Trump border wall prototypes torn down to make way for new barrier

The prototypes for President Donald Trump's contest for a border wall near San Diego, California, were torn down on Wednesday, to make way for a new section of actual border fencing.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2Nywjoa

Ex-lawyer Cohen assails 'conman' Trump, gives no direct evidence of collusion

U.S. President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen accused him of breaking the law while in office and said for the first time that Trump knew in advance about a WikiLeaks dump of stolen emails that hurt his 2016 election rival Hillary Clinton.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2T3Gg34

U.S. House approves expanded background checks for gun sales

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would expand background checks for gun sales to include firearm purchases at gun shows and over the internet, a measure likely to face Senate and White House opposition.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2IEMTnG

Cohen: Trump feared audit if he released tax returns

U.S. President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen said on Wednesday that Trump has not released his tax returns because he feared that public scrutiny would lead to an audit and tax penalties.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2GPBMWW

Donald Trump Jr. signed checks for hush money related to affair: Cohen

President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen testified to Congress on Wednesday that some reimbursement checks issued to him for hush-money payments to an adult film star were signed by Donald Trump Jr. and the Trump Organization's chief financial officer.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2tHmmvC

Cohen: fears no 'peaceful transition' if Trump loses in 2020

President Donald Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen said at the end of congressional testimony on Wednesday that he fears Trump will not allow his successor to peacefully take control of the White House if he loses the 2020 presidential election.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2tGgPVX

Trump ex-lawyer Cohen: drugmaker Novartis wanted him to lobby, he refused

U.S. President Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen testified on Wednesday that Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG initially wanted him to lobby for the company when it retained him with a $1.2 million contract, but that Cohen refused.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2NvZVTf

What legal risks does Cohen's testimony pose to Trump?

Testimony by Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer and "fixer," to a U.S. congressional committee on Wednesday highlighted several legal risks Trump may face.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2TlhbzM

North Carolina Republican operative charged in election fraud scheme

The North Carolina Republican political operative at the center of an absentee ballot fraud scheme that led the state to order a rerun of a congressional election was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice on Wednesday, officials said.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2tFTDHn

Sully, George H.W. Bush's dog, starts new job with wounded U.S. service members, veterans

Lifting his thick paw to shake, former President George H.W. Bush's service dog took an oath to serve at Walter Reed National Medical Center on Wednesday, embarking on a new job helping disabled American veterans and active-duty service members.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2NBr8UA

Cohen warns Republican lawmakers: don't protect Trump

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's prison-bound former personal lawyer, on Wednesday cautioned Republicans in Congress against defending a president he had protected for years, saying they, too, risk a fall from grace.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2NvRffs

Cohen: Trump ordered him to make 500 threats over 10 years

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered his personal attorney to make threats for him about 500 times over the last 10 years, former lawyer Michael Cohen told lawmakers on Wednesday.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2NvYHaj

Cohen says prosecutors in NY investigating other possible illegal acts involving Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen told lawmakers on Wednesday he was aware of other possible illegal acts involving Trump that he could not discuss because they were under investigation by federal prosecutors in Manhattan.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2II8DPi