What To Watch In The Wray Hearing

This morning FBI Director Christopher Wray will testify in an oversight hearing of the House Judiciary Committee. Undoubtedly, he will face questions from both sides about the status of the ongoing Trump-Russia investigation, the independence of the FBI from White House pressure, and the incredible damage President Trump’s public attacks on the FBI are inflicting on our national security.

“All eyes will be on Christopher Wray this morning, including the President’s,” said American Bridge Rapid Response Director Emily Aden. “Wray must reassure the American people that the Russia investigation will continue unimpeded by the White House and that our nation’s top law enforcement agency is not in ‘tatters’ despite the lies that President Trump tells.”

Here are a few key moments to watch for in the Wray hearing:

Wray on obstruction of justice. Would it be obstruction of justice for President Trump to order Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller and […]

Read more after the jump.

Five Questions Trump Jr. Should Expect From The House Intelligence Committee

Today Donald Trump Jr. will meet behind closed doors with the House Intelligence Committee as part of the ongoing Trump-Russia investigation. Trump Jr. can expect to be grilled on last night’s breaking news that Russian lawyer Natalie Veselnitskaya confirmed he asked her for information about Hillary Clinton in their now-infamous June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower.

“Donald Trump Jr.’s reckless behavior is the pinnacle of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government,” said American Bridge Rapid Response Director Emily Aden. “Junior should be very, very nervous about today’s interview. He’s going to have to answer for his meetings with Russian operatives about the 2016 campaign as well as his unbelievable communications with Wikileaks before, during, and after the group published emails stolen by the Russians in the final weeks of the campaign. And, he has to do it all without lying, which we’ve learned is nearly impossible for anyone in […]

Read more after the jump.

Sanders Questions: Welcome To Hell Edition

The ladies of Saturday Night Live got it so right this weekend. “Welcome to hell, now we’re all in here…” and perhaps you more than some since you are literally working for a sexual predator and getting paid to lie for him every day. Between the ongoing fallout of President Trump’s endorsement of child molester Roy Moore, to Special Counsel Mueller getting closer to Trump’s finances, to contradicting statements from members of Trump’s legal team and Attorney General Sessions about whether a president can commit obstruction of justice, the White House certainly has its hands full today.

American Bridge Rapid Response Director Emily Aden calls on White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to answer the following questions:

1. What is the White House response to court hearings today in Summer Zervos’ defamation lawsuit against President Trump for attacking her over accusations he sexually assaulted her in 2007 while filming The Apprentice?

2. […]

Read more after the jump.

House GOP Leader: Final Tax Bill Will Likely Increase Insurance Premiums

American Bridge spokesperson Andrew Bates released the following statement after House Ways & Means Committee Chair Kevin Brady, who was appointed to be the House chair of the conference committee working on taxes last night, indicated that the final Trump-Republican tax plan would likely include repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, which would cost 13 million Americans their healthcare coverage and raise premiums across the board:

“If Republicans add more Obamacare sabotage to their final tax bill – on top of their tax increases for millions of middle class families – people across the country will suffer from double-digit premium increases and lost coverage. Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are falling over themselves to cut taxes for millionaires and corporations at any cost, even if it means trampling the economic well-being of the middle class. Americans won’t stand for this, and they’re going to hold Republicans accountable.”

Since […]

Read more after the jump.

Trump Must Withdraw K.T. McFarland’s Nomination

American Bridge Rapid Response Director Emily Aden released the following statement in response to reports President Trump’s pick for Ambassador to Singapore, K.T. McFarland, lied in her congressional testimony about her knowledge of Michael Flynn’s illicit contact with Russia during the transition:

“It’s time for President Trump to withdraw K.T. McFarland’s nomination for Ambassador to Singapore. McFarland knew about the true nature of Michael Flynn’s contacts with Russia during the transition and lied about it to Congress. Simply put, she may have known about a potentially treasonous crime and helped cover it up. McFarland has no business whatsoever representing the American people in federal office and her nomination must be withdrawn immediately.”

Background: 

McFarland Wrote Russia Threw The Election To Trump. “On Dec. 29, a transition adviser to Mr. Trump, K. T. McFarland, wrote in an email to a colleague that sanctions announced hours before by the Obama administration in retaliation for Russian election […]

Read more after the jump.

Three Things To Know About Trump’s Trip To Utah And His National Monuments Executive Order

With the President in Utah this afternoon to reportedly announce plans to shrink two national monuments, American Bridge is responding by shining a bright light on Donald Trump’s true motives. The reality is that the move is designed to appease big oil companies despite opposition by people across Utah, notably the Native Americans to whom the land is sacred.

“The motives behind Donald Trump’s executive order are about one thing: putting more money in the pockets of big oil. Moving forward with this plan at the expense of our environment and the wishes of people across Utah is just the latest display of the President’s reckless priorities,” said American Bridge Vice President Shripal Shah.

Here are three things to know about Trump’s plan:

1) Trump’s Monument Review Was Intended To Free Up Federal Land For Oil Drilling

Donald Trump’s Executive Order forcing a review of national monuments is part of a “ Read more after the jump.

BREAKING: Republican Senator Admits Tax Plan Is Being Rushed To Avoid Scrutiny From The American People and Congress

American Bridge spokesperson Andrew Bates released the following statement after Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) admitted on Fox News this morning that Republicans were trying to rush the Trump tax proposal – which was written behind closed doors with thousands of special interest lobbyists – through Congress in order to stop members and the public from raising concerns about its consequences:

“Its stunning that Republicans are so brazenly admitting to using a cynical ploy to avoid public scrutiny of the disastrous Trump-Republican tax plan.  They know exploding the deficit by $1 trillion and raising taxes on 87 million middle class families in order to cut taxes for the rich and corporations sells out hardworking people, so they are intentionally keeping them in the dark.”

WATCH: 

DOOCY: What is your biggest concern?

MOORE CAPITO: Well, time is always a problem. I think the more time that goes, the more nitpicking […]

Read more after the jump.

Report: Trump’s Undermining Of CFPB Has Wall St. Racing To Avoid Consequences For Defrauding Consumers

American Bridge spokesperson Andrew Bates released the following statement after it was reported that Donald Trump’s tampering with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) had touched-off a wave of new attempts by the financial industry to evade investigations and penalties for abusive practices that hurt consumers:

“Donald Trump’s economic agenda is a catastrophe for the middle class.  Just as Senate Republicans are on the verge of raising taxes on middle class families while cutting rates for the wealthy and corporations, the financial industry is already trying to take advantage of Trump’s move to gut critical consumer protections against fraud put in place after the 2008 economic crisis. Trump is doubling-down on failed Republican policies that only benefit the 1% and cheating those he pledged to help.”

The CFPB’s enforcement actions have delivered nearly $12 billion in relief for 29 million American consumers. ​

While in Congress, Mulvaney said that the CFPB should not even exist, and called the […]

Read more after the jump.

Editorial Roundup: Tax Cuts For The Rich Edition

This week editorial boards all across the country ripped into President Trump and the Republicans for their tax plan that will crush the middle class to pay for billions in tax breaks for the super rich and explode the deficit for generations to come. Additionally, Trump took his boldest step yet to undercut the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau, made a racist slur about a sitting US Senator, and was rebuked for re-tweeting hateful anti-Muslim propaganda videos.

Here’s what Americans read in their local newspapers this week:

 

11/25
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Estate Tax Repeal: ‘Donald Trump In A Stretch Limo, Not A Farmer On A Tractor’

Trump’s claim about “millions” of farms and family businesses is not even close to the truth. The Tax Policy Center at the Brookings Institution found only 80 of them among the 5,500 estates subject to the tax last year. Most fortunes are amassed, […]

Read more after the jump.

Brock: Now More Than Ever, It Is Imperative The Special Counsel Investigation Proceed Without Trump Interference

American Bridge Chairman David Brock issued the following statement in the wake of the latest revelations unearthed by Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Trump-Russia scandal:

“If history is any guide, Donald Trump will soon double down on his efforts to obstruct justice and tamper with the FBI’s investigation. It is absolutely critical that members of both parties take a strong stand and prevent that from happening. Every member of Congress needs to put country before party and stand with Robert Mueller’s investigation, and we will do our part by holding members accountable on behalf of the the rule of law and the public.”

Last month, Bridge Project launched a new grassroots online mobilization campaign to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Donald Trump’s ties to Russia in the face of partisan attacks from Trump allies who are eager to protect themselves from criminal investigation. The campaign is focused on dispelling false […]

Read more after the jump.