Feb 18, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Report: Rick Gates to plead guilty "within days," testify against Manafort

Then-Republican nominee Donald Trump with Rick Gates at the Republican Convention in July 2016. Photo:
Brooks Kraft / Getty Images

Former top Trump campaign aide Rick Gates will plead guilty on fraud-related charges in coming days, the Los Angeles Times reports. Sources tell the Times Gates has told prosecutors that he would testify against his former business partner and Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.

Why it matters: Gates pleaded not guilty last October to charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller, but there have been reports he's trying to strike a deal. Unnamed sources told the Times that Gates' plea will be presented in federal court in Washington "within the next few days.''

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Fadel Allassan
10 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Senate advances Amy Coney Barrett nomination, setting up final confirmation vote

Photo: Xinhua/Ting Shen via Getty Images

The Senate voted 51-48 on Sunday to advance the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, setting up a final confirmation vote for Monday.

Why it matters: It's now virtually inevitable that the Senate will vote to confirm President Trump's third Supreme Court nominee before the election, which is just nine days away.

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Felix Salmon, author of Capital
2 hours ago - Economy & Business

Wall Street is living up to its bad reputation

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Recent headlines will have you convinced that Wall Street is hell-bent on living up to all of its stereotypes.

Driving the news: Goldman Sachs is the biggest and the boldest, paying more than $5 billion in fines in the wake of the 1MDB scandal, in which billions were stolen from the people of Malaysia.

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Axios
2 hours ago - Health

Ex-FDA chief: Pence campaigning after COVID exposure puts others at risk

Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said "the short answer is yes" when asked whether Vice President Mike Pence is putting others at risk by continuing to campaign after several aides tested positive for COVID-19, stressing that the White House needs to be "very explicit about the risks that they're taking."

Why it matters: The New York Times reports that at least five members of Pence's inner circle, including his chief of staff Marc Short and outside adviser Marty Obst, have tested positive for the virus. Pence tested negative on Sunday morning, according to the VP's office, and he'll continue to travel for the final stretch of the 2020 campaign.

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