WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — For weeks, President Donald Trump had grown increasingly frustrated with the cable news chatter that he couldn't hire a big-name attorney for his legal team.But the president boasted to a confidant this week that he had struck a deal that he believed would silence those critics: He was hiring "America's F---ing Mayor."With the addition of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Trump gains a former U.S. attorney, a past presidential candidate and a TV-savvy defender at a time when the White House is looking for ways to bring the president's involvement with special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation to a close. Trump has been weighing whether to sit for questioning by Mueller's team, and his lawyers have repeatedly met with investigators to define the scope of the questions he would face.Giuliani will enter those negotiations, filling the void left by attorney John Dowd, who resigned last month.The deal was finalized over dinner in the … [Read more...] about For Trump, Giuliani adds toughness, star power to legal team
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North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Says He Will Stop Testing Missiles Ahead of Trump Meeting
World North Korea Kim Jong Un Nuclear Weapons North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un announced Friday that he no longer wants to test nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, reported South Korea's official Yonhap News Agency. The statement would mark a major concession as the young leader prepares for his country's first direct meeting with a sitting U.S. president, reportedly set to take place late next month or in early June. The announcement came via state media, which said a total freeze for nuclear tests would come into effect immediately local time. Related: North Korea Says U.S. Must Stop Defending Israel, Which is 'Destroying' Middle East "From April 21, North Korea will stop nuclear tests and launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles," Yonhap quoted Korean Central News Agency as saying. Recommended Slideshows 51 50 Best-Selling Albums in U.S. History 51 In Pictures: The 50 Most Powerful Military Forces in the World 44 In … [Read more...] about North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Says He Will Stop Testing Missiles Ahead of Trump Meeting
Judge: Trump lawyer must make sworn statement to slow suit
LOS ANGELES (AP) — President Donald Trump's personal lawyer must declare in writing that his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination may be jeopardized if legal proceedings aren't delayed in a lawsuit filed by porn actress Stormy Daniels, a federal judge said Friday.Los Angeles federal Judge S. James Otero said there were "gaping holes" in Michael Cohen's request for a delay and it was not enough for his attorney to file a statement on his behalf. He gave Cohen until Wednesday to do so himself.Daniel's lawsuit is aimed at dissolving a confidentiality agreement that prevents her from talking about an alleged affair with Trump. She's also suing Cohen for defamation.Cohen sought to delay the civil case 90 days after FBI agents raided his New York office and residence, seeking records about the $130,000 agreement that Daniels signed days before the 2016 presidential election.Otero, speaking from his experience on the bench and without knowledge of the investigation, said it … [Read more...] about Judge: Trump lawyer must make sworn statement to slow suit
Hot potato: Dems shy from Steyer’s talk of impeaching Trump
ATLANTA (AP) — Tom Steyer is on a multimillion-dollar mission to impeach Donald Trump, but Democrats whose campaigns the California billionaire is helping bankroll aren't keen to follow his lead.Steyer, whose appeals you may have seen on TV, is spending $40 million on his "Need To Impeach" roadshow, with advertising and town halls around the country. But Democratic leaders in Congress and many candidates hoping to wrest House control from the Republicans shun the prospect of showy impeachment proceedings. Instead, they're counting on pocketbook issues and a growing voter interest in checks on the GOP government in Washington.The tightrope balance for Democrats underscores their dilemma. The question is how to maximize liberal anger against the president, who is under the cloud of a special counsel's investigation, while not alienating Trump country independents and moderate Republicans who are unhappy with him but often detest his critics even more.Steyer's largely freelancing … [Read more...] about Hot potato: Dems shy from Steyer’s talk of impeaching Trump
Democrats sue Trump campaign, Russia and WikiLeaks over alleged election conspiracy
"During the 2016 presidential campaign, Russia launched an all-out assault on our democracy, and it found a willing and active partner in Donald Trump's campaign," Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement. "This constituted an act of unprecedented treachery: the campaign of a nominee for president of the United States in league with a hostile foreign power to bolster its own chance to win the presidency." … [Read more...] about Democrats sue Trump campaign, Russia and WikiLeaks over alleged election conspiracy