buzzfeed--2020-02-04--As Trump Expands His Travel Ban, Amazon, Apple And Google Are Silent

Apple CEO Tim Cook and President Donald Trump speak to the press during a tour of the Flextronics computer manufacturing facility where Apple 's Mac Pros are assembled in Austin , Texas , on Nov. 20 , 2019 .
Historically , the tech industry has made immigration one of its leading political causes .
Companies including Apple , Amazon , and Google were cofounded by immigrants or the children of immigrants , while startups to trillion-dollar goliaths rely on worker visas to stock their ranks .
In January 2017 , when asked why he was attending a protest of President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco International Airport , Google cofounder Sergey Brin gave a simple response : “ I ’ m here because I ’ m a refugee .
” On Friday , the Trump administration said it would be barring immigrant visas for individuals from Nigeria , Kyrgyzstan , Myanmar , and Eritrea , while also suspending diversity visas — which grant green cards to people from countries with low levels of immigration to the US — for Sudan and Tanzania .
The changes , which go into effect on Feb. 22 , are expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and were put in place because the countries failed to meet minimal security and information-sharing standards , according to officials .
Last week , however , following the announcement of immigration restrictions on six additional countries , the reaction could not have been more different .
Silicon Valley largely fell silent .
In January 2017 , when the Trump administration first unveiled a travel ban targeting seven majority Muslim countries , the tech industry took up arms .
CEOs wrote impassioned letters , a billionaire founder showed up to an airport protest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuits challenging the policy .
One company said there was no need to issue a statement because the ban was “ more limited in scope ” and had not impacted its employees .
This time around , Google , whose CEO , Sundar Pichai , hails from India , did not respond to a request for comment .
Late last year , BuzzFeed News reported that the company hired a former Department of Homeland Security official who had publicly defended a version of the travel ban for the administration and later worked on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southern border .
Amazon , whose CEO , Jeff Bezos , was raised by a Cuban immigrant , declined to comment .
Apple did not respond to a request for comment .
One company said there was no need to issue a statement because the ban was “ more limited in scope ” and had not impacted its employees .
“ As we have said regarding earlier efforts to limit immigration on a country-specific basis , we believe that as a nation of immigrants we all benefit from welcoming people from around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and contribute to our society , ” a Facebook spokesperson told BuzzFeed News on Monday .
They also pointed to a 2017 post by CEO Mark Zuckerberg in which he noted his concern with “ the recent executive orders signed by President Trump.
” The issue of immigration was “ personal for me , ” Zuckerberg said then , because of his Polish , Austrian , and German heritage .
While Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has not tweeted in opposition to the new policy , as he did in 2017 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on “ an international , vibrant workforce.
” Late last year , Dorsey visited Nigeria and said that he wanted to live in Africa in the future .
“ We believe decisions such as this have the potential to harm US competitiveness and credibility on the global stage , ” the Twitter spokesperson told BuzzFeed News on Monday .
Microsoft , which had no employees affected by the recent travel ban extension , responded on Monday after questions from BuzzFeed News .
“ While our country must ensure security for its citizens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration policies create restrictions for entire countries , ” a company spokesperson said .
“ We need to make sure our nation remains a magnet for the world 's best and brightest.
” A few companies issued statements immediately after the Trump administration ’ s announcement , among them Postmates CEO Bastian Lehmann , who said on Friday that the “ news of an expanded travel ban by an the Administration that prioritizes borders over creed is a shameful overeach of bigotry and elevates the Muslim Ban to new heights of hate.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to facilitate people to people belonging , as a company and a community , we objected to the original travel ban and continue to believe such policies are in opposition to our purpose , ” Airbnb wrote on a company blog last Friday .
“ We believe that you should be able to travel to , and live in any community around the world , regardless of your race , religion or ethnicity – that the power to travel makes us all better.
” Those statements were the exception .
Other companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ request for comment on the travel ban included Salesforce — whose CEO , Marc Benioff , recently spent part of January hobnobbing with Ivanka Trump in Davos , Switzerland , at the World Economic Forum .
Spokespeople for Tesla and SpaceX , both led by Elon Musk , an immigrant from South Africa , also did not respond .

This time around, Google, whose CEO, Sundar Pichai, hails from India, did not respond to a request for comment. Late last year, BuzzFeed News reported that the company hired a former Department of Homeland Security official who had publicly defended a version of the travel ban for the administration and later worked on the policy of family separation at the southern border.
Amazon, whose CEO, Jeff Bezos, was raised by a Cuban immigrant, declined to comment. Apple did not respond to a request for comment. One company said there was no need to issue a statement because the ban was “more limited in scope” and had not impacted its employees.
“As we have said regarding earlier efforts to limit immigration on a country-specific basis, we believe that as a nation of immigrants we all benefit from welcoming people from around the world to live here, work here, and contribute to our society,” a Facebook spokesperson told BuzzFeed News on Monday. They also pointed to a 2017 post by CEO Mark Zuckerberg in which he noted his concern with “the recent executive orders signed by President Trump.” The issue of immigration was “personal for me,” Zuckerberg said then, because of his Polish, Austrian, and German heritage.
While Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has not tweeted in opposition to the new policy, as he did in 2017, a company spokesperson noted that the company depended on “an international, vibrant workforce.” Late last year, Dorsey visited Nigeria and said that he wanted to live in Africa in the future.
“We believe decisions such as this have the potential to harm US competitiveness and credibility on the global stage,” the Twitter spokesperson told BuzzFeed News on Monday.
Microsoft, which had no employees affected by the recent travel ban extension, responded on Monday after questions from BuzzFeed News.
“While our country must ensure security for its citizens and residents, we’re concerned when immigration policies create restrictions for entire countries,” a company spokesperson said. “We need to make sure our nation remains a magnet for the world's best and brightest.”
A few companies issued statements immediately after the Trump administration’s announcement, among them Postmates CEO Bastian Lehmann, who said on Friday that the “news of an expanded travel ban by an the Administration that prioritizes borders over creed is a shameful overeach of bigotry and elevates the Muslim Ban to new heights of hate.”
“Given Airbnb’s very purpose is to facilitate people to people belonging, as a company and a community, we objected to the original travel ban and continue to believe such policies are in opposition to our purpose,” Airbnb wrote on a company blog last Friday. “We believe that you should be able to travel to, and live in any community around the world, regardless of your race, religion or ethnicity – that the power to travel makes us all better.”
Those statements were the exception. Other companies that did not respond to BuzzFeed News’ request for comment on the travel ban included Salesforce — whose CEO, Marc Benioff, recently spent part of January hobnobbing with Ivanka Trump in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum. Spokespeople for Tesla and SpaceX, both led by Elon Musk, an immigrant from South Africa, also did not respond.


buzzfeed--2020-02-04--Trump World Is Crashing The Iowa Caucus And Can't Stop Talking About Bernie Sanders

DES MOINES — While the eyes of the country are on the Democratic caucus in Iowa tonight , the Trump campaign is holed up in a Sheraton in West Des Moines with dozens of famous supporters and officials in tow to flex their muscle and grab some of the spotlight .
Their message is unified : They ’ re here to show Iowans that the president ’ s reelection campaign hasn ’ t forgotten them , that Trump is eager for November , and that he can take on whichever nominee Democrats eventually choose .
But scratch the surface and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise of Sen. Bernie Sanders .
It would be easy to think of the concern as disingenuous .
What better competitor could Trump face than an avowed socialist , the epitome of the demonic “ far left ” that he ’ s been screaming about — at rallies , on Twitter , in interviews — for months ?
And don ’ t Trump and his people lie all the time anyway ?
Maybe they ’ re just saying that because he ’ s the competitor they actually want .
“ If you pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Bernie followers is concerning , ” Rep. Mark Meadows said here before listing the attributes of other candidates who could pose a challenge for the Trump campaign — Joe Biden ’ s “ moderate policy , ” Mike Bloomberg ’ s money , Pete Buttigieg ’ s “ more direct policy conversations.
” “ Bernie Sanders ’ followers are more of a concern to me than anybody else , ” he said .
“ They have a passion and , in a way , they tap into what Donald Trump tapped into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left .
It ’ s an antiestablishment , 'we want to mix things up ' kind of environment .
That ’ s why Sanders will continue to be a factor , and it ’ s why a lot of people see him not just as a legitimate contender but the contender to beat .
So if I had to pick one person I ’ m most concerned about , it would be Bernie Sanders.
” Meadows was one of dozens of surrogates flown into Iowa by the Trump campaign to fan across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is totally meaningless ( apologies to Joe Walsh and Bill Weld ) .
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross sat , quiet and alone , in the shadow of the Sheraton ’ s vast indoor waterfall , apparently willing himself to stay awake .
Corey Lewandowski , Trump ’ s first campaign manager in 2016 , has rejoined the reelection effort and was inseparable from David Bossie , another once-fired aide who has also rejoined .
Firebrand pastor Paula White , who last week publicly prayed for women to miscarry if they were carrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as did pastor Jerry Falwell Jr. , Trump ’ s acting chief of staff , Mick Mulvaney , and former Energy secretary Rick Perry .
Mike Lindell , better known as the My Pillow guy , said the Trump campaign had called him last week to join the effort .
The campaign only announced the push — not a thing reelection campaigns normally do — last Monday , a week before the caucus .
Before they fanned out across the state , the guests of honor took the three front rows in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the hotel by campaign manager Brad Parscale , the president 's sons Eric and Don Jr. , and their partners , Lara Trump and Kimberly Guilfoyle .
The event felt better suited to a Trump rally .
There was an introductory soundtrack — Adele , Guns n ' Roses , Britney Spears , Aerosmith .
When the five took the stage and arranged behind a lectern that read “ Keep Iowa Great , ” the surrogates leaped to their feet and broke into applause .
Parscale said the Trump campaign had built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve ever seen ” and that it was time to “ kick the training wheels off and see how it ’ s going.
” “ We ’ ve built a well-oiled machine , ” he said , “ and tonight will be the first test of that machine.
” Lara said they “ don ’ t take a single vote for granted .
... We ’ re here in Iowa to show the people that we take the election seriously.
” Guilfoyle went into attack mode , saying “ the liberals , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — that ’ s the other side , that ’ s the juxtaposition — have lost their minds but we have not lost our way .
And with the help of God , we will get this done.
” Eric lauded the campaign ’ s huge coffers — nearly $ 200 million cash on hand — and Don Jr. did his thing , making sure to promote his book , Triggered , several times , including when he was interrupted by a protester accusing the president and his family of spreading anti-Semitic conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks around the country .
Asked whom Trump was eager to fight against in the general , both Parscale and Don Jr. launched into conspiracy mode , hinting that the Democratic machine was mobilizing to “ rig the primary ” to make sure that Sanders didn ’ t get the nomination .
“ I think Bernie will do well , ” Parscale went on to say before being quietly tapped by Don Jr. and moving on .
“ The president is a fighter .
I ’ ve never sat with him , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the guy I want— ’ or woman .
He can take all of them on.
” Don Jr. took the mic to shift the focus to Biden — a candidate the campaign has long been concerned about , to the degree that impeachment is unfolding the same time as the Iowa caucus .
“ I think one thing that should be pointed out — while obviously it seems like there ’ s a good surge in Bernie and obviously a lot of support , I mean — Joe Biden had Iowa to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because of the impeachment sham , ” he said , saying it was an example of “ Nancy Pelosi actively trying to keep Bernie off the trail , ” while failing to mention that Sens .
Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar were also confined to DC while the Senate deliberated whether to remove Trump .
Biden wasn ’ t exactly alone either , with Buttigieg and Andrew Yang storming Iowa at the same time .
Don Jr. continued : “ If Biden doesn ’ t win big , I mean , he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , right ?
” “ It ’ s one thing to hide him in a field of 17 , it ’ s another to try to hide Joe when he ’ s running alone against Trump for six months , '' he said , `` and that ’ s a fight I would pay a lot of money to see.
” He ended by saying : “ It ’ ll be a lot of fun and I promise you one thing : Over the next 10 months , Donald Trump will make this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it depends on your definition of `` entertaining . ''

DES MOINES — While the eyes of the country are on the Democratic caucus in Iowa tonight, the Trump campaign is holed up in a Sheraton in West Des Moines with dozens of famous supporters and officials in tow to flex their muscle and grab some of the spotlight.
Their message is unified: They’re here to show Iowans that the president’s reelection campaign hasn’t forgotten them, that Trump is eager for November, and that he can take on whichever nominee Democrats eventually choose.
But scratch the surface and you find growing concern over the unmistakable rise of Sen. Bernie Sanders. It would be easy to think of the concern as disingenuous. What better competitor could Trump face than an avowed socialist, the epitome of the demonic “far left” that he’s been screaming about — at rallies, on Twitter, in interviews — for months? And don’t Trump and his people lie all the time anyway? Maybe they’re just saying that because he’s the competitor they actually want.
“If you pick one candidate right now, the passion of Bernie followers is concerning,” Rep. Mark Meadows said here before listing the attributes of other candidates who could pose a challenge for the Trump campaign — Joe Biden’s “moderate policy,” Mike Bloomberg’s money, Pete Buttigieg’s “more direct policy conversations.”
“Bernie Sanders’ followers are more of a concern to me than anybody else,” he said. “They have a passion and, in a way, they tap into what Donald Trump tapped into, but they do it on the left. It’s an antiestablishment, 'we want to mix things up' kind of environment. That’s why Sanders will continue to be a factor, and it’s why a lot of people see him not just as a legitimate contender but the contender to beat. So if I had to pick one person I’m most concerned about, it would be Bernie Sanders.”
Meadows was one of dozens of surrogates flown into Iowa by the Trump campaign to fan across the state and rally caucusgoers in a race that is totally meaningless (apologies to Joe Walsh and Bill Weld). Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross sat, quiet and alone, in the shadow of the Sheraton’s vast indoor waterfall, apparently willing himself to stay awake. Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s first campaign manager in 2016, has rejoined the reelection effort and was inseparable from David Bossie, another once-fired aide who has also rejoined. Firebrand pastor Paula White, who last week publicly prayed for women to miscarry if they were carrying “Satanic babies,” milled around, as did pastor Jerry Falwell Jr., Trump’s acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, and former Energy secretary Rick Perry. Mike Lindell, better known as the My Pillow guy, said the Trump campaign had called him last week to join the effort. The campaign only announced the push — not a thing reelection campaigns normally do — last Monday, a week before the caucus.
Before they fanned out across the state, the guests of honor took the three front rows in what was billed as a press conference at the hotel by campaign manager Brad Parscale, the president's sons Eric and Don Jr., and their partners, Lara Trump and Kimberly Guilfoyle.
The event felt better suited to a Trump rally. There was an introductory soundtrack — Adele, Guns n' Roses, Britney Spears, Aerosmith. When the five took the stage and arranged behind a lectern that read “Keep Iowa Great,” the surrogates leaped to their feet and broke into applause.
Parscale said the Trump campaign had built the “largest grassroots army we’ve ever seen” and that it was time to “kick the training wheels off and see how it’s going.”
“We’ve built a well-oiled machine,” he said, “and tonight will be the first test of that machine.”
Lara said they “don’t take a single vote for granted. ... We’re here in Iowa to show the people that we take the election seriously.” Guilfoyle went into attack mode, saying “the liberals, the Democrats, the socialists, the communists — that’s the other side, that’s the juxtaposition — have lost their minds but we have not lost our way. And with the help of God, we will get this done.” Eric lauded the campaign’s huge coffers — nearly $200 million cash on hand — and Don Jr. did his thing, making sure to promote his book, Triggered, several times, including when he was interrupted by a protester accusing the president and his family of spreading anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and prompting the rise in anti-Semitic attacks around the country.
Asked whom Trump was eager to fight against in the general, both Parscale and Don Jr. launched into conspiracy mode, hinting that the Democratic machine was mobilizing to “rig the primary” to make sure that Sanders didn’t get the nomination.
“I think Bernie will do well,” Parscale went on to say before being quietly tapped by Don Jr. and moving on. “The president is a fighter. I’ve never sat with him, one time, and he goes 'That’s the guy I want—’ or woman. He can take all of them on.”
Don Jr. took the mic to shift the focus to Biden — a candidate the campaign has long been concerned about, to the degree that impeachment is unfolding the same time as the Iowa caucus.
“I think one thing that should be pointed out — while obviously it seems like there’s a good surge in Bernie and obviously a lot of support, I mean — Joe Biden had Iowa to himself for what, three weeks? Because of the impeachment sham,” he said, saying it was an example of “Nancy Pelosi actively trying to keep Bernie off the trail,” while failing to mention that Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar were also confined to DC while the Senate deliberated whether to remove Trump. Biden wasn’t exactly alone either, with Buttigieg and Andrew Yang storming Iowa at the same time. Don Jr. continued: “If Biden doesn’t win big, I mean, he’s probably in a lot of trouble, right?”
“It’s one thing to hide him in a field of 17, it’s another to try to hide Joe when he’s running alone against Trump for six months," he said, "and that’s a fight I would pay a lot of money to see.”
He ended by saying: “It’ll be a lot of fun and I promise you one thing: Over the next 10 months, Donald Trump will make this very entertaining for you all.” Maybe it depends on your definition of "entertaining."


buzzfeed--2020-02-04--Mueller Memos Part 5: Hundreds Of Pages Of FBI Witness Interviews Declassified

BuzzFeed News sued the US government under the Freedom of Information Act for the right to see all the work that Robert Mueller ’ s team kept secret .
Today we are publishing the fifth installment of the FBI ’ s summaries of interviews with witnesses .
Stephen Miller , Hope Hicks , and Jared Kushner sometimes drafted tweets for President Donald Trump .
Steve Bannon didn ’ t think the “ Putin stuff ” was a big deal .
Former national security adviser Michael Flynn sought guidance from former Obama administration officials Susan Rice and Ben Rhodes “ about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the key findings in hundreds of pages of FBI interview summaries from former special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election , which were released Monday to BuzzFeed News and CNN in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit .
The documents also contained a summary of an interview that Kushner , the president ’ s adviser and son-in-law , had with FBI agents and federal prosecutors in November 2017 .
But the five-page summary , known as an FBI 302 , was almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reviewing another Kushner interview summary from 2018 for classified information .
Kushner ’ s interview summaries have been some of the most highly sought-after records from Mueller ’ s investigation ; they were requested by the House Judiciary Committee last year as part of its impeachment inquiry .
Only three lines were left intact : “ A few weeks after the election [ REDACTED ] Kushner , Flynn , and Kislyak met together at Trump Tower [ REDACTED ] ” — referring to Sergey Kislyak , the former US ambassador to Russia — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remembers Flynn handling Russia on the issue.
” The summary of the interview with Barrack represents the first time the billionaire financier has spoken at length about his informal advice to Trump during the campaign .
It answers some questions about the inauguration events , which Barrack oversaw .
Barrack said he was friendly with political consultant Paul Manafort and introduced him to the Trump campaign , for which he went on to serve — briefly — as campaign manager .
Barrack called Manafort a “ close friend ” but also an “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little Manafort thought of his predecessor on the campaign , Corey Lewandowski .
According to Barrack , Manafort blamed Lewandowski for planting negative stories about Manafort ’ s work in Ukraine .
Barrack told the FBI agents : “ Lewandowski always felt Manafort had an agenda to take over the campaign .
It was Lewandowski ’ s position that Manafort wanted to use Trump to Manafort ’ s own advantage.
” Barrack said Trump ’ s support of Manafort ended following an August 2016 TV interview , in which Manafort “ took individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s inauguration was the most expensive in history , but Barrack said Trump was “ frugal ” and that the committee was “ careful with spending.
” It is unlawful for inaugural committees to accept foreign donations , but Barrack explained that it was approached by a Venezuelan subsidiary of the Citgo company as well as “ many Chinese businessmen.
” He did not believe there were any foreign donations — but he explained that if there were , Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin “ would know it.
” A spokesperson for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return a detailed message seeking comment .
Steve Bannon wasn ’ t happy when he heard Jared Kushner tried to open a back channel with Russia Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon told FBI agents and investigators for Mueller ’ s team that after the election , there was disarray in the Trump camp and no “ real transition ” team was in place because campaign officials had not believed that he would win .
“ People in the campaign thought it was not necessary to have a strong transition team going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were so far down in the polls .
Trump was also superstitious about things like that .
Bill Hagerty , the director of the transition , had scheduled a trip to the Bahamas for after the election , assuming they would not win , ” Bannon said during a meeting at Mueller ’ s office on Feb. 12 , 2018 .
Bannon said that after the election , Flynn went to see Obama 's national security adviser Susan Rice and her deputy , Ben Rhodes , for advice “ about how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that during the campaign “ he thought the Putin stuff was not a big deal ” and he didn ’ t think Russia ’ s “ reach outs ” to the transition after the election was “ any different than any other country's.
” “ For example , the Japanese Prime Minister wanted to fly over and have a cup of coffee , ” Bannon told investigators .
Bannon also told Mueller ’ s team he wasn ’ t happy when news broke that Kushner “ attempted to back channel for communications with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nor Flynn mentioned the meeting.
” “ Bannon did not speak to Flynn after the story came out ; he had not spoken to Flynn since Flynn left the White House .
He did not speak to Kushner after the story came out , either .
They were 'not exactly speaking at the time , ' ” the interview summary said .
Bannon also told investigators he spent `` at least three hours '' trying to convince Trump 's attorney , Rudy Giuliani , to be attorney general .
But Giuliani told Bannon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age and because `` had no energy for the position . ''
Giuliani was much more interested in being secretary of state but worried there would be `` issues '' in his confirmation if he was nominated because of some of his companies and foreign contacts . ''
Rick Gates described networking with well placed Ukrainians During a January 2018 interview , former deputy campaign manager Rick Gates described the earliest connections among a group of Ukrainian oligarchs and fixers and his business with Manafort in Ukraine .
He said he was introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time in 2007 .
Manafort introduced Kilimnik as someone who worked for the International Republican Institute in Moscow .
Kilimnik described himself as someone who brought a western “ mindset ” to eastern European political campaigns .
According to Gates , an unidentified employee of the consulting firm Davis Manafort Partners told him that Kilimnik had `` attended a prominent language school '' and subsequently worked as a linguist for Russian intelligence .
`` Kilimnik was well connected in Russia and Ukraine and could obtain information easily , '' Gates told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yanukovych fled Kyiv in 2014 , Kilimnik said he built a relationship with members of that country ’ s opposition .
He worked with Serhiy Lyovochkin , who boasted that he had a “ cadre of candidates ” running for office across the country .
Lyovochkin later became a politician in Ukraine and was one of the two people to whom Manafort reportedly sent polling data .
Gates , who was accused by the special counsel of conspiracy to obstruct justice , recalled a meal in May 2016 with Kilimnik and Manafort at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told them that Yanukovych was considering getting back into Ukrainian politics and wanted their help .
Manafort declined , Gates said .
James Comey ’ s chief of staff filled in details on the former FBI director ’ s firing Former FBI director James Comey ’ s chief of staff , James Rybicki , provided investigators with additional details related to the immediate aftermath of his boss ’ s firing in May 2017 .
The day after firing Comey , Trump reportedly called Andrew McCabe , then the deputy director of the FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use an FBI airplane to return to Washington , DC , from Los Angeles , where he had been on official business .
The call is recounted in the Mueller report , which says Trump told McCabe “ that Comey should not have been permitted to travel back to Washington , D.C. on the FBI 's airplane . ''
Rybicki ’ s interview dates Trump ’ s anger about the plane ride to the night of Comey ’ s firing , when McCabe returned from a meeting with Trump at the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ was upset.
” “ Before permitting Comey to return on the FBI airplane , Rybicki and others consulted with the FBI 's Office of General Counsel and determined Comey 's use of the airplane was de minimus given the need for the pilots , Director 's detail , and the airplane itself to return to Washington , ” Rybicki ’ s interview summary says .
In another interview , Rybicki discussed the fallout of a one-on-one conversation between the president and Comey in February 2017 .
The subject of the conversation was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day before because of contacts with Russians and who was being scrutinized by the FBI .
The 2017 Valentine ’ s Day meeting , during which Trump told Comey that Flynn “ was a good guy ” and asked the FBI director to “ let this go , ” was a pillar of Mueller ’ s obstruction of justice probe .
The Mueller report states that after the discussion in the Oval Office , Comey requested a meeting with then–attorney general Jeff Sessions and asked “ that Sessions not leave Comey alone with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview with Rybicki provides new information about that meeting with Sessions , including Rybicki ’ s impression that the attorney general didn ’ t understand Comey ’ s concerns .
Comey asked Rybicki to contact Jody Hunt , Sessions ’ chief of staff , the day after the conversation with Trump to schedule the meeting , Rybicki told investigators .
“ Hunt agreed to the meeting and added Sessions wanted to talk with Corney about another matter , possibly media leaks , ” the interview summary says .
“ Rybicki accompanied Comey and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it continues .
“ Comey told Sessions , ‘ I work for you , and you should not be asked to leave meetings like that ’ and leave me alone with Trump , or words to that effect.
” But Rybicki wasn ’ t convinced that Sessions had gotten the message .
“ After the meeting , on the way back to FBIHQ either in the car or elevator at FBIHQ , Rybicki expressed to Comey his concern that he did n't think Sessions really understood the point of Comey 's message , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked Comey if he should follow up with Hunt “ to reiterate this concern.
” The summary does not say whether that happened .
“ Rybicki does not remember anything in particular as to why he thought Sessions did not understand Comey 's concern , but just did not think Sessions fully comprehended the importance of being there when Trump and Comey were together , ” the summary reads .
Rybicki then started telling Hunt about any contact between Comey and the president , “ or would make sure such meetings were scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents released Monday include an interview with Hunt , that summary is heavily redacted .
Rybicki ’ s June 22 interview also shed light on a conversation with Dana Boente , a senior Justice Department official who was overseeing the Russia investigation at the time .
During an April 11 , 2017 , phone call , Rybicki told Boente that the White House counsel might call him because Comey had previously told Trump to go that route when seeking information about the probe .
`` Boente said something along line [ sic ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had forgotten about that ' , or words to that effect , '' Rybicki told investigators .
In an earlier interview , Rybicki provided details about how senior FBI officials prepared for a meeting in January 2017 in which Comey briefed Trump , then the president-elect , on allegations contained in the document now known as the Steele dossier .
Though the June 9 , 2017 , interview summary doesn ’ t cite the dossier by name , it says that the “ principal leaders of the intelligence community had discussed who would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” at the Trump Tower meeting in early January , and they agreed that it should be Comey .
The former FBI director later testified that the meeting was about the dossier .
“ The FBI team agreed that Comey should memorialize his exchange with Trump because of the sensitive subject matter , the fact it would be their first meeting together , and because Comey anticipated he and Trump would be alone , ” Rybicki ’ s interview summary states .
Comey had a “ classified laptop ” in his vehicle so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tower ended , he could write a memo about it .
“ Rybicki could not recall how far in advance the FBI team discussed Comey 's meeting with Trump , but opined it was at least a few days , ” the summary adds .
That interview with Rybicki shows how he and Comey kept track of the FBI director ’ s conversations with the president , which Comey memorialized in writing .
Rybicki said he had printed copies of his written accounts , which Comey signed or initialed “ in blue ink.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his desk drawer , he told investigators .
He even got a menu card from Comey after his dinner with the president at the White House on Jan. 27 , 2017 , where he said Trump asked him for loyalty .
Rybicki also said that they referred to calls from the White House switchboard as calls from “ the Royal Crown.
” Sean Spicer said Trump never asked Comey for loyalty McCabe described for investigators several meetings with Trump in which the president peppered him with questions about his wife ’ s campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was clear to McCabe that Trump mentioned McCabe 's wife repeatedly to make a point and send a message , like a bullying tactic , ” the interview summary says .
“ Trump probably raised the issue in order to give McCabe an opportunity to ‘ walk away from it ’ and tell Trump it was mistake for his wife to have run for office .
Instead , McCabe took the opportunity to defend his wife 's decision to run.
” Twelve hours after this meeting , Trump again brought up McCabe ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the blue ’ and ‘ rubbed his nose in it , ’ asking McCabe how his wife felt about losing , insinuating she was a loser.
” McCabe told investigators he believed this was Trump ’ s way of telling him “ he had something on him and to insinuate McCabe had a connection to [ Virginia Governor ] Terry McAulliffe.
” McCabe said he believed Trump wanted him to express his “ loyalty ” to him by distancing himself from his wife , “ almost as if it was required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Comey was fired , Trump called McCabe .
Trump said something like , `` This is great , have you seen all the coverage , we are hearing from hundreds of people how happy everyone at the FBI is , is that what you 're seeing , too ? ''
The interview summary said McCabe told Trump `` it was not exactly what he was seeing , and Trump asked 'Do you think people are happy ? '
McCabe responded he 'guessed it was possible ' people in the FBI were happy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ other FBI officials several times after Comey 's firing to discuss `` whether there was predication to open an obstruction investigation on Trump , but that was not their primary concern . ''
`` McCabe first wanted the team to look at the four or more open Russia investigators at the time and to decide if there were others that should be opened , '' the interview summary said .
McCabe said one of the questions that popped up during discussions he had with other FBI officials about obstruction `` was the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were , by definition , `` sort of '' investigating Trump . ''
`` As such , they wondered whether it would be accurate to tell Trump he was not under investigation , '' McCabe 's interview summary said .
Then-attorney general Jeff Sessions fired McCabe in 2018 , two days before he was scheduled to retire .
Does Trump write his own tweets ?
According to Stephen Miller , a senior policy adviser , not always .
In a Dec. 14 , 2017 , interview with the FBI , Miller said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes drafted Trump ’ s tweets — and Kushner , former communications director Hope Hicks , and Dan Scavino , the White House 's social media director , likely did too .
“ Miller would write a variety of possible Twitter messages for Trump .
Trump would put a check by the ones he wanted and Scavino would send out the Tweets .
It was clear to Miller that when the team was n't around Trump would write and send his own Tweets .
Hicks , Kushner and Scavino likely also drafted Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only one authorized to take more liberties with what was Tweeted , ” Miller ’ s interview summary said .
Miller also told investigators he did n't know who had access to Trump ’ s phone and whether it was “ password protected.
” “ Miller didn ’ t recall other people using Trump 's phone but thought most people reached out to Trump through Hicks who would hand Trump her phone , ” his interview summary said .
Miller was also asked by FBI agents about whether he was aware of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducting any inappropriate activities while working with the campaign.
” Miller said he “ vaguely remembered ” Kushner keeping tabs on how Manafort and Gates “ handled money.
” He told the FBI that Manafort was concerned about the campaign “ coming across as overly enthusiastic about a ‘ Russia reset 2.0.
’ ” Miller was asked about Trump thoughts on Ukraine , around the time of the 2016 change to the GOP platform .
Miller said no one ever discussed the platform change with him .
“ Trump would say , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids to defend Ukraine ?
’ '' the interview summary said .
`` War against Russia was not something Trump was interested in . ''
The documents include a summary of a March 2018 interview with attorneys for Flynn , who was charged with lying to the FBI .
The interview concerned conversations that Flynn ’ s lawyers had with Trump ’ s lawyers after Flynn began cooperating with the government .
Mueller scrutinized those conversations — in particular , a voicemail from Trump 's former attorney John Dowd — as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that voicemail was previously released , the summary released Monday mentions Ty Cobb , another one of Trump 's former lawyers , as being part of the broader conversations .
And though the Mueller report stated that Flynn ’ s lawyers returned Dowd ’ s voicemail the day after receiving it and “ reiterated that they were no longer in a position to share information under any sort of privilege , ” the summary adds the detail that Flynn ’ s lawyers made that point “ firmly.
” Since last November , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 100 of these interview summaries — nearly 1,300 pages — representing roughly 42 of the more than 500 witnesses who spoke to Mueller ’ s investigators .
The majority have been heavily redacted under numerous FOIA exemptions that protect personal privacy , attorney client privilege , grand jury secrecy , ongoing investigations and national security .
This month , BuzzFeed News began a legal challenge to one particular category of exemption from the Freedom of Information Act .
The search for the secret documents behind the Mueller report began last May , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , filed Freedom of Information Act lawsuits against the FBI and Justice Department to gain access to the thousands of pages of interview summaries of all the witnesses who spoke to FBI agents and investigators .
BuzzFeed News is now pursuing five separate lawsuits to pry loose all the subpoenas and search warrants that Mueller ’ s team executed , as well as all the emails , memos , letters , talking points , legal opinions , and financial records it generated .
In short , we are seeking all communications of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office .
We also requested all the documents that would reveal the discussions among Attorney General William Barr , former deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein , and other high-ranking officials about whether to charge Trump with obstruction .
In response , Justice Department lawyers claimed the volume of records requested could total 18 billion pages and take centuries to produce .

Comey’s chief of staff, James Rybicki, provided investigators with additional details related to the immediate aftermath of his boss’s firing in May 2017. The day after firing Comey, Trump reportedly called Andrew McCabe, then the deputy director of the FBI, to complain that Comey was allowed to use an FBI airplane to return to Washington, DC, from Los Angeles, where he had been on official business. The call is recounted in the Mueller report, which says Trump told McCabe “that Comey should not have been permitted to travel back to Washington, D.C. on the FBI's airplane."
Rybicki’s interview dates Trump’s anger about the plane ride to the night of Comey’s firing, when McCabe returned from a meeting with Trump at the White House and told Rybicki that the president “was upset.”
“Before permitting Comey to return on the FBI airplane, Rybicki and others consulted with the FBI's Office of General Counsel and determined Comey's use of the airplane was de minimus given the need for the pilots, Director's detail, and the airplane itself to return to Washington,” Rybicki’s interview summary says.
In another interview, Rybicki discussed the fallout of a one-on-one conversation between the president and Comey in February 2017. The subject of the conversation was Flynn, who had been fired the day before because of contacts with Russians and who was being scrutinized by the FBI. The 2017 Valentine’s Day meeting, during which Trump told Comey that Flynn “was a good guy” and asked the FBI director to “let this go,” was a pillar of Mueller’s obstruction of justice probe.
The Mueller report states that after the discussion in the Oval Office, Comey requested a meeting with then–attorney general Jeff Sessions and asked “that Sessions not leave Comey alone with the President again.” A June 22 interview with Rybicki provides new information about that meeting with Sessions, including Rybicki’s impression that the attorney general didn’t understand Comey’s concerns.
Comey asked Rybicki to contact Jody Hunt, Sessions’ chief of staff, the day after the conversation with Trump to schedule the meeting, Rybicki told investigators. “Hunt agreed to the meeting and added Sessions wanted to talk with Corney about another matter, possibly media leaks,” the interview summary says.
“Rybicki accompanied Comey and was present for the meeting,” it continues. “Comey told Sessions, ‘I work for you, and you should not be asked to leave meetings like that’ and leave me alone with Trump, or words to that effect.”
But Rybicki wasn’t convinced that Sessions had gotten the message. “After the meeting, on the way back to FBIHQ either in the car or elevator at FBIHQ, Rybicki expressed to Comey his concern that he didn't think Sessions really understood the point of Comey's message,” the summary says. Rybicki then asked Comey if he should follow up with Hunt “to reiterate this concern.” The summary does not say whether that happened.
“Rybicki does not remember anything in particular as to why he thought Sessions did not understand Comey's concern, but just did not think Sessions fully comprehended the importance of being there when Trump and Comey were together,” the summary reads. Rybicki then started telling Hunt about any contact between Comey and the president, “or would make sure such meetings were scheduled so Sessions could attend.” Though the documents released Monday include an interview with Hunt, that summary is heavily redacted.
Rybicki’s June 22 interview also shed light on a conversation with Dana Boente, a senior Justice Department official who was overseeing the Russia investigation at the time. During an April 11, 2017, phone call, Rybicki told Boente that the White House counsel might call him because Comey had previously told Trump to go that route when seeking information about the probe.
"Boente said something along line [sic] of, 'I was hoping he had forgotten about that', or words to that effect," Rybicki told investigators.
In an earlier interview, Rybicki provided details about how senior FBI officials prepared for a meeting in January 2017 in which Comey briefed Trump, then the president-elect, on allegations contained in the document now known as the Steele dossier. Though the June 9, 2017, interview summary doesn’t cite the dossier by name, it says that the “principal leaders of the intelligence community had discussed who would deliver the information that would be presented” at the Trump Tower meeting in early January, and they agreed that it should be Comey. The former FBI director later testified that the meeting was about the dossier.
“The FBI team agreed that Comey should memorialize his exchange with Trump because of the sensitive subject matter, the fact it would be their first meeting together, and because Comey anticipated he and Trump would be alone,” Rybicki’s interview summary states. Comey had a “classified laptop” in his vehicle so that immediately after the meeting at Trump Tower ended, he could write a memo about it.
“Rybicki could not recall how far in advance the FBI team discussed Comey's meeting with Trump, but opined it was at least a few days,” the summary adds.
That interview with Rybicki shows how he and Comey kept track of the FBI director’s conversations with the president, which Comey memorialized in writing. Rybicki said he had printed copies of his written accounts, which Comey signed or initialed “in blue ink.” Rybicki kept them in folders in his desk drawer, he told investigators. He even got a menu card from Comey after his dinner with the president at the White House on Jan. 27, 2017, where he said Trump asked him for loyalty. Rybicki also said that they referred to calls from the White House switchboard as calls from “the Royal Crown.”


buzzfeed--2020-02-04--This Iowa Poll Was Never Published. It’s Still Influencing What You Read.

DES MOINES — The Des Moines Register spiked its poll Saturday night , but by the next day it seemed most reporters here had seen the numbers — or something purporting to be the numbers .
Here ’ s what happened : As the Des Moines Register readied a cover story and CNN prepped for an hourlong special about the time-honored poll , Pete Buttigieg ’ s campaign complained that his name hadn ’ t been offered to some poll recipients .
The pollster , Ann Selzer , quickly discovered the glitch in a Florida call center that triggered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a minor error — but everyone involved cares about their reputation for trustworthiness , and they quickly decided to pull the poll rather than publish with doubts .
But the news organizations had already been preparing to publish the numbers , and a version of them began to circulate almost instantly .
I won ’ t print those numbers : I have n't been able to confirm that the numbers I ’ ve seen are the already-questionable official ones .
And yet , most veterans of coverage here trust Selzer ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last night that they ’ d quietly taken the unreleased and possibly wrong numbers into account .
“ Nobody was talking about Elizabeth Warren and now everybody thinks she has a shot because of those numbers , ” said Rebecca Katz , a progressive political consultant who supports Warren .
( It ’ s not the only reason , I should note : Other polls this week also showed Warren in a strong position , as did the last published Selzer poll in January . )
I won ’ t point to specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to speak to me off the record about their thinking and decisions .
And I should note that some reporters hadn ’ t seen the poll , or genuinely don ’ t incorporate polling into their reporting , or didn ’ t think the numbers they saw changed the way they were already seeing the race .
Indeed , the numbers widely circulating aren ’ t that different from last month ’ s edition of the same poll , or some other recent polls .
But to other people , both journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Des Moines Marriott Sunday night , the impact had been obvious .
Here are what some reporters told me about how the poll affected their work : • One reporter for a major newspaper told me they inserted a few paragraphs into a story to anticipate results predicted by the poll .
• A reporter for another major national outlet said they covered an Elizabeth Warren event in part because she looked strong in the secret poll .
• Another outlet had been trying to figure out whether Amy Klobuchar was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar to other recent polling , steered coverage away from that conclusion .
• “ You can ’ t help it affecting how you ’ re thinking , ” said another reporter .
The numbers bled into the opinion-making Twitter conversation .
Right-wing figure Mike Cernovich tweeted a version that matched what some journalists had seen .
Yang supporters — as skeptical of the media as Trump ’ s acolytes — shared a claim that the secret survey showed a Yang surge , which doesn ’ t match what reporters saw .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News with a top Biden aide and Chris Dodd , the former senator and a Biden supporter , reporters pressed them aggressively on what they planned to do after a catastrophic collapse , questions that seemed to attendees to be based on poll numbers nobody mentioned .
Biden is “ anything but doomed , ” Dodd protested .
Some argued that bad polls for Biden ( who has not done well in Selzer ’ s recent polls , unlike other Iowa polls ) paradoxically help him by setting expectations low .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaked poll that nobody knows but everybody knows and it ’ s going to be like , ‘ Wow !
He ’ s back !
’ ” griped a senior aide to a rival campaign .
” The Biden campaign should send Lis a fruit basket , ” said a reporter , referring to the aide to Pete Buttigieg whose complaint led the poll to be spiked in the first place .
Read the coverage , or watch the television commentary , and you ’ ll see hints here and there .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairly homogenous pack of journalists who still tilt heavily white and male , in the final weeks , especially , as editors and noncampaign reporters descend on Des Moines — has always favored groupthink anyway .
One politico who doesn ’ t fit that demographic looked around the Marriott last night and told me how discouraging it was to think of the disadvantage she has in shaping that consensus .
The state of American primary politics — a state it ’ s reached after a decadeslong slide — is that the media has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the unusual neutrality of American media means that most media won ’ t embrace that role the way factional European media does , or the way the growing number of more overtly ideological American outlets do .
Polls guide media reporting ; the media influences voters ; the circle continues .
And the Democratic National Committee , weak and scared of its own shadow , now defers to those same polls in putting candidates on stage .
It ’ s a rapidly spinning circle that seems to be approaching a kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Register poll did a kind of service in exposing a bit more clearly how the whole thing works .
The participants , too , feel trapped in a frustrating cycle .
“ I can ’ t excise [ the numbers ] from my mind , but I also know they might not be true , and they ’ re not that far from the conventional wisdom before , ” said Politico cofounder John Harris .
“ And the conventional wisdom is wrong all the time anyway .
”

DES MOINES — The Des Moines Register spiked its poll Saturday night, but by the next day it seemed most reporters here had seen the numbers — or something purporting to be the numbers.
Here’s what happened: As the Des Moines Register readied a cover story and CNN prepped for an hourlong special about the time-honored poll, Pete Buttigieg’s campaign complained that his name hadn’t been offered to some poll recipients. The pollster, Ann Selzer, quickly discovered the glitch in a Florida call center that triggered the error. It seemed likely to be just a minor error — but everyone involved cares about their reputation for trustworthiness, and they quickly decided to pull the poll rather than publish with doubts.
But the news organizations had already been preparing to publish the numbers, and a version of them began to circulate almost instantly. I won’t print those numbers: I haven't been able to confirm that the numbers I’ve seen are the already-questionable official ones.
And yet, most veterans of coverage here trust Selzer’s surveys. So many acknowledged to me last night that they’d quietly taken the unreleased and possibly wrong numbers into account.
“Nobody was talking about Elizabeth Warren and now everybody thinks she has a shot because of those numbers,” said Rebecca Katz, a progressive political consultant who supports Warren. (It’s not the only reason, I should note: Other polls this week also showed Warren in a strong position, as did the last published Selzer poll in January.)
I won’t point to specific coverage here, because reporters were kind enough to speak to me off the record about their thinking and decisions. And I should note that some reporters hadn’t seen the poll, or genuinely don’t incorporate polling into their reporting, or didn’t think the numbers they saw changed the way they were already seeing the race. Indeed, the numbers widely circulating aren’t that different from last month’s edition of the same poll, or some other recent polls. But to other people, both journalists and operatives, milling around the lobby of the Des Moines Marriott Sunday night, the impact had been obvious.
Here are what some reporters told me about how the poll affected their work:
• One reporter for a major newspaper told me they inserted a few paragraphs into a story to anticipate results predicted by the poll.
• A reporter for another major national outlet said they covered an Elizabeth Warren event in part because she looked strong in the secret poll.
• Another outlet had been trying to figure out whether Amy Klobuchar was surging; the poll, which looked similar to other recent polling, steered coverage away from that conclusion.
• “You can’t help it affecting how you’re thinking,” said another reporter.
The numbers bled into the opinion-making Twitter conversation. Right-wing figure Mike Cernovich tweeted a version that matched what some journalists had seen. Yang supporters — as skeptical of the media as Trump’s acolytes — shared a claim that the secret survey showed a Yang surge, which doesn’t match what reporters saw.
At a breakfast Sunday morning hosted by Bloomberg News with a top Biden aide and Chris Dodd, the former senator and a Biden supporter, reporters pressed them aggressively on what they planned to do after a catastrophic collapse, questions that seemed to attendees to be based on poll numbers nobody mentioned. Biden is “anything but doomed,” Dodd protested.
Some argued that bad polls for Biden (who has not done well in Selzer’s recent polls, unlike other Iowa polls) paradoxically help him by setting expectations low.
“He gets one percentage point better than the leaked poll that nobody knows but everybody knows and it’s going to be like, ‘Wow! He’s back!’” griped a senior aide to a rival campaign.
”The Biden campaign should send Lis a fruit basket,” said a reporter, referring to the aide to Pete Buttigieg whose complaint led the poll to be spiked in the first place.
Read the coverage, or watch the television commentary, and you’ll see hints here and there. The way Iowa is covered — by a fairly homogenous pack of journalists who still tilt heavily white and male, in the final weeks, especially, as editors and noncampaign reporters descend on Des Moines — has always favored groupthink anyway. One politico who doesn’t fit that demographic looked around the Marriott last night and told me how discouraging it was to think of the disadvantage she has in shaping that consensus.
The state of American primary politics — a state it’s reached after a decadeslong slide — is that the media has replaced any party apparatus in selecting candidates. But the unusual neutrality of American media means that most media won’t embrace that role the way factional European media does, or the way the growing number of more overtly ideological American outlets do. Polls guide media reporting; the media influences voters; the circle continues. And the Democratic National Committee, weak and scared of its own shadow, now defers to those same polls in putting candidates on stage.
It’s a rapidly spinning circle that seems to be approaching a kind of breaking point, and the spiked Register poll did a kind of service in exposing a bit more clearly how the whole thing works. The participants, too, feel trapped in a frustrating cycle.
“I can’t excise [the numbers] from my mind, but I also know they might not be true, and they’re not that far from the conventional wisdom before,” said Politico cofounder John Harris. “And the conventional wisdom is wrong all the time anyway.”


buzzfeed--2020-02-04--Democrats And Trump’s Lawyers Made Their Final Arguments In The Impeachment Trial

House Democrats and Trump ’ s lawyers had a total of four hours to make their cases before the trial wraps up .
Though Trump had hoped to have the trial ended quickly — and before his State of the Union address Tuesday night — senators will take Tuesday off and vote on whether to remove him from office on Wednesday at 4 p.m .
The Impeachment Today podcast gets you up to date with the day ’ s most important impeachment news .
Catch up on all the episodes , or subscribe on the iHeartRadio app , Apple Podcasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to your favorite shows .
At this point in the trial , senators from both parties largely agree on the facts of the case — that Trump withheld the Ukraine aid in exchange for help in his reelection campaign .
But while Democrats say he is a danger to the country and interfering in the 2020 election , Republicans believe his actions are not impeachable , though some concede they were inappropriate .
The decision of whether to remove Trump from office , Republicans argue , is better left to voters in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged with two articles of impeachment by the House in December : abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
The charges relate to Trump ’ s decision to withhold vital military aid from Ukraine until the country agreed to open an investigation into one of his political rivals , Joe Biden , largely based on conspiracy theories .
Trump then stonewalled Congress ’ s investigation of the Ukraine affair , preventing members of his administration from testifying and refusing to hand over documents to the House , leading to the obstruction charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their cases for how impeachment will look in the history books .
In his closing statement , Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff argued that history will judge the Senate harshly if it lets Trump stay in office without punishment .
Republican Sen. Roy Blunt said that kind of perspective will only become clear after the 2020 election .
`` I think a lot of it will be impacted by how voters react to President Trump this coming November , and that 's not many months away , '' said Blunt .
But Democratic Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judged solely on whether they win reelection .
`` That 's not the sole metric of success as a president , '' he said .
House Democrats spoke for just over an hour Monday morning , concluding with Schiff urging senators to remove Trump from office .
`` Today we urge you in the face of overwhelming evidence of the president 's guilt — and knowing that , if left in office , he will continue to seek foreign interference in the next election — to vote to convict on both articles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , the 45th president of the United States , '' he said .
White House lawyers then began their presentation after a lunch break , starting off with Ken Starr , the prosecutor who headed the investigation into former president Bill Clinton , which led to his impeachment .
White House Counsel Pat Cipollone wrapped up their arguments by urging senators to vote against removing Trump from office and leave the decision to voters in November .
`` I urge you ... on behalf of all of your constituents to reject these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators .
`` It 's the right thing for our country .
The president has done nothing wrong , and these types of impeachment must end .
You will vindicate the right to vote , you will vindicate the Constitution , you will vindicate the rule of law by rejecting these articles . ''
Democrats held on to some of their time in order to get the last word in .
Schiff ended the day 's arguments by citing the Founding Fathers , telling senators that they put impeachment into the Constitution for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have proven Donald Trump guilty .
Now do impartial justice and convict him , '' he implored them .
Monday 's closing arguments followed Republicans voting on Friday against calling any witnesses or subpoenaing more documents in the trial .
Democrats had wanted to call John Bolton , among others , to present evidence to the Senate ; the former national security adviser is the only potential witness in the impeachment inquiry who heard directly from Trump that the president was withholding aid from Ukraine specifically to force the country to investigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his forthcoming book , which was brought to light by the New York Times .
Sens .
Mitt Romney and Susan Collins were the only two Republicans to vote in favor of calling witnesses , specifically saying they wanted to hear from Bolton .
Their support was not enough , however , to get Democrats to the 51 votes they needed to call witnesses .

Politicians are already starting to make their cases for how impeachment will look in the history books. In his closing statement, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff argued that history will judge the Senate harshly if it lets Trump stay in office without punishment. Republican Sen. Roy Blunt said that kind of perspective will only become clear after the 2020 election.
"I think a lot of it will be impacted by how voters react to President Trump this coming November, and that's not many months away," said Blunt.
But Democratic Sen. Chris Coons said that presidents are not judged solely on whether they win reelection. "That's not the sole metric of success as a president," he said.
House Democrats spoke for just over an hour Monday morning, concluding with Schiff urging senators to remove Trump from office.
"Today we urge you in the face of overwhelming evidence of the president's guilt — and knowing that, if left in office, he will continue to seek foreign interference in the next election — to vote to convict on both articles of impeachment and remove from office Donald J. Trump, the 45th president of the United States," he said.
White House lawyers then began their presentation after a lunch break, starting off with Ken Starr, the prosecutor who headed the investigation into former president Bill Clinton, which led to his impeachment. White House Counsel Pat Cipollone wrapped up their arguments by urging senators to vote against removing Trump from office and leave the decision to voters in November.
"I urge you ... on behalf of all of your constituents to reject these articles of impeachment," Cipollone told senators. "It's the right thing for our country. The president has done nothing wrong, and these types of impeachment must end. You will vindicate the right to vote, you will vindicate the Constitution, you will vindicate the rule of law by rejecting these articles."
Democrats held on to some of their time in order to get the last word in. Schiff ended the day's arguments by citing the Founding Fathers, telling senators that they put impeachment into the Constitution for exactly this kind of scenario. "We have proven Donald Trump guilty. Now do impartial justice and convict him," he implored them.
Monday's closing arguments followed Republicans voting on Friday against calling any witnesses or subpoenaing more documents in the trial. Democrats had wanted to call John Bolton, among others, to present evidence to the Senate; the former national security adviser is the only potential witness in the impeachment inquiry who heard directly from Trump that the president was withholding aid from Ukraine specifically to force the country to investigate Biden, according to an unpublished manuscript of his forthcoming book, which was brought to light by the New York Times.
Sens. Mitt Romney and Susan Collins were the only two Republicans to vote in favor of calling witnesses, specifically saying they wanted to hear from Bolton. Their support was not enough, however, to get Democrats to the 51 votes they needed to call witnesses.


buzzfeed--2020-02-04--Who Is The Yang Gang’s Second Choice? His Diehard Supporters Aren’t Sure They Have One.

BOONE , Iowa — Andrew Yang has pitched himself as the only Democratic candidate who can unite people from across the political spectrum to join his campaign or to vote for a Democrat for the first time .
But the ideological diversity of Yang ’ s supporters could have unpredictable consequences on the night of the Iowa caucus .
Voters confess to Yang that they voted for Trump in the last election or that they ’ re a former Republican and had only registered as a Democrat to vote for him .
In interviews with over a dozen Yang supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday ’ s caucuses , it was clear that Yang supporters ’ wide range of political ideologies has made it hard for them to coalesce behind a particular candidate who they ’ d support during a realignment vote if Yang doesn ’ t reach the viability threshold — 15 % on the first round — or if they ’ d even continue voting for a Democrat in the caucus and in the general election at all .
Dena , 39 , and Chris Hilpipre , 42 — a married couple from Mitchellville — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice .
Chris got his introduction to Yang through Joe Rogan 's podcast , and `` I liked what he was talking about so much .
It just made sense to me . ''
`` He ’ s not a politician , he ’ s a normal person like us , '' said Dena , a purchasing buyer .
Chris , a programmer for the Iowa Department of Transportation , said Yang 's `` argument for what AI is doing to society really spoke to me and made a lot of sense .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ threshold at their caucus site , however , they 're not decided on what to do .
`` There ’ s a big potential for us not to move anywhere , '' Chris said .
`` It ’ s just really something I ’ d have to feel on the night I think .
There ’ s other candidates I like . ''
`` There ’ s nobody that really compares '' to Yang , Dena said .
Though Chris likes Bernie Sanders , he does n't think his plans are `` viable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't move to Sanders during the caucus process and does n't expect him to be viable at their caucus site .
Yang has hinted that his supporters might gravitate toward the Sanders campaign , telling a Bloomberg News roundtable last week “ there ’ s a lot of overlap in support.
” But he admitted on Sunday that he did not know where his supporters would end up .
“ We have a very , very diverse group of supporters .
I can ’ t speak for where they would head , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Week .
“ I do have a sense that many of them have supported Bernie in the past , but many of them supported President Trump and they might just leave.
” Yang added that his campaign doesn ’ t currently have plans to direct his supporters to support a particular candidate during a realignment vote .
That he is drawing so many different kinds of supporters is key to his electability pitch .
“ What ’ s the number one criteria Democrats are looking for in a nominee ?
To beat Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a town hall in Boone .
“ People who are betting cash on this have me as the heaviest favorite to beat Donald Trump .
The next best candidate is even money.
” “ I ’ m going to throw a couple of facts out for you , ” Yang added .
“ One survey said 18 % of college Republicans would choose me over the president .
Another poll said that 10 % of Trump voters in the state of New Hampshire would choose me over the president.
” During a packed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a student told Yang that he ’ d never donated to a Democrat before and asked if he could give him the $ 35 in his pocket — Yang told him to find someone to caucus instead .
At his final Iowa rally in Des Moines , Yang asked supporters who ’ d voted for Trump in 2016 to raise their hands .
Over a dozen hands shot up before he asked the audience to give them a round of applause .
In the latest poll from Monmouth University , Yang had support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Iowa and 4 % of those Iowans indicated that he ’ d be their second choice .
Two sisters from West Des Moines , Natalie Jensen , 23 , and Gloria Jensen , 26 , both decked out in Yang merch , attended Yang ’ s Saturday night rally in Des Moines together ; they had become Yang fans around last October .
Both were firm that they were going on Monday to caucus for Yang .
But they had differing perspectives on what they would do if Yang did n't cross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucus .
`` My plan is to go gung ho on Yang and If I have to snag some Tulsis or whoever I possibly can to make Yang viable — and then I haven ’ t decided if I ’ m just gon na leave or not after that , '' Natalie Jensen said .
`` As of right now for me , I would go to Sanders , but I ’ m gon na look more tomorrow at both Warren and Sanders ' policies just to make up my mind , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is really about humanity and moving the country forward and uniting the country , ” Paige Bortman , a 26-year-old independent voter who leans Republican , told BuzzFeed News .
“ I was considering supporting Trump in 2016 , but I ended up not voting .
If Yang doesn ’ t reach viability at my caucus , then I ’ m probably just going to go home.
” She added that none of the other Democratic candidates have been able to catch her interest .
“ I was a Republican .
and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew , ” said Christy Thede , a voter from central Iowa .
“ I ’ m not planning on caucusing for anyone else on Monday if he doesn ’ t reach viability and if he doesn ’ t get the nominee then I ’ m voting for Trump.
” Dave Waters , from Boone , said he ’ s read every candidates ’ book and seen every one of them in person and that he ’ s committed to caucusing for Yang as his first choice .
“ It ’ s very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said about Yang not reaching the viability threshold .
He added that he and his wife have been weighing the pros and cons of each candidate and have been wavering between supporting Sen. Elizabeth Warren or Pete Buttigieg during their realignment vote .
“ I ’ m not planning on caucusing for Bernie at all , but if he got the nomination , I ’ d gladly vote for him.
” Sanders organizers on college campuses like Iowa State University said they ’ ve been having conversations with Yang supporters about Sanders ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d be open to supporting Sanders if he doesn ’ t reach the viability threshold .
After a Yang event in Boone , a college student decked in Bernie gear who ’ d flown in from Kansas to volunteer for Sanders told BuzzFeed News she ’ d been independently talking to Yang supporters about supporting Sanders as a second choice .
If there is a plan for Yang to push his supporters toward a particular candidate , it may be a hard sell for the voters and precinct captains who ’ ve settled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precinct captains stood near each other after Yang ’ s final rally in Des Moines .
Both were from outside Iowa ; Christina Lee Shane had driven all the way from San Antonio , Texas , to volunteer , and Emilio Medina , holding a large Yang flag , had left Minnesota to be in Davenport , Iowa for a month volunteering .
They were both serving as precinct captains in Muscatine .
They did n't directly answer when asked what their instructions had been from the campaign in terms of guiding their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threshold .
`` We ’ re all in various different trainings and caucus trainings and we have strategies of course , but ... '' Shane said , trailing off .
`` I ’ m not at liberty to say , but I would just say that the Yang campaign has a brilliant and genius revolutionary strategy that we ’ re going to be working on , '' Medina said .
Another precinct captain , Rafael C. ( who declined to provide his last name ) , who had left his home in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in with the Yang campaign , said , `` One of the funniest things about the Yang Gang is you can ask five different people what their second choice is and all five of them will give you different answers .
You can get Bernie , you can get Trump , you can get Amy Klobuchar , you can get Biden . ''
`` I don ’ t think he ’ s going to be unviable in most precincts .
I think we ’ re in a very good position , but in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I think it ’ s very unpredictable , '' he said .

BOONE, Iowa — Andrew Yang has pitched himself as the only Democratic candidate who can unite people from across the political spectrum to join his campaign or to vote for a Democrat for the first time. But the ideological diversity of Yang’s supporters could have unpredictable consequences on the night of the Iowa caucus.
Voters confess to Yang that they voted for Trump in the last election or that they’re a former Republican and had only registered as a Democrat to vote for him. In interviews with over a dozen Yang supporters across Iowa in the final days before Monday’s caucuses, it was clear that Yang supporters’ wide range of political ideologies has made it hard for them to coalesce behind a particular candidate who they’d support during a realignment vote if Yang doesn’t reach the viability threshold — 15% on the first round — or if they’d even continue voting for a Democrat in the caucus and in the general election at all.
Dena, 39, and Chris Hilpipre, 42 — a married couple from Mitchellville — are committed to Yang as their first choice. Chris got his introduction to Yang through Joe Rogan's podcast, and "I liked what he was talking about so much. It just made sense to me."
"He’s not a politician, he’s a normal person like us," said Dena, a purchasing buyer. Chris, a programmer for the Iowa Department of Transportation, said Yang's "argument for what AI is doing to society really spoke to me and made a lot of sense."
If Yang doesn't meet the threshold at their caucus site, however, they're not decided on what to do. "There’s a big potential for us not to move anywhere," Chris said. "It’s just really something I’d have to feel on the night I think. There’s other candidates I like."
"There’s nobody that really compares" to Yang, Dena said. Though Chris likes Bernie Sanders, he doesn't think his plans are "viable," and said he probably wouldn't move to Sanders during the caucus process and doesn't expect him to be viable at their caucus site.
Yang has hinted that his supporters might gravitate toward the Sanders campaign, telling a Bloomberg News roundtable last week “there’s a lot of overlap in support.” But he admitted on Sunday that he did not know where his supporters would end up.
“We have a very, very diverse group of supporters. I can’t speak for where they would head,” Yang said on ABC’s This Week. “I do have a sense that many of them have supported Bernie in the past, but many of them supported President Trump and they might just leave.” Yang added that his campaign doesn’t currently have plans to direct his supporters to support a particular candidate during a realignment vote.
That he is drawing so many different kinds of supporters is key to his electability pitch. “What’s the number one criteria Democrats are looking for in a nominee? To beat Trump,” Yang told the audience at a town hall in Boone. “People who are betting cash on this have me as the heaviest favorite to beat Donald Trump. The next best candidate is even money.”
“I’m going to throw a couple of facts out for you,” Yang added. “One survey said 18% of college Republicans would choose me over the president. Another poll said that 10% of Trump voters in the state of New Hampshire would choose me over the president.”
During a packed town hall at a Mexican restaurant, a student told Yang that he’d never donated to a Democrat before and asked if he could give him the $35 in his pocket — Yang told him to find someone to caucus instead. At his final Iowa rally in Des Moines, Yang asked supporters who’d voted for Trump in 2016 to raise their hands. Over a dozen hands shot up before he asked the audience to give them a round of applause.
In the latest poll from Monmouth University, Yang had support from 3% of likely caucus goers in Iowa and 4% of those Iowans indicated that he’d be their second choice.
Two sisters from West Des Moines, Natalie Jensen, 23, and Gloria Jensen, 26, both decked out in Yang merch, attended Yang’s Saturday night rally in Des Moines together; they had become Yang fans around last October. Both were firm that they were going on Monday to caucus for Yang. But they had differing perspectives on what they would do if Yang didn't cross the threshold to stay viable during the caucus. "My plan is to go gung ho on Yang and If I have to snag some Tulsis or whoever I possibly can to make Yang viable — and then I haven’t decided if I’m just gonna leave or not after that," Natalie Jensen said.
"As of right now for me, I would go to Sanders, but I’m gonna look more tomorrow at both Warren and Sanders' policies just to make up my mind," Gloria Jensen said.
“His message is really about humanity and moving the country forward and uniting the country,” Paige Bortman, a 26-year-old independent voter who leans Republican, told BuzzFeed News. “I was considering supporting Trump in 2016, but I ended up not voting. If Yang doesn’t reach viability at my caucus, then I’m probably just going to go home.”
She added that none of the other Democratic candidates have been able to catch her interest.
“I was a Republican. and I switched my registration to caucus just for Andrew,” said Christy Thede, a voter from central Iowa. “I’m not planning on caucusing for anyone else on Monday if he doesn’t reach viability and if he doesn’t get the nominee then I’m voting for Trump.”
Dave Waters, from Boone, said he’s read every candidates’ book and seen every one of them in person and that he’s committed to caucusing for Yang as his first choice.
“It’s very likely in my precinct,” Waters said about Yang not reaching the viability threshold. He added that he and his wife have been weighing the pros and cons of each candidate and have been wavering between supporting Sen. Elizabeth Warren or Pete Buttigieg during their realignment vote. “I’m not planning on caucusing for Bernie at all, but if he got the nomination, I’d gladly vote for him.”
Sanders organizers on college campuses like Iowa State University said they’ve been having conversations with Yang supporters about Sanders' policies and asking them if they’d be open to supporting Sanders if he doesn’t reach the viability threshold. After a Yang event in Boone, a college student decked in Bernie gear who’d flown in from Kansas to volunteer for Sanders told BuzzFeed News she’d been independently talking to Yang supporters about supporting Sanders as a second choice.
If there is a plan for Yang to push his supporters toward a particular candidate, it may be a hard sell for the voters and precinct captains who’ve settled on caucusing for him.
Two Yang precinct captains stood near each other after Yang’s final rally in Des Moines. Both were from outside Iowa; Christina Lee Shane had driven all the way from San Antonio, Texas, to volunteer, and Emilio Medina, holding a large Yang flag, had left Minnesota to be in Davenport, Iowa for a month volunteering. They were both serving as precinct captains in Muscatine. They didn't directly answer when asked what their instructions had been from the campaign in terms of guiding their caucus-goers in case Yang didn't meet the threshold. "We’re all in various different trainings and caucus trainings and we have strategies of course, but..." Shane said, trailing off.
"I’m not at liberty to say, but I would just say that the Yang campaign has a brilliant and genius revolutionary strategy that we’re going to be working on," Medina said.
Another precinct captain, Rafael C. (who declined to provide his last name), who had left his home in Miami to come to Iowa and pitch in with the Yang campaign, said, "One of the funniest things about the Yang Gang is you can ask five different people what their second choice is and all five of them will give you different answers. You can get Bernie, you can get Trump, you can get Amy Klobuchar, you can get Biden."
"I don’t think he’s going to be unviable in most precincts. I think we’re in a very good position, but in the case that he’s unviable, I think it’s very unpredictable," he said.


buzzfeed--2020-02-04--Iowa Caucus Results Are Finally Coming In After Reporting Delays

The data initially being reported is not necessarily indicative of who is actually leading in the race , or what the margins will be .
The Iowa Democratic Party has begun to release results from Monday ’ s presidential caucus , after a nightmarish delay that has set the campaigns on edge .
With 62 % of precincts reporting , the results were to be released after what the state Democratic party said was a “ coding error ” in an app being used in caucuses across the state .
“ The reporting of the results and circumstances surrounding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Troy Price , chair of the Iowa Democratic Party , said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon .
“ The bottom line is we hit a stumbling block.
” Campaigns said they were not told when the Iowa Democratic Party planned on releasing more results .
For the first time this year , the Iowa Democratic Party released three sets of results .
When you attend a Democratic caucus in Iowa , you select your candidate on the first vote .
A caucus chair counts up everyone in the room .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , if your candidate doesn ’ t meet 15 % of the vote , you can pick another candidate , go home , or form an alliance with enough people who no longer have a viable candidate to hit 15 % .
Then the caucus chair counts again .
That ’ s the final alignment .
The final alignment is used to determine delegates to the state convention , and ultimately delegates to the national convention this summer .
This is called the delegate equivalent .
We 're showing you the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The data initially being reported Tuesday afternoon is not necessarily indicative of who is actually leading in the race , or what the margins will be .
So please be cautious with this data : None of this is how the caucus was supposed to go .
The IDP determined late Monday night that there was a technical problem in how the caucus results were being reported , which the party said was not due to a hack but rather an issue with how an app was bringing data from individual precincts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has consistently said throughout the last day that they believed the underlying data to be sound .
“ As precinct caucus results started coming in , the IDP ran them through an accuracy and quality check , '' Price said in a Tuesday morning statement .
`` It became clear that there were inconsistencies with the reports . ''
The party had determined by the morning that the issue was `` due to a coding issue in the reporting system , '' Price said .
`` This issue was identified and fixed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unexpected vacuum , with several campaigns suggesting they may have won based on internal data , and one candidate — Pete Buttigieg — declaring victory outright on Monday night .
Campaigns have been livid with the state party , expressing frustration in a series of late night calls into Tuesday morning , with some campaigns suggesting the actual results could be flawed .
Before releasing the first batch of results , Price apologized for the boondoggle from the night before .
Price also tried to assure that the results being released were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trail , addressing concerns and conspiracy theories — some pushed by President Trump ’ s son , Donald Trump Jr. — that the Democratic primary had been rigged .
Price also added that the party would be conducting an independent review .
“ We have been working day and night to make sure that these results are accurate , ” Price said .
“ The underlying data , the raw data , is secure .
It ’ s always been secure .
”

The Iowa Democratic Party has now reported 100% of the results of Monday's Iowa presidential caucuses after a nightmarish delay — but it still might take even longer to determine an actual winner because of what look like errors in the data.
Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez called on the Iowa Democratic Party to "recanvass" the caucus results on Thursday morning. In practice, that would mean a hand audit of the papers used in each precinct to ensure the math calculating delegates is correct.
The Iowa Democratic Party indicated on Thursday that the party will only recanvass if a campaign formally requests the process. But news outlets, including NBC News, have already said they will not project a winner off of the data.
As the state party has continued to report results, some news outlets have found what they believe to be errors in the reporting of the extremely close results. Currently, Pete Buttigieg has an extremely narrow lead over Bernie Sanders in the delegate count — less than two delegates — in a virtual tie.
For the first time this year, the IDP released three sets of results. When you attend a Democratic caucus in Iowa, you select your candidate on the first vote. A caucus chair counts up everyone in the room. This is called the first alignment.
After that, if your candidate doesn’t meet 15% of the vote, you can pick another candidate, go home, or form an alliance with enough people who no longer have a viable candidate to hit 15%. Then the caucus chair counts again. That’s the final alignment.
The final alignment is used to determine delegates for the state convention and, ultimately, delegates for the national convention this summer. This is called the delegate equivalent.
Sanders, meanwhile, thanked Iowa for a resounding victory on Monday at a press conference in New Hampshire.
"This difference," Sanders added, "no matter who inches ahead in the end, is meaningless because we are both likely to receive the same number of national delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee."
Asked why he was claiming victory when Buttigieg has also claimed victory, Sanders said, "Because I got 6,000 more votes."
We're showing you the final alignment and the state delegate equivalent here. The data is still incomplete. So please be cautious with this data:


buzzfeed--2020-02-04--Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez And Ayanna Pressley Will Boycott Trump's State Of The Union

WASHINGTON — Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley will boycott the State of the Union address Tuesday night , condemning President Donald Trump and saying they can ’ t “ legitimize ” his obstruction of Congress , particularly during an impeachment trial .
Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley , two high-profile first-term representatives and members of “ the Squad , ” announced Tuesday afternoon that they will not attend the speech .
Fellow Squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar will attend , according to a Democratic aide familiar with her schedule , as will Rep. Rashida Tlaib .
The four Democrats , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the receiving end of Trump ’ s ire since coming to Congress last year .
“ After much deliberation , I have decided that I will not use my presence at a state ceremony to normalize Trump ’ s lawless conduct & subversion of the Constitution , ” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted late Tuesday afternoon .
“ None of this is normal , and I will not legitimize it .
Consequently , I will not be attending the State of the Union.
” Pressley made her announcement minutes before Ocasio-Cortez , saying she could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a president who “ demonstrates contempt for the American people , contempt for Congress & contempt for our Constitution.
” “ The State of the Union is hurting because of the occupant of the White House .
… I can not in good conscience attend tonight 's sham , ” Pressley tweeted .
Though she is not attending the speech in person , Pressley will deliver the Working Families Party 's response to the State of the Union , which will run after the president ’ s speech .
Rep. Veronica Escobar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech in Washington , will deliver the Spanish-language response to the State of the Union from her home district in El Paso , Texas .
And while Tlaib said she is attending the speech , she made the announcement with a scathing condemnation of the president : “ I will be in attendance at tonight ’ s State of the Union address , but not for Donald Trump .
Every action that President Trump takes will be under the cloud of impeachment .
Donald Trump continues to break promises he ’ s made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies that harm people across the country . ''
Trump ’ s speech at 9 p.m. tonight comes just a day before the Senate will vote on whether to remove him from office over two articles of impeachment : abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
Republicans are expected to acquit him around 4 p.m. Wednesday .
The president has singled out the Squad members at campaign rallies and in tweets .
As recently as last month , he accused them of being anti-Semitic during a rally with his evangelical supporters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he fired off a series of racist tweets attacking the four lawmakers .
Four Republican members of Congress voted in favor of the bipartisan resolution , which said the House “ strongly condemns the President Trump ’ s racist legitimized and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of color by saying that our fellow Americans who are immigrants , and those who may look to the President like immigrants , should ‘ go back ’ to other countries.
” The Squad held their own press conference in response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is the agenda of white nationalist [ s ] .
” The group hasn ’ t hesitated to call the president out .
The day she was sworn in to Congress , Tlaib said made news for saying Democrats would “ impeach the motherfucker !
” Republicans have played the soundbite repeatedly ever since , and Trump ’ s attorneys used it during closing arguments in his impeachment trial this week to argue his impeachment is invalid because it ’ s largely partisan .

WASHINGTON — Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley will boycott the State of the Union address Tuesday night, condemning President Donald Trump and saying they can’t “legitimize” his obstruction of Congress, particularly during an impeachment trial.
Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley, two high-profile first-term representatives and members of “the Squad,” announced Tuesday afternoon that they will not attend the speech. Fellow Squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar will attend, according to a Democratic aide familiar with her schedule, as will Rep. Rashida Tlaib. The four Democrats, all women of color, have been on the receiving end of Trump’s ire since coming to Congress last year.
“After much deliberation, I have decided that I will not use my presence at a state ceremony to normalize Trump’s lawless conduct & subversion of the Constitution,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted late Tuesday afternoon. “None of this is normal, and I will not legitimize it. Consequently, I will not be attending the State of the Union.”
Pressley made her announcement minutes before Ocasio-Cortez, saying she could not attend a State of the Union with a president who “demonstrates contempt for the American people, contempt for Congress & contempt for our Constitution.”
“The State of the Union is hurting because of the occupant of the White House. … I cannot in good conscience attend tonight's sham,” Pressley tweeted.
Though she is not attending the speech in person, Pressley will deliver the Working Families Party's response to the State of the Union, which will run after the president’s speech. Rep. Veronica Escobar, who is also not attending the speech in Washington, will deliver the Spanish-language response to the State of the Union from her home district in El Paso, Texas.
And while Tlaib said she is attending the speech, she made the announcement with a scathing condemnation of the president: “I will be in attendance at tonight’s State of the Union address, but not for Donald Trump. Every action that President Trump takes will be under the cloud of impeachment. Donald Trump continues to break promises he’s made to the American people and instead pushes policies that harm people across the country."
Trump’s speech at 9 p.m. tonight comes just a day before the Senate will vote on whether to remove him from office over two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Republicans are expected to acquit him around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The president has singled out the Squad members at campaign rallies and in tweets. As recently as last month, he accused them of being anti-Semitic during a rally with his evangelical supporters.
The House voted to censure the president after he fired off a series of racist tweets attacking the four lawmakers. Four Republican members of Congress voted in favor of the bipartisan resolution, which said the House “strongly condemns the President Trump’s racist legitimized and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of color by saying that our fellow Americans who are immigrants, and those who may look to the President like immigrants, should ‘go back’ to other countries.” The Squad held their own press conference in response to Trump’s tweets, saying, “This is the agenda of white nationalist[s].”
The group hasn’t hesitated to call the president out. The day she was sworn in to Congress, Tlaib said made news for saying Democrats would “impeach the motherfucker!”
Republicans have played the soundbite repeatedly ever since, and Trump’s attorneys used it during closing arguments in his impeachment trial this week to argue his impeachment is invalid because it’s largely partisan.