Jul 12, 2018

Strzok says he doesn't recall writing "We'll stop" Trump text

Strzok testifies. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

FBI agent Peter Strzok broke his silence on a series of controversial anti-Trump texts he sent before the 2016 election. Strzok told a House hearing Thursday that he does not recall writing a text that said "No. No he's not. We'll stop it," referring to Trump winning the presidency.

“I don’t recall writing that text … What I can tell you is that text in no way suggested that I or the FBI would take any action to influence the candidacy of candidate Trump.”
— Peter Strzok

Why it matters: Republicans have been waiting for the chance to grill Strzok about their suspicions that he was biased against Trump. The testimony quickly devolved into a yelling match, with House Judiciary Committee chairman Bob Goodlatte threatening to hold Strzok in contempt after he refused to answer Republicans' questions about the FBI's investigation of Russian election meddling, citing the fact that it is ongoing.

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  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 7 p.m. ET: 5,383,582 — Total deaths: 344,077 — Total recoveries — 2,158,031 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 7 p.m. ET: 1,640,972 — Total deaths: 97,679 — Total recoveries: 366,736 — Total tested: 14,163,195 — Map.
  3. World: White House announces travel restrictions on Brazil, coronavirus hotspot in Southern Hemisphere — Over 100 coronavirus cases in Germany tied to single day of church services — Boris Johnson backs top aide amid reports that he broke U.K. lockdown while exhibiting symptoms.
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  5. Economy: White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett says it's possible the unemployment rate could still be in double digits by November's election — Public employees brace for layoffs.
  6. Federal government: Trump attacks a Columbia University study that suggests earlier lockdown could have saved 36,000 American lives.
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Updated 17 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Federal judge strikes down Florida law requiring felons to pay fines before voting

Gov. Ron DeSantis. Photo: oe Raedle/Getty Images

A federal judge on Sunday ruled that a Florida law requiring convicted felons to pay all court fines and fees before registering to vote is unconstitutional.

Why it matters: The ruling, which will likely be appealed by state Republicans, would clear the way for hundreds of thousands of ex-felons in Florida to register to vote ahead of November's election.

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White House announces new coronavirus travel restrictions on Brazil

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro with Trump, March 19, 2019. Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo-Pool via Getty Images

The White House announced that beginning at 11:59 pm ET on Thursday, President Trump would suspend entry of non-U.S. citizens who have been in Brazil in the past 14 days in an effort to stop the imported spread of the coronavirus.

Why it matters: Brazil has reported nearly 350,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus — the second-most in the world behind the U.S. — and has emerged as a Southern Hemisphere hotspot as other heavily affected countries in Asia and Europe have managed to get their outbreaks under control.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow2 hours ago - World