Mulvaney considering letting Wells Fargo off the hook for payments owed to overcharged consumers

American Bridge spokesperson Andrew Bates released the following statement after news broke that Mick Mulvaney may reverse a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau position and allow Wells Fargo to withhold payments to home-buyers who were overcharged:

“What could possibly be the legitimate justification for giving Wells Fargo a pass on paying back customers it has admittedwere overcharged?  Donald Trump’s interference with the CFPB threatens to erode key protections created after the 2008 financial crisis that stand between middle class consumers and deceptive financial industry practices.  Having the only cop on the beat stand down to help big banks increase profit margins is the exact opposite of ‘draining the swamp.’”

On Tuesday, it was similarly reported that the CFPB was reversing itself on whether Nationwide Biweekly Administration should pay millions in penalties for deceiving over 100,000 customers.  This news comes as a series of financial sector companies are already attempting to receive favorable […]

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Must Watch Moments From FBI Director Wray Hearing

Today, FBI Director Christopher Wray faced tough questions from the House Judiciary Committee. Republicans on the committee disgracefully repeated President Trump’s talking points and sought to undermine the credibility of our nation’s top law enforcement agency and the integrity of Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation. Fortunately, Director Wray pushed back and offered some reassurance to the American people that President Trump and the Republicans’ blatant politicization of the FBI and the Russia investigation will be held in check.

See for yourself: 

WATCH: Wray stated clearly that nobody, including Trump, is above the law and said “there isn’t a person on this planet that can get me to drop a properly predicated investigation.”

WATCH: Wray repeatedly contradicted Trump’s smear that the FBI is in “tatters.”

WATCH: Wray’s answer on obstruction of justice should make President Trump very nervous if he knew Michael Flynn lied to […]

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Sanders Questions: Beginning Of The End Edition

It’s the beginning of the end for President Trump and the Republican Congress to find a way to keep the government open despite controlling the executive and legislative branches of government themselves. Perhaps part of the problem is President Trump is busy hawking books by Fox and Friends anchors online rather than negotiating agreements on outstanding issues like CHIP funding, the fate of the Dreamers, and final details of his massive tax cut for the wealthy.

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

1. What is President Trump doing to protect 800,000 young Dreamers, whose futures are at risk because of his callousness and ineptitude in Congress, during this end of the year funding scramble?

2. Did President Trump instruct Donald Trump Jr. to invoke attorney client privilege when asked by the House Intelligence Committee about their conversations after news broke […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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. […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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