thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-10--California Governor Gavin Newsom's Budget Includes New Vaping Tax Proposal

California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D ) is proposing a new tax on e-cigarettes in an effort to curb the rise of vaping among young people .
In the state ’ s new budget for 2020-2021 , released Friday , the governor ’ s office included an additional vaping tax of $ 2 for every 40 milligrams of nicotine in a product , which is “ equivalent to the tax on a pack of cigarettes , ” according to the budget summary .
The new tax would go into effect on Jan. 1 , 2021 , and would add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are already taxed as tobacco products .
The budget summary estimates that the new vaping tax would bring in about $ 32 million in revenue for 2020-2021 and would be used for prevention , enforcement and more .
“ We must take immediate action to meet the urgency behind this public health crisis and youth epidemic , ” Newsom said in September after signing an executive order launching a statewide public awareness campaign to educate youth and parents about the health risks of vaping .
From 2016 to 2018 , vaping among California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with about 1 in 10 California high schoolers reporting using e-cigarettes in 2018 , per the governor ’ s office .
Reports of vaping-related injuries and deaths have been making headlines in recent months .
Across the country , there have been over 2,600 cases of hospitalizations and 57 deaths related to e-cigarette or vaping product use , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ― with an outbreak of such cases beginning in June 2019 and peaking in September .
The CDC and other agencies are currently investigating the cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four people have died since June and over 170 with a history of vaping have been hospitalized for severe breathing problems and lung damage , per the California Department of Public Health .
In a message on its website , the CDPH “ urges everyone to refrain from vaping , no matter the substance or source , until current investigations are complete.
” Newsom said in his budget Friday that he will also be supporting a statewide ban ― currently moving through the state legislature ― against all flavored nicotine products as of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draw in underage customers .
In the state budget , Newsom ’ s office also included over $ 1 billion to address the issue of homelessness , which has been worsening in Los Angeles , the San Francisco Bay Area and other regions in recent years .

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is proposing a new tax on e-cigarettes in an effort to curb the rise of vaping among young people.
In the state’s new budget for 2020-2021, released Friday, the governor’s office included an additional vaping tax of $2 for every 40 milligrams of nicotine in a product, which is “equivalent to the tax on a pack of cigarettes,” according to the budget summary.
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The new tax would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021, and would add to existing taxes on e-cigarettes, which are already taxed as tobacco products.
State lawmakers still have to approve the governor’s new budget by mid-June.
The budget summary estimates that the new vaping tax would bring in about $32 million in revenue for 2020-2021 and would be used for prevention, enforcement and more.
“We must take immediate action to meet the urgency behind this public health crisis and youth epidemic,” Newsom said in September after signing an executive order launching a statewide public awareness campaign to educate youth and parents about the health risks of vaping.
“As a parent, I understand the anxiety caused by the deceptive marketing tactics and flavored options designed to target our kids,” he added.
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From 2016 to 2018, vaping among California high school students rose 27% ― with about 1 in 10 California high schoolers reporting using e-cigarettes in 2018, per the governor’s office.
LIVE NOW: The California 2020-21 State Budget Briefing by Governor @GavinNewsom. #CAbudget #CaliforniaForAll https://t.co/VAxfLLOG5C — Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) January 10, 2020
Reports of vaping-related injuries and deaths have been making headlines in recent months. Across the country, there have been over 2,600 cases of hospitalizations and 57 deaths related to e-cigarette or vaping product use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ― with an outbreak of such cases beginning in June 2019 and peaking in September. The CDC and other agencies are currently investigating the cause of the illnesses.
In California, four people have died since June and over 170 with a history of vaping have been hospitalized for severe breathing problems and lung damage, per the California Department of Public Health. In a message on its website, the CDPH “urges everyone to refrain from vaping, no matter the substance or source, until current investigations are complete.”
Newsom said in his budget Friday that he will also be supporting a statewide ban ― currently moving through the state legislature ― against all flavored nicotine products as of January 2021. Critics say such products draw in underage customers.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-11--Justice Department Push To Delay Obamacare Ruling Could Put Off Gutting Until After Election

U.S. Department of Justice lawyers pressed the Supreme Court on Friday not to “ expedite ” a decision on the Affordable Care Act that could end up delaying Donald Trump ’ s hoped-for death of the health care system until after the presidential election .
Trump administration lawyers argued that an accelerated ruling requested by the U.S. House and a group of Democratic-led states on Obamacare is “ unnecessary ” and “ premature.
” There is no “ present , real-world emergency ” that would require a speedy decision , according to the brief by Trump ’ s solicitor general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an expedited ruling involves a lawsuit against former President Barack Obama ’ s signature Affordable Care Act filed by a coalition of Republican attorneys general , and joined by the Justice Department , that seeks to invalidate the entire ACA system .
Last month , the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit , based in New Orleans , dealt a major blow to the plan by ruling that the law ’ s mandate that individuals buy health insurance was unconstitutional .
The House and Democratic states then argued that an ultimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remove the uncertainty involving the health care system for the 20 million people who currently rely on it .
They ’ re calling on the nation ’ s high court to uphold the law and overrule the decision by the lower court .
If a majority of the court doesn ’ t vote to expedite their request , that would mean a final decision on the health care system would not be made before November ’ s election .
Trump vowed to eliminate Obamacare during his 2016 campaign .
But the Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternative for the millions who depend on the system .

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U.S. Department of Justice lawyers pressed the Supreme Court on Friday not to “expedite” a decision on the Affordable Care Act that could end up delaying Donald Trump’s hoped-for death of the health care system until after the presidential election.
Trump administration lawyers argued that an accelerated ruling requested by the U.S. House and a group of Democratic-led states on Obamacare is “unnecessary” and “premature.” There is no “present, real-world emergency” that would require a speedy decision, according to the brief by Trump’s solicitor general, Noel Francisco.
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The press for an expedited ruling involves a lawsuit against former President Barack Obama’s signature Affordable Care Act filed by a coalition of Republican attorneys general, and joined by the Justice Department, that seeks to invalidate the entire ACA system. Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, based in New Orleans, dealt a major blow to the plan by ruling that the law’s mandate that individuals buy health insurance was unconstitutional.
The House and Democratic states then argued that an ultimate decision on the lawsuit is needed quickly to remove the uncertainty involving the health care system for the 20 million people who currently rely on it. They’re calling on the nation’s high court to uphold the law and overrule the decision by the lower court.
If a majority of the court doesn’t vote to expedite their request, that would mean a final decision on the health care system would not be made before November’s election.
Trump vowed to eliminate Obamacare during his 2016 campaign. But the Republicans have yet to come up with an alternative for the millions who depend on the system.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-10--Texas To Become First State To Reject New Refugees Under Trump Order

HOUSTON ( AP ) — Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott says the state will reject the re-settlement of new refugees @ @ @ @ @ known to do so under a recent Trump administration order .
In a letter released @ @ @ @ @ Texas “ has been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from @ @ @ @ @ ” He added that Texas , which typically takes in thousands of refugees each year @ @ @ @ @ than its share.
” The Trump administration announced in November that resettlement agencies must get @ @ @ @ @ local officials in any jurisdiction where they want to help resettle refugees beyond June 2020 @ @ @ @ @ states have said they will consent to allowing in more refugees , according to the @ @ @ @ @ .

HOUSTON (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says the state will reject the re-settlement of new refugees, becoming the first state known to do so under a recent Trump administration order.
In a letter released Friday, Abbott wrote that Texas “has been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from a broken federal immigration system.” He added that Texas, which typically takes in thousands of refugees each year, has done “more than its share.”
The Trump administration announced in November that resettlement agencies must get written consent from state and local officials in any jurisdiction where they want to help resettle refugees beyond June 2020.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-11--Donald Trump Is About To Put His Stamp On The U.S. Postal Service

The current postmaster general , Megan Brennan , plans to step down from her position in early 2020 after a career in the Postal Service and five years as the first woman to head it .
The agency ’ s board of governors , which is now stocked with a quorum of Senate-approved Trump nominees , will name her successor .
Like other close watchers of the agency , Ronnie Stutts , president of the National Association of Rural Letter Carriers , suspects the board will look outside the Postal Service for its next leader , perhaps to someone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear is that it will choose someone eager to spin pieces of the service off to the private sector .
Since he first started filling out his Cabinet , Trump has shown a fondness for appointing leaders hostile to the government agencies they ’ re tapped to lead .
The postmaster general is not a direct appointment ― Trump ’ s picks will be making the decision .
But the president has demonstrated a willingness to insert himself into the agency ’ s dealings in the past .
He once personally pressured Brennan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of his feud with the company ’ s CEO , Jeff Bezos .
The agency has been losing money for years ; it has been hit by a steep drop in first-class mail due to advancements like online bill pay , though it has made up a lot of ground with the boom in parcel delivery fed by online retail .
The agency has a lot of scary-looking red ink , but much of that is due to a unique obligation imposed by Congress that the service pre-fund retiree health benefits years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other public agencies are hemmed in by such an obligation .
“ No matter when they change the postmaster general , it ’ s a pivotal point for the Postal Service , ” said Art Sackler , manager of the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service , a group representing businesses that rely on the agency .
“ But I would say that this one is far more intense than most of those pivotal points because of the financial crunch the Postal Service is experiencing.
” The Postal Service is not supposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no tax dollars .
A lot of people in America don ’ t understand that .
Ronnie Stutts , president of the National Association of Rural Letter Carriers At its heart is the universal service obligation ― the not-clearly-defined idea that basically says everyone should be able to send and receive mail at an affordable price .
The private mailers don ’ t have such an obligation ; in fact , they often end up relying on the Postal Service to perform last-mile delivery for them , particularly in rural areas , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UPS and FedEx to hit every address .
Contrary to what many people assume , the Postal Service does not receive taxpayer money .
The mail runs on postage .
Trump also created a task force headed by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to propose postal reforms .
Though its findings were not as drastic as the OMB ’ s ― the plan did not explicitly call for full-on privatization ― critics saw a back-door attack on universal service in the report through the recommendation that mail be divided into “ essential ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force also proposed giving the agency more leeway to cut services on its own , including dropping delivery days .
Most controversially , the OMB blueprint would gut collective bargaining rights , changing the law so that postal unions could no longer bargain over compensation , which is already the case for federal workers in other agencies who are paid with tax dollars .
Through solid wages and pensions , postal jobs have traditionally been a pathway to the middle class for millions of American workers , including a disproportionate number of African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service is not supposed to make any money .
We get no tax dollars .
A lot of people in America don ’ t understand that , ” Stutts said .
“ One of the biggest concerns we have [ is ] that somebody will come in with the mentality that we ’ ll operate totally like a business and not look at what our goal and our mission is.
” “ The postmaster general and the board of governors can slow down the mail rather than speed it up , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Dimondstein said .
“ There ’ s an awful lot of partial privatization that they can do , and also just undermining service so that people lose confidence in the public option .
The postmaster general has an awful lot of say .
”

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The U.S. Postal Service could look a lot more like a private corporation in a few years.
The current postmaster general, Megan Brennan, plans to step down from her position in early 2020 after a career in the Postal Service and five years as the first woman to head it. The agency’s board of governors, which is now stocked with a quorum of Senate-approved Trump nominees, will name her successor.
Like other close watchers of the agency, Ronnie Stutts, president of the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, suspects the board will look outside the Postal Service for its next leader, perhaps to someone in the business world. Stutts’ biggest fear is that it will choose someone eager to spin pieces of the service off to the private sector.
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After all, as Fortune recently reported, that’s what the White House has recommended ― to turn the independent federal agency into an investor-owned utility.
“There’s a real risk that the successor could try to hand over parts to privatize. That’s what we don’t want to happen,” Stutts, a former letter carrier whose union represents 130,000 postal employees in rural and suburban areas, told HuffPost. “We welcome innovation; we just don’t want privatization.”
Donald Trump has assembled a quorum on the U.S. Postal Service's board of governors, which will select a new leader for the agency. NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images
Since he first started filling out his Cabinet, Trump has shown a fondness for appointing leaders hostile to the government agencies they’re tapped to lead. The postmaster general is not a direct appointment ― Trump’s picks will be making the decision. But the president has demonstrated a willingness to insert himself into the agency’s dealings in the past. He once personally pressured Brennan to hike delivery rates on Amazon as part of his feud with the company’s CEO, Jeff Bezos.
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The GOP-dominated board of governors has delegated the search for postmaster general candidates to Russell, Reynolds and Associates, a firm that specializes in finding executive leaders. It’s expected that the board will choose from a roster of names supplied by the firm, looking for someone to get the Postal Service on strong financial footing.
The agency has been losing money for years; it has been hit by a steep drop in first-class mail due to advancements like online bill pay, though it has made up a lot of ground with the boom in parcel delivery fed by online retail. The agency has a lot of scary-looking red ink, but much of that is due to a unique obligation imposed by Congress that the service pre-fund retiree health benefits years in advance. Neither private companies nor other public agencies are hemmed in by such an obligation.
“No matter when they change the postmaster general, it’s a pivotal point for the Postal Service,” said Art Sackler, manager of the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service, a group representing businesses that rely on the agency. “But I would say that this one is far more intense than most of those pivotal points because of the financial crunch the Postal Service is experiencing.”
“The Postal Service is not supposed to make any money. We get no tax dollars. A lot of people in America don’t understand that.” - Ronnie Stutts, president of the National Association of Rural Letter Carriers
The Postal Service may operate a lot like a business that competes with private shippers like UPS and FedEx, but it is a public entity with unique responsibilities. It routinely polls as Americans’ favorite federal agency, with 3 in 4 people saying it does an “excellent” or “good” job.
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At its heart is the universal service obligation ― the not-clearly-defined idea that basically says everyone should be able to send and receive mail at an affordable price. The private mailers don’t have such an obligation; in fact, they often end up relying on the Postal Service to perform last-mile delivery for them, particularly in rural areas, where it wouldn’t make sense for UPS and FedEx to hit every address. Contrary to what many people assume, the Postal Service does not receive taxpayer money. The mail runs on postage.
The Postal Service’s financial outlook has prompted calls for major reform. The White House’s own proposal spooked a lot of groups that prize the agency’s public mission. In a 2018 reform plan for the federal government, Trump’s Office of Management and Budget suggested privatizing the Postal Service wholesale, cutting back on delivery and gutting the universal service mandate.
Trump also created a task force headed by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to propose postal reforms. Though its findings were not as drastic as the OMB’s ― the plan did not explicitly call for full-on privatization ― critics saw a back-door attack on universal service in the report through the recommendation that mail be divided into “essential” and “non-essential” categories. The task force also proposed giving the agency more leeway to cut services on its own, including dropping delivery days.
Do you work for the U.S. Postal Service? We’d like to hear from you. Email our reporter here.
Most controversially, the OMB blueprint would gut collective bargaining rights, changing the law so that postal unions could no longer bargain over compensation, which is already the case for federal workers in other agencies who are paid with tax dollars. Through solid wages and pensions, postal jobs have traditionally been a pathway to the middle class for millions of American workers, including a disproportionate number of African Americans and veterans.
Stutts, who started his career carrying mail in rural Tennessee, said he’s worried the next postmaster general might not value the public mission and the workforce. Brennan, he noted, started out as a letter carrier in Pennsylvania.
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“The Postal Service is not supposed to make any money. We get no tax dollars. A lot of people in America don’t understand that,” Stutts said. “One of the biggest concerns we have [is] that somebody will come in with the mentality that we’ll operate totally like a business and not look at what our goal and our mission is.”
First-class mail has fallen in recent years, but the Postal Service has picked up a lot of business in parcel delivery due to online retail. John Gress / Reuters
Congress would need to sign off on the most drastic reforms, but a postmaster general working in tandem with the board of governors can still do a lot.
Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union, which represents 220,000 workers and retirees, said he’s worried about even partial steps toward privatization or service cuts. He subscribes to the “death spiral” theory: By trimming service to save money, the agency will just push more customers away, worsening its financial situation.
Brennan’s predecessor, Patrick Donahoe, advocated eliminating Saturday delivery and dropping to five days a week ― a proposal that drew bipartisan blowback on Capitol Hill. (Donahoe and lawmakers squabbled over whether he could implement such a change without Congress’ approval.) He also launched a failed program letting Staples employees handle postal services in stores, a move Dimondstein’s union defeated at the National Labor Relations Board.
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“The postmaster general and the board of governors can slow down the mail rather than speed it up, and they can advocate for less delivery days,” Dimondstein said. “There’s an awful lot of partial privatization that they can do, and also just undermining service so that people lose confidence in the public option. The postmaster general has an awful lot of say.”
“There’s an awful lot of partial privatization that they can do ... The postmaster general has an awful lot of say.” - Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union
Brennan initially said she would retire by the end of January but now plans to stick around until the board of governors has a successor lined up, likely sometime early this year. The fact that it’s been a slow, seemingly deliberate process has given stakeholders hope that the final choice won’t be a Trumpian, slash-and-burn chief along the lines of former EPA administrator Scott Pruitt.
Tonda Rush, the public policy director at the National Newspaper Association, said the next leader of the agency has to understand the Postal Service isn’t a private company and that dramatic cuts could be destructive. Too many people rely on it, including her trade group’s members ― small community papers across the country.
“It’s got to be someone who can fully understand the operation, or quickly absorb it,” Rush said. “We’ve been down the path [before] of bringing in someone just restructuring-minded. It’s that trick of trying to redesign the plane as you’re flying it. There’s a trillion-dollar economy riding on getting the mail delivered on time.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-11--Magnitude 5.9 Shock Rocks Quake-Stunned Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN , Puerto Rico ( AP ) — A magnitude 5.9 quake shook Puerto Rico on Saturday , causing @ @ @ @ @ ’ s southern coast , where previous recent quakes have toppled homes and schools .
@ @ @ @ @ the 8:54 a.m. ( 1254 GMT ) quake hit 8 miles ( 13 kilometers ) @ @ @ @ @ shallow depth of 3 miles ( 5 kilometers ) .
Puerto Rico ’ s Electric @ @ @ @ @ reported across much of southern Puerto Rico and crews were assessing possible damage at power @ @ @ @ @ a prosecutor who was in the southern coastal city of Ponce when the new quake @ @ @ @ @ hit the sidewalk as buildings continued to crumble .
“ Everyone is out on the @ @ @ @ @ .
There were no immediate reports of injuries .

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A magnitude 5.9 quake shook Puerto Rico on Saturday, causing further damage along the island’s southern coast, where previous recent quakes have toppled homes and schools.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the 8:54 a.m. (1254 GMT) quake hit 8 miles (13 kilometers) southeast of Guanica at a shallow depth of 3 miles (5 kilometers).
Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority said outages were reported across much of southern Puerto Rico and crews were assessing possible damage at power plants.
Bárbara Cruz, a prosecutor who was in the southern coastal city of Ponce when the new quake hit, said concrete debris hit the sidewalk as buildings continued to crumble.
“Everyone is out on the street,” she said.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-11--Iran Standoff Shines Spotlight On Trump's New National Security Adviser

The contrasts with O ’ Brien ’ s predecessor along the way — in secret consultations at Trump ’ s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida , in the Oval Office and in basement deliberations in the White House Situation Room — could not have been more stark .
While former national security adviser John Bolton spent decades as a conservative iconoclast in the public arena , O ’ Brien is far from a household name .
While Bolton had strong opinions he shared loudly in the Oval Office , O ’ Brien has worked to establish an amiable relationship with Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mustache was a target of Trump ’ s mockery , the president is drawn to O ’ Brien ’ s low-key California vibe and style .
For all the differences between the two men , though , O ’ Brien ended up signing off on the same course of action that Bolton had long endorsed : a strike to take out Iran ’ s top general , Qassem Soleimani .
The decision drew retaliatory missile strikes from Tehran .
The Iran drama was set in motion when Trump summoned O ’ Brien from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lush Palm Beach spread , where Trump was spending a two-week winter holiday .
While other top aides , including Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney , consulted with the president from afar , Trump wanted O ’ Brien at his side .
Trump has long been known for tuning out old voices in favor of new ones , but O ’ Brien ’ s rise in the president ’ s inner circle has been rapid .
The 53-year-old O ’ Brien , who has handled scores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corner office on the first floor of the White House , a few steps from the Oval Office .
A sharp-dressing Republican lawyer who worked in the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama , O ’ Brien was appointed by Trump in May 2018 to be the nation ’ s top hostage negotiator .
He successfully worked for the release of several Americans , including pastor Andrew Brunson , who spent two years in a Turkish prison .
O ’ Brien also traveled to Sweden to lobby for the release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imprisoned on an assault charge .
Bolton , Trump ’ s third national security adviser , fell out of favor with the president after a series of sharp disagreements , including over North Korea and Iran policies .
He was forced out in September .
Trump ’ s previous national security adviser , H.R .
McMaster , never developed a personal rapport with the president , who tuned out on McMaster ’ s long-winded briefing style .
O ’ Brien , in contrast , makes it a point to collaborate with the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his work style describe an honest broker who is diplomatic but direct .
He is known to present the views of Pompeo and top defense and intelligence officials to the president as he would brief a legal client .
Colleagues say he doesn ’ t try to push his own foreign policy ideas on the president and is more deferential to the views from other agencies than was Bolton .
He has a plaque on his desk that says , “ There is no limit to what a man can do or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t mind who gets the credit.
” ’ It ’ s a replica of the one President Ronald Reagan kept on his desk in the Oval Office .
Administration officials , at least for now , point to a new camaraderie in the latest incarnation of Trump ’ s national security team : Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper were West Point classmates ; Army Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , has grown close to Trump ; and O ’ Brien , unlike Bolton , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others in the decision-making process .
“ I think he ’ s very comfortable with the idea of the job as a staff job , which I think is the model , ” said former Sen. Jim Talent , a Missouri Republican who met O ’ Brien more than a decade ago when they were advising Mitt Romney ’ s 2008 presidential campaign .
“ Obviously when the president asks for his advice , he gives his personal opinion.
” “ People like Mattis and McMaster , who disagree with the president because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — leaving a bunch of ` yes ’ people , who seem to want to do whatever the president wants , ” Schumer said recently on the Senate floor .
After the drone strike on Soleimani , there was a deliberate effort to give the Iranians some , but not too much , space , to react without committing the U.S. to a military response .
Even as Trump delivered fire and brimstone warnings , the rest of his national security team gave indications that not every Iranian response would send American missiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left no casualties in attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq , the crisis abated , at least for the moment .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — In a defining week for President Donald Trump on the world stage, national security adviser Robert O’Brien was a constant presence at the president’s side as the U.S. edged to the brink of war with Iran and back again.
The contrasts with O’Brien’s predecessor along the way — in secret consultations at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, in the Oval Office and in basement deliberations in the White House Situation Room — could not have been more stark.
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While former national security adviser John Bolton spent decades as a conservative iconoclast in the public arena, O’Brien is far from a household name. While Bolton had strong opinions he shared loudly in the Oval Office, O’Brien has worked to establish an amiable relationship with Trump. And while Bolton’s trademark mustache was a target of Trump’s mockery, the president is drawn to O’Brien’s low-key California vibe and style.
“Right out of central casting,” Trump says of O’Brien.
For all the differences between the two men, though, O’Brien ended up signing off on the same course of action that Bolton had long endorsed: a strike to take out Iran’s top general, Qassem Soleimani. The decision drew retaliatory missile strikes from Tehran.
The way that O’Brien steered the Trump White House through the process endeared himself to the president and widened his rapidly growing influence in the West Wing.
“He’s a deal guy and the president’s a deal guy,” said Jared Kushner, a senior White House adviser. “A lot of people inside the foreign policy establishment are good at explaining why things are wrong but are petrified to put things in play and take calculated risks.”
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The Iran drama was set in motion when Trump summoned O’Brien from Los Angeles to the president’s lush Palm Beach spread, where Trump was spending a two-week winter holiday. While other top aides, including Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, consulted with the president from afar, Trump wanted O’Brien at his side.
“Robert was calm, cool and collected, constantly keeping the president updated,” Kushner recalled.
More than a half-dozen current and former administration officials and Republicans close to the White House contributed to this account. Many spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Trump has long been known for tuning out old voices in favor of new ones, but O’Brien’s rise in the president’s inner circle has been rapid. The 53-year-old O’Brien, who has handled scores of complex international litigation, has a corner office on the first floor of the White House, a few steps from the Oval Office.
A sharp-dressing Republican lawyer who worked in the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, O’Brien was appointed by Trump in May 2018 to be the nation’s top hostage negotiator. He successfully worked for the release of several Americans, including pastor Andrew Brunson, who spent two years in a Turkish prison. O’Brien also traveled to Sweden to lobby for the release of rapper A$AP Rocky, imprisoned on an assault charge.
Bolton, Trump’s third national security adviser, fell out of favor with the president after a series of sharp disagreements, including over North Korea and Iran policies. He was forced out in September. Trump’s previous national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, never developed a personal rapport with the president, who tuned out on McMaster’s long-winded briefing style.
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Bolton had frequently tussled with Pompeo and Defense Department officials and, at times, frustrated the president with his sharp clashes and bureaucratic knife-fighting.
O’Brien, in contrast, makes it a point to collaborate with the State Department and the Pentagon. People familiar with his work style describe an honest broker who is diplomatic but direct. He is known to present the views of Pompeo and top defense and intelligence officials to the president as he would brief a legal client.
Colleagues say he doesn’t try to push his own foreign policy ideas on the president and is more deferential to the views from other agencies than was Bolton. He has a plaque on his desk that says, “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.”’ It’s a replica of the one President Ronald Reagan kept on his desk in the Oval Office.
Administration officials, at least for now, point to a new camaraderie in the latest incarnation of Trump’s national security team: Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper were West Point classmates; Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has grown close to Trump; and O’Brien, unlike Bolton, has not tried pull an end run around others in the decision-making process.
“I think he’s very comfortable with the idea of the job as a staff job, which I think is the model,” said former Sen. Jim Talent, a Missouri Republican who met O’Brien more than a decade ago when they were advising Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign. “Obviously when the president asks for his advice, he gives his personal opinion.”
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Where Republicans see as collegial team, some Democratic critics worry that Trump is surrounding himself with advisers too eager to accede to his views.
New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the administration’s national security team seems to lack “discerning voices.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., lamented this past week that Trump’s current team lacked the the gravitas of earlier advisers, including former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and McMaster, both retired generals.
“People like Mattis and McMaster, who disagree with the president because he’s so erratic, leave — leaving a bunch of `yes’ people, who seem to want to do whatever the president wants,” Schumer said recently on the Senate floor.
After the drone strike on Soleimani, there was a deliberate effort to give the Iranians some, but not too much, space, to react without committing the U.S. to a military response. Even as Trump delivered fire and brimstone warnings, the rest of his national security team gave indications that not every Iranian response would send American missiles flying. When Tehran’s rockets left no casualties in attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, the crisis abated, at least for the moment.
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While former advisers such as Mattis and McMaster, attempted to check some of the president’s impulses, O’Brien has been regarded as enabling some of Trump’s high-risk inclinations.
O’Brien’s style has been to offer pros and cons before ultimately agreeing with Trump’s decisions, including the moves to abruptly withdraw U.S. troops from Kurdish-held territory in Syria and the military raid that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
O’Brien has established good relationships at the White House and on Capitol Hill, said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.
“Every time I talk to the president about him — and his name comes up a fair amount when the president and I are talking — the president just always speaks glowingly about him,” said the Utah senator. He added that O’Brien ” has a client. He doesn’t have his own agenda that he’s pursuing.”
___
Lemire reported from New York. Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-11--Joaquin Phoenix Among Those Arrested At Jane Fonda's D.C. Climate Protest

Phoenix , who picked up a Golden Globe on Sunday for his “ Joker ” performance , gave a speech at the Friday protest that touched on the meat and dairy industries ’ huge contributions to climate change .
The famously vegan actor encouraged others to look at their own dietary habits .
“ I struggle so much with what I can do at times , ” he said .
“ There are things that I can ’ t avoid .
I flew a plane out here .
...
But one thing that I can do is change my eating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urge all of you to join me in that , and you as well , Jane.
” Joaquin Phoenix : `` I struggle so much with what I can do [ to combat climate change ] at times .
There are things that I ca n't avoid -- I flew a plane out here today , or last night rather .
But one thing that I can do is change my eating habits . ''
pic.twitter.com/RaZILYq0La — The Hill ( @ thehill ) January 10 , 2020 Phoenix , Sheen and 145 other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested , Capitol Hill police told Deadline .
The outlet reports that arrestees were hit with charges of crowding , obstructing or incommoding and were released .
In contrast , the first Fire Drill Friday protest in October saw 16 people arrested .
Fonda ’ s arrest at that first demonstration made national headlines .
The then 81-year-old Hollywood legend had announced prior to the protest that she was moving to Washington for four months to lead the weekly rallies , at which she planned on getting arrested .
From left to right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Susan Sarandon and Martin Sheen march during the `` Fire Drill Fridays '' climate change protest and rally on Capitol Hill on Jan. 10 .
“ The most important [ of our demands ] is to stop all new leasing permits for any fossil fuel development on public lands and waters , ” Fonda told The Los Angeles Times prior to the kickoff rally .
“ Because no matter what we do , if that doesn ’ t stop , we ’ re doomed.
” Friday ’ s protest was the last Fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the event with words of compassion for Australia , which is suffering from massive wildfires on the heels of its hottest and driest years on record .
“ I want us all to open our hearts for a moment for the people in Australia who are living in an inferno as a result of the climate crisis , ” she said .
“ People who are losing their homes , who are fleeing their lands , a land that has recently lost to the fires what is reported to be a billion animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ I want us all to remember that the student climate strikers who were here before me and will be continue after me , ” she said , according to a transcript from The Associated Press .
“ They are here every Friday protesting the climate crisis , sacrificing a lot to do that , and I want to thank them because that ’ s where my inspiration came from , these young people that are so brave and are sacrificing so much .
”

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Joaquin Phoenix and Martin Sheen are the latest stars to be arrested at “Fire Drill Fridays,” a series of weekly climate change demonstrations led by Jane Fonda.
Phoenix, who picked up a Golden Globe on Sunday for his “Joker” performance, gave a speech at the Friday protest that touched on the meat and dairy industries’ huge contributions to climate change. The famously vegan actor encouraged others to look at their own dietary habits.
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“I struggle so much with what I can do at times,” he said. “There are things that I can’t avoid. I flew a plane out here. ... But one thing that I can do is change my eating habits, and I just want to urge all of you to join me in that, and you as well, Jane.”
Joaquin Phoenix: "I struggle so much with what I can do [to combat climate change] at times. There are things that I can't avoid -- I flew a plane out here today, or last night rather. But one thing that I can do is change my eating habits." pic.twitter.com/RaZILYq0La — The Hill (@thehill) January 10, 2020
Sheen also spoke, delivering a powerful speech about being “called to find something in our lives worth fighting for.”
Listen to this incredible speech from OUR President, Martin Sheen #FireDrillFriday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Z7HxNkovR8 — Fire Drill Fridays (@FireDrillFriday) January 10, 2020
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Phoenix, Sheen and 145 other people occupying the Capitol Hill steps were arrested, Capitol Hill police told Deadline. The outlet reports that arrestees were hit with charges of crowding, obstructing or incommoding and were released. In contrast, the first Fire Drill Friday protest in October saw 16 people arrested.
Fonda’s arrest at that first demonstration made national headlines. The then 81-year-old Hollywood legend had announced prior to the protest that she was moving to Washington for four months to lead the weekly rallies, at which she planned on getting arrested.
From left to right, actors and activists Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon and Martin Sheen march during the "Fire Drill Fridays" climate change protest and rally on Capitol Hill on Jan. 10. Paul Morigi via Getty Images
“The most important [of our demands] is to stop all new leasing permits for any fossil fuel development on public lands and waters,” Fonda told The Los Angeles Times prior to the kickoff rally. “Because no matter what we do, if that doesn’t stop, we’re doomed.”
Since then, she’s been arrested at the protests several times and spent the night in Jail in early November.
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Other celebrity arrests have included Sally Field and Ted Danson.
Joaquin Phoenix stands outside the U.S. Capitol during a protest on climate change on Jan. 10. AP Photo/ Jacquelyn Martin
Friday’s protest was the last Fire Drill Friday in D.C. Fonda led off the event with words of compassion for Australia, which is suffering from massive wildfires on the heels of its hottest and driest years on record.
“I want us all to open our hearts for a moment for the people in Australia who are living in an inferno as a result of the climate crisis,” she said. “People who are losing their homes, who are fleeing their lands, a land that has recently lost to the fires what is reported to be a billion animals. Our hearts go out to them.”
Actress Jane Fonda called for peace not war in her latest 'Fire Drill Friday' protest in Washington, D.C. She was joined by 'Joker' actor Joaquin Phoenix, who said 'the meat and dairy industry is the third leading cause of climate change' pic.twitter.com/AcKirP6pAh — Reuters (@Reuters) January 10, 2020
Fonda also credited young activists with inspiring her to take action and urged people not to forget about them.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-11--2 U.S. Troops Killed In Roadside Bomb In Afghanistan

Two U.S. service members were killed and two others injured when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan , the U.S. military said in a statement Saturday .
More than 2,400 U.S. service members have been killed in Afghanistan .
Last year was one of the deadliest for the United States , with 23 American troops killed , even as Washington engaged in peace talks with the Taliban .
The latest attack seemed certain to stall fresh efforts to restart the on-again , off-again peace talks between Washington and the Taliban .
U.S. peace envoy Zalmay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declare a cease-fire or at least reduce violent attacks .
That would give a window in which the U.S. and the Taliban could forge an agreement to withdraw all of America ’ s troops .
That agreement would also set out a road map for direct Afghan-to-Afghan talks , mapping out the country ’ s post-war future .
The Taliban leadership decided at the end of December to support a temporary cease-fire to allow for a peace deal to be signed , but they never said when it would go into effect .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Maulvi Hibatullah Akhundzada , was never announced .
Earlier Saturday , both NATO and Afghan officials had confirmed a roadside bomb hit a U.S. army vehicle , without mentioning casualties .
In a short statement , a NATO spokesman said that officials were still “ assessing the situation and will provide more information as it became available.
” An Afghan official said the attack had taken place in the Dand district of Kandahar province .
The official was not authorized to speak with media and requested anonymity .
The Taliban now control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afghanistan .
The militants continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces , even as they hold peace talks with the U.S. Scores of Afghan civilians are also killed in the crossfire or by roadside bombs planted by militants .
In November , two U.S. service members were killed when their helicopter crashed in eastern Logar province .
The U.S. military at the time said preliminary reports did not indicate it was caused by enemy fire , although the Taliban claimed to have shot down the helicopter — a claim the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. currently has about 13,000 troops in Afghanistan .
About 5,000 of them are doing counterterrorism missions .
The remainder are part of a broader NATO mission to train , advise and assist the Afghan security forces .

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Two U.S. service members were killed and two others injured when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said in a statement Saturday.
In keeping with defense department rules, the U.S. military did not identify the service members.
The Taliban immediately took responsibility for the attack. A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yusouf Ahmadi, said it occurred in the southern Kandahar province.
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More than 2,400 U.S. service members have been killed in Afghanistan. Last year was one of the deadliest for the United States, with 23 American troops killed, even as Washington engaged in peace talks with the Taliban.
The latest attack seemed certain to stall fresh efforts to restart the on-again, off-again peace talks between Washington and the Taliban.
U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been pressing the insurgents to declare a cease-fire or at least reduce violent attacks. That would give a window in which the U.S. and the Taliban could forge an agreement to withdraw all of America’s troops. That agreement would also set out a road map for direct Afghan-to-Afghan talks, mapping out the country’s post-war future.
The Taliban leadership decided at the end of December to support a temporary cease-fire to allow for a peace deal to be signed, but they never said when it would go into effect. The final approval required from their leader, Maulvi Hibatullah Akhundzada, was never announced.
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Earlier Saturday, both NATO and Afghan officials had confirmed a roadside bomb hit a U.S. army vehicle, without mentioning casualties. In a short statement, a NATO spokesman said that officials were still “assessing the situation and will provide more information as it became available.”
An Afghan official said the attack had taken place in the Dand district of Kandahar province. The official was not authorized to speak with media and requested anonymity.
The Taliban now control or hold sway over roughly half of Afghanistan. The militants continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, even as they hold peace talks with the U.S. Scores of Afghan civilians are also killed in the crossfire or by roadside bombs planted by militants.
In November, two U.S. service members were killed when their helicopter crashed in eastern Logar province. The U.S. military at the time said preliminary reports did not indicate it was caused by enemy fire, although the Taliban claimed to have shot down the helicopter — a claim the U.S military dismissed as false.
The U.S. currently has about 13,000 troops in Afghanistan. About 5,000 of them are doing counterterrorism missions. The remainder are part of a broader NATO mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan security forces.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-11--Rep. Justin Amash Blasts Trump For 'Selling' American Troops To Saudis

Conservative Rep. Justin Amash ( I-Mich. ) accused Donald Trump Saturday of “ selling ” American troops to Saudi Arabia after the president boasted that the nation has deposited $ 1 billion into a bank he did not identify for “ more troops.
” Other critics erupted on Twitter over a possible future in which U.S. soldiers could be sent as mercenaries to any high-bidding country to risk their lives , regardless of a nation ’ s ideology or rationale for fighting .
Others argued the country doesn ’ t deserve American support because of Saudi Arabia ’ s link @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalist Jamal Khashoggi , who was writing at the time for The Washington Post .
Some pointed out that most of the hijackers in the 9/11 attack were Saudis .
And some wondered exactly where the Saudi $ 1 billion is .
Trump clearly saw nothing wrong with the idea .
“ Listen , you ’ re a very rich country , ” he told Saudi officials , Trump recounted on Fox News .
“ You want more troops ?
I ’ m going to send them to you , but you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re paying us .
They ’ ve already deposited $ 1 billion in the bank.
” Amash , who recently left the Republican party , becoming an Independent as he began to criticize Trump , complained in October that the president broke his campaign promise to bring American troops home .
“ He ’ s not bringing home the troops .
He ’ s just moving them to other parts of the Middle East , ” Amash said .
“ He ’ s moving ... troops into Saudi Arabia and using our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As long as Saudi Arabia pays us some money , it ’ s good to go , ” he added sarcastically .
He sells troops .
“ We have a very good relationship with Saudi Arabia—I said , listen , you ’ re a very rich country .
You want more troops ?
I ’ m going to send them to you , but you ’ ve got to pay us .
They ’ re paying us .
They ’ ve already deposited $ 1B in the bank.
” pic.twitter.com/rc1f7heyCP — Justin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 The US military is now a mercenary army for the country that sent the majority of hijackers to do 9/11 .
— Brian Tyler Cohen ( @ briantylercohen ) January 11 , 2020 He can ’ t sell what he doesn ’ t own .
And he wouldn ’ t own our military if the co-equal congress demonstrated any ability or desire to hold him accountable .
Elected and appointed GOP continue to enable and abet this man .
They fail their oath of office .
— ( ( ( Howard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) January 11 , 2020 How much of that $ 1B has been transferred into the bank accounts of Trump or his family ?
This is why we need to see ALL of their tax returns .
— JohnRJohnson ( @ JohnRJohnson ) January 11 , 2020 Yes .
He treats our military like paid mercenaries , which in addition to being completely unAmerican , is also illegal .
And who ’ s “ bank account ” is he talking about ?
Sounds like his own .
All this guy does is break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Wortman ( @ AmoneyResists ) January 11 , 2020 If Saudi Arabia has paid US $ 1 billion for use of US military as mercenaries , that $ $ $ should go directly to the American people - healthcare , education , environmental cleanup & combatting climate change , infrastructure , etc .
Where has it gone ?
Straight to Trump I ’ m sure .
— Empire Storm ( @ empirestatemind ) January 11 , 2020 Generations of Marines in my family who served for love of their country not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a complete betrayal of our values and might be Trump 's worst crime .
Anyone supporting this is sick in the head .
— Timi Haworth ( @ timihaworth ) January 12 , 2020 Serious question : is there such a thing as a a country wiring funds to the US to 'pay for troops ' ?
What fund does it go to ?
Where can we see the receipt of those funds being applied to the military budget to offset expenses ?
I 'm a CPA , MBA , and forensic accountant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ livingintheGig ) January 11 , 2020

Conservative Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.) accused Donald Trump Saturday of “selling” American troops to Saudi Arabia after the president boasted that the nation has deposited $1 billion into a bank he did not identify for “more troops.”
“He sells troops,” Amash tersely noted in a tweet.
Other critics erupted on Twitter over a possible future in which U.S. soldiers could be sent as mercenaries to any high-bidding country to risk their lives, regardless of a nation’s ideology or rationale for fighting.
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Others argued the country doesn’t deserve American support because of Saudi Arabia’s link to the vicious dismemberment and murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was writing at the time for The Washington Post. Some pointed out that most of the hijackers in the 9/11 attack were Saudis.
And some wondered exactly where the Saudi $1 billion is.
Trump clearly saw nothing wrong with the idea. “Listen, you’re a very rich country,” he told Saudi officials, Trump recounted on Fox News. “You want more troops? I’m going to send them to you, but you’ve got to pay us. They’re paying us. They’ve already deposited $1 billion in the bank.”
Amash, who recently left the Republican Party, becoming an independent as he began to criticize Trump, complained in October that the president broke his campaign promise to bring American troops home.
“He’s not bringing home the troops. He’s just moving them to other parts of the Middle East,” Amash said.
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“He’s moving ... troops into Saudi Arabia and using our forces almost as mercenaries, paid mercenaries. As long as Saudi Arabia pays us some money, it’s good to go,” he added sarcastically.
He sells troops.
“We have a very good relationship with Saudi Arabia—I said, listen, you’re a very rich country. You want more troops? I’m going to send them to you, but you’ve got to pay us. They’re paying us. They’ve already deposited $1B in the bank.” pic.twitter.com/rc1f7heyCP — Justin Amash (@justinamash) January 11, 2020
The US military is now a mercenary army for the country that sent the majority of hijackers to do 9/11. — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) January 11, 2020
And sells morals. Don’t forget SA butchered a journalist, our intelligence agencies said it MBS, and trump ignored them. — Nathaniel #CountryOverParty (@NewGopforUSA) January 11, 2020
He can’t sell what he doesn’t own. And he wouldn’t own our military if the co-equal congress demonstrated any ability or desire to hold him accountable. Elected and appointed GOP continue to enable and abet this man. They fail their oath of office. — (((Howard Forman))) (@thehowie) January 11, 2020
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How much of that $1B has been transferred into the bank accounts of Trump or his family? This is why we need to see ALL of their tax returns. — JohnRJohnson (@JohnRJohnson) January 11, 2020
Yes. He treats our military like paid mercenaries, which in addition to being completely unAmerican, is also illegal. And who’s “bank account” is he talking about? Sounds like his own. All this guy does is break the law. https://t.co/RMjSZAxCyA — Andrew Wortman (@AmoneyResists) January 11, 2020
If Saudi Arabia has paid US $1 billion for use of US military as mercenaries, that $$$ should go directly to the American people - healthcare, education, environmental cleanup & combatting climate change, infrastructure, etc. Where has it gone? Straight to Trump I’m sure. — Empire Storm (@empirestatemind) January 11, 2020
Generations of Marines in my family who served for love of their country not to be sold as mercenaries. This is a complete betrayal of our values and might be Trump's worst crime. Anyone supporting this is sick in the head. — Timi Haworth (@timihaworth) January 12, 2020
Serious question: is there such a thing as a a country wiring funds to the US to 'pay for troops'? What fund does it go to? Where can we see the receipt of those funds being applied to the military budget to offset expenses? I'm a CPA, MBA, and forensic accountant, so curious. — PNW_Louise🌊 (@livingintheGig) January 11, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-11--Trump Tied Soleimani Hit To Support From GOP Hawks Ahead Of Impeachment Trial: Reports

President Donald Trump openly discussed how the U.S. airstrike assassination of Iranian Maj. Qassem Soleimani would shore up support from Republican Senate hawks in time for his impeachment trial , according to reports in both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal .
Trump ’ s reported perspective on the impeachment implications of the controversial attack is one more aspect of a confusing jumble of reasons the White House has presented for the hit .
Trump on Friday told Fox News that Soleimani was planning to attack four American embassies .
But the president explained the previous day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — was at imminent risk .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that attacks were imminent , but added : “ We don ’ t know when , we don ’ t know where.
” The Times reported Saturday that as Trump discussed the Soleimani strike at Mar-a-Lago , he told some associates that he wanted to safeguard the support of Senate GOP hawks in the upcoming impeachment trial .
He specifically named Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton , according to the Times .
Trump also tipped off another hawk , Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack when Graham visited Mar-a-Lago , the senator himself revealed .
Yet Trump did not warn other congressional leaders , nor European allies or Persian Gulf partners , noted the Times .
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that after the attack , Trump told associates that he was under pressure to deal with Soleimani from GOP senators he considered important in his impeachment trial , according to sources .
The new information comes amid continued fallout from Congress about a lack of transparency from the Trump administration concerning the justification for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the strike was legal .
Sen. Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) bashed the sketchy Senate briefing on the attack Wednesday as “ insulting and demeaning.
” Sen. Chris Murphy ( D-Conn. ) on Friday essentially called Trump ’ s latest claim that Soleimani was planning imminent attacks on four U.S. embassies a fabrication .
Murphy said he has called on the director of national intelligence to hold another briefing on Trump ’ s assertion , and explain why the information was cleared to air on Fox News , but not to lawmakers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was evidence of imminent attacks on four embassies , the Administration would have said so at our Wednesday briefing .
They did n't .
So either Fox News gets higher level briefings than Congress ... or ... wait for it ... there was no such imminent threat .
— Chris Murphy ( @ ChrisMurphyCT ) January 10 , 2020 Conservative lawyer George Conway , husband of White House counsel Kellyanne Conway and frequent Trump critic , quoted a New York Magazine article comparing the Iran attack to Trump ’ s manipulation of Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , using his foreign policy authority for domestic political gain is the offense Trump is being impeached for .
It would be characteristically Trumpian to compound the offense as part of his efforts to avoid accountability for it.
” https : //t.co/Vk7O45EwKS — George Conway ( @ gtconway3d ) January 11 , 2020 Vice President Mike Pence said earlier this week that intelligence supporting the Trump administration ’ s claim of imminent attacks before the Soleimani strike is too sensitive to share with congressional leaders .
Trump said on Fox News Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the Soleimani hit to congressional leaders was the “ single best briefing they ’ ve ever had .
”

President Donald Trump openly discussed how the U.S. airstrike assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani would shore up support from Republican Senate hawks in time for his impeachment trial, according to reports in both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Trump’s reported perspective on the impeachment implications of the controversial attack is one more aspect of a confusing jumble of reasons the White House has presented for the hit.
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Trump on Friday told Fox News that Soleimani was planning to attack four American embassies. But the president explained the previous day that only one embassy — in Baghdad — was at imminent risk. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that attacks were imminent, but added: “We don’t know when, we don’t know where.”
The Times reported Saturday that as Trump discussed the Soleimani strike at Mar-a-Lago, he told some associates that he wanted to safeguard the support of Senate GOP hawks in the upcoming impeachment trial. He specifically named Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, according to the Times.
Trump also tipped off another hawk, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), about the attack when Graham visited Mar-a-Lago, the senator himself revealed. Yet Trump did not warn other congressional leaders, nor European allies or Persian Gulf partners, noted the Times.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that after the attack, Trump told associates that he was under pressure to deal with Soleimani from GOP senators he considered important in his impeachment trial, according to sources.
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The new information comes amid continued fallout from Congress about a lack of transparency from the Trump administration concerning the justification for killing Soleimani, which would determine if the strike was legal. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) bashed the sketchy Senate briefing on the attack Wednesday as “insulting and demeaning.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Friday essentially called Trump’s latest claim that Soleimani was planning imminent attacks on four U.S. embassies a fabrication. Murphy said he has called on the director of national intelligence to hold another briefing on Trump’s assertion, and explain why the information was cleared to air on Fox News, but not to lawmakers.
Let's be clear - if there was evidence of imminent attacks on four embassies, the Administration would have said so at our Wednesday briefing. They didn't.
So either Fox News gets higher level briefings than Congress...
or...wait for it...
there was no such imminent threat. — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) January 10, 2020
Conservative lawyer George Conway, husband of White House counsel Kellyanne Conway and frequent Trump critic, quoted a New York Magazine article comparing the Iran attack to Trump’s manipulation of Ukraine to benefit himself politically.
“Of course, using his foreign policy authority for domestic political gain is the offense Trump is being impeached for. It would be characteristically Trumpian to compound the offense as part of his efforts to avoid accountability for it.” https://t.co/Vk7O45EwKS — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 11, 2020
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“Trump is so cynical he wouldn’t even recognize that making foreign policy decisions influenced by impeachment is the kind of thing he shouldn’t say out loud.” https://t.co/Vk7O45EwKS — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 11, 2020
Vice President Mike Pence said earlier this week that intelligence supporting the Trump administration’s claim of imminent attacks before the Soleimani strike is too sensitive to share with congressional leaders.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-11--British Ambassador To Iran Arrested, Briefly Detained In Tehran

ATTA KENARE via Getty Images Iranian students demonstrate on Saturday following a tribute for the 176 people who were killed after Iran accidentally shot down a passenger airline on Wednesday .
Macaire was arrested amid a protest outside of a university in Tehran and detained for more than an hour .
He was eventually released , the Iran-based Tasnim News Agency reported .
“ The arrest of our Ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law , ” British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement Saturday .
“ The Iranian government is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued .
“ It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails , or take steps to deescalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards.
” The Tasnim News Agency , which has close ties to Iran ’ s Revolutionary Guard , claimed that Macaire was arrested on suspicion of “ provoking some radical acts among protestors.
” The agency said Macaire will be summoned for “ further explanations.
” However , reports from the Washington Post and The Guardian say that , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vigil held for the 176 victims of the Ukrainian passenger plane shot down in Iran .
The vigil escalated into a protest , at which point Macaire left , the Post reported , citing an official familiar with the incident .
The British envoy was arrested at a sensitive time for Iran and U.S. , a close ally of the U.K. Just one day earlier , Iran finally admitted that it shot down the Ukrainian airliner , apparently mistaking it for a cruise missile , after denying responsibility for days .
Iranian officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest level of readiness ” at the time of the mistaken target because they feared a retaliation attack for striking two U.S. military bases in Iraq , which were launched after the U.S. killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani .
Hundreds of people protested at universities in Tehran on Saturday night , angered over the government ’ s deathly mistake and its initial denial of it , according to the Associated Press .
The U.S. State Department also denounced the arrest and called on the Iranian regime to formally apologize in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Vienna Convention , which the regime has a notorious history of violating , ” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on Twitter .
“ We call on the regime to formally apologize to the UK for violating his rights and to respect the rights of all diplomats.
” The Iranian regime arrested the British ambassador to Iran .
This violates the Vienna Convention , which the regime has a notorious history of violating .
We call on the regime to formally apologize to the UK for violating his rights and to respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morgan Ortagus ( @ statedeptspox ) January 11 , 2020 President Donald Trump ― who ordered the strike against Soleimani , intensifying the strain on the U.S. ’ s relationship with Iran ― called on the Iranian government to allow human rights groups to remain at the protests over the downed airliner on Friday night .
The president also tweeted a message in direct support of the Iranian protesters : “ I ’ ve stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency , and my Administration will continue to stand with you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and are inspired by your courage.
” To the brave , long-suffering people of Iran : I 've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency , and my Administration will continue to stand with you .
We are following your protests closely , and are inspired by your courage .
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) January 11 , 2020

Iranian students demonstrate on Saturday following a tribute for the 176 people who were killed after Iran accidentally shot down a passenger airline on Wednesday. ATTA KENARE via Getty Images
Iranian officials arrested and briefly detained Robert Macaire, the British ambassador to Iran, according to the United Kingdom’s foreign secretary.
Macaire was arrested amid a protest outside a university in Tehran and detained for more than an hour. He was eventually released, the Iran-based Tasnim News Agency reported.
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“The arrest of our Ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law,” British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement Saturday.
“The Iranian government is at a cross-roads moment,” Raab continued. “It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to deescalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards.”
The Tasnim News Agency, which has close ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, claimed that Macaire was arrested on suspicion of “provoking some radical acts among protestors.” The agency said Macaire will be summoned for “further explanations.”
However, reports from The Washington Post and The Guardian say that, before his arrest, Macaire was at a vigil held for the 176 victims of the Ukrainian passenger plane shot down in Iran. The vigil escalated into a protest, at which point Macaire left, the Post reported, citing an official familiar with the incident.
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The British envoy was arrested at a sensitive time for Iran and U.S., a close ally of the U.K. Just one day earlier, Iran finally admitted that it shot down the Ukrainian airliner, apparently mistaking it for a cruise missile, after denying responsibility for days.
Iranian officials said that their military was at “the highest level of readiness” at the time of the mistaken target because they feared a retaliation attack for striking two U.S. military bases in Iraq, which were launched after the U.S. killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.
Most of the victims on the plane were Iranian.
Hundreds of people protested at universities in Tehran on Saturday night, angered over the government’s deathly mistake and its initial denial of it, according to The Associated Press.
The U.S. State Department also denounced the arrest and called on the Iranian regime to formally apologize in its own statement Saturday.
“This violates the Vienna Convention, which the regime has a notorious history of violating,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on Twitter. “We call on the regime to formally apologize to the UK for violating his rights and to respect the rights of all diplomats.”
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The Iranian regime arrested the British ambassador to Iran. This violates the Vienna Convention, which the regime has a notorious history of violating. We call on the regime to formally apologize to the UK for violating his rights and to respect the rights of all diplomats. — Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) January 11, 2020
President Donald Trump ― who ordered the strike against Soleimani, intensifying the strain on the United States’ relationship with Iran ― called on the Iranian government to allow human rights groups to remain at the protests over the downed airliner on Friday night.
“There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown,” Trump tweeted. “The world is watching.”
The president also tweeted a message in direct support of the Iranian protesters: “I’ve stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage.”
To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-12--Rudy Giuliani Tries To Convince Jeanine Pirro That Top Court Can Jettison Impeachment

He called the action unconstitutional , even though impeachment is written into the Constitution .
Claiming that the abuse of power and the “ ridiculous ” obstruction of Congress impeachment articles against Trump are essentially fabricated , Giuliani told Jeanine Pirro on Fox News that the “ remedy ” is to go before the Supreme Court and have the impeachment “ declared unconstitutional.
” The rules are “ set by the Senate , ” Giuliani explained .
“ Then the chief justice interprets the rules .
The chief justice will be given the power to dismiss , ” he argued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s nothing in the Constitution that would allow the Supreme Court ” to do that .
Pirro appeared mystified , and repeatedly pressed Giuliani to focus .
In yet another breath , Giuliani said the upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate would be good for Trump because he ’ ll be acquitted .
“ I can even argue that politically it would be better to go to trial !
” he said .
“ They ’ ll find out about [ Joe ] Biden , they ’ ll find out what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani said .
Giuliani has yet to detail any incidents of illegal or unethical behavior by Biden — nor has he provided any substantiation for his accusations .
Giuliani tweeted earlier this week that the Supreme Court “ should ” declare the impeachment unconstitutional .
His arguments were dismissed by legal experts .
This is just about as good of a legal argument as everything else Giuliani says .
Back in the world of legal reality , the Supreme Court resoundingly and unanimously concluded in US v Nixon that it had no role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //t.co/meheUeDsnK — Neal Katyal ( @ neal_katyal ) January 9 , 2020 Check out the way Giuliani ’ s mind works in the video up top .

In a meandering, convoluted interview late Saturday, Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani insisted the Supreme Court can dismiss the president’s impeachment.
He called the action unconstitutional, even though impeachment is written into the Constitution.
Claiming that the abuse of power and the “ridiculous” obstruction of Congress impeachment articles against Trump are essentially fabricated, Giuliani told Jeanine Pirro on Fox News that the “remedy” is to go before the Supreme Court and have the impeachment “declared unconstitutional.”
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The rules are “set by the Senate,” Giuliani explained. “Then the chief justice interprets the rules. The chief justice will be given the power to dismiss.”
Yet, he also acknowledged that “there’s nothing in the Constitution that would allow the Supreme Court” to do that. Pirro appeared mystified and repeatedly pressed Giuliani to focus.
In yet another breath, Giuliani said the upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate would be good for Trump because he’ll be acquitted.
“I can even argue that politically it would be better to go to trial!” he said. “They’ll find out about [Joe] Biden, they’ll find out what a big crook Biden is.” Giuliani has yet to detail any incidents of illegal or unethical behavior by Biden — nor has he provided any substantiation for his accusations.
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Trump later tweeted Giuliani’s clip, writing, “Thank you Rudy!”
Giuliani tweeted earlier this week that the Supreme Court “should” declare the impeachment unconstitutional. His arguments were dismissed by legal experts.
This is just about as good of a legal argument as everything else Giuliani says.
Back in the world of legal reality, the Supreme Court resoundingly and unanimously concluded in US v Nixon that it had no role to play in impeachments whatsoever. https://t.co/meheUeDsnK — Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) January 9, 2020
Impeachment is literally written in the constitution, which gives the House the “sole power” of impeachment. — Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) January 9, 2020
Check out the way Giuliani’s mind works in the video up top.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-12--Giuliani Crony Lev Parnas Has More Records 'Essential' To Impeachment Inquiry: Attorney

Lev Parnas , a Donald Trump contributor indicted for campaign finance charges , is seeking to release even more records that are “ essential ” to the president ’ s impeachment inquiry , Parnas ’ attorney argued in a letter Saturday to a judge .
Parnas , a close business associate of Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani , won permission from U.S. District Court Judge Paul Oetken last week to give lawmakers access to his phone records and other documents seized by federal investigators when he was arrested in October .
The House Intelligence Committee subpoenaed the records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Parnas ’ attorney , Joseph Bondy .
Now , he wants to release additional records from two cell phones and an iPad to the House Select Committee on Intelligence , according to a court filing .
“ Review of these materials is essential to the Committee ’ s ability to corroborate the strength of Mr. Parnas ’ potential testimony , ” his attorney wrote in the letter .
We ’ ve just asked the Court ’ s permission to give additional materials , extracted from three more of Lev Parnas ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Select Committee on Intelligence # HPSCI for use in the impeachment inquiry .
# LetLevSpeak # LevRemembers pic.twitter.com/LUXkkaHy1p — Joseph A. Bondy ( @ josephabondy ) January 11 , 2020 Parnas and Igor Furman , who has also been charged with campaign finance violations , last year helped Giuliani launch an investigation into unfounded accusations against former Vice President Joe Biden and his son , Hunter , in Ukraine .
Trump ’ s pressure on Ukraine ’ s president to also launch a probe into his political rival while he was withholding U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s impeachment .
It ’ s not clear how the new records would be used , since the House has already impeached Trump .
He next faces a Senate impeachment trial .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) has indicated no witnesses will be called in the trial , and ithe process will be speedy .
Parnas and Fruman were indicted for alleged federal campaign finance violations linked to a large donation that they made to a group supporting Trump ’ s reelection campaign .
Prosecutors allege they funneled foreign money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making illegal donations to U.S. politicians on behalf of foreign interests .
Both men have pleaded not guilty .

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Lev Parnas, a Donald Trump contributor indicted on campaign finance charges, is seeking to release even more records that are “essential” to the president’s impeachment inquiry, Parnas’ attorney argued in a letter Saturday to a judge.
Parnas, a close business associate of Trump personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, won permission from U.S. District Court Judge Paul Oetken last week to give lawmakers access to his phone records and other documents seized by federal investigators when he was arrested in October. The House Intelligence Committee subpoenaed the records as part of its impeachment investigation, according to Parnas’ attorney, Joseph Bondy.
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Now, he wants to release additional records from two cellphones and an iPad to the House Intelligence Committee, according to a court filing.
“Review of these materials is essential to the Committee’s ability to corroborate the strength of Mr. Parnas’ potential testimony,” his attorney wrote in the letter.
We’ve just asked the Court’s permission to give additional materials, extracted from three more of Lev Parnas’ electronic devices, to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence #HPSCI for use in the impeachment inquiry. #LetLevSpeak #LevRemembers pic.twitter.com/LUXkkaHy1p — Joseph A. Bondy (@josephabondy) January 11, 2020
Parnas and Igor Fruman, who has also been charged with campaign finance violations, last year helped Giuliani launch an investigation into unfounded accusations against former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter in Ukraine. Trump’s pressure on Ukraine’s president to also launch a probe into his political rival while he was withholding U.S. military funds led to the president’s impeachment.
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It’s not clear how the new records would be used, since the House has already impeached Trump. He next faces a Senate impeachment trial. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has indicated no witnesses will be called in the trial and the process will be speedy.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-12--Mark Esper: I 'Didn't See' Specific Evidence Of Iran Threat To 4 U.S. Embassies

Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday defended President Donald Trump ’ s order to assassinate Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani , but admitted he “ didn ’ t see ” any specific evidence backing up the president ’ s claim that Soleimani had been planning imminent attacks on multiple U.S. embassies .
During an interview Friday with Fox News ’ Laura Ingraham , Trump fired back at critics who opposed his decision to take out Soleimani , claiming the Iranian military leader was readying assaults on four U.S. embassies , including in Baghdad .
He did not cite any specific intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s assertion on Sunday , Esper told CBS ’ s “ Face the Nation ” that “ exquisite intelligence ” shared with the “ Gang of Eight ” ― a group of top congressional leaders typically briefed on highly sensitive intelligence matters ― referenced “ an attack ” on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad .
Pressed by host Margaret Brennan about a specific piece of intelligence that might have indicated threats to multiple embassies , Esper said Trump had merely said he “ believed ” that there “ probably and could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I didn ’ t see one with regard to four embassies , ” Esper responded .
“ What I ’ m saying is that I share the president ’ s view that probably ― my expectation was that they were going to go after our embassies.
” CNN ’ s Jake Tapper also grilled Esper about Trump ’ s claim about the four embassies on Sunday ’ s “ State of the Union , ” but the defense secretary said he wouldn ’ t discuss “ intelligence matters here on the show.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the attack would have been against the United States Embassy ... in Baghdad , ” Esper said , prompting Tapper to ask about the other three embassies mentioned by Trump .
“ I ’ m not going to discuss intelligence , ” Esper said .
“ What the president said was he believed it probably could have been .
He didn ’ t cite intelligence.
” Sen. Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) on Wednesday called the meeting “ probably the worst briefing , at least on a military issue ” he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate .
He said officials told lawmakers not to publicly debate the merits of the Soleimani strike .
Esper on Sunday said the Gang of Eight found the intelligence “ persuasive ” and had urged administration officials not to share it with other lawmakers .
“ There was no discussion in the Gang of Eight briefing that , ‘ These are the four embassies that are being targeted and we have exquisite intelligence that shows these are the specific targets , ’ ” Schiff said .
″The briefing was much more along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Secretary Pompeo admitted the other day , ” Schiff continued , “ when he said that , ‘ We don ’ t know precisely where and we don ’ t know precisely when.
’ ” National security adviser Robert O ’ Brien , who , like Esper , cited “ exquisite intelligence , ” said Sunday that he had seen evidence that Iran was “ looking at U.S. facilities throughout the region and that they wanted to inflict casualties.
” “ I ’ d love to have the intelligence out there now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if we declassified it , we could end up losing that stream of intelligence that will allow us to protect Americans going forward , and so we can ’ t .
But the president ’ s interpretation of that intelligence is very consistent with it .
”

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Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday defended President Donald Trump’s order to assassinate Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, but admitted he “didn’t see” any specific evidence backing up the president’s claim that Soleimani had been planning imminent attacks on multiple U.S. embassies.
During an interview Friday with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, Trump fired back at critics who opposed his decision to take out Soleimani, claiming the Iranian military leader was readying assaults on four U.S. embassies, including in Baghdad. He did not cite any specific intelligence during the interview.
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Asked about Trump’s assertion on Sunday, Esper told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that “exquisite intelligence” shared with the “Gang of Eight” ― a group of top congressional leaders typically briefed on highly sensitive intelligence matters ― referenced “an attack” on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
Pressed by host Margaret Brennan about a specific piece of intelligence that might have indicated threats to multiple embassies, Esper said Trump had merely said he “believed” that there “probably and could have been” attacks on additional embassies.
“Are you saying there wasn’t one?” Brennan asked.
“I didn’t see one with regard to four embassies,” Esper responded. “What I’m saying is that I share the president’s view that probably ― my expectation was that they were going to go after our embassies.”
NEWS: @EsperDod tells @margbrennan he "didn't see" specific evidence showing Iran planned to strike 4 U.S. embassies, despite @realDonaldTrump saying an attack at multiple embassies was “imminent." Watch more of Esper's interview on @FacetheNation today. pic.twitter.com/1Nud8waok1 — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 12, 2020
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CNN’s Jake Tapper also grilled Esper about Trump’s claim about the four embassies on Sunday’s “State of the Union,” but the defense secretary said he wouldn’t discuss “intelligence matters here on the show.”
“There was evidence that part of the attack would have been against the United States Embassy ... in Baghdad,” Esper said, prompting Tapper to ask about the other three embassies mentioned by Trump.
“I’m not going to discuss intelligence,” Esper said. “What the president said was he believed it probably could have been. He didn’t cite intelligence.”
Defense Secretary Mark Esper: "There was intelligence that there was an intent to target the US embassy in Baghdad. What the President said with regard to the four embassies is what I believe as well" #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/CNwo6PLK41 — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 12, 2020
A bipartisan group of lawmakers say Trump administration officials failed to provide during a classified Senate briefing earlier this week adequate proof that Iran was planning imminent attacks on Americans ahead of Soleimani’s assassination by drone on Jan. 3.
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Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Wednesday called the meeting “probably the worst briefing, at least on a military issue” he’s attended in his nine years in the Senate. He said officials told lawmakers not to publicly debate the merits of the Soleimani strike.
“I find that absolutely insane,” Lee told reporters. “I think it’s unacceptable.”
Esper on Sunday said the Gang of Eight found the intelligence “persuasive” and had urged administration officials not to share it with other lawmakers.
But House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a member of the Gang of Eight, told “Face the Nation” later Sunday that Esper’s intelligence assessment was “just plain wrong.”
“There was no discussion in the Gang of Eight briefing that, ‘These are the four embassies that are being targeted and we have exquisite intelligence that shows these are the specific targets,’” Schiff said.
He said he didn’t “recall” administration officials discussing the potential bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
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″The briefing was much more along the lines, frankly, of something that Secretary Pompeo admitted the other day,” Schiff continued, “when he said that, ‘We don’t know precisely where and we don’t know precisely when.’”
.@RepAdamSchiff mSchiff responds to @EsperDoD’s intelligence assessment: “I don’t quibble with it,” says @EsperDOD is “just plain wrong,” adding that he doesn’t recall specific information about a plot to bomb the US embassy in Baghdad. pic.twitter.com/1tWdiS52Y1 — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 12, 2020
National security adviser Robert O’Brien, who, like Esper, cited “exquisite intelligence,” said Sunday that he had seen evidence that Iran was “looking at U.S. facilities throughout the region and that they wanted to inflict casualties.”
“The threat was imminent,” O’Brien told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” He did not share specific evidence showing Iran had planned attacks against four U.S. embassies.
“I’d love to have the intelligence out there now,” he continued. “Unfortunately, if we declassified it, we could end up losing that stream of intelligence that will allow us to protect Americans going forward, and so we can’t. But the president’s interpretation of that intelligence is very consistent with it.”
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WATCH: Nat’l Sec. Adviser O’Brien defends Trump’s claim an attack was imminent on embassies in Baghdad and 4 unnamed countries. #IfItsSunday@chucktodd: “What did you do for the other 3 embassies?”
O’Brien: “We took measures … I am not going to get in the details of that.” pic.twitter.com/0voWTs9Cy9 — Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 12, 2020
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who echoed Lee’s frustration with the U.S. military action against Iran, said minutes later during an interview with “Meet the Press” that claims about “exquisite intelligence” seemed “inconsistent.”
“We’ve heard contradictory information,” Paul said. “We’ve heard from [Secretary of State Mike Pompeo] that they don’t know where or when but it was ‘imminent.’ That to me does seem inconsistent.”