Tag: Richard Blumenthal

During questioning by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Attorney General William Barr called special counsel Robert Mueller's letter about Barr's summary of the Mueller report "snitty" and said it was "probably written by one of his staff people." #CNN #News

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) reacts to the news that special counsel Robert Mueller expressed concerns in a letter to Attorney General William Barr that Barr's four-page letter to Congress summarizing the "principal conclusions" of Mueller's findings didn't fully capture his…

The announcement came well after many other countries had grounded the aircraft. (Just this fall, the company won a $9.2 billion contract to make a new generation of jets for the Air Force.) And its employees, political action committees and other affiliated groups have donated more than $8.4 million in campaign contributions since 2016, giving to Democrats and Republicans in equal measure. The answer is a loophole, cemented in the law in the 1970s, that permits government contractors to set up “separate segregated funds,” or political action committees, to make political contributions using money typically pooled from the contractors’ executives and major shareholders. He noted that if nothing else, it creates “the appearance of the government contractor buying influence despite the contractor contribution ban.” Boeing’s PAC is a “major player” Mr. Fischer said. Boeing correctly reports that the company itself does not directly fund super PACs (which are allowed to raise unlimited amounts of money). The company’s PAC may give up to $5,000 to a candidate’s campaign committee or use its funds for any other “lawful purpose” — which includes unlimited contributions to super PACs or “dark money” nonprofit groups as well. There is also, in effect, another even larger loophole for contractors looking to influence national politicians: the inaugural committee for a president-elect. Because inaugural committees are technically not connected to the political campaign, “all bets are off,” as Mr. Fischer put it. “The public can’t have complete faith that the government’s decisions around the 737 Max 8 were made based on the public’s interests,” Mr. Fischer said.

Senator Richard Blumenthal talks with Rachel Maddow about a new bipartisan bill that would ensure that Robert Mueller's report be made public, and about the potential for further criminal charges from the special counsel's office for lying to Congress. »…

Washington – U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes began her congressional career Thursday kissing babies, casting votes to reopen the partially shuttered federal government, and keeping watch for news about a daughter who was due — at any minute — to give birth. “This is a big day for me in many ways,” Hayes said. A Democrat representing the 5th Congressional District, Hayes replaces retired Rep. Elizabeth Esty and was propelled to office by enthusiastic supporters seeking change and enamored by the energetic, optimistic can-do-ism exuded by the former national Teacher of the Year. A political neophyte, Hayes repeatedly described her first day in Congress as “surreal.” “Can you believe we’re here?” she asked the throng of supporters jammed into her congressional office. “This is okay, right?” she asked those attending her office reception, waving her arms around the room. A bus filled with 75 supporters came to Washington Thursday to witness the swearing in of the first black congresswoman to represent Connecticut. Like all of Connecticut’s House members, Hayes voted to elect Rep. Nancy Pelosi as Speaker. The House cloakroom called her office and she ran back to the Capitol to cast the vote. “But mostly I’m surprised that we got right to work,” she said. Besides electing the Democratic and Republican leadership, and a new set of rules for the House that requires all bills to be subject to committee hearings and reviewed for at least 72 hours before a vote, the House prepared to vote late Thursday on Democratic legislation that would fund the agencies that have been shuttered in the partial government shutdown.

As of tonight, NBC News is reporting that explosive devices were sent to at least 5 public figures across 2 states and the District of Columbia. » Subscribe to MSNBC: http://on.msnbc.com/SubscribeTomsnbc About: MSNBC is the premier destination for in-depth analysis…

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., discusses NYT reporting on Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein as well as the latest details involving misconduct allegations against President Trump's Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh. » Subscribe to MSNBC: http://on.msnbc.com/SubscribeTomsnbc About: MSNBC is the premier destination…

White House counsel Don McGahn is seen in Congress as a "voice of reason and respect for the norms," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal. » Subscribe to MSNBC: http://on.msnbc.com/SubscribeTomsnbc About: MSNBC is the premier destination for in-depth analysis of daily headlines,…

In an interview with Fox and Friends, Trump lashed out over the plea deal Cohen reached with federal prosecutors. » Subscribe to MSNBC: http://on.msnbc.com/SubscribeTomsnbc About: MSNBC is the premier destination for in-depth analysis of daily headlines, insightful political commentary and…

President Trump's attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Jay Sekulow spent hours on Fox News host Sean Hannity's radio show, joking about the Mueller investigation.