Steve Mnuchin (C) and Eli Miller (R). Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.
Eli Miller, who resigned last Thursday as chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, has agreed to join private equity giant The Blackstone Group to work on public policy, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Miller was Mnuchin's closest adviser, and he is staying within the Trump orbit by joining an investment firm led by Trump adviser Steve Schwarzman.
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
President Trump speaks to workers at a manufacturing facility in Clyde, Ohio, on Thursday. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Some Republicans joined Democrats in criticizing President Trump Saturday night for taking executive action on coronavirus aid, with Democratic leaders demanding the GOP return to negotiations after stimulus package talks broke down a day earlier.
Why it matters: Trump could face legal challenges on his ability to act without congressional approval, where the power lies on federal spending. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) was the most vocal Republican critic, saying in a statement: "The pen-and-phone theory of executive lawmaking is unconstitutional slop."
President Trump speaking during a press conference on Aug. 8. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump on Saturday signed four executive actions to provide relief from economic damage sustained during the coronavirus pandemic after talks between the White House and Democratic leadership collapsed Friday afternoon.
Why it matters: Because the Constitution gives Congress the power to appropriate federal spending, Trump has limited authority to act unilaterally — and risks a legal challenge if congressional Democrats believe he has overstepped.