Former Baltimore Mayor Pleads Guilty

Reviews,
These articles are a straightforward overview of the current status of the case against Catherine Pugh. Pugh pled guilty to two types of fraud, or conspiracy to commit fraud, and to counts of tax evasion regarding her self-published children's book, Healthy Holly. The counts of tax evasion included sweeping allegations against Pugh. Two associates of Pugh also pleaded guilty to similar charges. This is the latest in a series of problems for Baltimore. The Baltimore Sun article goes out of its way to point out their paper's significant role in the story, and Huffington Post shares a number of related facts meant for a less familiar audience – including other recent scandals in Baltimore.
Common Facts
Content (6)
The Bal.
Huf. Pos.
Pugh pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy and tax evasion charges
This was a public acknowledgment of "wrongdoing involving her 'Healthy Holly' book deals"
Pugh pleaded guilty to the following charges on Thursday:
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Conspiracy to defraud the United States
An 11-count indictment was unsealed on Wednesday
Definitions (8)
Pugh: Catherine Pugh is the former Democrat Mayor of Baltimore
Hur: Robert K. Hur is a Maryland U.S. Attorney
Chasanow: Deborah K. Chasanow was the presiding U.S. District Judge
Coates: Paul Coates is a longtime friend of Pugh and father of author Ta-Nehisi Coates
Silverman: Steven Silverman is Pugh's lawyer
Dixon: Sheila Dixon is a former mayor of Baltimore
Brown: Gary Brown, Jr. is an associate of Pugh indicted separately
Wedington: Roslyn Wedington is an associate of Pugh indicted separately
Review Info (3)
First Published: 11/22/2019 12:07:38 am
Last Updated: 11/22/2019 01:10:16 am
Original Front Page Link
The Baltimore Sun
Content (17)
The acknowledgment is the first since the Baltimore Sun began exposing the wrongdoing in March
Hur said the suggested sentence is around five years of prison
The judge hearing the case is not bound to that agreement
Sentencing is scheduled for February 27th
The indictment alleged that her self-publishing enterprise was a criminal racket
The guilty plea came more than eight months after the Sun publicly exposed the misdoing and FBI raids on Pugh's homes and City Hall
The guilty plea is on a narrower set of charges than laid out in the indictment
Pugh confirmed she understood the allegations against her while standing before Chasanow
Pugh confirmed she understood the potential to spend years behind bars as well
Pugh spoke softly and only said a few words in court
Pugh surrendered her passport under terms that allowed her to go free pending sentencing
Silverman said in a statement after the hearing: "This has been a challenging process for [Pugh]", "After careful consideration of the charges brought against her, Ms. Pugh has decided to forego a long trial. Such a trial would drain essential government resources and cause further distraction from the serious issues our region faces. Ms. Pugh sincerely apologizes to all of those that she let down, most especially the citizens of Baltimore whom she had the honor to serve in multiple capacities for decades."
Two counts of tax evasion
"The counts include the sweeping allegations against Pugh in the initial indictment — that she knowingly sought to defraud purchasers of her books, reap the financial and political benefits, and pay little or no taxes on the windfall"
"Under the plea deal, prosecutors will not pursue seven counts of wire fraud against Pugh"
Pugh is 69 years old
Coates walked with Pugh
Opinion (1)
"…The Sun's revelations … torpedoed her political career and forced her from office."
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/21/2019 03:29:00 pm
Date Accessed: 11/21/2019 06:42:00 pm
Article Author: Luke Broadwater, Kevin Rector
Click here to see the article
Huffington Post
Content (11)
Pugh pleaded guilty to tax evasion
Pugh pleaded not guilty to wire fraud on Thursday
The case involves sales of her self-published “Healthy Holly” books to non-profits and foundations to promote her political career and fund her run for mayor.
Pugh was elected in 2016
Pugh resigned in May 2019
A federal grand jury indictment returned on Nov. 14th charged two associates of Pugh: Gary Brown, Jr., and Roslyn Wedington
Both Brown and Wedington also pleaded guilty to conspiracy and tax fraud
Pugh became Baltimore’s second mayor in less than a decade to step down because of scandal.
Dixon left office in 2010 as part of a plea deal for misappropriating about $500 in gift cards meant for needy families
Meanwhile, Baltimore has struggled with violent crime, other cases of public corruption, and a major police scandal
Baltimore has had more than 300 homicides for five years running
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/21/2019 02:21:00 pm
Date Accessed: 11/21/2019 07:16:00 pm
Article Author: Brian Witte, Regina Garcia Cano
Click here to see the article

Sondland's Divisive Testimony

Reviews, ,
Sondland testifies that he, Giuliani, and Trump pushed Ukraine to investigate Biden in quid pro quo. In their article, Fox focuses exclusively on an interchange between Turner and Sondland, and a response by Meadows, stating that Sondland never heard anyone explicitly state quid pro quo. Reuters neglects that fact, but provides a host of others. The Fox article lends a lot of word-space to Turner declaring Sondland's presumption to be nothing, and Turner's argument on CNN's headline is inconsistent (i.e. Sondland did say there was quid pro quo based on his presumption, so even if Sondland was wrong or it was nothing, the CNN title was correct). On the other hand, the omission from Reuters of Sondland's response that he heard no one state quid pro quo is shocking.
Common Facts
Definitions (10)
Giuliani: Rudy Giuliani is Trump's personal attorney
Sondland: Gordon Sondland is the U.S. ambassador to the European Union
Zelenskiy : Volodymyr Zelenskiy (or Zelensky) is the Ukrainian president
Pompeo: Mike Pompeo is the U.S. Secretary of State
McConnell: Mitch McConnell is a Republican senator from Kentucky and the Senate Majority Leader
Quid pro quo: Quid pro quo is a Latin term indicating that that something has been traded for something else of equal value
HRIC: The House of Representatives Intelligence Committee is taking the lead on the impeachment inquiry
Biden: Joe Biden is a former Vice President of the United States and a Democratic candidate running for President
Turner: Mike Turner is a Republican Representative from Ohio
Meadows: Mark Meadows is a Republican Representative from North Carolina
Review Info (3)
First Published: 11/21/2019 01:12:40 am
Last Updated: 11/21/2019 02:01:41 am
Original Front Page Link
Reuters
Content (25)
Sondland is a key witness in the impeachment inquiry
Sondland said he worked with Giuliani on Ukraine issues on "the President's orders."
Sondland claimed that Giuliani's efforts to push Zelenskiy for an investigation into Biden's family "were a quid pro quo for arranging a White House visit"
Sondland is a wealthy hotel entrepreneur
Sondland is a Trump donor
Sondland said Pompeo was aware and "fully supportive" of his and Giuliani's efforts with Ukraine
Sondland appeared before the HRIC on Wednesday
Sondland "smiled and laughed as he took his seat at the witness chair in the hearing room on Capitol Hill"
"The [impeachment] inquiry focuses on a July 25 phone call in which Trump asked Zelenskiy to carry out two investigations"
One investigation was to target Biden
The other investigation involved a theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 U.S. election
Ahead of this call, Trump froze $391 million in U.S. security aid approved by Congress to help Ukraine combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country.
"Democrats have accused Trump of using the frozen aid and Zelenskiy's desire for an Oval Office meeting as leverage to pressure a vulnerable U.S. ally to dig up dirt on political adversaries"
Trump is running for reelection next year
Sondland was one of three Trump allies who largely took over U.S.-Ukraine policy in May
Giuliani also played a key role
Giuliani holds no official government position.
Career U.S. diplomats have portrayed Sondland in their testimony as a central figure in a Ukraine policy operation
"Trump has denied wrongdoing, called the inquiry a witch hunt and assailed some of the witnesses including current White House aides."
"Sondland was tapped as Trump's envoy after he donated $1 million to the president's inauguration."
"In October, Trump called him 'a really good man,'"
"but after Sondland's amended statement to House investigators this month the president told reporters at the White House, 'I hardly know the gentleman.'"
"The investigation could lead the House to approve formal charges against Trump – called articles of impeachment – that would be sent to the Republican-controlled Senate for a trial on whether to remove him from office."
Few Republican senators have broken with Trump.
McConnell "said on Tuesday it was 'inconceivable' that two-thirds of the Republican-controlled chamber would vote to convict Trump."
Opinion (5)
The impeachment inquiry threatens Trump's presidency
The theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 U.S. election is a debunked conspiracy theory embraced by some Trump allies
Career U.S. diplomats portrayed Sondland's pressing for quid pro quo was part of a shadow and "irregular" Ukraine policy operation
…which undercut official channels
…and pressed Kiev to investigate the Bidens
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/20/2019 02:17:00 pm
Date Accessed: 11/20/2019 07:38:00 pm
Article Author: Patricia Zengerle
Click here to see the article
Fox News
Content (17)
Turner seized "on Sondland's admission that he never heard the president or anyone else in the White House explicitly link Ukrainian aid with the opening of an investigation into 2020 Democratic candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter."
Meadows applauded Turner for producing "the real bombshell" of Sondland's testimony
Meadows marked the response from Sondland as "Game over." insinuating that the impeachment inquiry is over.
The impeachment inquiry "is focusing on an alleged quid pro quo between President Trump and Ukraine linking military aid and White House access to Ukraine probes beneficial to Trump."
Turner asked Sondland: "Is that your testimony today, Mr. Sondland? That you have evidence that Donald Trump tied the investigation to the aid? Because I don't think you're saying that."
Sondland admitted he was "presuming" that the delayed aid was linked to Trump asking Zelenskiy for an investigation into the Bidens.
"Turner focused on the Republican Party's main defense of Trump"
Turner: "So no one told you", "Not just the president. Giuliani didn't tell you, Mulvaney didn't tell you. Nobody. Pompeo didn't tell you. Nobody else on this planet told you that Donald Trump was tying aid to these investigations. Is that correct?"
Turner then cut Sondland off and restated his point: "No one on this planet told you that Donald Trump was tying this aid to the investigations, … No one on this planet told you that President Trump was tying aid to investigations. Yes or no?"
Sondland: "Yes"
Turner: "So, you really have no testimony today that ties President Trump to a scheme to withhold aid from Ukraine in exchange for these investigations?"
Sondland: "Other than my own presumption"
Meadows shared a CNN headline on Twitter while : "SONDLAND: 'YES' THERE WAS QUID PRO QUO IN UKRAINE SCANDAL"
Sondland insistent throughout the testimony that he never explicitly heard anyone demand investigations in exchange for aid
Sondland never got a clear answer on why the aid was held up
Sondland said the absence of a clear explanation led to his presumption of quid pro quo.
Sondland: "I never said the president of the United States should be impeached"
Opinion (3)
Turner hammered Sondland during Wednesday's testimony
Turner stated "because if your answer is yes, then the chairman is wrong and the headline on CNN is wrong." with regards to Sondland's answer.
Turner: "You know what hearsay evidence is, ambassador? Hearsay is when I testify what someone else told me. Do you know what made-up testimony is? Made-up testimony is when I just presume it. I mean you're just assuming all of these things and then you're giving them the evidence that they're running out and doing press conferences and CNN's headline is saying that you're saying the president of the United States should be impeached because he tied aid to investigations — and you don't know that. Correct?"
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/20/2019 05:00:00 pm
Date Accessed: 11/20/2019 08:56:00 pm
Article Author: Vandana Rambaran
Click here to see the article

Vindman Describes Call as "Improper" In Testimony

Reviews, ,
Democrats kicked off this week's impeachment investigation with four witnesses, who generally expressed dissatisfaction with Trump's call to Zelensky, but, per NPR, none of them suggested anything illegal happened and said that quid-pro-quo wasn't pushed. Essentially, Trump is defending the call in his usual fashion ("perfect" call, and attacking 'accusers'), while others are saying it was improper and possibly contradicting Sondland's testimony. NPR gives a much broader view of the hearings, including a small amount on Vindman. The Fox article is a focused piece on a small part of his testimony, and the Guardian piece is essentially a reading of his prepared remarks with a few bits of hard-left spin slipped in. There is a tremendous amount of detail to the interview, but the best summary is probably Vindman's prepared remarks (see link in Guardian article). The reader is encouraged to try those and skip the second-hand opinions.
Common Facts
Content (1)
NPR
Fox New.
The Gua.
Vindman listened in on The Call
Definitions (17)
The Call: Donald Trump placed a phone call with Zelensky on July 25th
Vindman: Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman is an Army foreign area officer who serves on the National Security Council
Williams: Jennifer Williams is a foreign service officer detailed to Pence's staff
Volker: Kurt Volker was a State Department envoy to Ukraine for peace negotiations
Morrison: Tim Morrison was a National Security Council aide and Vindman's supervisor
Pence: Vice President Mike Pence
Giuliani: Rudy Giuliani is Trump's personal lawyer
Zelensky: Volodymyr Zelensky (or Zelenskiy) is the sixth President of Ukraine
Bolton: John Bolton was the National Security Advisor to Trump
Grisham: Stephanie Grisham is a White House press secretary
Biden: Joe Biden was the Vice President of the United States with Obama
Sondland: Gordon Sondland is the United States Ambassador to the European Union
Danylyuk: Alex Danylyuk is a Ukrainian Official
Nunes: Devin Nunes is a Republican Congressmen and the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee
The Whistleblower: The anonymous whistleblower is the person who lodged the complaint about The Call that led to the impeachment proceedings
Schiff: Adam Schiff is a Democratic Representative from California and the Committee Chairman
NSC: National Security Council
Review Info (3)
First Published: 11/19/2019 11:30:06 pm
Last Updated: 11/20/2019 01:13:20 am
Original Front Page Link
NPR
Content (22)
Williams listened in on The Call
The channel was run by Giuliani
Volker helped broker a meeting between Giuliani and an aide to Zelensky
Volk said "a great deal of additional information and perspectives have come to light since then"
The change was in his opening statement
Volker stated he didn't know of "know of any linkage between the hold on U.S. military aid to Ukraine and the country's pursuing investigations"
Volker stated that "he did not convey such a linkage to the Ukrainians"
Volker initially said there was no discussion in a July 10th meeting between Bolton and Danylyuk of Giuliani's investigation into the Bidens
In his opening statement, Volker stated: "As I remember, the meeting was essentially over when Amb. Sondland made a generic comment about investigations."
…and continued: "I think all of us thought it was inappropriate; the conversation did not continue and the meeting concluded."
Volker stated that he didn't know that others believed that investigation into Burisma was the same as investigating Biden.
Volker said he knew Biden for 24 years as "an honorable man and I hold him in the highest regard."
He was concerned about what would happen when the call became public
He saw nothing illegal
He was disappointed in the call, hoping for a better endorsement of Zelensky's reform agenda from Trump
Morrison stated they did not recommend that the president discuss investigating Biden
"House Democrats began the second week of their open impeachment hearings on Tuesday with" Vindman and Williams
The Tuesday afternoon session included Volker and Morrison
"Volker was at the center of the alternate policy channel for Ukraine"
"Volker changed some key aspects of his testimony behind doors last month"
Morrison heard The Call as it happened
The Call was a key moment in the Ukraine affair
Opinion (4)
Trump characterized The Call as "perfect"
Vindman called The Call "improper"
Grisham said Vindman and William's testimony provided nothing new
Grisham said the proceedings were "illegitimate"
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/19/2019 05:00:00 am
Date Accessed: 11/19/2019 05:36:00 pm
Article Author: Brian Naylor
Click here to see the article
Fox News
Content (15)
Vindman correcting Nunes came during a back-and-forth over the identity of The Whistleblower
Nunes stated: "Mr. Vindman, you testified in your deposition that you did not know the whistleblower"
Vindman responded: "Ranking member, it's Lieutenant Colonel Vindman, please"
Nunes corrected himself and repeated his question
This "followed questions regarding who Vindman had spoken with about" The Call
Schiff interjected multiple times to advise Vindman to not expose the identity of The Whistleblower
Schiff stated The Whistleblower was afforded legal protection
Vindman stated he spoke to two people regarding a readout of The Call
Both were government employees with a need to know
Nunes asked which agencies they were with
Vindman stated he spoke with Kent and "an individual in the intelligence community"
Nunes asked which agency the latter individual worked for
Schiff cut off the question, reminding Vindman to be careful not to reveal the indentity of The Whistleblower
Nunes reminded Vindman of his prior testimony that he didn't know the whistleblower
Vindman stated he did not know the identity of The Whistleblower and that his counsel advised against answering specific questions about members of the intelligence community.
Opinion (2)
Vindman's testimony grew tense during questioning from Nunes
Vindman 'scolded' Nunes for not addressing him by his military title
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/19/2019 12:00:00 pm
Date Accessed: 11/19/2019 06:32:00 pm
Article Author: Ronn Blitzer
Click here to see the article
The Guardian
Content (20)
Vindman gave an opening statement before congressional impeachment investigators on Tuesday
In this, he planned to describe concerns that Trump's push to investigate Biden was undermining US foreign policy in Ukraine
Vindman testified that the call summary released by the White House is accurate
Vindman is the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, which is why he was on The Call
"Vindman took concerns to NSC lawyer"
He "planned to describe multiple scenes in which White House discussions about Ukraine policy, including discussions with Ukrainians, were interrupted by an insistence that Ukraine announce investigations tied to Biden"
Vindman's Statement: "I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a US citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the US government’s support of Ukraine,"
Vindman took concerns to the top lawyer for NSC
At least one other person did the same
"Vindman’s testimony appears to conflict with Sondland’s claims"
Vindman planned to finger Sondland "as the Trump administration’s point man in extracting the 'deliverable' – a Biden investigation announcement – from Ukraine"
From Vindman's statement: "I stated to Ambassador Sondland that his statements were inappropriate, that the request to investigate Biden and his son had nothing to do with national security."
This testimony appears to conflict with Sondland's claims to ignorance of attempts to negotiate the deal with Ukraine
"Vindman’s family fled the former Soviet Union"
Vindman is a career public servant and soldier
He arrived in the US at age 3 after his family fled the Soviet Union
He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army with two decades of military experience
He received a purple heart after being wounded by an IED in Iraq
"White House accused Vindman of ‘espionage’ against Trump"
"The White House and media allies have launched a character smear against Vindman, accusing him of disloyalty to the US and of 'espionage' against Trump."
Opinion (3)
Trump's push to investigate Biden was a 'plot'
The proposed investigation into Biden was baseless
'“I knew people were listening in on the call (why would I say something inappropriate?), which was fine with me, but why so many?” Trump tweeted. “Why are people that I never even heard of testifying about the call.”'
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/19/2019 09:58:00 am
Date Accessed: 11/19/2019 07:38:00 pm
Article Author: Tom McCarthy
Click here to see the article

Book by Anonymous Author Blasts Trump

Reviews
An anonymous author alleged that Vice President Mike Pence supported the use of the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office, but Pence dismissed this rumor repeatedly saying that it is not true. In terms of supporters, Trump is doing well in New Hampshire. Generously, the authors provide facts and information and support claims pertaining to these situations.
Common Facts
Content (1)
Fox New.
Ind.
The book follows an opinion piece published in The New York Times in 2018.
Definitions (5)
Pence: Mike Pence is the Vice President.
Zelensky: Volodymyr Zelensky is the Ukrainian President.
NH: NH stands for New Hampshire.
Williams: Jennifer Williams is Pence's office's special adviser for Europe and Russia.
Hachette: Hachette is the publisher of "The Warning."
Review Info (3)
First Published: 11/08/2019 10:02:33 pm
Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am
Original Front Page Link
Fox News
Content (11)
Pence addressed both issues of the 25th Amendment, and the dealings with Zelensky after placing Trump as 1st-in-the-nation in the Republican primary ballot in NH.
Pence dismissed rumors that he considered "invoking the 25th Amendment" to remove Trump from office or keep him from running again.
The Huffington Post obtained an excerpt of "A Warning," written by the "unnamed senior Trump administration official."
The Huffington Post said the anonymous author tallied roughly which of the Cabinet members would sign a letter invoking Section 4 of the 25th Amendment.
Fox News asked Pence if there was any truth to the report of the anonymous author.
Pence said he dismissed the rumors when they came out in 2017.
Pence "never heard any discussion in his entire tenure as Vice President about the 25th Amendment."
To re-emphasize his point, Pence added he was "happy to dismiss them without qualification."
While Pence was in NH, Williams was unaccessible on Capitol Hill.
However, Williams "complied with a subpoena served by House Democrats."
"According to a Trump administration official, Williams was on the July 25 phone call between Trump and Zelensky."
Opinion (11)
On Thursday, Pence "blasted" a new report that suggested Pence considered using the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.
Pence restated that "neither he nor the president did anything wrong in their dealings with Zelensky."
Pence clarified that there were no unkind feelings between those running for political office.
Pence's comments came after the anonymous author of an "upcoming anti-Trump book" cited anonymous sources declaring Pence to have tried to use the 25th Amendment to unseat Trump in 2017.
The editorial was a "scathing attack" on Trump.
The anonymous author said there was "no doubt" that "Pence would be on board."
Pence said the record they're celebrating in New Hampshire is a testament to Trump's leadership.
Pence then "took aim" at the anonymous author.
Pence said the idea of the anonymous editorial writer writing a book is "appalling to him."
Pence said if someone in the administration is not supporting Trump or his agenda then they should "do the honorable thing and resign."
Fox News found that the White House tried to prevent Williams from testifying, or tried to limit her testimony.
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/07/2019 12:00:00 am
Date Accessed: 11/08/2019 03:57:00 pm
Article Author: Paul Steinhauser & Peter Doocy
Click here to see the article
Independent
Content (7)
A senior White House official wrote a new book titled "A Warning."
The book is 259 pages long.
In this opinion piece, the author claims to be "part of the resistance inside the Trump administration."
The author hopes instead the Trump is not re-elected.
"On Monday, the Justice Department sent a letter to the book's publisher and the writer's literary agency."
The Justice Department said a confidentiality agreement may have been violated, asking for information that could reveal the author's identity.
Hachette said they "would provide no additional information beyond calling the author a 'current or former senior official.'"
Opinion (18)
This book says Trump "stumbles, slurs, and gets confused."
This book says Trump deserves to be fired.
The "anonymous staff member" questions Trump's fitness for office.
"I am not qualified to diagnose the president's mental acuity," writes the author according to a review by The Washington Post
"All I can tell you is that normal people who spend any time with Donald Trump are uncomfortable by what they witness," writes the author.
"He stumbles, slurs, gets confused, is easily irritated, and has trouble synthesizing information, not occasionally but with regularity," writes the author.
"Those who would claim otherwise are lying to themselves or to the country," writes the author.
Trump is described as a "twelve-year-old in an air traffic control tower."
Trump is described as an "elderly uncle running pants less across the courtyard of a nursing home while cursing loudly about the cafeteria food, as worried attendants tried to catch him."
"You're stunned, amused, and embarrassed all at the same time," the author writes.
The "anonymous official" admits he sat in "uncomfortable silence" as Trump made "offensive jokes" about a woman's appearance or performance.
The author adds that Trump comments on makeup and jokes about weight.
"He questions the toughness of women in and around his orbit. He uses words like ‘sweetie’ and ‘honey’ to address accomplished professionals," the author writes.
"This is precisely the way a boss shouldn’t act in the work environment," the author concludes.
The author says the "last straw" that made him speak out was Trump's attempt to prevent the lowering of the White House flag to half-mast after senator John McCain's death.
Even though the author dislikes Trump so much, he doesn't want him impeached because this would cause "further disunion."
The author admits his description of a White House resistance movement was made to be bigger than it actually was.
The author added, "Unelected bureaucrats and cabinet appointees were never going to steer Donald Trump the right direction in the long run, or refine his malignant management style. He is who he is."
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/08/2019 09:00:00 am
Date Accessed: 11/08/2019 05:04:00 pm
Article Author: Peter Stubley
Click here to see the article

Trump Out 2 Million After Settling Lawsuit

Reviews
Fox shows Trump's tweeted statement from tonight, CNN shows his tweet from last year vowing to not settled. Fox states James requested a lot of damages and the judge decided $2 million was more reasonable, while CNN says she ordered Trump to pay and that both sides agreed to let the judge decide the amount. CNN is pretty straight forward with the facts, but presents little by way of Trump's side of the story except for his prior Tweet – clearly (though fairly) shared to make him look bad.
Common Facts
Content (5)
CNN
Fox New.
NYSAG announced that a judge ordered Trump "to pay $2 million in damages for improper use of funds at the Trump Foundation in connection with the 2016 presidential primaries and his own political purposes"
"…Scarpulla decided $2 million was a more reasonable restitution amount and declined to issue a penalty"
NYSAG had requested 2.8 million in restitution
"As part of the settlement, Trump admitted to misusing Trump Foundation funds and agreed to limitations placed on future charitable work."
"The state filed the lawsuit against the Trump Foundation in June 2018"
Definitions (5)
NYSAG: The New York state attorney general's office
Scarpulla: Justice Saliann Scarpulla, a New York state judge presiding over the case involving the Trump Foundation
NYSAG: The New York State Attorney General's Office
James: New York State Attorney General Letitia James
Scarpulla: Judge Saliann Scarpulla, the presiding judge over the lawsuit
Review Info (3)
First Published: 11/08/2019 12:13:05 am
Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am
Original Front Page Link
CNN
Content (12)
NYSAG alleged the Trump Foundation "unlawfully coordinated with the 2016 Trump presidential campaign"
In her decision, Scarpulla stated that "Mr. Trump breached his fiduciary duty to the Foundation" by allowing his campaign to set up a fundraiser and direct the distribution of the money from the fundraiser "to further Mr. Trump's political campaign"
NYSAG sought "a ban on Trump and his children serving on the board of any other New York nonprofit"
Scarpulla did not impose the ban on Trump and family from serving on non-profit boards
"…the lawsuit alleged that the President and his three eldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric — violated federal and state campaign finance laws and abused the Donald J. Trump Foundation's tax-exempt status"
Trump reached a settlement with NYSAG
Trump tweeted last year "I won't settle this case!"
The lawyers reached a settlement and agreed that the judge could decide the amount of damages Trump would be required to pay
The Trump Foundation agreed to dissolve in December 2018 under the supervision of a judge
Attorney General Letitia James: "The court's decision, together with the settlements we negotiated, are a major victory in our efforts to protect charitable assets and hold accountable those who would abuse charities for personal gain", "My office will continue to fight for accountability because no one is above the law — not a businessman, not a candidate for office, and not even the President of the United States."
"As part of the settlement, Trump also agreed to reimburse $11,525 to the foundation for its payment of auction items at a charitable benefit"
The restrictions Trump agreed to "include that the majority of the board members of the charity must not be Trump's family members or have any business relationship with him, his companies or any companies owned by his relatives."
Opinion (3)
The outcome answers questions that arose during Trump's 2016 campaign about "whether Trump used money raised under the guise of charitable work for political gain"
The settlement puts Trump in the "unusual position of having to pay millions in damages while in office, at a time when he faces a large number of other personal legal battles."
"According to the lawsuit, the Trumps allowed the foundation to be used 'as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump's business and political interests.'"
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/07/2019 04:08:00 pm
Date Accessed: 11/07/2019 07:09:00 pm
Article Author: Erica Orden
Click here to see the article
Fox News
Content (13)
NYSAG had also requested a $5.6 million penalty
"If [Trump] chooses to start a new charitable organization, he would have to report it to the state attorney general's office, according to an announcement from James' office"
James: "The Trump Foundation has shut down, funds that were illegally misused are being restored, the president will be subject to ongoing supervision by my office, and the Trump children had to undergo compulsory training to ensure this type of illegal activity never takes place again"
James: "The court’s decision, together with the settlements we negotiated, are a major victory in our efforts to protect charitable assets and hold accountable those who would abuse charities for personal gain."
Trump released a statement on Twitter on Thursday (11/7/19) night
Trump: James is “deliberately mischaracterizing this settlement for political purposes."
"…the settlement includes four stipulation agreements, the first of which was fulfilled when the Trump Foundation agreed to shut down in Dec. 2018"
"The other three stipulations were added in Oct. 2019. They include distribution of the remainder of the foundation's assets to charities approved by James' office, training for the president's children Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr., and 19 paragraphs of Trump's admissions of illegal activity."
Admissions required of Trump include "Those admissions include failure of the foundation's board to meet or engage in proper oversight, and details regarding coordination with Trump's 2016 campaign, including a Trump Foundation fundraiser that the campaign organized, and use of foundation funds to pay legal obligations, and for a $10,000 portrait of Trump."
"As part of the settlement, James' office said, Donald Trump Jr. reimbursed the foundation for the portrait."
The Attorney General's office stated that the $2 million in damages and the remaining $1.78 million that the foundation has will go to Army Emergency Relief, the Children’s Aid Society, Citymeals-on-Wheels, Give an Hour, Martha’s Table, United Negro College Fund, United Way of National Capital Area, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
"'Following the 2016 presidential election, the Trump Foundation publicly announced its intention to voluntarily dissolve and distribute all of its remaining funds to charity,' the statement said."
The payment is part of a lawsuit between Trump, the Trump Foundation, and James
Opinion (2)
"In a statement, a Trump Foundation spokesperson said the foundation was 'pleased to donate an additional $2 million' to those organizations."
"It continued: 'Unfortunately, that donation was delayed due to the Attorney General’s politically motivated lawsuit. We are pleased that the Court, in rejecting the Attorney General’s frivolous request for statutory penalties, interest and other damages, recognized that every penny ever raised by the Trump Foundation has gone to help those most in need. Now that this matter is concluded, the Trump Foundation is proud to make this additional contribution.'"
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/07/2019 04:00:00 pm
Date Accessed: 11/07/2019 07:52:00 pm
Article Author: Ronn Blitzer
Click here to see the article

Bevin Holding On Despite Democrats Declaring Victory

Reviews
The author shares comments by Trump and his campaign suggesting that Trump basically dragged Bevin across or to the finish line, and if Bevin lost it would be because of himself – after pointing out that Bevin's loss has national implications for Trump. The article reports many useful facts, but shifts the story towards Trump where other articles do not. Some extra information was given that was left out of the Courier Journal article.
Common Facts
Content (7)
Cou. Jou.
Fox New.
CBS
Beshear had a lead of 5,333 votes cast with 100% of the districts reporting
Bevin requested a recanvass in Kentucky's gubernatorial race
Bevin: "We are not conceding this race by any stretch, not a chance."
Bevin: "Understand this though, we want the process to be followed and there is a process. We know for a fact that there have been more than a few irregularities, they are very well corroborated and that's alright. What they are exactly, how many, which ones and what effect if any they'll have, will be determined according to law, that's well established."
"Grimes later announced the recanvass will be conducted on Nov. 14 at 9 a.m."
"A recanvassing requires the county election boards to recheck each machine and report the figures back to the county clerk."
Beshear's campaign claimed victory
Definitions (6)
Bevin: Matt Bevin, incumbent governor of Kentucky
Grimes: Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes
Beshear: Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear
Bevin: Republican Incumbent Governor Matt Bevin
Grimes: Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Grimes
Beshear: Democrat gubernatorial candidate Andy Beshear
Review Info (3)
First Published: 11/06/2019 10:25:37 pm
Last Updated: 11/19/2019 01:00:02 am
Original Front Page Link
Courier Journal
Content (9)
"A news release announcing the request did not provide any specific example of voting irregularities, and Bevin's campaign and office have not replied to multiple requests asking for any of those examples."
"Bevin is planning a 5 p.m. press conference in Frankfort regarding the issue."
Grimes published a request from Bevin to check and recanvass voting machines and absentee ballots involved in the KY Governor's race
Bevin's campaign says the election is "too close to call"
"State law allows for a recanvassing if a county clerk or a county board of elections notices a discrepancy, or if a candidate makes a written request to the secretary of state by the Tuesday after an election, which would be Nov. 12."
"…Grimes announced after receiving the request that she would forward it to the State Board of Elections"
"Though candidates in certain races can request a more formal and intensive recount of election results — in which a judge takes possession of paper ballots and voting machines to conduct their own recount — state law does not allow gubernatorial candidates to do so."
"Another potential option for a gubernatorial candidate to challenge results is a formal legislative election contest, in which a governor would have to call a special session of the Kentucky General Assembly."
"In such a session — which Republican Senate President Robert Stivers noted on Tuesday was a possibility under the state constitution — a committee of 11 members, eight from the House and three from the Senate, would hear evidence about possible election violations and make a final determination."
Opinion (3)
Bevin's campaign cited "multiple reports of voting irregularities"
"“The people of Kentucky deserve a fair and honest election," stated Bevin campaign manager Davis Paine in the news release. "With reports of irregularities, we are exercising the right to ensure that every lawful vote was counted.”"
Grimes had said earlier she was "comfortable" in declaring Beshear the governor-elect and that Matt Bevin should "honor" the election results.
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/06/2019 02:41:00 pm
Date Accessed: 11/06/2019 05:10:00 pm
Article Author: Joe Sonka
Click here to see the article
Fox News
Content (10)
Bevin claimed the existence of "significant irregularities" with regards to his recanvass request
Bevin: “We want this process to move forward expeditiously”
"Bevin said he would detail those irregularities at a later time, but claimed thousands of absentee ballots “were illegally counted” and cited reports of people being turned away from polling places."
"Members of both parties are allowed to be present during the recanvassing process."
"The Associated Press said it could not declare a winner of the closely watched race, owing to the tight margin."
The Democratic National Committee claimed victory
Trump campaigned in Kentucky on Monday
Trump won Kentucky by 30 points in 2016
Bevin "has alienated some supporters by pushing to cut state pension programs and hammering public school teachers for striking — including his suggestion that the striking teachers indirectly bore responsibility for the shooting of a 7-year-old girl who remained at home because of school closures."
"If Beshear is declared the gubernatorial winner, he will be inaugurated at the state Capitol on Dec. 10"
Opinion (8)
The race had national implications for President Trump
Bevin was neck and neck with Beshear on Monday
Trump dominated Kentucky in 2016
Bevin relied on Trump's popularity to "carry him to the finish line"
"Still, when the race showed signs of teetering towards a win for Beshear, Trump appeared to distance himself from the potential defeat."
Trump said that if Bevin lost, it wouldn't be because of Trump
"“The president just about dragged Gov. Matt Bevin across the finish line, helping him run stronger than expected in what turned into a very close race at the end,” Trump campaign spokesman Brad Parscale said in a statement Tuesday night. “A final outcome remains to be seen.”"
The inauguration date leaves a "window of opportunity open for Bevin to request a contest, which must be done within 30 days of the election."
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/06/2019 03:00:00 pm
Date Accessed: 11/06/2019 05:53:00 pm
Article Author: Vandana Rambaran
Click here to see the article
CBS
Content (6)
Over 1.4 million votes were cast
Paine: "The people of Kentucky deserve a fair and honest election. With reports of irregularities, we are exercising the right to ensure that every lawful vote was counted"
"Pence also campaigned with Bevin across the southern portion of the state the weekend before Election Day"
Parscale: "President Trump's rally helped five of six Kentucky Republicans win clear statewide victories, including Attorney General-elect Daniel Cameron, who will be the first black A.G. in Kentucky history and the first Republican to hold the office since 1948,"
Trump and Pence each campaigned with Bevin in the closing days of the campaign
Brad Parscale is Trump's 2020 campaign manager
Opinion (6)
Beshear: "Tonight, voters in Kentucky sent a message loud and clear for everyone to hear," "It's a message that says our elections don't have to be about right versus left — they are still about right versus wrong."
Beshear: "I haven't had an opportunity yet to speak to Governor Bevin," "But my expectation is that he will honor the election that was held tonight."
"Bevin had tried to capitalize on Mr. Trump's popularity in the state."
"The president warned voters on Monday that the race could be seen as a bellwether were Beshear to win, telling rally-goers that a Bevin loss would send "a really bad message.""
"If you lose, they're going to say, 'Trump suffered the greatest defeat in the history of the world.', 'This was the greatest.' You can't let that happen to me!"
"Down ballot, other Republicans performed well. That includes Daniel Cameron, who was elected as the state's attorney general, and Allison Ball, who became the first Republican and first woman to be re-elected as the state's treasurer. "
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/05/2019 10:59:00 pm
Date Accessed: 11/06/2019 08:01:00 pm
Article Author: CBS Interactive Inc.
Click here to see the article

Impeachment Transcripts Released

Reviews
New transcripts on the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump were recently released with more coming Tuesday. The inquiry sprang from the removal of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch from Ukraine. Yovanovitch explains how she was warned that her removal was coming. As a rather haphazard update in current events, this article lacks organization rather than information.
Common Facts
Definitions (20)
Yovanovitch: Marie Yovanovitch is a former ambassador to Ukraine
Pompeo: Mike Pompeo is Secretary of State.
McKinley: Michael McKinley is a former senior adviser to Pompeo, and a career foreign service officer.
Zelenskiy: Volodymyr Zelenskiy is the Ukrainian President.
Giuliani: Rudy Giuliani is Trump's personal lawyer.
Parnas: Lev Parnas is a one of Giuliani's associates.
Fruman: Igor Fruman is one of Giuliani's associates.
Joe Biden: Joe Biden is the former Vice President.
Barr: William Barr is an Attorney General.
Schiff: Adam Schiff, from California, is the House Intelligence Committee Chairman.
Volker: Kurt Volker is a former special envoy to Ukraine.
Sondland: Gordon Sondland is an ambassador to the European Union.
Yovanovitch: Marie Yovanovitch is a recalled US ambassador to Ukraine.
Zelensky: Volodymyr Zelensky is the President of Ukraine.
Joe Biden: Joe Biden is Zelensky's US political rival.
Hunter Biden: Hunter Biden is Joe Biden's son, who worked with a Ukrainian gas company.
Sondland: Gordon Sondland is the US Ambassador to the European Union.
Giuliani: Rudy Giuliani is Trump's personal lawyer.
Lutsenko: Yuriy Lutsenko is Ukraine's chief prosecutor.
Shokin: Viktor Shokin is a former Ukrainian chief prosecutor.
Review Info (3)
First Published: 11/04/2019 09:23:29 pm
Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am
Original Front Page Link
NPR
Content (17)
Congressional investigators "released the first transcripts of closed-door testimonies from individuals at the center of the Ukraine affair."
The Ukraine affair has landed President Trump in an impeachment inquiry.
The transcripts are several hours long.
The transcripts are depositions (sworn evidence) from Yovanovitch and McKinley.
Yovanovitch has had "decades of diplomatic experience."
Yovanovitch was recalled as an ambassador.
In her deposition, Yovanovitch said she first heard she was being targeted by Giuliani from Ukrainian officials.
Parnas and Fruman are now arrested.
House Intelligence Committee members include Republicans.
Hunter Biden is Joe Biden's son.
One theory was about the 2016 election, and the other about Joe Biden and Hunter Biden.
Previously, opening statements had been released.
These newly released transcripts are hundreds of pages long, and "include full questions and answers with some sensitive items redacted."
Schiff "promised to release more transcripts Tuesday."
The transcripts released Tuesday will be from Volker and Sondland.
Sondland was a major Trump donor.
Yovanovitch explained a campaign to remove her as ambassador.
Opinion (18)
Trump called Yovanovitch "the woman" and "bad news" in his phone call with Zelenskiy.
Yovanovitch said Ukrainian officials told her she should "watch her back."
Ukrainian officials told Yovanovitch this because Parnas and Fruman wanted a different ambassador.
Yovanovitch told the House Intelligence Committee members Parnas and Fruman wanted a different ambassador because they wanted business dealings in Ukraine or other places.
Yovanovitch said she didn't understand why Parnas and Fruman wanted additional business dealings because no one at the embassy had ever met them.
Yovanovitch said one of the biggest jobs of an American ambassador of the U.S. Embassy is to promote U.S. business.
Yovanovitch said if "legitimate business" comes to them, they promote U.S. business.
Releasing the transcripts is "one of the first steps in the new public phase of the impeachment inquiry."
A record of Trump's call with Zelenskiy shows Trump asking for "a favor" of investigations into two conspiracy theories.
Trump's request for "a favor" came immediately after Zelenskiy inquired about purchasing more American weapons.
Trump said Zelenskiy should work with Giuliani and Barr on the investigations.
"Witnesses have contradicted parts of Sondland's testimony."
When Yovanovitch told Sondland about the campaign to remove her as ambassador, Sondland told her she should "tweet her praise for Trump."
Yovanovitch paraphrased what Sondland told her: she should tweet that she supported Trump, that all these are lies, and everything else.
Yovanovitch said Sondland's words to her were advice.
Yovanovitch said Sondland's advice told her her she could not see how to fulfill her role as an ambassador and foreign service agent.
McKinley said the way Yovanovitch was treated "raised alarm bells."
McKinley said the way Yovanovitch was treated had "a very serious effect on morale."
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/04/2019 01:38:00 pm
Date Accessed: 11/04/2019 03:09:00 pm
Article Author: Domenico Montanaro
Click here to see the article
BBC
Content (10)
Yovanovitch is at the center of the Trump impeachment inquiry.
"Democrats have just released the first transcripts from closed-door testimony."
Trump's call with Zelensky triggered the current congressional impeachment investigation that seeks to remove Trump from from office for alleged abuses of power.
"The House Intelligence Committee released Ms Yovanovitch's testimony from 11 October on Monday."
In her testimony, Yovanovitch said she sought advice from Sondland, who suggested her to tweet praise of the president.
Yovanovitch left Ukraine in May, months before her scheduled departure.
Yovanovitch testified that Giuliani had tried to get a US tourist visa for Shokin, who had been refused such a visa by the state department on the basis of "known corrupt activities."
Joe Biden and other representatives of Western governments have tried to fire Shokin for alleged corruption.
Burisma is the Ukrainian energy firm for which Hunter Biden worked.
It is unclear why Giuliani wanted Shokin's visa to be granted.
Opinion (14)
Yovanovitch said she "felt threatened by a cryptic remark the president made about her on a call."
Yovanovitch told Congress she was "very concerned" by Trump's comment in the phone call with Zelensky.
Trump told Zelensky "Well, she's [Ms Yovanovitch] going to go through some things."
Zelensky is accused of pressuring Ukraine into investigating unsubstantiated corruption claims against Joe Biden and Hunter Biden.
Yovanovitch said she has been "shocked" by what Trump said about her in the 25 July phone call with Zelensky.
Concerning Trump's words, Yovanovitch said "I didn't know what it meant. I was very concerned. I still am."
In the Trump-Zelensky call, the details of which were previously released by the White House, Trump also described Yovanovitch as "bad news."
"You need to go big or go home," Sondland told her, according to Yovanovitch.
"Yovanovitch testified that she did not think she could follow the advice."
Yovanovitch testified Giuliani began trying to discredit her in late 2018 when he "ran a shadow foreign policy on Ukraine."
Yovanovitch testified that Giuliani wanted to investigate Joe Biden and Hunter Biden to possibly find damaging information to a "Presidential run."
According to Yovanovitch, Giuliani enlisted Lutsenko to spread "falsehoods" about her in order to "hurt" her "in the US."
Yovanovitch said she had been warned to watch her back by Ukraine's justice minister.
Baselessly, Republicans argue that Biden wanted to fire Shokin because of his decision to investigate Burisma.
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 11/04/2019 12:00:00 am
Date Accessed: 11/04/2019 04:27:00 pm
Article Author: BBC
Click here to see the article

House Votes for Impeachment Inquiry

Reviews
The article is ambiguous in several points, but overall highlights that Trump still disagrees with the impeachment, and Democrats still think they have good evidence to move forward, which they are doing. The article sidesteps focus on Biden by labeling him "a political rival" early on, but generally gives a factual account of current events. Supporting facts are unclear: why did Sondland, a U.S. official, convey "quid pro quo" to the Ukrainians? How did Morrison's testimony become public (the article partially details second-hand accounts)?
Meta Data
Definitions (7)
Pelosi: Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker for the House, a Democratic Congresswoman from California
Sondland: Gordon Sondland is the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union
Biden: Joe Biden is the former Vice President of the United States and a top political rival to Trump
Kupperman: Charles Kupperman is a former deputy national security advisor, who worked under Bolton
Bolton: John Bolton is a former national security advisor under Trump
Resolution: The Resolution is a legal resolution approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, including legal guidelines for the public phase of the impeachment probe
Morrison: Tim Morrison is a top official on Trump's National Security Council
Review Info (3)
First Published: 11/01/2019 01:23:20 am
Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am
Original Front Page Link
Washington Post
Content (11)
Morrison backed up prior testimony that Trump "withheld nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine to pressure the country into announcing investigations into" Biden and "interference in the 2016 election".
The inquiry was formalized through a resolution that was approved 232-196 votes
The resolution cleared the way for "for nationally televised hearings in mid-November"
Morrison testified in a closed-door deposition shortly before the vote on the resolution
Morrison's testimony was available through "his prepared remarks and people familiar with his testimony, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door proceedings"
Morrison claimed to have obtained his information from Gordon Sondland
Sondland was the "administration official who communicated that apparent quid pro quo to Ukrainian leaders"
"In a private lunch with several Senate Republicans, Trump made his case against impeachment and repeatedly praised his own decision to release a rough transcript of the July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, when Trump urged Zelensky to investigate Biden and his son Hunter."
A judge decided Thursday (10/31/2019) to hear arguments on 12/10/2019 on whether Kupperman should be an impeachment witness
The judge's decision comes at a late date, which could complicate the investigation since it may not come before a House vote
Democrats have also requested testimony next week from Bolton
Spin (9)
The resolution ensured "Trump’s right to participate in the latter stage of the proceedings unless he tries to block witnesses from testifying"
Trump has vehemently denied the quid pro quo arrangement that is the focus of the impeachment probe
The reported events "marked significant progress for the House’s five-week-old inquiry — and triggered an escalation in the partisan rancor that has dominated the impeachment process and much of Trump’s presidency"
"The expansive inquiry with a new phase of public hearings is likely to extend into the 2020 election year with a Senate trial."
Pelosi resisted impeachment for months
"'We’ve had enough for a very long time,' Pelosi said Monday at a roundtable with columnists, adding that the House investigators would pursue additional corroboration of witness accounts"
Pelosi "said this week that she has found the evidence against Trump convincing. Still, she said, there has been no final decision on impeachment."
"After the House vote, the White House accused Democrats of having an 'unhinged obsession' with impeachment, with press secretary Stephanie Grisham calling the effort a 'blatantly partisan attempt to destroy the president.'"
Trump tweeted: "The Greatest Witch Hunt In American History!"
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 2019-10-31 20:00:00
Date Accessed: 2019-10-31 20:34:00
Article Author: Elise Viebeck, Karoun Demirjian, Rachael Bade, and Mike DeBonis
Click here to see the article

China Trade Summit Cancled

Reviews
Due to increased civil unrest, Chile has canceled a meeting between the leaders of China and America. They have also canceled other events in the past. Trump says that he hopes the meeting will continue in another place.
Common Facts
Content (4)
New Yor.
CNB.
The Gua.
Blo.
"Chile’s biggest social unrest in a generation forced the government to cancel next month’s APEC summit in Santiago."
"The announcement comes after news that Chile was canceling the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit due to domestic unrest."
"Trump had said he expected to ink a “phase one” deal with his counterpart, Xi Jinping, at the Nov. 16-17 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Santiago."
"Chile also canceled the United Nations climate change conference, known as COP25, scheduled for December in Santiago, President Sebastian Pinera said."
Review Info (3)
First Published: 10/31/2019 06:08:05 pm
Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am
Original Front Page Link
New York Post
Content (5)
"Unrest has spread across the capital city [Santiago] over inequality, sparking riots and demonstrations that have left at least 18 people dead."
"The White House acknowledged the cancellation and said it was 'awaiting potential information regarding another location.' "
"Washington and Beijing have been engaged in a trade war that has led to the countries slapping tariffs on each other’s imports, but the Office of the US Trade Representative said both sides have 'made headway on specific issues' after a recent round of talks."
"Beijing announced earlier this month that it would buy up to $50 billion worth of US agricultural products if the Trump administration would back off imposing more tariffs on Oct. 15." (2019)
"It wasn’t immediately clear Wednesday (10/30/19) whether the summits would be moved to another country."
Opinion (6)
" 'This has been a very difficult decision, a decision that causes us a lot of pain, because we fully understand the importance of APEC and COP-25 for Chile and for the world,' President Sebastian Pinera said in a statement."
“ 'A president must always put his compatriots above all else,” [Pinera] added. “Our main concern is re-establishing public order, our citizens’ safety and social peace along with pushing through a social agenda to respond to the main demands of our citizens.' ”
"Deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said the administration 'looks forward to finalizing Phase One of the historic trade deal with China within the same time frame.' "
"Trump said Monday negotiations with China were 'ahead of schedule' and suggested that he and Xi would sign an agreement during the Chile meeting."
" 'We are looking probably to be ahead of schedule to sign a very big portion of the China deal, and we’ll call it Phase One but it’s a very big portion,' [Trump] told reporters. "
" 'That [Phase One] would take care of the farmers. It would take care of some of the other things. It will also take care of a lot of the banking needs.' ” [Trump said.]
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 10/30/2019 12:28:00 pm
Date Accessed: 10/31/2019 08:08:00 pm
Article Author: Mark Moore
Click here to see the article
CNBC
Content (3)
"Lead negotiators from the U.S. and China will hold trade talks on the phone on Friday (11/1/19), China’s Ministry of Commerce said Thursday. (10/31/19) "
"Last Friday,(10/25/19) China’s top trade negotiator Liu He, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin held a phone call in which they confirmed portions of the technical aspects of the trade agreement text, according to a separate statement from the Commerce Ministry."
"The two sides reached a consensus on issues such as China removing a ban on imports of U.S. poultry, and applying a health information system for meat products, the ministry said."
Opinion (2)
" 'The Chinese and U.S. trade delegations remain in close communication, (and) at this time there is smooth progress on negotiations,' the commerce ministry said in an online post, according to CNBC’s translation of the Chinese text."
" 'Both sides will continue to push ahead with the negotiations and other work as originally planned,' the statement said, adding the leaders of the discussions are set to hold a phone call on Friday."
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 10/31/2019 01:10:00 am
Date Accessed: 11/01/2019 07:30:00 pm
Article Author: Evelyn Cheng
Click here to see the article
The Guardian
Content (9)
"A trade deal between the US and China is imminent and only delayed by the need to find a venue for a signing ceremony, according to Donald Trump."
"After almost two years of wrangling over US import tariffs on Chinese goods, which sparked a tit-for-tat row between the world’s largest trading nations, the two sides were close to a comprehensive long-term trade agreement, the president said."
"But shares in New York nosedived after Chinese officials appeared to cast doubt on the prospects for an agreement, when the sides were still discussing plans for an interim, 'phase one' settlement."
"Earlier this month Trump delayed plans to raise the tariffs on $250bn worth of goods to 30%, saying he would wait until mid-December when a further 15% tariff on almost all remaining Chinese imports including laptops, smartphones, footwear and clothing is due to be imposed unless a deal can be reached with Beijing."
"Bloomberg News reported that private conversations with trade advisers in Beijing had revealed they remain concerned about Trump’s impulsive nature and the risk that he may back out of even a limited deal at the last minute."
"The Dow Jones in New York slumped more than 200 points to below 27,000 and gold – considered a safe haven in periods of uncertainty – rose back above $1,500 (£1,145) an ounce to trade near its weekly highs."
"Trump also depressed shares after he attacked the Federal Reserve for limiting its interest rates cuts to three-quarters of a percentage point this year, down to a range of 1.5%-1.75%."
"The Federal Reserve completed the third of its rate cuts on Wednesday, (10/30/19) initially cheering investors who, like the president, have called for lower interest rates as a bulwark against a slowing economy."
"The president harangued the central bank’s chair Jerome (Jay) Powell for not following Europe and Japan’s central banks in cutting interest rates to below zero."
Opinion (3)
"Trump disputed this version of events, tweeting: 'China and the USA are working on selecting a new site for signing of Phase One of Trade Agreement, about 60% of total deal, after APEC in Chile was canceled do to unrelated circumstances. The new location will be announced soon. President Xi and President Trump will do signing!' "
"David Cheetham at the currency trader XTB said: 'The latest comments from Beijing suggested that investors may be getting a little bit ahead of themselves in assuming a smooth de-escalation in trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.' "
"Chris Beauchamp, the chief market analyst at the spread betting firm IG, said: 'China appears not to trust Donald Trump over the putative trade deal.' He said markets remained 'acutely sensitive to any trade war headlines'."
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 10/31/2019 01:37:00 pm
Date Accessed: 11/01/2019 12:00:00 am
Article Author: Phillip Inman
Click here to see the article
Bloomberg
Content (7)
"President Donald Trump was expected to sign a preliminary trade accord with China."
"How and when the leaders of the world’s two largest economies now meet to resolve their trade differences is the biggest question thrown up by the Chilean decision."
"The deal, which Trump announced the contours of Oct. 11, had calmed fears of a continuing escalation in the trade war that has cast a shadow over the global economy for the past 18 months."
" 'We understand perfectly the importance of APEC and COP for Chile and the world, but we have based our decision on common sense,' Pinera said from the presidential palace. 'A president needs to put its people above everything else.' "
"The decision to cancel the meetings highlights the depth of trouble facing the Latin American nation that has seen almost two weeks of rioting and protests. "
"It also comes as a deep embarrassment to the government that had insisted it would go ahead with the conference just two days ago."
"Pinera said he had spoken to other presidents to warn them of the cancellation."
Opinion (1)
"The cancellation 'suggests that the trade war uncertainty might be hanging over us for longer,' Torsten Slok, the chief economist at Deutsche Bank AG, told Bloomberg Television after the announcement. 'It raises the risk that we could never see a phase two or phase three.' "
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 10/30/2019 10:06:00 am
Date Accessed: 11/02/2019 05:05:00 pm
Article Author: Laura Millan Lombrana and Eduardo Thomson
Click here to see the article

State Department Will Testify on Guiliani

Reviews
This a slanted article that is attempting to make President Trump guilty by association. They make the Ukraine situation sound like a terrible scandal when there are some facts that contradict that. They also make assumptions on what they heard from meeting behind closed doors when no one can't really know without hurting justice and ruining the point of closed-door hearings.
Meta Data
Review Info (3)
First Published: 11/02/2019 09:16:59 pm
Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am
Original Front Page Link
CNN
Content (12)
"Former national security adviser John Bolton cautioned about the influence Rudy Giuliani had on US-Ukraine policymaking during a meeting in mid-June with top US officials, a career foreign service officer plans to tell Congress on Wednesday, (10/30/19) according to a copy of his opening statement obtained by CNN."
"Christopher Anderson, who was the assistant to former special envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker from 2017-2019, is one of two State Department officials set to testify behind closed doors later Wednesday (10/30/19) as part of the House Ukraine impeachment inquiry."
"Catherine Croft, who took over that role [the assistant to former special envoy for Ukraine] in summer 2019, is also testifying behind closed doors Wednesday, (10/30/19) and the testimony started around 9:30 a.m. ET."
"The House Intelligence Committee issued a subpoena to Croft on Wednesday morning (10/30/19) for her testimony, according to an official working on the impeachment inquiry."
"Volker, as well as a number of other State Department officials, have already testified as part of the probe. "
"Neither witness is expected to unearth a treasure trove of details that will change the trajectory of the investigation, but their testimonies are expected give context for how the Trump administration's US-Ukraine policy developed and confirm details that have already been presented."
"According to Anderson's prepared statements, he helped in May to develop 'key deliverables' to show newly-elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's 'commitment to reform. 1) demonstrating Zelenskyy's independence from powerful vested interests and pursuing anti-corruption reform as well as antitrust reform; 2) strengthening U.S.-Ukrainian energy cooperation; and 3) improving our bilateral security relationship which included Ukraine increasing its purchases of key U.S. military equipment.' "
"In the mid-June meeting, 'Bolton stated that he agreed with our three lines of effort and that he also supported increased senior White House engagement,' according to the prepared statement."
"Bolton, viewed as one of the key witnesses, has been contacted by the committees about a deposition. It is unclear if or when he will appear before the committees."
"Witnesses in the impeachment probe have testified to Giuliani's outsized influence on Ukraine policy, including pressing for an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden's work with Burisma. "
"There has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either Biden in Ukraine."
"During his testimony in early October, Volker cast himself as an advocate of American support for Ukraine, but he was cognizant of the reality that Giuliani would have to be a part of anything if it were going to be successful, according to those familiar with his testimony."
Spin (2)
" 'However, he cautioned that Mr. Giuliani was a key voice with the President on Ukraine which could be an obstacle to increased White House engagement,' Anderson is expected to tell the House Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs Committees."
"CNN has previously reported that Trump had directed Volker and other top US officials to deal with his personal layer on matters related to Ukraine, including the Ukrainian President's desire for a White House meeting — an order was a clear circumvention of official channels."
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 2019-10-30 11:37:00
Date Accessed: 2019-11-03 15:24:00
Article Author: Kylie Atwood and Jennifer Hansler
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