buzzfeed--2020-02-10--The Democratic Primary Is A Mess. Michael Bloomberg Is Taking Advantage.

NORFOLK , Virginia — While the rest of the Democratic field showed up in New Hampshire still unclear about who , exactly , won the Iowa caucuses , Mike Bloomberg was elsewhere .
He was in Philadelphia ; he was in Providence , Rhode Island ; he was in Norfolk , Virginia .
This weekend , he ’ s going to Alabama and Oklahoma .
In light of the morass other Democrats have found themselves in after the app-induced Iowa debacle , in which days passed before it became clear that Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg essentially tied , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t winnow the field as it usually does , and the negative attacks between candidates have started to pick up .
But the former mayor of New York City , who only entered the race in November , is simply staying out of the fray — and there are signs his campaign is appealing to voters who are looking for an alternative to a struggling Joe Biden .
“ I didn ’ t make a decision to stay out .
I came in too late to get in , so I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Bloomberg told me on Wednesday when I asked him whether the Iowa mess made him feel vindicated about his decision to largely skip the four early states .
“ There ’ s plenty of chances .
There ’ s lots of elections coming up in every other state .
There ’ s still 46 states to hear from , and that ’ s where I ’ m gon na compete.
” “ It ’ s hard to believe that anybody could go into something with a piece of software that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bunch of amateurs on the back of an envelope , I guess , because it certainly didn ’ t work , ” Bloomberg said of the Iowa caucuses .
“ It ’ s just irresponsible.
” “ After more than a year of this primary , the field is as unsettled as ever , ” Bloomberg spokesperson Galia Slayen said in a statement this week .
“ No one has made the sale or even come close to it.
” The Bloomberg way is unusual in modern presidential politics , which emphasizes vague @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more technical nuts and bolts of winning the nomination .
And yes , there ’ s no other campaign quite like Bloomberg ’ s .
First , there ’ s its sheer size ; the campaign announced this week it plans to soon swell to 2,000 staffers .
Then , there ’ s its unusual strategy : Instead of flooding states that vote early in the primary calendar in the hope of capturing momentum , Bloomberg is targeting states that vote later , many of which offer many more delegates up for grabs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And he ’ s running as though in some ways he ’ s already the nominee , hardly mentioning his primary opponents and casting himself as the “ un-Trump.
” That ’ s a direct quote , which he said during his Wednesday speech in Providence , where he was joined by the state ’ s governor , Gina Raimondo , a moderate Democrat .
Raimondo endorsed Bloomberg , the first governor to do so .
Bloomberg has begun picking up high-profile endorsements , including from former Navy secretary Richard Spencer , whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eddie Gallagher case .
Being a billionaire , Bloomberg is able to challenge Trump on a level that no other candidate can apart from Tom Steyer , who has chosen a much different tack .
Instead of pretending to not be a super-rich guy , Bloomberg embraces it and argues that he ’ s more real of a billionaire than Trump is .
He is not a Trump-style braggart , but he ’ s not opposed to a little of that either .
During his Rhode Island speech , he praised Raimondo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite the fact that she ’ ll finish her second term in 2023 .
“ I ’ m told they have term limits here , ” Bloomberg said .
“ I had term limits too.
” ( Bloomberg was mayor for three terms , running twice as a Republican and once as an independent .
The New York City Council voted to change New York ’ s rules so that a mayor could serve for three terms instead of two in 2008 , enabling Bloomberg to win a third term ) .
Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by protesters yelling about Jeffrey Epstein ; as they were escorted out , Bloomberg joked , “ a cynic might say I hired them to make me look good.
” Bloomberg was then interrupted by a protester shouting about stop-and-frisk and NYPD surveillance of Muslim communities , policies from his mayoral administration that enraged progressives .
“ It ’ s nice that people have first amendment rights , ” Bloomberg said .
“ People ask me , ‘ Do you really want a general election between two New York billionaires ?
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after the Iowa caucuses .
“ To which I say , ‘ Who ’ s the other one ?
’ ” “ I have no patience for toadies and sycophants , ” Bloomberg said in his Friday speech in Norfolk .
“ My ego doesn ’ t need the stroking .
I hate to break this to you , but I ’ m not insecure about who I am — and I ’ m comfortable with people disagreeing with me and telling me so.
” Bloomberg ’ s needling , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s attention ; the president has repeatedly tweeted about him and assigned him a mean nickname , “ Mini Mike.
” Is all this bravado working ?
Depends on who you ask .
Multiple voters I spoke with at Bloomberg events this past week said they had initially thought they would support Joe Biden , but were now turned off by Biden ’ s struggling campaign .
Into this breach steps Bloomberg , who presents a moderate alternative who to some voters feels more seasoned than Buttigieg .
Amanda Nawrot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she would “ definitely ” consider Bloomberg now that Biden ’ s campaign is stumbling .
“ I like all the candidates , but I worry that Buttigieg doesn ’ t have enough experience against Trump , ” she said .
“ I already knew about him and so I came here impressed , ” said Eric S. , 67 , a software developer from Providence , who declined to give his last name .
“ But he really confirmed everything that I was thinking , which is that he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand up and not lose his head and make good decisions.
” “ The Iowa thing made me decide to come down here and see what ’ s going on , ” Eric said .
“ I was for Biden but I don ’ t think he ’ s able to prevail , and so I have to think about that.
” John Burns , 75 , who was also at Bloomberg ’ s event in Providence , said he had been leaning Biden previously .
But he ’ s detected “ no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has switched his support to Bloomberg , believing that Bloomberg can beat Trump in the key swing state of Florida .
There ’ s something happening , but it ’ s not clear yet what it is .
Bloomberg has been rising in national polling but is still well behind the top tier .
Apart from Raimondo and Spencer , Bloomberg won the endorsement this week of Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens , another moderate Democrat whose endorsement might have gone to Biden .
Bloomberg ’ s money means he ’ s able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the country , increasing his visibility in places where other candidates haven ’ t been able to start competing .
And a DNC rules change means that Bloomberg will likely be able to participate in the next debate — since he ’ s self-funding his campaign , he had thus far been unable to qualify for debates because of DNC rules about how many individual donors a candidate must have .
Bloomberg has said that his only goal is to defeat Trump , and that even if he is not the nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fortune to support whoever is .
And this in itself is a message that appeals to many Democratic voters , who are uninterested in the internecine arguments dividing the party and simply want to beat Trump no matter what .
“ Anybody , literally anybody but Trump , ” said Richard Hahn , 60 , who came out to see Bloomberg in Norfolk .
Hahn said Bloomberg was “ the only sensible candidate running right now , ” and is impressed by his being a “ self-made billionaire ” and that he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed to paying them through the election regardless of the outcome .
“ The truth is I ’ ll vote for any Democrat , ” said Eric S , from Providence .
“ It doesn ’ t matter .
I ’ m going to be with whoever runs against Trump.
” “ I listened to [ Bloomberg ] about two weeks ago , three weeks ago .
And then I started pulling up research on him , ” said Bobby Buxton , 65 , a retired financial adviser who attended Bloomberg ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started looking into his background .
And I started listening to other people talk to him .
And then , you know , when the noise gets loud enough that you can hear it ...
The noise was quiet in the beginning , but the noise is getting louder.
” The noise is getting loud enough that Bloomberg ’ s opponents are starting to have to respond to it .
In Friday night ’ s debate in New Hampshire , moderator George Stephanopoulos asked the candidates about Spencer ’ s endorsement of Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think you 're better positioned than Bloomberg to beat Trump ?
” “ I do n't think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or to be president of the United States , ” Sen. Elizabeth Warren said .
“ I do n't think any billionaire ought to be able to do it , and I do n't think people who suck up to billionaires in order to fund their campaigns ought to do it.
” “ People do n't look at the guy in the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ richer ?
” Sen. Amy Klobuchar said .
“ I do n't think they think that .
They want to have someone that they can understand.
” “ There are millions of people who can desire to run for office , but I guess if you 're worth $ 60 billion and you can spend several hundred million dollars on commercials , you have a slight advantage , ” Sen. Bernie Sanders said .
“ That is nonsense .
”

NORFOLK, Virginia — While the rest of the Democratic field showed up in New Hampshire still unclear about who, exactly, won the Iowa caucuses, Mike Bloomberg was elsewhere.
He was in Philadelphia; he was in Providence, Rhode Island; he was in Norfolk, Virginia. This weekend, he’s going to Alabama and Oklahoma.
In light of the morass other Democrats have found themselves in after the app-induced Iowa debacle, in which days passed before it became clear that Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg essentially tied, the primary race is fluid. Iowa didn’t winnow the field as it usually does, and the negative attacks between candidates have started to pick up. But the former mayor of New York City, who only entered the race in November, is simply staying out of the fray — and there are signs his campaign is appealing to voters who are looking for an alternative to a struggling Joe Biden.
“I didn’t make a decision to stay out. I came in too late to get in, so I can’t take credit for that,” Bloomberg told me on Wednesday when I asked him whether the Iowa mess made him feel vindicated about his decision to largely skip the four early states. “There’s plenty of chances. There’s lots of elections coming up in every other state. There’s still 46 states to hear from, and that’s where I’m gonna compete.”
“It’s hard to believe that anybody could go into something with a piece of software that’s never been tested and written by a bunch of amateurs on the back of an envelope, I guess, because it certainly didn’t work,” Bloomberg said of the Iowa caucuses. “It’s just irresponsible.”
“After more than a year of this primary, the field is as unsettled as ever,” Bloomberg spokesperson Galia Slayen said in a statement this week. “No one has made the sale or even come close to it.”
The Bloomberg way is unusual in modern presidential politics, which emphasizes vague concepts like “momentum” over the more technical nuts and bolts of winning the nomination. And yes, there’s no other campaign quite like Bloomberg’s. First, there’s its sheer size; the campaign announced this week it plans to soon swell to 2,000 staffers. Then, there’s its unusual strategy: Instead of flooding states that vote early in the primary calendar in the hope of capturing momentum, Bloomberg is targeting states that vote later, many of which offer many more delegates up for grabs than Iowa or New Hampshire do. And he’s running as though in some ways he’s already the nominee, hardly mentioning his primary opponents and casting himself as the “un-Trump.”
That’s a direct quote, which he said during his Wednesday speech in Providence, where he was joined by the state’s governor, Gina Raimondo, a moderate Democrat. Raimondo endorsed Bloomberg, the first governor to do so. Bloomberg has begun picking up high-profile endorsements, including from former Navy secretary Richard Spencer, whom President Trump fired in November over the Eddie Gallagher case.
Being a billionaire, Bloomberg is able to challenge Trump on a level that no other candidate can apart from Tom Steyer, who has chosen a much different tack. Instead of pretending to not be a super-rich guy, Bloomberg embraces it and argues that he’s more real of a billionaire than Trump is. He is not a Trump-style braggart, but he’s not opposed to a little of that either. During his Rhode Island speech, he praised Raimondo, suggesting she should run for another term despite the fact that she’ll finish her second term in 2023. “I’m told they have term limits here,” Bloomberg said. “I had term limits too.” (Bloomberg was mayor for three terms, running twice as a Republican and once as an independent. The New York City Council voted to change New York’s rules so that a mayor could serve for three terms instead of two in 2008, enabling Bloomberg to win a third term).
Bloomberg’s speech in Providence was interrupted by protesters yelling about Jeffrey Epstein; as they were escorted out, Bloomberg joked, “a cynic might say I hired them to make me look good.” Bloomberg was then interrupted by a protester shouting about stop-and-frisk and NYPD surveillance of Muslim communities, policies from his mayoral administration that enraged progressives. “It’s nice that people have first amendment rights,” Bloomberg said.
“People ask me, ‘Do you really want a general election between two New York billionaires?’” Bloomberg told an audience in Philadelphia the day after the Iowa caucuses. “To which I say, ‘Who’s the other one?’”
“I have no patience for toadies and sycophants,” Bloomberg said in his Friday speech in Norfolk. “My ego doesn’t need the stroking. I hate to break this to you, but I’m not insecure about who I am — and I’m comfortable with people disagreeing with me and telling me so.”
Bloomberg’s needling, and the scale of his campaign, has caught Trump’s attention; the president has repeatedly tweeted about him and assigned him a mean nickname, “Mini Mike.”
Is all this bravado working? Depends on who you ask.
Multiple voters I spoke with at Bloomberg events this past week said they had initially thought they would support Joe Biden, but were now turned off by Biden’s struggling campaign. Into this breach steps Bloomberg, who presents a moderate alternative who to some voters feels more seasoned than Buttigieg.
Amanda Nawrot, 38, of Chesapeake, Virginia, said she would “definitely” consider Bloomberg now that Biden’s campaign is stumbling. “I like all the candidates, but I worry that Buttigieg doesn’t have enough experience against Trump,” she said.
“I already knew about him and so I came here impressed,” said Eric S., 67, a software developer from Providence, who declined to give his last name. “But he really confirmed everything that I was thinking, which is that he’s levelheaded and experienced and tough enough to stand up and not lose his head and make good decisions.”
“The Iowa thing made me decide to come down here and see what’s going on,” Eric said. “I was for Biden but I don’t think he’s able to prevail, and so I have to think about that.”
John Burns, 75, who was also at Bloomberg’s event in Providence, said he had been leaning Biden previously. But he’s detected “no enthusiasm” for Biden’s campaign and has switched his support to Bloomberg, believing that Bloomberg can beat Trump in the key swing state of Florida.
There’s something happening, but it’s not clear yet what it is. Bloomberg has been rising in national polling but is still well behind the top tier. Apart from Raimondo and Spencer, Bloomberg won the endorsement this week of Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens, another moderate Democrat whose endorsement might have gone to Biden. Bloomberg’s money means he’s able to flood the airwaves with advertisements all over the country, increasing his visibility in places where other candidates haven’t been able to start competing. And a DNC rules change means that Bloomberg will likely be able to participate in the next debate — since he’s self-funding his campaign, he had thus far been unable to qualify for debates because of DNC rules about how many individual donors a candidate must have.
Bloomberg has said that his only goal is to defeat Trump, and that even if he is not the nominee, he’ll use his massive fortune to support whoever is. And this in itself is a message that appeals to many Democratic voters, who are uninterested in the internecine arguments dividing the party and simply want to beat Trump no matter what.
“Anybody, literally anybody but Trump,” said Richard Hahn, 60, who came out to see Bloomberg in Norfolk. Hahn said Bloomberg was “the only sensible candidate running right now,” and is impressed by his being a “self-made billionaire” and that he’s paying his staff well and has committed to paying them through the election regardless of the outcome.
“The truth is I’ll vote for any Democrat,” said Eric S, from Providence. “It doesn’t matter. I’m going to be with whoever runs against Trump.”
“I listened to [Bloomberg] about two weeks ago, three weeks ago. And then I started pulling up research on him,” said Bobby Buxton, 65, a retired financial adviser who attended Bloomberg’s event in Norfolk. “And I started looking into his background. And I started listening to other people talk to him. And then, you know, when the noise gets loud enough that you can hear it...The noise was quiet in the beginning, but the noise is getting louder.”
The noise is getting loud enough that Bloomberg’s opponents are starting to have to respond to it. In Friday night’s debate in New Hampshire, moderator George Stephanopoulos asked the candidates about Spencer’s endorsement of Bloomberg, saying, “Why do you think you're better positioned than Bloomberg to beat Trump?”
“I don't think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or to be president of the United States,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren said. “I don't think any billionaire ought to be able to do it, and I don't think people who suck up to billionaires in order to fund their campaigns ought to do it.”
“People don't look at the guy in the White House and say, can we get someone richer?” Sen. Amy Klobuchar said. “I don't think they think that. They want to have someone that they can understand.”
“There are millions of people who can desire to run for office, but I guess if you're worth $60 billion and you can spend several hundred million dollars on commercials, you have a slight advantage,” Sen. Bernie Sanders said. “That is nonsense.”


buzzfeed--2020-02-10--How You Know Pete Buttigieg Is A Frontrunner: His Rivals Kept Targeting Him In Friday’s Debate

MANCHESTER , New Hampshire — Pete Buttigieg finally got the frontrunner ’ s treatment : One by one , his rivals at Friday ’ s Democratic presidential debate took their shots .
Their focus on Buttigieg , at times egged on by the moderators , reflected how serious a threat they now regard the former mayor from South Bend , Indiana .
Buttigieg earned a virtual split victory with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in this week ’ s Iowa caucuses — a result that elevated Buttigieg over former vice president Joe Biden and others as a moderate or consensus-building alternative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Almost as soon as the debate ended , a new poll of New Hampshire showed Buttigieg in a dead heat with Sanders .
“ I don ’ t have 40 billionaires , Pete , contributing to my campaign , ” Sanders charged during the second half of the debate , landing an attack he and his supporters had been telegraphing all day and meant to brand Buttigieg as beholden to corporate interests .
Biden got the pile-on started early , after some prodding from ABC News ’ George Stephanopoulos , who noted Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Mayor Buttigieg is a great guy and a real patriot , ” Biden began politely , nodding to Buttigieg ’ s military service in Afghanistan before pivoting to a reminder of the former mayor 's struggles to register support among voters of color .
“ He 's a mayor of a small city who has done some good things , but has not demonstrated he has the ability to — and we 'll soon find out — to get a broad scope of support across the support , including African Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who made the night ’ s most persistent case against Buttigieg , compared his inexperience in national politics to Donald Trump ’ s before he was elected president .
“ We have a newcomer in the White House , ” she said , “ and look where it got us.
” She returned to that theme again in her closing statement , emphasizing that she ’ s “ not a political newcomer with no record.
” There also was Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who bluntly answered “ no ” — before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if she was satisfied with Buttigieg ’ s answer on racial inequities in the criminal justice system .
Even hedge fund billionaire Tom Steyer got in on it , arguing the 38-year-old lacked the chops to take on Trump .
“ We need people with experience , ” Steyer said .
“ That ’ s why I ’ m worried about Mayor Pete .
You need to be able to go toe to toe with this guy and take him down on the debate stage or we ’ re going to lose.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this stage to spare Buttigieg .
Buttigieg ’ s advisers had been preparing him for such confrontations for months .
But with the exception of a few minor scrapes in November and Warren ’ s memorable eruption over Buttigieg ’ s now-infamous wine cave fundraiser in December , Buttigieg had never faced a sustained barrage of attacks .
Aides sensed that could change Friday , and Buttigieg quickly parried each attack before retreating to well-rehearsed sections of his usual stump speech .
Though some of the incoming was sharp , no line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or instant-classic levels of past pre-New Hampshire primary debates .
( Think Barack Obama ’ s “ You ’ re likable enough , Hillary ” or Chris Christie ’ s takedown of Marco Rubio in 2016 . )
At one point Buttigieg even shared a kind exchange with Biden , on the question of whether investigations into the business dealings of Biden ’ s son , Hunter , would be problematic if the former vice president is the nominee .
“ No , ” Buttigieg replied firmly .
“ And we 're not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is not about Hunter Biden or Vice President Biden or any Biden .
This is about an abuse of power by the president.
” “ Look , the vice president and I and all of us are competing , ” Buttigieg continued after applause , “ but we 've got to draw a line here .
And to be the kind of president , to be the kind of human being who would seek to turn someone against his own son , who would seek to weaponize a son against his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing that is just one more example of why we as a party have to be completely united in doing whatever it takes at the end of the day to make sure that this president does not get a second term.
” Biden was appreciative .
“ Look , ” he said , “ I thank my colleague for saying that.
” The clash between Sanders and Buttigieg could have a more lasting impact on where Democrats go in 2020 .
Earlier Friday , during a speech at St. Anselm ’ s Politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by name , riffing on headlines about the former mayor ’ s contributions from billionaires and setting up his line later that night .
One of Sanders ’ s advisers , David Sirota , repeatedly tweeted about Buttigieg Friday , using the hashtag # PetesBillionaires and prodding him over his opposition to Medicare for All .
His national press secretary was even sharper .

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — Pete Buttigieg finally got the frontrunner’s treatment: One by one, his rivals at Friday’s Democratic presidential debate took their shots.
Their focus on Buttigieg, at times egged on by the moderators, reflected how serious a threat they now regard the former mayor from South Bend, Indiana.
Buttigieg earned a virtual split victory with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in this week’s Iowa caucuses — a result that elevated Buttigieg over former vice president Joe Biden and others as a moderate or consensus-building alternative to Sanders, a democratic socialist. Almost as soon as the debate ended, a new poll of New Hampshire showed Buttigieg in a dead heat with Sanders.
“I don’t have 40 billionaires, Pete, contributing to my campaign,” Sanders charged during the second half of the debate, landing an attack he and his supporters had been telegraphing all day and meant to brand Buttigieg as beholden to corporate interests.
Biden got the pile-on started early, after some prodding from ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, who noted Biden’s recently increased criticism of Buttigieg.
“Mayor Buttigieg is a great guy and a real patriot,” Biden began politely, nodding to Buttigieg’s military service in Afghanistan before pivoting to a reminder of the former mayor's struggles to register support among voters of color.
“He's a mayor of a small city who has done some good things, but has not demonstrated he has the ability to — and we'll soon find out — to get a broad scope of support across the support, including African Americans and Latinos.”
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who made the night’s most persistent case against Buttigieg, compared his inexperience in national politics to Donald Trump’s before he was elected president. “We have a newcomer in the White House,” she said, “and look where it got us.” She returned to that theme again in her closing statement, emphasizing that she’s “not a political newcomer with no record.”
There also was Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who bluntly answered “no” — before going into greater detail — when asked if she was satisfied with Buttigieg’s answer on racial inequities in the criminal justice system. Even hedge fund billionaire Tom Steyer got in on it, arguing the 38-year-old lacked the chops to take on Trump.
“We need people with experience,” Steyer said. “That’s why I’m worried about Mayor Pete. You need to be able to go toe to toe with this guy and take him down on the debate stage or we’re going to lose.”
Entrepreneur Andrew Yang was the only candidate on this stage to spare Buttigieg.
Buttigieg’s advisers had been preparing him for such confrontations for months. But with the exception of a few minor scrapes in November and Warren’s memorable eruption over Buttigieg’s now-infamous wine cave fundraiser in December, Buttigieg had never faced a sustained barrage of attacks.
Aides sensed that could change Friday, and Buttigieg quickly parried each attack before retreating to well-rehearsed sections of his usual stump speech. Though some of the incoming was sharp, no line seemed to rise to the immediate game-changing or instant-classic levels of past pre-New Hampshire primary debates. (Think Barack Obama’s “You’re likable enough, Hillary” or Chris Christie’s takedown of Marco Rubio in 2016.)
At one point Buttigieg even shared a kind exchange with Biden, on the question of whether investigations into the business dealings of Biden’s son, Hunter, would be problematic if the former vice president is the nominee.
“No,” Buttigieg replied firmly. “And we're not going to let them change the subject. This is not about Hunter Biden or Vice President Biden or any Biden. This is about an abuse of power by the president.”
“Look, the vice president and I and all of us are competing,” Buttigieg continued after applause, “but we've got to draw a line here. And to be the kind of president, to be the kind of human being who would seek to turn someone against his own son, who would seek to weaponize a son against his own father, is an unbelievably dishonorable thing that is just one more example of why we as a party have to be completely united in doing whatever it takes at the end of the day to make sure that this president does not get a second term.”
Biden was appreciative. “Look,” he said, “I thank my colleague for saying that.”
The clash between Sanders and Buttigieg could have a more lasting impact on where Democrats go in 2020. Earlier Friday, during a speech at St. Anselm’s Politics & Eggs series, Sanders criticized Buttigieg by name, riffing on headlines about the former mayor’s contributions from billionaires and setting up his line later that night. One of Sanders’s advisers, David Sirota, repeatedly tweeted about Buttigieg Friday, using the hashtag #PetesBillionaires and prodding him over his opposition to Medicare for All. His national press secretary was even sharper.


buzzfeed--2020-02-10--Joe Biden Was Combative On Friday's Debate Stage After His Fail In Iowa

Joe Biden was more combative and forceful in Friday night ’ s Democratic debate than he has been for much of the last year , as he tries to keep his campaign alive after a tough week in Iowa and days away from New Hampshire , where other candidates have distinct advantages in Tuesday ’ s primary .
“ Bernie 's labeled himself , not me , a democratic socialist .
I think that 's the label that the president 's going to lay on everyone running with Bernie if he 's a nominee , ” he said on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him if the two leaders out of Iowa , Sen. Bernie Sanders and former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg , are `` too big a risk for Democrats . ''
“ Mayor Buttigieg is a great guy and a real patriot .
He 's a mayor of a small city who has done some good things , but has not demonstrated he has the ability to — and we 'll soon find out — to get a broad scope of support across the board , including African Americans and Latinos , ” Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct : Joe Biden , despite what you may have heard , is fighting .
“ Earlier this week , we took a gut punch , ” Biden said in a fundraising email to supporters almost as soon as the debate ended , a line he first used at a campaign event in New Hampshire on Wednesday morning .
“ But I ’ ve never been more ready to fight , and anyone on that stage tonight who counted me out was dead wrong.
” “ He ’ s fighting , '' a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference call before the debate .
`` I think you saw that from him this week.
” Biden ’ s schedule in New Hampshire this week , however , was noticeably sparser than Buttigieg ’ s — while the two other frontrunners , Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren , were called back to Washington in the middle of the week to tie up the impeachment process .
Biden was out of New Hampshire on Thursday for meetings with advisers .
On Friday night Biden amped up his attacks on competitors — something he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New Hampshire earlier this week , but laid out at more length during the debate — and continually emphasized his experience in the Senate and role in the Obama administration .
After being questioned on his vote in favor of the 2003 Iraq war , Biden talked at length about his foreign policy record , centering his own role in a range of diplomacy initiatives including strengthening NATO , `` along with the president of the United States , Barack Obama , as his partner . ''
“ I was part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal together with Iran .
I was there .
I was involved in that .
I was also part of the deal putting together the Paris climate accord .
I brought in the Chinese .
I was part of that , ” he said .
“ I 've been part of every major initiative we 've had relative to diplomacy .
I have not argued for the placement of major numbers of US combat troops.
“ The former vice president centered himself as a key part of the last several decades of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s used in recent days , about leaving “ the politics of the past in the past.
” “ The politics of the past , I think , were not all that bad , ” Biden said .
“ I wrote the Violence Against Women Act .
I managed the $ 900 billion Recovery Act , which in fact put millions and millions of dollars into his city before he came and help save his city .
I was able to pass a chemical weapons ban , arms control .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public office to call for same-sex marriage .
So I don ’ t know what about the past of Barack Obama and Joe Biden was so bad .
What happened ?
What is it that he wants to do away with ?
” Biden continued .
Biden ’ s refusal to disavow some legacies of the Obama administration and his own record have drawn criticism from immigration and civil rights activists , and other candidates — the mass deportations under Obama , which Biden has refused to explicitly apologize for when pushed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vegas campaign stop that he was opposed to the policy , and his opposition to busing as a means of encouraging desegregation of public schools , which he has tried to downplay .
Biden was knocked off his stride after Monday ’ s Iowa caucus , where about the only certainty in the midst of the messy counting of votes was that he finished far behind the top two candidates , Buttigieg and Sanders , and significantly behind in votes for the third , Warren .
A few days later , after acknowledging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates at the top .
He cast Sanders , because he identifies as a democratic socialist , as a liability if he ’ s the Democratic nominee .
And he accused Buttigieg of speaking dismissively of Obama when he blasts Biden as part of the failed old Washington ways .
As hard as Biden advisers worked to lower expectations in the days before , and as much as they ’ ve said Biden ’ s campaign is built for a long race past South Carolina and Super Tuesday at the start of March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies .
And he ’ s already working on expectations for next week .
On Wednesday , two days after Iowa , Biden told a crowd in Somersworth , New Hampshire , “ I ’ m counting on New Hampshire.
” On Friday night , Biden seemed to walk that back again .
” It 's a long race .
I took a hit in Iowa and I 'll probably take a hit here .
Traditionally , Bernie won by 20 points last time .
And usually it 's the neighboring senators that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We have to restore the soul of this country , bring back the middle class , and make sure we bring people together .
And so it 's a simple proposition .
It does n't matter whether it 's this one or the next , ” he said .
“ I 've always viewed the first four encounters , two primaries and two caucuses , as the starting point .
”

Joe Biden was more combative and forceful in Friday night’s Democratic debate than he has been for much of the last year, as he tries to keep his campaign alive after a tough week in Iowa and days away from New Hampshire, where other candidates have distinct advantages in Tuesday’s primary.
“Bernie's labeled himself, not me, a democratic socialist. I think that's the label that the president's going to lay on everyone running with Bernie if he's a nominee,” he said on the debate stage after moderator George Stephanopoulos asked him if the two leaders out of Iowa, Sen. Bernie Sanders and former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg, are "too big a risk for Democrats."
“Mayor Buttigieg is a great guy and a real patriot. He's a mayor of a small city who has done some good things, but has not demonstrated he has the ability to — and we'll soon find out — to get a broad scope of support across the board, including African Americans and Latinos,” Biden continued.
The message was loud and direct: Joe Biden, despite what you may have heard, is fighting.
“Earlier this week, we took a gut punch,” Biden said in a fundraising email to supporters almost as soon as the debate ended, a line he first used at a campaign event in New Hampshire on Wednesday morning. “But I’ve never been more ready to fight, and anyone on that stage tonight who counted me out was dead wrong.”
“He’s fighting," a senior Biden adviser told reporters on a conference call before the debate. "I think you saw that from him this week.”
Biden’s schedule in New Hampshire this week, however, was noticeably sparser than Buttigieg’s — while the two other frontrunners, Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, were called back to Washington in the middle of the week to tie up the impeachment process. Biden was out of New Hampshire on Thursday for meetings with advisers.
On Friday night Biden amped up his attacks on competitors — something he started to do on the campaign trail in New Hampshire earlier this week, but laid out at more length during the debate — and continually emphasized his experience in the Senate and role in the Obama administration.
After being questioned on his vote in favor of the 2003 Iraq war, Biden talked at length about his foreign policy record, centering his own role in a range of diplomacy initiatives including strengthening NATO, "along with the president of the United States, Barack Obama, as his partner."
“I was part of the reason [for] putting that deal together with Iran. I was there. I was involved in that. I was also part of the deal putting together the Paris climate accord. I brought in the Chinese. I was part of that,” he said.
“I've been part of every major initiative we've had relative to diplomacy. I have not argued for the placement of major numbers of US combat troops.“
The former vice president centered himself as a key part of the last several decades of American history, after Buttigieg repeated a criticism he’s used in recent days, about leaving “the politics of the past in the past.”
“The politics of the past, I think, were not all that bad,” Biden said.
“I wrote the Violence Against Women Act. I managed the $900 billion Recovery Act, which in fact put millions and millions of dollars into his city before he came and help save his city. I was able to pass a chemical weapons ban, arms control. And I was the first major leader holding public office to call for same-sex marriage. So I don’t know what about the past of Barack Obama and Joe Biden was so bad. What happened? What is it that he wants to do away with?” Biden continued.
Biden’s refusal to disavow some legacies of the Obama administration and his own record have drawn criticism from immigration and civil rights activists, and other candidates — the mass deportations under Obama, which Biden has refused to explicitly apologize for when pushed, though he recently hinted at a Las Vegas campaign stop that he was opposed to the policy, and his opposition to busing as a means of encouraging desegregation of public schools, which he has tried to downplay.
Biden was knocked off his stride after Monday’s Iowa caucus, where about the only certainty in the midst of the messy counting of votes was that he finished far behind the top two candidates, Buttigieg and Sanders, and significantly behind in votes for the third, Warren. A few days later, after acknowledging his disappointing performance, he criticized both candidates at the top. He cast Sanders, because he identifies as a democratic socialist, as a liability if he’s the Democratic nominee. And he accused Buttigieg of speaking dismissively of Obama when he blasts Biden as part of the failed old Washington ways.
As hard as Biden advisers worked to lower expectations in the days before, and as much as they’ve said Biden’s campaign is built for a long race past South Carolina and Super Tuesday at the start of March, the weak Iowa showing rattled his allies. And he’s already working on expectations for next week.
On Wednesday, two days after Iowa, Biden told a crowd in Somersworth, New Hampshire, “I’m counting on New Hampshire.”
On Friday night, Biden seemed to walk that back again. ”It's a long race. I took a hit in Iowa and I'll probably take a hit here. Traditionally, Bernie won by 20 points last time. And usually it's the neighboring senators that do well,” he said.
“We have to restore the soul of this country, bring back the middle class, and make sure we bring people together. And so it's a simple proposition. It doesn't matter whether it's this one or the next,” he said. “I've always viewed the first four encounters, two primaries and two caucuses, as the starting point.”


buzzfeed--2020-02-11--Four Prosecutors Quit Hours After The Trump Administration Tried To Lighten A Prison Sentence For Th

Four Prosecutors Quit Hours After The Trump Administration Tried To Lighten A Prison Sentence For The President’s Friend

Four federal prosecutors who rose to national prominence for their role in the Russia probe abruptly resigned their posts at the Justice Department on Tuesday as President Donald Trump and the Justice Department interfered in a case in order to lessen the punishment for Roger Stone , a presidential ally convicted of seven federal crimes .
In a surprise midafternoon filing at the US District Court in Washington , DC , Special Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Zelinsky wrote , `` The Court is advised that the undersigned attorney has resigned effective immediately after this filing as a Special Assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Zelinsky 's filing kicked off a wave of resignations through the early evening .
Within minutes , two other top prosecutors in the case , Jonathan Kravis and Adam Jed , filed their own documents announcing their resignations .
Kravis ’ s filing states that “ he has resigned as an Assistant United States Attorney and therefore no longer represents the government in this matter.
” An hour later , Michael Marando submitted a filing announcing that he withdrawing from Stone 's trial too — though his did not indicate whether he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The four had been lead prosecutors in the case against Stone — a close associate of Trump 's — who is scheduled to be sentenced next Thursday , Feb. 20 .
A jury found Stone guilty on five counts of lying to Congress and one count each of witness tampering and obstruction of Congress in November .
Moments after the first three prosecutors quit , the Justice Department officially asked the court to grant Stone a lighter punishment than the one its own prosecutors had requested just the day before .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zelinsky , Kravis , Jed , and Marando .
Stone was convicted of trying to cover up his communications with Trump allies and WikiLeaks about publishing documents illegally obtained by Russians from the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton ’ s campaign in order to help Trump ’ s 2016 campaign .
Prosecutors sought a sentence of up to nine years , according to a court filing on Monday night , the Washington Post reported .
But following a splatter of aggrieved tweets from Trump , the Justice Department “ intervened to overrule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lenient sentencing , ” according to the New York Times .
Trump on Tuesday morning had tweeted that the longer sentence would be a “ horrible and very unfair situation ” and “ a miscarriage of justice !
” Trump has not ruled out pardoning Stone .
Hours after the Times report was published , Zelinsky , Kravis , Jed , and Marando filed their notices of resignation .
Zelinksy had worked with Mueller ’ s team since June 2017 .
By late Tuesday afternoon , the Justice Department filed an `` amended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one requested the day before by the four prosecutors who quit .
`` Based on the facts known to the government , a sentence of between 87 to 108 months ’ imprisonment ... could be considered excessive and unwarranted under the circumstances , '' said the filing led by Timothy Shea , the interim head of the US attorney ’ s office in Washington , DC , and longtime adviser to Attorney General Bill Barr .
The memo did not suggest a specific sentence , but said leniency was appropriate under sentencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age , '' the relatively short sentences given to others convicted in the Russia probe , and other factors .
`` Ultimately , the government defers to the Court as to what specific sentence is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of this case . ''
A Justice Department official did not immediately respond to questions about the resignations , reports of interference , or apparent efforts to protect Trump ’ s allies for political purposes .
Trump denied that he had spoken to the Justice Department about reducing Stone 's sentencing recommendation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House Tuesday , but asserted that he had `` the absolute right '' to do so .
Trump went on to say that the original sentencing recommendation was `` ridiculous , '' a `` horrible aberration , '' and `` an insult to our country . ''
“ These are , I guess , the same Mueller people that put everybody through hell .
And I think it is a disgrace , ” he added .
Trump declined to answer whether he ’ ll consider commuting Stone ’ s sentence , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk about that now.
” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asked the Justice Department 's Office of the Inspector General , an autonomous agency watchdog , to investigate who at DOJ and the White House called for the lighter sentence .
`` This situation has all the indicia of improper political interference , '' Schumer wrote in the letter to Inspector General Michael Horowitz .
Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey said in a statement Tuesday , “ This move to protect Donald Trump ’ s felon friend is obstruction of justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after announcing in a federal court that prosecutors would seek a harsh penalty for Donald Trump ’ s advisor , that recommendation is being lightened because of Trump ’ s Twitter temper tantrum , ” he continued .
“ We are seeing a full-frontal assault on the rule of law in America .
Direct political interference in our justice system is a hallmark of a banana republic .
Despite whatever Trump , William Barr , and their helpers think , the United States is a nation of laws and not an authoritarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in January 2019 after former special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s office indicted him on charges of lying to Congress about his contacts with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange .
WikiLeaks had published emails , obtained by Russians , from the hacked servers of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 presidential campaign .
Zelinsky told the jury when the trial began in November , “ Evidence will show Roger Stone lied to the House Intelligence Committee because the truth looked bad .
The truth looked bad for the Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump.
” Stone and Trump made phone calls in 2016 , prosecutors showed , including the same day the DNC announced it had been hacked , though the content of those phone calls remains unknown .
Although Stone denied being in contact with Assange , who was sequestered in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London , prosecutors presented emails and text messages alleging he was repeatedly in touch with WikiLeaks and people involved in the Trump campaign about publishing the leaks .
In 2016 , Stone had also communicated with Guccifer 2.0 , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DNC 's computers ( Mueller ’ s office later charged 12 Russians with the hack ) .
Stone called his communications “ innocuous.
” Stone also antagonized the court during his trial by posting an image on Instagram that portrayed US District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson with what appeared to be gun crosshairs next to her head .
Jackson responded by barring him from speaking publicly about his case or Mueller ’ s investigation for the rest of the trial .
Trump 's personal lawyer , Jay Sekulow , tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement at the time of his arrest .
`` The indictment today does not allege Russian collusion by Roger Stone or anyone else , ” Sekulow said at the time .
“ Rather , the indictment focuses on alleged false statements Mr. Stone made to Congress . ''
This is a developing story .
Check back for updates and follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.

Four federal prosecutors who rose to national prominence for their role in the Russia probe abruptly resigned their posts at the Justice Department on Tuesday as President Donald Trump and the Justice Department interfered in a case in order to lessen the punishment for Roger Stone, a presidential ally convicted of seven federal crimes.
In a surprise midafternoon filing at the US District Court in Washington, DC, Special Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Zelinsky wrote, "The Court is advised that the undersigned attorney has resigned effective immediately after this filing as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for District of Columbia.”
Zelinsky's filing kicked off a wave of resignations through the early evening.
Within minutes, two other top prosecutors in the case, Jonathan Kravis and Adam Jed, filed their own documents announcing their resignations. Kravis’s filing states that “he has resigned as an Assistant United States Attorney and therefore no longer represents the government in this matter.” An hour later, Michael Marando submitted a filing announcing that he was withdrawing from Stone's trial too — though his did not indicate whether he is resigning from his job as well.
The four had been lead prosecutors in the case against Stone — a close associate of Trump's — who is scheduled to be sentenced next Thursday, Feb. 20. A jury found Stone guilty on five counts of lying to Congress and one count each of witness tampering and obstruction of Congress in November.
Moments after the first three prosecutors quit, the Justice Department officially asked the court to grant Stone a lighter punishment than the one its own prosecutors had requested just the day before. The original sentencing filing had been signed by Zelinsky, Kravis, Jed, and Marando.
Stone was convicted of trying to cover up his communications with Trump allies and WikiLeaks about publishing documents illegally obtained by Russians from the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s campaign in order to help Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Prosecutors sought a sentence of up to nine years, according to a court filing on Monday night, the Washington Post reported. But following a splatter of aggrieved tweets from Trump, the Justice Department “intervened to overrule” them, pushing for “more lenient sentencing,” according to the New York Times. Trump on Tuesday morning had tweeted that the longer sentence would be a “horrible and very unfair situation” and “a miscarriage of justice!” Trump has not ruled out pardoning Stone.
Hours after the Times report was published, Zelinsky, Kravis, Jed, and Marando filed their notices of resignation. Zelinksy had worked with Mueller’s team since June 2017.
By late Tuesday afternoon, the Justice Department filed an "amended memorandum" proposing a sentence lighter than the one requested the day before by the four prosecutors who quit.
"Based on the facts known to the government, a sentence of between 87 to 108 months’ imprisonment ... could be considered excessive and unwarranted under the circumstances," said the filing led by Timothy Shea, the interim head of the US attorney’s office in Washington, DC, and longtime adviser to Attorney General Bill Barr.
The memo did not suggest a specific sentence, but said leniency was appropriate under sentencing guidelines based on Stone's "advanced age," the relatively short sentences given to others convicted in the Russia probe, and other factors. "Ultimately, the government defers to the Court as to what specific sentence is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of this case."
A Justice Department official did not immediately respond to questions about the resignations, reports of interference, or apparent efforts to protect Trump’s allies for political purposes.
Trump denied that he had spoken to the Justice Department about reducing Stone's sentencing recommendation during a gaggle with reporters at the White House Tuesday, but asserted that he had "the absolute right" to do so. Trump went on to say that the original sentencing recommendation was "ridiculous," a "horrible aberration," and "an insult to our country."
“These are, I guess, the same Mueller people that put everybody through hell. And I think it is a disgrace,” he added.
Trump declined to answer whether he’ll consider commuting Stone’s sentence, saying he didn’t “want to talk about that now.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asked the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General, an autonomous agency watchdog, to investigate who at DOJ and the White House called for the lighter sentence. "This situation has all the indicia of improper political interference," Schumer wrote in the letter to Inspector General Michael Horowitz.
Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey said in a statement Tuesday, “This move to protect Donald Trump’s felon friend is obstruction of justice. Plain and simple.
“One day after announcing in a federal court that prosecutors would seek a harsh penalty for Donald Trump’s advisor, that recommendation is being lightened because of Trump’s Twitter temper tantrum,” he continued. “We are seeing a full-frontal assault on the rule of law in America. Direct political interference in our justice system is a hallmark of a banana republic. Despite whatever Trump, William Barr, and their helpers think, the United States is a nation of laws and not an authoritarian’s paradise.”
Stone was arrested in January 2019 after former special counsel Robert Mueller’s office indicted him on charges of lying to Congress about his contacts with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. WikiLeaks had published emails, obtained by Russians, from the hacked servers of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Zelinsky told the jury when the trial began in November, “Evidence will show Roger Stone lied to the House Intelligence Committee because the truth looked bad. The truth looked bad for the Trump campaign and the truth looked bad for Donald Trump.”
Stone and Trump made phone calls in 2016, prosecutors showed, including the same day the DNC announced it had been hacked, though the content of those phone calls remains unknown.
Although Stone denied being in contact with Assange, who was sequestered in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, prosecutors presented emails and text messages alleging he was repeatedly in touch with WikiLeaks and people involved in the Trump campaign about publishing the leaks. In 2016, Stone had also communicated with Guccifer 2.0, who had taken credit for the hack of the DNC's computers (Mueller’s office later charged 12 Russians with the hack). Stone called his communications “innocuous.”
Stone also antagonized the court during his trial by posting an image on Instagram that portrayed US District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson with what appeared to be gun crosshairs next to her head. Jackson responded by barring him from speaking publicly about his case or Mueller’s investigation for the rest of the trial.
Trump's personal lawyer, Jay Sekulow, tried to distance the president from Stone in a statement at the time of his arrest. "The indictment today does not allege Russian collusion by Roger Stone or anyone else,” Sekulow said at the time. “Rather, the indictment focuses on alleged false statements Mr. Stone made to Congress."
This is a developing story. Check back for updates and follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.


buzzfeed--2020-02-11--Sen. Ron Wyden Is Demanding A Wide Range Of Ukraine Documents In Response To Republicans' Biden Inve

Sen. Ron Wyden Is Demanding A Wide Range Of Ukraine Documents In Response To Republicans' Biden Investigation

WASHINGTON — A senior Democratic senator is asking the State Department to turn over a wide range of documents about US policy toward Ukraine in response to Republican requests for records that largely focused on former vice president Joe Biden and his son , Hunter Biden .
On Tuesday , Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden , the ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee , sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanding documents on Ukraine from both the Obama and Trump administrations , as well as any records on a slew of people connected to Ukraine , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s office .
Those people include Rudy Giuliani , President Donald Trump ’ s personal attorney who ran the Ukrainian back-channel campaign at the heart of Trump ’ s impeachment , and Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman , the Soviet-born business partners who worked with Giuliani in that effort .
The letter follows two November requests by the Republican chairs of the Senate Finance , Homeland Security , and Judiciary committees to the State Department for records related to the Bidens — specifically , documents on Hunter Biden and the Ukrainian gas company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was vice president and leading America ’ s policy toward Ukraine .
The senators — Sens .
Chuck Grassley , Ron Johnson , and Lindsey Graham — are months into a broad investigation into whether Biden , who is vying for the Democratic presidential nomination , misused his position to help his son , though no evidence has emerged to support the theory .
“ As the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee , I am concerned that , in the absence of additional information concerning similar activities during the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information requested by the Senate Committees could create an incomplete and biased record of the State Department 's activities related to Ukraine , ” Wyden wrote .
The committees are expecting around 1,000 pages of documents from the State Department , BuzzFeed News first reported on Thursday .
Wyden ’ s letter said Republican staff members “ have represented that they expect a voluminous production of records from the State Department in the coming days.
” Wyden ’ s letter also asked for records “ related to support by Congress and the international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shokin , Ukraine ’ s former top prosecutor who was fired in 2016 after a pressure campaign by the West , including Biden , who was dissatisfied with Shokin ’ s ability to root out corruption .
Moreover , Wyden requested “ any State Department records relating to or referencing Hunter Biden 's activities in China , including , in particular , any records generated as part of on-going trade negotiations with China.
” Wyden cited comments Trump made in October encouraging China to investigate the Bidens .
Wyden ’ s letter also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are responsive to the Republicans ’ requests even if they date to the Trump administration .
“ The requests made in the Senate Committees ' original letter are not restricted by date and a complete response therefore should include records created during the current administration , ” Wyden wrote .
“ However , for the avoidance of doubt , I am specifically requesting any records relevant to the individuals and companies identified in the Senate Committees ' requests generated after January 20 , 2017.
” Spokespeople for Grassley , Johnson , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request for comment .

WASHINGTON — A senior Democratic senator is asking the State Department to turn over a wide range of documents about US policy toward Ukraine in response to Republican requests for records that largely focused on former vice president Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.
On Tuesday, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanding documents on Ukraine from both the Obama and Trump administrations, as well as any records on a slew of people connected to Ukraine, according to a copy provided by Wyden’s office. Those people include Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump’s personal attorney who ran the Ukrainian back-channel campaign at the heart of Trump’s impeachment, and Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, the Soviet-born business partners who worked with Giuliani in that effort.
The letter follows two November requests by the Republican chairs of the Senate Finance, Homeland Security, and Judiciary committees to the State Department for records related to the Bidens — specifically, documents on Hunter Biden and the Ukrainian gas company for which he worked while his father was vice president and leading America’s policy toward Ukraine. The senators — Sens. Chuck Grassley, Ron Johnson, and Lindsey Graham — are months into a broad investigation into whether Biden, who is vying for the Democratic presidential nomination, misused his position to help his son, though no evidence has emerged to support the theory.
“As the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, I am concerned that, in the absence of additional information concerning similar activities during the Trump Administration, the Department's production of information requested by the Senate Committees could create an incomplete and biased record of the State Department's activities related to Ukraine,” Wyden wrote.
The committees are expecting around 1,000 pages of documents from the State Department, BuzzFeed News first reported on Thursday. Wyden’s letter said Republican staff members “have represented that they expect a voluminous production of records from the State Department in the coming days.”
Grassley's office said Tuesday it was less confident that it would receive the documents in short order, however. "I hope Sen. Wyden is correct that the State Department is able to produce voluminous documents 'in the coming days', but we’ve unfortunately not received any firm confirmation from the State Department that records will be produced that soon," Taylor Foy, a spokesperson for Grassley, told BuzzFeed News.
The Biden investigation has been a source of public tension between Democrats and Republicans since last week, when Wyden's office accused the GOP senators of "turning the Senate into an arm of the president’s political campaign" and Grassley's office responded by accusing Democrats of leaking information about the probe.
"Government oversight is the responsibility of every member of Congress, so Sen. Wyden is well within his right to ask questions as he sees fit," Foy of Wyden's letter. "Chairman Grassley won’t interfere with his oversight and we hope that courtesy is returned going forward."
In addition to records on individuals connected to the Ukraine saga, Wyden's letter asked for documents “related to support by Congress and the international community for the removal of” Viktor Shokin, Ukraine’s former top prosecutor who was fired in 2016 after a pressure campaign by the West, including Biden, who was dissatisfied with Shokin’s ability to root out corruption.
Moreover, Wyden requested “any State Department records relating to or referencing Hunter Biden's activities in China, including, in particular, any records generated as part of on-going trade negotiations with China.” Wyden cited comments Trump made in October encouraging China to investigate the Bidens.
Wyden’s letter also made clear that he wants records that are responsive to the Republicans’ requests even if they date to the Trump administration. “The requests made in the Senate Committees' original letter are not restricted by date and a complete response therefore should include records created during the current administration,” Wyden wrote. “However, for the avoidance of doubt, I am specifically requesting any records relevant to the individuals and companies identified in the Senate Committees' requests generated after January 20, 2017.”
Spokespeople for Johnson and the State Department did not return a request for comment.


buzzfeed--2020-02-11--Youth Organizers For Bernie Sanders Are Feeling Anxious About Pete Buttigieg’s Gains In The Polls

DURHAM , New Hampshire — It was the final hours before the New Hampshire primary and the volunteers who ’ ve been mobilizing young voters for Sen. Bernie Sanders were stressed out .
Members of the Sunrise Movement , a grassroots organization founded by climate activists , and New Hampshire Youth Movement , a group made up of former students from the state , have watched former South Bend , Indiana , mayor Pete Buttigieg steadily rise in the polls and start to close the gap with Sanders .
And they were working overtime on Monday to make sure Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been saying for so long just how important New Hampshire is , and after Iowa , it just liked tripled how important it is , ” said Olivia Freiwald , a 20-year-old organizer with Sunrise Movement .
“ I was listening to the radio the morning the day after the caucuses , and they were saying Pete declared victory even though all of the precincts weren ’ t reporting .
It was all fuckin ’ fake , like , OH MY GOD .
It was a fake victory , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he went up like 14 % in New Hampshire and started closing the gap here , and we hear people all the time saying they ’ ll vote for whoever they think is leading in the polls , and that ’ s concerning.
” Buttigieg left Iowa in a split victory with Sanders in the caucuses , with the results still muddled after technological and human errors .
The momentum from the caucuses , though , has still propelled Buttigieg in New Hampshire , with some polls showing him competitive with Sanders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn out young voters at college campuses across the state , volunteers at the University of New Hampshire took a moment to ground themselves and to drive home the fact that the organizing they ’ d been doing for over year to bring the United States closer to a Green New Deal with a presidential candidate who supports implementing one could come down to thousands of votes and increased youth participation at precincts in college towns across the state .
“ Now come back to your own body — it ’ s Feb. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they counted the votes coming out of the precincts so quickly because of what happened in Iowa and they knew everyone would be waiting for another disaster to happen , so 60 % of the precincts are already reporting and Bernie and Pete are neck and neck and we ’ re sweating , ” Freiwald said to volunteers who ’ d gathered at a coffee shop near campus .
“ But then it ’ s 10:30 and 100 % of the precincts are reporting and Bernie wins by 10 votes and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young people turned out to the polls at places like UNH and Keene State — all of the places where we ’ ve been working and talking with young people for months.
” Dylan Carney , a cofounder of the New Hampshire Youth Movement , said that organization and the Sunrise movement have spent the past six months getting 12,000 students pledged to vote at campuses across the state .
Both groups decided to endorse Sanders in January and have been working toward pushing students to show up to the polls for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last 20 days doing everything we can on college campuses to get students to plan to vote for Bernie Sanders , getting them aligned on the issues we care about , and making sure they have a plan to vote , ” Carney told BuzzFeed News .
Volunteers for the two groups have spent that time getting students to sign pledge cards to commit to voting , door-knocking in campus dorm rooms , inviting them to take buses to the polls , and they ’ ve made over 20,000 phone calls to students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like climate change , student loan debt , and Medicare for All .
The organizations have hosted volunteers from across the country in family homes and Airbnbs across the state as they ’ ve made the push toward the election , and because New Hampshire law doesn ’ t allow third-party organizers to register people to vote themselves , they ’ ve been reminding students that registering to vote is extremely easy .
Freiwald , a Tufts University student who stepped away from her courses to focus on electoral work , said anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a driving point for students she ’ s canvassed at UNH who say they ’ re committed to voting for Sanders .
“ I mean even my anxiety has manifested in a way that I felt like I literally can ’ t even include school in 2020 because it ’ s that urgent of a moment for young people to be like taking back the power and winning this year , ” Freiwald added .
She ’ s been canvassing students at UNH since Jan. 5 and spent Monday morning outside in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supports Sanders ' campaign and reminding them that they can register on the same day of the election .
She said that she sees New Hampshire as a crucial step toward electing Sanders and that the muddled results and multiple candidates declaring victory has shaken up the race here .
Just after talking about her fears about people switching back and forth between Sanders and Buttigieg , she stopped another student who ’ d been wondering if she could register the same day and who said she ’ d been deciding whether to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that her top issue was climate change .
“ I mean as much as everything else matters issue wise nothing else really matters if we don ’ t even have a place to live , ” the student told Freiwald while nervously laughing .
Freiwald told her that a while ago that she was in the same position about whether to support Sanders or Buttigieg before she ’ d found out that Buttigieg had taken money from fossil fuel executives and pointed out that he ’ d attended a fundraiser in a California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is an investor in a fossil fuel company .
“ After that it was just like , Damn , I don ’ t know if I can fuck with you anymore .
Like , can I trust you ?
” Freiwald said .
The student told her she hadn ’ t realized that and said she was leaning toward supporting Sanders as she signed a rain-soaked pledge card .
“ The work that we ’ re doing here today and tomorrow will 1000 % swing this election , ” Freiwald said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ election with the energy and thought that Hillary only beat Trump here by 3,000 votes and the work that we ’ re doing on college campuses could seriously change this election .
”

DURHAM, New Hampshire — It was the final hours before the New Hampshire primary and the volunteers who’ve been mobilizing young voters for Sen. Bernie Sanders were stressed out.
Members of the Sunrise Movement, a grassroots organization founded by climate activists, and New Hampshire Youth Movement, a group made up of former students from the state, have watched former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg steadily rise in the polls and start to close the gap with Sanders. And they were working overtime on Monday to make sure Sanders would come out ahead.
“We’ve been saying for so long just how important New Hampshire is, and after Iowa, it just liked tripled how important it is,” said Olivia Freiwald, a 20-year-old organizer with Sunrise Movement. “I was listening to the radio the morning the day after the caucuses, and they were saying Pete declared victory even though all of the precincts weren’t reporting. It was all fuckin’ fake, like, OH MY GOD. It was a fake victory, but it was real momentum for him here and he went up like 14% in New Hampshire and started closing the gap here, and we hear people all the time saying they’ll vote for whoever they think is leading in the polls, and that’s concerning.”
Buttigieg left Iowa in a split victory with Sanders in the caucuses, with the results still muddled after technological and human errors. The momentum from the caucuses, though, has still propelled Buttigieg in New Hampshire, with some polls showing him competitive with Sanders.
Before one of their final pushes to turn out young voters at college campuses across the state, volunteers at the University of New Hampshire took a moment to ground themselves and to drive home the fact that the organizing they’d been doing for over year to bring the United States closer to a Green New Deal with a presidential candidate who supports implementing one could come down to thousands of votes and increased youth participation at precincts in college towns across the state.
“Now come back to your own body — it’s Feb. 11 and it’s 8 p.m. and they counted the votes coming out of the precincts so quickly because of what happened in Iowa and they knew everyone would be waiting for another disaster to happen, so 60% of the precincts are already reporting and Bernie and Pete are neck and neck and we’re sweating,” Freiwald said to volunteers who’d gathered at a coffee shop near campus. “But then it’s 10:30 and 100% of the precincts are reporting and Bernie wins by 10 votes and the reporters talk about how record numbers of young people turned out to the polls at places like UNH and Keene State — all of the places where we’ve been working and talking with young people for months.”
Dylan Carney, a cofounder of the New Hampshire Youth Movement, said that organization and the Sunrise movement have spent the past six months getting 12,000 students pledged to vote at campuses across the state. Both groups decided to endorse Sanders in January and have been working toward pushing students to show up to the polls for him.
“We’ve spent the last 20 days doing everything we can on college campuses to get students to plan to vote for Bernie Sanders, getting them aligned on the issues we care about, and making sure they have a plan to vote,” Carney told BuzzFeed News. Volunteers for the two groups have spent that time getting students to sign pledge cards to commit to voting, door-knocking in campus dorm rooms, inviting them to take buses to the polls, and they’ve made over 20,000 phone calls to students across the state to talk about issues like climate change, student loan debt, and Medicare for All.
The organizations have hosted volunteers from across the country in family homes and Airbnbs across the state as they’ve made the push toward the election, and because New Hampshire law doesn’t allow third-party organizers to register people to vote themselves, they’ve been reminding students that registering to vote is extremely easy.
Freiwald, a Tufts University student who stepped away from her courses to focus on electoral work, said anxiety around climate change and their futures has been a driving point for students she’s canvassed at UNH who say they’re committed to voting for Sanders.
“I mean even my anxiety has manifested in a way that I felt like I literally can’t even include school in 2020 because it’s that urgent of a moment for young people to be like taking back the power and winning this year,” Freiwald added. She’s been canvassing students at UNH since Jan. 5 and spent Monday morning outside in the freezing rain telling students why she supports Sanders' campaign and reminding them that they can register on the same day of the election. She said that she sees New Hampshire as a crucial step toward electing Sanders and that the muddled results and multiple candidates declaring victory has shaken up the race here.
Just after talking about her fears about people switching back and forth between Sanders and Buttigieg, she stopped another student who’d been wondering if she could register the same day and who said she’d been deciding whether to vote for one of the two and that her top issue was climate change.
“I mean as much as everything else matters issue wise nothing else really matters if we don’t even have a place to live,” the student told Freiwald while nervously laughing. Freiwald told her that a while ago that she was in the same position about whether to support Sanders or Buttigieg before she’d found out that Buttigieg had taken money from fossil fuel executives and pointed out that he’d attended a fundraiser in a California wine cave owned by Craig Hall, who is an investor in a fossil fuel company.
“After that it was just like, Damn, I don’t know if I can fuck with you anymore. Like, can I trust you?” Freiwald said. The student told her she hadn’t realized that and said she was leaning toward supporting Sanders as she signed a rain-soaked pledge card.
“The work that we’re doing here today and tomorrow will 1000% swing this election,” Freiwald said. “We’re going into this election with the energy and thought that Hillary only beat Trump here by 3,000 votes and the work that we’re doing on college campuses could seriously change this election.”


buzzfeed--2020-02-11--Ayanna Pressley Said The Squad's "Sisterhood" Transcends Presidential Politics

WASHINGTON — First-term Rep. Ayanna Pressley told BuzzFeed News ’ AM to DM that while Sen. Elizabeth Warren is not expected to win Tuesday ’ s New Hampshire primary , “ she knows how to fight , she knows how to win , especially when she ’ s being underestimated.
” Pressley is in New Hampshire campaigning for Warren Tuesday , where the Massachusetts senator is polling below second place after coming in third in last week ’ s Iowa caucuses .
Asked where Warren can win , Pressley emphasized that Warren has “ a robust 31-state grassroots strategy ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ is just to be head-down and to honor our mantra as Team Warren , and that is to outwork , out-organize , and outlast.
” As she ’ s been “ crisscrossing the country ” for Warren , Pressley told AM to DM that the energy “ feels good , it feels like a movement .
The energy is palpable and it only continues to grow.
” Pressley said she believes that Warren “ remains our best chance and starkest contrast to Donald Trump .
She ’ s a woman and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narcissist , and , you know , she is a moment and a coalition builder .
She ’ s a partner .
She keeps her promises .
And that matters .
There ’ s a deficit of trust in government right now.
” Asked about frustrations with the lack of diversity in Iowa and New Hampshire , the first two states to vote in the primary season , Pressley noted that “ demographics will continue to change ” as the campaign moves into South Carolina , Nevada , and beyond , but she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be treated monolithically .
“ As a voter , I ’ m sick and tired of giving politicians and elected officials a pass when they come into communities and try to engage and court an entire constituency through a single issue , ” she said , highlighting attempts to attract black voters , women , people with disabilities , and the LGBTQ community simply by focusing on one or two issues .
“ People don ’ t live in big-check boxes , we live in complexity and intersectional and nuance and that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Warren ] has responded with.
” “ She ’ s as empathetic as she is electable , ” Pressley added .
“ She knows how to fight , she knows how to win , especially when she ’ s being underestimated .
I ’ ve seen it up close and personal .
”

Pressley is in New Hampshire campaigning for Warren Tuesday, where the Massachusetts senator is polling below second place after coming in third in last week’s Iowa caucuses. Asked where Warren can win, Pressley emphasized that Warren has “a robust 31-state grassroots strategy” and that the campaign’s strategy “is just to be head-down and to honor our mantra as Team Warren, and that is to outwork, out-organize, and outlast.”
As she’s been “crisscrossing the country” for Warren, Pressley told AM to DM that the energy “feels good, it feels like a movement. The energy is palpable and it only continues to grow.”
Pressley said she believes that Warren “remains our best chance and starkest contrast to Donald Trump. She’s a woman and we currently have someone who is a go-it-alone narcissist, and, you know, she is a moment and a coalition builder. She’s a partner. She keeps her promises. And that matters. There’s a deficit of trust in government right now.”
Asked about frustrations with the lack of diversity in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states to vote in the primary season, Pressley noted that “demographics will continue to change” as the campaign moves into South Carolina, Nevada, and beyond, but she also argued that those communities should not be treated monolithically.
“As a voter, I’m sick and tired of giving politicians and elected officials a pass when they come into communities and try to engage and court an entire constituency through a single issue,” she said, highlighting attempts to attract black voters, women, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ community simply by focusing on one or two issues. “People don’t live in big-check boxes, we live in complexity and intersectional and nuance and that’s what I’ve found that [Warren] has responded with.”
“She’s as empathetic as she is electable,” Pressley added. “She knows how to fight, she knows how to win, especially when she’s being underestimated. I’ve seen it up close and personal.”


buzzfeed--2020-02-11--Live Results: New Hampshire Democratic Primary

The New Hampshire primary is here — the first presidential primary of 2020 , which mercifully should be much less complicated than whatever happened last week in Iowa .
A few things to know as results come in : New Hampshire is a semi-open primary , so independents can vote in party primaries ( but a registered Republican can ’ t vote in the Democratic primary , for instance ) .
Polls mostly opened around 6 a.m. and will begin to close at 7 p.m. New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner is predicting a historic turnout with a winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know as voting begins about who will win ?
Bernie Sanders has a leg up in polling in the state , which he won convincingly in 2016 .
Pete Buttigieg , the other candidate to come out strong in Iowa , has appeared to gain in the last week .
How important is winning here ?
With just 24 pledged delegates at stake , New Hampshire doesn ’ t have a ton of direct electoral impact , especially relative to states coming up in early March .
But performing well here is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue their campaigns , and a poor result could make it hard for a candidate to raise enough money to keep going into the next two states : Nevada and South Carolina .

The New Hampshire primary is here — the first presidential primary of 2020, which mercifully should be much less complicated than whatever happened last week in Iowa.
A few things to know as results come in: New Hampshire is a semi-open primary, so independents can vote in party primaries (but a registered Republican can’t vote in the Democratic primary, for instance). Polls mostly opened around 6 a.m. and will begin to close at 7 p.m. New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner is predicting a historic turnout with a winner declared around 9:30 p.m.
What do we know as voting begins about who will win? Bernie Sanders has a leg up in polling in the state, which he won convincingly in 2016. Pete Buttigieg, the other candidate to come out strong in Iowa, has appeared to gain in the last week.
How important is winning here? With just 24 pledged delegates at stake, New Hampshire doesn’t have a ton of direct electoral impact, especially relative to states coming up in early March. But performing well here is an important signal of strength for candidates hoping to continue their campaigns, and a poor result could make it hard for a candidate to raise enough money to keep going into the next two states: Nevada and South Carolina.


buzzfeed--2020-02-11--Republicans Think President Trump Had Every Right To Fire Government Officials Who Testified Against

Republicans Think President Trump Had Every Right To Fire Government Officials Who Testified Against Him

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans who voted to acquit President Donald Trump of impeachment charges last week said that it ’ s fine that he fired government personnel who testified against him during the House ‘ s investigation .
Days after the Republican-controlled Senate voted to acquit Trump on abuse of power and obstruction of Congress charges , the president fired National Security Council official Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman .
The Purple Heart recipient had testified before Congress that the president ’ s July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had threatened US national security .
Shortly after , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the European Union , from his post .
Sondland who was involved in the scheme to withhold aid to Ukraine in exchange for dirt on Trump ’ s political opponent , Joe Biden , flipped on the president during the House impeachment inquiry and testified that Trump did participate in a “ quid pro quo.
” Republicans justified the president ’ s actions late Monday , with many of them claiming the president had every right to fire the men .
“ Yeah , I think he did the right thing , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were supposed to have loyalty .
Obviously they didn ’ t. ” According to the Department of Defense , members of the military are free to make complaints against government officials without retaliation .
Broader protection for government employees are outlined in the Whistleblower Protection Act .
Sen. Todd Young of Indiana told reporters “ the president has sole authority to hire and fire….
” when asked about the abrupt firing of Vindman .
He added , “ It ’ s the president ’ s prerogative.
” Trump defended the firings in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing so criticized Vindman ’ s work performance and called him “ very insubordinate.
” “ The president has every right to decide who serves in the executive branch of jobs , ” Sen. Roy Blunt told reporters Monday .
“ I do n't have a problem with it at all.
” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded to Vindman ’ s firing in a tweet Friday evening .
“ This is not a sign of strength , it only shows president Trump ’ s weakness , ” Schumer wrote .
The New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to the Department of Defense ’ s acting inspector general , Glenn Fine , and 73 other inspector generals requesting the agency investigate retaliation against those who spoke to presidential misconduct during the impeachment inquiry .
“ Regrettably , these rights are now being challenged like never before , creating a chilling effect among those who , in previous administrations , may have come forward to expose abuses of power , ” Schumer wrote .
Republicans , however , refuted any suggestion the president acted in retaliation .
At least one Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his approach to business .
“ The style of how he does things , you know , he 's different in that sense , ” said Sen. Mike Braun .
“ I like how he 's , you know , trying to shake things up .
When it comes to individuals that are n't on board .
I think that the president has a right to have people working for him that are pulling the same way.
” The New York Times reported that a group of Republican senators , including Sens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tillis of North Carolina , Martha McSally of Arizona , and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin unsuccessfully tried to convince Trump not to fire Sondland .
But the former foreign service agent was removed from his post anyway .
“ I just wanted him to leave with dignity , ” Johnson told reporters Monday .
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski , whose key vote thwarted the possibility of a tie in the vote to allow witnesses during the Senate trial did not break ranks with her Republican colleagues .
“ The president has the authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trailing as she disappeared behind elevator doors in the Capitol .

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans who voted to acquit President Donald Trump of impeachment charges last week said that it’s fine that he fired government personnel who testified against him during the House‘s investigation.
Days after the Republican-controlled Senate voted to acquit Trump on abuse of power and obstruction of Congress charges, the president fired National Security Council official Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. The Purple Heart recipient had testified before Congress that the president’s July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had threatened US national security.
Shortly after, Trump removed Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union, from his post. Sondland who was involved in the scheme to withhold aid to Ukraine in exchange for dirt on Trump’s political opponent, Joe Biden, flipped on the president during the House impeachment inquiry and testified that Trump did participate in a “quid pro quo.”
Republicans justified the president’s actions late Monday, with many of them claiming the president had every right to fire the men.
“Yeah, I think he did the right thing,” said Sen. Jim Inhofe. “People were supposed to have loyalty. Obviously they didn’t.”
According to the Department of Defense, members of the military are free to make complaints against government officials without retaliation. Broader protection for government employees are outlined in the Whistleblower Protection Act.
Sen. Todd Young of Indiana told reporters “the president has sole authority to hire and fire….” when asked about the abrupt firing of Vindman. He added, “It’s the president’s prerogative.”
Trump defended the firings in a series of tweets Saturday morning and in doing so criticized Vindman’s work performance and called him “very insubordinate.”
“The president has every right to decide who serves in the executive branch of jobs,” Sen. Roy Blunt told reporters Monday. “I don't have a problem with it at all.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded to Vindman’s firing in a tweet Friday evening. “This is not a sign of strength, it only shows president Trump’s weakness,” Schumer wrote.
The New York senator went further and penned a letter to the Department of Defense’s acting inspector general, Glenn Fine, and 73 other inspector generals requesting the agency investigate retaliation against those who spoke to presidential misconduct during the impeachment inquiry.
“Regrettably, these rights are now being challenged like never before, creating a chilling effect among those who, in previous administrations, may have come forward to expose abuses of power,” Schumer wrote.
Republicans, however, refuted any suggestion the president acted in retaliation. At least one Republican likened the president’s governing style to his approach to business.
“The style of how he does things, you know, he's different in that sense,” said Sen. Mike Braun. “I like how he's, you know, trying to shake things up. When it comes to individuals that aren't on board. I think that the president has a right to have people working for him that are pulling the same way.”
The New York Times reported that a group of Republican senators, including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Martha McSally of Arizona, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin unsuccessfully tried to convince Trump not to fire Sondland. But the former foreign service agent was removed from his post anyway.
“I just wanted him to leave with dignity,” Johnson told reporters Monday.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose key vote thwarted the possibility of a tie in the vote to allow witnesses during the Senate trial did not break ranks with her Republican colleagues.
“The president has the authority,” she said, her voice trailing as she disappeared behind elevator doors in the Capitol.