thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--Sanders releases internal numbers showing him winning Iowa caucuses

DES MOINES , Iowa — Bernie Sanders 's campaign says their internal vote count showed the Vermont senator winning the Iowa caucuses , though the state 's Democratic party has released no results .
According to the Sanders campaign , Sanders won 29.66 % of the vote in nearly 40 % of precincts in the first Democratic nominating contest .
Not all precinct locations were included in Sanders 's numbers .
The statement also showed former South Bend , Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg in second place at 24.59 % of the vote , Sen. Elizabeth Warren in third at 21.24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Joe Biden at 12.37 % of the vote .
Sen. Amy Klobuchar placed fifth at 11 % .
The campaign released the following statement : “ We recognize that this does not replace the full data from the Iowa Democratic Party , but we believe firmly that our supporters worked too hard for too long to have the results of that work delayed , ” Sanders senior adviser Jeff Weaver said .
The Sanders campaign called the caucus a `` failure of the Iowa Democratic Party , '' and said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of full transparency . ''
The move is unprecedented on a caucus day that ended in chaos and confusion , but the Sanders campaign believed it had no choice as a number of its competitors tried spinning the night in their favor .
Sanders 's numbers should be by no means taken as a definitive record .
With the number of issues reported at numerous precinct locations and problems with the Iowa Democratic Party 's digital caucus app .
Other candidates like Buttigieg and Warren claimed victory Monday evening , claiming their internal @ @ @ @ @

DES MOINES, Iowa — Bernie Sanders's campaign says its internal vote count showed the Vermont senator winning the Iowa caucuses, though the state's Democratic Party has released no results.
According to the campaign, Sanders won 29.66% of the vote in nearly 40% of precincts in the first Democratic nominating contest. Not all precinct locations were included in Sanders's numbers. The statement also showed former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg in second place at 24.59% of the vote, Sen. Elizabeth Warren in third at 21.24% of the vote, and former Vice President Joe Biden at 12.37% of the vote. Sen. Amy Klobuchar placed fifth at 11%.
The campaign released the following statement:
“We recognize that this does not replace the full data from the Iowa Democratic Party, but we believe firmly that our supporters worked too hard for too long to have the results of that work delayed,” Sanders senior adviser Jeff Weaver said.
The Sanders campaign called the caucus a "failure of the Iowa Democratic Party" and said it was releasing the numbers "in the interest of full transparency."
The move is unprecedented on a caucus day that ended in chaos and confusion, but the Sanders campaign believed it had no choice, as a number of its competitors tried spinning the night in their favor.
Sanders's numbers should by no means be taken as a definitive record, given the number of issues reported at numerous precinct locations and problems with the Iowa Democratic Party's digital caucus app.
Other candidates such as Buttigieg and Warren claimed victory Monday evening, saying their internal numbers showed a successful effort.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--‘This has not been a success’: Chris Matthews says Trump 'chuckling' as Democrats suffer Iowa caucus

‘This has not been a success’: Chris Matthews says Trump 'chuckling' as Democrats suffer Iowa caucus delays

MSNBC host Chris Matthews gave a troubling diagnosis for the Democratic Party as it struggled with delays in announcing the results of Monday 's Iowa caucuses .
`` The guy in the White House is chuckling all night here showing the Democrats ca n't even get a three-car funeral organized or whatever you want to call it , '' Matthews said on the air , referring to President Trump .
Due to problems with a new caucus results reporting system , the outcome of the first-in-the-nation election contest were still unclear as midnight passed and each candidate attempted to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I would say , to the people of Iowa , will the last person turn out the lights ? ''
Matthews added .
`` This has not been a success . ''
Sen. Elizabeth Warren 's campaign declared they were in a three-way race with Sen. Bernie Sanders and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg .
Former Vice President Joe Biden 's campaign demanded `` full explanations and relevant information regarding the methods of quality control '' before any results are released .
Trump sailed to victory in the 2020 Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 97 % of the vote when the Associated Press made the call .
His re-election campaign reacted to the Democrats ' Iowa caucus fiasco by calling it the `` sloppiest train wreck in history . ''

MSNBC host Chris Matthews gave a troubling diagnosis for the Democratic Party as it struggled with delays in announcing the results of Monday's Iowa caucuses.
"The guy in the White House is chuckling all night here, showing the Democrats can't even get a three-car funeral organized or whatever you want to call it," Matthews said on the air, referring to President Trump.
Due to problems with a new caucus results reporting system, the outcome of the first-in-the-nation election contest was still unclear as midnight passed and each candidate attempted to put a positive spin on the failed process.
"I would say, to the people of Iowa, will the last person leaving Des Moines please turn out the lights?" Matthews added. "This has not been a success."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren's campaign declared it was in a three-way race with Sen. Bernie Sanders and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Former Vice President Joe Biden's campaign demanded "full explanations and relevant information regarding the methods of quality control" before any results are released.
Trump sailed to victory in the 2020 Iowa Republican caucuses, winning the contest with 97% of the vote when the Associated Press made the call. His reelection campaign reacted to the Democrats' Iowa caucus fiasco by calling it the "sloppiest train wreck in history."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--'Sloppiest train wreck in history': Trump campaign exults in Democrats' Iowa caucus fiasco

President Trump 's re-election campaign capitalized on embarrassing delays in reporting the results from Iowa 's Democratic presidential caucuses .
“ Democrats are stewing in a caucus mess of their own creation with the sloppiest train wreck in history .
It would be natural for people to doubt the fairness of the process .
And these are the people who want to run our entire health care system ? ''
Trump re-election campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement late Monday night .
`` Tonight President Trump posted a record performance in the well-run GOP Iowa caucuses with record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state Democratic Party initially indicating that first precinct results could come in as early as 9:30 p.m .
ET , it reported no results as of 12:30 a.m .
ET .
Analysts suspected that difficulties using a mobile app meant to report caucus site results and struggles reporting new metrics of raw vote totals contributed to the snafu .
The delay fueled speculation and concerns among campaigns that the delay was the result of foul play or inaccurate counting .
An Iowa Democratic Party spokesperson pinned the holdup on `` inconsistencies in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and was not the result of `` a hack or an intrusion . ''
As the night wore on with no results coming in , candidates began to their give speeches to supporters at post-Iowa caucus parties in Iowa , each projecting a victorious tone even though results remained a mystery .
Trump sailed to victory in the 2020 Iowa Republican caucuses , winning the contest with 97 % of the vote when the Associated Press made the call .

President Trump's reelection campaign capitalized on embarrassing delays in reporting the results from Iowa's Democratic presidential caucuses.
“Democrats are stewing in a caucus mess of their own creation with the sloppiest train wreck in history. It would be natural for people to doubt the fairness of the process. And these are the people who want to run our entire health care system?" Trump reelection campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement late Monday night. "Tonight President Trump posted a record performance in the well-run GOP Iowa caucuses with record turnout for an incumbent.”
Despite the state Democratic Party initially indicating that first precinct results could come in as early as 9:30 p.m. ET, it reported no results as of 12:30 a.m. ET. Analysts suspected that difficulties using a mobile app meant to report caucus site results and struggles reporting new metrics of raw vote totals contributed to the snafu.
The delay fueled speculation and concerns among campaigns that the delay was the result of foul play or inaccurate counting. An Iowa Democratic Party spokesperson pinned the holdup on "inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results," and was not the result of "a hack or an intrusion."
As the night wore on with no results coming in, candidates began to their give speeches to supporters at post-Iowa caucus parties in Iowa, each projecting a victorious tone even though results remained a mystery.
Trump sailed to victory in the 2020 Iowa Republican caucuses, winning the contest with 97% of the vote when the Associated Press made the call.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--Never Trump challengers fizzle in Iowa voting

AMES , Iowa — For six months , some of President Trump 's most implacable foes have invested great hope in two Republicans , former Rep. Joe Walsh and former Massachusetts Gov .
William Weld , who are challenging the president for the GOP nomination .
Could they do some damage to Trump 's reelection prospects ?
Tonight , in Iowa , that hope was put to a first test .
It failed .
In the state 's Republican caucuses — yes , there were Republican caucuses , even though the competitive Democratic caucuses received all the attention — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end , Trump won 97.16 % of the vote , to Walsh 's 1.08 % and Weld 's 1.27 % .
Others , write-ins of various people , totaled 0.47 % .
It was a striking show of strength for the president .
Beyond that , turnout was high for a year in which an incumbent president is assured of re-nomination .
In the last election , 2016 , about 180,000 Republican voters turned up for caucuses .
But that was a highly competitive year in which Trump battled Ted Cruz , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bunch of other candidates .
The last time there was a noncompetitive GOP caucus , that is , a caucus with an incumbent president , was in 2004 , when President George W. Bush was in the White House .
That year , about 8,000 Republicans showed up for what were essentially meaningless caucuses .
This cycle , the turnout was 32,004 , an impressive number for an incumbent year .
Delighted state GOP officials owed a lot to the president 's decision to make a serious effort in Iowa this caucus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moines and held a rally last Thursday ; it was far bigger than any event staged by any Democratic candidate .
Then , Trump sent more than 80 surrogates to the state , including his two sons , a slate of cabinet members , Republican congressmen , and GOP governors .
Then , the Trump campaign stepped up its social media work in the state .
The reason was not that Trump was afraid of Walsh or Weld .
The reason was that Trump was trying to strengthen support in Iowa , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2008 and 2012 , so that it will be in the Trump general election win column before Democrats even pick their candidate .
Organizers of the caucus in Ames , home to Iowa State University , hoped that perhaps 100 people would show up .
And that was even with the participation of one of the campaign 's star surrogates , presidential son Donald Trump Jr. As it turned out , 449 people showed up to vote , and another 80 or so came just to watch what was going on .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the president ; they loved the president .
`` I think he 's doing a great job , '' said Rod Kern .
`` I am thrilled with him , '' said Paula Anderson .
`` Best president we 've ever had , outside of Reagan , maybe , '' said Bob Folkmann .
`` I hope people are telling you they are so excited about our president , '' said Joyce Hoffman .
( They were . )
`` I 'm so on for Trump , '' said Andrea Hrbek .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ president like Trump . ''
Hrbek explained that she voted for Bush , John McCain , and Mitt Romney but today , feels a bit embarrassed by each vote .
Not so with Trump .
And so on .
At caucuses , representatives of each candidate are supposed to have a little time to tell the audience why they should vote for that candidate .
In Ames , Trump Jr. was the star of the show , talking for more than 20 minutes about his father 's accomplishments and also dwelling on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his family .
Jeff Ortiz , the co-chair of the Story County GOP , went from table to table , asking people if anyone would like to make remarks on behalf of Walsh or Weld .
There were no takers .
In the end , out of 449 votes , Trump received 415 , Walsh 20 , and Weld 9 .
There was one write-in each for a disparate group : Vice President Mike Pence , former U.N .
Ambassador Nikki Haley , Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse , and Dispatch writer David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end , Ortiz was delighted with a turnout more than four times what he originally expected .
Yes , that was a display of clout by Trump , but it was also an organizational shot in the arm for the local party .
`` It 's critical that we get these people to turn out , to sign up for our central committees , to stay involved right up until the end , '' Ortiz said .
`` Because there are no guarantees come November . ''
As good as the result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was , at best , a discouraging outcome for the Never Trump challenge .
In late January , former Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol pleaded on Twitter , `` Iowa Republicans : Caucus for Joe Walsh or Bill Weld or uncommitted .
You 're better than Donald Trump .
Do n't stoop to support this man so unworthy of your support . ''
Iowa Republicans ignored the entreaty , and others that came before it .
Now , the campaign is on to New Hampshire .
As in Iowa , Trump has planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary .
Again , there will be surrogates , and again , there will be stepped-up online campaigning .
The result could be another difficult night for the quixotic Republican effort to stop the president .

AMES, Iowa — For six months, some of President Trump's most implacable foes have invested great hope in two Republicans, former Rep. Joe Walsh and former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, who are challenging the president for the GOP nomination. Could they do some damage to Trump's reelection prospects?
Tonight, in Iowa, that hope was put to a first test. It failed.
In the state's Republican caucuses — yes, there were Republican caucuses, even though the competitive Democratic caucuses received all the attention — the Walsh and Weld candidacies fizzled.
In the end, Trump won 97.16% of the vote, to Walsh's 1.08% and Weld's 1.27%. Others, write-ins of various people, totaled 0.47%. It was a striking show of strength for the president.
Beyond that, turnout was high for a year in which an incumbent president is assured of re-nomination. In the last election, 2016, about 180,000 Republican voters turned up for caucuses. But that was a highly competitive year in which Trump battled Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, and a bunch of other candidates. The last time there was a noncompetitive GOP caucus, that is, a caucus with an incumbent president, was in 2004, when President George W. Bush was in the White House. That year, about 8,000 Republicans showed up for what were essentially meaningless caucuses.
This cycle, the turnout was 32,004, an impressive number for an incumbent year.
Delighted state GOP officials owed a lot to the president's decision to make a serious effort in Iowa this caucus season. First, he visited Des Moines and held a rally last Thursday; it was far bigger than any event staged by any Democratic candidate. Then, Trump sent more than 80 surrogates to the state, including his two sons, a slate of cabinet members, Republican congressmen, and GOP governors. Then, the Trump campaign stepped up its social media work in the state.
The reason was not that Trump was afraid of Walsh or Weld. The reason was that Trump was trying to strengthen support in Iowa, a swing state won by Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, so that it will be in the Trump general election win column before Democrats even pick their candidate.
Organizers of the caucus in Ames, home to Iowa State University, hoped that perhaps 100 people would show up. And that was even with the participation of one of the campaign's star surrogates, presidential son Donald Trump Jr. As it turned out, 449 people showed up to vote, and another 80 or so came just to watch what was going on.
By and large, the attendees did not like the president; they loved the president.
"I think he's doing a great job," said Rod Kern.
"I am thrilled with him," said Paula Anderson.
"Best president we've ever had, outside of Reagan, maybe," said Bob Folkmann.
"I hope people are telling you they are so excited about our president," said Joyce Hoffman. (They were.)
"I'm so on for Trump," said Andrea Hrbek. "I have not loved a Republican president like Trump." Hrbek explained that she voted for Bush, John McCain, and Mitt Romney but today, feels a bit embarrassed by each vote. Not so with Trump.
And so on.
At caucuses, representatives of each candidate are supposed to have a little time to tell the audience why they should vote for that candidate. In Ames, Trump Jr. was the star of the show, talking for more than 20 minutes about his father's accomplishments and also dwelling on the investigations to which Democrats have subjected Trump and his family.
Jeff Ortiz, the co-chair of the Story County GOP, went from table to table, asking people if anyone would like to make remarks on behalf of Walsh or Weld. There were no takers.
In the end, out of 449 votes, Trump received 415, Walsh 20, and Weld 9. There was one write-in each for a disparate group: Vice President Mike Pence, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, and Dispatch writer David French. One person abstained.
In the end, Ortiz was delighted with a turnout more than four times what he originally expected. Yes, that was a display of clout by Trump, but it was also an organizational shot in the arm for the local party.
"It's critical that we get these people to turn out, to sign up for our central committees, to stay involved right up until the end," Ortiz said. "Because there are no guarantees come November."
As good as the result was for the Trump team, it was, at best, a discouraging outcome for the Never Trump challenge. In late January, former Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol pleaded on Twitter, "Iowa Republicans: Caucus for Joe Walsh or Bill Weld or uncommitted. You're better than Donald Trump. Don't stoop to support this man so unworthy of your support."
Iowa Republicans ignored the entreaty, and others that came before it.
Now, the campaign is on to New Hampshire. As in Iowa, Trump has planned a rally in the state before the primary. Again, there will be surrogates, and again, there will be stepped-up online campaigning. The result could be another difficult night for the quixotic Republican effort to stop the president.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--Trump unites New Hampshire GOP operation behind him in bid to flip state he lost in 2016

Having consolidated his control over the Republican Party in New Hampshire and fielded a robust statewide operation , President Trump begins a 2020 bid to flip the state .
Trump ’ s first New Hampshire campaign was outgunned by the Democrats and roiled by intraparty divisions that saw a sitting senator , Kelly Ayotte , and key elements of the state ’ s GOP establishment resist the nominee .
But the president has turned the table .
He has deployed a sophisticated get-out-the-vote program early in the election cycle that will be ready for November and has unified Republican voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aligned with Never Trump forces .
Trump lost New Hampshire to Democrat Hillary Clinton by a mere 2,736 votes , so his efforts have a chance of paying off .
“ He ’ s surprised me in that there ’ s a deeper commitment to him than I thought existed , ” said Tom Rath , a veteran Republican operative in New Hampshire who had hoped that John Kasich , the former Ohio governor , might challenge Trump for the nomination .
“ He ’ s clearly , completely captured the Republican Party.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weld and Joe Walsh easily in the Feb. 11 New Hampshire primary , to be held as the Democratic contenders spar for the crown in a crucial battle on the road to their party ’ s nomination .
As with the Iowa caucuses , the Trump campaign is using the New Hampshire primary to test run its November strategy and boost support for the president in a key state .
Trump is hosting a signature “ Keep America Great ” rally in Manchester next Monday , while Vice President Mike Pence heads to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” event the same day .
This Thursday , second lady Karen Pence will headline a voter event in Nashua .
“ We feel we have the momentum , the organization , resources , and message to win in 2020 ” in New Hampshire , said Rick Gorka , a spokesman for the Republican National Committee , which has been integrated into the Trump campaign .
New Hampshire is a swing state down ballot but has not voted Republican for president since 2000 .
Trump ’ s job approval ratings in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , below his numbers in most states where he is expected to win .
That presents the president with another challenge as he looks to New Hampshire to expand the map beyond the states he won in 2016 , and Republicans concede that the Democrats , also plenty energized , begin the race with an advantage .
The New Hampshire Republican Party , working in concert with the Trump campaign and the RNC , is looking to chip away at that by targeting approximately 120,000 voters who supported the president in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections .
The state party is touting a “ quadrupling ” of Republican town committees formed since 2016 , ultra-local affiliates of the state and national party .
“ Those are the grassroots activists that are going to be our foot soldiers come the election this November , ” said Stephen B. Stepanek , the New Hampshire GOP chairman .
Meanwhile , party operatives are keeping an eye on the Democrats .
Front-runner Bernie Sanders , a senator in neighboring Vermont , has a solid base of support in New Hampshire and led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eve of the Iowa caucuses .
If the Democrats end up nominating Sanders or another candidate who is similarly left-wing , Republican operatives in the state , among them Trump skeptics , believe enough of New Hampshire ’ s significant bloc of independents would migrate to the president to put him over the top .

Having consolidated his control over the Republican Party in New Hampshire and fielded a robust statewide operation, President Trump begins a 2020 bid to flip the state.
Trump’s first New Hampshire campaign was outgunned by the Democrats and roiled by intraparty divisions that saw a sitting senator, Kelly Ayotte, and key elements of the state’s GOP establishment resist the nominee. But the president has turned the table. He has deployed a sophisticated get-out-the-vote program early in the election cycle that will be ready for November and has unified Republican voters behind him — impressing even GOP operatives aligned with Never Trump forces.
Trump lost New Hampshire to Democrat Hillary Clinton by a mere 2,736 votes, so his efforts have a chance of paying off.
“He’s surprised me in that there’s a deeper commitment to him than I thought existed,” said Tom Rath, a veteran Republican operative in New Hampshire who had hoped that John Kasich, the former Ohio governor, might challenge Trump for the nomination. “He’s clearly, completely captured the Republican Party.”
Trump is expected to defeat Bill Weld and Joe Walsh easily in the Feb. 11 New Hampshire primary, to be held as the Democratic contenders spar for the crown in a crucial battle on the road to their party’s nomination. As with the Iowa caucuses, the Trump campaign is using the New Hampshire primary to test run its November strategy and boost support for the president in a key state.
Trump is hosting a signature “Keep America Great” rally in Manchester next Monday, while Vice President Mike Pence heads to Portsmouth for a “Cops for Trump” event the same day. This Thursday, second lady Karen Pence will headline a voter event in Nashua.
“We feel we have the momentum, the organization, resources, and message to win in 2020” in New Hampshire, said Rick Gorka, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, which has been integrated into the Trump campaign.
New Hampshire is a swing state down ballot but has not voted Republican for president since 2000. Trump’s job approval ratings in the state have consistently ranged from 40%-45%, below his numbers in most states where he is expected to win. That presents the president with another challenge as he looks to New Hampshire to expand the map beyond the states he won in 2016, and Republicans concede that the Democrats, also plenty energized, begin the race with an advantage.
The New Hampshire Republican Party, working in concert with the Trump campaign and the RNC, is looking to chip away at that by targeting approximately 120,000 voters who supported the president in 2016 but did not vote in the midterm elections. The state party is touting a “quadrupling” of Republican town committees formed since 2016, ultra-local affiliates of the state and national party.
“Those are the grassroots activists that are going to be our foot soldiers come the election this November,” said Stephen B. Stepanek, the New Hampshire GOP chairman.
Meanwhile, party operatives are keeping an eye on the Democrats.
Front-runner Bernie Sanders, a senator in neighboring Vermont, has a solid base of support in New Hampshire and led in most primary polls there on the eve of the Iowa caucuses. If the Democrats end up nominating Sanders or another candidate who is similarly left-wing, Republican operatives in the state, among them Trump skeptics, believe enough of New Hampshire’s significant bloc of independents would migrate to the president to put him over the top.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--2020 Democrats act like Iowa caucuses winners while results remain a mystery

The Democratic presidential candidates came out of the Iowa caucuses acting like winners , delivering optimistic speeches to supporters while results from the caucuses remained a mystery due to delayed reporting of the results .
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar , 59 , was the first to make a public statement late on Monday .
`` And we are feeling so good tonight , and I can not wait ; somehow , someway , I 'm going to get on a plane tonight to New Hampshire , '' said Klobuchar .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , 77 — who , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach viability in some caucus sites — also kept an optimistic tone .
`` Folks , well , it looks like it 's going to be a long night , but I 'm feeling good , '' Biden said .
`` We do n't know exactly what it is , but we 're feeling good about where we are .
So , it 's on to New Hampshire , Nevada , South Carolina . ''
Candidates stuck to their stump speeches in lieu of being able to declare victory or have to spin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them had planned to board planes late on Monday night to head to New Hampshire and start campaigning ahead of the state 's Feb. 11 primary .
`` It is too close to call , so I 'm going to tell you what I do know , '' said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , before a man yelled out , `` You won ! ''
`` Tonight showed our path to victory is to fight hard for the changes Americans are demanding , '' Warren said .
With no results from Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announce that they are dropping out of the race , a common occurrence after a poor showing in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses .
`` At some point , the results will be announced , and , when the results are announced , I have a good feeling we 're going to be doing very well here in Iowa , '' said Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , 78 .
“ Tonight , an improbable hope became an undeniable reality , ” said former South Bend , Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg , 38 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results , but we know by the time it ’ s all said and done , Iowa , you have shocked the nation .
By all indications , we are going on to New Hampshire victorious .
”

The Democratic presidential candidates came out of the Iowa caucuses acting like winners, delivering optimistic speeches to supporters while results from the caucuses remained a mystery due to delayed reporting of the results.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 59, was the first to make a public statement late on Monday.
"And we are feeling so good tonight, and I cannot wait; somehow, someway, I'm going to get on a plane tonight to New Hampshire," said Klobuchar.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, 77 — who, according to various reports, did not reach viability in some caucus sites — also kept an optimistic tone.
"Folks, well, it looks like it's going to be a long night, but I'm feeling good," Biden said. "We don't know exactly what it is, but we're feeling good about where we are. So, it's on to New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina."
Candidates stuck to their stump speeches in lieu of being able to declare victory or have to spin disappointing results in their favor. Some of them had planned to board planes late on Monday night to head to New Hampshire and start campaigning ahead of the state's Feb. 11 primary.
"It is too close to call, so I'm going to tell you what I do know," said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, before a man yelled out, "You won!"
"Tonight showed our path to victory is to fight hard for the changes Americans are demanding," Warren said.
With no results from Iowa, no candidates have an incentive to announce that they are dropping out of the race, a common occurrence after a poor showing in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses.
"At some point, the results will be announced, and, when the results are announced, I have a good feeling we're going to be doing very well here in Iowa," said Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 78.
“Tonight, an improbable hope became an undeniable reality,” said former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 38. “We don’t know all the results, but we know by the time it’s all said and done, Iowa, you have shocked the nation. By all indications, we are going on to New Hampshire victorious.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--Iowa caucuses delays revive concerns and conspiracy theories of Bernie Sanders supporters

Des Moines , Iowa — Workers on Bernie Sanders ’ s presidential campaign already had suspicions about the logistics and fairness of the Iowa caucuses .
Counting delays by the Iowa Democratic Party are stirring those concerns anew .
While the political world waited late Monday to get results due more than an hour before , the Washington Examiner overheard several field organizers for the Vermont senator complaining that supporters of rival candidates were conspiring to block them from winning delegates .
One individual also complained about the campaign ’ s strategy of telling supporters to leave the caucus locations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as first alignment .
“ I guess I shouldn ’ t have left after all , ” one male organizer said to another woman .
“ I don ’ t understand what was going on ; all the other supporters seemed to be against us , ” she responded .
In the lead-up to the caucuses , the Sanders campaign were instructing voters to leave after the first round .
Supporters of Sanders began flocking in immediately after caucus locations closed , all with the same complaint : that precinct leaders and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One woman who spoke with the Washington Examiner on the condition of anonymity said the precinct captain at her location in Des Moines was biased against Sanders and allowed supporters of former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg to vandalize their signs .
`` We put up our signs to show undecided caucusers and others during the realignment where to stand for Sanders , but then , supporters of Buttigieg rushed us and put stickers over the sign , '' the woman said .
`` When it was our turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters kept interrupting us , and the campaign did n't do anything . ''
It caps a series of complaints going back to the 2016 campaign , when Sanders , 78 , lost the Democratic nomination to Hillary Clinton .
Sanders backers also raised questions about the counting procedures of the Iowa caucuses that led to Clinton 's razor-thin win , 49.84 % to 49.59 % .
The Des Moines Register after that election called for a review of the caucus process .
`` Too many accounts have arisen of inconsistent counts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cramped precinct locations , a lack of voter registration forms , and other problems , '' the paper wrote .
`` Too many of us , including members of the Register editorial board who were observing caucuses , saw opportunities for error amid Monday night 's chaos . ''

DES MOINES, Iowa — Workers on Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign already had suspicions about the logistics and fairness of the Iowa caucuses. Counting delays by the Iowa Democratic Party are stirring those concerns anew.
While the political world waited late Monday to get results due more than an hour before, the Washington Examiner overheard several field organizers for the Vermont senator complaining that supporters of rival candidates were conspiring to block them from winning delegates.
One individual also complained about the campaign’s strategy of telling supporters to leave the caucus locations after the first round of voting, known as first alignment.
“I guess I shouldn’t have left after all,” one male organizer said to a woman.
“I don’t understand what was going on; all the other supporters seemed to be against us,” she responded.
Both individuals were wearing staff passes.
In the lead-up to the caucuses, the Sanders campaign was instructing voters to leave after the first round.
Supporters of Sanders began flocking in immediately after caucus locations closed, all with the same complaint, that precinct leaders and other campaigns were conspiring against their candidate.
One woman who spoke with the Washington Examiner on the condition of anonymity said the precinct captain at her location in Des Moines was biased against Sanders and allowed supporters of former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg to vandalize their signs.
"We put up our signs to show undecided caucusers and others during the realignment where to stand for Sanders, but then, supporters of Buttigieg rushed us and put stickers over the sign," the woman said. "When it was our turn to give a speech, the Buttigieg supporters kept interrupting us, and the campaign didn't do anything."
(Joe Simonson/Washington Examiner)
The night caps a series of complaints going back to the 2016 campaign, when Sanders, 78, lost the Democratic nomination to Hillary Clinton. Sanders backers also raised questions about the counting procedures of the Iowa caucuses that led to Clinton's razor-thin win, 49.84% to 49.59%.
The Des Moines Register after that election called for a review of the caucus process.
"Too many accounts have arisen of inconsistent counts, untrained and overwhelmed volunteers, confused voters, cramped precinct locations, a lack of voter registration forms, and other problems," the paper wrote. "Too many of us, including members of the Register editorial board who were observing caucuses, saw opportunities for error amid Monday night's chaos."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--How the Iowa caucuses rules could benefit Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders has taken over cable news , flooding the gyms and auditoriums of Iowa caucus sites documented by telegenic @ @ @ @ @ But on the outskirts of the Hawkeye State , Joe Biden , Andrew Yang , @ @ @ @ @ some of the only viable candidates in a number of precincts , and as it @ @ @ @ @ of the caucuses may disproportionately harm those overperforming in rural areas .
For example , @ @ @ @ @ precinct , the three are the only viable candidates , with Klobuchar earning 13 supporters @ @ @ @ @ Yang five .
Technically , Klobuchar ought to earn twice the county delegate count in @ @ @ @ @ but since they 're in a small precinct , each of the three will likely @ @ @ @ @ , urban areas add a premium to winning candidates , meaning that Bernie , who @ @ @ @ @ , will likely earn a higher proportion of county delegates than his popular vote in @ @ @ @ @ almost say that the system is rigged — for once , for Bernie .

Bernie Sanders has taken over cable news, flooding the gyms and auditoriums of Iowa caucus sites documented by telegenic journalists in live time. But on the outskirts of the Hawkeye State, Joe Biden, Andrew Yang, and Amy Klobuchar are proving some of the only viable candidates in a number of precincts, and as it turns out, the rules of the caucuses may disproportionately harm those overperforming in rural areas.
For example, in Mitchell County's 11th precinct, the three are the only viable candidates, with Klobuchar earning 13 supporters, Biden seven, and Yang five. Technically, Klobuchar ought to earn twice the county delegate count in the precinct than Yang, but since they're in a small precinct, each of the three will likely earn one.
By contrast, urban areas add a premium to winning candidates, meaning that Bernie, who's booming on college campuses, will likely earn a higher proportion of county delegates than his popular vote in each precinct.
You could almost say that the system is rigged — for once, for Bernie.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--'No real transition team in place': Newly released Mueller memos shed light on chaotic Trump operati

'No real transition team in place': Newly released Mueller memos shed light on chaotic Trump operation

FBI interviews recently released from special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation shed light on President Trump ’ s chaotic campaign and the early days of his presidency as his administration struggled to cope with Russia-related controversies .
A 26-page 2018 FBI interview with Steve Bannon , Trump ’ s campaign chairman-turned-White House strategist , described an incoming administration unprepared to take the reins .
“ In the immediate aftermath of the 2016 presidential election and Donald Trump ’ s unexpected win , things were disorganized , ” Bannon ’ s FBI notes state .
“ There was no real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign thought it was not necessary to have a strong transition team going into the election , in part because they were so far down in the polls .
Trump was also superstitious about things like that.
” Bill Hagerty , the transition director , reportedly scheduled a Bahamas vacation for just after the election because he didn ’ t think they would win .
After the surprise victory , Bannon said incoming national security adviser Michael Flynn went to see then-national security adviser Susan Rice and her deputy Ben Rhodes “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Bannon said they “ made it up as they went along ” and “ didn ’ t recall discussions about the one-president-at-a-time policy.
” “ It was evident to Bannon there would be issues with Flynn , ” the FBI notes stated .
Bannon told investigators he wasn ’ t clued in on all of Flynn ’ s discussions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak as the Obama administration sought to impose sanctions on Russia following the Kremlin ’ s interference in the 2016 election .
Flynn was fired by Trump in February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December 2017 , though he now says he didn ’ t lie .
“ Bannon thought discussions of the Russia investigation immediately after the election were the result of Democrats being in shock over losing , ” the investigative notes said .
But Bannon said the stories about Flynn ’ s contacts with the Russian ambassador , “ if true , … meant Flynn had unauthorized conversations about sanctions , and it played into the narrative that the campaign had some sort of backdoor deal with the Russians.
” Bannon “ speculated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Flynn ’ s standing with Trump by the end of December was not good.
” Bannon also mentioned Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani wanting to become secretary of state and described his efforts to convince the former New York City mayor to become attorney general instead over concerns Giuliani ’ s foreign business contacts would tank the nomination .
“ Bannon was not happy when the media reported that Kushner attempted to establish a back channel for communications with Russia during the transition , ” the FBI notes said .
“ Neither Kushner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he and Kushner were “ not exactly speaking at the time.
” Kushner ’ s five-page November 2017 interview was almost entirely redacted , with snippets stating that “ a few weeks after the election … Kushner , Flynn , and Kislyak met together at Trump Tower … Kushner [ redacted ] vaguely remembers Flynn handling Russia on the issue.
” The interviews with Bannon and Kushner were released amid 300 pages of witness interviews on Monday following Freedom of Information Act lawsuits by BuzzFeed and CNN for access to the Mueller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many sources : FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe , FBI general counsel Dana Boente , Trump campaign deputy Rick Gates , Trump lawyer Michael Cohen , Trump press secretary Sean Spicer , Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus , Trump adviser Stephen Miller , and Comey 's former chief of staff , James Rybicki .
Priebus told investigators Trump viewed Obama ’ s Russia sanctions “ as an attempt at embarrassing him.
” He said Trump “ viewed the firing of Flynn as a loss because it would happen so soon into his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even look at Flynn during intelligence briefings.
” When Trump fired Flynn , “ The president kind of hugged Flynn , they shook hands , and the president said , ‘ We ’ ll give you a good recommendation .
You ’ re a good guy .
We ’ ll take care of you.
’ ” Spicer ’ s interview was almost entirely redacted , but his impression “ was Trump thought the Russia story was developed to undermine the legitimacy of his election ” and claimed , “ Trump said he never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if he had asked for it , ‘ Who cares ?
’ ” Miller told investigators that Trump ’ s comment asking Russia to find Hillary Clinton ’ s emails was a joke , denied the campaign had foreknowledge of WikiLeaks releases in 2016 , and described the roles that he , along with Kushner , Trump communications director Hope Hicks , and Trump social media director Dan Scavino played in drafting Trump ’ s tweets .
“ Who ’ s gon na send their kids to defend Ukraine ?
” Miller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the GOP ’ s platform controversy during the Republican National Convention .
“ Later in the campaign , when they were spending 99.9 % of their efforts dealing with the Access Hollywood reports , they joked amongst themselves regarding how unusual it would be for the campaign to collude with Russia , ” Miller told investigators .

FBI interviews recently released from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation shed light on President Trump’s chaotic campaign and the early days of his presidency as his administration struggled to cope with Russia-related controversies.
A 26-page 2018 FBI interview with Steve Bannon, Trump’s campaign chairman-turned-White House strategist, described an incoming administration unprepared to take the reins.
“In the immediate aftermath of the 2016 presidential election and Donald Trump’s unexpected win, things were disorganized,” Bannon’s FBI notes state. “There was no real transition team in place. People in the campaign thought it was not necessary to have a strong transition team going into the election, in part because they were so far down in the polls. Trump was also superstitious about things like that.”
Bill Hagerty, the transition director, reportedly scheduled a Bahamas vacation for just after the election because he didn’t think they would win.
After the surprise victory, Bannon said incoming national security adviser Michael Flynn went to see then-national security adviser Susan Rice and her deputy Ben Rhodes “to talk about how to do things.” Bannon said they “made it up as they went along” and “didn’t recall discussions about the one-president-at-a-time policy.”
“It was evident to Bannon there would be issues with Flynn,” the FBI notes stated.
Bannon told investigators he wasn’t clued in on all of Flynn’s discussions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak as the Obama administration sought to impose sanctions on Russia following the Kremlin’s interference in the 2016 election. Flynn was fired by Trump in February 2017 and pleaded guilty to misleading investigators in December 2017, though he now says he didn’t lie.
“Bannon thought discussions of the Russia investigation immediately after the election were the result of Democrats being in shock over losing,” the investigative notes said.
But Bannon said the stories about Flynn’s contacts with the Russian ambassador, “if true, … meant Flynn had unauthorized conversations about sanctions, and it played into the narrative that the campaign had some sort of backdoor deal with the Russians.” Bannon “speculated Flynn had been freelancing” and that “Flynn’s standing with Trump by the end of December was not good.”
Bannon also mentioned Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani wanting to become secretary of state and described his efforts to convince the former New York City mayor to become attorney general instead over concerns Giuliani’s foreign business contacts would tank the nomination.
“Bannon was not happy when the media reported that Kushner attempted to establish a back channel for communications with Russia during the transition,” the FBI notes said. “Neither Kushner nor Flynn mentioned the meeting.”
Bannon said he and Kushner were “not exactly speaking at the time.”
Kushner’s five-page November 2017 interview was almost entirely redacted, with snippets stating that “a few weeks after the election … Kushner, Flynn, and Kislyak met together at Trump Tower … Kushner [redacted] vaguely remembers Flynn handling Russia on the issue.”
The interviews with Bannon and Kushner were released amid 300 pages of witness interviews on Monday following Freedom of Information Act lawsuits by BuzzFeed and CNN for access to the Mueller documents. The documents include interviews with many sources: FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, FBI general counsel Dana Boente, Trump campaign deputy Rick Gates, Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, Trump press secretary Sean Spicer, Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus, Trump adviser Stephen Miller, and Comey's former chief of staff, James Rybicki.
Priebus told investigators Trump viewed Obama’s Russia sanctions “as an attempt at embarrassing him.” He said Trump “viewed the firing of Flynn as a loss because it would happen so soon into his term” but “wouldn’t even look at Flynn during intelligence briefings.” When Trump fired Flynn, “The president kind of hugged Flynn, they shook hands, and the president said, ‘We’ll give you a good recommendation. You’re a good guy. We’ll take care of you.’”
Spicer’s interview was almost entirely redacted, but his impression “was Trump thought the Russia story was developed to undermine the legitimacy of his election” and claimed, “Trump said he never asked Comey for loyalty but added, even if he had asked for it, ‘Who cares?’”
Miller told investigators that Trump’s comment asking Russia to find Hillary Clinton’s emails was a joke, denied the campaign had foreknowledge of WikiLeaks releases in 2016, and described the roles that he, along with Kushner, Trump communications director Hope Hicks, and Trump social media director Dan Scavino played in drafting Trump’s tweets.
“Who’s gonna send their kids to defend Ukraine?” Miller quoted Trump as saying during the time of the GOP’s platform controversy during the Republican National Convention.
“Later in the campaign, when they were spending 99.9% of their efforts dealing with the Access Hollywood reports, they joked amongst themselves regarding how unusual it would be for the campaign to collude with Russia,” Miller told investigators.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--Four Supreme Court justices set to attend the State of the Union

Four of the nine Supreme Court justices are slated to attend the State of the Union address , including Chief Justice John Roberts , who is presiding over President Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
The decision for Roberts , 65 , to watch Trump ’ s speech bucks the most recent precedent for presidential impeachment trials .
Chief Justice William Rehnquist did not appear at President Bill Clinton ’ s State of the Union address in 1999 while he was presiding over his trial .
Despite not appearing for Clinton ’ s address , Rehnquist , who died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at other State of the Union addresses , according to NBC News .
The other three who will attend Tuesday ’ s speech are Justices Elena Kagan , Neil Gorsuch , and Brett Kavanaugh .
The group of four is the same who attended Trump ’ s address last year .
Kagan , 59 , was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2010 and has attended every State of the Union address since .
Both Gorsuch , 52 , and Kavanagh , 54 , were appointed by Trump in 2017 and 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has rarely attended the annual joint session of Congress , and Justice Stephen Breyer , 81 , can ’ t make the event because he is traveling and suffering from the flu .
Justice Sonia Sotomayor , 65 , has attended the speeches sporadically .
Justice Samuel Alito , 69 , stopped attending the event a decade ago when he was caught mouthing the words “ not true ” after Obama criticized a Supreme Court ruling on campaign finance .
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , 86 , has never attended a State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican president .

Four of the nine Supreme Court justices are slated to attend the State of the Union address, including Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over President Trump’s impeachment trial.
The decision for Roberts, 65, to watch Trump’s speech bucks the most recent precedent for presidential impeachment trials. Chief Justice William Rehnquist did not appear at President Bill Clinton’s State of the Union address in 1999 while he was presiding over his trial.
Despite not appearing for Clinton’s address, Rehnquist, who died in 2005, was not always in attendance at other State of the Union addresses, according to NBC News.
The other three who will attend Tuesday’s speech are Justices Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh. The group of four is the same who attended Trump’s address last year.
Kagan, 59, was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2010 and has attended every State of the Union address since. Both Gorsuch, 52, and Kavanagh, 54, were appointed by Trump in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Justice Clarence Thomas, 71, has rarely attended the annual joint session of Congress, and Justice Stephen Breyer, 81, can’t make the event because he is traveling and suffering from the flu. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, 65, has attended the speeches sporadically.
Justice Samuel Alito, 69, stopped attending the event a decade ago when he was caught mouthing the words “not true” after Obama criticized a Supreme Court ruling on campaign finance. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 86, has never attended a State of the Union address delivered by a Republican president.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--White House showcases Hispanic Border Patrol official by making him State of the Union guest

A Hispanic Border Patrol official will attend the State of the Union as a guest of the White House in a move described internally at the Department of Homeland Security as an attempt to showcase a nonwhite agency representative .
A senior Department of Homeland Security official who spoke anonymously said Border Patrol Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz was picked because he is Hispanic , whereas his boss , Chief Rodney Scott , is white .
A second official said race and the perception of the agency and administration were factors in the decision .
The choice helps President Trump make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies , including his efforts to limit illegal immigration , are not race-based .
`` It gets right to the 'white faces ' stuff , '' the first DHS official said , referring to a Washington Examiner report in November of Customs and Border Protection head Mark Morgan telling Border Patrol officials he had concerns about naming a white person to lead the agency .
Morgan , whom President Trump fired in 2017 and rehired in 2019 , is also white .
Morgan ultimately selected Scott to replace Carla Provost , who departed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his post in South Texas to headquarters in Washington .
The same official said the White House usually asks agencies for guest recommendations .
In this case , CBP would have offered up Ortiz and possibly Scott .
It was not clear how many options CBP gave the White House .
The White House did not deny that Ortiz 's selection was based in part on his race , responding to questions only with a paragraph listing Ortiz 's biography .
CBP did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggests Trump will highlight his record on immigration , particularly the successful defusing of last spring 's border crisis .
On Monday night , border apprehension numbers showing an eighth consecutive month of declines in Border Patrol arrests of people entering the country were leaked to the Associated Press .
The first official and another source at DHS familiar with the administration 's approach said Trump will dedicate a portion of his speech to his efforts not only at ending the humanitarian crisis at the border but to his opposition to `` sanctuary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigrants after they make bail or serve time , including those with criminal convictions , without notifying Immigration and Customs Enforcement .
Federal officers at ICE look at local arrests to see if a person is legally or illegally in the country and ask for them to be transferred into federal custody to begin the deportation process .
Sanctuary zones mostly refuse .
The agency ’ s acting director , Matt Albence , began speaking out more on sanctuary zones late last year , and the agency 's effort to fight sanctuary zones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House announced Tuesday it will also shine a spotlight on Jody Jones of California , whose brother was killed by a person who had been living in the United States after being deported twice .
`` On December 17 , 2018 , Jody ’ s brother , Rocky Jones , was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant in Tulare County , California , '' a White House release stated .
`` The criminal alien who committed this brutal murder had previously been arrested for violent crimes and had twice been deported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 2018 for the sixth time , but because of California ’ s sanctuary state policy , he was released from jail .
A few days later , he went on a 24-hour 'reign of terror , ' injuring several people , robbing a gas station , leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase , and killing 51-year old Rocky , who was known as a kind and gentle soul .
Rocky leaves behind a precious daughter and 4 brothers . ''
Lawmakers bringing guests with an immigration theme include Rep. Ruben Gallego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient Vanessa Mendez ; Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas , who will be with 18-year-old Alex Rodriguez , who said he hopes to join the Border Patrol after college ; and Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona , who has invited Mary Ann Mendoza , the mother of a police officer who died as a result of a car crash involving an illegal immigrant .

A Hispanic Border Patrol official will attend the State of the Union as a guest of the White House in a move described internally at the Department of Homeland Security as an attempt to showcase a nonwhite agency representative.
A senior Department of Homeland Security official who spoke anonymously said Border Patrol Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz was picked because he is Hispanic, whereas his boss, Chief Rodney Scott, is white. A second official said race and the perception of the agency and administration were factors in the decision.
The choice helps President Trump make the case that his border and immigration policies, including his efforts to limit illegal immigration, are not race-based.
"It gets right to the 'white faces' stuff," the first DHS official said, referring to a Washington Examiner report in November of Customs and Border Protection head Mark Morgan telling Border Patrol officials he had concerns about naming a white person to lead the agency. Morgan, whom President Trump fired in 2017 and rehired in 2019, is also white. Morgan ultimately selected Scott to replace Carla Provost, who departed last week. Ortiz was promoted from his post in South Texas to headquarters in Washington.
The same official said the White House usually asks agencies for guest recommendations. In this case, CBP would have offered up Ortiz and possibly Scott. It was not clear how many options CBP gave the White House.
The White House did not deny that Ortiz's selection was based in part on his race, responding to questions only with a paragraph listing Ortiz's biography. CBP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The attendance of a top Border Patrol official suggests Trump will highlight his record on immigration, particularly the successful defusing of last spring's border crisis. On Monday night, border apprehension numbers showing an eighth consecutive month of declines in Border Patrol arrests of people entering the country were leaked to the Associated Press.
The first official and another source at DHS familiar with the administration's approach said Trump will dedicate a portion of his speech to his efforts not only at ending the humanitarian crisis at the border but to his opposition to "sanctuary cities."
Sanctuary zones release illegal immigrants after they make bail or serve time, including those with criminal convictions, without notifying Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Federal officers at ICE look at local arrests to see if a person is legally or illegally in the country and ask for them to be transferred into federal custody to begin the deportation process. Sanctuary zones mostly refuse.
The agency’s acting director, Matt Albence, began speaking out more on sanctuary zones late last year, and the agency's effort to fight sanctuary zones in the courts is growing.
The White House announced Tuesday it will also shine a spotlight on Jody Jones of California, whose brother was killed by a person who had been living in the United States after being deported twice.
"On December 17, 2018, Jody’s brother, Rocky Jones, was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant in Tulare County, California," a White House release stated. "The criminal alien who committed this brutal murder had previously been arrested for violent crimes and had twice been deported. The criminal alien was arrested in December 2018 for the sixth time, but because of California’s sanctuary state policy, he was released from jail. A few days later, he went on a 24-hour 'reign of terror,' injuring several people, robbing a gas station, leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase, and killing 51-year old Rocky, who was known as a kind and gentle soul. Rocky leaves behind a precious daughter and 4 brothers."
Lawmakers bringing guests with an immigration theme include Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, who has invited Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient Vanessa Mendez; Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, who will be with 18-year-old Alex Rodriguez, who said he hopes to join the Border Patrol after college; and Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, who has invited Mary Ann Mendoza, the mother of a police officer who died as a result of a car crash involving an illegal immigrant.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--Giuliani: Trump should '100%' investigate Biden after Senate acquittal

Rudy Giuliani wants President Trump to move ahead with an investigation into his political rival Joe Biden after he is likely to be acquitted by the Senate .
`` Absolutely ; 100 % , '' Giuliani , who is Trump ’ s personal lawyer , told NPR .
`` I would have no problem with him doing it .
In fact , I 'd have a problem with him not doing it .
I think he would be saying that Joe Biden can get away with selling out the United States , making us a fool in the Ukraine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ central figure in the events that led to Trump ’ s impeachment on charges of obstruction of Congress and abuse of his office in December .
The former New York City mayor was part of a pressure campaign to get Ukraine to investigate the former vice president and his son Hunter , who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company .
Though most , if not all , Republican senators are expected to vote to acquit Trump on Wednesday , some have said he acted inappropriately in asking a foreign leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military aid to Ukraine .
Giuliani said the Republicans who had reservations about Trump ’ s conduct don ’ t `` understand the facts.
” “ The whole Ukrainian thing is misrepresented .
The Democrats did do a good job of spinning it to 'he 's trying to hurt Joe Biden . '
It has nothing to do with Joe Biden , ” he said .

Rudy Giuliani wants President Trump to move ahead with an investigation into his political rival Joe Biden after he is likely to be acquitted by the Senate.
"Absolutely; 100%," Giuliani, who is Trump’s personal lawyer, told NPR. "I would have no problem with him doing it. In fact, I'd have a problem with him not doing it. I think he would be saying that Joe Biden can get away with selling out the United States, making us a fool in the Ukraine."
Giuliani, 75, was a central figure in the events that led to Trump’s impeachment on charges of obstruction of Congress and abuse of his office in December. The former New York City mayor was part of a pressure campaign to get Ukraine to investigate the former vice president and his son Hunter, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.
Though most, if not all, Republican senators are expected to vote to acquit Trump on Wednesday, some have said he acted inappropriately in asking a foreign leader to investigate his political rival while withholding military aid to Ukraine.
Giuliani said the Republicans who had reservations about Trump’s conduct don’t "understand the facts.”
“The whole Ukrainian thing is misrepresented. The Democrats did do a good job of spinning it to 'he's trying to hurt Joe Biden.' It has nothing to do with Joe Biden,” he said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--Mark Esper should be designated survivor

When President Trump delivers his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday evening , he will be at the center of the Secret Service 's protective envelope .
But as is the norm , the Trump administration will designate a Cabinet official to assume the office of president if a catastrophe strikes the Capitol , known as the `` designated survivor . ''
That individual will take over as president should Trump and those in the interceding order of presidential succession be wiped out .
But who should Trump nominate ?
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be five immediate concerns in the aftermath of a loss of government decapitation strike : national security , national security , public reassurance , national security , and national security .
Considering what it would take to kill the president , vice president , 535 members of Congress , the Supreme Court , the Joint Chiefs of Staff , and their guests , a suitcase/container nuclear strike on the Capitol is at the higher end of possibilities .
( Trump , Vice President Mike Pence , and congressional leaders would be evacuated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack was detected . )
This speaks to the first point : Esper would be particularly well-suited to address a nuclear-threat concern .
As the senior Cabinet official responsible for nuclear weapons , the secretary of defense is briefed and trained in the direction of U.S. nuclear forces .
Indeed , the secretary of defense must confirm a presidential order to use nuclear weapons in conformity with his role as the second primary civilian official in the national command authority .
So were the United States to face a nuclear attack , Esper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. military into responsive action , whatever that might mean .
Incidentally , the defense secretary is also the primary safeguard against an insane president ordering nuclear strikes without cause .
Although the defense secretary could be fired if he refused to confirm a presidential strike order , his refusal would create time and space for the Cabinet to enact the 25th Amendment and remove the president .
But I digress .
Esper is the right choice for another reason : He is a retired military officer .
During his time in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and served in the Gulf War , for which he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal .
A graduate of the Army 's pathfinder and ranger schools , Esper has learned the exigencies of command under pressure .
In turn , Esper would be well-placed to respond to a national crisis by absorbing relevant available information and making decisions quickly and decisively .
Whatever the circumstances of a Capitol catastrophe , that command ability would be crucial .
A designated survivor who needed major on-the-job training would introduce exceptional danger .
Ultimately , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survivor is normally an official who has little to do with national security .
Last year , for example , the designee was Energy Secretary Rick Perry .
But going forward , we should set a rule : The secretary of defense is not invited to the State of the Union — he or she has more important contingencies to attend to .

When President Trump delivers his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday evening, he will be at the center of the Secret Service's protective envelope.
But as is the norm, the Trump administration will designate a Cabinet official to assume the office of president if a catastrophe strikes the Capitol, known as the "designated survivor." That individual will take over as president should Trump and those in the interceding order of presidential succession be wiped out. But who should Trump nominate?
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper is the obvious and best choice.
There would be five immediate concerns in the aftermath of a loss of government decapitation strike: national security, national security, public reassurance, national security, and national security. Considering what it would take to kill the president, vice president, 535 members of Congress, the Supreme Court, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and their guests, a suitcase/container nuclear strike on the Capitol is at the higher end of possibilities. (Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and congressional leaders would be evacuated in the event an incoming ballistic missile-borne nuclear attack was detected.)
This speaks to the first point: Esper would be particularly well-suited to address a nuclear-threat concern.
As the senior Cabinet official responsible for nuclear weapons, the secretary of defense is briefed and trained in the direction of U.S. nuclear forces. Indeed, the secretary of defense must confirm a presidential order to use nuclear weapons in conformity with his role as the second primary civilian official in the national command authority. So were the United States to face a nuclear attack, Esper would be able to quickly orientate the U.S. military into responsive action, whatever that might mean.
Incidentally, the defense secretary is also the primary safeguard against an insane president ordering nuclear strikes without cause. Although the defense secretary could be fired if he refused to confirm a presidential strike order, his refusal would create time and space for the Cabinet to enact the 25th Amendment and remove the president. But I digress.
Esper is the right choice for another reason: He is a retired military officer.
During his time in the Army, Esper led light infantry companies and served in the Gulf War, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal. A graduate of the Army's pathfinder and ranger schools, Esper has learned the exigencies of command under pressure. In turn, Esper would be well-placed to respond to a national crisis by absorbing relevant available information and making decisions quickly and decisively. Whatever the circumstances of a Capitol catastrophe, that command ability would be crucial. A designated survivor who needed major on-the-job training would introduce exceptional danger.
Ultimately, I've never understood why the designated survivor is normally an official who has little to do with national security. Last year, for example, the designee was Energy Secretary Rick Perry. But going forward, we should set a rule: The secretary of defense is not invited to the State of the Union — he or she has more important contingencies to attend to.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--White House may be drafting executive order to make federal architecture more classical

The Trump administration may be crafting an executive order that would require all new federal buildings to be designed with a classical appearance .
The Architectural Record claims to have obtained a copy of the order , `` Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again . ''
According to the report , the order makes reference to the architectural taste of the Founding Fathers , who styled buildings from `` democratic Athens '' and `` republican Rome . ''
The order critiques modern architecture under the General Service Administration 's `` Design Excellence Program '' for failing to integrate `` national values @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quality of architecture produced in the modern era is `` influenced by Brutalism and Deconstructivism . ''
Both Brutalism and Deconstructivism were architectural art forms that emerged during the 20th century .
Brutalist buildings , which began to emerge in the 1950s , are often seen to have mammoth , cement , and geometric structures .
Deconstructivism , which emerged in the 1980s as a postmodern form of architecture , emphasizes asymmetry and abstract construction .
The document says the forms of architecture do not fulfill the guiding principles of the GSA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide visual testimony to the dignity , enterprise , vigor , and stability of the American government.
” The order makes reference to three specific federal buildings : the U.S .
Courthouse in Austin , Texas , the Wilkie D. Ferguson , Jr. U.S .
Courthouse in Miami , Florida , and the U.S. Federal Building in San Francisco , California .
The order states that the designs “ fail to satisfy '' the original mandates of the GSA and `` shall not be used . ''

The Trump administration may be crafting an executive order that would require all new federal buildings to be designed with a classical appearance.
The Architectural Record claims to have obtained a copy of the order, "Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again." According to the report, the order makes reference to the architectural taste of the Founding Fathers, who styled buildings from "democratic Athens" and "republican Rome."
The order critiques modern architecture under the General Service Administration's "Design Excellence Program" for failing to integrate "national values into federal buildings." It claims the quality of architecture produced in the modern era is "influenced by Brutalism and Deconstructivism."
Both Brutalism and Deconstructivism were architectural art forms that emerged during the 20th century. Brutalist buildings, which began to emerge in the 1950s, are often seen to have mammoth, cement, and geometric structures. Deconstructivism, which emerged in the 1980s as a postmodern form of architecture, emphasizes asymmetry and abstract construction.
The document says the forms of architecture do not fulfill the guiding principles of the GSA, which is that buildings “must provide visual testimony to the dignity, enterprise, vigor, and stability of the American government.”
The order makes reference to three specific federal buildings: the U.S. Courthouse in Austin, Texas, the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Miami, Florida, and the U.S. Federal Building in San Francisco, California. The order states that the designs “fail to satisfy" the original mandates of the GSA and "shall not be used."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--'Important tradition': Trump bats down calls to replace caucus structure in Iowa

President Trump vowed to defend the caucus structure used by Iowa after a Monday night debacle delayed the results in the early voting state 's Democratic presidential nominating contest .
Iowa has used the caucusing method to hold primary elections since 1972 .
A victory in Iowa is seen as pivotal to gaining national momentum for any candidate running in a primary election for president .
Critics of the system , however , have argued that it does a disservice to more liberal and minority candidates in a state where the majority of the population is white .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is the Do Nothing Democrats fault , '' Trump tweeted Tuesday morning after the botched caucuses .
`` As long as I am President , Iowa will stay where it is .
Important tradition ! ''
Hours passed Monday night with Iowa Democrats providing no results following what they called `` inconsistencies '' in reporting from local precincts across the state .
Issues with a new smartphone app used to report results to the state Democratic Party led to flooded phone lines , which left some precinct managers on hold for hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue .
The app did not go down , and this is not a hack or an intrusion , '' the state party said in a statement .
`` The underlying data and paper trail is sound and will simply take time to further report the results.
” As of Tuesday morning , no results were in yet .
The situation was met with harsh criticism from several Democratic presidential candidates .
Former Vice President Joe Biden slammed local Democrats for allowing `` the app that was intended to relay caucus results to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see the discrepancies cited .
Former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg , meanwhile , declared himself the winner Monday night with no results to prove that assertion .
With no election results to analyze , political pundits across cable news began to question the merits of the caucusing process and wondered if the system is outdated and excludes some voters .
`` We got ta get Tom Perez in here and beat him up a little bit and make him tell us — why do you still start in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matthews said .
`` Because it ’ s a strange decision . ''
`` Iowa 's outsize role has faced attacks for decades , along with periodic failed attempts by other states to take the first-in-the-nation slot , '' said Steve Kornacki , national political correspondent for NBC News .
`` But criticism has been louder than ever this past year , and now those critics may have the ammunition they need to kill it . ''
`` I think the Democratic caucus in Iowa is a quirky , quaint tradition which should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dick Durbin said .
`` As we try to make voting easier for people across America , the Iowa caucus is the most painful situation we currently face for voting . ''
In an earlier tweet Tuesday , Trump said it 's not the process that takes place in Iowa that 's the problem but the people running it .
`` The Democrat Caucus is an unmitigated disaster , '' he wrote .
`` Nothing works , just like they ran the Country .
Remember the 5 Billion Dollar Obamacare Website , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The only person that can claim a very big victory in Iowa last night is “ Trump.
” Trump cruised to victory in the state 's Republican caucus , garnering 97 % of the vote .
The president has no legal authority over how either party conducts internal or general elections .

President Trump vowed to defend the caucus structure used by Iowa after a Monday night debacle delayed the results in the early voting state's Democratic presidential nominating contest.
Iowa has used the caucusing method to hold primary elections since 1972. A victory in Iowa is seen as pivotal to gaining national momentum for any candidate running in a primary election for president. Critics of the system, however, have argued that it does a disservice to more liberal and minority candidates in a state where the majority of the population is white.
"It is not the fault of Iowa, it is the Do Nothing Democrats fault," Trump tweeted Tuesday morning after the botched caucuses. "As long as I am President, Iowa will stay where it is. Important tradition!"
It is not the fault of Iowa, it is the Do Nothing Democrats fault. As long as I am President, Iowa will stay where it is. Important tradition! https://t.co/bX3FLvua1C — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2020
Hours passed Monday night with Iowa Democrats providing no results following what they called "inconsistencies" in reporting from local precincts across the state. Issues with a new smartphone app used to report results to the state Democratic Party led to flooded phone lines, which left some precinct managers on hold for hours.
"This is simply a reporting issue. The app did not go down, and this is not a hack or an intrusion," the state party said in a statement. "The underlying data and paper trail is sound and will simply take time to further report the results.”
As of Tuesday morning, no results were in yet. The situation was met with harsh criticism from several Democratic presidential candidates. Former Vice President Joe Biden slammed local Democrats for allowing "the app that was intended to relay caucus results to the party" to fail and demanded to see the discrepancies cited.
Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, meanwhile, declared himself the winner Monday night with no results to prove that assertion.
With no election results to analyze, political pundits across cable news began to question the merits of the caucusing process and wondered if the system is outdated and excludes some voters.
"We gotta get Tom Perez in here and beat him up a little bit and make him tell us — why do you still start in Iowa?" MSNBC political analyst Chris Matthews said. "Because it’s a strange decision."
"Iowa's outsize role has faced attacks for decades, along with periodic failed attempts by other states to take the first-in-the-nation slot," said Steve Kornacki, national political correspondent for NBC News. "But criticism has been louder than ever this past year, and now those critics may have the ammunition they need to kill it."
Iowa's outsize role has faced attacks for decades, along with periodic failed attempts by other states to take the first-in-the-nation slot. But criticism has been louder than ever this past year, and now those critics may have the ammunition they need to kill it. — Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) February 4, 2020
Prominent Democrats echoed that sentiment early Tuesday morning.
"I think the Democratic caucus in Iowa is a quirky, quaint tradition which should come to an end," Sen. Dick Durbin said. "As we try to make voting easier for people across America, the Iowa caucus is the most painful situation we currently face for voting."
In an earlier tweet Tuesday, Trump said it's not the process that takes place in Iowa that's the problem but the people running it.
"The Democrat Caucus is an unmitigated disaster," he wrote. "Nothing works, just like they ran the Country. Remember the 5 Billion Dollar Obamacare Website, that should have cost 2% of that. The only person that can claim a very big victory in Iowa last night is “Trump.”
Trump cruised to victory in the state's Republican caucus, garnering 97% of the vote. The president has no legal authority over how either party conducts internal or general elections.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-04--'He'll serve for 50 years': Rand Paul worried Ukraine whistleblower unaccountable to bosses

Sen. Rand Paul is hesitant to believe that his colleagues will call the alleged Ukraine whistleblower to testify even as the Senate Intelligence Committee may be gearing up to investigate the origins of the impeachment case against President Trump .
The Kentucky Republican , who read aloud the name of the alleged whistleblower on the Senate Floor Tuesday after Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts refused to do so last week during the question phase of the impeachment trial , suspects the person will remain in his current post as an intelligence analyst without oversight concerning his past actions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ played it artfully where he 'll probably never be called , and nothing ever happen [ s ] to him .
He 'll serve for 50 years over there , and everybody who 's his boss will be worried that he 's somebody who will inform on you at the drop of a hat , ” Paul told the Washington Examiner .
“ And I consider him so much different than , like , Edward Snowden .
Edward Snowden revealed something .
No one would reveal this guy , reveal something that 400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them did n't have a problem with a phone call , '' he added , referring to the former National Security Agency contractor who leaked highly classified surveillance information and fled the United States in 2013 .
Paul is not a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee , but a fellow Republican who is , Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida , shares similar concerns about the whistleblower and where this person is stationed .
“ And if we ever find out that there was a group of people within the government that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that elements of which may turn out to be disproven , then we 've got a big problem , '' Rubio told the Washington Examiner .
Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham told Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News 's Sunday Morning Futures that `` the Senate Intel Committee under Richard Burr has told us that we will call the whistleblower . ''
He added , `` I want to find out how all this crap started . ''
“ I 'm looking at the whistleblower process , ” Burr , a North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked about the investigation .
He added , “ You know , I 've never done investigations in public — and wo n't be either.
” Other committee members are interested in finding out more about the genesis of the whistleblower complaint filed with the inspector general on Aug. 12 about a July 25 phone conversation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky .
Under pressure , Trump released the transcript of what he describes as the `` perfect call '' and claimed he was only interested in rooting out alleged corruption .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of power and obstruction of Congress , accused the president of improperly pressuring Kyiv to announce investigations into his political rivals , including Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden , by leveraging congressionally approved military aid and a White House meeting .
Trump 's legal team has argued that his actions are not impeachable , and the president is expected to be acquitted in a vote scheduled for Wednesday .
According to Rubio , the whistleblower issue has been on the committee ’ s agenda since the news of the complaint went public .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ whistleblower issue since the [ complaint was filed on Aug. 12 ] .
The initial meeting was with the interim director of national intelligence .
It is in the intelligence committee .
My sense is that ’ ll continue , '' the senator said .
Some Republicans believe the whistleblower is CIA analyst Eric Ciaramella and want to know if there was any coordination prior to the filing of the complaint with aides for House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff .
One particular Schiff aide , Sean Misko , previously worked with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Washington Examiner reported , and sat behind Schiff , the lead impeachment manager , during open hearings for the House impeachment investigation as well as on the Senate floor during the trial .
“ Well , I think beyond the allegations that were made , there are legitimate questions that should be answered about the genesis of the complaint .
Whose idea was it ?
Who helped write it ?
How much communication was there between members of staffers on the House Intelligence Committee and the whistleblower and so forth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't hide behind the argument that , ‘ Well , we ca n't discuss that , or you 'll out the whistleblower .
These people most certainly have a right to go forward and talk to the Intelligence Committee , but Chairman Schiff lied about it .
He 's been telling us for two weeks that if you 're hiding something or you 're lying about it , it 's evidence of wrongdoing , so at a minimum , it 's a legitimate question , '' he added .
Schiff has disputed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whistleblower and excoriated his opponents for questioning his staff 's involvement .
`` I will not dignify those smears , '' the California Democrat said last week in response to an impeachment question about why he hired Misko .
Sen. Jim Lankford , an Oklahoma Republican and Intelligence Committee member , told the Washington Examiner the whistleblower issue is not an intelligence matter .
“ I do n't know of anything that I need to know on the whistleblower at this point .
There has n't been a question on the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine .
Who he was is not the issue .
It 's did they go through the right legal process ?
It looks pretty obvious they did .
Where you 've got the filing of the whistleblower reports , it went through review and determined this is not an intel-related issue , ” he said .
“ This needs to go to a different lane , '' Lankford said .
`` The one big unknown there that we 've got to be able to resolve is even after it was determined by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correct .
This is not an actual intel-related item , ' they pulled it back over anyway and said , 'No , we 're declaring this urgent ' and pulled it out through those channels anyway .
So that 's the inspector general issue to resolve.
” He added , “ When you were told by someone above you , 'hey , you 're in the wrong lane here , ' you typically get in the right lane , not try to be able to find a way to force it out .
@

Sen. Rand Paul is hesitant to believe that his colleagues will call the alleged Ukraine whistleblower to testify even as the Senate Intelligence Committee may be gearing up to investigate the origins of the impeachment case against President Trump.
The Kentucky Republican, who read aloud the name of the alleged whistleblower on the Senate Floor Tuesday after Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts refused to do so last week during the question phase of the impeachment trial, suspects the person will remain in his current post as an intelligence analyst without oversight concerning his past actions.
“The problem is that they've played it artfully where he'll probably never be called, and nothing ever happen[s] to him. He'll serve for 50 years over there, and everybody who's his boss will be worried that he's somebody who will inform on you at the drop of a hat,” Paul told the Washington Examiner. “And I consider him so much different than, like, Edward Snowden. Edward Snowden revealed something. No one would reveal this guy, reveal something that 400 people already knew. And most of them didn't have a problem with a phone call," he added, referring to the former National Security Agency contractor who leaked highly classified surveillance information and fled the United States in 2013.
Paul is not a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, but a fellow Republican who is, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, shares similar concerns about the whistleblower and where this person is stationed.
“And if we ever find out that there was a group of people within the government that were working together to craft something like this, that elements of which may turn out to be disproven, then we've got a big problem," Rubio told the Washington Examiner.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham told Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News's Sunday Morning Futures that "the Senate Intel Committee under Richard Burr has told us that we will call the whistleblower." He added, "I want to find out how all this crap started."
“I'm looking at the whistleblower process,” Burr, a North Carolina Republican, told reporters Monday when asked about the investigation. He added, “You know, I've never done investigations in public — and won't be either.”
Other committee members are interested in finding out more about the genesis of the whistleblower complaint filed with the inspector general on Aug. 12 about a July 25 phone conversation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Under pressure, Trump released the transcript of what he describes as the "perfect call" and claimed he was only interested in rooting out alleged corruption.
Democrats, who charged Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, accused the president of improperly pressuring Kyiv to announce investigations into his political rivals, including Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden, by leveraging congressionally approved military aid and a White House meeting. Trump's legal team has argued that his actions are not impeachable, and the president is expected to be acquitted in a vote scheduled for Wednesday.
According to Rubio, the whistleblower issue has been on the committee’s agenda since the news of the complaint went public.
“The committee has been following the whistleblower issue since the [complaint was filed on Aug. 12]. The initial meeting was with the interim director of national intelligence. It is in the intelligence committee. My sense is that’ll continue," the senator said.
Some Republicans believe the whistleblower is CIA analyst Eric Ciaramella and want to know if there was any coordination prior to the filing of the complaint with aides for House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff.
One particular Schiff aide, Sean Misko, previously worked with the alleged whistleblower at the National Security Council, the Washington Examiner reported, and sat behind Schiff, the lead impeachment manager, during open hearings for the House impeachment investigation as well as on the Senate floor during the trial.
“Well, I think beyond the allegations that were made, there are legitimate questions that should be answered about the genesis of the complaint. Whose idea was it? Who helped write it? How much communication was there between members of staffers on the House Intelligence Committee and the whistleblower and so forth,” Rubio contended.
“And you can't hide behind the argument that, ‘Well, we can't discuss that, or you'll out the whistleblower. These people most certainly have a right to go forward and talk to the Intelligence Committee, but Chairman Schiff lied about it. He's been telling us for two weeks that if you're hiding something or you're lying about it, it's evidence of wrongdoing, so at a minimum, it's a legitimate question," he added.
Schiff has disputed accusations that he knows the identity of the whistleblower and excoriated his opponents for questioning his staff's involvement. "I will not dignify those smears," the California Democrat said last week in response to an impeachment question about why he hired Misko.
Sen. Jim Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican and Intelligence Committee member, told the Washington Examiner the whistleblower issue is not an intelligence matter.
“I don't know of anything that I need to know on the whistleblower at this point. There hasn't been a question on the process they went through to be able to determine. Who he was is not the issue. It's did they go through the right legal process? It looks pretty obvious they did. Where you've got the filing of the whistleblower reports, it went through review and determined this is not an intel-related issue,” he said.
“This needs to go to a different lane," Lankford said. "The one big unknown there that we've got to be able to resolve is even after it was determined by the Department of Justice, 'This is not correct. This is not an actual intel-related item,' they pulled it back over anyway and said, 'No, we're declaring this urgent' and pulled it out through those channels anyway. So that's the inspector general issue to resolve.”
He added, “When you were told by someone above you, 'hey, you're in the wrong lane here,' you typically get in the right lane, not try to be able to find a way to force it out.”