February 12: Criticism of Trump’s influence over the DOJ continues. He claims no pressure on the DOJ despite his tweets.
Now catch your breath. Next week will bring new Trump drama.
What job is Barr referring to?
The day after Barr went on TV to demand that his boss stop tweeting because it was interfering with the attorney general’s job, the New York Times and CNN reported that Barr ordered a review of other high-profile cases, including that of Michael Flynn, the former Trump national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and then cooperated with Robert Mueller.
Begging the question: What exactly is the job Barr thinks the tweets are keeping him from doing?
McCabe won’t face charges
“The timing this week coming on the tails of all the controversy over the Roger Stone sentencing is curious,” he said. “Again, it’s a decision that I and my attorneys feel confident they could have come to a long, long time ago. But nevertheless they did the right thing today by acknowledging that there was no place to take this and that no criminal charges should ever be brought on it.”
We don’t really have a campaign finance system. It’s a patchwork.
Me: How much can he spend? Is there anything in US law that addresses self-financing?
Fredreka: As much as he wants. Federal candidates don’t face any restrictions on how much of their own money they can spend to win — or lose — an election.
Back in 2002, Congress attempted to level the playing field between self-funded congressional candidates and their rivals this way: Once a self-funded candidate’s spending crossed a set threshold ($350,000 for House candidates, for instance), contribution limits for all the other rivals in the race would be relaxed.
But, in 2008, the US Supreme Court tossed that that provision as unconstitutional. And the court has said rich candidates have a First Amendment right to “unfettered speech.”
And so it goes.
What are we doing here?
The American system of government has been challenged to deal with a singular President and a divided country that will decide whether he should get another four years in the White House.
Stay tuned to this newsletter as we keep watch over the Trump administration, the 2020 presidential campaign and other issues of critical interest.
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