Dec 8, 2018

Comey gets contentious with House Republicans in closed door session

James Comey. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

House Republicans on Saturday released the transcripts of their Friday interview with former FBI Director James Comey as part of an investigation into the FBI's probe of Hillary Clinton, President Trump and interference in the 2016 Russian election, CNN reports.

Details: The interview became contentious with Republican officials grilling Comey on Clinton's e-mails among other matters. The Associated Press explains that "some Republicans signaled they were unhappy with Comey’s level of cooperation. California Rep. Darrell Issa... said the department lawyer repeatedly instructed Comey not to answer 'a great many questions that are clearly items at the core of our investigation.'" Democrats, however, felt as though Comey "answered the questions he had to answer," per Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) "But he added that he was left with the impression that 'we got nowhere today,'" she told the AP.

What's next: Comey is due to return in two weeks for another interview with lawmakers but it's unclear whether he'll return, the Associated Press reports.

Go deeper

Axios

Updated 17 mins ago - Politics & Policy

U.S. cities crack down on protesters

Demonstrators gather at Lafayette Park across from the White House to protest the death of George Floyd in Washington, D.C. Photo: Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Major U.S. cities have implemented curfews and called on National Guard to mobilize as thousands of demonstrators gather across the nation to continue protesting the death of George Floyd.

The state of play: Hundreds have already been arrested as tensions continue to rise between protesters and local governments. Protesters are setting police cars on fire as freeways remain blocked and windows are shattered, per the Washington Post. Law enforcement officials are using tear gas and rubber bullets to try to disperse crowds and send protesters home.

Go deeper (1 min. read)

Axios

Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

George Floyd protests: What you need to know

Photo: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

Clashes erupted between police and protesters in several major U.S. cities Saturday night as demonstrations over the death of George Floyd and other police-related killings of black men spread across the U.S. Saturday.

The big picture: Floyd's death in Minneapolis police custody is the latest reminder of the disparities between black and white communities in the U.S. and comes as African Americans grapple with higher death rates from the coronavirus and higher unemployment from trying to stem its spread.

Go deeper (3 min. read)

Rebecca Falconer

4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Trump to invite Russia and other non-member G7 countries to summit

President Trump at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Saturday. Photo: Saul Martinez/Getty Images

President Trump told reporters on Saturday evening he would postpone the G7 summit to September and expand the meeting to more nations that are not members of the Group of 7.

Details: Trump said he would invite Russia, South Korea, Australia and India to the summit, according to a pool report. "I don’t feel that as a G7 it properly represents what’s going on in the world. It’s a very outdated group of countries," he said.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)