'Principles' of Democrats not clear in battle over border security: Charles Hurt

As the partial government shutdown approaches the one-month mark, it's unclear what position the Democrats are actually taking in the ongoing battle over the U.S.-Mexico border, Washington Times opinion editor Charles Hurt argued Thursday.
Two days after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, sent a letter to President Trump, effectively delaying the State of the Union address, he returned the favor by postponing her overseas trip to Brussels, Egypt, and Afghanistan -- just as she and other Democratic lawmakers were about to depart.
On the "Special Report" All-Star panel, Hurt -- plus Real Clear Politics associate editor A.B. Stoddard and Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Matthew Continetti -- weighed in on the politics of the showdown between the president and the House speaker.
Hurt began by acknowledging that Washington has been “dysfunctional” for a long time and that for many, it’s a “relief” that the fight is “all out in the open.”
"If the government is shut down and maybe the crisis on the border is manufactured, but the crisis here is not manufactured, why aren’t you here negotiating?” Hurt asked of Democrats. “And at the end of the day, the big question remains, What are the principles the two sides stand for?
"We know what the principle that Donald Trump is standing for, which has to do with border security, building a wall, whatever you think of that. What are the principles that Nancy Pelosi stands for and Democrats stand for? They want to save money? Well, they don’t have a very good track record of that. They want a more efficient way of dealing with the border? So I think that the political fight here at the end of the day is beneficial to President Trump.”
Stoddard gave both Pelosi and Trump credit for their “sick burn” smackdown, insisting that there shouldn’t be a State of a Union address during the government shutdown and that no non-emergency resources that would have been used on the CoDel (congressional delegation) should be used as well.
Continetti insisted that Trump’s response to Pelosi’s letter wasn’t “surprising,” since the president is best known for being a “counterpuncher.”
“I think this dynamic illustrates why we’re no closer in reaching a compromise than where we were last month, which is that both sides are firmly entrenched and they’re playing to their base,” Continetti told the panel. "And when you have 80 percent of Democrats telling Nancy Pelosi, ‘Don’t give him any money for the wall,’ and you have 79 percent of Republicans telling Trump, ‘We need that wall or else,’ how are you going to reach a solution?"

Trump attorney dismisses report alleging president told Cohen to lie to Congress; Dems calls for investigation

Michael Cohen, a former lawyer to President Trump, leaves his apartment building in New York City, Dec. 7, 2018. (Associated Press)

A report alleging that President Trump instructed his former personal attorney Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about a shuttered real estate deal -- to build a Trump Tower in Moscow -- drew a quick dismissal from Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, but had Democrats calling for an investigation.
The allegations were detailed in a BuzzFeed report published Thursday night. It cited two unnamed federal law enforcement officials involved in an investigation on the matter who said Cohen acknowledged to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office that he was instructed by Trump in 2017 to lie to Congress about negotiations to build the tower in Moscow.
"If you believe Cohen, I can get you a great deal on the Brooklyn Bridge,” Giuliani said in response to the report.
Earlier in the day, Cohen, who was recently sentenced to three years in prison, claimed Trump directed him to rig online polls in his favor ahead of the 2016 presidential election. He once proclaimed that he "everything in [his] power to resolve" any issue for his boss.
FORMER TRUMP LAWYER MICHAEL COHEN LIES TO IRS, LENDERS AND CONGRESS -- WHY BELIEVE HIS ATTACKS ON TRUMP?
In November, Cohen admitted he falsely told Congress that efforts by Trump to build the tower ended in January 2016, when, in fact, talks had continued through June of that year.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller noted that Cohen’s testimony was an attempt to “minimize links between the Moscow Project and Individual 1,” widely thought to be Trump.
Cohen pleaded guilty in November to lying about the testimony and in a two-page statement to the Senate and House intelligence committees.
The two law enforcement sources told BuzzFeed that Trump told Cohen to “make it happen” when discussing a plan to visit Russia during the presidential campaign to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to start negotiations for the tower.

President Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, has admitted lying to Congress under directions from his former boss, according to a BuzzFeed report. (Associated Press)

The report also said that Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. received regular details about the real estate deal from Cohen.
In response to the BuzzFeed article, Lanny Davis, Cohen’s adviser, issued a statement to MSNBC saying “Out of respect for Mr. Mueller’s and the Office of Special Counsel’s investigation, Mr. Cohen declined to respond to the questions asked by the reporters and so do I.”
The allegations against Trump stand in contrast to the president's past statements that he had no business deals in Russia even as the tower deal continued to unfold. Aside from Cohen's testimony, Mueller's office has more evidence that Trump played a role in encouraging Cohen to lie, BuzzFeed said.
Mueller’s office learned of the directive from interviews with witnesses from the Trump Organization and internal company email, text messages and documents, the BuzzFeed report said.
However, ABC News reporter John Santucci tweeted Thursday night that “I haven’t found any in the Trump Org that have met with or been interviewed by Mueller.”
On Wednesday, Giuliani claimed he "never said there was no collusion" between members of President Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russian officials -- but he did say that Trump himself never colluded with Russian officials.
MSNBC journalist Chris Hayes tweeted "Nixon was literally impeached for this," referring to President Richard Nixon, who actually was not impeached -- but resigned in 1974 amid heat from the Watergate investigation, becoming the first U.S. president to do so.
Lawmakers on Thursday vowed to investigate Cohen’s claim against his former client.
“The allegation that the President of the United States may have suborned perjury before our committee in an effort to curtail the investigation and cover up his business dealings with Russia is among the most serious to date,” Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement. “We will do what’s necessary to find out if it’s true.”
Several other Democrats also called for an investigation.
“Based on the Buzzfeed report and numerous other articles showing @realDonaldTrump committed Obstruction of Justice and other possible felonies, it is time for the House Judiciary Committee to start holding hearings to establish a record of whether @POTUS committed high crimes,” U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu of California tweeted.
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, who has already announced his 2020 presidential candidacy, went a step further, writing on Twitter: “If the @BuzzFeed story is true, President Trump must resign or be impeached.”
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., called for the special counsel to be more forthcoming about any information he has regarding President Trump.
Murphy tweeted, "Listen, if Mueller does have multiple sources confirming Trump directed Cohen to lie to Congress, then we need to know this ASAP. Mueller shouldn't end his inquiry, but it's about time for him to show Congress his cards before it's too late for us to act."

Trump denies Pelosi aircraft for foreign trip, after call for State of the Union delay

President Trump on Thursday abruptly denied military aircraft to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for a foreign trip just minutes before the congressional delegation was set to depart, in a stunning decision that followed her call to delay the State of the Union address amid the government shutdown.
In a curt letter, Trump said her trip has been “postponed.”
“Due to the Shutdown, I am sorry to inform you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt, and Afghanistan has been postponed. We will reschedule this seven-day excursion when the Shutdown is over. In light of the 800,000 great American workers not receiving pay, I am sure you would agree that postponing this public relations event is totally appropriate,” Trump wrote.
CLICK HERE TO READ TRUMP'S LETTER TO PELOSI
“I also feel that, during this period, it would be better if you were in Washington negotiating with me and joining the Strong Border Security movement to end the Shutdown. Obviously, if you would like to make your journey by flying commercial, that would certainly be your prerogative.”
Asked if lawmakers might still be able to find another way to travel overseas, a senior congressional official told Fox News Thursday evening only, "I don't know."

According to sources, the president pulled the plug on Pelosi's aircraft as she was about to leave for her overseas trip. Her congressional delegation's military aircraft was slated to depart at 3 p.m. ET.
A senior White House official also told Fox News that all congressional delegation travel by military aircraft is now postponed.
SHUTDOWN STANDOFF: PELOSI RENEWS CALL TO DELAY STATE OF THE UNION, TRUMP SAYS DEMS 'HIJACKED' BY 'FRINGE' 
An official said that “as soon as the president found out about the trip today, he took immediate action.” A source told Fox News that when moving to cancel Thursday's flight, the White House reasoned that the trip would keep Pelosi out of the country beyond next Tuesday night—when the next government pay period would occur.
"If she had gone on this trip she would have guaranteed that 800,000 federal workers would not receive their second paycheck because she would not have been here to negotiate any kind of deal," a senior White House official said Thursday.
But Pelosi's office fired back, with spokesman Drew Hammill saying the purpose was to meet with allies and "express appreciation & thanks to our men & women in uniform for their service & dedication" -- while noting there was no planned stop in Egypt.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., called the move "petty" and "small."
"It is unbecoming of the president of the United States. But it is unfortunately a daily occurrence," he said.
Republicans had a split response over the president's decision.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said it was "completely appropriate." Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called it "inappropriate."
"One sophomoric response does not deserve another. Speaker Pelosi’s threat to cancel the State of the Union is very irresponsible and blatantly political," he tweeted.
The president's move to cancel Pelosi's trip came after the House speaker's request to delay his annual State of the Union address -- though one White House official claimed the aircraft decision was not a "response" to Pelosi's letter.
The president has been slated to deliver his message to a Joint Session of Congress on Jan. 29, yet Pelosi on Wednesday urged the president to delay his delivery until the government re-opens, or deliver the address in writing.
The speaker stood by that call earlier Thursday.
“The date of the State of the Union is not a sacred date. It’s not constitutionally required. It’s not the president’s birthday. It’s just a date we agreed to,” Pelosi told reporters during a press conference on Capitol Hill Thursday. “That’s why I said to the president, if you don’t open up government, let’s discuss a mutually agreeable date.”
PELOSI TAKES HEAT FOR BID TO DELAY STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
She added: “It could be a week later—if the government is reopened.”
For more than 24 hours, Trump did not respond to Pelosi's request, even as fellow Republicans condemned her push for delay.
Congressional lawmakers, meanwhile, were left sitting on a bus waiting to see if they could depart. They included House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. Fox News is told Capitol Hill security officials got an emergency call from the Pentagon canceling the overseas trip due to the shutdown.
Amid mounting confusion, Fox News is told there were furious calls going back and forth among Capitol Hill, State, Pentagon and White House offices. The bus later returned to the Capitol, where members filed back into the building.
When asked for additional context about the congressional delegation and the apparent trip delay, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders reiterated that Pelosi could fly commercial: "The Department of Defense has to approve military air travel. As he made clear in the letter she can still go, she just has to travel commercial."
The rhetoric continues to show both sides of the standoff refusing to step off their positions that triggered the funding lapse shortly before the holidays last month.
Trump wants nearly $6 billion for a border wall, while Pelosi and fellow Democrats have described such a project as immoral. The two sides have been unable to strike a deal that both bridges their differences and re-opens a slew of shuttered agencies.
The shutdown, which is now the longest in U.S. history, has left more than 800,000 federal workers and contractors without pay. Some federal employees have been deemed essential to government function and are required to work without pay. Others have been furloughed, but still are left unpaid.

gov shutdown meme cartoons

DOJ official Bruce Ohr shared intel from dossier author in 2016 with prosecutors now on Mueller team

What the hell?

Details about Justice Department official Bruce Ohr's meetings with the author of the salacious anti-Trump dossier were shared by Ohr with his expansive circle of contacts inside the department -- including senior FBI leadership and officials now assigned to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, Fox News has learned.
Ohr gave a closed-door transcribed interview last August sharing details of his 2016 meetings with British ex-spy Christopher Steele, who authored the dossier later used to secure a surveillance warrant for a Trump campaign aide. The interview was part of the Republican-led House Oversight and Judiciary Committee probes.
In a series of questions about his meetings with Steele, including one on July 30, 2016, and who he shared the information with, Fox News has confirmed the Ohr transcript stated: “Andy McCabe, yes and met with him and Lisa Page and provided information to him. I subsequently met with Lisa Page, Peter Strzok, and eventually (an FBI agent). And I also provided this information to people in the criminal division specifically Bruce Swartz, Zainab Ahmad, Andrew Weissmann.”
“Andy” is Andrew McCabe, the former FBI deputy director and acting director who left the bureau after the DOJ Inspector General concluded he lied about his role in a media leak about the Clinton Foundation on the eve of the 2016 presidential election. His case is now with the U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C.  Former FBI Agent Peter Strzok and lawyer Lisa Page, whose anti-Trump texts emerged after the election, left the bureau last year.
The FBI asked Fox News not to disclose the name of the other agent who met with Ohr. The agent later worked on the case against then-National Security Adviser Mike Flynn in January 2017 which helped form the basis of his guilty plea for lying to the FBI.
According to online bios, Bruce Swartz was identified as a deputy assistant attorney general. Andrew Weissmann was chief of the DOJ Criminal Division’s Fraud Section before becoming a senior prosecutor on Mueller's team handling the case of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. According to a May 2017 New Yorker profile, Zainab Ahmad worked at the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of New York and took a leave to work for then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch at the Justice Department’s Washington headquarters. Ahmad is now assigned to the special counsel's investigation.
Fox News asked the FBI, Justice Department and special counsel's office whether the meetings with Ohr over Steele and the dossier were consistent with -- or in conflict with -- existing DOJ or FBI rules, including chain-of-custody procedures for handling evidence. In addition, the special counsel's office was asked whether Weissmann and Ahmad had fully disclosed their contacts with Bruce Ohr and others over the dossier. The FBI and special counsel declined to comment; the DOJ did not immediately respond.
An attorney for Ohr also declined to comment on the interview. An attorney for McCabe did not respond.
HANNITY: WALLS CLOSING IN ON FALSE PROPHET JAMES COMEY
The Ohr testimony also seems to conflict with a 2018 memo from Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee, on the surveillance warrant application for Trump campaign aide Carter Page, which relied heavily on the dossier. While Ohr’s testimony indicated he met with senior FBI leadership in August 2016 shortly after a meeting with Steele, the Democrats' memo stated “the Majority mischaracterizes Bruce Ohr’s role, overstates the significance of his interactions with Steele, and misleads about the timeframe of Ohr’s communications with the FBI” saying Ohr told the bureau in November 2016 about his earlier communications with Steele.
During his testimony, Ohr said he stressed during the 2016 meetings, many of which took place before the Page surveillance warrant was obtained, the potential bias and conflicts associated with Steele and the dossier that was commissioned by the DNC and Clinton campaign and handled by the opposition-research firm Fusion GPS. The surveillance warrant application drew on the unverified Trump dossier.
Fox News also confirmed the Ohr transcript stated, “So when I provided it to the FBI, I tried to be clear that this is source information. I don’t know how reliable it is. You’re going to have to check it out and be aware. These guys were hired by somebody relating to – who’s related to the Clinton campaign, and be aware.”
Ohr continued, “I wanted them to be aware of any possible bias, or you know, as they evaluate the information, they need to know the circumstances.”
He went on, “I provided information to the FBI when I thought Christopher Steele was, as I said, desperate that Trump not be elected. So yes, of course, I provided that to the FBI.”
Ohr then was asked: “Were the Department of Justice and the FBI also aware of Glenn Simpson’s bias against Donald Trump?” Glenn Simpson is the co-founder of Fusion GPS. Ohr’s wife, Nellie, worked for Simpson.
Ohr stated: “I certainly told the FBI that Fusion GPS was working with – doing opposition research on Donald Trump.”
Critics have pointed to apparent inconsistencies in Simpson's testimony. During his November 2017 transcribed interview before the House Intelligence Committee, Simpson was asked about his contact with the FBI. He said he worked with Ohr "sometime after Thanksgiving" in 2016. However, Simpson's testimony contradicted Ohr emails that showed they made contact months earlier, in August.
Some details of the Ohr testimony were reported earlier this week by the Epoch Times.

In latest reversal, Gillibrand now supports letting illegal immigrants get driver's licenses

It's call kissing ass.

After initially opposing the idea of her home state granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has had a change of heart.
“I think we have to make it possible for people to provide for their families,” the New York Democrat said Wednesday, as she was leaving to attend her 2020 presidential campaign kickoff event.
Gillibrand's new stand on the issue is in contrast from the position she took during her days in the House, when she opposed then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s controversial 2007 plan to allow illegal immigrants living in New York to obtain driver licenses.
KYLE SMITH: NEWLY RADICAL KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND HAD A BETTER CHANCE OF BEING PRESIDENT 10 YEARS AGO
"I do not support giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants," Gillibrand said back then, the Washington Free Beacon reported. At the time, Gillibrand said she supported legislation that required anyone seeking a drivers' license to show proof of citizenship first.
NEW YORK DEMOCRAT GILLIBRAND MOCKED FOR SAYING FUTURE IS 'FEMALE' AND 'INTERSECTIONAL'
At a Wednesday news conference in Troy – a city of about 50,000 residents just outside Gillibrand's birthplace, the state capital Albany – the second-term senator said her heart has guided her policy reversals on issues such as gun control, granting amnesty to illegal immigrants and her opposition to sanctuary cities, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
On Tuesday, she announced the formation of an exploratory committee for a 2020 White house bid, during an appearance on Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show.” She will head to Iowa on Friday for a meeting and fundraiser with local Democrats.

Ocasio-Cortez's latest role on Capitol Hill: Twitter tutor for House Democrats

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a freshman Democrat representing New York's 14th Congressional District, takes a selfie with Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-N.H., and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., on the first day of the 116th Congress, Jan. 3, 2019, in Washington. (Associated Press)

As the youngest member of Congress, it's no surprise that U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has used social media effectively in her campaigning and in her first weeks as a member of Congress. Now she's offering other House Democrats a chance to learn the techniques she has used.
Ocasio-Cortez, 29, and slightly older U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., will pair up to teach the “most effective ways to engage constituents on Twitter and the importance of digital storytelling,” at a Thursday session hosted by the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, according to reports.
Ocasio-Cortez confirmed Wednesday on -- where else? -- Twitter that she would be teaching the class.
“Perks of being in the Democratic Caucus: I will be teaching a Twitter class tomorrow morning open to all members,” she tweeted to her 2.43 million followers.
The planned lesson in social media comes as the generational divide between older members of Congress and their younger colleagues grows wider. Hearings last year highlighted the chasm when some lawmakers didn’t understand how social media platforms made money or what they do.
OCASIO-CORTEZ VOWS TO 'RUN TRAIN' ON PROGRESSIVE AGENDA IN BIZARRE TURN OF PHRASE
"The older generation of members and senators is pretty clueless on the social media platforms,” said Himes, 52, who boasts 77,700 followers on Twitter. “It’s pretty clear that a lot of members have 25-year-olds in their offices," running their social media.
Himes said he made a deal with his staff that he can manage his own Twitter account unless he’s consumed more than two beers, USA Today reported. Tweets about body parts and what he learns from the House Intelligence Committee are verboten. The former stems from once tweeting about his sweaty scalp after eating spicy chili.
OCASIO-CORTEZ CALLS HERSELF 'RADICAL,' SAYS HER MISTAKES DON'T COMPARE TO TRUMP'S 'LIES'
Josh Hawley, the youngest U.S. senator at 39, said he sees a disconnect between the generations and their understanding of technology.
“For younger members, they think of social media as every bit of an established form of communication as print or television or radio," the Missouri Republican told the paper.
Ocasio-Cortez, a House freshman, uses Twitter frequently to state her policy positions, share opinions and call out her opponents, attackers and the media.
The decision to invite her to share her expertise could signal the Democratic Party’s attempt to bring in fresh voices, even those who don’t always agree with its leadership, USA Today said.

Giuliani claims 'I never said there was no collusion' in Trump campaign

President Trump's personal attorney, Rudolph Giuliani, claimed Wednesday night that he "never said there was no collusion" between members of President Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russian officials -- but he did say that Trump himself never colluded with Russian officials.
The former New York City mayor also said on CNN's "Cuomo Prime Time" that "if the collusion happened, it happened a long time ago. It's either provable or it's not. It is not provable because it never happened ... I'm telling you there's no chance it happened."
Trump previously denied any member of his campaign conspired with Russian officials. In May 2017, Trump flatly stated: "There is no collusion, certainly myself and my campaign."
Giuliani made the startling statements during a contentious conversation with host Chris Cuomo about allegations against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort made by Special Counsel Robert Mueller last week. Prosecutors said Manafort lied to them about sharing internal Trump campaign polling data with Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian-Ukrainian businessman with alleged links to Russian intelligence.
Giuliani admitted that Manafort was "wrong" to give the data to Kilimnik, but said "polling data is given to everybody."
"There is not a single bit of evidence the president of the United States committed the only crime you could commit here [and] conspired with the Russians to hack the [Democratic National Committee]," Giuliani said.
"First of all, crime is not the bar of accountability for a president," Cuomo responded. "It's about what you knew, what was right, what was wrong and what did you deceive about."
"The president did not collude with the Russians, whatever collusion is," Giuliani shot back, later adding that "I have no idea, never have, what other people [on the campaign] were doing."
"But [Manafort] ran his campaign," Cuomo said.
Giuliani also repeated his call for Mueller to wrap up his investigation quickly, saying the probe was "over enough" and calling it "the most inappropriate investigation I’ve ever seen conducted on an ethical level that’s disgusting."
"We’ve answered all the questions on collusion," Giuliani said. "We don't need a special counsel to investigate a campaign chairman. We have [Mueller] because the President of the United States is involved as a subject."

Ocasio-Cortez Maxine Waters Cartoons

Sen. McConnell: Senate will not go on recess is shutdown is ongoing

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., leaves the chamber after accusing Democrats of turning President Donald Trump’s promised border wall into “something evil” to avoid dealing with the security and humanitarian crisis at the southern border, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

OAN Newsroom
7:47 PM PT — Tuesday, January 15, 2018

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) says the upper chamber will not go on recess if the partial government shutdown is still ongoing.cConnell made the comments to reporters on Tuesday after House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said the lower chamber will also not take a recess.
The Senate is supposed to leave town at the end of this week and not return until January, 28th.
McConnell is placing the blame for the shutdown squarely on democrats, telling reporters democrats priorities are “way out of whack.” He added issues once supported by prominent democrats are the same ones being opposed currently.
A number of senators have said they should remain in Washington during the shutdown as the record-setting closure continues.