Today in Trump: March 12, 2017
Today in the Trump Administration
Democrats blast Trump for firing U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara
Democrats are criticizing President Donald Trump for firing U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, saying it is a further window into the character of Mr. Trump and an effort to sideline critical voices in the judicial branch.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), who represents the state in which Bharara is based, said he was “caught off guard” by the announcement and that Bharara will be “sorely missed” in New York.
Rand Paul: Conservatives “not going to vote for” GOP health care plan
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) hasn’t been shy about his issues with the Republican health care overhaul plan -- and on Sunday, he said congressional conservatives are “not going to vote for it.”
“Right now I think there’s a charm offensive going on -- everybody’s being nice to everybody because they want us to vote for this, but we’re not going to vote for it,” Paul told CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Paul said House Speaker Paul Ryan is pitching the health care bill as a “binary choice” between his overhaul plan and Obamacare as it currently stands -- and isn’t interested in negotiating with the more conservative members of his party.
Paul Ryan says he hasn’t seen anything to support Trump’s wiretapping claims
House Speaker Paul Ryan said in an interview airing Sunday that he has not seen anything to suggest former President Obama wiretapped President Donald Trump during the 2016 election -- but that what Mr. Trump tweets is “outside of [his] control” and that the congressional investigation will clear up the truth.
“That’s outside of my control, what is tweeted or what isn’t tweeted. We’re focused on health care. The president’s focused on health care,” Ryan said in an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “I think he’s frustrated with this whole thing about Russia. I think he’s frustrated with selective leaks coming from parts of government that malign his campaign.”
Putin aide says Russia is frustrated with Trump administration
The spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin is expressing frustration with the inconclusive first two months of relations between Moscow and the Trump administration.
The election of President Trump, who had spoken admiringly of Putin and called for improved US-Russia relations, had raised hopes in the Kremlin. But Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says there are no signs of progress yet.
“Face the Nation”
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont; and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, appear on “Face the Nation” with host John Dickerson Sunday.
Lawmakers demand evidence for Trump’s wiretap claim
The House intelligence committee is asking the Trump administration for evidence that the phones at Trump Tower were tapped during the campaign as its namesake has charged.
President Donald Trump asserted in a tweet last week: “Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my ‘wires tapped’ in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!” He continued the allegation against former President Barack Obama in other tweets but offered no evidence.
Schedule
The president is at the White House.
What you missed yesterday
U.S. Attorney “fired”
Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney in New York who earned a reputation for battling corruption and white-collar crime, says he has been fired by the Trump administration after refusing to tender his resignation. “I did not resign,” Bharara said Saturday afternoon on Twitter. “Moments ago I was fired. Being the US Attorney in SDNY will forever be the greatest honor of my professional life.” Bharara’s departure comes as Attorney General Jeff Sessions looks to secure the resignations of 46 U.S. Attorneys who were holdovers from the Obama administration.
Revised travel ban already faces legal challenges
President Trump’s revised travel ban goes into effect Thursday. It bars new visas for people from six predominantly Muslim countries and temporarily shuts down the U.S. refugee program.
Just like the original travel ban, version 2.0 is facing legal challenges.
Pence in Louisville
Vice President Mike Pence is visiting Louisville to talk about the Republican health care plan.
White House intruder
The U.S. Secret Service confirms an intruder breached the White House perimeter Friday night. According to the Secret Service, “an individual scaled the outer perimeter fence by the Treasury Building and East Executive Avenue.” Uniformed Secret Service officers arrested the individual, and the individual’s backpack was screened and “found to be free of any hazardous materials.” Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly has been briefed on the matter.
White House plans meeting with Saudi prince amid terror threats
The Trump Administration is planning a meeting this coming week with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, CBS News has learned. Salman is a powerful force within the royal family, second in line to the throne, and currently serves as defense minister. The White House has not yet announced the visit, as it is still confirming details.
The visit comes as the U.S. expands its military mission against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen, a country on the brink of widespread famine and torn apart by civil war involving Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The U.S. has been providing support and precision training to a Saudi-led military coalition fighting those rebels.
Trump promotes Obamacare reform amid questions over Michael Flynn
The president used the bully pulpit this week to promote what is the first major piece of legislation of his administration - reforming Obamacare. This comes while his administation is still trying to field lingering questions about links between Mr. Trump’s associates and foreign entities, CBS News correspondent Errol Barnett reports.
Schedule
The president is at the White House.
