close Video Does the president have absolute power to pardon himself? Ken Thomas, White House reporter for the Associated Press discusses President Trump's recent tweet. President Trump said this week that he has the right to pardon himself from possible crimes related to Russian meddling into the 2016 elections. “I have the absolute right to PARDON myself,” the president tweeted. He then quickly assured us that he wouldn’t use that power. “But why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?” the president asked, taking the position that he has no need to pardon himself. He further tweeted that the Russia probe being conducted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller is “UNCONSTITUTIONAL.” President Trump’s comments followed arguments made over the weekend by his lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, who is the former mayor of New York City and a former U.S. attorney for New York. Giuliani said the Constitution allows the president to … [Read more...] about Trump has the power to pardon himself, but that could get him impeached
Trump
Walters: Candidate Trump AND Democrat Gavin Newsom wanted
By Dan Walters, CALmatters | June 7, 2018 at 12:01 am It’s a pretty unusual election when Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom both wanted the same man to place second in California’s race for governor, and voters gave both their wish this week. Trump strongly endorsed San Diego businessman John Cox’s drive to finish second to Newsom in the state’s top-two primary and thus win a spot on the November ballot. Trump and other national GOP leaders believe that having Cox on the ballot will give Republican voters a reason to turn out in November and help the party defend some embattled congressional seats in Southern California. Pro-Newsom forces fashioned clever ads that denounced Cox as a right-wing Trump acolyte, clearly hoping it would endear Cox to GOP voters. With Cox as No. 2, rather than Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa, Newsom can almost certainly coast to the governorship of a deep-blue state five months hence. It was, … [Read more...] about Walters: Candidate Trump AND Democrat Gavin Newsom wanted
Billions in U.S. solar projects shelved after Trump panel tariff
By Nichola Groom (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s tariff on imported solar panels has led U.S. renewable energy companies to cancel or freeze investments of more than $2.5 billion in large installation projects, along with thousands of jobs, the developers told Reuters. That’s more than double the about $1 billion in new spending plans announced by firms building or expanding U.S. solar panel factories to take advantage of the tax on imports. The tariff’s bifurcated impact on the solar industry underscores how protectionist trade measures almost invariably hurt one or more domestic industries for every one they shield from foreign competition. Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs, for instance, have hurt manufacturers of U.S. farm equipment made with steel, such as tractors and grain bins, along with the farmers buying them at higher prices. White House officials did not respond to a request for comment. Trump announced the tariff in January over … [Read more...] about Billions in U.S. solar projects shelved after Trump panel tariff
ZTE Ban: Congress Has Few Options To Stop Trump From Relaxing Penalties
Jun 07, 2:27 AM EDT Newsletter Signup BusinessTechnologyWorldNationalMedia & CultureOpinionSportsLuxury Business By Reuters 06/07/18 AT 1:52 AM There is little Congress can do to stop President Donald Trump if he wants to relax penalties on ZTE Corp, despite strong bipartisan opposition to easing restrictions on China’s No. 2 telecommunications equipment maker.ZTE ceased major operations since the seven-year ban was imposed on the company in April for breaking a 2017 agreement reached after it was caught illegally shipping goods to Iran and North Korea. But ZTE has signed an agreement in principle with the Commerce Department to lift the ban, Reuters reported on Tuesday.Members of Congress, including Trump’s fellow Republicans as well as Democrats, have sought to rein in ZTE, which they see as a threat to national security whose products could contribute to the theft of intellectual property.“Their technology is a national security threat, according to our … [Read more...] about ZTE Ban: Congress Has Few Options To Stop Trump From Relaxing Penalties
Retired US Army colonel who studied Russian intelligence practices levels stunning accusation about Trump’s relationship with Putin
The retired US Army Lt. Col. Ralph Peters appearing on CNN with Anderson Cooper. Screenshot via CNN President Donald Trump is the "perfect target" for Russian intelligence. That's what the retired US Army Lt. Col. Ralph Peters asserted during a CNN interview on Wednesday night. Peters said Trump's acquiescence to Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, suggested to him that Putin had "some sort of grip on Trump." The former Fox News military analyst said the Steele dossier, a collection of memos and opposition research on Trump compiled by a former British intelligence agent, "rang true" to him because, as he put it, Trump "has no self-control, a sense of sexual entitlement, and intermittent financial crises." "That's made-to-order for seduction by Russian intelligence," Peters said. A retired US Army lieutenant colonel and military analyst on Wednesday night speculated that President Donald Trump may be on the tip of the spear with Russian intelligence. Ralph Peters … [Read more...] about Retired US Army colonel who studied Russian intelligence practices levels stunning accusation about Trump’s relationship with Putin