Senate’s McConnell says he will ‘probably’ block bill to shield special counsel
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday he would “probably” block a renewed effort to bring to a vote a bill to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
As Trump renews border wall demands, government shutdown looms
President Donald Trump’s renewed demand for U.S. taxpayer funding of his proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall was threatening again on Tuesday to bring on a budget standoff and a partial government shutdown, leaving Congress just 11 days to act.
Quick ruling expected as U.S. census trial wraps up
Lawyers for the U.S. government on Tuesday wrapped up their defense of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’ decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, saying he has broad latitude to run the decennial survey.
New York top court: Jury trials needed when deportation a risk
New York State’s highest court said on Tuesday that the U.S. Constitution guarantees jury trials to noncitizens charged with crimes that could subject them to deportation, in a divided ruling that prompted a call for the Supreme Court to weigh in.
U.S. justices wrestle with Oklahoma tribal sovereignty dispute
U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared cautious on Tuesday about potentially broad consequences in a death penalty case in which they are being asked to declare huge swathes of the state of Oklahoma as officially part of a Native American reservation.
Ex-Trump campaign head Manafort denies ever meeting with Wikileaks’ Assange
President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, staunchly denied ever meeting with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on Tuesday, after the Guardian newspaper published a story alleging the two met at least three times, including once in…
U.S. voting rights trampled in Georgia governor’s race: lawsuit
Advocates for Democrat Stacey Abrams filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday alleging far-reaching U.S. voting rights violations during the Georgia governor’s contest she lost this month to a Republican who ran the election as secretary of state.
White House spokeswoman: Not aware of any talk of pardon for ex-Trump aide Manafort
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Tuesday she was not aware of any discussions about a possible pardon for President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort after prosecutors accused him of lying and violating his plea deal.
Democrats slam ‘imaginary Republican tax bill
Senate Democrats reacted with anger and derision on Tuesday to a Republican tax bill unveiled late Monday night without warning by the top tax law writer in the U.S. House of Representatives, just days before it was expected to be voted on by the House…
Top U.S. and Mexican diplomats to meet on border issues next week: White House
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet with the incoming foreign minister of Mexico, Marcelo Ebrard, on Sunday as the two nations work toward a deal to keep asylum seekers in Mexico while their claims are considered, top White House officials sa…