Trump-Mueller investigation: New Manafort hearing as President lashes out over chief of staff, border wall and Democrats

Some Democrats who will take the House majority in January are willing to say Donald Trump may have committed impeachable offenses.

But that doesn't mean they will try to impeach him — at least not yet. 

For several reasons, Democrats have been extremely cautious about the "I" word. They know it could backfire politically, and many of them were in office during Bill Clinton's impeachment 20 years ago. New York's Jerry Nadler, the top Democrat on the house judiciary committee and the panel's likely incoming chairman, has called impeachment a "trauma".

Mr Nadler told CNN on Sunday if it is proved Mr Trump directed his former lawyer to commit campaign finance violations, as was suggested by special counsel Robert Mueller in a new court filing, he believes it would be an impeachable offense. But Mr Nadler added, "Whether they are important enough to justify an impeachment is a different question." 

It is unclear whether the distinction between an impeachable offense and impeachment itself will satisfy those in the Democratic base who are eager to kick Mr Trump out of office. But Democrats are walking that fine line, for now. 

The latest CNN poll on Donald Trump's approval ratings highlights the astonishing difference between men and women when it comes to the president. 

Almost as stark is the difference when it comes to white and non-white people. 

A report from AP about Donald Trump's search for a new chief-of-staff:

Wanted: Top aide to most powerful leader in world. Chief qualification: Willing to take the job. Must also be prepared to tolerate regular undermining by boss and risk of steep legal bills. Post-employment prospects: Uncertain. 

Donald Trump is scrambling to find a new chief after his first choice to replace John Kelly bailed at the last minute and several other potential successors signaled they weren't interested in the job.  The list of candidates is said to include office of management and budget director Mick Mulvaney, House Republican Mark Meadows, the chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie. 

Mr Trump on Tuesday disputed news reports that he is having a hard time finding someone to take the job. 

"Fake News has it purposely wrong," he said on Twitter. "Many, over ten, are vying for and wanting the White House Chief of Staff position. Why wouldn't someone want one of the truly great and meaningful jobs in Washington." 

The White House says Mr Kelly will stay on at least until 2 January. 

Mentioned as contenders by people close to the administration are former Trump deputy campaign manager David Bossie, acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker — even White House communications director Bill Shine and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Many were not being taken seriously, but the breadth of the list highlighted the uncertainty in Mr Trump's political orbit over the job hunt. 

Mr Bossie and Corey Lewandowski, Trump's former campaign manager, are to have lunch with Mr Trump on Friday, Mr Bossie told Fox News Channel on Tuesday. Mr Bossie did not deny interest in the job, but said he did not "foresee" Mr Trump offering him the position. 

As quickly as names were being floated, though, candidates appeared to be pulling themselves from consideration, underscoring the challenges of working for a mercurial president who has acknowledged that he likes to surround himself with chaos and despises any suggestion he is being managed. 

"In the best of times, it is relentless," said Chris Whipple, an expert on chiefs of staff and author of "The Gatekeepers," a book on the subject. "It's 24/7. It's thankless. You get all of the blame and none of the credit for everything that happens. And that's in the best of times. We are not in the best of times."

A senior Iranian military commander has confirmed Tehran recently carried out a ballistic missile test, to the anger of the US, the Fars news agency reports.

The Revolutionary Guards official's comment came after US secretary of state Mike Pompeo's assertion earlier this month Iran had test-fired a missile capable of carrying multiple warheads and reaching the Middle East and Europe.

"We will continue our missile tests and this recent action was an important test," Guards aerospace division head Amirali Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency.

"The reaction of the Americans shows that this test was very important for them and that's why they were shouting," he added, without specifying what type of missile had been tested."

Guess who is on Capitol Hill...

Donald Trump's campaign adviser Roger Stone and rightwing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones arrived to the congressional hearings surrounding Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The two men are in the public audience as the hearings are set to begin. 

As reporters across the country continue combing over sentencing memos produced by Robert Mueller’s team and New York prosecutors, it appears VICE News caught an interesting tidbit that could reveal the president’s former lawyer had been in communications with the White House to coordinate his responses to congressional inquiries: 

A new CNN poll has revealed 44 per cent of Americans believe Donald Trump’s consideration of Russia projects throughout the 2016 presidential election was “unethical,” with 26 per cent saying the move was “unwise.” 

Just 23 per cent of respondents suggested there was “nothing wrong” with the president’s considering business projects in Russia during his campaign in the US. 

More from CNN’s newly-published poll…

It appears both Donald Trump and Robert Mueller’s approval ratings surrounding the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election have both ticked down, with the president dipping to just 29 per cent of approval in December, down from 33 per cent in October. 

Meanwhile, the special counsel has also dipped to 43 per cent, down from 48 per cent two months prior. Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked Mr Mueller for spearheading what he claims to be a “witch hunt,” while the special counsel has remained tight-lipped throughout his ongoing probe.

Congressman Mike Quigley said on CNN today he believed Donald Trump “obstructed” Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, adding, “I believe my Republican counterparts are complicit in that obstruction.”

Since it appears Chris Christie may now be a strong consideration for Donald Trump’s next chief of staff, his views on Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation could be critical to whether he is selected or not to join the White House. 

Here he is earlier this year saying he doesn’t “question Bob Mueller’s honesty or integrity”.