Apr 24, 2019

Trump says he's against White House aides testifying before Congress

President Trump. Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

President Trump told The Washington Post Tuesday he's against White House aides — past and present — testifying before congressional panels following the Mueller report findings.

There is no reason to go any further, and especially in Congress where it’s very partisan — obviously very partisan."

Why it matters: Trump's comments indicate a further escalation in the White House's power struggle with House Democrats, who've stepped up investigations into his administration.

The big picture: The Trump administration has taken several steps to block oversight by House Democrats this week.

Earlier Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin informed House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) the department would decide by May 6 whether to release Trump's tax returns to Congress — effectively ignoring Neal's April 23 deadline.
On Monday, the president and the Trump Organization sued House Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings in an attempt to block Cummings' subpoena of Trump's longtime accountant, Mazars USA LLP.
Also on Monday, the White House directed former security clearance official Carl Kline not to comply with an Oversight subpoena. Cummings is moving to hold Kline in contempt of Congress.
And the administration plans on fighting a House Judiciary subpoena of former White House counsel Don McGahn.

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Updates: George Floyd protests continue past curfews

Protesters on Tuesday evening by the metal fence recently erected outside the White House. Photo: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

Protests over the death of George Floyd and other police-related killings of black people continued Tuesday night across the U.S. for the eighth consecutive day — prompting a federal response from the National Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.

The latest: Protesters were still out en masse for mostly after curfews were in force in cities including Washington, D.C., New York City, Los Angeles and Portland — where police used pepper spray and flash bangs on a group throwing projectiles at them during an "unlawful assembly," per KATU. Portland police said this group was separate to the thousands of demonstrators who protested peacefully elsewhere in the city.

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Updated 3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Primary elections test impact of protests, coronavirus on voting

Election official at a polling place at McKinley Technology High School in Washington, D.C. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

In the midst of a global pandemic and national protests over the death of George Floyd, eight states and the District of Columbia held primary elections on Tuesday.

Why it matters: Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, needs to win 425 of the 479 delegates up for grabs in order to officially clinch the nomination. There are a number of key down-ballot races throughout the country as well, including a primary in Iowa that could determine the fate of Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa).

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Iowa Rep. Steve King defeated in GOP primary

Rep. Steve King. Photo: Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images

State Sen. Randy Feenstra defeated incumbent Rep. Steve King in Tuesday's Republican primary for Iowa's 4th congressional district, according to the Cook Political Report.

Why it matters: King's history of racist remarks has made him one of the most controversial politicians in the country and a pariah within the Republican Party.

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