talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-09--Graham: DOJ ‘Process’ Set Up For Giuliani To Send Biden Dirt To Barr

The dirt-digging on the Bidens appears to be far from over .
Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) claims that Attorney General Bill Barr told him Sunday morning that the Justice Department has set up a “ process ” for Rudy Giuliani to send dirt on Joe Biden directly to Barr .
In an interview on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” Sunday morning , Graham said that he ’ s “ going to get to the bottom of the FISA work process ” which involves making sure that “ Hunter Biden ’ s conflict of interest is explored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Margaret Brennan then asked for clarification , citing how he said earlier in the interview that he spoke with Barr , and whether that means that the DOJ has been ordered to investigate the Bidens .
After Graham clarified that he spoke with Barr Sunday morning , he denied that the DOJ is probing the Bidens but that the department is “ receiving information coming out of the Ukraine from Rudy to see.
” Graham went on to claim that Giuliani told him that the department has “ created a process that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see if it ’ s verified.
” After praising Giuliani for being a “ good lawyer ” who ’ s “ a crime fighter ” and is “ loyal to the President , ” Graham insisted that “ the Russians are still up to it ” before railing against the Bidens .
“ Deterrence is not working .
So let ’ s look at Hunter Biden ’ s conflict .
Let ’ s look at Joe Biden .
Vice President Biden , what did you do when they told you your son was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Graham said .
“ It undercuts your ability to fight corruption .
Did you take it seriously ?
Obviously he didn ’ t .
”

The dirt-digging on the Bidens appears to be far from over.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) claims that Attorney General Bill Barr told him Sunday morning that the Justice Department has set up a “process” for Rudy Giuliani to send dirt on Joe Biden directly to Barr.
In an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday morning, Graham said that he’s “going to get to the bottom of the FISA work process” which involves making sure that “Hunter Biden’s conflict of interest is explored because it’s legitimate.”
CBS’ Margaret Brennan then asked for clarification, citing how he said earlier in the interview that he spoke with Barr, and whether that means that the DOJ has been ordered to investigate the Bidens.
After Graham clarified that he spoke with Barr Sunday morning, he denied that the DOJ is probing the Bidens but that the department is “receiving information coming out of the Ukraine from Rudy to see.”
Graham went on to claim that Giuliani told him that the department has “created a process that Rudy could give information and they would see if it’s verified.”
After praising Giuliani for being a “good lawyer” who’s “a crime fighter” and is “loyal to the President,” Graham insisted that “the Russians are still up to it” before railing against the Bidens.
“Deterrence is not working. So let’s look at Hunter Biden’s conflict. Let’s look at Joe Biden. Vice President Biden, what did you do when they told you your son was on Burisma’s board?” Graham said. “It undercuts your ability to fight corruption. Did you take it seriously? Obviously he didn’t.”
Watch Graham’s remarks below:
Remarkable. Sen. Graham says he talked to AG Barr this morning and they have set up a "process" by which Rudy Giuliani will now send his Biden "dirt" directly to AG Barr. pic.twitter.com/gteVz53jIG — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 9, 2020


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-09--Biden Denies Attacking Buttigieg In Campaign Ad: ‘Pete’s Been Attacking Me’

Former vice president Joe Biden denies that he ’ s attacking fellow Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg in the wake of a campaign ad released Saturday mocking the former South Bend mayor ’ s experience .
After ABC ’ s George Stephanopolous aired a clip of Biden saying in a 2007 debate that Barack Obama wasn ’ t ready to be President in a Sunday morning interview , much like how he ’ s recently criticized Buttigieg , Biden hit back .
“ I didn ’ t attack Pete .
Pete ’ s been attacking me .
He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re in the problem right now is because of the recent past , ” Biden said .
“ That ’ s eight years of Obama and me .
I don ’ t get that .
I don ’ t understand that .
And I think he has completely misunderstood or misrepresented my record .
I have done a great deal .
I have gotten an awful lot done , both as a senator and as vice president.
” Biden went on to counter Buttigieg ’ s insistence that he ’ s ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he managed a $ 900 billion Recovery Act and how “ we bailed out his city.
” After Biden said that Obama was a “ pretty damn good president , ” Stephanopolous asked why nominating Buttigieg would be a risk .
Biden responded that despite how he likes Buttigieg , who is a “ good ” and “ smart ” guy , he ’ s only “ been the mayor of a city smaller ” than Manchester , New Hampshire .
“ And so what has he done ?
What is — who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know any of the foreign leaders ?
Has he been able to — I mean , Barack Obama was a different story , ” Biden said .
“ Barack Obama came from a large state .
He was a United States Senator , he had run before .
He ’ d been involved in international — he had a clear vision of what he thought the world should look like and so on .
So , but it ’ s a very different situation.
” When asked about the response of Buttigieg ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former South Bend mayor — which Buttigieg campaign spokesperson Chris Meagher told TPM that it “ speaks more to where he currently stands in this race ” — Biden reiterated that Buttigieg has ” been the one that ’ s been attacking me.
” “ I never said a word about him .
But he ’ s talking from the beginning about how I don ’ t have a record to run on , that Biden — all the problems from the past , ” Biden said .
“ And it used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found out how popular Barack is , so it ’ s now just me as if I wasn ’ t any part of that administration .
And so I was responding to — I haven ’ t done this , I responded to his attacks on me .
”

Former vice president Joe Biden denies that he’s attacking fellow Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg in the wake of a campaign ad released Saturday mocking the former South Bend mayor’s experience.
After ABC’s George Stephanopolous aired a clip of Biden saying in a 2007 debate that Barack Obama wasn’t ready to be President in a Sunday morning interview, much like how he’s recently criticized Buttigieg, Biden hit back.
“I didn’t attack Pete. Pete’s been attacking me. He’s been saying that the reason we’re in the problem right now is because of the recent past,” Biden said. “That’s eight years of Obama and me. I don’t get that. I don’t understand that. And I think he has completely misunderstood or misrepresented my record. I have done a great deal. I have gotten an awful lot done, both as a senator and as vice president.”
Biden went on to counter Buttigieg’s insistence that he’s ready to take on the presidency by citing how he managed a $900 billion Recovery Act and how “we bailed out his city.”
After Biden said that Obama was a “pretty damn good president,” Stephanopolous asked why nominating Buttigieg would be a risk. Biden responded that despite how he likes Buttigieg, who is a “good” and “smart” guy, he’s only “been the mayor of a city smaller” than Manchester, New Hampshire.
“And so what has he done? What is — who has he pulled together? Does he know any of the foreign leaders? Has he been able to — I mean, Barack Obama was a different story,” Biden said. “Barack Obama came from a large state. He was a United States Senator, he had run before. He’d been involved in international — he had a clear vision of what he thought the world should look like and so on. So, but it’s a very different situation.”
When asked about the response of Buttigieg’s campaign to his ad criticizing the former South Bend mayor — which Buttigieg campaign spokesperson Chris Meagher told TPM that it “speaks more to where he currently stands in this race” — Biden reiterated that Buttigieg has” been the one that’s been attacking me.”
“I never said a word about him. But he’s talking from the beginning about how I don’t have a record to run on, that Biden — all the problems from the past,” Biden said. “And it used to be Barack and me, now he found out how popular Barack is, so it’s now just me as if I wasn’t any part of that administration. And so I was responding to — I haven’t done this, I responded to his attacks on me.”
Watch Biden’s remarks below:
Joe Biden on Buttigieg: “Let’s get something straight here. I didn’t attack Pete. Pete’s been attacking me. He’s been saying the reason we’re in the problem we’re in now is because of the recent past. That’s 8 years of Obama and me. I don’t get that.” https://t.co/nPQ57Pvs7t pic.twitter.com/r2GBbqA3GV — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 9, 2020


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-09--NSC Expected To Purge More Staffers As Soon As Next Week

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman ’ s Friday ouster was just the beginning .
National security adviser Robert O ’ Brien is set to overhaul the NSC staff as early as next week , according to a CNN report Saturday .
Two sources familiar with the matter told CNN that O ’ Brien was expected to oust around a dozen officials as part of an effort to streamline the NSC .
Although O ’ Brien has already been downsizing the NSC by attrition and transferring staffers detailed from other departments to return to their home agencies earlier than planned , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will include more direct firings and cuts .
Last Tuesday , O ’ Brien described the NSC staff size as “ bloated ” to Fox News ’ Laura Ingraham and that when he came to the NSC he had planned to “ drastically downsize it.
” O ’ Brien added that the NSC had “ ballooned up ” to 236 policy professionals in the Obama administration compared to about 100 during the Bush administration , but that in “ another week or two , I think we ’ ll have met our goal.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after Vindman , the NSC ’ s top Ukraine expert who testified in the House impeachment inquiry , was fired along with this twin brother Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman .

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman’s Friday ouster was just the beginning.
National security adviser Robert O’Brien is set to overhaul the NSC staff as early as next week, according to a CNN report Saturday.
Two sources familiar with the matter told CNN that O’Brien was expected to oust around a dozen officials as part of an effort to streamline the NSC.
Although O’Brien has already been downsizing the NSC by attrition and transferring staffers detailed from other departments to return to their home agencies earlier than planned, a source told CNN that the final phase will include more direct firings and cuts.
Last Tuesday, O’Brien described the NSC staff size as “bloated” to Fox News’ Laura Ingraham and that when he came to the NSC he had planned to “drastically downsize it.” O’Brien added that the NSC had “ballooned up” to 236 policy professionals in the Obama administration compared to about 100 during the Bush administration, but that in “another week or two, I think we’ll have met our goal.”
CNN’s report comes a day after Vindman, the NSC’s top Ukraine expert who testified in the House impeachment inquiry, was fired along with this twin brother Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-09--GOP Senators Urged Trump Not To Fire Sondland. He Went Ahead Anyway.

Two days after voting to acquit President Trump in the Senate impeachment trial , several Republican senators attempted to stop him from firing EU ambassador Gordon Sondland to no success .
According to a New York Times report Saturday evening , people briefed on the discussion said that the Republican senators were worried about the optics of Trump firing the EU ambassador — who testified in the impeachment inquiry that “ we followed the President ’ s orders ” and that “ everyone was in the loop ” regarding the Ukraine pressure campaign — and argued that his ouster was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the idea of his departure after the Senate trial with senior officials .
The Republican senators reportedly told White House officials that Sondland should have determined his own departure in order to prevent political backlash .
According to the Times , the Republican senators included Sens .
Susan Collins ( R-ME ) , Thom Tillis ( R-NC ) , Martha McSally ( R-AZ ) and Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) .
However , Trump wanted to make a point by forcing Sondland ’ s ouster .
Sondland resisted when he received a call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him that he needed to resign .
People informed about the matter told the Times that Sondland did not want to be seen as part of a purged group of impeachment witnesses .
Sondland told State Department officials that they would have to fire him if they wanted him gone last Friday when he received the call , which Trump responded by recalling him from his post effective immediately .
Sondland ’ s dismissal came just hours after House impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and his twin brother Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .

Two days after voting to acquit President Trump in the Senate impeachment trial, several Republican senators attempted to stop him from firing EU ambassador Gordon Sondland to no success.
According to a New York Times report Saturday evening, people briefed on the discussion said that the Republican senators were worried about the optics of Trump firing the EU ambassador — who testified in the impeachment inquiry that “we followed the President’s orders” and that “everyone was in the loop” regarding the Ukraine pressure campaign — and argued that his ouster was unnecessary since he had already begun floating the idea of his departure after the Senate trial with senior officials.
The Republican senators reportedly told White House officials that Sondland should have determined his own departure in order to prevent political backlash. According to the Times, the Republican senators included Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Ron Johnson (R-WI).
However, Trump wanted to make a point by forcing Sondland’s ouster. Sondland resisted when he received a call from State Department officials Friday who told him that he needed to resign. People informed about the matter told the Times that Sondland did not want to be seen as part of a purged group of impeachment witnesses.
Sondland told State Department officials that they would have to fire him if they wanted him gone last Friday when he received the call, which Trump responded by recalling him from his post effective immediately.
Sondland’s dismissal came just hours after House impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and his twin brother Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman were ousted by the White House earlier Friday.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-08--Buttigieg Hits Back At Biden Ad Mocking Mayoral Experience: ‘Speaks More’ To His Standing

It didn ’ t take long for Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg to hit back at Joe Biden shortly after the former vice president released his new campaign ad ahead of Tuesday ’ s New Hampshire primary .
Biden ’ s newest campaign ad , which mocks Buttigieg ’ s experience as the mayor of South Bend , Indiana , comes on the heels of Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) leading the Iowa caucuses , which has yet to declare an official winner .
Biden came in fourth place in the caucuses , falling behind Sen. Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ad titled “ Pete ’ s Record , ” Biden ’ s campaign contrasts his experience as vice president during the Obama administration with Buttigieg ’ s time as the mayor of South Bend .
The background music abruptly changes from a cinematic orchestral melody when listing Biden ’ s accomplishments to a more comical tone when describing and criticizing Buttigieg ’ s time as a small city mayor .
According to the Associated Press Saturday , Biden repeated points made against Buttigieg in the campaign ad during an event in New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re a party at risk if I ’ m the nominee , ” Biden told voters in Manchester , according to the AP .
“ I do believe we ’ re a party at risk if we nominate someone who has never held a higher office than the mayor of South Bend , Indiana.
” In a statement shared with TPM , Buttigieg ’ s campaign spokesperson Chris Meagher called out Biden for putting down his mayoral experience .
“ At this moment , the American people are crying out for something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of politics , ” Meagher said in the statement .
“ While Washington politics trivializes what goes on in communities like South Bend , South Bend residents who now have better jobs , rising income , and new life in their city don ’ t think their lives are a Washington politician ’ s punchline.
” Meagher added that Buttigieg ’ s “ on the ground experience as mayor , turning around a Midwestern industrial city , is exactly why he is running for president.
” “ The Vice President ’ s decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he currently stands in this race than it does about Pete ’ s perspective as a mayor and veteran , ” Meagher said in the statement .

It didn’t take long for Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg to hit back at Joe Biden shortly after the former vice president released his new campaign ad ahead of Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary.
Biden’s newest campaign ad, which mocks Buttigieg’s experience as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, comes on the heels of Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) leading the Iowa caucuses, which has yet to declare an official winner. Biden came in fourth place in the caucuses, falling behind Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
In the ad titled “Pete’s Record,” Biden’s campaign contrasts his experience as vice president during the Obama administration with Buttigieg’s time as the mayor of South Bend. The background music abruptly changes from a cinematic orchestral melody when listing Biden’s accomplishments to a more comical tone when describing and criticizing Buttigieg’s time as a small city mayor.
According to the Associated Press Saturday, Biden repeated points made against Buttigieg in the campaign ad during an event in New Hampshire.
“I do not believe we’re a party at risk if I’m the nominee,” Biden told voters in Manchester, according to the AP. “I do believe we’re a party at risk if we nominate someone who has never held a higher office than the mayor of South Bend, Indiana.”
In a statement shared with TPM, Buttigieg’s campaign spokesperson Chris Meagher called out Biden for putting down his mayoral experience.
“At this moment, the American people are crying out for something completely different from this classic Washington style of politics,” Meagher said in the statement. “While Washington politics trivializes what goes on in communities like South Bend, South Bend residents who now have better jobs, rising income, and new life in their city don’t think their lives are a Washington politician’s punchline.”
Meagher added that Buttigieg’s “on the ground experience as mayor, turning around a Midwestern industrial city, is exactly why he is running for president.”
“The Vice President’s decision to run this ad speaks more to where he currently stands in this race than it does about Pete’s perspective as a mayor and veteran,” Meagher said in the statement.
Watch Biden’s campaign ad below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-08--VA Secretary Accused Of Seeking Dirt On Woman Who Alleged Assault At VA Hospital

The Veterans Affairs Department ’ s inspector general is reviewing an appeal filed by House VA Committee Chairman Mark Takano ( D-CA ) late Friday that requests an investigation into the allegations that VA Secretary Robert Wilkie attempted to dig up dirt on one of his aides after she filed a complaint saying that she was sexually assaulted at VA ’ s Washington hospital .
According to the Washington Post , Takano filed the appeal after receiving information from a senior VA official that Wilkie made efforts to discredit the allegations of his senior policy adviser Andrea Goldstein .
Three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began inquiring with military officials regarding Goldstein ’ s past last fall when she said that a man groped and propositioned her in the main lobby of the VA Medical Center in Washington .
Her case was closed by authorities in January .
Three current or former senior VA officials confirmed to the Post that over several months , Wilkie shared his findings on Goldstein with his senior staff on at least six occasions , which included the multiple complaints she filed during her military service .
The Post reported that the information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zeroed in on Goldstein ’ s “ credibility and military record.
” The VA official who shared the information said Wilkie described Goldstein to his staff as a “ serial sexual assault/harassment complainant in the Navy who made baseless allegations for example when she was not satisfied with a fitness evaluation .
”

The Veterans Affairs Department’s inspector general is reviewing a request by House VA Committee Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) late Friday for an investigation into the allegations that VA Secretary Robert Wilkie attempted to dig up dirt on one of his aides after she filed a complaint saying that she was sexually assaulted at VA’s Washington hospital.
According to the Washington Post, Takano requested the probe after receiving information from a senior VA official that Wilkie made efforts to discredit the allegations of his senior policy adviser Andrea Goldstein.
Three sources told the Post that Wilkie reportedly began inquiring with military officials regarding Goldstein’s past last fall when she said that a man groped and propositioned her in the main lobby of the VA Medical Center in Washington. Her case was closed by authorities in January.
Three current or former senior VA officials confirmed to the Post that over several months, Wilkie shared his findings on Goldstein with his senior staff on at least six occasions, which included the multiple complaints she filed during her military service.
The Post reported that the information shared with the committee said that Wilkie zeroed in on Goldstein’s “credibility and military record.” The VA official who shared the information said Wilkie described Goldstein to his staff as a “serial sexual assault/harassment complainant in the Navy who made baseless allegations for example when she was not satisfied with a fitness evaluation.”
Read the Washington Post’s report here.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-08--Girl Whose Story Trump Used To Tout School Choice Attends Charter School

The Philadelphia fourth grader who President Trump shouted out to in his State of the Union speech Tuesday to promote school choice reportedly already attends one of the city ’ s most desired charter schools .
According to a Philadelphia Inquirer report Friday , Janiyah Davis — who Trump said in his speech is one of thousands of students “ trapped in failing government schools ” as he announced that she will receive a scholarship to attend the school of her choice — has attended Math , Science and Technology Community Charter School III since September .
The Inquirer notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand that it received 6,500 applications for 100 seats next year and that because charters are independently run but taxpayer-funded , this means Davis and the other 900 students at the school do not pay tuition .
Davis ’ mother Stephanie expressed puzzlement when asked how she and her daughter landed in the audience for Trump ’ s State of the Union speech in an interview with the Inquirer .
“ I was kind of hesitant to answer [ when a call came from Washington ] .
I thought it was a scam @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The Philadelphia fourth grader who President Trump shouted out to in his State of the Union speech Tuesday to promote school choice reportedly already attends one of the city’s most desired charter schools.
According to a Philadelphia Inquirer report Friday, Janiyah Davis — who Trump said in his speech is one of thousands of students “trapped in failing government schools” as he announced that she will receive a scholarship to attend the school of her choice — has attended Math, Science and Technology Community Charter School III since September.
The Inquirer notes that the charter school is so in demand that it received 6,500 applications for 100 seats next year and that because charters are independently run but taxpayer-funded, this means Davis and the other 900 students at the school do not pay tuition.
Davis’ mother Stephanie expressed puzzlement when asked how she and her daughter landed in the audience for Trump’s State of the Union speech in an interview with the Inquirer.
“I was kind of hesitant to answer [when a call came from Washington]. I thought it was a scam,” Davis told the Inquirer.
Read the Philadelphia Inquirer’s report here.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-10--Senate GOPers Are Totally Fine With Trump’s ‘Friday Night Massacre’

Beyond just dismissing Democrats ’ claims of political retaliation , some Senate Republicans on Monday offered a vigorous defense of President Donald Trump ’ s unceremonious ouster of two key impeachment witnesses just 48 hours after the Senate voted to acquit him .
“ I ’ d dismiss him for that , ” Sen. Roy Blunt ( R-MO ) said of House impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman taking a “ policy problem ” public with his testimony during the impeachment inquiry .
In fact , Blunt said he ’ d have dismissed him “ earlier ” than Trump did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blunt ’ s colleagues didn ’ t go quite so far , but they agreed that Trump was justified in ousting officials .
Almost no Republican senator expressed any concern with the the treatment of Vindman or Gordon Sondland , the EU ambassador who also testified in the House inquiry , only to be recalled from his post by the President last week .
“ The President has a right to surround himself with individuals he chooses and he trusts and I think it ’ s totally appropriate for him to do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) told reporters on Capitol Hill .
Sen. Richard Shelby ( R-AL ) said he thought Trump would have carried out the shake-up “ way before ” Friday , adding that Vindman “ wasn ’ t very loyal.
” Vindman was escorted out of the building by security on Friday and reassigned from his post on the National Security Council .
His rotation at the White House , per CNN , was not up until July .
The recall of Sondland , who came clean about the pressure campaign after playing a direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For good measure , Vindman ’ s twin brother and NSC lawyer Yevgeny Vindman was also escorted out of the building Friday , even though he did not testify in the House impeachment inquiry .
The moves earned the administration accusations of retaliation against officials for complying with congressional subpoenas demanding their testimony about the Ukraine matter .
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( R-NY ) sent a request to the inspectors general of various government agencies that they “ take immediate action to investigate any and all instances of retaliation against anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future makes , protected disclosures of presidential misconduct to Congress or Inspectors General.
” “ These attacks are part of a dangerous , growing pattern of retaliation against those who report wrongdoing only to find themselves targeted by the President and subject to his wrath and vindictiveness , ” the letter said .
Even as the vast majority of Senate Republicans blew off Democrats ’ outrage over the removals on Monday , at least some of them had at least privately expressed concerns about the timing of Trump ’ s moves .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President against immediately recalling Sondland — who was a major GOP donor before being appointed ambassador to the European Union — the New York Times reported Saturday .
Sens .
Thom Tillis ( R-NC ) and Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) both confirmed the Times ’ reporting that they had reached out to the White House about the timing of Sondland ’ s recall , though Tillis clarified that he had not spoken to the President directly about it .
Johnson said that he would ’ ve liked Sondland to be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , was less sympathetic to Vindman , telling Politico that he did “ not respect the way he conducted himself in his office on the NSC staff.
” Only Sen. Susan Collins ( R-ME ) , cited in the Times ’ report as also lobbying against the removals , took the principled position when talking to reporters Monday that witnesses should not be punished for complying with subpoenas .
“ My general position is that anyone who answers a congressional subpoena , comes forward and testifies should not face retaliation , ” @ @ @

Beyond just dismissing Democrats’ claims of political retaliation, some Senate Republicans on Monday offered a vigorous defense of President Donald Trump’s unceremonious ouster of two key impeachment witnesses just 48 hours after the Senate voted to acquit him.
“I’d dismiss him for that,” Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) said of House impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman taking a “policy problem” public with his testimony during the impeachment inquiry. In fact, Blunt said he’d have dismissed him “earlier” than Trump did after watching the hearing.
Most of Blunt’s colleagues didn’t go quite so far, but they agreed that Trump was justified in ousting officials. Almost no Republican senator expressed any concern with the the treatment of Vindman or Gordon Sondland, the EU ambassador who also testified in the House inquiry, only to be recalled from his post by the President last week.
“The President has a right to surround himself with individuals he chooses and he trusts and I think it’s totally appropriate for him to do that,” Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) told reporters on Capitol Hill.
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) said he thought Trump would have carried out the shake-up “way before” Friday, adding that Vindman “wasn’t very loyal.”
Vindman was escorted out of the building by security on Friday and reassigned from his post on the National Security Council. His rotation at the White House, per CNN, was not up until July. The recall of Sondland, who came clean about the pressure campaign after playing a direct role, was also announced on Friday.
For good measure, Vindman’s twin brother and NSC lawyer Yevgeny Vindman was also escorted out of the building Friday, even though he did not testify in the House impeachment inquiry.
The moves earned the administration accusations of retaliation against officials for complying with congressional subpoenas demanding their testimony about the Ukraine matter. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (R-NY) sent a request to the inspectors general of various government agencies that they “take immediate action to investigate any and all instances of retaliation against anyone who has made, or in the future makes, protected disclosures of presidential misconduct to Congress or Inspectors General.”
“These attacks are part of a dangerous, growing pattern of retaliation against those who report wrongdoing only to find themselves targeted by the President and subject to his wrath and vindictiveness,” the letter said.
Even as the vast majority of Senate Republicans blew off Democrats’ outrage over the removals on Monday, at least some of them had at least privately expressed concerns about the timing of Trump’s moves.
A handful of Senate Republicans had advised the President against immediately recalling Sondland — who was a major GOP donor before being appointed ambassador to the European Union — the New York Times reported Saturday.
Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) both confirmed the Times’ reporting that they had reached out to the White House about the timing of Sondland’s recall, though Tillis clarified that he had not spoken to the President directly about it.
Johnson said that he would’ve liked Sondland to be able to leave “with dignity.”
Johnson, however, was less sympathetic to Vindman, telling Politico that he did “not respect the way he conducted himself in his office on the NSC staff.”
Only Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), cited in the Times’ report as also lobbying against the removals, took the principled position when talking to reporters Monday that witnesses should not be punished for complying with subpoenas.
“My general position is that anyone who answers a congressional subpoena, comes forward and testifies should not face retaliation,” she said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-10--Vindman’s Ex-Supervisor Says He’s Lost Respect For Lindsey Graham

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman ’ s former supervisor , Brig .
Gen. Peter Zwack , took aim at Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) after the senator defended Vindman ’ s abrupt ouster by President Trump .
Graham said during an interview on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” Sunday that Vindman ’ s reassignment was “ justified ” because he doesn ’ t think “ he could be effective at the NSC.
” Vindman formerly served as the National Security Council director for European affairs .
During the interview Sunday , Graham then appeared to suggest that Vindman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Trump .
When asked to respond to Graham ’ s comments during a CNN interview Monday , Zwack mocked the Trump ally , saying that “ I guess that makes me a card-carrying member of the deep state.
” Zwack said that he ’ s lost respect for Graham .
“ This is ridiculous , okay ?
… Senator Graham , I ’ ve always had a lot of respect for you , ” Zwack said .
“ I met you when you was in Afghanistan in 2008 , when you arrived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the three amigos .
We thought you guys were rock stars .
Where are you now , sir ?
” Earlier in the interview , Zwack said that Vindman is “ hurt and insulted ” and “ uncertain about his future ” following his ouster .
Zwack then seemed to take aim at Trump ’ s Saturday tweet that railed against Vindman for reporting the “ contents of my ‘ perfect ’ calls ” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “ incorrectly.
” “ I think that seniors at a very , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way publicly by statement or the God gun of a tweet in demeaning his personality , ” Zwack said .
“ And the other thing that offends me greatly is so many other people have piled in that don ’ t even know him.
” When asked if he would classify Vindman ’ s ouster as “ witness retaliation , ” Zwack said that it was “ punitive ” and “ didn ’ t need to be done that way.
” “ He could have been allowed to say at least goodbye to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He was not allowed… It was just insulting and offending and wrong .
”

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman’s former supervisor, Brig. Gen. Peter Zwack, took aim at Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) after the senator defended Vindman’s abrupt ouster by President Trump.
Graham said during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday that Vindman’s reassignment was “justified” because he doesn’t think “he could be effective at the NSC.” Vindman formerly served as the National Security Council director for European affairs.
During the interview Sunday, Graham then appeared to suggest that Vindman was part of the deep state plotting against Trump.
When asked to respond to Graham’s comments during a CNN interview Monday, Zwack mocked the Trump ally, saying that “I guess that makes me a card-carrying member of the deep state.” Zwack said that he’s lost respect for Graham.
“This is ridiculous, okay? … Senator Graham, I’ve always had a lot of respect for you,” Zwack said. “I met you when you was in Afghanistan in 2008, when you arrived with Senator McCain and Joe Lieberman as part of the three amigos. We thought you guys were rock stars. Where are you now, sir?”
Earlier in the interview, Zwack said that Vindman is “hurt and insulted” and “uncertain about his future” following his ouster.
Zwack then seemed to take aim at Trump’s Saturday tweet that railed against Vindman for reporting the “contents of my ‘perfect’ calls” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “incorrectly.”
“I think that seniors at a very, very high level should not dump that way publicly by statement or the God gun of a tweet in demeaning his personality,” Zwack said. “And the other thing that offends me greatly is so many other people have piled in that don’t even know him.”
When asked if he would classify Vindman’s ouster as “witness retaliation,” Zwack said that it was “punitive” and “didn’t need to be done that way.”
“He could have been allowed to say at least goodbye to his peers,” Zwack said. “He was not allowed… It was just insulting and offending and wrong.”
Watch Zwack’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-10--NYC Police Sergeants Union Says It’s ‘Declaring War’ On Mayor Bill De Blasio

A union representing thousands of active and retired New York City police sergeants said Sunday that it was “ declaring war ” on the city ’ s mayor Bill de Blasio .
The shocking statement came in a tweet from the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association , after a gunman allegedly shot and wounded two police officers over two days in New York — and despite de Blasio ’ s sharp denunciation of the attacks .
De Blasio spokesperson Freddi Goldstein told TPM , referring to the tweet : “ [ SBA President ] Ed Mullins ’ comments are absolutely reprehensible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect and serve .
While he threatens violence , the mayor remains focused on the safety of our officers and communities.
” The tweet is part of a larger effort from police unions to tie de Blasio ’ s lefty politics to explicitly anti-cop protest movements .
“ We talk about the protesters that are yelling ‘ We want dead cops !
’ ” New York City Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said Sunday .
“ Those words meant something and people listen and they try to kill cops.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some of the elected officials that stand here today nodding their heads when we speak are the ones that ’ s leading those crowds , leading those demonstrators , putting the words in those protesters ’ mouths !
” he said .
“ Well , now it ’ s real.
” The tension between de Blasio and the police unions goes back years to his time as a social justice-minded city councilman and public advocate .
Police anger spiked after Officer Daniel Pantaleo , on July 17 , 2014 , put Eric Garner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death rocked the city , not least when De Blasio invited Rev .
Al Sharpton to speak at a meeting at City Hall , where the civil rights leader called for consequences for the police officers involved as then-Police Commissioner Bill Bratton stared on two seats away .
Months later , when two police officers were killed in an ambush shooting , NYPD officers publicly turned their backs to de Blasio as he arrived at the hospital , and again a few days later when the mayor spoke at one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time that the slain officers ’ blood was on the mayor ’ s hands .
Since then , the police union campaign against New York ’ s mayor has linked with the national movement to quell criticism of police — articulated in public displays like the # BlueLivesMatter hashtag and President Donald Trump ’ s 2017 suggestion to New York police officers to “ take the hand away ” from arrestees ’ heads as they enter police cars while handcuffed .
“ Please don ’ t be too nice , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a speech in Brentwood , New York .
On Sunday , Trump commented on the recent attacks against police officers in New York , tweeting that “ because of weak leadership at Governor & Mayor , ” New York ’ s police were “ under assault.
” “ Send in the Feds , ” the SBA tweeted in response .
Neither the PBA nor the SBA has responded to TPM ’ s request for comment to more fully explain their criticisms of the mayor .
But the unions ’ attacks on de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative politics .
Consider SBA ’ s claim that de Blasio had “ sold the NYPD to the vile creatures , the 1 % who hate cops but vote for you.
” Less than two weeks before expressing the anti-elite sentiment , the SBA account wondered whether George Soros — the wealthy , progressive Jewish donor and constant victim of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories — was guilty of “ treason ?
” And on Sunday , the union retweeted the prominent Trump supporter and prolific Twitter presence James Woods , who said de Blasio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ than anyone in history.
” “ No punches pulled , ” the actor said .
“ A shocking indictment of # CopHaterDeBlasio.
” This post has been updated .

A union representing thousands of active and retired New York City police sergeants said Sunday that it was “declaring war” on the city’s mayor Bill de Blasio.
The shocking statement came in a tweet from the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association, after a gunman allegedly shot and wounded two police officers over two days in New York — and despite de Blasio’s sharp denunciation of the attacks.
Mayor DeBlasio, the members of the NYPD are declaring war on you! We do not respect you, DO NOT visit us in hospitals. You sold the NYPD to the vile creatures, the 1% who hate cops but vote for you. NYPD cops have been assassinated because of you. This isn’t over, Game on! https://t.co/XyruPraM9T — SBA (@SBANYPD) February 9, 2020
De Blasio spokesperson Freddi Goldstein told TPM, referring to the tweet: “[SBA President] Ed Mullins’ comments are absolutely reprehensible. He clearly has forgotten his oath to protect and serve. While he threatens violence, the mayor remains focused on the safety of our officers and communities.”
The tweet is part of a larger effort from police unions to tie de Blasio’s lefty politics to explicitly anti-cop protest movements.
“We talk about the protesters that are yelling ‘We want dead cops!’” New York City Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said Sunday. “Those words meant something and people listen and they try to kill cops.”
“But who’s leading them? Some of the elected officials that stand here today nodding their heads when we speak are the ones that’s leading those crowds, leading those demonstrators, putting the words in those protesters’ mouths!” he said. “Well, now it’s real.”
The tension between de Blasio and the police unions goes back years to his time as a social justice-minded city councilman and public advocate. Police anger spiked after Officer Daniel Pantaleo, on July 17, 2014, put Eric Garner in a fatal chokehold. Garner’s death rocked the city, not least when De Blasio invited Rev. Al Sharpton to speak at a meeting at City Hall, where the civil rights leader called for consequences for the police officers involved as then-Police Commissioner Bill Bratton stared on two seats away.
Months later, when two police officers were killed in an ambush shooting, NYPD officers publicly turned their backs to de Blasio as he arrived at the hospital, and again a few days later when the mayor spoke at one of the officers’ funerals. The SBA said at the time that the slain officers’ blood was on the mayor’s hands.
Since then, the police union campaign against New York’s mayor has linked with the national movement to quell criticism of police — articulated in public displays like the #BlueLivesMatter hashtag and President Donald Trump’s 2017 suggestion to New York police officers to “take the hand away” from arrestees’ heads as they enter police cars while handcuffed. “Please don’t be too nice,” Trump told the officers seated behind him during a speech in Brentwood, New York.
On Sunday, Trump commented on the recent attacks against police officers in New York, tweeting that “because of weak leadership at Governor & Mayor,” New York’s police were “under assault.”
“Send in the Feds,” the SBA tweeted in response.
President Trump is 100% correct. NYS & NYC need the support of the Department of Justice. Criminals are being released, it’s time we prosecute in Federal Court. The Mayor is ruining NYC, cops have been stopped from doing their jobs. NYC is under siege. Send in the Feds https://t.co/OuOtwG5h7H — SBA (@SBANYPD) February 9, 2020
Neither the PBA nor the SBA has responded to TPM’s request for comment to more fully explain their criticisms of the mayor.
But the unions’ attacks on de Blasio fit with the larger trends in conservative politics.
Consider SBA’s claim that de Blasio had “sold the NYPD to the vile creatures, the 1% who hate cops but vote for you.”
Less than two weeks before expressing the anti-elite sentiment, the SBA account wondered whether George Soros — the wealthy, progressive Jewish donor and constant victim of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories — was guilty of “treason?”
And on Sunday, the union retweeted the prominent Trump supporter and prolific Twitter presence James Woods, who said de Blasio had done more to incite anti-police violence “than anyone in history.”
“No punches pulled,” the actor said. “A shocking indictment of #CopHaterDeBlasio.”
This post has been updated.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-10--Biden Insists He’ll Keep On Trucking Even If He Fizzles Out In NH

Former Vice President Joe Biden appeared to downplay his fourth-place finish in last week ’ s Iowa caucuses during an interview on CBS News the day before the New Hampshire primary .
After saying that he “ feels good ” about his campaign ’ s work in New Hampshire , Biden replied that “ we are just getting into the game here ” when asked about the possibility of coming in fourth place again .
The former vice president ’ s campaign has been tamping down expectations ahead of the second primary contest , where Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another disappointing showing for Biden could imperil his campaign before the contest moves onto other , more diverse states .
CBS News ’ Tony Dokoupil pointed out how no presidential candidate has won the nomination without finishing in the top two in Iowa and New Hampshire , before asking Biden why other voters outside of New Hampshire should listen to him .
“ Because the other voters out there represent a significant portion of the American people and they look like America , ” Biden said .
Biden campaign senior adviser Symone Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with CNN Monday morning , saying that “ whatever happens on Tuesday , Vice President Biden will still be in this race.
” “ But again , regardless of what happens , we believe and we have said for a long time , that this race absolutely runs to Nevada , South Carolina , and Super Tuesday , ” Sanders added .
“ It would be a mistake for the media to try to count Joe Biden out before other folks in this party have had their chance to have their say in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on her comments to CNN during an interview on MSNBC later Monday , denying that Biden already ruled out a strong finish in New Hampshire in his opening remarks during Friday ’ s Democratic debate .
Sanders said Biden was simply “ acknowledging realities that it is going to be a fight here.
” “ It ’ s hard with two home state senators , but we are competing .
Frankly , if we were conceding New Hampshire , Vice President Biden would still not be there , ” Sanders said , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vigorously campaigning ” in the state .
“ We believe we ’ re going to be competitive.
” Sanders added that the campaign also believes that “ this process should not and frankly will not be decided by simply after Iowa and New Hampshire.
” When TPM reached out to the Biden campaign for comment , spokesperson TJ Ducklo pointed to statements that deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield made in an interview with Bloomberg News in Manchester Monday morning .
“ We believe that regardless of what happens tomorrow night , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to compete hard in Nevada , South Carolina , Super Tuesday and beyond , ” Bedingfield told Bloomberg News .
Bedingfield added that Biden has made “ very clear that he ’ s fighting for every vote here in New Hampshire ” and that she ’ s confident that the former vice president will pull through in South Carolina even if he gets a New Hampshire primary result similar to his fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses .

Former Vice President Joe Biden appeared to downplay his fourth-place finish in last week’s Iowa caucuses during an interview on CBS News the day before the New Hampshire primary.
After saying that he “feels good” about his campaign’s work in New Hampshire, Biden replied that “we are just getting into the game here” when asked about the possibility of coming in fourth place again.
The former vice president’s campaign has been tamping down expectations ahead of the second primary contest, where Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) appears to be the favorite. Another disappointing showing for Biden could imperil his campaign before the contest moves onto other, more diverse states.
Voters in New Hampshire will head to the polls starting at midnight tonight for tomorrow's primary. Former Vice President @JoeBiden hopes to boost his chances ahead of the vote. Biden joins us now from Nashua, New Hampshire. pic.twitter.com/669N5oIADX — CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) February 10, 2020
CBS News’ Tony Dokoupil pointed out how no presidential candidate has won the nomination without finishing in the top two in Iowa and New Hampshire, before asking Biden why other voters outside of New Hampshire should listen to him.
“Because the other voters out there represent a significant portion of the American people and they look like America,” Biden said.
Biden campaign senior adviser Symone Sanders shared a similar sentiment during an interview with CNN Monday morning, saying that “whatever happens on Tuesday, Vice President Biden will still be in this race.”
“But again, regardless of what happens, we believe and we have said for a long time, that this race absolutely runs to Nevada, South Carolina, and Super Tuesday,” Sanders added. “It would be a mistake for the media to try to count Joe Biden out before other folks in this party have had their chance to have their say in this race.”
Watch Sanders’ remarks on CNN below:
Symone Sanders: "Whatever happens on Tuesday, Vice President Biden will still be in this race." pic.twitter.com/pVfheDekdX — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) February 10, 2020
Sanders seemed to piggyback on her comments to CNN during an interview on MSNBC later Monday, denying that Biden already ruled out a strong finish in New Hampshire in his opening remarks during Friday’s Democratic debate. Sanders said Biden was simply “acknowledging realities that it is going to be a fight here.”
“It’s hard with two home state senators, but we are competing. Frankly, if we were conceding New Hampshire, Vice President Biden would still not be there,” Sanders said, before citing how Biden spent last week “vigorously campaigning” in the state. “We believe we’re going to be competitive.”
Sanders added that the campaign also believes that “this process should not and frankly will not be decided by simply after Iowa and New Hampshire.”
Watch Sanders’ remarks on MSNBC below:
Symone Sanders says if the Biden campaign didn't think he'd be competitive in New Hampshire, he wouldn't still be there pic.twitter.com/7gMfYAJ98J — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) February 10, 2020
When TPM reached out to the Biden campaign for comment, spokesperson TJ Ducklo pointed to statements that deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield made in an interview with Bloomberg News in Manchester Monday morning.
“We believe that regardless of what happens tomorrow night, we’re going to continue on with our plans to compete hard in Nevada, South Carolina, Super Tuesday and beyond,” Bedingfield told Bloomberg News.
Bedingfield added that Biden has made “very clear that he’s fighting for every vote here in New Hampshire” and that she’s confident that the former vice president will pull through in South Carolina even if he gets a New Hampshire primary result similar to his fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-10--READ: Amazon Wants To Depose Trump Over Order To ‘Screw’ It Out Of $10B

Amazon wants to depose President Trump over allegations that he personally ordered the Pentagon “ to screw ” the company out of a $ 10 billion contract .
The Seattle-based tech giant alleged in a Jan. 17 court filing that Trump ’ s “ personal animus ” towards Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos resulted in the company losing out on a massive cloud computing contract for the Department of Defense .
“ President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to use his position as President and Commander in Chief to disrupt the orderly administration of government functions — including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” reads the filing , which was released on Monday with redactions .
“ There is no question he did so here.
” Amazon sued the Defense Department and Microsoft in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims last year , claiming that the Pentagon wrongly awarded the $ 10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure ( JEDI ) contract to a rival in the cloud computing business , Microsoft .
The company is seeking to depose Trump to “ develop facts not currently known or accessible to [ Amazon ] demonstrating exactly how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screw Amazon ’ was carried out during the decision-making process.
” Amazon also wants to depose Defense Secretary Mark Esper , his predecessor James Mattis , DOD Chief Information Office Dana Deasy , and a number of people whose identities are redacted .
In the filing , Amazon accused Trump of acting on his “ personal and political interests ” in diverting the $ 10 billion contract to Microsoft .
Citing statements from the 2016 campaign where Trump said that the tech monolith would “ have problems ” were he to be elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ award marks yet another example of the President warping parts of the government towards his personal benefit .
“ This bid protest also occurs against the background of impeachment — the third in the history of the United States — and which is grounded in the President ’ s repeated refusal to separate his personal interests from the national interest , ” the filing reads .
Attorneys for Amazon argued that Bezos ’ s ownership of the Washington Post particularly attracted Trump ’ s ire , allegedly spurring him to order subordinates to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The tech giant cited an October 2019 congressional hearing in which Deasy , the Pentagon ’ s chief information officer , was asked if “ he could categorically assure ” lawmakers that the President did not influence the contract award .
Deasy purportedly replied that he believed the “ team members that actually ” made the decision were not influenced , a reply that Amazon described in the filing as “ equivocat [ ing ] .
” President Trump has launched a series of broadsides against Bezos , including the characteristic series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House adviser Peter Navarro told The Hill that Bezos had refused to meet with him about a plan to fight back against counterfeiting on Amazon ’ s sales platform .
Hours later , Bezos posted the following on Instagram in apparent reference to Navarro : “ Let ’ s say you ’ re at a big cocktail party and someone you don ’ t know comes up to you while you ’ re talking to your dad and girlfriend and asks for a meeting .
Let ’ s say this person is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ word ‘ minions ’ to describe the people who work for you .
”

Amazon wants to depose President Trump over allegations that he personally ordered the Pentagon “to screw” the company out of a $10 billion contract.
The Seattle-based tech giant alleged in a Jan. 17 court filing that Trump’s “personal animus” towards Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos resulted in the company losing out on a massive cloud computing contract for the Department of Defense.
“President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to use his position as President and Commander in Chief to disrupt the orderly administration of government functions — including federal procurements — to advance personal motives,” reads the filing, which was released on Monday with redactions. “There is no question he did so here.”
Amazon sued the Defense Department and Microsoft in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims last year, claiming that the Pentagon wrongly awarded the $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract to a rival in the cloud computing business, Microsoft.
The company is seeking to depose Trump to “develop facts not currently known or accessible to [Amazon] demonstrating exactly how President Trump’s order to ‘screw Amazon’ was carried out during the decision-making process.”
Amazon also wants to depose Defense Secretary Mark Esper, his predecessor James Mattis, DOD Chief Information Office Dana Deasy, and a number of people whose identities are redacted.
In the filing, Amazon accused Trump of acting on his “personal and political interests” in diverting the $10 billion contract to Microsoft.
Citing statements from the 2016 campaign where Trump said that the tech monolith would “have problems” were he to be elected, the firm argued that the contract award marks yet another example of the President warping parts of the government towards his personal benefit.
“This bid protest also occurs against the background of impeachment — the third in the history of the United States — and which is grounded in the President’s repeated refusal to separate his personal interests from the national interest,” the filing reads.
Attorneys for Amazon argued that Bezos’s ownership of the Washington Post particularly attracted Trump’s ire, allegedly spurring him to order subordinates to award the JEDI contract to Microsoft.
The tech giant cited an October 2019 congressional hearing in which Deasy, the Pentagon’s chief information officer, was asked if “he could categorically assure” lawmakers that the President did not influence the contract award.
Deasy purportedly replied that he believed the “team members that actually” made the decision were not influenced, a reply that Amazon described in the filing as “equivocat[ing].”
President Trump has launched a series of broadsides against Bezos, including the characteristic series of angry tweets.
Last week, White House adviser Peter Navarro told The Hill that Bezos had refused to meet with him about a plan to fight back against counterfeiting on Amazon’s sales platform.
Hours later, Bezos posted the following on Instagram in apparent reference to Navarro:
“Let’s say you’re at a big cocktail party and someone you don’t know comes up to you while you’re talking to your dad and girlfriend and asks for a meeting. Let’s say this person is the kind of person who actually uses the word ‘minions’ to describe the people who work for you.”
“How do you respond?”
Read the filing here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-10--Dems Go After Buttigieg In Final Hours Before New Hampshire Primary

Most of the polling ahead of Tuesday ’ s New Hampshire ’ s Democratic presidential primary shows Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) in the lead — but you might not know it , listening to the other candidates in recent days .
Rather than going after the Vermont senator , Democratic contenders have targeted the relative political newcomer who put on a surprisingly strong showing in Iowa : Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg .
The attacks speak to Buttigieg ’ s political promise coming out of Iowa , but also to the danger New Hampshire poses to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most to lose from a strong Buttigieg showing also has the most on the line in New Hampshire more generally : Former Vice President Joe Biden .
Biden , who placed fourth in Iowa , threw a wide left hook on Saturday , releasing an attack ad comparing his achievements as Vice President to Buttigieg ’ s as a small town mayor .
In the Obama White House , Biden “ helped lead the passage of the Affordable Care Act , ” the ad declares .
Meanwhile , in South Bend , Buttigieg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That was hardly it .
Speaking to reporters Saturday , Biden said of Buttigieg : “ This guy ’ s not a Barack Obama !
” And in an interview the following day , the former vice president referenced his work on the recession-era federal bailout program vis a vis South Bend : “ We bailed out his city.
” Biden ’ s attacks aren ’ t entirely surprising : After placing fourth in Iowa , the former Vice President is aiming at the 38-year-old who , arguably , shares his political lane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party politics , not political revolution .
But Biden wasn ’ t alone : The other centrist in the race , Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-MN ) , has improved slightly in New Hampshire polling in recent days , and she ’ s trained her fire on Buttigieg , as well .
During Friday night ’ s debate , she contrasted the high-stakes Senate impeachment trial to a recent comment from Buttigieg that he was “ exhausted by the current state of politics , ” which he said made him want to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or something.
” “ It is easy to go after Washington , because that ’ s a popular thing to do , ” Klobuchar said , adding : “ I think this going after every single thing that people do because it ’ s popular to say and makes you look like a cool newcomer — I don ’ t think that ’ s what people want right now .
We have a newcomer in the White House and look where it got us.
” Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) , coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finish , has also spent several days focused on Buttigieg ’ s reliance on big donors and consultant-vetted policy proposals .
On the debate stage Friday night , asked about former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ’ s deep-pocketed campaign , Warren replied : “ I don ’ t think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or to be president of the United States .
I don ’ t think any billionaire ought to be able to do it , and I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to fund their campaigns ought to be able to do it.
” It was a pointed jab at the former South Bend mayor , who ’ s attended dozens of high-dollars fundraisers to fuel his presidential run .
( It was also a glancing shot at Sanders , whose opponents have drawn attention to the 501 ( c ) 4 group Our Revolution , which supports him . )
On Saturday night , Warren implicitly hit Buttigieg again at the McIntyre-Shaheen dinner in Manchester , where she said she was not “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a bunch of consultants .
I ’ m not offering a bunch of proposals that have been carefully designed not to offend big donors.
” Sanders , least surprising of the bunch , has also tried to keep Buttigieg well away from his polling lead in New Hampshire .
With hours to go before New Hampshire votes , the Democratic Socialist , who ’ s relied heavily ( and successfully ) on small-dollar fundraising , repeated his most straightforward line of attack against one of his more natural political foils .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vermont senator said Sunday .
“ Pete has raised campaign contributions from over 40 billionaires .
”

Most of the polling ahead of Tuesday’s New Hampshire’s Democratic presidential primary shows Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in the lead — but you might not know it, listening to the other candidates in recent days.
Rather than going after the Vermont senator, Democratic contenders have targeted the relative political newcomer who put on a surprisingly strong showing in Iowa: Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
The attacks speak to Buttigieg’s political promise coming out of Iowa, but also to the danger New Hampshire poses to his budding campaign.
The candidate with the most to lose from a strong Buttigieg showing also has the most on the line in New Hampshire more generally: Former Vice President Joe Biden.
Biden, who placed fourth in Iowa, threw a wide left hook on Saturday, releasing an attack ad comparing his achievements as Vice President to Buttigieg’s as a small town mayor.
Former Mayor Pete doesn’t think very highly of the Obama-Biden record. Let’s compare. pic.twitter.com/132TB7MHaq — Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) February 8, 2020
In the Obama White House, Biden “helped lead the passage of the Affordable Care Act,” the ad declares. Meanwhile, in South Bend, Buttigieg “installed decorative lights under bridges.”
That was hardly it. Speaking to reporters Saturday, Biden said of Buttigieg: “This guy’s not a Barack Obama!” And in an interview the following day, the former vice president referenced his work on the recession-era federal bailout program vis a vis South Bend: “We bailed out his city.”
(Buttigieg’s campaign told TPM that Biden’s decision to run the ad “speaks more to where he currently stands in this race than it does about Pete’s perspective as a mayor and veteran.”)
Biden’s attacks aren’t entirely surprising: After placing fourth in Iowa, the former Vice President is aiming at the 38-year-old who, arguably, shares his political lane — one of folksy pragmatism and big-tent party politics, not political revolution.
But Biden wasn’t alone: The other centrist in the race, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), has improved slightly in New Hampshire polling in recent days, and she’s trained her fire on Buttigieg, as well.
During Friday night’s debate, she contrasted the high-stakes Senate impeachment trial to a recent comment from Buttigieg that he was “exhausted by the current state of politics,” which he said made him want to “switch it off and just watch cartoons or something.”
“It is easy to go after Washington, because that’s a popular thing to do,” Klobuchar said, adding: “I think this going after every single thing that people do because it’s popular to say and makes you look like a cool newcomer — I don’t think that’s what people want right now. We have a newcomer in the White House and look where it got us.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), coming out of Iowa with a respectable third-place finish, has also spent several days focused on Buttigieg’s reliance on big donors and consultant-vetted policy proposals.
On the debate stage Friday night, asked about former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s deep-pocketed campaign, Warren replied: “I don’t think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or to be president of the United States. I don’t think any billionaire ought to be able to do it, and I don’t think people who suck up to billionaires in order to fund their campaigns ought to be able to do it.”
It was a pointed jab at the former South Bend mayor, who’s attended dozens of high-dollars fundraisers to fuel his presidential run. (It was also a glancing shot at Sanders, whose opponents have drawn attention to the 501(c)4 group Our Revolution, which supports him.)
On Saturday night, Warren implicitly hit Buttigieg again at the McIntyre-Shaheen dinner in Manchester, where she said she was not “running a race that has been shaped by a bunch of consultants. I’m not offering a bunch of proposals that have been carefully designed not to offend big donors.”
Sanders, least surprising of the bunch, has also tried to keep Buttigieg well away from his polling lead in New Hampshire.
With hours to go before New Hampshire votes, the Democratic Socialist, who’s relied heavily (and successfully) on small-dollar fundraising, repeated his most straightforward line of attack against one of his more natural political foils.
“Our views are different,” the Vermont senator said Sunday. “Pete has raised campaign contributions from over 40 billionaires.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-10--Schumer Urges All Department Watchdogs To Investigate Whistleblower Retaliation

On Monday , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) requested all 74 inspectors general , including the Defense Department IG , to investigate retaliation against whistleblowers after President Donald Trump got key impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman kicked out of the National Security Council last week .
“ Although LTC Vindman lived up to his oath to protect and defend our Constitution by bravely stepping forward to tell the truth , he has been viciously attacked by the President and forced to endure threats to his and his family ’ s safety , ” Schumer wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These attacks are part of a dangerous , growing pattern of retaliation against those who report wrongdoing only to find themselves targeted by the President and subject to his wrath and vindictiveness.
” The Democratic leader went on to describe their “ critical role ” in protecting whistleblowers .
He requested that the IGs therefore investigate “ any and all instances of retaliation ” against those who report “ presidential misconduct ” to either the IGs ’ offices or to Congress .
Schumer also asked each of them to provide to Congress the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of whistleblowers ’ legal rights , along with written certification affirming the IGs ’ commitment to protecting whistleblowers .
“ It is incumbent on you that whistleblowers like LTC Vindman—and others who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms—are protected for doing what we hope and expect those who serve our country will do when called : tell the truth , ” he wrote .
Vindman was escorted from the White House on Friday , several months after he provided crucial testimony to House impeachment investigators on Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation into Joe Biden .
Trump continued to attack Vindman after his ouster , putting the Purple Heart recipient ’ s military title in quotation marks and calling him “ very insubordinate.
” The White House warned of “ retribution ” after the Senate ’ s Republican majority voted to acquit Trump in the impeachment trial .

On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) requested all 74 inspectors general, including the Defense Department IG, to investigate retaliation against whistleblowers after President Donald Trump got key impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman kicked out of the National Security Council last week.
“Although LTC Vindman lived up to his oath to protect and defend our Constitution by bravely stepping forward to tell the truth, he has been viciously attacked by the President and forced to endure threats to his and his family’s safety,” Schumer wrote in his letter to the watchdogs. “These attacks are part of a dangerous, growing pattern of retaliation against those who report wrongdoing only to find themselves targeted by the President and subject to his wrath and vindictiveness.”
The Democratic leader went on to describe their “critical role” in protecting whistleblowers.
He requested that the IGs therefore investigate “any and all instances of retaliation” against those who report “presidential misconduct” to either the IGs’ offices or to Congress.
Schumer also asked each of them to provide to Congress the last date their department staff was informed of whistleblowers’ legal rights, along with written certification affirming the IGs’ commitment to protecting whistleblowers.
“It is incumbent on you that whistleblowers like LTC Vindman—and others who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms—are protected for doing what we hope and expect those who serve our country will do when called: tell the truth,” he wrote.
Vindman was escorted from the White House on Friday, several months after he provided crucial testimony to House impeachment investigators on Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukraine into announcing an investigation into Joe Biden.
Trump continued to attack Vindman after his ouster, putting the Purple Heart recipient’s military title in quotation marks and calling him “very insubordinate.”
The White House warned of “retribution” after the Senate’s Republican majority voted to acquit Trump in the impeachment trial.
Read Schumer’s letter below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-10--Conway Pretends Vindman Brothers Were Not Fired, Just Relocated

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway professed incredulity while addressing the firing of the Vindman brothers Monday morning , saying that officials detailed to the White House are routinely abruptly booted from their posts .
“ They are employed today , ” she said on “ Fox and Friends , ” agreeing when host Steve Doocy said “ they didn ’ t get fired , they just got relocated.
” “ This whole ridiculous words by Chuck Schumer today in the letter : ‘ retaliation ’ and ‘ the President is exacting revenge ?
’ Where ?
” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they were , they were detailed to the NSC .
This is typical.
” Schumer sent a letter to 74 inspectors general in the wake of the double firing to focus their attention to the “ dangerous , growing pattern of retaliation ” against those who speak out against the administration .
For all her talk about the routine nature of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman ’ s removal , President Donald Trump took to Twitter over the weekend to smear the impeachment witness as “ very insubordinate.
” Vindman was escorted out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the July date he was slated to leave .
His twin Yevgeny , a senior NSC lawyer , was also fired , though he did not testify against Trump .
Vindman ’ s lawyer , David Pressman , did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Conway ’ s assertions .
On the subject of former Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland ’ s firing , Conway took fewer pains to scrub the vindictive motivation from the ouster .
“ It was nice of the President to give him that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said , adding that he “ couldn ’ t keep his own story straight ” while testifying .
Per the New York Times , some Republican lawmakers tried to keep Trump from firing Sondland , who was resistant to leaving .
Conway offered up an ominous “ maybe ” when asked if more heads will roll .
As to “ holdovers ” or officials “ who don ’ t believe President Trump ’ s agenda , ” Conway issued a warning : “ I always have my eye on them .
”

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway professed incredulity while addressing the firing of the Vindman brothers Monday morning, saying that officials detailed to the White House are routinely abruptly booted from their posts.
“They are employed today,” she said on “Fox and Friends,” agreeing when host Steve Doocy said “they didn’t get fired, they just got relocated.”
“This whole ridiculous words by Chuck Schumer today in the letter: ‘retaliation’ and ‘the President is exacting revenge?’ Where?” she said. “They are working at the Army where they were, they were detailed to the NSC. This is typical.”
Schumer sent a letter to 74 inspectors general in the wake of the double firing to focus their attention to the “dangerous, growing pattern of retaliation” against those who speak out against the administration.
For all her talk about the routine nature of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman’s removal, President Donald Trump took to Twitter over the weekend to smear the impeachment witness as “very insubordinate.”
Fake News @CNN & MSDNC keep talking about “Lt. Col.” Vindman as though I should think only how wonderful he was. Actually, I don’t know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I don’t believe!) but, he was very insubordinate, reported contents of my “perfect” calls incorrectly, &… — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2020
Vindman was escorted out by security on Friday, far earlier than the July date he was slated to leave. His twin Yevgeny, a senior NSC lawyer, was also fired, though he did not testify against Trump.
Vindman’s lawyer, David Pressman, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Conway’s assertions.
On the subject of former Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland’s firing, Conway took fewer pains to scrub the vindictive motivation from the ouster.
“It was nice of the President to give him that post in the first place,” she said, adding that he “couldn’t keep his own story straight” while testifying.
Per the New York Times, some Republican lawmakers tried to keep Trump from firing Sondland, who was resistant to leaving.
Conway offered up an ominous “maybe” when asked if more heads will roll. As to “holdovers” or officials “who don’t believe President Trump’s agenda,” Conway issued a warning: “I always have my eye on them.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-10--Flynn Sentencing Delayed Yet Again As Dispute With Old Lawyers Escalates

Update : This story has been updated to reflect orders issued Monday by the judge in Flynn ’ s case .
It ’ s now almost a tradition for sentencing hearings for former National Security Michael Flynn to be postponed .
A federal judge on Monday ordered that sentencing hearing scheduled for Feb. 27 be cancelled as a dispute between Flynn and his original team of lawyer escalates .
It marked at least the fourth time a Flynn sentencing hearing had been called off or delayed .
The current complication stems from allegations Flynn made last month while arguing he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plea he entered more than two years ago .
Flynn , who fired his original team of lawyers last year , claims their representation was “ grossly prejudiced ” due to an alleged conflict of interest they supposedly withheld from Flynn while negotiating his 2017 plea deal .
On Sunday , in court filings , prosecutors indicated that they would seek information from those lawyers so they the could respond to Flynn ’ s latest allegations .
Ever since Flynn replaced his initial lawyers with a new team lead by a prominent DOJ-critic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flared , culminating his effort to now withdraw his guilty plea .
The Justice Department on Sunday morning asked for a judge to confirm that Flynn , in making the allegations , effectively waived attorney-client privilege with his old lawyers , so that the old lawyers could disclose to prosecutors and the court relevant information about their representation of Flynn .
The government also asked the judge to put on hold the current briefing schedule set for his plea withdrawal — a request Judge Emmet Sullivan granted on Monday .
Sullivan also took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday evening in a court doc , that his attorneys and prosecutors try to come up with their own agreement on waiving attorney-client privilege .
Sullivan is giving them until Feb. 24 to do so .
Robert Kelner , the initial Flynn lawyer who is now being accused of inadequate representation of Flynn , did not respond to a TPM inquiry Monday morning about Flynn ’ s underlying allegations .
A spokesperson from Kelner ’ s law firm Covington told TPM the firm did not have a comment .
Flynn ’ s claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , center on the work Kelner and his firm Covington did on Flynn ’ s foreign lobbying registration issues before working out the 2017 plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller .
While Flynn only pleaded guilty to false statements to the FBI , he also admitted in the plea docs to making false statements to the government in lobbying filings related to his Turkey efforts .
The plea deal appeared to be moving along smoothly up until December 2018 , when Flynn was originally scheduled to be a sentenced .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sullivan reacted angrily to suggestions in Flynn ’ s sentencing memo that he was the victim of an FBI entrapment scheme .
Flynn ’ s Covington lawyers , sensing the hearing might go badly for him , sought to delay the sentencing until after Flynn finished cooperating in a case the Justice Department brought against his business partners for the Turkey lobbying project .
But in May 2019 , Flynn fired the Covington lawyers and hired a team led by Mueller-basher Sidney Powell , and his relationship with prosecutors grew increasingly dysfunctional , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while she sought to air conspiracy theories about the Russia-2016 probe .
In the Jan. 29 filing , Flynn blamed Covington for screwing up his foreign lobbying registration forms , and accused the Covington lawyers of pushing him into the guilty plea to protect the firm ’ s own legal exposure .
Flynn said that “ a result of this debilitating lawyer-to-client conflict of interest , the Covington lawyers lost all ability to provide the effective assistance of counsel that the Sixth Amendment requires.
” The government on Sunday said that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( and any other person acting on the defendant ’ s behalf in this case ) and provide to the Court documents , declarations , or affidavits responding to the claims of ineffective assistance in the defendant ’ s Supplemental Motion to Withdraw his Plea of Guilty.
” Confirming that Flynn had waived attorney-client privilege would “ make certain and clear that counsel may take the necessary steps to vindicate their public reputation by addressing and defending against the defendant ’ s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel , and equally to vindicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous proceedings , ” the government said .
If Judge Sullivan does decide to delay the proceedings , Flynn said his new lawyers would not be able to meet with the government about a potential agreement deal with the privilege issues until Feb. 17 or 18 .

Update: This story has been updated to reflect orders issued Monday by the judge in Flynn’s case.
It’s now almost a tradition for sentencing hearings for former National Security Michael Flynn to be postponed.
A federal judge on Monday ordered that sentencing hearing scheduled for Feb. 27 be cancelled as a dispute between Flynn and his original team of lawyer escalates. It marked at least the fourth time a Flynn sentencing hearing had been called off or delayed.
The current complication stems from allegations Flynn made last month while arguing he should be allowed to withdraw the guilty plea he entered more than two years ago. Flynn, who fired his original team of lawyers last year, claims their representation was “grossly prejudiced” due to an alleged conflict of interest they supposedly withheld from Flynn while negotiating his 2017 plea deal.
On Sunday, in court filings, prosecutors indicated that they would seek information from those lawyers so they the could respond to Flynn’s latest allegations. Ever since Flynn replaced his initial lawyers with a new team lead by a prominent DOJ-critic, tensions between him and prosecutors have flared, culminating his effort to now withdraw his guilty plea.
The Justice Department on Sunday morning asked for a judge to confirm that Flynn, in making the allegations, effectively waived attorney-client privilege with his old lawyers, so that the old lawyers could disclose to prosecutors and the court relevant information about their representation of Flynn. The government also asked the judge to put on hold the current briefing schedule set for his plea withdrawal — a request Judge Emmet Sullivan granted on Monday.
Sullivan also took up Flynn on a suggestion, made Sunday evening in a court doc, that his attorneys and prosecutors try to come up with their own agreement on waiving attorney-client privilege. Sullivan is giving them until Feb. 24 to do so.
Robert Kelner, the initial Flynn lawyer who is now being accused of inadequate representation of Flynn, did not respond to a TPM inquiry Monday morning about Flynn’s underlying allegations. A spokesperson from Kelner’s law firm Covington told TPM the firm did not have a comment.
Flynn’s claims, made in a Jan. 29 filing, center on the work Kelner and his firm Covington did on Flynn’s foreign lobbying registration issues before working out the 2017 plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller. While Flynn only pleaded guilty to false statements to the FBI, he also admitted in the plea docs to making false statements to the government in lobbying filings related to his Turkey efforts.
The plea deal appeared to be moving along smoothly up until December 2018, when Flynn was originally scheduled to be a sentenced. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan reacted angrily to suggestions in Flynn’s sentencing memo that he was the victim of an FBI entrapment scheme. Flynn’s Covington lawyers, sensing the hearing might go badly for him, sought to delay the sentencing until after Flynn finished cooperating in a case the Justice Department brought against his business partners for the Turkey lobbying project.
But in May 2019, Flynn fired the Covington lawyers and hired a team led by Mueller-basher Sidney Powell, and his relationship with prosecutors grew increasingly dysfunctional, and his sentencing was delayed last year while she sought to air conspiracy theories about the Russia-2016 probe.
In the Jan. 29 filing, Flynn blamed Covington for screwing up his foreign lobbying registration forms, and accused the Covington lawyers of pushing him into the guilty plea to protect the firm’s own legal exposure. Flynn said that “a result of this debilitating lawyer-to-client conflict of interest, the Covington lawyers lost all ability to provide the effective assistance of counsel that the Sixth Amendment requires.”
The government on Sunday said that it was seeking to “obtain from these counsel (and any other person acting on the defendant’s behalf in this case) and provide to the Court documents, declarations, or affidavits responding to the claims of ineffective assistance in the defendant’s Supplemental Motion to Withdraw his Plea of Guilty.”
Confirming that Flynn had waived attorney-client privilege would “make certain and clear that counsel may take the necessary steps to vindicate their public reputation by addressing and defending against the defendant’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, and equally to vindicate the integrity of this Court’s previous proceedings,” the government said.
If Judge Sullivan does decide to delay the proceedings, Flynn said his new lawyers would not be able to meet with the government about a potential agreement deal with the privilege issues until Feb. 17 or 18.
Read the filings below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-10--CPAC Chair Says He’d Be ‘Afraid’ For Romney’s ‘Physical Safety’ At Conservative Conference

Conservative Political Action Committee chair Matt Schlapp made an ominous prediction on Sunday about the potential consequences Sen. Mitt Romney @ @ @ @ @ other conservatives for voting to convict and remove President Donald Trump .
Schlapp told “ @ @ @ @ @ Greta Van Susteren that Romney , whom Schlapp had already disinvited to CPAC for voting @ @ @ @ @ s impeachment trial , would not be credentialed as a conservative were he to be @ @ @ @ @ the future .
“ I suppose if he wants to come as a non-conservative and @ @ @ @ @ , maybe in the future we would have him come , ” Schlapp said .
@ @ @ @ @ actually be afraid for his physical safety people are so mad at him , ” @ @ @ @ @ indeed face backlash over his vote last week , particularly from Trump himself , who @ @ @ @ @ senator over the coals in his public speeches and via Twitter .

Conservative Political Action Committee chair Matt Schlapp made an ominous prediction on Sunday about the potential consequences Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) faces from other conservatives for voting to convict and remove President Donald Trump.
Schlapp told “Full Court Press” host Greta Van Susteren that Romney, whom Schlapp had already disinvited to CPAC for voting for witnesses in Trump’s impeachment trial, would not be credentialed as a conservative were he to be invited to the conference in the future.
“I suppose if he wants to come as a non-conservative and debate an issue with us, maybe in the future we would have him come,” Schlapp said.
“This year I would actually be afraid for his physical safety people are so mad at him,” he added.
Romney did indeed face backlash over his vote last week, particularly from Trump himself, who has repeatedly raked the Republican senator over the coals in his public speeches and via Twitter.
Watch Schlapp below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-10--Prosecutors Recommend Seven To Nine Year Prison Sentence For Roger Stone

In a court filing Monday evening , prosecutors recommended to a federal judge that former Trump associate Roger Stone serves seven to nine years in prison for lying to Congress and witness tampering during the Russia probe .
“ Roger Stone obstructed Congress ’ investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election , lied under oath , and tampered with a witness , ” prosecutors wrote in the filing .
“ And when his crimes were revealed by the indictment in this case , he displayed contempt for this Court and the rule of law .
For that , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisory Guidelines.
” Prosecutors argued in the filing that given how “ Stone ’ s actions were not a one-off mistake ” and that his false statements were not “ made in the heat of the moment , ” a prison sentence of 87 to 108 months — which is equivalent to around seven to nine years — is “ appropriate.
” Stone is set to be sentenced next week after being found guilty on all of the counts against him , including obstruction , five counts of false statements , and witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 by the Washington , D.C. grand jury that special counsel Robert Mueller empaneled for his investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and related matters .

In a court filing Monday evening, prosecutors recommended to a federal judge that former Trump associate Roger Stone serves seven to nine years in prison for lying to Congress and witness tampering during the Russia probe.
“Roger Stone obstructed Congress’ investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, lied under oath, and tampered with a witness,” prosecutors wrote in the filing. “And when his crimes were revealed by the indictment in this case, he displayed contempt for this Court and the rule of law. For that, he should be punished in accord with the advisory Guidelines.”
Prosecutors argued in the filing that given how “Stone’s actions were not a one-off mistake” and that his false statements were not “made in the heat of the moment,” a prison sentence of 87 to 108 months — which is equivalent to around seven to nine years — is “appropriate.”
Stone is set to be sentenced next week after being found guilty on all of the counts against him, including obstruction, five counts of false statements, and witness tampering.
Stone was indicted in January 2019 by the Washington, D.C. grand jury that special counsel Robert Mueller empaneled for his investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and related matters.
Read the court filing below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-11--Trump Muses About Disciplinary Action Against Ousted NSC Official Who Testified Against Him

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he expected the military to consider disciplinary action against Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , the ousted National Security Council official who testified in the House impeachment inquiry into Trump .
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office , Trump repeatedly tied Vindman ’ s ouster to his testimony and said it would be up to the military what to do with Vindman — who will reportedly return to the Army after being escorted out of the White House last week alongside his brother , who was also ousted from the NSC despite not testifying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be up to the military , we ’ ll have to see , ” Trump told a reporter who asked if he thought the military should take disciplinary action against Vindman .
“ But if you look at what happened , I mean , they ’ re going to certainly , I ’ d imagine , take a look at that , ” he added .
“ What he did was , he reported a false call.
” Vindman listened in on the now-infamous July 25 phone call in which Trump pressured Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s political rivals .
Vindman later testified behind closed doors and in a public hearing about what he ’ d heard the President say .
In the Oval Office Tuesday , Trump repeatedly connected Vindman ’ s ouster to his testimony .
“ I obviously wasn ’ t happy with the job he did , ” Trump said of Vindman .
“ First of all , he reported a false call.
” “ The military can handle him any way they want , ” Trump added later .
Vindman and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday came as Democrats expressed fear that Trump would seek retaliation against impeachment probe witnesses in the wake of the Senate ’ s acquittal of him on both impeachment charges against him .
Also on Friday , another impeachment probe witness , Gordon Sondland , said he had been recalled as the ambassador to the European Union .
And on Tuesday , four career Justice Department prosecutors withdrew from the department ’ s case against Roger Stone — and , in two cases , resigned from the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department prepared to release a watered down sentencing recommendation that was more favorable to Stone .
The Trump friend and adviser was found guilty of all counts against him in November .

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he expected the military to consider disciplinary action against Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the ousted National Security Council official who testified in the House impeachment inquiry into Trump.
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, Trump repeatedly tied Vindman’s ouster to his testimony and said it would be up to the military what to do with Vindman — who will reportedly return to the Army after being escorted out of the White House last week alongside his brother, who was also ousted from the NSC despite not testifying.
“That’s going to be up to the military, we’ll have to see,” Trump told a reporter who asked if he thought the military should take disciplinary action against Vindman.
“But if you look at what happened, I mean, they’re going to certainly, I’d imagine, take a look at that,” he added. “What he did was, he reported a false call.”
Vindman listened in on the now-infamous July 25 phone call in which Trump pressured Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to pursue investigations into Trump’s political rivals. Vindman later testified behind closed doors and in a public hearing about what he’d heard the President say.
In the Oval Office Tuesday, Trump repeatedly connected Vindman’s ouster to his testimony.
“I obviously wasn’t happy with the job he did,” Trump said of Vindman. “First of all, he reported a false call.”
“The military can handle him any way they want,” Trump added later.
Vindman and his brother’s ouster from the NSC Friday came as Democrats expressed fear that Trump would seek retaliation against impeachment probe witnesses in the wake of the Senate’s acquittal of him on both impeachment charges against him.
Also on Friday, another impeachment probe witness, Gordon Sondland, said he had been recalled as the ambassador to the European Union.
And on Tuesday, four career Justice Department prosecutors withdrew from the department’s case against Roger Stone — and, in two cases, resigned from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. entirely — as the department prepared to release a watered down sentencing recommendation that was more favorable to Stone. The Trump friend and adviser was found guilty of all counts against him in November.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-11--Trump Denies He Intervened But Says DOJ’s Proposed Roger Stone Sentence Was ‘Ridiculous’

President Donald Trump on Tuesday called the Justice Department ’ s initial sentencing recommendation for his friend and adviser Roger Stone “ ridiculous ” but denied intervening on Stone ’ s behalf to make the proposed sentence lighter .
After reports indicated the Justice Department would dramatically scale back its initial recommendation that Stone serve up to nine years in prison , three prosecutors quit the case , and two of them left the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office in D.C. entirely .
The Justice Department filed a new , lighter sentencing recommendation Tuesday afternoon .
But Trump , speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he hadn ’ t pressured the Justice Department to change its sentencing recommendation in Stone ’ s favor .
“ I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldn ’ t believe , but I didn ’ t speak to them , ” Trump said , asked if he ’ d spoken to Justice Department officials about Stone ’ s sentencing recommendation .
“ I thought the recommendation was ridiculous , I thought the whole prosecution was ridiculous , ” he added .
Stone was found guilty in November on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Congress , witness tampering , and obstruction of an official proceeding .
“ These are the same Mueller people that put everybody through hell , ” Trump added later , referring to prosecutors .

President Donald Trump on Tuesday called the Justice Department’s initial sentencing recommendation for his friend and adviser Roger Stone “ridiculous” but denied intervening on Stone’s behalf to make the proposed sentence lighter.
After reports indicated the Justice Department would dramatically scale back its initial recommendation that Stone serve up to nine years in prison, three prosecutors quit the case, and two of them left the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. entirely. The Justice Department filed a new, lighter sentencing recommendation Tuesday afternoon.
But Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, said he hadn’t pressured the Justice Department to change its sentencing recommendation in Stone’s favor.
“I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldn’t believe, but I didn’t speak to them,” Trump said, asked if he’d spoken to Justice Department officials about Stone’s sentencing recommendation.
“I thought the recommendation was ridiculous, I thought the whole prosecution was ridiculous,” he added.
Stone was found guilty in November on all counts against him, including lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction of an official proceeding.
“These are the same Mueller people that put everybody through hell,” Trump added later, referring to prosecutors.