OnPolitics Today: This Russia thing ain't going away

Many people are saying this is #Nixonion.

with Josh Hafner Unless you live under a rock - which, given mounting nuclear tensions, might not be a bad idea - you know that President Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, the latest explosive and bewildering development from a thoroughly unorthodox administration. Sean Spicer literally hid in bushes to dodge questions about Comey's firing. And on Wednesday, it became clear that Trump had catapulted questions around Russian election meddling directly into the spotlight, drawing comparisons to Richard Nixon and likely hampering his efforts around health care and tax cuts. And what did Trump do the day after firing the man investigating his campaign's ties to Russia? He met with the Russia's foreign minister. Because of course he did. It's OnPolitics Today, the politics newsletter formerly known as For The Record. Subscribe here. The latest on the Comey fallout So here's what we know: The Justice Department pinned Comey's firing to the Hillary Clinton email investigation, his handling of which Trump praised last only last fall, saying Comey had "brought back his reputation." Trump changed his tune Wednesday, saying that Comey "was not doing a good job." Trump's newfound opinion is really convenient, seeing as Comey publicly announced not long ago that his FBI was investigating possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia. Trump and his aides argued Wednesday that Comey's firing had nothing to do with the investigation. Members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, doubt that. Indeed, three people fired so far by President Trump - Sally Yates, Preet Bharara and Comey - were all investigating him. So what happens to the the FBI's Russia probe? A Trump spokeswoman said it would continue, though critics have their doubts. Comey reportedly asked for more money to expand the Russia investigation just days before his firing, a claim the Justice Department denies. See a full timeline of FBI controversies that unfolded ahead of Comey's firing. Is this #Nixonian? Watergate comparisons launched quickly following Comey's firing, causing #Nixonian to go trending and even driving Richard Nixon's Library to poke fun at Trump. Comey's removal evoked for many the slew of firings under Nixon known as the Saturday Night Massacre, which upped calls for his impeachment. As Ray Locker reports , both Watergate and Trump's fiasco involve the firing of investigators, embattled White House spokesmen and dirty campaign tricks. The difference, though, is that Nixon, a Republican, faced a Democrat-controlled Congress. Trump's party runs both the House and Senate, and there's no special prosecutor - yet. A special prosecutor? Don't hold your breath Typically the attorney general would make the appointment of a special prosecutor to look into ties between Trump's campaign and Russia. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, however, recused himself from such investigations after he himself was caught having undisclosed meetings with Russia's ambassador, Sergey Kislyak. Yeah, awkward. Now that responsibility falls to Sessions' No. 2 guy , Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. But he's the guy who wrote the memo justifying Comey's firing. Also awkward - and potentially impartial, if you ask Chuck Schumer. Either way, the odds of a special prosecutor at this point look slim. Is Russia basically laughing at us?  Maybe, if their foreign minister is any indication. Sergey Lavror mocked a question about Comey's firing Wednesday as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stood by smiling. Trump also met with Lavrov, but it was closed to the press - except for Russian state media, which was allowed in. Because of course they were. Elsewhere in politics:  • Reporter jailed for 'yelling questions' at Kellyanne Conway • All the stuff Melania Trump has done in her first 100 days • Unemployed Americans were more likely to vote for Hillary Clinton • Senate blocks move to overturn Obama-era rule on drilling MOST SHARED STORIES FROM USA TODAY President Trump fires FBI Director James Comey It was an abrupt ending to a tenure marked by political controversies... Read more Fact check: The pre-existing conditions debate Both parties have made competing claims on whether latest version of... Read more Obama's $400,000 speech could prompt Congress to go after his pension Last year, the former president vetoed a bill that would have cut his... Read more White House fires its chief usher, the first woman to hold the job The White House has fired its chief usher, Angella Reid, who was the... Read more In major victory for Republicans, House passes Obamacare repeal The House bill would not fully repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act,... Read more AD CONTENT by Taboola FOLLOW US Thank you for subscribing to On Politics. © 2017 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22102 Unsubscribe from On Politics Why did I get this? Update my subscription preferences

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Ditulis ceo.rss — Rabu, 10 Mei 2017 — Add Comment