Trump news: Congress votes to subpoena full Mueller report from attorney-general, as senior Republicans turn on president's 'catastrophic' border closure plan
The latest updates from Washington
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The House Judiciary Committee approved subpoenas Wednesday for special counsel Robert Mueller’s full Russia report as Democrats pressure the Justice Department to release the document without redactions.
The committee voted 24-17 to give Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler permission to issue subpoenas to the Justice Department for the final report, its exhibits and any underlying evidence or materials prepared for the investigation.
Mr Nadler has not yet said if he’ll send the subpoenas, which would be the first step in a potentially long fight with the Justice Department over the materials.
The Judiciary panel also voted Wednesday to authorise subpoenas related to five of Donald Trump’s former top advisers, stepping up a separate, wide-ranging investigation into Trump and his personal and political dealings.
The vote further escalates the Democrats’ battle with the Justice Department over how much of the report they will be able to see, a fight that could eventually head to court if the two sides can’t settle their differences through negotiation. Democrats have said they will not accept redactions and want to see the evidence unfiltered by Mr Barr.
In the letter last week, Mr Barr said he is scrubbing the report to avoid disclosing any grand jury information or classified material, in addition to portions of the report that pertain to ongoing investigations or that “would unduly infringe on the personal privacy and reputational interests of peripheral third parties.”
Democrats say they want access to all of that information, even if some of it can’t be disclosed to the public. Nadler said he will give Mr Barr time to change his mind on redactions, but if they cannot reach an agreement they will issue the subpoenas “in very short order.” He also said he is prepared to go to court to get the grand jury information.
Mr Trump is meanwhile being urged not to follow through on his threat to close the US border with Mexico as senior Republicans warn of the cost of prioritising security over trade and scramble for alternatives to tackling the illegal immigration “crisis”.
“Closing down the border would have potentially catastrophic economic impact on our country and I would hope we would not be doing that sort of thing,” said Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday, a quote the president has since attacked The New York Times for publishing on Twitter.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load.
Further response from The New York Times over the president's latest Twitter attack.
This is Mitch McConnell saying the exact line the president has criticised The NYT for misreporting.
Fox are hosting a town hall with 2020 Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders on 15 April in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Should be dynamite.
President Trump inaccurately claims that wind turbines causes cancer.
New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office announced that it is suing the Trump administration for "gutting key nutrition standards for school lunches."
From OpenSecrets:
"At least 14 major Trump inauguration donors were nominated to be ambassadors—donating $350,000+ each on average—totaling over $3 million to Trump's inaugural [committee]with some flowing through trusts or LLCs & even more money to his campaign."
From Politico:
About 59 per cent of voters say "they don’t have much trust or any trust at all in Trump on health care."
President Trump mocked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over the Green New Deal, calling her a "bartender."
From the Hill:
Trump told House GOP lawmakers at the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner that he didn't want to be too critical of the Green New Deal because he hoped to campaign against it. He went on to chide Ocasio-Cortez without explicitly naming her.
"The Green New Deal, done by a young bartender, 29 years old," Trump said, eliciting laughter from attendees.
"A young bartender, wonderful young woman," he continued. "The Green New Deal. The first time I heard it I said, 'That’s the craziest thing.' You have senators that are professionals that you guys know that have been there for a long time ... and they’re standing behind her shaking. They’re petrified of her."
Here is video footage of House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff mocking President Trump for breaking the cardinal rule of childish nicknames:
Trump claimed his father was born in Germany and immigrated into the US. That is not true. He was born in the Bronx.
President Trump, who has been accused by several women of sexual assault, mocked 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden following allegations of inappropriate physical conduct.
Mr Trump told the crowd in Washington DC about a conversation he claimed to have once had with a general.
“I said, ‘General, give me a kiss.’ I felt like Joe Biden. But I meant it,” said the president.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments