Special Counsel Now Looking at Kushner’s Dealings and Trump’s FBI Obstruction; Pence Lawyers Up
Trump probe widens. Special prosecutor Robert Mueller appears to be looking beyond the initial Trump-Kremlin suspicions of election tampering. And Trump took to Twitter to denounce the investigation. First Son-in-Law Jared Kushner’s business dealings are being investigated, the Washington Post reported, along with a wider probe of obstruction of justice. The inquiry includes interviews with Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers and retired deputy NSA director Richard Ledgett. Vice President Mike Pence has hired a criminal defense attorney to represent him in the Russia investigation. In a related matter: A federal judge in Brooklyn, N.Y., will open a hearing on Monday regarding the unsealing of national-security documents related to Trump’s dealings with Russian-born businessman-mobster-FBI informant Felix Sater. Nonprofit DCReport.org and other news organizations are supporting the move to open the sealed files.
Turkish brutality. Guards for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoǧan have been charged with beating up protestors on May 16 in front of the Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington. Erdogan, who was in Washington to meet with Trump, watched the melee from a black Mercedes-Benz parked at the Turkish ambassador’s residence. Erdogan’s security detail left the country with him hours after the attack, and Turkey is not expected to extradite the men to the United States to face the charges. Turkey’s foreign ministry said the brawl happened because U.S. security failed to take necessary measures.
Supersize us. The Food and Drug Administration has halted a requirement that food manufacturers disclose how much “added sugars” the foods contain. The labels were supported by former First Lady Michelle Obama. Some companies such PepsiCo have already changed their labels on Fritos and Cheetos. Large trade groups including the Grocery Manufacturers Association asked the FDA to delay the requirement.
Brief unity. Democrats and Republicans came together Thursday for the congressional baseball game, a day after gunman James Hodgkinson wounded five people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) Scalise remained in critical condition Thursday. Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Ill., was shot to death by police during the shooting. Hodgkinson apparently legally purchased his weapons, a 9 mm handgun and a 7.62 caliber rifle. A hearing on how tightly the government should regulate the sale of gun silencers, scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed after the shooting. The Democrats’ team won the ball game, 11-2.
