Russia Made Previously Unreported Efforts To Connect Trump With Putin During Campaign, And Other Trump News From Wednesday
Wednesday. August 23rd. Day 216.
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Russian Officials Made Additional, Previously Unreported Efforts To Connect Putin With Trump Campaign: CNN reports that Rick Dearborn, a former Trump campaign official and current deputy chief of staff in the White House, sent an email last year referring to a previously unreported effort by someone from "WV" — apparently West Virginia — to arrange a meeting between the Trump campaign and Russian President Vladimir Putin. It's unclear whether the meeting ever took place, although Dearborn's reference to the effort was reportedly skeptical. The newly reported email was among the 20,000 emails that the Trump campaign has handed over to congressional committees.
Trump Reportedly Made Angry Phone Calls To Senators About Russia Investigation And Sanctions: Earlier this month, Trump called Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to complain about government investigations into Russian interference into the 2016 election and new sanctions against Russia, according to Politico. Tillis is working on a bill to protect special prosecutor Robert Mueller from any attempts Trump might make to fire him. "It seems he is just always focused on Russia," one senior GOP aide told Politico.
Paul Ryan Urges Trump Not To Shut Down Government Over Border Wall Funding: In his Phoenix speech, President Trump suggested he might shut down the federal government if Congress wouldn't agree to fund his border wall. On Wednesday, Paul Ryan and other congressional leaders urged the President to reconsider the threat.
The White House Has Paperwork Ready To Pardon Joe Arpaio: According to CNN, the White House has already prepared the paperwork for if President Trump decides to pardon Joe Arpaio, the former Arizona sheriff who was found guilty of criminal contempt after ignoring a federal court order regarding his detention of suspected undocumented immigrants.
Department Of State's Science Envoy Resigns: In response to Trump's Charlottesville response, Prof. Daniel Kammen, the Science Envoy for the Department of State, resigned. What's more, the first letters of each paragraph in his resignation letter spell "Impeach."
Former Director Of National Intelligence Questions Trump's Fitness For Office: Following Trump's rambling speech in Phoenix, former DNI James Clapper criticized the President strongly on CNN, questioning whether he was fit to continue serving.
DOJ Scales Back Warrant For IP Addresses That Accessed Inauguration Protest Website: After hosting site DreamHost (and numerous critics) pushed back on a DOJ warrant seeking IP addresses for 1.3 million people that accessed disruptJ20.com, an inauguration protest site, the DOJ is reportedly amending the warrant.
Hillary Says Her 'Skin Crawled' When Trump Shadowed Her At Debate: In an excerpt from her forthcoming memoir, Clinton writes that she wanted to tell Trump "Back up, you creep!" during the presidential debate where he shadowed her movements.
Trump Returns To Campaign Form At Phoenix Rally On Tuesday Night: In a speech at a Phoenix rally, President Trump laid into the press at length, rehashed his response to Charlottesville and hinted that he might pardon Joe Arpaio.