Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) announced his resignation from Congress on Friday, three days after pleading guilty to misusing campaign funds.
The state of play: Hunter's exit also comes a day after the House Ethics Committee instructed him to stop voting in light of his guilty plea. Hunter's plea agreement said he and his wife spent over $150,000 of campaign funds on personal expenses, including meals and luxury vacations, per CBS News.
White House counsel Pat Cipollone called the impeachment process a "charade" on Friday in a letter to House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, ahead of the House deadline for President Trump and his legal counsel to announce their participation in the impeachment hearings.
What they're saying: The letter emphasized that Trump is calling for House Democrats to impeach him "fast" if they're going to, so there will be "a fair trial in the Senate."
Sen. Cory Booker said on Friday that he hopes people around 2020 rival Michael Bloomberg are discussing why describing him as "well-spoken" is problematic and part of bigger frustrations within the black community, CNN reports.
Catch up quick: Bloomberg characterized Booker as "well-spoken" Friday morning when responding to a reporter's question about how only white candidates are expected to participate in the next Democratic debate, per CNN.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg's campaign fired back at Sen. Elizabeth Warren calling her a “corporate lawyer” and suggesting she open “up the doors to the decades of tax returns she’s hiding."
The other side: Warren, who typically chooses not to call out her competitors by name, criticized the mayor on Thursday for failing to disclose the names of his finance committee or his campaign’s top fundraisers since April, Politico reports.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-N.J.), one of the two House members who voted against the resolution establishing impeachment procedures in October, told The Hill he will oppose the forthcoming articles of impeachment against President Trump.
The big picture: Van Drew’s opposition goes against the majority of House Democrats. His district was held by the GOP prior to 2018. "I'll look at new information that's presented. I'll always have an open mind. But where I am now is where I was before," Van Drew said.
Mike Bloomberg told "CBS This Morning" Friday that Bloomberg News' editorial staff will "just have to learn to live with" the organization's decision to extend its policy of not investigating him — as its owner — to all Democrats running for president in 2020.
The big picture: The decision has garnered criticism from both Bloomberg News' staff as well as President Trump, whose campaign said it won't credential Bloomberg News reporters due to "unfair reporting practices."
More than 500 legal scholars and law professors signed a letter saying President Trump has "engaged in impeachable conduct," and that lawmakers would be well within their rights to pursue impeachment.
Why it matters: The academics said the evidence surrounding the impeachment inquiry shows that Trump betrayed the oath "to help him distort an American election, for his personal and political benefit" at the expense of American national security interests.
Former Vice President Joe Biden said "we’re likely to inherit a recession, at least a significant economic slowdown," during an interview with CNBC's John Harwood.
Why it matters: Biden slammed President Trump's economic policies in the interview, saying Trump's plan won't help the economy grow in the long run. Biden also said Trump is "ripping the soul out of this country."
Rep. George Holding (R-N.C.) announced Friday that he will not seek re-election in 2020 after North Carolina's recently redrawn congressional maps placed him in a heavily Democratic district.
Why it matters: Holding's decision to leave Congress is one of the first major impacts of North Carolina's new maps, which still favor Republicans in eight out of the state's 13 congressional seats. He is the 21st House Republican to announce their retirement this cycle.
Elizabeth Warren is "in excellent health," according to a doctor's report released Friday by her 2020 presidential campaign.
The big picture: Warren, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are all over 70 years old. They promised on the debate stage in September to release their medical records before the primary's first votes are cast.
Bernie Sanders released a new $150 billion plan on Friday to increase broadband internet access across the U.S. and break up what his campaign labels "internet service provider and cable monopolies."
The big picture: Sanders is one of many 2020 candidates, such as Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren to release a plan to increase high-speed broadband access.
