Thursday, May 31, 2018
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Ross: US-EU Trade Deal Could be Reached
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Wednesday a U.S.-European Union trade deal could still be reached even if the United States imposes tariffs on EU steel and aluminum imports.
EU and U.S. officials are holding last-minute negotiations two days before U.S. President Donald Trump decides to apply tariffs on Europe.
The threat of tariffs has increased prospects of retaliation and a global trade war that could hinder the global economy.
"There can be negotiations with or without tariffs in place," Ross said at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. "There are plenty of tariffs the EU has on us. It's not that we can't talk just because there's tariffs."
The Trump administration is also exploring possible limits on foreign auto imports, citing national security.
The EU wants exemptions on steel and aluminum tariffs, which Trump hopes will benefit the U.S., or impose tariffs on U.S. peanut butter, orange juice and other products.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Wednesday the EU would protect its interests if the U.S. follows through with its threat of tariffs.
"We French and Europeans don't want a trade war. But if we're attacked, we will have to defend our interests," he said.
Judge Sets June 15 Deadline on Study of Data From Cohen Raids
A New York judge set a June 15 deadline Wednesday for lawyers for President Donald Trump's personal lawyer and Trump to make attorney-client privilege claims over data seized in April raids, saying it was important not to delay the criminal investigation.
U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood said a special taint team of prosecutors will make determinations after that date.
Wood presided over a hearing at which a prosecutor revealed that the contents of a shredder and two Blackberry devices were all that remained to be turned over to a court-appointed special master screening evidence for attorney-client privilege. Also reviewing the materials are lawyers for Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, the president and the Trump Organization.
Cohen's lawyers asked to be allowed to review materials from the April 9 raids of Cohen's office and home until mid-July, but Wood said she had to balance their needs to protect their client with the need of prosecutors to pursue their criminal fraud case against Cohen.
Cohen did not speak during the court proceeding, which lasted more than an hour and featured a colorful argument between lawyers for Cohen and Trump on one side and California attorney Michael Avenatti on the other as they discussed Avenatti's public statements on behalf of his porn-star client, Stormy Daniels.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had sex once with Trump in 2006. Trump denies it. Daniels was not in court Wednesday.
Stephen Ryan, an attorney for Cohen, argued that Avenatti had acted outrageously by releasing banking information related to Cohen publicly and by criticizing Cohen in dozens of television appearances.
Wood noted that Avenatti would have to stop making comments about his perception of what he believed was wrongdoing by Cohen if he wanted to formally intervene in Cohen's efforts to protect materials seized from violations of attorney-client privilege.
Cohen's lawyers said they had finished studying about a third of the materials that were seized and were working around the clock.
Special Master Barbara Jones said in a letter Tuesday that lawyers Cohen, Trump and the Trump Organization have designated more than 250 items as subject to the privilege. She said the material includes data from a video recorder.
Jones said more than a million pieces of data from three of Cohen's phones are ready to be given to criminal prosecutors, and more than 12,000 pages of documents from eight boxes that survived attorney-client privilege scrutiny already have been given back to prosecutors. More than a dozen electronic devices were seized or copied in the raids, and Jones said she has not yet received data from three seized items.
The raids on Cohen were triggered in part by a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who separately is looking into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Wood became involved after Cohen came to court, complaining that he feared attorney-client privilege would not be protected. Trump also expressed those concerns on Twitter.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had sex once with Trump in 2006. Trump denies the affair.
Trump Says He Wishes He'd Picked Another Attorney General
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he wished he'd picked someone other than Jeff Sessions as his attorney general because Sessions quickly removed himself from oversight of the investigation of links between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia because of his own contacts with Moscow's ambassador to Washington.
Trump has often railed against Sessions' recusal from the case, voicing frustration that it has left him without someone he feels should be loyal to him at the country's top law enforcement agency to protect him from the year-long probe headed by special counsel Robert Mueller.
But Trump vented his ire anew in a Twitter remark, citing a television interview comment from Republican Congressman Trey Gowdy that Sessions, a former Alabama senator and early Trump political supporter, had not told Trump before he was named to the country's top legal position that he would remove himself from control of the Russia investigation.
Gowdy said he too would have been "frustrated" in such a situation if not told ahead of time that his attorney general would not handle "the most important case in the office."
"There are lots of really good lawyers in the country. He could have picked somebody else!" Gowdy said on CBS News, to which Trump added, "And I wish I did!"
Trump's anger at Sessions has often prompted speculation in Washington that the U.S. leader would fire him, or his deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the Mueller probe after Sessions recused himself from the oversight role.
But key Republican lawmakers have warned Trump not to dismiss Sessions, fearing it could lead to Trump's impeachment, and that the U.S. leader could not be assured that a new appointment as attorney general could win confirmation in the politically fractious Senate, where Republicans hold only a 51-49 majority.
The New York Times reported late Tuesday that days after Sessions recused himself from the Russia probe oversight in March 2017, Trump sought, to no avail, to get the attorney general to change his mind. Sessions withdrew from the Russia case oversight because of long-standing Justice Department rules prohibiting lawyers from involvement in investigations when they have a conflict of interest, such as Sessions' political support for Trump and his 2016 meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
Trump continues to be consumed by the Mueller investigation, tweeting often that it is a "witch hunt," that there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia and that he did not obstruct justice by firing Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey last May when he was heading the agency's Russia investigation. Days later, Rosenstein, over Trump's objections, named Mueller, another former FBI director, to take over the Russia investigation.
Tuesday night, Trump repeated his claim that the FBI planted a spy in his 2016 campaign in an effort to undermine his candidacy, asking a political rally in Tennessee, "How do you like the fact they had people infiltrating our campaign?"
An FBI informant, Stefan Halper, an American professor at Britain's University of Cambridge, shared information with the FBI about conversations he had with three Trump associates during the campaign as the criminal investigative agency looked into Russian intrusion in the U.S. presidential race, but there is no indication that he was placed inside the campaign.
Trump is calling the FBI's use of Halper "Spygate."
In a tweet last weekend, Trump said, "With Spies, or 'Informants' as the Democrats like to call them because it sounds less sinister (but it's not), all over my campaign, even from a very early date, why didn't the crooked highest levels of the FBI or 'Justice' contact me to tell me of thephony Russia problem?"
In a Fox News interview, Gowdy said the FBI's use of Halper was not inappropriate, as Trump claims.
After reviewing FBI documents about the case last week, Gowdy said, "I am even more convinced that the FBI did exactly what my fellow citizens would want them to do when they got the information they got, and that it has nothing to do with Donald Trump."
Another long-time Trump defender, Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano, said Trump's repeated claims that the FBI placed an undercover spy in his campaign "seem to be baseless."
"There is no evidence for that whatsoever," Napolitano said.
Read More Trump Says He Wishes He'd Picked Another Attorney General : https://ift.tt/2sixte4Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Trump Contends Prosecutors Will 'Meddle' in 2018 Elections
U.S. President Donald Trump contended Tuesday that prosecutors investigating his 2016 campaign's links to Russia "will be MEDDLING" in November's congressional elections.
Trump offered no explanation how he thinks the legal team of special counsel Robert Mueller would interfere with the voting for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and a third of those in the 100-member Senate. Last week he suggested that the length of Mueller's year-long investigation could turn voters against candidates he favors and "put some hurt on the Republican Party."
Trump, in a string of Twitter comments, ignored the conclusion last week by his new secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, that U.S. officials expect "continued efforts" by Russia to interfere with the congressional elections, just as the U.S. intelligence community concluded it did in the presidential election two years ago to help Trump win. With the congressional campaigns now in their early stages in many U.S. states five-plus months ahead of the voting, Pompeo said there is much work ahead to mitigate any Russian interference.
The top U.S. diplomat told a congressional hearing that the Trump administration would take "appropriate countermeasures" against any Russian interference in the congressional elections, but acknowledged officials have yet to figure out what "effective deterrence" might work.
As he often has, Trump complained in one tweet that Mueller's legal team includes "13 Angry Democrats," although Mueller is a Republican, once named to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation by Republican President George W. Bush.
"It's a Rigged Witch Hunt," Trump declared, questioning why prosecutors were not investigating his 2016 challenger, "the totally Crooked Campaign of totally Crooked Hillary Clinton. Ask them if they enjoyed her after election celebration!"
Mueller is in the midst of discussions with Trump lawyers about whether Trump will answer prosecutors' questions about his campaign's links to Russia and whether he obstructed justice a year ago by firing FBI director James Comey when he was leading the Russia investigation before Mueller, over Trump's objections, was appointed to take over.
Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, a former New York mayor, said this week that any Trump sit-down with Mueller would not occur before the possible Trump summit June 12 with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore.
Trump said he was "sorry" he was spending so much time on the Russia investigation and said he has "to start focusing my energy" on the nuclear threat posed by North Korea, "bad Trade Deals," the economy and other issues.
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Trump’s ‘Phony’ Source a White House Official
President Donald Trump accused The New York Times on Saturday of inventing a source for a story who, in fact, was a White House official conducting a briefing for reporters under the condition that the official not be named.
Trump tweeted that the Times quoted an official “who doesn’t exist” and referenced a line in the story about a possible summit with North Korea, which read: “a senior White House official told reporters that even if the meeting were reinstated, holding it on June 12 would be impossible, given the lack of time and the amount of planning needed.”
Said Trump: “WRONG AGAIN! Use real people, not phony sources.”
The Times reported in a story about the tweet that it had cited “a senior White House official speaking to a large group of reporters in the White House briefing room.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the use of unnamed sources and labeled information related by unnamed officials “fake news.” Still, his White House regularly arranges briefings with officials who demand anonymity before relaying information, a practice also used by previous administrations.
At the briefing, which was attended by The Associated Press, the official cast doubt on the feasibility of a June 12 summit.
“I think that the main point, I suppose, is that the ball is in North Korea’s court right now. There’s really not a lot of time,” the official said. “There’s a certain amount of actual dialogue that needs to take place at the working level with your counterparts to ensure that the agenda is clear in the minds of those two leaders when they sit down to actually meet and talk and negotiate and hopefully make a deal. And June 12 is in 10 minutes.”
The White House press office invited reporters to the background briefing, both to attend in person or to call-in and insisted that the official not be named. The AP reporter in attendance questioned why the briefing was not on the record, meaning that the official’s name could be used. The official said the president had been talking publicly during the day, as well as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and that the briefing was intended to provide “background context.”
Friday, May 25, 2018
China Trade Dispute Creates Headaches for US Agriculture Industry
As tensions are easing over a potential trade war while negotiations between the U.S. and China continue, the uncertainty about tariffs and the eventual impact on the U.S. agricultural industry is taking a toll on U.S. farmers heading to the fields to plant this year's crops. As VOA's Kane Farabaugh reports, there is a lot at stake, not just for farmers but also the companies that supply them.
Living Next Door to MS-13
A short commute from New York City, Long Island has become the epicenter of President Trump's vow to eradicate the gang known as Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, notorious for gruesome murder tactics rather than large numbers of homicides. But in one affected town, residents are skeptical that the gang — in operation on the East Coast for nearly four decades — can be easily dismantled without hurting its larger immigrant community. VOA's Ramon Taylor reports.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Pompeo Blames North Korea for Scrapped Summit
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said North Korea stopped taking part in bilateral consultations that would have been necessary for a productive summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.
Pompeo provided additional insight into Trump's decision to cancel the historic encounter in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Moments after Presidents Trump's letter to Kim Jong Un was made public, he placed blame for scrapping the summit squarely on Pyongyang.
"I regret the statements that the North Koreans have made over the past few days," he said, "and the fact that we've not been able to conduct the preparation between our two teams that would be necessary to have a chance for a successful summit."
Democratic Senator Bob Menendez said the administration should not have been surprised that North Korea is acting as North Korea often does in international negotiations, and that stumbling blocks were foreseeable.
"Many of us were deeply concerned that the lack of deep preparation that is necessary before such a summit is even agreed to was not taking place," said Menendez. "And now we see the consequences of that. And I'm not sure that constantly quoting the Libya model is the diplomatic way to try to get to the results that we seek in North Korea, because that didn't work out too well for [former Libyan leader Moammar] Gaddafi."
By contrast, Republican Senator Cory Gardner spoke as though Kim, not Trump, had put the summit on hold.
"Kim Jong Un has walked away from a historic opportunity for peace and should be held accountable for his decision," he said. "In the internal debate that must be taking place within Kim Jong Un's mind — between Kim the propagandist and Kim the peacemaker — it's clear that Kim the propagandist prevailed internally, and that peace lost out to that propaganda."
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen asked Pompeo what the administration will do next regarding North Korea. The secretary of state replied, "Situation normal," implying the status quo remains. He added that the American-led pressure campaign on Pyongyang will continue.
Pompeo: US Not Pushing for Regime Change in Iran
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the Trump administration is not pushing for a regime change in Iran, but to achieve global consensus on how to get Tehran to "behave like a normal nation."
Pompeo told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday the administration is "well along" with plans to impose previous and new sanctions against Iran with a goal "to deny Iran the wealth to do bad stuff."
Wednesday, the top U.S. diplomat told the House Foreign Affairs Committee the United States is looking to meet with allies, including European officials, in early to mid-June on the next steps in dealing with Iran's nuclear weapons development.
Planning for the meeting began after President Donald Trump earlier this month withdrew the United States from the 2015 international accord that restrained Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions that had hobbled the Iranian economy.
The United States says it plans in the coming months to reimpose previous sanctions and impose new ones against Iran in hopes of pushing Tehran to the bargaining table for new negotiations over its ballistic missile tests and military advances in the Middle East. But the five other signatories to the international pact: Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia all have said they support the existing nuclear deal with Iran.
The signatories are trying to salvage the agreement, which Iran has threatened to abandon if it suffers from the reintroduction of U.S. economic sanctions.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog said in a report issued Thursday Iran is continuing to comply with the 2015 accord. The International Atomic Energy Agency urged Iran to go beyond its legal obligations to abide by the deal to increase global confidence in its commitment to the pact.
Trump Lauds NFL Policy Banning Kneeling for National Anthem
President Donald Trump praised an NFL policy banning kneeling during the "The Star-Spangled Banner," saying that "maybe you shouldn't be in the country" if you don't stand for the anthem.
Trump spoke to "Fox & Friends"' in an interview that aired Thursday. The policy forbids players from sitting or taking a knee on the field during the anthem but allows them to stay in the locker room. Any violations of the new rules would result in fines against teams.
"I think that's good," Trump said in the interview that taped Wednesday. "I don't think people should be staying in the locker rooms, but still I think it's good. You have to stand proudly for the national anthem. Or you shouldn't be playing, you shouldn't be there. Maybe you shouldn't be in the country."
Trump last fall called on team owners to fire players who followed former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's lead by kneeling during the national anthem. During a rally, he referred to an NFL player making a gesture during "The Star-Spangled Banner" as a "son of a bitch" who should be fired.
The president's comments spurred a national conversation about patriotism and the nation's symbols and the use of peaceful protest. Trump said in the interview that he thought "the people" pushed for the new policy.
"I brought it out. I think the people pushed it forward," Trump said. He added: "you know, that's something ideally could have been taken care of when it first started, it would have been a lot easier, but if they did that, they did the right thing."
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Georgia Democrat Challenges Racial Barrier in Governor Race
Georgia Democrats gave Atlanta lawyer Stacey Abrams a chance to become the first black female governor in American history on a primary night that ended well for several women seeking office.
Abrams set new historical marks with a primary victory Tuesday that made her the first black nominee and first female nominee for governor of either majority party in Georgia.
Voters also picked nominees in Kentucky, Arkansas and Texas ahead of the November midterms. A closer look at key story lines:
Georgia governor's race
Democrats were set to nominate a woman for governor either way, with Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans battling it out in a pitched primary fight.
But the 44-year-old Abrams stood out in her bid to be the nation's first African-American woman to lead a state. The former state General Assembly leader was insistent that the way to dent Republican domination in Georgia wasn't by cautiously pursuing the older white voters who had abandoned Democrats over recent decades. Rather, she wanted to widen the electorate by attracting young voters and nonwhites who hadn't been casting ballots.
She will test her theory as the underdog against either Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle or Secretary of State Brian Kemp, who will meet in Republican runoff in July. Cagle led a five-man Republican field, with Kemp qualifying for the second spot after a campaign that was a sprint to the right on everything from immigration to support for President Donald Trump.
Kemp promised to keep pulling in that direction, with Cagle trying to balance the demands of a conservative primary electorate with his support from the business establishment. The scenario worried some Georgia Republicans who were accustomed to centrist, business-aligned governors who rarely flouted Atlanta-based behemoths like Delta and Coca-Cola.
Some GOP figures worried the GOP gamesmanship on immigration and gay rights, in particular, already had ensured Georgia wouldn't land Amazon's second headquarters.
Texas congressional runoffs
Texas had three House runoffs that will be key to whether Democrats can flip the minimum 24 GOP-held seats they would need for a majority in next year's Congress. All three were among 25 districts nationally where Trump ran behind Hillary Clinton in 2016. Democrats nominated women in two of the districts and a black man in the third.
Attorney Lizzie Fletcher far outpaced activist Laura Moser in a metro-Houston congressional contest that became a proxy for Democrats' fight between liberals and moderates. National Democrats' campaign committee never endorsed Fletcher, but released opposition research against Moser amid fears that she was too liberal to knock off vulnerable Republican Rep. John Culberson in the fall.
In a San Antonio-Mexican border district, Gina Ortiz Jones, an Air Force veteran and former intelligence officer, got Democrats' nod to face Republican Rep. Will Hurd in November. Jones would be the first openly lesbian congresswoman from her state. Hurd is black.
Former NFL player Colin Allred won a battle of two attorneys and former Obama administration officials in a metro-Dallas House district. Allred, who is black, topped Lillian Salerno and will face Republican Rep. Pete Sessions in November. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee lined up behind Allred after the group's initial favorite failed to make the runoff.
Among Republicans, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz showed off his endorsement muscle, with his former chief of staff, Chip Roy, winning a competitive runoff for a San Antonio-area congressional seat opened by the retirement of Rep. Lamar Smith.
In the governor's race, Democrats tapped former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez to take on Republican incumbent Greg Abbott in November. Valdez is Texas' first openly gay and first Latina nominee for governor.
Democrats battle in Kentucky
Voters in a central Kentucky congressional district opted for retired Marine officer and fighter pilot Amy McGrath over Lexington Mayor Jim Gray to advance to a fall campaign against Republican Rep. Andy Barr.
National Democrats once touted Gray as one of their best recruits in their efforts for a House majority. They said in recent weeks they'd be happy with McGrath, but the race still shaped up as a battle between rank-and-file activists and the party establishment.
McGrath was making her first bid for public office, among a handful of female Naval Academy graduates running for Congress this year.
Gray also lost a 2016 Senate race.
In eastern Kentucky's Rowan County, voters denied the Democratic nomination to a gay candidate who wanted to challenge the local clerk who denied him and others same-sex marriage licenses.
David Ermold had wanted to face Republican Kim Davis, who went to jail three years ago for denying marriage licenses in the aftermath of an historic U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.
Arkansas health care preview
While Washington fixates on the daily developments in the Russia election meddling investigation, Democratic congressional candidates insist they'll win in November arguing about bread-and-butter issues like health care.
Arkansas state Rep. Clarke Tucker captured Democrats' congressional nomination in a Little Rock-based district by telling his story as a cancer survivor. Though he faced a crowded primary field, his real target all along has been Republican Rep. French Hill, who voted many times to repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act.
The Arkansas district may not be at the top of Democrats' national target list, but it's the kind of district the party might have to win to be assured of regaining House control in November.
The state's Republican governor, Asa Hutchinson, dispatched primary opposition as he sought another term. Democrats nominated former Teach for America executive Jared Henderson.
Read More Georgia Democrat Challenges Racial Barrier in Governor Race : https://ift.tt/2kkikENMembers of Congress Take to the Soccer Field in Annual Washington Charity Match
Members of the U.S. Congress and former professional athletes took to the soccer pitch Tuesday in Washington, as Republicans and Democrats fought for bragging rights during the annual Congressional Soccer Match. All to benefit charity. From Washington, VOA’s Jill Craig has more.
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Trump Steps Up Attacks on Russia Probe
The U.S. Department of Justice is expanding an internal probe into whether there was any political motivation when the FBI first began investigating Russian meddling in 2016 during the presidential election. President Donald Trump met with top Justice Department officials Monday following his claim via Twitter that the FBI used an informant to spy on his campaign. It was Trump's latest in a series of escalating attacks on the Russia probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller. VOA national correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington.
Trump Praises New, Berates Former CIA Director
Former CIA officer Gina Haspel has become the first woman to head the U.S. spy agency after a swearing-in ceremony Monday. Haspel has overcome the criticism by lawmakers of both parties for her involvement in the torture of terror suspects after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump praised her ability to overcome what he called "a lot of very negative politics" and said no one was more qualified the job. VOA's Zlatica Hoke reports.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Pompeo Vows 'Unprecedented' US Sanctions Against Iran
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has unveiled a far-reaching list of demands for any new nuclear deal with Iran, and threatened economy-crushing sanctions if Tehran does not change its behavior.
The demands were made a speech Monday at the conservative Heritage Foundation that laid out the Trump administration's strategy after pulling out of the Iran nuclear agreement earlier this month.
Under any new deal, Pompeo insisted, Iran must indefinitely abandon nuclear weapons work, end its proliferation of ballistic missiles, and stop its "destabilizing activities" across the Middle East.
If Iran does not change course, the United States "will apply unprecedented financial pressure," Pompeo warned.
"These will be the strongest sanctions in history by the time we are done," said Pompeo."The [Iranian] regime has been fighting all over the Middle East for years.After our sanctions come into full force, it will be battling to keep its economy alive."
The Trump administration has vowed to re-impose the sanctions that were lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear agreement, which was signed between Iran, the United States, and several European countries.
The European countries are holding talks with Iran to try to salvage the deal. But it is not clear whether the European effort can succeed.
Iran's foreign minister, Javad Zarif, said the European Union's "political support for the nuclear agreement is not sufficient," according to Iranian state media.
But it's also not clear whether the United States can muster sufficient financial pressure on Iran without the support of European companies.
16-Year-Olds in Washington, DC, Fight for the Right to Vote
The voting age in the United States is 18. But teenagers in Washington, D.C. want local authorities to lower it to 16. More than half of the city council members have already agreed to support a bill that, if approved, would make Washington the first U.S. city to allow 16-year-olds to vote in both local and federal elections. Anna Rice narrates Lesya Bakalets' report.
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Trump Rails Against Russia Probe
President Donald Trump unleashed a torrent of complaints Sunday about the year-long investigation into whether his 2016 campaign colluded with Russia and if he obstructed justice by trying to thwart the probe.
"Things are really getting ridiculous," Trump complained in one of six Twitter remarks, asking at what point the investigation will end, calling it a "soon to be $20,000,000 Witch Hunt."
He contended that investigators have "found no Collussion [sic] with Russia, No Obstruction, but they aren’t looking at the corruption" in the campaign of his Democratic challenger two years ago, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The U.S. leader said the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller "has given up on Russia and is looking at the rest of the world" and its connections to the Trump campaign.
Trump said Mueller, who was authorized to investigate related matters he uncovered as he probed Russia's meddling in the election aimed at helping Trump win, "should easily be able" to extend the inquiries into the congressional elections in November where he and his team "can put some hurt on the Republican Party."
He added, "Republicans and real Americans should start getting tough on this Scam."
Mueller's investigation shows no hint of ending any time soon. He has indicted numerous Russian individuals and entities for interference in the U.S. election through the creation of fake news stories commenting on contentious American issues and secured guilty pleas from three Trump campaign associates who are now cooperating with prosecutors in the ongoing investigation.
Trump on Sunday also claimed that the the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the country's top law enforcement agency, has been "hard charging (except in the case of Democrats)" and ignored a string of accusations against Clinton, the Democratic National Committee and a Washington lobbyist linked to Democrats.
Trump's Sunday tweets followed one on Saturday about the FBI and its parent agency, the Department of Justice, infiltrating his campaign through the use of an informant who made contact with three Trump associates before passing on information to the FBI.
Several news agencies have identified the informant as Stefan Halper, a 73-year-old American-born professor at Britain's University of Cambridge who worked decades ago in three Republican administrations in the U.S.
"If the FBI or DOJ was infiltrating a campaign for the benefit of another campaign, that is a really big deal," Trump said. Before Halper's name surfaced, Trump had called the use of the informant the "all time biggest political scandal."
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Plugged In: Sen. Mark Warner
VOA Contributor Greta Van Susteren talks with U.S. Senator Mark Warner about the Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russia’s intervention in the 2016 US presidential election and the controversy surrounding the new director of the CIA. Warner is from Virginia and is the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee.
Friday, May 18, 2018
Trump Thrusts Abortion Fight into Crucial Midterm Elections
The Trump administration acted Friday to bar taxpayer-funded family planning clinics from referring women for abortions, energizing its conservative political base ahead of crucial midterm elections while setting the stage for new legal battles.
The Health and Human Services Department sent its proposal to rewrite the rules to the White House, setting in motion a regulatory process that could take months. Scant on details, an administration overview of the plan said it would echo a Reagan-era rule by banning abortion referrals by federally funded clinics and forbidding them from locating in facilities that also provide abortions.
Planned Parenthood, a principal provider of family planning, abortion services, and basic preventive care for women, said the plan appears designed to target the organization. "The end result would make it impossible for women to come to Planned Parenthood, who are counting on us every day," said executive vice president Dawn Laguens.
But presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway told Fox News that the administration is simply recognizing "that abortion is not family planning. This is family planning money."
The policy was derided as a "gag rule" by abortion rights supporters, a point challenged by the administration, which said counseling about abortion would be OK, but not referrals. It's likely to trigger lawsuits from opponents, and certain to galvanize activists on both sides of the abortion debate going into November's congressional elections.
Social and religious conservatives have remained steadfastly loyal to President Donald Trump despite issues like his reimbursements to attorney Michael Cohen, who paid hush money to a porn star alleging an affair, and Trump's past boasts of sexually aggressive behavior. Trump has not wavered from advancing the agenda of the religious right.
Tuesday night, Trump is scheduled to speak at the Susan B. Anthony List's "campaign for life" gala. The group works to elect candidates who want to reduce and ultimately end abortion. It says it spent more than $18 million in the 2016 election cycle to defeat Hillary Clinton and promote a "pro-life Senate."
Reagan-era rule
The original Reagan-era family planning rule barred clinics from discussing abortion with women. It never went into effect as written, although the Supreme Court ruled it was an appropriate use of executive power. The policy was rescinded under President Bill Clinton, and a new rule took effect requiring "nondirective" counseling to include a full range of options for women.
The Trump administration said its proposal will roll back the Clinton requirement that abortion be discussed as an option along with prenatal care and adoption.
Known as Title X, the family-planning program serves about 4 million women a year through clinics, costing taxpayers about $260 million.
Although abortion is politically divisive, the U.S. abortion rate has dropped significantly, from about 29 per 1,000 women of reproductive age in 1980 to about 15 in 2014. Better contraception, fewer unintended pregnancies and state restrictions may have played a role, according to a recent scientific report.
Abortion remains legal, but federal family planning funds cannot be used to pay for the procedure. Planned Parenthood clinics now qualify for Title X family planning grants, but they keep that money separate from funds that pay for abortions.
Abortion opponents say a taxpayer-funded program should have no connection to abortion. Doctors' groups and abortion rights supporters say a ban on counseling women trespasses on the doctor-patient relationship.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said the administration action amounts to an "egregious intrusion" in the doctor-patient relationship and could force doctors to omit "essential, medically accurate information" from counseling sessions with patients.
Health care and rights
Planned Parenthood's Laguens hinted at legal action, saying, "we will not stand by while our basic health care and rights are stripped away."
Jessica Marcella of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, which represents clinics, said requiring physical separation from abortion facilities is impractical, and would disrupt services for women.
"I cannot imagine a scenario in which public health groups would allow this effort to go unchallenged," Marcella said.
But abortion opponents said Trump is merely reaffirming the core mission of the family planning program.
"The new regulations will draw a bright line between abortion centers and family planning programs, just as ... federal law requires and the Supreme Court has upheld," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a key voice for religious conservatives.
Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America said, "Abortion is not health care or birth control and many women want natural health care choices, rather than hormone-induced changes."
Abortion opponents allege the federal family planning program in effect cross-subsidizes abortions provided by Planned Parenthood, whose clinics are also major recipients of grants for family planning and basic preventive care. Hawkins' group is circulating a petition to urge lawmakers to support the Trump administration's proposal.
Abortion opponents say the administration plan is not a "gag rule." It "will not prohibit counseling for clients about abortion ... but neither will it include the current mandate that [clinics] must counsel and refer for abortion," said the administration's own summary.
Read More Trump Thrusts Abortion Fight into Crucial Midterm Elections : https://ift.tt/2rTiCFTIn Speech, Pompeo to Call for 'Broad Support' Against Iran
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will outline a "diplomatic road map" next week that he hopes will convince European and other allies to apply pressure on Iran and force it back to the negotiating table, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.
Rebuffing appeals from France, Germany and Britain, U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States 10 days ago from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers, saying the agreement did not adequately curb Iran's nuclear ambitions or address Iran's ballistic missile program and what the Trump administration views as its destabilizing role in the region.
In his first foreign policy speech on Monday, Pompeo will call for broad support to address "the totality of Iran's threats," said Brian Hook, senior U.S. policy advisor, adding that Washington is seeking a diplomatic outcome with Iran.
"The goal of our effort is to bring all necessary pressure to bear on Iran to change its behavior and to pursue a new framework that can resolve our concerns," Hook told reporters.
"We very much want to be, to have a kind of uptempo diplomacy, one that's very focused and very determined to achieve our national security objectives," he said, adding: "Our broad approach now that we have been emphasizing is that we need a new, a framework that's going to address the
totality of Iran threats."
It was not immediately clear whether Britain, France and Germany would agree to join the U.S. coalition as Washington moves to reimpose sanctions against Iran and they try to salvage economic and trade ties with Tehran that followed the 2015 nuclear deal.
Under the agreement, reached to halt what Western countries long suspected was Iran's attempt to develop nuclear weapons, Tehran agreed to limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions against it. Iran has denied it sought in the past to develop an atomic weapon, saying its nuclear program has always been for purely peaceful purposes.
Hook said the Iran nuclear accord had given countries a false sense of security and the United States wanted to ensure any new agreement covered not only Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities, but also curbed its regional activities.
"This involves a range of things around its nuclear program, missiles, proliferating missiles and missile technology and support for terrorists and its aggressive and violent activities that fuel civil wars in Syria and Yemen," said Hook.
Pompeo had been in discussions with European allies since Trump's announcement Washington was withdrawing from the deal and Hook said he believed differences could be overcome.
"We have a period of opportunity to work with our allies to try to come up with a new security architecture, a new framework," said Hook, "I think people are overstating the disagreements between the U.S. and Europe."
Trump to Nominate Wilkie to Head Department of Veterans Affairs
President Donald Trump said on Friday he will nominate Robert Wilkie to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, replacing David Shulkin, who was pushed out amid alleged ethics problems.
Wilkie, 55, has been acting secretary of the department since Trump fired Shulkin in March over concerns about unauthorized travel expenses.
The Republican president's first choice to replace Shulkin, Trump's physician Ronny Jackson, withdrew from consideration last month after allegations that he had been lax with prescription drugs and drank alcohol on the job.
Jackson denied the allegations but faced questions in the Senate confirmation process over whether he had enough experience for the job.
Wilkie successfully went through the Senate confirmation process last year after Trump nominated him to be undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.
The veterans agency has long been criticized for the quality of care it provides and the red tape that veterans encounter.
Trump's Attorney Says Special Counsel Has Narrowed Questions
President Donald Trump's attorney said Friday the special counsel in the Russia probe has narrowed the scope of potential questions for the president, even as Trump advanced an unverified theory that the Justice Department planted a spy in his 2016 campaign and is now "out to frame him."
Rudy Giuliani said Friday on CNN that special counsel Robert Mueller has narrowed his question subject areas from five to two, as negotiations continue over whether the president will sit down for an interview.
Giuliani said they don't expect to be asked about the president's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, who faces a separate criminal investigation in New York. But Giuliani did not provide many additional details, saying that some of it is "subject to negotiation."
His comments came after Trump sent out an early morning tweet that seemed intended to undercut the ongoing Russia investigation, which he has repeatedly called a "witch hunt."
Promoting a theory that is circulating in conservative circles, Trump quoted Fox Business anchor David Asman and tweeted: "Apparently the DOJ put a Spy in the Trump Campaign. This has never been done before and by any means necessary, they are out to frame Donald Trump for crimes he didn't commit."
On whether there was an "informant" in the 2016 presidential campaign, Giuliani said on CNN, "I don't know for sure, nor does the President, if there really was one," though he said they have long been told there was "some kind of infiltration."
Last week, the National Review raised the question of a possible FBI spy on Trump's campaign. The article cites work by Representative Devin Nunes, an ardent Trump supporter and head of the House intelligence committee, who has demanded information on an FBI source in the Russia investigation.
The New York Times reported separately this week that at least one government informant met several times with Carter Page and George Papadopoulos, both former foreign policy advisers on Trump's Republican campaign. The newspaper attributed the information to current and former FBI officials.
In a tweet Thursday, Trump cited the National Review article suggesting that the FBI source was really a "confidential informant in the campaign."
"If so, this is bigger than Watergate!" he tweeted.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
US Senate Confirms Haspel to Be First Woman CIA Director
The U.S. Senate confirmed Gina Haspel on Thursday to be director of the CIA, ending a bruising confirmation fight centered on her ties to the spy agency's past use of waterboarding and other brutal interrogation techniques.
Haspel, who will be the first woman director of the CIA, is a 33-year veteran at the agency currently serving as its acting director. As senators continued to vote, the tally was 51-43 in favor of her nomination in the 100-member chamber, where a simple majority was required for confirmation.
Haspel was approved despite stiff opposition over her links to the CIA's use of harsh interrogation methods, including waterboarding, a type of simulated drowning widely considered torture, in the years after the Sept. 11 attacks.
An undercover officer for most of her CIA career, Haspel in 2002 served as CIA station chief in Thailand, where the agency conducted interrogations at a secret prison using methods including waterboarding. Three years later, she drafted a cable ordering the destruction of videotapes of those interrogations.
Republican Senator John McCain, who has been away from Washington all year as he battles brain cancer, urged the Senate not to vote for Haspel.
Tortured himself while a prisoner of war in Vietnam, McCain said approving Haspel would send the wrong message, and the country should only use methods to keep itself safe "as right and just as the values we aspire to live up to and promote in the world."
Haspel also had strong support from Republican President Donald Trump's administration, many current and former intelligence officials and a wide range of lawmakers, including Democrats.
Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, which oversaw the nomination, supported Haspel.
"I believe she is someone who can and will stand up to the president, who will speak truth to power if this president orders her to do something illegal or immoral, like a return to torture," he said in a Senate speech before the vote.
Young Girls Get a Head Start for a Life in Politics
Here in the United States, campaigning has begun for the 2018 midterms in November, and President Donald Trump has announced his slogan for what he says will be his 2020 re-election campaign. But at one Summer Camp in Washington, young Maira Phillips is getting ready for her White House run, about 27 years from now. Faith Lapidus explains.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Mueller Issues Subpoenas to Trump Adviser's Social Media Consultant
U.S. Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Mueller has issued two subpoenas to a social media expert who worked for longtime Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone during the 2016 presidential election campaign.
The subpoenas were delivered late last week to lawyers representing Jason Sullivan, a social media and Twitter specialist Stone hired to work for an independent political action committee he set up to support Trump, Knut Johnson, a lawyer for Sullivan, told Reuters on Tuesday.
The subpoenas suggest that Mueller, who is probing Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, is focusing in part on Stone and whether he might have had advance knowledge of material allegedly hacked by Russian intelligence and sent to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who published it.
Stone appeared before the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee last September and denied allegations of collusion between the president's associates and Russia during the election. "I am aware of no evidence whatsoever of collusion by the Russian state or anyone in the Trump campaign," Stone told reporters at the time.
According to sources familiar with the ongoing investigation, Mueller also has been probing whether anyone associated with the Trump campaign may have helped Assange or the Russians time or target the release of hacked emails and other social media promoting Trump or critical of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment. Russia has denied interfering in the election. President Trump has repeatedly denied his campaign colluded with Russia.
Sullivan told Reuters that he heads Cyphoon.com, a social media firm, and "worked on the Trump campaign serving as Chief Strategist directly to Roger J. Stone Jr.”
"Welcome To The Age of Weaponized Social Media," said a strategy document Sullivan prepared for Stone and seen by Reuters. He described a "system" he devised for creating Twitter "swarms" as "an army of sophisticated, hyper-targeted direct tweet automation systems driven by outcomes-based strategies derived from REAL-TIME actionable insights.”
For example, at 6:43 a.m. local time on Election Day in 2016, Trump tweeted, "TODAY WE MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN".
Trump's message soon was retweeted more than 343,000 times, and in an interview last year, Sullivan told Reuters that the swarm helped overcome a surge in pro-Clinton social media postings and boost voter turnout for Trump.
Stone on Tuesday repeated his public denials that he had an inside track to WikiLeaks or others who hacked or published Democratic Party and Clinton-related emails and said no one from Mueller's team has tried to contact him.
One of the two subpoenas delivered last week requests that Sullivan appear before a grand jury on May 18 at the Federal Courthouse in Washington, D.C. The other orders Sullivan to bring documents, objects and electronically stored information.
Senate Panel Releases Interview Transcripts with Trump Jr.
Donald Trump Jr. told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he couldn't remember whether he had discussed the Russia investigation with his father.
That's according to transcripts of his interview with the panel last year. The committee on Wednesday released more than 1,800 pages of transcripts of interviews with Trump's son and others who met with a Russian attorney at Trump Tower ahead of the 2016 election.
Trump Jr. deflected multiple questions during the interview, including whether he discussed the Russia probe with his father.
According to the transcripts, Trump Jr. also said he didn't think there was anything wrong with attending the Trump Tower meeting in which he was promised dirt on Hillary Clinton.
The meeting is under scrutiny in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
EU Chief Tusk Chides Trump for 'Capricious' Policies
European Union Council President Donald Tusk is deriding the actions of the United States under President Donald Trump as "capricious,'' noting: "Someone could even think `with friends like that, who needs enemies?"
As trans-Atlantic problems mount, Tusk is leading an EU summit Wednesday night to address the outstanding issues with the Trump administration which center on Washington pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal and the threat to impose punitive trade sanctions on the 28-nation EU.
Listing the traditional problems facing Europe, ranging from the expanding power of China to the belligerence of Russia, Tusk said: "We are witnessing today a new phenomenon, the capricious assertiveness of the American administration."
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
CIA Nominee: US Should Not Have Undertaken Harsh Interrogations
President Donald Trump's nominee to be CIA director, Gina Haspel, said the agency should not have undertaken a past harsh interrogation program, while asserting that the program yielded "valuable intelligence."
The Senate Intelligence Committee is due to vote on Wednesday on whether to approve Haspel.
Despite criticism of her nomination because of her past ties to the CIA's former rendition, detention and interrogation activities, Haspel is expected to be approved with the support of all eight committee Republicans and at least one of its seven Democrats.
She is expected to be confirmed by the full Senate as soon as next week, although that vote likely also will be close.
Haspel pledged at her confirmation hearing that she would never restart the program, in place in the years after the September 11, 2001 attacks, but did not go as far as saying it should not have been started.
An undercover officer for most of her 33-year career, Haspel in 2002 served as CIA station chief in Thailand, where the agency conducted interrogations at a secret prison using methods including waterboarding, which is widely viewed as torture.
Three years later, she drafted a cable ordering the destruction of videotapes of those interrogations.
"While I won't condemn those that made those hard calls, and I have noted the valuable intelligence collected, the program ultimately did damage to our officers and our standing in the world," Haspel said in a letter, dated May 14, and released on Tuesday.
"With the benefit of hindsight and my experience as a senior Agency leader, the enhanced interrogation program is not one the CIA should have undertaken. The United States must be an example to the rest of the world, and I support that," Haspel said in a letter to Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Warner has not yet said whether he will support Haspel's nomination.
French Increasingly at Odds With US despite Macron's Tactics
France's foreign minister warned on Tuesday that President Emmanuel Macron was prepared to respond to U.S. moves in the Middle East, marking a sharp departure from the warm relations on show during Macron's visit to Washington last month.
To date, Macron's best buddy approach to President Donald Trump has produced little practical influence on his policies.
"The situation in the Middle East is explosive, violence is doing the talking, war could loom," Jean-Yves Le Drian told parliament on Tuesday, a day after the United States moved an embassy in Jerusalem and Israeli soldiers shot dead more than 50 Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border.
"The president of the republic has decided to take all necessary political initiatives" in response, Le Drian said, without providing specifics.
Britain's minister of state for the Middle East expressed similar exasperation with Washington, saying the Trump administration needed a greater understanding of the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Earlier, the French government spokesman defended Macron's efforts to build a close working relationship with Trump, despite the U.S. president having gone against the French leader on almost all major issues so far.
Asked if Trump was still Macron's friend, Benjamin Griveaux, a close adviser to the French president, told BFM TV: "When you are the president of the republic, you are not the friend of foreign leaders, you are their partner, you have strategic alliances."
"France is attached to one thing — multilateralism. We talk to everyone and we speak firmly and frankly to them, we don't mince our words," he added.
Since coming to power a year ago, Macron has not hidden his desire to build a familiar relationship with Trump.
"Perfect"
Weeks after he took office, he invited the U.S. president to attend the annual Bastille Day celebrations, putting on a spectacular military parade for Trump.
During their first phone call, 71-year-old Trump gave the 40-year-old Frenchman his personal mobile phone number, and the two have spoken frequently since.
Last month, Macron and his wife Brigitte traveled to Washington for a state visit — the first Trump has hosted since he took office. Trump described Macron as "perfect" and the two made a show of giving each other warm hugs.
"He's a great guy, his wife is fantastic," Trump said of Macron in January. "I like him. He's a friend of mine." Yet Macron has struggled to convert the 'bonhomie' into influence on critical issues.
Soon after Macron took office, Trump announced he was walking away from the Paris climate accord, a landmark international agreement to combat global warming.
In recent weeks, over the objection of Macron and other leaders, Trump has moved to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminum imports, has withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal and moved the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, fueling widespread Palestinian unrest.
Asked late last year whether Macron wasn't wasting his time buddying up to Trump, a close adviser to the French president said it was worth it.
"We don't know how much worse things might be if he wasn't building a close relationship," the official said.
Griveaux took a similar line, adding that Macron's efforts didn't mean he was giving in. "Does it mean that we endorse or share the positions [of the U.S. administration]?" he said. "The answer is no."
Monday, May 14, 2018
Melania Trump in Hospital for Procedure on Kidney Condition
Melania Trump underwent a procedure Monday morning to treat a benign kidney condition and will likely be hospitalized for the rest of the week, the White House said.
President Donald Trump was expected to visit his wife at Walter Reed Medical Center just outside Washington later Monday, according to a White House official who was not authorized to disclose the plan and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said the procedure on the 48-year-old first lady was successful and there were no complications.
The White House did not offer any additional details on Mrs. Trump's condition.
She was last seen in public on Wednesday at a White House event where she joined the president to honor military mothers and spouses for Mother's Day.
Mrs. Trump, who has been gradually raising her profile as first lady, recently hosted her first state dinner and launched a public awareness campaign to help children.
With the president watching in the Rose Garden, Mrs. Trump last week unveiled the "Be Best" campaign, which she said will focus on childhood well-being, social media use and opioid abuse.
The first lady lived full time in New York during the administration's opening months so the couple's son, Barron, now 12, would not have to change schools midyear. She and Barron moved into the White House last June and since then the first lady has been raising her public profile.
Mrs. Trump joined her husband last month to host the prime minister of Japan for a two-day summit at the Trumps' Florida estate, and the Trumps hosted the president of France at the White House on a three-day state visit, including a lavish state dinner. Mrs. Trump also represented the administration at the April funeral of former first lady Barbara Bush.
US Senate Committee to Vote On Trump CIA Pick Wednesday
The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee will vote on Wednesday morning on President Donald Trump's nominee to be the new director of the CIA, Gina Haspel, a committee aide said on Monday.
The vote will take place behind closed doors, as is customary for the intelligence panel.
Haspel was grilled by lawmakers at her confirmation hearing last week over her role in the agency's past harsh interrogation system, pledging she would never restart the program or follow any morally objectionable order from Trump.
The nominee, who would be the first woman director of the Central Intelligence Agency, is expected to be approved by the committee and confirmed by the full Senate, now that at least two Democrats - Senators Joe Manchin and Joe Donnelly – have said they would join Republicans in supporting her.
Although Republicans John McCain and Rand Paul have announced opposition to Haspel, Trump's fellow Republicans hold a 51-49-seat majority in the 100-member Senate and Vice President Mike Pence could vote to break a tie.
Staid Singapore Prepares for Historic Trump-Kim Summit
Singapore, a highly manicured city-state shaped by skyscrapers and luxury hotels, is preparing for perhaps the most crucial international diplomatic event of the decade.
The June 12 meeting between tough-talking President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a brash young ruler with a nuclear arsenal, brings a bombastic set of personalities to the small island nation, which has hosted plenty of important meetings, but nothing as big as this.
Kim wants security and Trump wants Kim to get rid of his nukes. A breakdown in the talks could be costly — a collapsed faith in diplomacy would heighten fears of military conflict on the Korean Peninsula or maybe even spark a destabilizing arms race in Northeast Asia.
Whatever the outcome, the meeting will be a media spectacle. While the venue has yet to be announced, rooms appear to be fully booked on days surrounding the summit at the Shangri-La hotel and the Marina Bay Sands resort, two major properties seen as potential locations for the meeting, judging from reservation services on their websites or online travel companies. Other hotels say they've also seen increased reservations since the summit was announced.
A look at the possible venues, and why Singapore was likely chosen over more obvious locations:
Why Singapore?
Singapore appears to be a safe pick for the summit. It has close ties with the United States as a major trade and investment partner, and has also maintained diplomatic relations with North Korea since 1975. While Singapore's tight control over political activities and media has drawn criticism, it's also what makes the country an ideal location for a high-security event like the Trump-Kim summit.
Analysts, meanwhile, say the decision to meet in Singapore may suggest that Trump is entering the talks with tempered expectations.
A summit in Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, would have been a tremendous propaganda coup for Kim, who desperately craves international legitimacy. For Trump, Pyongyang would have been the only place in the world where he would command more attention than Kim, and a dramatic stage to showcase the deal-making skills he speaks so proudly of.
Trump would have claimed a summit in Washington as a major diplomatic win. But Kim could have done the same by presenting the invitation as a symbol of U.S. commitment to a security guarantee for the North.
Settling for Singapore probably shows Trump isn't immediately seeing a significant deal on the table, said Du Hyeogn Cha, a visiting scholar at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies.
"It was clear Trump was never going to Pyongyang unless he was sure he will return with a deal big enough to silence his critics at home, such as a firm agreement from North Korea for a quick and complete nuclear disarmament," Cha said by phone. "Kim was never going to Washington, D.C., unless the United States promises to lift sanctions against the North upfront."
Shangri-La hotel
The Shangri-La appears to be the most obvious fit. The 747-room hotel has a wealth of experience in hosting high-security events, including the historic 2015 summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, the first meeting between leaders of the two sides since they split in 1949.
The hotel also hosts the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, widely seen as Asia's most important security forum, bringing together defense ministers and high-level government officials from across the region.
This year's Shangri-La Dialogue, set for June 1-3, will include a session titled "Deescalating the North Korean crisis." If the Shangri-La hotel is chosen for the Trump-Kim meeting, much of the security preparations might already be in place.
"The hotel has not received confirmation on the venue and is not in a position to make any comments on behalf of the stakeholders involved in the preparation of this summit," Monica Alsagoff, Shangri-La's communications director, said in an email.
Marina Bay Sands resort
It Trump and Kim have interest in creating powerful optics — and both seem to be personalities who would — the Vegas-style Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino, which towers over Singapore's bustling financial district, could be the ideal venue.
The three-tower, 2,561-room property, which opened in 2011, now competes with the Merlion statue as Singapore's most iconic landmark, dominating the skyline with a huge boat-like structure on top that houses a 150-meter (492-foot) -long swimming pool.
The resort is owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, whose billionaire chairman, Sheldon Adelson, was one of the biggest financial backers of Trump's 2016 presidential bid. But there could be security challenges to hosting the summit so close to Singapore's busiest streets.
"As the official venue of the summit has not been announced yet, Marina Bay Sands has no comments on your questions relating to the event," Val Chua, communications director at Marina Bay Sands, said in an email.
Sentosa Island
There's media speculation that North Korea would prefer the secluded island resort of Sentosa, located about 20 minutes from the city center, because of security reasons. However, it's questionable whether there would be enough rooms at the island's hotels to accommodate what's likely to be a huge number of delegates, security personnel and reporters.
If the summit is held on Sentosa, the island's relatively bigger properties such as the Capella Singapore and Resorts World Sentosa could be possible locations.
Read More Staid Singapore Prepares for Historic Trump-Kim Summit : https://ift.tt/2KnFvsGChina Sends Trade Envoy to US, Welcomes Trump ZTE Comments
China said Monday it is sending an envoy to the United States this week for talks aimed at cooling a trade dispute that threatens to upend markets from soybeans to steel, and welcomed comments by President Donald Trump hinting at a possible easing of sanctions on embattled Chinese telecoms firm ZTE.
The foreign ministry said Vice Premier Liu He will visit the U.S. from Tuesday to Saturday for consultations with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.
Ministry spokesman Lu Kang also said China appreciated tweets by Trump saying he would help ZTE Corp. get "back into business" because too many jobs in China are at stake after the U.S. government cut off access to ZTE's American suppliers.
"We think highly of the U.S. statement regarding ZTE's case. We are currently in close communication over details of the implementation," Lu told reporters at a daily news briefing.
Referring to Liu's visit, Lu said China was willing to work with the U.S. to "strive for positive and constructive outcomes from the next round of economic and trade discussions."
Partially state-owned ZTE makes cellphones, network switching equipment and other telecommunications equipment. Last month, the U.S. Commerce Department banned it from buying U.S. technology or components for seven years after it misled regulators by failing to discipline employees involved in illegal exports and instead paid them bonuses.
Liu's trip to Washington follows a visit by Mnuchin and other U.S. officials to Beijing earlier this month, where they conveyed a demand that China slash its trade surplus with the U.S. by $200 billion by the end of 2020.
An intensifying rivalry over advanced technology has also fueled demands by Washington that China give up policies that favor domestic companies. Beijing considers such programs as fundamental to its state-driven economic model and vital for its future growth.
America's trade deficit with China amounted last year to $337 billion in goods and services.
The intensifying trade dispute has rattled financial markets for weeks. In March, the Trump administration slapped tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. China counterpunched with tariffs on a range of U.S. products, including bourbon and blue jeans.
An even higher-stakes fight looms over American allegations that China steals technology and forces U.S. companies to hand over trade secrets in exchange for access to the Chinese market. The United States is considering imposing tariffs on up to $150 billion of Chinese products, and Beijing has countered with proposed tariffs on $50 billion in American goods, including soybeans and small aircraft.
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Melania Trump Steps Onto Public Stage Amid White House Scandals, Controversies
U.S. first lady Melania Trump stepped into the limelight this month as she launched her official platform to address major issues facing children today. Since becoming the first lady, Mrs. Trump has kept a relatively low profile amid the turmoil and controversies surrounding the Trump White House, but experts say Mrs. Trump, who enjoys a higher approval rating than her husband, may be ready to take on a more public role. VOA White House Correspondent Peggy Chang has more from the White House.
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Chinese Soybean Purchases Plant Seeds of Concern for US Farmers
As U.S. farmers head to their fields to plant this year's crop, they face new challenges created by Chinese threats to impose tariffs on some of their products. It's the latest salvo in an escalating trade dispute that has farmers warily watching fluctuating commodity prices as the United States Department of Agriculture projects net farm income in 2018 to reach a 12-year low. VOA's Kane Farabaugh has more from Illinois.
Joy and Outrage as US Embassy Set to Open in Jerusalem
With the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, the region is bracing for both celebrations and unrest. Experts say President Donald Trump's decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv amounts to U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a decision that has drawn praise from Israelis and angered Palestinians. VOA's Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from the State Department on Monday's ceremony.
Friday, May 11, 2018
Trump Says He Still Has Confidence in EPA Chief Pruitt
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said that embattled Environmental Protection Agency Director Scott Pruitt still has his confidence.
Pruitt has been criticized for a series of potential ethics lapses, including flying first class, excessive spending on security, and the rental of a room in a Washington condominium owned by the wife of an energy lobbyist.
Asked during a meeting of automakers at the White House if he still has confidence in Pruitt, Trump responded: "Yes, I do."
Kelly: Trump `Somewhat Embarrassed' by Russia Probe
White House chief of staff John Kelly said President Donald Trump is "somewhat embarrassed" by the special counsel's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Kelly told National Public Radio in an interview that aired Friday the probe "may not be a cloud" over the White House, but it gets discussed.
Said Kelly: "When world leaders come in, it's kind of like, you know, Bibi Netanyahu is here ... who's under investigation himself, and it's like, you know, you walk in, and you know, the first couple of minutes of every conversation might revolve around that kind of thing."
Kelly also spoke about the Trump administration's efforts to fight illegal immigration. He said most people coming into the country illegally "are not bad people," but said they won't assimilate easily.
"They're overwhelmingly rural people. In the countries they come from, fourth-, fifth-, sixth-grade educations are kind of the norm," Kelly said. "They don't speak English; obviously that's a big thing. ... They don't integrate well; they don't have skills."
While Kelly's role in the administration appears to have diminished of late, he told NPR that he has a close relationship with Trump and said he has never considered leaving the White House.
"There's times of great frustration, mostly because of the stories I read about myself or others that I think the world of, which is just about everybody who works at the complex, and wonder whether it's worth it to be subjected to that," he said.
He also said he wished he had been in his role sooner: "I think in some cases in terms of staffing or serving the president that first six months was pretty chaotic and there were people some people hired that maybe shouldn't have."
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Facebook Ads Show Russian Effort to Stoke Political Division
Democrats on the House intelligence committee have released more than 3,500 Facebook ads that were created or promoted by a Russian internet agency, providing the fullest picture yet of Russia's attempt to sow racial and political division in the United States before and after the 2016 election.
Most of the ads are issue-based, pushing arguments for and against immigration, LGBT issues and gun rights, among other issues. A large number of them attempt to stoke racial divisions by mentioning police brutality or disparaging the Black Lives Matter movement. Some promote President Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders, who ran against Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary. Few, if any, support Clinton.
The intelligence committee Democrats released a sampling of the ads purchased by Russia's Internet Research Agency last year, but they are now releasing the full cache of ads that Facebook officials turned over to the panel after acknowledging in September they had discovered the Russian efforts. The release of ads from early 2015 through mid-2017 does not include 80,000 posts that the agency also shared. Some of the ads are partially redacted, part of an effort by Facebook and the committee to protect unsuspecting people whose names or faces were used.
An Associated Press review of the thousands of ads and their data shows how precisely - and sometimes randomly - the agency targeted them.
Some ads designed to appeal to critics of immigration were targeted to users who liked specific Fox News hosts, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, “Old Glory” and the United States Constitution, among other words.
Others were more narrowly targeted. Facebook users within 12 miles of Buffalo, New York, were directed to an event supporting justice for a black woman who died in a county jail. Another ad criticizing a Texas school teacher who lost her job after making racist remarks was aimed at adults living in Cleveland, Baltimore, St. Louis and Ferguson, Missouri.
One ad that targeted African-Americans concerned about discrimination was only to be shown to users accessing Facebook on Wi-Fi, rather than cellular. There was no explanation as to why that was.
Sometimes the targeting appeared to work - after a try or two. A January 2016 ad that promised news on “bad” refugees got five clicks when targeted at those interested in immigration or conservatism. But the same ad got 163 clicks when targeted at those interested in Syria, the Republican Party or politics.
Others got many more clicks. A pro-patriotism ad created on June 23, 2015 featuring a stylized drawing of a bald eagle was viewed nearly 530,000 times and was clicked on 72,000 times.
As the Russians attempted to pose as Americans, their language sometimes hinted at their origin. One ad railed against immigrants who “should prove that they are deserved to stay in the United States.” Another read: “Your life matter. My life matter. Black matters.”
Facebook revealed in September that it had discovered the divisive ads, which were paid for in rubles. Ads were still running in July and August of 2017, weeks before Facebook made the effort public.
In February, special counsel Robert Mueller indicted 13 Russians of an elaborate plot to disrupt the 2016 presidential election, charging several people associated with the Internet Research Agency with running a huge but hidden social media trolling campaign aimed in part at helping Trump defeat Clinton. The indictment was part of Mueller's larger investigation into Russian intervention in the election and whether Trump's campaign was involved. There has been no evidence that Trump's campaign was in any way associated with the social media effort.
The trove of ads released Thursday appears to back the assertion that the Russians wanted to hurt Clinton. Some spread rumors about her husband, former president Bill Clinton, or promote lies about her. Several depict Clinton behind bars.
Hundreds of the ads ran after the election, continuing the effort to sow discord. A series of ads posted two days after Trump was elected urge his supporters to show up at Trump Tower in Manhattan to respond to the “massive crowds of libtards” who protested him. It targets people within 50 miles of New York City and provides the street address.
That was one of many ads that attempted to set up events - sometimes on opposing sides of an issue.
In May 2017, the fake group “United Muslims of America” ran seven ads promoting two June 3 protests against the war in Syria - one at Trump Tower, the other at the White House. One of those ads targeted people with interests in peace, human rights, feminism and pacifism and those who were “likely to engage with political content (liberal).”
Facebook has said that more than 10 million people in the United States saw the ads, more than half of which ran after the election. Under fire from Congress, the social media giant has pledged improvements to its ad policies and enforcement. Facebook has made it easier to see the origins of ads, is forcing buyers to be more transparent about who they are and has worked to find more fake accounts, among other changes.
California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence committee, said he was releasing the ads so it doesn't happen again.
“The only way we can begin to inoculate ourselves against a future attack is to see firsthand the types of messages, themes and imagery the Russians used to divide us,” he said.
Read More Facebook Ads Show Russian Effort to Stoke Political Division : https://ift.tt/2IcweTCPence: Mueller Should 'Wrap Up' Russia Probe
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday he thinks it's time for special counsel Robert Mueller to conclude his criminal investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice by trying to thwart the probe.
Pence told NBC News, "In the interests of the country, I think it's time to wrap it up."
There is no indication, however, that Mueller is close to ending his year-long probe. His legal team has been negotiating with Trump's lawyers over whether the president will sit for an interview and under what terms, such as the topics to be discussed, the length of the questioning and whether Trump would testify under oath.
If no agreement is reached, Mueller has suggested that he could subpoena Trump to testify under oath before a grand jury, which could spark a legal dispute that would have to be decided by the Supreme Court over whether a sitting president can be forced to testify.
“It’s been about a year since this investigation began," Pence told NBC. "Our administration's provided over a million documents. We've fully cooperated in it."
Pence added, “I would very respectfully encourage the special counsel and his team to bring their work to completion.”
The vice president was asked about news that Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, collected more than $2 million after the 2016 election by promoting himself as someone with access to Trump and someone who could provide insight into the new president's thinking on policy issues.
But Pence called it a "private matter" and "something I don't have any knowledge about."
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Europe Vows to Defend Its Interests in Iran
A transatlantic diplomatic tussle appears to be looming after European leaders pledged to defend their countries' commercial interests in Iran, following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. Fellow signatories Russia and China also said they would stick with the accord. Washington says it will begin phasing in sanctions on Iran in the coming months. Henry Ridgwell reports.
Trump Declares Republicans Had 'Great Night' in Primary Elections
Voters in four U.S. state primary elections propelled candidates largely supportive of President Donald Trump's agenda to victory Tuesday, prompting Trump to declare that Republicans "had a great night" he hopes will be repeated in the November midterm elections.
"Tremendous voter energy and excitement, and all candidates are those who have a great chance of winning in November," Trump wrote Wednesday on Twitter.
Trump suggested a healthy U.S. economy and congressional passage of the Republican tax plan may put victory out of reach for Democrats in November, and targeted House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who has said she would seek to rescind the new tax law if Democrats win control of the House next year.
"The Economy is sooo strong, and with Nancy Pelosi wanting to end the big Tax Cuts and Raise Taxes, why wouldn’t we win?"
Republican voters ensured that nominees generally aligned with Trump were victorious in Senate primaries in Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia.
The president's most significant win came in West Virginia, where ex-convict Don Blankenship, who touted himself as "Trumpier than Trump," was soundly defeated by state attorney general Patrick Morrisey.
Republican voters in Indiana selected wealthy businessman Mike Braun over two incumbent congressmen to lead the party against a vulnerable Democrat in the midterm elections, which have Republicans concerned over the possibility of big losses.
Voters also went to the polls in North Carolina, where Republicans were dealt a stinging defeat. Congressman Robert Pittenger lost to Baptist pastor Mark Harris, becoming the first incumbent to lose his seat this primary season.
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