UPDATED: IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME ENTERING THIS THREAD, START AT POST 20 FOR A BETTER SOURCE WITH MORE CONTEXT
Part 1:
The run up to this scandal has been frenetic, as has everything that’s gone on since it was first reported. I found a moderately decent tracker that is missing a ton of stuff that happened, and I’ll fill in some blanks. If I’m missing anything big, feel free to add it with the date it happened. This is impossible to remember off the top of my head.
All sources are from The Week’s 10 Things You Need to Know Today (each of theirs is one day later, so I’m using the actual dates of any events) except where otherwise noted. I have no idea of their bent, but based on some things that are missing and some of the sources they’re pulling, I’m guessing it leans right. It’s still not a terrible aggregator of news. Various non-scandal related things are thrown in for additional context. This is extremely long, so I’m guessing that means most of you won’t bother even skimming the headlines.
September 10, 2019:
John Bolton exits as national security adviser after clashes with Trump
President Trump tweeted Tuesday that John Bolton was out as his national security adviser. “I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House,” Trump wrote. “I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning.” Bolton disputed Trump’s account, saying he resigned without being asked. The hawkish Bolton was hired as national security adviser in April 2018. He reportedly clashed with Trump over the president’s handling of a variety of foreign policy issues, from his meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to his handling Afghanistan peace negotiations. Trump said he would name a replacement as early as next week. [ The Washington Post , Donald J. Trump ]
September 12, 2019:
Report: Federal prosecutors recommend charging Andrew McCabe
Federal prosecutors on Thursday reportedly recommended pursuing unspecified criminal charges against former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, whom President Trump has frequently criticized. McCabe was fired in March 2018 days before his retirement after an internal FBI investigation found that he had improperly authorized a leak about a federal investigation of the Clinton Foundation shortly before the 2016 presidential election, and had shown a lack of candor when questioned about the matter. Prosecutors can now bring the case to a federal grand jury in Washington, which would have final say on whether to indict McCabe. [ USA Today , The Washington Post ]
September 13, 2019:
Trump can be sued over possible profits from foreign governments, court rules
The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York on Friday overruled a lower court’s 2017 dismissal of two lawsuits against President Trump, making him vulnerable to an emoluments violation once again. In July, a federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit against Trump claiming he illegally profited from foreign visitors at his luxury hotel in Washington. But the appeals court overrode that ruling, in which the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Trump’s business rivals alleged he broke the law when profiting from foreign officials’ stays at his hotels. The judge in that case said only Congress could decide whether Trump violated the federal emoluments clause that bans gifts and profits from foreign governments while in office. [ Politico ]
ME:
House Intelligence Committee chair, Adam Schiff, subpoenas a whistleblower complaint that has not been turned over by the Director of National Intelligence in the required 7 days.
September 15, 2019:
Iran denies it’s behind strikes against Saudi oil facilities
Iran on Sunday denied U.S. accusations that it was behind Saturday’s drone strikes on two major oil sites in Saudi Arabia, which forced Saudi Aramco to suspend its production output by half. Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran in a civil war against a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, claimed responsibility for the attacks, but U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Tehran, arguing there was “no evidence the attacks came from Yemen.” Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, said Pompeo was “turning to ‘max deceit’” after “having failed at ‘max pressure.’” It is just the latest example of heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, which have risen since the U.S. departed the 2015 nuclear pact and placed sanctions on Iran. [ The Washington Post , Mike Pompeo ]
September 16, 2019:
Saudi Arabia says weapons in oil attack were made by Iran
Saudi Arabia on Monday said that the weapons used to attack its oil facilities over the weekend were Iranian made. The allegation contradicted claims by Yemeni Houthi rebels that they were behind the drone attacks. The Houthis, who are fighting a Saudi-backed coalition that supports Yemen’s government, also threatened further strikes. Iran has denied responsibility. The Trump administration has blamed Iran and its proxies, and President Trump warned the U.S. is “locked and loaded” but said he did not want war. As tensions rose between Washington and Tehran, Iran’s supreme leader announced Tuesday “there will be no talks with the U.S. at any level,” dousing speculation of a possible meeting between the two countries’ presidents at the United Nations in late September. [ The Washington Post , The Associated Press ]
Manhattan prosecutors subpoena Trump tax returns
Manhattan state prosecutors on Monday subpoenaed President Trump’s accounting firm, Mazars USA, for eight years of his personal and corporate tax returns. This subpoena reportedly was issued late last month under an ongoing investigation into the hush-money payment made to keep porn star Stormy Daniels quiet about her alleged affair with Trump prior to the 2016 presidential election. Trump has denied the affair. Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, was previously sentenced to three years in prison for his role in paying Daniels to keep quiet. New York prosecutors are examining whether the Trump Organization violated state laws when reimbursing Cohen. Tax returns would only be made public if they became evidence in a criminal case. [ The New York Times ]
Judiciary Chair Nadler says Trump ‘ought to be impeached’
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said on Monday he believes President Trump should be impeached, but he’s not sure the general public is convinced. He said the Judiciary Committee will continue to make it a priority to investigate Trump. “Personally, I think the president ought to be impeached,” Nadler said. But “we cannot impeach the president against the will of the American people.” Nadler said his job for now is to keep sharing most of the evidence against Trump with the public through continued impeachment hearings. Those public appearances are especially essential because the Senate won’t vote for Trump’s removal, Nadler said, but the House still has a duty to “vindicate the Constitution.” [ WNYC ]
House launches investigation of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao
The House Oversight Committee on Monday started an investigation into whether Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao improperly used her Cabinet position to benefit her family’s company. Two Democratic leaders, Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), sent a letter asking Chao to hand over documents regarding the Foremost Group, a company owned by Chao’s father and sisters that transports goods between China and the U.S. The committee also asked why Chao hadn’t fulfilled a promise to sell her stake in construction giant Vulcan Materials. Chao denies any wrongdoing. The Transportation Department said it looked forward to responding to the committee, and said negative reports about Chao’s family were “stale and only attempt to undermine her long career of public service.” [ The Associated Press ]
September 17, 2019:
Lewandowski mocks Democrats in contentious 1st impeachment hearing
President Trump’s former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, clashed with Democrats, sometimes mocking them, in the House Judiciary Committee’s first impeachment hearing on Tuesday. Lewandowski, following White House orders, declined to discuss conversations with Trump beyond what was in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report. He did say Trump had told him to tell then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions that Mueller’s investigation was “very unfair” to Trump, but added that he didn’t deliver the message and never thought Trump had “asked me to do anything illegal.” Trump tweeted that the testimony by Lewandowski, who is considering a Senate bid, was “beautiful.” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) called Lewandowski’s behavior a “completely unacceptable” attempt to “obstruct the work of Congress.” [ The Washington Post , The Associated Press ]
September 18, 2019:
Trump says he’s increasing Iran sanctions after Saudi oil attack
The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it would “substantially” increase sanctions against Iran following weekend strikes against oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the strikes an “act of war,” and Saudi Arabia said Wednesday that Iran was “unquestionably” behind the strikes on two of the kingdom’s major oil production facilities. Saudi officials said surveillance video showed the drone coming from the north, not from Yemen, where Houthi rebels had claimed responsibility for the attack. The kingdom said the weapon is the same kind that has been used by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Tehran has denied involvement, and reportedly warned it would retaliate against any U.S. action. President Trump has not provided details on the new sanctions. [ The Associated Press , Al Jazeera ]
Report: Trump ‘promise’ to foreign leader led to intel whistleblower complaint
A whistleblower complaint filed Aug. 12 by an official in the U.S. intelligence community involves President Trump’s communications with a foreign leader, The Washington Post reported Wednesday, citing two former U.S. officials. During the interaction, Trump made a “promise” to the leader that the whistleblower found troubling enough to file the complaint to Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson. Atkinson deemed the matter of “urgent concern,” a classification that normally requires notifying Congress. He submitted the matter to Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, but Maguire refused to share the information with lawmakers after asking Justice Department officials for legal guidance. Atkinson finally told Congress about the complaint, though not its contents. The White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. [ The Washington Post ]
Trump picks top hostage negotiator as next national security adviser
President Trump announced Wednesday that he had picked top State Department hostage negotiator Robert O’Brien as his new national security adviser. O’Brien replaces the hawkish John Bolton, who frequently clashed with Trump over foreign policy before his departure last week. Trump announced last week that he asked for Bolton’s resignation because he “disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions.” Bolton disputed Trump’s version of events, saying he had offered his resignation without prodding. O’Brien will be Trump’s fourth national security adviser in fewer than three years. In his tweet announcing the news, Trump said he has “worked long & hard with Robert,” although he reportedly picked O’Brien largely because of his track record on paper, not a personal connection. [ The New York Times ]
September 19, 2019:
U.S. builds coalition as Iran warns strike would mean ‘all-out war’
The Trump administration said Thursday that it had started building a coalition to respond to Iranian threats following allegations that Tehran was behind weekend strikes against Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. was talking with Saudi and Emirati officials about how to handle Iran, which Saudi Arabia says was behind the strike. “We are here to build out a coalition aimed at achieving peace and a peaceful resolution,” Pompeo said after talks with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates and an ally of Saudi leaders. Pompeo accused Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif, of threatening war while the U.S. sought diplomacy. Iran has denied responsibility for the attacks, but Zarif said any U.S. or Saudi attack would lead to “all-out war.” [ Reuters ]
More details of whistleblower complaint against Trump emerge
A whistleblower complaint filed Aug. 12 by an official in the U.S. intelligence community reportedly involves a “series of actions” by President Trump, not just a single discussion with a foreign leader. Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson reportedly informed lawmakers Thursday the complaint relates to several acts, but didn’t confirm that they involved Trump. Part of the complaint reportedly has to do with Trump in a phone call, possibly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, making a “promise” that the whistleblower found troubling. Atkinson labeled the complaint an “urgent concern.” By law, Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire should have relayed it to Congress, but he refused. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) warned intelligence officials to share the complaint or face possible legal action. [ The New York Times , The Washington Post ]
Trump sues to block N.Y. prosecutor from getting tax records
President Trump’s private lawyers on Thursday filed a lawsuit seeking to block a New York prosecutors’ attempt to get eight years of his tax returns for a criminal investigation. Trump’s attorneys said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.'s subpoena calling for Trump’s accounting firm, Mazars USA, to hand over the returns was a “bad faith effort to harass” Trump. The lawsuit requests that U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero rule that the subpoena is not enforceable while Trump is in office. A spokesman for Vance, a Democrat, said the prosecutor’s office would make the appropriate response to the lawsuit in court. [ The Associated Press ]
September 20, 2019:
Trump reportedly pushed Ukrainian president to investigate Biden’s son
President Trump reportedly urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden’s son, reportedly pushing eight times in a single phone call for Zelensky to work with his attorney, Rudy Giuliani. Trump reportedly wanted to probe whether Biden worked to shield from investigation a Ukrainian gas company with ties to his son, Hunter Biden. The phone call was the subject of a whistleblower complaint last month, which Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire reportedly refused to pass on to Congress. The intelligence official who made the complaint reportedly alerted Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson, who marked the complaint an “urgent concern.” On Friday, Trump denied having any “dicey” conversation with a foreign leader, writing, “there was nothing said wrong.” [ The Wall Street Journal ]
Pentagon announces ‘modest’ deployment of troops to Saudi Arabia
The Pentagon announced Friday that President Trump has agreed to send a “modest deployment” of American troops to Saudi Arabia in response to strikes last week against two major Saudi Arabian oil facilities, which the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia believe were orchestrated by Iran. In addition to the hundreds of troops, the U.S. will deploy air and missile defense systems. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the decision was “defensive in nature” and was reportedly made in response to requests from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who are seeking protection for their “critical infrastructure.” When asked if the White House was considering a military strike against Iran, Esper said “that’s not where we are right now.” Iran said Saturday it was ready to respond to any act of aggression. [ The Washington Post , The New York Times ]
El Salvador, U.S. ink asylum deal
The United States and El Salvador signed a “cooperative asylum agreement” Friday in what is seen as another attempt by the Trump administration to curb the flow of migrants from Central America coming into the U.S. Few details about how the agreement will work or when it will go into effect were provided, but acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan said the pact “is one significant step forward.” El Salvador’s Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill Tinoco told The Associated Press that the agreement could lead to migrants from third countries obtaining refuge in El Salvador if they pass through on their way to the U.S., although most northern migration routes don’t include the country. Criticism was swift, with opponents arguing that El Salvador is not safe enough to serve as a refuge. [ NPR , The Associated Press ]
DHS adds white supremacy to counterterrorism priority list
Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan announced Friday that white supremacy would become a top priority under the department’s new strategy to fight terrorism and “targeted violence.” McAleenan cited last month’s shooting in El Paso, Texas, as a major reason for the change. The shooting in a largely Hispanic community was seemingly motivated by racism. This and other shootings “galvanized” DHS to look “beyond terrorists operating abroad” and start tackling “violent extremists of any ideology,” McAleenan said in a Friday speech. The plan calls for analyzing the “nature and extent” of domestic terror threats. DHS will also crack down on technology companies hosting hate-filled websites, provide active shooter training to local law enforcement, and run antiviolence messaging campaigns. [ The Atlantic , NBC News ]
Trump announces sanctions on Iran’s central bank
President Trump announced new sanctions on Iran on Friday, which he claimed are the “highest sanctions ever imposed on a country.” The president spoke about the sanctions targeting Iran’s central bank in the Oval Office following an attack on Saudi oil facilities over the weekend. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has blamed the attack on Iran, while Iran has denied responsibility. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday that “Iran’s brazen attack against Saudi Arabia is unacceptable” and the U.S. “will continue its maximum pressure campaign against Iran’s repressive regime.” Mnuchin also called the step “very big” because “we’ve now cut off all source of funds to Iran.” [ The New York Times , CNBC ]
Reported September 22, 2019:
Ukraine’s foreign minister denies Trump pressured Zelensky
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko denied that President Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, during a July phone call. “I know what the conversation was about, and I think there was no pressure,” Prystaiko said during an interview with Ukrainian television station Hromadske that aired Saturday. “There was talk, conversations are different, leaders have the right to discuss any problems that exist. This conversation was long, friendly, and it touched on a lot of questions, including those requiring serious answers.” Still, others are concerned about how the accusations will affect Ukraine’s relationship with the U.S. “It’s a diplomatic disaster for our relations with the United States,” said Alyona Getmanchuk, the director of the New Europe Center, a Kiev-based foreign policy think tank. [ The Washington Post , Fox News ]
Iran’s leaders criticize U.S. deployment
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani responded to the United States’ decision to send more troops to the Gulf region in a speech Sunday by warning countries against deploying forces. “If they’re sincere, then they should not make our region the site of an arms race,” he said. “The farther you keep yourselves from our region and our nations, the more security there will be.” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in a CBS interview that will air Sunday, described the deployment of troops as “posturing” and said it wouldn’t help the situation. He also said that while he isn’t confident war can be avoided, he is confident that Iran will not start one. Rouhani also said Iran’s peace initiative will be presented at the United Nations General Assembly this week. [ BBC , CBS ]
September 22, 2019:
Trump acknowledges discussing Biden with Ukraine leader
President Trump on Sunday acknowledged talking about former Vice President Joe Biden in a July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, although he said he was not improperly pressuring Zelensky to investigate a political rival. Democrats suspect Trump of trying to get Ukraine to look into the business dealings of Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. Ukraine was awaiting a Trump administration decision on military aid at the time. “No quid pro quo, there was nothing,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “It was a perfect conversation.” Ukrainian leaders have denied Trump pushed them to investigate the Bidens. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said House Democrats might have to impeach Trump if he did, because that would be “the most profound violation of the presidential oath of office.” [ The New York Times , The Washington Post ]
Trump heads to U.N. with multiple crises roiling
President Trump on Monday starts a three-day trip to join world leaders for the United Nations General Assembly. The trip comes as tensions swirl around Trump’s relationship with Ukraine, a showdown with Iran following strikes against Saudi oil facilities, Trump’s trade war with China, and frozen nuclear talks with North Korea. Trump said “nothing is ever off the table completely,” but that he had no plans to meet on the sidelines with Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani as the U.S. pushes to build a coalition to confront Tehran over the attack in Saudi Arabia, which rattled the world oil market. Trump meets Wednesday with the president of Ukraine as Democrats press the Trump administration to release a whistleblower’s complaint about a phone call Trump had with a foreign leader believed to involve Ukraine. [ ABC News ]
