NYU Langone Health's Dr. Ira Breite discusses the coronavirus pandemic and response, Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) discusses police reform legislation, and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) discusses police reform and DC statehood efforts.
Rep. Tom McClintock (R-California) discussed this week's House vote on police reform and the President's recent order regarding immigration restrictions.
President Trump met with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the Oval Office. After brief remarks, President Trump responded to a question regarding the dismissal by the U.S. Court of Appeals of the case against former General Michael Flynn, saying that "he was treated very, very horribly by a group of very bad people." This was the first meeting with a head of state at the White House since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), along with freshmen and veteran lawmakers, unveiled a new proposal to lower the cost of health care. The speaker intends to put the bill on the House floor, arguing the legislation is a priority during the coronavirus pandemic. She also criticized Republicans and the White House for filing legal briefs asking the Supreme Court to put an end to the Affordable Care Act. "It was wrong any time. Now, it's beyond stupid. Beyond stupid."
The Hoover Institution held a virtual discussion with President Trump's former National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Bridgewater CEO David McCormick regarding the impact of U.S. economic prosperity on national security. They talked about U.S. relations with China, private sector working with the government and the strength of the U.S. dollar.
The Senate Intelligence Committee held a confirmation hearing on the president's nomination of Peter Thomson to be CIA inspector general. Lawmakers questioned the nominee about the need for IG independence, protecting whistleblowers and notifying the committee about any inappropriate political influences. Mr. Thomson said if confirmed he would "protect the independence of the CIA Inspector General's Office and approach all of its work with honesty, integrity, fairness, and impartiality." Peter Thomson previously served with the National Security Agency and worked as a federal prosecutor for the Justice Department.
President Trump met with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the Oval Office. After brief remarks, President Trump responded to a question regarding the dismissal by the U.S. Court of Appeals of the case against former General Michael Flynn, saying that "he was treated very, very horribly by a group of very bad people." This was the first meeting with a head of state at the White House since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Following a procedural vote on police reform that failed in the Senate, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other Senate Democrats spoke to reporters on Capitol Hill. Sen. Schumer said the Republicans police reform bill "lacked substance" and was "woefully inadequate" and added that the move to vote was a "bridge to no where." Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) also gave brief remarks in response to the vote.
The House Judiciary Committee held a Justice Department oversight hearing featuring testimony from current and former department officials. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Zelinsky told lawmakers there was "heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice" to give Roger Stone, a political ally of President Trump, leniency in his sentencing recommendation. John Elias, a trial attorney in the Justice Department Antitrust Division, also told the committee that Attorney General William Barr ordered numerous antitrust investigations into the cannabis industry, against the recommendations of career staffers, because he did not like the companies' underlying business. Former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer, who served under President George H.W. Bush, also testified about his concerns with the current leadership of the department. "I am here because I believe that William Barr poses the greatest threat in my lifetime to our rule of law and to public trust in it," he said.
A DC Circuit Court of Appeals three-judge panel, in a 2-1 ruling, ordered a lower district court judge to dismiss the criminal case against President Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Judge Neomi Rao authored the majority opinion for the panel. She was joined by Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson. Judge Rao said, "each of our three coequal branches should be encouraged to self-correct when it errs. If evidence comes to light calling into question the integrity or purpose of an underlying criminal investigation, the Executive Branch must have the authority to decide that further prosecution is not in the interest of justice." Judge Robert Wilkins authored the dissenting opinion. On June 12, 2020, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral argument via teleconference in a case on whether they should order a lower court judge to dismiss the Justice Department's perjury case against Michael Flynn.
The House Judiciary Committee held a Justice Department oversight hearing featuring testimony from current and former department officials. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Zelinsky told lawmakers there was "heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice" to give Roger Stone, a political ally of President Trump, leniency in his sentencing recommendation. John Elias, a trial attorney in the Justice Department Antitrust Division, also told the committee that Attorney General William Barr ordered numerous antitrust investigations into the cannabis industry, against the recommendations of career staffers, because he did not like the companies' underlying business. Former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer, who served under President George H.W. Bush, also testified about his concerns with the current leadership of the department. "I am here because I believe that William Barr poses the greatest threat in my lifetime to our rule of law and to public trust in it," he said.
