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As it happenedended

Trump news: Ivanka 'turned down' World Bank job offer, as Fox News contributor 'in line' for top Treasury job

Take a look for our coverage of the events in Washington as they unfolded

Clark Mindock
New York
,Chris Stevenson,Ben Kelly
Wednesday 17 April 2019 16:09 EDT
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Trump says he has not seen or read the Mueller report

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Donald Trump and his staff in the White House are preparing for the imminent release of the Mueller report, which has reportedly led to "breakdown-level" anxiety in the West Wing.

That waiting game comes as Mr Trump has doubled down on his demand for better border security, and follows after attorney general William Barr announced new US policy that asylum seekers who cross illegally between ports of entry would no longer have the right to ask a judge to grant them bond for release.

Under the new Justice Department policy, those migrants will have to wait in detention until their case can adjudicated — a process that can take a considerable amount of time given America's backlogged immigration courts.

Mr Trump has also turned on Fox News after the right-wing news channel hosted a town hall debate with Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Trump tweeted that the event had been "stuffed with Bernie supporters," adding: "What's with @FoxNews?"

Mr Barr is expected to release his report on Thursday morning, when he will hold a press conference to discuss the issue.

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Meanwhile, the race for the Democratic nomination to take the president on in 2020 has been heating up just under eight months until the first votes will be cast in that primary season.

Currently leading the pack of candidates are Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and — at least in recent polls — Pete Buttigieg, who has outperformed expectations in the past couple of weeks.

Read The Independent’s updates as they happen in our live blog below.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has called the move "unconstitutional" and said they will challenge it in court.

Chris Stevenson17 April 2019 13:32

The decision overrules a 2005 precedent set by George W Bush’s justice department, which enshrined asylum seekers’ right to bail, irrespective of how they entered the country.

Chris Stevenson17 April 2019 13:44

"There will be many, many people who are not gonna even have the opportunity to apply for release now," Gregory Chen, director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association has said of Mr Barr's.

Mr Chen told the Associated Press that about 90 per cent of asylum seekers pass their credible fear interview, the first step in seeking asylum. 

Chris Stevenson17 April 2019 14:02

Yemen's Houthi rebels have claimed that Mr Trump's veto of the resolution ending US support for the conflict is proof that "Trump is behind the war" according to AFP.

It is true that US support is no doubt helping Saudi Arabia and its coalition, but Mr Trump is likely thinking of weapons sales to Riyadh in blocking the Congressional resolution. 

Chris Stevenson17 April 2019 14:13

The United Arab Emirates has hailed Mr Trump's use of the veto over Yemen.

"President Trump's assertion of support to the Arab Coalition in Yemen is a positive signal," State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on Twitter.

The decision is both "timely and strategic" Mr Gargash added.

Chris Stevenson17 April 2019 14:28

Democrats have reacted with fury to Mr Trump's veto, this tweet from Elizabeth Warren sums up the feeling about what had been a bipartisan bill.

Chris Stevenson17 April 2019 14:46

With a redacted version of Robert Mueller's report set to be released on Thursday, Democrats are preparing to get the full report.

The House Judiciary Committee is expected to subpoena the Justice Department for the full special counsel complete report as soon as Friday, according to a spokesman, as Democrats prepare to fight the Trump administration for access to the attorney general's anticipated redactions.

Chris Stevenson17 April 2019 15:03

Meanwhile, Mr Trump's lawyers are also preparing for a quick response to the release of the redacted Mueller report, with a summary from William Barr the only public document so far.

At least a dozen attorneys and staff members for Mr Trump - both his personal and White House lawyers -  will look to distill the document with each being given a particular section.

“We’ll provide analysis throughout the course of the day,” Mr Trump’s personal lawyer Jay Sekulow told USA Today.

Chris Stevenson17 April 2019 15:16

Here is our latest on the Mueller report and some tension in the White House.

Chris Stevenson17 April 2019 15:40

Representative Tulsi Gabbard has called Mr Trump the "servant" of Riyadh and said he is turning the US into a “prostitute of Saudi Arabia” after the president vetoed the resolution on Yemen.

Chris Stevenson17 April 2019 15:53

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