News from the note…
A round up of the day’s news that might be of interest to you.
Consider this an OPEN THREAD, folks. Chat about any of the stories listed, share links to stories that caught your eye today, and generally have a good time discussing whatever you want.
Daniels lawyer offers to send gift basket to Fox News after Giuliani interview
From The Hill
Michael Avenatti, the attorney for adult-film star Stormy Daniels, on Thursday suggested that he may send a gift basket to the hosts of “Fox & Friends” after a pair of recent interviews with President Trump and one of his lawyers, Rudy Giuliani.
“Whatever happens @foxandfriends, please do not stop helping our case week in and week out by having Mr. Trump and Mr. Giuliani appear and make damaging stmts,” Michael Avenatti tweeted. “You are truly THE BEST; where can we send the gift basket?”
Exclusive: Nunes demands Justice Department records. Then he doesn’t read them.
From CNN
Facing the growing pressure, and outrage from President Donald Trump, Rosenstein finally relented in early April — and granted Nunes and Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina access to the document with only minimal redactions to protect the name of a foreign country and agent, along with all members of the House Intelligence Committee.
But when the pair arrived at the Justice Department to review the electronic communication, officials were caught off-guard by his next move. Nunes — sitting with a copy of the document in an unopened folder directly in front of him — opted not to read it, according to four sources with knowledge of the situation.
Vice president’s physician resigns
From The Hill
Vice President Pence’s doctor has resigned amid controversy over President Trump‘s failed nomination of Navy Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson to serve as Veterans Affairs secretary.
Dr. Jennifer Peña was a physician in the White House Medical Unit, which Jackson led prior to his nomination. Multiple news reports said she was one of the people who accused Jackson of workplace misconduct, allegations that eventually sunk his nomination.
31 must-read quotes from Giuliani’s Stormy Daniels media blitz
From Politico
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani embarked on a media blitz starting Wednesday night to tamp down speculation that a $130,000 “hush money” payment from President Donald Trump’s personal attorney to porn star Stormy Daniels could be considered a campaign finance violation.
Instead, the newly minted member of Trump’s legal team set off a media furor by revealing that Trump himself had repaid attorney Michael Cohen for the arrangement. Trump previously denied any knowledge of the payment.
Former Trump aide Sam Clovis to leave USDA
From The Hill
Former Trump campaign aide Sam Clovis is leaving his role in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the end of the week, Politico reports.
Clovis worked at the USDA as a senior adviser since January 2017, most recently serving in the department’s National Resources Conservation Service. His last day is Friday.
Rep; Elijah Cummings says Trump ‘may have violated’ law by not disclosing debt to lawyer Michael Cohen for porn star Stormy Daniels hush-money
From CNBC
Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings on Friday said President Donald Trump may have broke the law by not disclosing a debt to his personal lawyer for paying porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair with the president.
Cummings, in a letter, said Trump failed to note the payment to his attorney Michael Cohen when he filed his annual government financial disclosure last June.
Cummings noted that under federal law “it is a crime to knowingly and willfully make a false and fraudulent representation to a federal office or entity.”
California GOP denounces Senate candidate who admires Hitler, wants country ‘free of Jews’
The Hill
The California Republican Party has denounced a Republican Senate candidate who has denied the Holocaust happened and called for a country “free from Jews.”
Patrick Little, a self-described “pro-white” candidate, is polling at second in the race against Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), despite his extremist views. But the GOP has rejected Little and condemned his anti-Semitic remarks.
Full text: Rudy Giuliani issues statement clarifying his earlier remarks
From Politico
On Friday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani issued the following statement clarifying his previous remarks on a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
GOP Rep. Dent calls for oversight hearings on Stormy Daniels payment
From CNN
In the wake of Rudy Giuliani’s statements about the hush payment made to Stormy Daniels, outgoing Republican Rep. Charlie Dent called for congressional oversight hearings into the matter, suggesting that it would be hypocritical not to hold them.
“I think there is certainly a role for Congress,” the Pennsylvania Republican said on CNN’s “Newsroom” on Thursday.
“Let’s put the shoe on the other foot,” Dent said. “If a Democratic president had paid off a porn star to keep quiet while he was president, I suspect we’d have oversight hearings, and I suspect there should be some oversight hearings to get to the bottom of this.”
A Friday Bonus Note from the “Must Read of the Week” category
An Open Letter to Trump’s Evangelical Defenders
by David French
