian Gulf in response to “troubling and escalatory” warnings from Iran—an eye-popping move that raised fears of a potential military confrontation with Tehran. Justifying the move, anonymous government officials cited intelligence indicating Iran had crafted plans to use proxies to strike U.S. forces, both off the coast of Yemen and stationed in Iraq. National Security Adviser John Bolton also discussed the intelligence on the record. A consensus appeared to be emerging: that Iran was gearing up for war".

http://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-administration-inflated-iran-intelligence-us-officials-say

US dismisses Iran's threats to withdraw from nuclear deal, imposes new sanctions on Iran's metal industries

"One year after President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal, Iran has warned the pact's remaining signatories that it would stop implementing parts of the agreement if they don't improve economic cooperation with the country".


http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-dismisses-irans-threats-withdraw-nuclear-deal-weighs/story?id=62905628

http://news.yahoo.com/us-dismisses-irans-threats-withdraw-nuclear-deal-imposes-192900729.html

New concerns Trump administration may be laying legal groundwork for military action against Iran

"When Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the Trump administration would designate a branch of Iran’s military as a foreign terrorist organization Monday, he said, “The Trump administration is simply recognizing a basic reality".

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/concerns-trump-administration-laying-legal-groundwork-military-action/story?id=62360052

Donald Trump Jr. subpoenaed to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee: Sources

"President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, has been subpoenaed to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee, three sources familiar with the matter confirmed to ABC News. The committee is controlled by Republicans as part of their Senate majority".

http://www.yahoo.com/gma/donald-trump-jr-subpoenaed-appear-senate-intelligence-committee-213000070.html

New York moves to release Trump’s tax returns and reduce his pardon powers

"President's home state may be the first to provide Congress with copies of his tax returns".

"New York state has steadily passed legislation in recent days that seeks to limit the president’s pardon powers and curtail his ability to withhold his tax returns from Congress.

The state’s Senate voted on Wednesday in favor of a bill that requires local agencies to comply with requests for state tax returns from the heads of Congress’s House ways and means committee, the Senate finance committee or the joint committee on taxation".

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-tax-returns-latest-pardon-new-york-state-senate-bills-congress-a8905661.html


The Senate's tax return legislation is expected to pass in the state assembly before governor Andrew Cuomo — a prominent opponent to Mr. Trump — signs it into law.

That means Mr. Trump’s home-state could be the first to provide Congressional committees probing the president’s financial dealings with copies of his tax returns after the president defied modern precedent by refusing to disclose his returns.
Thank You, New York!

Dems vote to hold AG in contempt as Trump asserts privilege over full Mueller report

"The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jerry Nadler, voted along party lines Wednesday to advance a resolution to hold Attorney General Bill Barr in contempt of Congress for not complying with a subpoena for special counsel Robert Mueller's unredacted report after President Donald Trump asserted executive privilege over Mueller's findings".

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/justice-department-set-ask-executive-privilege-mueller-report-n1003146

The news channels here in the UK are reporting that dozy donny is doing all he can to stop the full Mueller report from being made public. They are asking why he is doing this while at the same time saying that he has been cleared of all collusion and wrong doing. Why indeed?

I feel the redacted report should be enough for general public because the clearance and position of those involved may mean there is confidential or sensitive information included in it. But I don't think the full report should be withheld from Congress, or that further investigation of the obstruction should be permitted to also be ... well, obstructed.

An innocent man has nothing to hide.But knowing how Trump is, It may be nothing but can't stand people knowing the real failure he is. Or how much Russian money has been laundered through his shell companies.

China vows retaliation if Trump raises tariffs

"BEIJING (AP) — Ratcheting up pressure just hours ahead of talks in Washington, China vowed Thursday to retaliate if President Donald Trump goes ahead with more tariff hikes in a dispute over trade and technology.

Beijing will be forced to impose "necessary countermeasures" if the increases take effect Friday as planned, the Commerce Ministry said. It gave no details of possible penalties.

Trump threw global financial markets into turmoil with Sunday's threat to raise import duties on $200 billion of Chinese goods from 10% to 25%. Trump complained talks were moving too slowly and said Beijing was trying to backtrack on earlier agreements".

http://www.apnews.com/f4d4db3a42f84fb1b65c3febfe10cbcd