Jan 22, 2020

Tulsi Gabbard sues Hillary Clinton for defamation over Russia comments

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images; Erik Voake/Getty Images for Hulu

2020 Democratic contender Tulsi Gabbard filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Hillary Clinton for defamation over the former secretary of state's implication that the Hawaii congresswoman is a "favorite of the Russians" during an October interview.

The big picture: In the suit, Gabbard claims that her "political and personal reputation" was damaged by the comment and that it caused her to drop in the polls in key primary states.

Background: On David Plouffe's podcast "Campaign HQ" in October, Clinton predicted that one candidate was being groomed by Russia to run as a third-party candidate, saying they're "the favorite" of the country and an "asset." However, Clinton never explicitly mentioned Gabbard by name.

Gabbard's foreign policy stances significantly differ from other top Democratic candidates, especially on Syria. She has controversially defended Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and met with him on a secret trip to Syria in 2017.

What they're saying: "One would expect someone of Mrs. Clinton's political background to act with a greater level of maturity and dignity, but her personal hostility toward Rep. Gabbard apparently clouded Mrs. Clinton's reason and blinded her to U.S. defamation laws," Brian Dunne, Gabbard's lawyer, said in a statement per ABC News.

Read the complaint:

Go deeper: Trump attacks Clinton on "Hannity," defends Tulsi Gabbard

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Axios

New Hampshire polls show Sanders, Buttigieg on top in final stretch

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Sen. Bernie Sanders maintains a slight lead over Pete Buttigieg in the upcoming New Hampshire primary, according to new polls conducted by the University of New Hampshire for CNN and WBZ/Boston Globe/Suffolk University.

Why it matters: The high-stakes primary is just two days away. Sanders and Buttigieg finished in a virtual tie in last week's Iowa caucuses, and both candidates appear set for another strong performance in a state Sanders won by more than 20 points in 2016.

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Dave Lawler

When impeachment collides with foreign policy

Kissinger and Trump, two men who know a thing or two about impeachment. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Historical analyses of President Trump's impeachment will note that it coincided with a tumultuous four months in U.S. foreign policy.

Between the lines: It’s impossible to evaluate exactly if and how impeachment affected Trump's calculus along the way — but it certainly affected his predecessors.

Go deeperJan 31, 2020 - World

Rashaan Ayesh

Bernie and Biden now polling even at 20% in Iowa

Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

The latest Iowa poll averages from FiveThirtyEight put Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden neck and neck in Iowa at 20.2% and 20.1%, respectively with less than two weeks before the caucuses.

The state of play: Sanders and Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar and Michael Bennet are all tied up with the Senate impeachment trial — giving other candidates an opportunity to seize on their absences to gain ground in Iowa, which hosts the nation's first 2020 presidential nominating contest.

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