Where to begin? Monday was jam-packed with news regarding Donald Trump and his administration. Unfortunately the best news for Trump, a solid first day of hearings for his Supreme Court nominee (more on that below), was overshadowed by the appearance of FBI director James Comey and National Security Agency director Mike Rogers on Capitol Hill.
In his testimony before the House Intelligence committee’s hearing on Russian interference in the last presidential election, Comey dropped this bomb:
The hearing uncovered a few other bits of information, including some that discredited some of the loonier theories from Democrats and liberals about Russian interference. For instance, Rogers and Comey stated they had no evidence that Russians somehow changed or altered vote counts in crucial swing states.
But the existence of a federal investigation, as disclosed by Comey, means there’s possibly something more connecting the Russian government and Trump campaign figures or associates than insinuation by Trump’s opponents. There’s no smoking gun, but the problems for the Trump White House—and the general distrust of American institutions—won’t be going away just yet.
Roger Stone Returns
One of the lines of questioning pursued by House Intelligence ranking member Adam Schiff concerned Roger Stone, the longtime political operative who had an on-again off-again relationship with Trump and the campaign. Schiff, a Democrat, questioned Comey about whether he was aware of Stone’s communication with a hacker or group of hackers named Guccifer 2.0, widely believed to be a cover for Russian intelligence.
Comey repeatedly said he was unwilling to comment on specific individuals, but Schiff’s questioning once again raised the issue of Stone’s involvement in interference with the election. Stone has claimed he had prior knowledge of the leaks of Hillary Clinton campaign manager John Podesta’s emails from the hacked Democratic National Committee email server.
In his press briefing Monday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer dismissed connections drawn by the media between the Russians and “hangers on” to the campaign. Did Spicer mean Stone? It wasn’t clear. “Mr. Stone is somebody the president has known for a long time,” Spicer said. “He worked briefly on the campaign I think until about August of 2015, from recollection. They have talked from time to time but I don’t think any time recently.”
When I asked Stone over email about the renewed interest in his role in the campaign, he responded: “Hanger on? At least I supported Trump and was of greater assistance to his election than Sean.”
Stone claims he has been under surveillance by the U.S. government but that the feds have “no evidence whatsoever” that he colluded with the Russians. As for his conversations with Trump? Stone didn’t tell me when was the last time he spoke with the president (they met at Trump Tower during the transition in December), but he suggested he remains in touch somehow.
“I prefer to communicate with the President through short pithy memos as I have for 39 years,” Stone said. “I don’t bother the President with minutiae. Our conversations are private although the FBI was evidently listening to them.”
No Changes to the Health Care Bill?
Republican senators are frustrated and disappointed after a meeting at the White House Monday about the House Obamacare replacement bill. Senators Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, and Bill Cassidy, along with House Freedom Caucus chair Mark Meadows, were joined by White House aides Reince Priebus, Gary Cohn, Andrew Bremberg, Paul Winfree, Marc Short, and Paul Teller.
The White House’s message, according to one Senate aide in the room? After Mondaynight’s House amendments to the American Health Care Act, which Politico outlines here, there will be “no more changes to the bill.”
“Every senator there was upset,” says the Senate aide.
But a White House aide says that’s an incomplete characterization. The House bill may not receive any more amendments before Thursday’s vote, but the White House maintains the Senate will be allowed to make its own amendments to the bill.
“It was crystal clear there would be changes allowed,” said the White House aide.
That is, if the House can pass the bill. Mark Meadows says the AHCA can’t pass. House leadership believes they have enough votes, and the White House is moving that way, too. “We’re feeling more and more confident,” says the White House aide. But once it gets to the Senate, the bill will need those changes the Trump White House has promised to earn enough Republican support.
“Our Policy of Strategic Patience Is Over”
The Trump administration continues to talk tough about North Korea given the Asian prison nation’s increased belligerence. President Trump held meetings over the weekend regarding North Korea, though the White House has not yet clarified what was discussed in those meetings.
“I think we continue to be concerned with North Korea’s activity. That’s why not only have we continued to have conversations with officials in Japan and South Korea, but we continue to urge China to step in and play a larger role in deterring both the ballistic and other missile threats that North Korea plays.”
Asked about Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recent travel to the region and the possibility of assurance from the Chinese about containing any threats from North Korea, Spicer said: “I think he sent a very clear signal that our policy of strategic patience is over. The president and the secretary of state have an expectation that China employed multiple points of pressure on North Korea.”
Neil Gorsuch’s Impressive Opening Statement
Here’s something the Trump administration and the political media aren’t talking about—but should be. Judge Neil Gorsuch delivered an eloquent opening statement Mondayduring his hearing before the Senate Judiciary committee. In the speech, Gorsuch comes across as humble and respectful toward the importance of the rule of law. It’s worth watching all 16-plus minutes.
The statement (and his stellar performance overall) is a fine reflection of Gorsuch’s values and views of the law, good information to know about the man who will likely be the next Supreme Court justice. But it’s also a reminder that the Trump administration might be able to tell a good story about its accomplishments, if the president didn’t keep getting in his own way.
Song of the Day
“Battle of Who Could Care Less,” Ben Folds Five.
