From the president’s checks to a resolution against hate, it’s been a busy week in American politics. Here are some of the biggest stories you might have missed (and some links if you’d like to read further).
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More developments in the Trump investigations.
On a busy day at the White House in October of 2017, President Trump took the time to sign a $35,000 check to Michael D. Cohen, his fixer, who had made hush payments to keep sexual misconduct allegations against Mr. Trump from being exposed. Six such checks were provided to The Times, showing that the president was managing affairs of state while, allegedly, paying to keep his personal secrets out of the public eye.
Mr. Cohen gave documents to the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday that he said backed up his claim that Mr. Trump’s lawyers helped to shape false testimony he delivered to Congress in 2017.
The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee sent requests for information to 81 agencies, individuals and entities tied to Mr. Trump on Monday, opening a broad inquiry into possible obstruction, corruption and abuse of power. Mr. Trump signaled that he did not intend to cooperate with the requests, calling the investigation a “disgrace to our country.”
Additional Reading
• House Democrats Are Flooding Trump World With Demands. Here’s a Guide to the Investigations.
• Giuliani Says Lawyers Have Sought Trump Pardons for Their Clients
A resolution against anti-Semitism becomes one against hate.
Representative Ilhan Omar again came under scrutiny for comments about Israel, after asking why it was “O.K. for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.” Critics said she was invoking the anti-Semitic trope that American Jews have dual loyalties.
The furor over Ms. Omar’s remarks led to a proposed resolution in the House of Representatives condemning anti-Semitism. But a generational debate ensued between older Democrats in the House leadership and their young, more liberal counterparts, many of whom said Ms. Omar was being unfairly singled out.
After much back and forth, the resolution became one condemning “hateful expressions of intolerance” against “African-Americans, Native Americans, and other people of color, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, immigrants and others.” It passed by a 407-to-23 vote on Thursday.
Additional Reading
• Ilhan Omar Controversy Caps a Month of Stumbles for Democratic Leaders
• Ilhan Omar’s Criticism Raises the Question: Is Aipac Too Powerful?
Some join the 2020 race, others opt out (and one can’t decide).
Another Democrat joined the 2020 race…
