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A NOTE FROM FRED
Special Counsel Robert Mueller found in his report that Russia engaged in “multiple, systematic efforts to interfere,” in the 2016 presidential election. Intelligence agencies have warned that Russia and other foreign adversaries are already planning to attack the 2020 elections.
President Trump, meanwhile, continues to ignore this grave threat to our democracy and refuses to lift a finger to protect the integrity of our elections. In fact, he recently all but gave a standing invitation to Russia to intervene again in 2020 on his behalf.
While Trump fiddles, the House of Representatives acts.
The House, led by Administration Committee Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD), is scheduled to vote today on legislation to provide resources to the states to strengthen their cybersecurity and to support efforts to protect the ballot box, voter registration rolls, and vote counts in elections.
Next month, the House is expected to consider legislation to close major loopholes in the laws that make it illegal for foreign countries to intervene in our elections. Democracy 21 has worked with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Rep. Sarbanes to develop a number of these new prohibitions.
Standing in the schoolhouse door – to use the words of the late segregationist Governor George Wallace – is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, whose 34 year career in the Senate has been defined by obsessive obstructionism.
Senator McConnell has stated he will not schedule any legislation in this Congress to protect against future attacks on our election by foreign countries.
McConnell is arrogantly holding our democracy hostage and living up to the name he has chosen for himself – the “Grim Reaper.” Hopefully, it’s not the integrity of the 2020 presidential and congressional elections that he is killing.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
The Man Who Ruined The Senate: Meet Mitch McConnell
“When McConnell leaves the Senate, this will be his legacy: Senator McConnell turned ‘the world’s greatest deliberative body’ into a dysfunctional, undemocratic, and feckless institution.”
-- Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer,
via Medium
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SCOTUS DECIDES
Supreme Court Says Federal Courts Don’t Have A Role In Deciding Partisan Gerrymandering Claims, via The Washington Post.
Supreme Court Leaves Citizenship Question Blocked For Now From 2020 Census, via National Public Radio.
The Voter Suppression Chronicles
“When the Roberts Court all but nullified the Voting Rights Act, it said the pre-1965 practices were long gone. New hearings by the House make clear: They’re back,” via American Prospect.
TRUMP & FRIENDS
Throw The Crooks Out
“An anti-corruption message also appears to be one of the most promising themes for the 2020 presidential race. Trump is one of the most corrupt presidents in American history,” opinion via The New York Times.
Trump Vetting Docs Leaked
The document trove “sheds light on the slap-dash way President Trump filled his cabinet and administration, and foreshadowed future scandals that beset his government,” via Axios.
Democrats’ Emoluments Lawsuit Against President Trump Can Proceed, Federal Judge Rules, via The Washington Post.
Trump Attacks Mueller, Repeating False Accusations, via The New York Times.
House Panel Votes To Subpoena Kellyanne Conway Over Hatch Act Violations, via CNN.
EPA’s Air Pollution Chief To Step Down Amid Ethics Probe, via Politico.
Trump’s Protocol Chief Is Quitting Just Before the G-20 Summit
“Sean Lawler, a State Department official whose title is chief of protocol, is departing amid a possible inspector general’s probe into accusations of intimidating staff and carrying a whip in the office, according to one of the people,” via Bloomberg.
How Mitch McConnell And Elaine Chao Turned A Kentucky Town Into Their Personal Swamp, via Yahoo News.
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HEADLINE OF THE WEEK
Oh, Was This GOP Rep. Not Supposed To Finance His Alleged Affairs With Campaign Funds?
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THE INVESTIGATIONS
Robert Mueller To Testify In Back-To-Back Hearings Before House Judiciary And House Intel Committees In Open Session On July 17, via The Washington Post.
Manafort Campaign Finance Charges Dismissed by Deadlocked FEC, via Bloomberg.
Mueller’s Team May Think It Is Done. Democrats Have Other Ideas, via Politico.
Judge Releases Court Details That Show Speed, Scope Of Mueller Investigation
“Mueller began getting permission for searches in early July 2017, not even two months following his appointment as special counsel,” via CNN.
495 DAYS …
Trump Raises Eye-Popping $36 Million Since Launching Reelection Campaign A Week Ago, via CNBC.
First Democratic Debates Mark The Real Start To The 2020 Campaign, via CNN.
With Voter Data And A Volunteer Army, A Whole New Trump Campaign For 2020, via National Public Radio.
Biden, Harris, And Buttigieg Rack Up Big Money Support As 2020 Dems Battle For Donors, via CNBC.
New Republican Site WinRed Seeks Small Donors To Compete With ActBlue
“The site also goes beyond its liberal alternative in collecting data on donors, which it will add to Republicans’ already-robust Data Trust,” via OpenSecrets.org.
“Electability” Is The Most Important, Least Understood Word In The 2020 Race, via NBC News.
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