Wilbur Ross: Trump's new China tariffs will increase prices but 'nobody is going to actually notice'
The Commerce secretary concedes prices in the U.S. will increase as a result of the new China tariffs put in place by President Trump.
However, Ross says they will be "spread across thousands and thousands of products" and "nobody is going to actually notice it at the end of the day."
Matthew J. Belvedere | @Matt_Belvedere
Published on Sept. 19, 2018.
CNBC.com
Ross: EU, Japan has joined us for WTO consultation process Ross: Tariffs to have minimal inflation impact
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross concedes that prices in the U.S. will increase as a result of the new China tariffs put in place by President Donald Trump.
However, Ross told CNBC on Tuesday, "Nobody is going to actually notice it at the end of the day," because the hikes will be "spread across thousands and thousands of products."
Jim Cramer: Wilbur Ross is right Jim Cramer: Wilbur Ross is right
20 Hours Ago | 03:14
"If you have a 10 percent tariff on another $200 billion, that's $20 billion a year. That's a tiny, tiny, tiny fraction of 1 percent [of] inflation in the U.S.," Ross said.
The Trump administration on Monday announced tariffs of 10 percent on another $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, rising to 25 percent at the end of the year.
In response Tuesday morning, China said it will institute retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods worth $60 billion on Monday.
Before China weighed in, Ross said on "Squawk Box" that China is "out of bullets" to retaliate because its imports to the U.S. are nearly four times larger than the U.S. exports to China.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Kavanaugh accuser calls for FBI investigation before she testifies - CBS News
September 18, 2018, 11:05 PM
Kavanaugh accuser calls for FBI investigation before she testifies
The woman who has accused Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, Christine Blasey Ford, is calling for an FBI investigation before testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. And Ford's lawyers admonished the committee for scheduling the hearing so soon after her allegations became public.
"While Dr. Ford's life was being turned upside down, you and your staff scheduled a public hearing for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen U.S. senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident," said a letter Tuesday evening from Ford's lawyers to Sen. Charles Grassley, the committee chairman.
The committee invited both Kavanaugh and Ford to testify on the allegations, and Kavanaugh accepted. Mark Judge, who allegedly was also at the party in question in the 1980s, and in the room with Kavanaugh, said through his attorney he has no memory of the alleged incident and does not wish to testify publicly.
Democrats are accusing Grassley of trying to rush through the confirmation. They say that two witnesses are insufficient, and the rushed nature could lead to the "mistakes" of the Anita Hill hearings during Clarence Thomas' Supreme Court confirmation hearings.
The hearing scheduled for Monday represents a significant change in Kavanaugh's confirmation process. The committee had planned a meeting Thursday, but postponed it to allow for Kavanaugh and Ford to testify.
Even if Ford does not appear Monday, Republicans could continue to give Kavanaugh the opportunity address the allegations.
The letter on Tuesday said that Ford "wants to cooperate with the Committee and with law enforcement." The lawyers said an FBI investigation should come first. "A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions."
The lawyers said that Ford has been the target of "vicious harassment and even death threats" and that her family has relocated.
Grassley responded to the letter later Tuesday evening: "Dr. Ford's testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay."
Read Ford's letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee here:
Context on the FBI's role in investigating Kavanaugh
Democrats -- and now Ford -- are urging the FBI to reopen the investigation into Kavanaugh's history, which was essentially a background check. According to CBS News contributor Ron Hosko, who is a former assistant director of the FBI, the FBI could investigate if evidence arose of a federal crime or of a national security matter while investigators were conducting Kavanaugh's background check. (For instance, if a federal crime had been committed 35 years ago and beyond the statute of limitations, the bureau might opt not to investigate).
The FBI's investigative work here is neither criminal nor national security. It is, Hosko explains, a background investigation led by the Security Division for a customer -- the White House. The results are packaged and provided to the customer.
There is no local criminal investigation in this case, and the allegations so far do not fall under federal criminal statutes or national security areas. The FBI therefore puts the information in Kavanaugh's background check folder, which the FBI has already said it did. The White House must then decide if the FBI should investigate the matter further.
A U.S. official tells CBS News that under the existing memorandum of understanding, the White House would need to ask the FBI to look into the allegations raised by Ford.
Based on such a request from the White House, the bureau would then move forward.
Andres Triay contributed to this report.
4:52 p.m.: George W. Bush says he stands by Kavanaugh
Former President George W. Bush said he and his wife, former first lady Laura Bush, stand by their support for Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh worked in the Bush White House as a top aide.
"Laura and I have known and respected Brett Kavanaugh for decades, and we stand by our comments the night Judge Kavanaugh was nominated: 'He is a fine husband, father, and friend – and a man of the highest integrity. He will make a superb Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States,'" the Bushes said in a statement provided to CBS News and first reported by Politico.
4:25 p.m.: Mark Judge says he doesn't wish to testify publicly
Mark Judge, the other person Ford said was also in the room during the alleged incident, told the committee through his lawyer that he doesn't wish to testify publicly. Judge denies any memory or knowledge of the alleged incident.
"I have no more information to offer the committee and I do not wish to speak publicly regarding the incidents described in Dr. Ford's letter," Judge wrote to the committee.
3 p.m.: Trump says he feels "so badly" for Kavanaugh amid allegations
During a joint press conference with Poland's president, President Trump said he feels "terribly" for Judge Brett Kavanaugh and his family as he faces allegations of sexual misconduct.
He called him an incredible individual with an "impeccable history in every way." Mr. Trump said that the allegations should have been brought to light a long time ago and that he "doesn't deserve this."
2:20 p.m.: Sen. Mazie Hirono to men: "Just shut up and step up"
"Guess who's perpetuating all these kinds of actions? It's the men in this country, and I just want to say to the men in this country, just shut up and step up. Do the right thing for a change. As you can see I'm a little upset by this, the fairness of it," an impassioned Hirono told reporters Tuesday on Capitol Hill.
Hirono added that the White House was "victimizing" Ford for no reason. "Why should we participate in the victimization of someone who has the courage to come forward and she is under absolutely no obligation to participate in a smearing of her and her family."
In op-ed, Anita Hill gives guidelines on how to get Kavanaugh hearing right
"There is no way to redo 1991, but there are ways to do better," wrote Anita Hill who testified before the very same Senate Judiciary Committee during Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' confirmation process with her own allegations of sexual misconduct. In a New York Times op-ed, Hill recommended that committee "must demonstrate a clear understanding that sexual violence is a social reality to which elected representatives must respond."
Basic ground rules the committee should follow, according to Hill, include:
"Refrain from pitting the public interest in confronting sexual harassment against the need for a fair confirmation hearing"
Select a neutral investigative body with experience in sexual misconduct cases
Do not rush the hearings
Refer to Christine Blasey Ford by name and not simply "Judge Kavanaugh's accuser"
Liberal group Demand Justice releases new ad "Enough" tying Trump misconduct claims to Kavanaugh
Demand Justice rolled out a new ad in the DC market attacking President Trump for his own misconduct allegations in the wake of Judge Brett Kavanaugh's. The ad references both the Access Hollywood tape and Mr. Trump's support for Alabama senate candidate Roy Moore. The group claims it plans to spend $700k.
Enough by Demand Justice on YouTube
How Brett Kavanaugh's supporters are defending the allegations against him
Amid detailed revelations of sexual misconduct, Kavanaugh's supporters have been making several arguments in his defense. Some are suspicious of the timing of the allegations coming just as the Senate aimed to wrap up Kavanaugh's confirmation process. Although Sen. Dianne Feinstein was aware of Ford's story in July, she did not attempt to delay the confirmation process until this month.
12:50 p.m.: Trump: "We want everybody to be able to speak up and speak out"
Speaking from the Oval Office in a meeting with Poland's president, Mr. Trump said that Judge Brett Kavanaugh is "anxious" to speak before the Senate. "I don't know about the other party, a delay is certainly acceptable we want to get to the bottom of everything," he said.
"We want everybody to be able to speak up and speak out," he added, "We feel we want to go through a process, we want to hear both sides." Mr. Trump said that he felt the FBI shouldn't be involved in the process "because they don't want to be." He had confidence, however, in the Senate to do a "very good job" in the confirmation process.
11:45 a.m.: Grassley aide: Ford has not responded to invitation
Ford and her laywer have not yet responded to requests to attend Monday's hearing according to an aide to Chairman Grassley.
"Our staff reached out to Dr. Ford's lawyer with multiple emails yesterday to schedule a similar call and inform her of the upcoming hearing, where she will have the opportunity to share her story with the Committee. Her lawyer has not yet responded," the statement said.
Grassley expanded on the non-committal from Ford in his interview with Hugh Hewitt.
"It kind of raises the question do they want to, do they want to come to the public hearing or not? And the reason we're having the public hearing is obviously, well, number one is accusations like this deserve consideration and looking into, and that's what the purpose of the hearing is."
He added, "Even before we requested him [Kavanaugh] to testify, he said he was willing to testify. As of Sunday night, I had that message. So we still haven't heard from Dr. Ford. So do they want to have the hearing or not? We're delaying the vote, strictly, to get all the facts out on the table."
Grassley says he'd "hate" to have someone ask "what I did 35 years ago"
In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that aired on Tuesday, Chairman Grassley contended that he'd "hate" to have "somebody ask me what I did 35 years ago" in reference to Ford's upcoming testimony on Monday.
He added, "I think I look at it this way. Accusers deserve to be heard. And after they're heard, we also have a responsibility to hear Judge Kavanaugh. And I want to hear from Dr. Ford. And she deserves to be heard, because these are serious accusations."
11 a.m.: Schumer calls hearing process "wrong, unfair"
Sen. Chuck Schumer on the Senate floor Tuesday called out Chairman Grassley for once again rushing through the confirmation process. He said Monday's hearing with Ford and Kavanaugh will not provide adequate time for senators who are not on the committee to review testimony before a scheduled vote the next day. He also questioned the lack of witnesses beyond Ford and Kavanaugh.
"This morning, Chairman Grassley said that there would only be two witnesses. That's simply inadequate, unfair, wrong and a desire not to get at the whole truth and nothing but the truth," said Schumer.
Schumer went on, comparing the nature of the Kavanaugh hearings to that of Anita Hill testifying before the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. "What a shame in this Senate," said Schumer. "Let's not repeat the mistakes made in the Anita Hill hearings. Let's call all the relevant witnesses, not just two selected by Chairman Grassley who did not want to call the hearings to begin with. Let's do this fair and full and right."
9:40 a.m.: Kavanaugh friend of 25 years calls judge a "wonderful" person
In an interview with CBS This Morning, Helgi Walker, a partner at the law firm Gibson Dunn and friend of Kavanaugh's for over 25 years, called Kavanaugh a "great public servant." The two worked together in the White House counsel's office during the Bush administration.
"He's so smart and so dedicated, a hard worker, courteous, kind. He's actually a very gentle souled person. And just a terrific friend," Walker said. She added that the allegations were a "complete shock" to her and cited the six FBI background checks into his record.
"To my knowledge nothing like this has ever come up. And I think he has said this was a total surprise to him, he had no idea even who was making these allegations until she came forward and identified herself. So I think this was a bolt of out of the blue for him and also everybody who has known him for a good period of time like I have been lucky to know him."
Walker, who clerked with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, noted the parallels to the controversies that blanketed much of the confirmation process for both judges.
"I think it is unfortunately somewhat reminiscent of those hearings in the 1990's in that something as brought forward at the last minute and has created a situation that is so politically charged," said Walker.
Tuesday, 7:06 a.m.: Sen. Kamala Harris says Kavanaugh accuser has "nothing to gain" in stepping forward
Speaking to "CBS This Morning", Sen. Kamala Harris said she believes Ford's story and commended her "courage" for stepping forward and being willing to testify before the Judiciary Committee.
"I think it's going to be about, it comes down to credibility...and it's going to about listening to what each party has to say, but I believe her," said Harris.
Harris' comments come after the committee announced late Monday that both Kavanaugh and Ford will be scheduled to testify on Monday, delaying the committee's vote previously scheduled for Thursday.
Monday, Sept. 19
5:52 p.m.: White House says Kavanaugh is ready to testify about "false" allegation
The White House issued yet another statement Monday on Kavanaugh late Monday afternoon.
"Judge Kavanaugh looks forward to a hearing where he can clear his name of this false allegation," White House spokesman Raj Shah said. "He stands ready to testify tomorrow if the Senate is ready to hear him."
4:27 p.m. Kavanaugh expected to address Senate Judiciary Committee staffers in phone call
Kavanaugh is speaking to staffers on the Senate Judiciary Committee about the allegation on a call at 5:30 p.m., a source familiar with the committee's process and schedule said. Democratic staffers, according to the source, have no plans to participate.
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee explained in a statement why they are not participating.
"With only a few hours' notice and over the objections of Ranking Member Feinstein, Judiciary Committee Republicans scheduled a staff-level phone call with BrettKavanaugh concerning allegations that he sexually assaulted a young woman," the statement said. "In view of the enormity and seriousness of these allegations, a staff-only phone call behind closed doors is unacceptable and Democratic staff will not participate. This isn't how things should be done and is in complete violation of how this committee has worked in the past."
"The FBI has the resources and know-how to conduct an objective, independent evaluation of these sensitive allegations with appropriately trained investigators. This isn't just about an interview, it's about analyzing information and gathering the facts. That's what the FBI does, and that's why they're in charge of the background review process.
3:30 p.m.: Mitch McConnell calls into question Democrats "11th hour" allegation
Taking to the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Democrats' handling of the Kavanaugh allegations was "really not fair." McConnell commended Chairman Grassley for following regular order in the process and urged to "pursue this by the book."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer however argued that Grassley has to "stop playing games" with the process, saying that "hastily arranged private phone calls" are "not even close to constituting a fair and thorough review" and are not a substitute for an FBI background check or public hearing.
He urged that the Senate "should and must provide a forum" for Ford to speak to her allegations.
3 p.m.: Trump praises Kavanaugh, but is open to a slight delay
President Trump spoke up about Kavanaugh for the first time Monday afternoon in a meeting at the White House. Mr. Trump praised Kavanaugh's intellect and background, but also said he wants everyone in the process to be happy and is open to a slight delay.
"He's an outstanding intellect. An outstanding judge. Respected by everybody," the president told reporters. "Never even had a little blemish on his record. The FBI has I think gone through a process six times with him over the years where he went to higher and higher positions. He is somebody very special. At the same time, we want to go through a process. We want to make sure everything is perfect, everything is just right."
1:40 p.m.: TIMES UP releases statement in support of Ford
Organizers of the TIMES UP movement, which first became known during the wave of sexual assault allegations that rocked Hollywood, said in a statement, "If this moment in time feels strangely familiar, it's because it is. Listen to Christine Blasey Ford. A woman's experience should never be valued less than a man's career."
TIME'S UP
✔
@TIMESUPNOW
If this moment in time feels strangely familiar, it’s because it is. Listen to Christine Blasey Ford. A woman's experience should never be valued less than a man’s career.
Full statement below:
4:44 AM - Sep 18, 2018
12:20 p.m.: Grassley says Ford deserves to be heard
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a statement that anyone who comes forward as Ford does should be heard — but stopped short of suggesting testifying before the full committee. Ford has expressed a willingness to speak before the committee, as has Kavanaugh.
"Anyone who comes forward as Dr. Ford has deserves to be heard, so I will continue working on a way to hear her out in an appropriate,precedented and respectful manner," Grassley said. "The standard procedure for updates to any nominee's background investigation file is to conduct separate follow-up calls with relevant parties."
"In this case, that would entail phone calls with at least Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford," Grassley continued. "Consistent with that practice, I asked Senator Feinstein's office yesterday to join me in scheduling these follow-ups. Thus far, they have refused. But as a necessary step in evaluating these claims, I'll continue working to set them up."
12:03 p.m.: Conservative group launches $1.5 million ad campaign for Kavanaugh
A spokeswoman for the Judicial Crisis Network, which has been working to help confirm Kavanaugh, confirmed the group will be announcing a $1.5 million cable and broadcast TV ad blitz to support Kavanaugh. It will feature a 35-year friend of Kavanaugh.
"We are not going to allow a last-minute smear campaign destroy a good and decent man who has an unblemished personal record," the spokeswoman said.
12:03 p.m.: Sen. Susan Collins says Ford and Kavanaugh should testify under oath
Sen. Susan Collins, one of the Republicans her own party has been working to ensure votes for Kavanaugh, tweeted that she wants both Ford and Kavanaugh to testify under oath in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"Professor Ford and Judge Kavanaugh should both testify under oath before the Judiciary Committee," she wrote.
11:34 a.m.: FBI reiterates there is no investigation into Kavanaugh
Asked whether the FBI is investigating the Kavanaugh allegation, the FBI said, as it did last week, that there is no FBI investigation. The FBI pointed CBS News back to its statement from last week:
"Upon receipt of the information on the night of September 12, we included it as part of Judge Kavanaugh's background file, as per the standard process," the FBI repeated.
10:11 a.m.: Kavanaugh issues new denial statement:
Kavanaugh issued a new denial Monday morning in response to a woman's allegation that he assaulted her when they were both in high school. Kavanaugh said he's willing to "refute" her "false allegation" before the Senate Judiciary Committee "in any way the committee deems appropriate."
Kavanaugh had issued a flat denial of claims outlined in a letter Ford sent to Democrats, but in his new statement, Kavanaugh said he had no idea who had made the accusation "until she identified herself yesterday." The White House is standing by Kavanaugh's initial denial.
"This is a completely false allegation," Kavanaugh said in a statement Monday morning. "I have never done anything like what the accuser describes—to her or to anyone. Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday. I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity."
It's unclear whether the willingness to testify expressed from both Ford and Kavanaugh will delay the confirmation process. As of Sunday afternoon, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley intended to move forward with the committee vote as planned. But some Republicans, not to mention Democrats, have expressed they want to hear from Ford first, and the Senate is out of session Wednesday for the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur.
Kavanaugh accuser calls for FBI investigation before she testifies
The woman who has accused Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, Christine Blasey Ford, is calling for an FBI investigation before testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. And Ford's lawyers admonished the committee for scheduling the hearing so soon after her allegations became public.
"While Dr. Ford's life was being turned upside down, you and your staff scheduled a public hearing for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen U.S. senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident," said a letter Tuesday evening from Ford's lawyers to Sen. Charles Grassley, the committee chairman.
The committee invited both Kavanaugh and Ford to testify on the allegations, and Kavanaugh accepted. Mark Judge, who allegedly was also at the party in question in the 1980s, and in the room with Kavanaugh, said through his attorney he has no memory of the alleged incident and does not wish to testify publicly.
Democrats are accusing Grassley of trying to rush through the confirmation. They say that two witnesses are insufficient, and the rushed nature could lead to the "mistakes" of the Anita Hill hearings during Clarence Thomas' Supreme Court confirmation hearings.
The hearing scheduled for Monday represents a significant change in Kavanaugh's confirmation process. The committee had planned a meeting Thursday, but postponed it to allow for Kavanaugh and Ford to testify.
Even if Ford does not appear Monday, Republicans could continue to give Kavanaugh the opportunity address the allegations.
The letter on Tuesday said that Ford "wants to cooperate with the Committee and with law enforcement." The lawyers said an FBI investigation should come first. "A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions."
The lawyers said that Ford has been the target of "vicious harassment and even death threats" and that her family has relocated.
Grassley responded to the letter later Tuesday evening: "Dr. Ford's testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay."
Read Ford's letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee here:
Context on the FBI's role in investigating Kavanaugh
Democrats -- and now Ford -- are urging the FBI to reopen the investigation into Kavanaugh's history, which was essentially a background check. According to CBS News contributor Ron Hosko, who is a former assistant director of the FBI, the FBI could investigate if evidence arose of a federal crime or of a national security matter while investigators were conducting Kavanaugh's background check. (For instance, if a federal crime had been committed 35 years ago and beyond the statute of limitations, the bureau might opt not to investigate).
The FBI's investigative work here is neither criminal nor national security. It is, Hosko explains, a background investigation led by the Security Division for a customer -- the White House. The results are packaged and provided to the customer.
There is no local criminal investigation in this case, and the allegations so far do not fall under federal criminal statutes or national security areas. The FBI therefore puts the information in Kavanaugh's background check folder, which the FBI has already said it did. The White House must then decide if the FBI should investigate the matter further.
A U.S. official tells CBS News that under the existing memorandum of understanding, the White House would need to ask the FBI to look into the allegations raised by Ford.
Based on such a request from the White House, the bureau would then move forward.
Andres Triay contributed to this report.
4:52 p.m.: George W. Bush says he stands by Kavanaugh
Former President George W. Bush said he and his wife, former first lady Laura Bush, stand by their support for Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh worked in the Bush White House as a top aide.
"Laura and I have known and respected Brett Kavanaugh for decades, and we stand by our comments the night Judge Kavanaugh was nominated: 'He is a fine husband, father, and friend – and a man of the highest integrity. He will make a superb Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States,'" the Bushes said in a statement provided to CBS News and first reported by Politico.
4:25 p.m.: Mark Judge says he doesn't wish to testify publicly
Mark Judge, the other person Ford said was also in the room during the alleged incident, told the committee through his lawyer that he doesn't wish to testify publicly. Judge denies any memory or knowledge of the alleged incident.
"I have no more information to offer the committee and I do not wish to speak publicly regarding the incidents described in Dr. Ford's letter," Judge wrote to the committee.
3 p.m.: Trump says he feels "so badly" for Kavanaugh amid allegations
During a joint press conference with Poland's president, President Trump said he feels "terribly" for Judge Brett Kavanaugh and his family as he faces allegations of sexual misconduct.
He called him an incredible individual with an "impeccable history in every way." Mr. Trump said that the allegations should have been brought to light a long time ago and that he "doesn't deserve this."
2:20 p.m.: Sen. Mazie Hirono to men: "Just shut up and step up"
"Guess who's perpetuating all these kinds of actions? It's the men in this country, and I just want to say to the men in this country, just shut up and step up. Do the right thing for a change. As you can see I'm a little upset by this, the fairness of it," an impassioned Hirono told reporters Tuesday on Capitol Hill.
Hirono added that the White House was "victimizing" Ford for no reason. "Why should we participate in the victimization of someone who has the courage to come forward and she is under absolutely no obligation to participate in a smearing of her and her family."
In op-ed, Anita Hill gives guidelines on how to get Kavanaugh hearing right
"There is no way to redo 1991, but there are ways to do better," wrote Anita Hill who testified before the very same Senate Judiciary Committee during Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' confirmation process with her own allegations of sexual misconduct. In a New York Times op-ed, Hill recommended that committee "must demonstrate a clear understanding that sexual violence is a social reality to which elected representatives must respond."
Basic ground rules the committee should follow, according to Hill, include:
"Refrain from pitting the public interest in confronting sexual harassment against the need for a fair confirmation hearing"
Select a neutral investigative body with experience in sexual misconduct cases
Do not rush the hearings
Refer to Christine Blasey Ford by name and not simply "Judge Kavanaugh's accuser"
Liberal group Demand Justice releases new ad "Enough" tying Trump misconduct claims to Kavanaugh
Demand Justice rolled out a new ad in the DC market attacking President Trump for his own misconduct allegations in the wake of Judge Brett Kavanaugh's. The ad references both the Access Hollywood tape and Mr. Trump's support for Alabama senate candidate Roy Moore. The group claims it plans to spend $700k.
Enough by Demand Justice on YouTube
How Brett Kavanaugh's supporters are defending the allegations against him
Amid detailed revelations of sexual misconduct, Kavanaugh's supporters have been making several arguments in his defense. Some are suspicious of the timing of the allegations coming just as the Senate aimed to wrap up Kavanaugh's confirmation process. Although Sen. Dianne Feinstein was aware of Ford's story in July, she did not attempt to delay the confirmation process until this month.
12:50 p.m.: Trump: "We want everybody to be able to speak up and speak out"
Speaking from the Oval Office in a meeting with Poland's president, Mr. Trump said that Judge Brett Kavanaugh is "anxious" to speak before the Senate. "I don't know about the other party, a delay is certainly acceptable we want to get to the bottom of everything," he said.
"We want everybody to be able to speak up and speak out," he added, "We feel we want to go through a process, we want to hear both sides." Mr. Trump said that he felt the FBI shouldn't be involved in the process "because they don't want to be." He had confidence, however, in the Senate to do a "very good job" in the confirmation process.
11:45 a.m.: Grassley aide: Ford has not responded to invitation
Ford and her laywer have not yet responded to requests to attend Monday's hearing according to an aide to Chairman Grassley.
"Our staff reached out to Dr. Ford's lawyer with multiple emails yesterday to schedule a similar call and inform her of the upcoming hearing, where she will have the opportunity to share her story with the Committee. Her lawyer has not yet responded," the statement said.
Grassley expanded on the non-committal from Ford in his interview with Hugh Hewitt.
"It kind of raises the question do they want to, do they want to come to the public hearing or not? And the reason we're having the public hearing is obviously, well, number one is accusations like this deserve consideration and looking into, and that's what the purpose of the hearing is."
He added, "Even before we requested him [Kavanaugh] to testify, he said he was willing to testify. As of Sunday night, I had that message. So we still haven't heard from Dr. Ford. So do they want to have the hearing or not? We're delaying the vote, strictly, to get all the facts out on the table."
Grassley says he'd "hate" to have someone ask "what I did 35 years ago"
In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that aired on Tuesday, Chairman Grassley contended that he'd "hate" to have "somebody ask me what I did 35 years ago" in reference to Ford's upcoming testimony on Monday.
He added, "I think I look at it this way. Accusers deserve to be heard. And after they're heard, we also have a responsibility to hear Judge Kavanaugh. And I want to hear from Dr. Ford. And she deserves to be heard, because these are serious accusations."
11 a.m.: Schumer calls hearing process "wrong, unfair"
Sen. Chuck Schumer on the Senate floor Tuesday called out Chairman Grassley for once again rushing through the confirmation process. He said Monday's hearing with Ford and Kavanaugh will not provide adequate time for senators who are not on the committee to review testimony before a scheduled vote the next day. He also questioned the lack of witnesses beyond Ford and Kavanaugh.
"This morning, Chairman Grassley said that there would only be two witnesses. That's simply inadequate, unfair, wrong and a desire not to get at the whole truth and nothing but the truth," said Schumer.
Schumer went on, comparing the nature of the Kavanaugh hearings to that of Anita Hill testifying before the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. "What a shame in this Senate," said Schumer. "Let's not repeat the mistakes made in the Anita Hill hearings. Let's call all the relevant witnesses, not just two selected by Chairman Grassley who did not want to call the hearings to begin with. Let's do this fair and full and right."
9:40 a.m.: Kavanaugh friend of 25 years calls judge a "wonderful" person
In an interview with CBS This Morning, Helgi Walker, a partner at the law firm Gibson Dunn and friend of Kavanaugh's for over 25 years, called Kavanaugh a "great public servant." The two worked together in the White House counsel's office during the Bush administration.
"He's so smart and so dedicated, a hard worker, courteous, kind. He's actually a very gentle souled person. And just a terrific friend," Walker said. She added that the allegations were a "complete shock" to her and cited the six FBI background checks into his record.
"To my knowledge nothing like this has ever come up. And I think he has said this was a total surprise to him, he had no idea even who was making these allegations until she came forward and identified herself. So I think this was a bolt of out of the blue for him and also everybody who has known him for a good period of time like I have been lucky to know him."
Walker, who clerked with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, noted the parallels to the controversies that blanketed much of the confirmation process for both judges.
"I think it is unfortunately somewhat reminiscent of those hearings in the 1990's in that something as brought forward at the last minute and has created a situation that is so politically charged," said Walker.
Tuesday, 7:06 a.m.: Sen. Kamala Harris says Kavanaugh accuser has "nothing to gain" in stepping forward
Speaking to "CBS This Morning", Sen. Kamala Harris said she believes Ford's story and commended her "courage" for stepping forward and being willing to testify before the Judiciary Committee.
"I think it's going to be about, it comes down to credibility...and it's going to about listening to what each party has to say, but I believe her," said Harris.
Harris' comments come after the committee announced late Monday that both Kavanaugh and Ford will be scheduled to testify on Monday, delaying the committee's vote previously scheduled for Thursday.
Monday, Sept. 19
5:52 p.m.: White House says Kavanaugh is ready to testify about "false" allegation
The White House issued yet another statement Monday on Kavanaugh late Monday afternoon.
"Judge Kavanaugh looks forward to a hearing where he can clear his name of this false allegation," White House spokesman Raj Shah said. "He stands ready to testify tomorrow if the Senate is ready to hear him."
4:27 p.m. Kavanaugh expected to address Senate Judiciary Committee staffers in phone call
Kavanaugh is speaking to staffers on the Senate Judiciary Committee about the allegation on a call at 5:30 p.m., a source familiar with the committee's process and schedule said. Democratic staffers, according to the source, have no plans to participate.
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee explained in a statement why they are not participating.
"With only a few hours' notice and over the objections of Ranking Member Feinstein, Judiciary Committee Republicans scheduled a staff-level phone call with BrettKavanaugh concerning allegations that he sexually assaulted a young woman," the statement said. "In view of the enormity and seriousness of these allegations, a staff-only phone call behind closed doors is unacceptable and Democratic staff will not participate. This isn't how things should be done and is in complete violation of how this committee has worked in the past."
"The FBI has the resources and know-how to conduct an objective, independent evaluation of these sensitive allegations with appropriately trained investigators. This isn't just about an interview, it's about analyzing information and gathering the facts. That's what the FBI does, and that's why they're in charge of the background review process.
3:30 p.m.: Mitch McConnell calls into question Democrats "11th hour" allegation
Taking to the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Democrats' handling of the Kavanaugh allegations was "really not fair." McConnell commended Chairman Grassley for following regular order in the process and urged to "pursue this by the book."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer however argued that Grassley has to "stop playing games" with the process, saying that "hastily arranged private phone calls" are "not even close to constituting a fair and thorough review" and are not a substitute for an FBI background check or public hearing.
He urged that the Senate "should and must provide a forum" for Ford to speak to her allegations.
3 p.m.: Trump praises Kavanaugh, but is open to a slight delay
President Trump spoke up about Kavanaugh for the first time Monday afternoon in a meeting at the White House. Mr. Trump praised Kavanaugh's intellect and background, but also said he wants everyone in the process to be happy and is open to a slight delay.
"He's an outstanding intellect. An outstanding judge. Respected by everybody," the president told reporters. "Never even had a little blemish on his record. The FBI has I think gone through a process six times with him over the years where he went to higher and higher positions. He is somebody very special. At the same time, we want to go through a process. We want to make sure everything is perfect, everything is just right."
1:40 p.m.: TIMES UP releases statement in support of Ford
Organizers of the TIMES UP movement, which first became known during the wave of sexual assault allegations that rocked Hollywood, said in a statement, "If this moment in time feels strangely familiar, it's because it is. Listen to Christine Blasey Ford. A woman's experience should never be valued less than a man's career."
TIME'S UP
✔
@TIMESUPNOW
If this moment in time feels strangely familiar, it’s because it is. Listen to Christine Blasey Ford. A woman's experience should never be valued less than a man’s career.
Full statement below:
4:44 AM - Sep 18, 2018
12:20 p.m.: Grassley says Ford deserves to be heard
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a statement that anyone who comes forward as Ford does should be heard — but stopped short of suggesting testifying before the full committee. Ford has expressed a willingness to speak before the committee, as has Kavanaugh.
"Anyone who comes forward as Dr. Ford has deserves to be heard, so I will continue working on a way to hear her out in an appropriate,precedented and respectful manner," Grassley said. "The standard procedure for updates to any nominee's background investigation file is to conduct separate follow-up calls with relevant parties."
"In this case, that would entail phone calls with at least Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford," Grassley continued. "Consistent with that practice, I asked Senator Feinstein's office yesterday to join me in scheduling these follow-ups. Thus far, they have refused. But as a necessary step in evaluating these claims, I'll continue working to set them up."
12:03 p.m.: Conservative group launches $1.5 million ad campaign for Kavanaugh
A spokeswoman for the Judicial Crisis Network, which has been working to help confirm Kavanaugh, confirmed the group will be announcing a $1.5 million cable and broadcast TV ad blitz to support Kavanaugh. It will feature a 35-year friend of Kavanaugh.
"We are not going to allow a last-minute smear campaign destroy a good and decent man who has an unblemished personal record," the spokeswoman said.
12:03 p.m.: Sen. Susan Collins says Ford and Kavanaugh should testify under oath
Sen. Susan Collins, one of the Republicans her own party has been working to ensure votes for Kavanaugh, tweeted that she wants both Ford and Kavanaugh to testify under oath in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"Professor Ford and Judge Kavanaugh should both testify under oath before the Judiciary Committee," she wrote.
11:34 a.m.: FBI reiterates there is no investigation into Kavanaugh
Asked whether the FBI is investigating the Kavanaugh allegation, the FBI said, as it did last week, that there is no FBI investigation. The FBI pointed CBS News back to its statement from last week:
"Upon receipt of the information on the night of September 12, we included it as part of Judge Kavanaugh's background file, as per the standard process," the FBI repeated.
10:11 a.m.: Kavanaugh issues new denial statement:
Kavanaugh issued a new denial Monday morning in response to a woman's allegation that he assaulted her when they were both in high school. Kavanaugh said he's willing to "refute" her "false allegation" before the Senate Judiciary Committee "in any way the committee deems appropriate."
Kavanaugh had issued a flat denial of claims outlined in a letter Ford sent to Democrats, but in his new statement, Kavanaugh said he had no idea who had made the accusation "until she identified herself yesterday." The White House is standing by Kavanaugh's initial denial.
"This is a completely false allegation," Kavanaugh said in a statement Monday morning. "I have never done anything like what the accuser describes—to her or to anyone. Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday. I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity."
It's unclear whether the willingness to testify expressed from both Ford and Kavanaugh will delay the confirmation process. As of Sunday afternoon, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley intended to move forward with the committee vote as planned. But some Republicans, not to mention Democrats, have expressed they want to hear from Ford first, and the Senate is out of session Wednesday for the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur.
Wall Street Fears the End of an Era - Bloomberg
Wall Street Fears the End of an Era
By Alastair Marsh
September 19, 2018, 2:00 PM GMT+10
Bank trading heads say funds now have access to trading data
Banks’ complaints highlight scramble for profit in debt world
The masters of the corporate-bond world believe one of their few remaining preserves is slipping away. But they’re not letting it go without a fight.
Credit traders at some of the world’s largest banks are convinced hedge funds and brokers have penetrated their members-only club. The claim -- based on interviews with more than 16 bankers, including seven who head trading desks -- is that rivals and even clients are now accessing information from trading platforms that have long been the exclusive domain of the banks.
These wholesale trading venues are operated by firms known as interdealer brokers. And according to practices developed over decades, they were used solely by big banks that have served as the primary market makers for institutional investors looking to trade corporate bonds and other debt.
The platforms allow the banks to anonymously unload unwanted positions or source bonds from each other, as well as gain pricing intelligence. Effectively, this has helped the banks maintain a significant amount of control over who gets what and how much is paid in a marketplace that now trades more than $30 billion a day.
New Rules
But post-crisis regulations that curbed the banks’ ability to take risks -- while ushering in a wave of new trading venues -- diminished the banks’ role. What has followed is a brutish world where bankers, investors and smaller brokers jostle for influence and profits.
“The banks are trying to defend their turf and maintain the advantages they used to enjoy,” said Suki Mann, a debt-market analyst who previously ran credit strategy in Europe for Societe Generale SA and UBS Group AG. “But they’re fighting a losing battle.”
Caught in the middle of all of this are the interdealer firms, such as TP ICAP Plc, BGC Partners Inc. and Cie. Financiere Tradition SA. They’re fighting for a share of a shrinking pie while trying not to alienate their primary clients -- the banks.
Credit traders at 11 of the world’s largest banks -- including some that head trading desks -- said that they’re convinced that pressures faced by the interdealer brokers to boost commissions is prompting them to let investors and brokers onto platforms where dealers trade -- giving them access to a bigger universe of product and prices.
Market Conventions
The traders, who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to talk about their business operations, based those suspicions on trades they saw on the platforms and client queries about trades. The head of a credit trading unit at a U.S. bank also said a hedge fund client told him that they had access to the platforms.
The traders aren’t claiming any laws are being broken. But they say that -- in addition to their own profits -- it’s threatening long-standing conventions that have helped maintain market integrity and liquidity. One senior trader at a French lender said banks often try to buy or sell bonds for clients in the interdealer market, and if those investors are also present on the platforms then their ability to trade will decrease.
Spokesmen for TP ICAP, BGC and Tradition declined to comment on the bankers’ claims about their industry. Four credit brokers employed at interdealer firms spoke to Bloomberg News, asking not to be identified because they’re not allowed to talk about their business dealings. They said they hadn’t seen first-hand evidence of non-bank entities trading on their platforms.
Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News, also offers bond-trading services to banks and fund managers.
Higher Costs
The tensions emerged after new rules intended to prevent another financial crisis forced banks to pull back from some risky trading activities. The regulations also made it costlier for them to facilitate trades by holding debt on their own balance sheets or maintaining large warehouses of securities.
As the banks’ roles were reduced, that allowed others to step in -- namely smaller brokerage firms that simply match buyers and sellers without taking assets on to their balance sheets. Investment firms, like asset managers and hedge funds, have also increased trading among themselves since they can no longer rely on deposit-taking giants to always help them enter or exit a trade.
Out of Bonds
Banks now hold far fewer corporate bonds than they did before the financial crisis
One trader at a unit of an interdealer broker who asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to speak publicly, said hedge funds should be able to trade on the interdealer platforms. Since banks provide considerably less liquidity than they used to, funds shouldn’t have to rely only on investment banks to help them find the other side of a trade, he said.
“I don’t think we should put restrictions on who can deal on what platform to favor particular groups,” said Brian Scott-Quinn, the non-executive chairman of the ICMA Centre, part of Henley Business School at the University of Reading, England. “That creates a bifurcated market and is just plain wrong. Just because the banks had privileges in the past they think they should continue to have them, but if they don’t provide adequate liquidity anymore, then those benefits should disappear.”
The interdealer firms, which earn commission for every trade they match, enjoyed their best years before the financial crisis, and also had strong trading volumes immediately afterward as banks unwound unprofitable positions. Since then, growth has stalled.
* Includes revenue from some electronic services; ** Includes revenue from hybrid platforms such as iSwap; *** TP ICAP stops reporting separate revenue numbers for ICAP and Tullett
ICAP does have a trading portal specifically for investment firms and its parent has said a division that serves asset managers and hedge funds will help the company increase revenues.
The tension spilled over earlier this year.
In May, a senior high-yield bond trader at Credit Suisse Group AG in London refused to trade through ICAP after he believed he had been the victim of a copycat trade, according to people familiar with the matter. Within minutes of making a price in a bond of a European retailer on an ICAP platform, the Credit Suisse trader was told that a trader at a brokerage firm had sent a similar price for a comparable size of trade in the same security to its customers, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private.
The trader’s boycott lasted six weeks until ICAP wrote to Credit Suisse, its biggest client for European junk bond trades, saying it will not allow brokers on its platform, the people said.
“This is an inaccurate description of events,” said a spokesman for Credit Suisse. “No such trade occurred. Our traders have not stopped using this particular platform at any point.”
The spokesman for TP ICAP, which was formed by Tullett Prebon Plc’s takeover of ICAP Plc’s voice-broking business at the end of 2016, declined to comment on the incident.
“It’s not a very pleasant time, whether you’re in a bank or a hedge fund,” said Derrick Herndon, who has run credit businesses in New York and London for Credit Suisse, Toronto-Dominion Bank and UBS Group AG. “Both sides are pointing at each other, but it’s a deeper issue than banks just don’t have market clout the way they used to.”
— With assistance by Will Hadfield
By Alastair Marsh
September 19, 2018, 2:00 PM GMT+10
Bank trading heads say funds now have access to trading data
Banks’ complaints highlight scramble for profit in debt world
The masters of the corporate-bond world believe one of their few remaining preserves is slipping away. But they’re not letting it go without a fight.
Credit traders at some of the world’s largest banks are convinced hedge funds and brokers have penetrated their members-only club. The claim -- based on interviews with more than 16 bankers, including seven who head trading desks -- is that rivals and even clients are now accessing information from trading platforms that have long been the exclusive domain of the banks.
These wholesale trading venues are operated by firms known as interdealer brokers. And according to practices developed over decades, they were used solely by big banks that have served as the primary market makers for institutional investors looking to trade corporate bonds and other debt.
The platforms allow the banks to anonymously unload unwanted positions or source bonds from each other, as well as gain pricing intelligence. Effectively, this has helped the banks maintain a significant amount of control over who gets what and how much is paid in a marketplace that now trades more than $30 billion a day.
New Rules
But post-crisis regulations that curbed the banks’ ability to take risks -- while ushering in a wave of new trading venues -- diminished the banks’ role. What has followed is a brutish world where bankers, investors and smaller brokers jostle for influence and profits.
“The banks are trying to defend their turf and maintain the advantages they used to enjoy,” said Suki Mann, a debt-market analyst who previously ran credit strategy in Europe for Societe Generale SA and UBS Group AG. “But they’re fighting a losing battle.”
Caught in the middle of all of this are the interdealer firms, such as TP ICAP Plc, BGC Partners Inc. and Cie. Financiere Tradition SA. They’re fighting for a share of a shrinking pie while trying not to alienate their primary clients -- the banks.
Credit traders at 11 of the world’s largest banks -- including some that head trading desks -- said that they’re convinced that pressures faced by the interdealer brokers to boost commissions is prompting them to let investors and brokers onto platforms where dealers trade -- giving them access to a bigger universe of product and prices.
Market Conventions
The traders, who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to talk about their business operations, based those suspicions on trades they saw on the platforms and client queries about trades. The head of a credit trading unit at a U.S. bank also said a hedge fund client told him that they had access to the platforms.
The traders aren’t claiming any laws are being broken. But they say that -- in addition to their own profits -- it’s threatening long-standing conventions that have helped maintain market integrity and liquidity. One senior trader at a French lender said banks often try to buy or sell bonds for clients in the interdealer market, and if those investors are also present on the platforms then their ability to trade will decrease.
Spokesmen for TP ICAP, BGC and Tradition declined to comment on the bankers’ claims about their industry. Four credit brokers employed at interdealer firms spoke to Bloomberg News, asking not to be identified because they’re not allowed to talk about their business dealings. They said they hadn’t seen first-hand evidence of non-bank entities trading on their platforms.
Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News, also offers bond-trading services to banks and fund managers.
Higher Costs
The tensions emerged after new rules intended to prevent another financial crisis forced banks to pull back from some risky trading activities. The regulations also made it costlier for them to facilitate trades by holding debt on their own balance sheets or maintaining large warehouses of securities.
As the banks’ roles were reduced, that allowed others to step in -- namely smaller brokerage firms that simply match buyers and sellers without taking assets on to their balance sheets. Investment firms, like asset managers and hedge funds, have also increased trading among themselves since they can no longer rely on deposit-taking giants to always help them enter or exit a trade.
Out of Bonds
Banks now hold far fewer corporate bonds than they did before the financial crisis
One trader at a unit of an interdealer broker who asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to speak publicly, said hedge funds should be able to trade on the interdealer platforms. Since banks provide considerably less liquidity than they used to, funds shouldn’t have to rely only on investment banks to help them find the other side of a trade, he said.
“I don’t think we should put restrictions on who can deal on what platform to favor particular groups,” said Brian Scott-Quinn, the non-executive chairman of the ICMA Centre, part of Henley Business School at the University of Reading, England. “That creates a bifurcated market and is just plain wrong. Just because the banks had privileges in the past they think they should continue to have them, but if they don’t provide adequate liquidity anymore, then those benefits should disappear.”
The interdealer firms, which earn commission for every trade they match, enjoyed their best years before the financial crisis, and also had strong trading volumes immediately afterward as banks unwound unprofitable positions. Since then, growth has stalled.
* Includes revenue from some electronic services; ** Includes revenue from hybrid platforms such as iSwap; *** TP ICAP stops reporting separate revenue numbers for ICAP and Tullett
ICAP does have a trading portal specifically for investment firms and its parent has said a division that serves asset managers and hedge funds will help the company increase revenues.
The tension spilled over earlier this year.
In May, a senior high-yield bond trader at Credit Suisse Group AG in London refused to trade through ICAP after he believed he had been the victim of a copycat trade, according to people familiar with the matter. Within minutes of making a price in a bond of a European retailer on an ICAP platform, the Credit Suisse trader was told that a trader at a brokerage firm had sent a similar price for a comparable size of trade in the same security to its customers, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private.
The trader’s boycott lasted six weeks until ICAP wrote to Credit Suisse, its biggest client for European junk bond trades, saying it will not allow brokers on its platform, the people said.
“This is an inaccurate description of events,” said a spokesman for Credit Suisse. “No such trade occurred. Our traders have not stopped using this particular platform at any point.”
The spokesman for TP ICAP, which was formed by Tullett Prebon Plc’s takeover of ICAP Plc’s voice-broking business at the end of 2016, declined to comment on the incident.
“It’s not a very pleasant time, whether you’re in a bank or a hedge fund,” said Derrick Herndon, who has run credit businesses in New York and London for Credit Suisse, Toronto-Dominion Bank and UBS Group AG. “Both sides are pointing at each other, but it’s a deeper issue than banks just don’t have market clout the way they used to.”
— With assistance by Will Hadfield
'Very Exciting!' President Trump Praises Kim Jong Un for Pledge to Denuclearize - NBC News
Sept. 19, 2018.
'Very Exciting!' President Trump Praises Kim Jong Un for Pledge to Denuclearize
Eli Meixler
President Trump expressed his support Wednesday after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to reduce his country's nuclear capabilities at a summit this week with southern counterpart, at which denuclearization is high on the agenda.
Kim agreed Wednesday to permanently dismantle his Nyongbyon nuclear facility pending reciprocal measures from the U.S., according to South Korean President Moon Jae In.
"Very exciting!" Trump said at the end of a pair of late-night tweets, which also touted the return of the remains of American Korean War casualties and an announced proposal for North and South Korea to jointly host the 2032 Summer Olympics.
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing. Hero remains to continue being........
2:04 PM - Sep 19, 2018
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
....returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very exciting!
2:11 PM - Sep 19, 2018
Kim and Moon are meeting in the North Korean capital for a three-day summit, their third this year, amid a diplomatic impasse between Pyongyang and Washington. On Wednesday, the Korean leaders signed a joint statement supporting a nuclear weapon-free peninsula to "eliminate all the danger of war," the Associated Press reports. In a rare gesture of transparency, Kim also agreed to allow international inspectors to monitor the closure of a missile engine test site and launch pad .
"We have agreed to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat," Kim said at a joint press conference with Moon on Wednesday, according to AP.Kim has repeatedly stated a commitment to denuclearization, and has dismantled other facilities since he met with President Trump at a landmark summit in Singapore in June. But Washington has said that North Korea is still producing nuclear fissile material. As recently as July, the country was also making "rapid" infrastructure improvements at Nyongbyon, according to North Korea monitoring group 38 North.
'Least impressive sex I ever had': Stormy Daniels tells all about Trump in bombshell book - MSNBC News
'Least impressive sex I ever had': Stormy Daniels tells all about Trump in bombshell book
The book, titled "Full Disclosure," was obtained ahead of its Oct. 2 release by The Guardian newspaper.
by Adam Edelman / Sep.18.2018 / 11:41 PM ET
2018 Adult Video News Awards - Arrivals
Adult film actress/director Stormy Daniels attends the 2018 Adult Video News Awards in Las Vegas.Gabe Ginsberg / Getty Images file
Adult film star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with President Donald Trump more than a decade ago and is suing the president, described sex with the future commander in chief as "the least impressive sex I’d ever had" in a new book.
The book, titled "Full Disclosure," was obtained ahead of its Oct. 2 release by The Guardian newspaper. NBC News has not obtained the book.
"It may have been the least impressive sex I'd ever had, but clearly, he didn't share that opinion," she wrote, according to The Guardian.
Daniels had lingering remorse over the experience for years, writing that any time she'd see Trump on television, she'd think: "I had sex with that, I’d say to myself. Eech."
The White House had no immediate comment about the new book.
Victory for Stormy Daniels as Trump, Cohen give up on hush deal
SEP.11.201802:51
After the tryst with Daniels, Trump promised to put her on his "The Apprentice" reality show, Daniels writes in the book, according to The Guardian, and even indicated he would fix the results in her favor to have her last on the show.
"We'll figure out a way to get you the challenges beforehand," Daniels quoted Trump has having told her. "And we can devise your technique."
"He was going to have me cheat, and it was 100 percent his idea," she wrote, according to The Guardian.
Trump can't use FEMA's wireless alerts to send personal messages — it's illegal
FEMA's 'Presidential Alert' test postponed as some Americans want to disconnect
Years later, when Trump would decide to run for president, Daniels repeatedly dismissed the idea he could win — until, of course, he eventually did.
"It will never happen, I would say," Daniels wrote. "He doesn’t even want to be president."
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, also describes Trump’s sex organs in graphic detail.
Daniels has suggested she had a one-time sexual encounter with Trump in a hotel room. She alleged in a civil lawsuit that she and Trump had an "intimate relationship" that lasted from summer 2006 "well into the year 2007" and which included meetings in Lake Tahoe and at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The White House denies Trump had an affair with her.
But Trump's private attorney, Michael Cohen, admitted in February he had paid her $130,000 — which she says was to buy her silence over the "intimate relationship." NBC News reported in April that Daniels is cooperating with federal investigators as part of their criminal investigation into Cohen.
In May, Trump said Daniels was paid to stop "false and extortionist accusations" she made about a sexual encounter with him. Trump has forcefully denied the affair. Daniels has filed two lawsuits against Trump, one to get out of a nondisclosure agreement she signed in October 2016 ahead of the November presidential election in exchange for the $130,000, and another for defamation.
Christine Blasey Ford: Kavanaugh accuser 'faces death threats' - BBC News
Sept. 19, 2018.
Christine Blasey Ford: Kavanaugh accuser 'faces death threats'
Christine Blasey Ford says Brett Kavanaugh attacked her when he was a teenager
The woman who accuses US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of attempting to rape her will not testify to the Senate next week, her lawyer says.
Christine Blasey Ford's attorney told CNN her client has been "deflecting death threats and harassment".
Lawyer Lisa Banks said before her client goes to Congress, she wants an FBI investigation into Judge Kavanaugh.
The nominee, who denies the claim, has met officials at the White House for a second day.
The truth about false assault accusations
Prof Ford, a psychology lecturer in California, has accused Judge Kavanaugh of drunkenly trying to remove her clothing in 1982 when they were both teenagers in a Washington DC suburb.
She says he pinned her to a bed and clamped his hand over her mouth when she attempted to scream.
Judge Kavanaugh, 53, has called the allegation "completely false".
Why won't Prof Ford testify?
Prof Ford's legal team say they have written to the Senate Judiciary Committee declining its offer to testify.
Her lawyer told CNN on Tuesday night: "It's premature to talk about a hearing on Monday because she [Prof Ford] has been dealing with the threats, the harassment and the safety of her family and that's what she's been focused on for the last couple of days."
She said that since going public with her allegation in the Washington Post on Sunday, Prof Ford has been trying to work out where her family are going to sleep at night.
Why is the US top court so important?
Meet the Supremes - who are the justices?
The legal team's letter says that Prof Ford's family has been forced to move out of their home, her email has been hacked and she has been impersonated online.
The correspondence says "a full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions".
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley later said that there was no reason to delay Prof Ford's testimony as the aim would be to establish "her personal knowledge and memory of events".
"Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr Ford tells the committee," he said in a statement.
What has the reaction been?
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, said that if Prof Ford did not appear to testify on Monday, "we are going to move on and vote [on the nominee for the Supreme Court] on Wednesday".
"They've had tons of time to do this," he said, adding: "This has been a drive-by shooting when it comes to Kavanaugh, I'll listen to the lady, but we're going to bring this to a close."
Senator Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio, said the process was "very unfair" and that he did not blame Prof Ford, instead blaming "Democrats who misused this process".
Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, said he supported the call for an FBI investigation prior to the hearing.
In a statement he urged Senate Republicans and the White House to "drop their inexplicable opposition" to it and "allow all facts to come out".
Senator Mazie Hirono urged "the men in this country" to "do the right thing for a change"
Hawaii Democrat Mazie Hirono said "the men in this country" should "just shut up".
"Not only do women like Dr Ford, who bravely comes forward, need to be heard, but they need to be believed," she told a press conference.
Separately, the FBI declined to comment after the letter was made public on Tuesday.
What has Trump said about Kavanaugh?
US President Donald Trump, who reportedly did not meet Mr Kavanaugh on Tuesday, expressed sympathy for his nominee.
"I feel so badly for him that he's going through this, to be honest with you," the Republican president told a news conference. "This is not a man that deserves this."
He added: "Hopefully the woman will come forward, state her case. He will state his case before representatives of the United States Senate. And then they will vote."
Mr Trump also appeared to suggest that the controversy was being exploited by Democrats as lawmakers looked to delay the Supreme Court vote.
"The Supreme Court is one of the main reasons I got elected President. I hope Republican voters, and others, are watching, and studying, the Democrats Playbook," he tweeted.
'One of the finest people that I've ever known'
Meanwhile Mark Judge, a friend of Judge Kavanaugh who Prof Ford says witnessed the alleged incident, has said he does not want to speak publicly about the matter.
"Brett Kavanaugh and I were friends in high school but I do not recall the party described in Dr Ford's letter," he is quoted as saying in a letter from his lawyer.
What is at stake?
Republicans control the Senate by only a narrow 51-49 margin, meaning any defections could scupper the Supreme Court nomination.
That would set back President Trump's efforts to install more conservatives on the Supreme Court and broader US judiciary.
If confirmed, Judge Kavanaugh, a conservative federal appeals court judge, would be expected to tilt the court's balance further to the right.
The ugly confirmation battle could shake up the forthcoming mid-term elections.
Democrats are hoping to wrest control of Congress from Mr Trump's fellow Republicans on 6 November, dealing a serious blow to the president's efforts to install more conservatives on the Supreme Court and broader US judiciary.
Christine Blasey Ford: Kavanaugh accuser 'faces death threats'
Christine Blasey Ford says Brett Kavanaugh attacked her when he was a teenager
The woman who accuses US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of attempting to rape her will not testify to the Senate next week, her lawyer says.
Christine Blasey Ford's attorney told CNN her client has been "deflecting death threats and harassment".
Lawyer Lisa Banks said before her client goes to Congress, she wants an FBI investigation into Judge Kavanaugh.
The nominee, who denies the claim, has met officials at the White House for a second day.
The truth about false assault accusations
Prof Ford, a psychology lecturer in California, has accused Judge Kavanaugh of drunkenly trying to remove her clothing in 1982 when they were both teenagers in a Washington DC suburb.
She says he pinned her to a bed and clamped his hand over her mouth when she attempted to scream.
Judge Kavanaugh, 53, has called the allegation "completely false".
Why won't Prof Ford testify?
Prof Ford's legal team say they have written to the Senate Judiciary Committee declining its offer to testify.
Her lawyer told CNN on Tuesday night: "It's premature to talk about a hearing on Monday because she [Prof Ford] has been dealing with the threats, the harassment and the safety of her family and that's what she's been focused on for the last couple of days."
She said that since going public with her allegation in the Washington Post on Sunday, Prof Ford has been trying to work out where her family are going to sleep at night.
Why is the US top court so important?
Meet the Supremes - who are the justices?
The legal team's letter says that Prof Ford's family has been forced to move out of their home, her email has been hacked and she has been impersonated online.
The correspondence says "a full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions".
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley later said that there was no reason to delay Prof Ford's testimony as the aim would be to establish "her personal knowledge and memory of events".
"Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr Ford tells the committee," he said in a statement.
What has the reaction been?
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, said that if Prof Ford did not appear to testify on Monday, "we are going to move on and vote [on the nominee for the Supreme Court] on Wednesday".
"They've had tons of time to do this," he said, adding: "This has been a drive-by shooting when it comes to Kavanaugh, I'll listen to the lady, but we're going to bring this to a close."
Senator Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio, said the process was "very unfair" and that he did not blame Prof Ford, instead blaming "Democrats who misused this process".
Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, said he supported the call for an FBI investigation prior to the hearing.
In a statement he urged Senate Republicans and the White House to "drop their inexplicable opposition" to it and "allow all facts to come out".
Senator Mazie Hirono urged "the men in this country" to "do the right thing for a change"
Hawaii Democrat Mazie Hirono said "the men in this country" should "just shut up".
"Not only do women like Dr Ford, who bravely comes forward, need to be heard, but they need to be believed," she told a press conference.
Separately, the FBI declined to comment after the letter was made public on Tuesday.
What has Trump said about Kavanaugh?
US President Donald Trump, who reportedly did not meet Mr Kavanaugh on Tuesday, expressed sympathy for his nominee.
"I feel so badly for him that he's going through this, to be honest with you," the Republican president told a news conference. "This is not a man that deserves this."
He added: "Hopefully the woman will come forward, state her case. He will state his case before representatives of the United States Senate. And then they will vote."
Mr Trump also appeared to suggest that the controversy was being exploited by Democrats as lawmakers looked to delay the Supreme Court vote.
"The Supreme Court is one of the main reasons I got elected President. I hope Republican voters, and others, are watching, and studying, the Democrats Playbook," he tweeted.
'One of the finest people that I've ever known'
Meanwhile Mark Judge, a friend of Judge Kavanaugh who Prof Ford says witnessed the alleged incident, has said he does not want to speak publicly about the matter.
"Brett Kavanaugh and I were friends in high school but I do not recall the party described in Dr Ford's letter," he is quoted as saying in a letter from his lawyer.
What is at stake?
Republicans control the Senate by only a narrow 51-49 margin, meaning any defections could scupper the Supreme Court nomination.
That would set back President Trump's efforts to install more conservatives on the Supreme Court and broader US judiciary.
If confirmed, Judge Kavanaugh, a conservative federal appeals court judge, would be expected to tilt the court's balance further to the right.
The ugly confirmation battle could shake up the forthcoming mid-term elections.
Democrats are hoping to wrest control of Congress from Mr Trump's fellow Republicans on 6 November, dealing a serious blow to the president's efforts to install more conservatives on the Supreme Court and broader US judiciary.
North Korea agrees to shut missile site, says Moon - BBC News
Sept. 19, 2018.
North Korea agrees to shut missile site, says Moon
Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un signed what they say is 'a leap forward'
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has agreed to shut one of the country's main missile testing and launch sites, says the South's President Moon Jae-in.
After meeting in Pyongyang, the two leaders "agreed on a way to achieve denuclearisation," said Mr Moon.
The agreement was described by Mr Kim as a "leap forward" towards military peace on the peninsula.
Mr Kim also said he hoped to "visit Seoul in the near future" - he would be the first North Korean leader to do so.
Summit results: Denuclearisation
The main focus of the summit was the issue of denuclearisation. While the US and North Korea agreed in broad terms earlier this year to work towards that goal, negotiations have stalled.
Pyongyang has now sought to reconfirm its commitment.
The war that never officially ended
Mr Moon said Mr Kim had "agreed to permanently close the Tongchang-ri missile engine test site and missile launch facility" and, crucially, that this would be done "in the presence of experts from relevant nations".
Korea summit puts diplomacy back on track
The BBC's Seoul correspondent Laura Bicker said allowing independent inspectors to see the dismantling of the Tongchang-ri site was a major step forward.
She added that satellite images had suggested that Tongchang-ri was in the process of being destroyed, but that the declaration would allow inspectors to verify the process.
Tongchang-ri has been North Korea's main satellite launch facility since 2012, according to monitoring group 38 North.
It has also been used for testing engines for North Korean missiles capable of reaching the US.
Read more on North Korea's missile and nuclear programme
He said Mr Kim had also agreed to shut down the Yongbyon nuclear facility - where North Korea is believed to have produced the material used in its nuclear tests - but only if the US took some reciprocal action. The details of that were not specified.
North Korea blew up its main nuclear testing site at Punggye-ri shortly before Mr Kim's meeting with US President Donald Trump in June.
"The outcome is a big win for Moon Jae-in, who has managed to extract a series of positive headlines from Kim Jong-un related to denuclearisation," Ankit Panda, editor of The Diplomat, told the BBC.
"None of the concessions are truly costly to Kim and won't help move North Korea toward short-term disarmament, but provide a further basis for confidence building on which US-North Korea talks can move forward."
Summit results: North and South relations
The two countries also made advances on inter-Korean ties, announcing plans to link up their railways, allow more reunions for families separated by war and co-operate on health care.
Mr Moon invited the North Korean leader to Seoul, suggesting the visit should take place before the end of this year.
They will also seek to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympics.
How North Korea welcomed the South Korean leader
The South's defence minister and the head of the North Korean army also signed an agreement to reduce military tensions, establishing a buffer zone along the border to prevent accidental clashes.
The signing came mid-way through a three-day visit to Pyongyang by Mr Moon.
While it is the first trip to the North Korean capital in a decade by a leader from the South, it is Mr Moon's third meeting with Kim Jong-un since their historic summit in April.
Sanitizers, salutes and other Korea summit moments
Kim Jong-un: King of Pyongyang
Will historic Koreas summit lead to peace?
What does this mean for the US?
Efforts towards denuclearisation between the North and the US had recently hit a deadlock and this week's Pyongyang summit will bolster the South's role as a mediator.
Mr Trump was quick to tweet his applause for the Moon-Kim summit.
The US and North Korea held their own historic meeting in June when Mr Trump and Mr Kim agreed in broad terms to work towards denuclearisation.
Since then though, there's been little progress with no clear process nor timeline laid out.
The June Trump-Kim summit has so far yielded limited results
Most observers warn that so far the North has taken no meaningful steps to end its controversial nuclear weapons programme and this week's summit might not be enough to convince them otherwise.
The stories behind Korean family reunions
Imagine a North Korean family...
Six months' training for 10 minutes on parade
"For instance, the commitment to shutting down the Yongbyon complex is premised on reciprocal US measures, which raises difficulties," warns Mr Panda. "Washington will have to help move the needle here and it's unclear if the Trump administration can do that."
Mr Trump recently said that he and Mr Kim would "prove everyone wrong", after he received an invitation from the North Korean leader for a second summit. Both sides say they are working on making that meeting happen.
North Korea agrees to shut missile site, says Moon
Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un signed what they say is 'a leap forward'
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has agreed to shut one of the country's main missile testing and launch sites, says the South's President Moon Jae-in.
After meeting in Pyongyang, the two leaders "agreed on a way to achieve denuclearisation," said Mr Moon.
The agreement was described by Mr Kim as a "leap forward" towards military peace on the peninsula.
Mr Kim also said he hoped to "visit Seoul in the near future" - he would be the first North Korean leader to do so.
Summit results: Denuclearisation
The main focus of the summit was the issue of denuclearisation. While the US and North Korea agreed in broad terms earlier this year to work towards that goal, negotiations have stalled.
Pyongyang has now sought to reconfirm its commitment.
The war that never officially ended
Mr Moon said Mr Kim had "agreed to permanently close the Tongchang-ri missile engine test site and missile launch facility" and, crucially, that this would be done "in the presence of experts from relevant nations".
Korea summit puts diplomacy back on track
The BBC's Seoul correspondent Laura Bicker said allowing independent inspectors to see the dismantling of the Tongchang-ri site was a major step forward.
She added that satellite images had suggested that Tongchang-ri was in the process of being destroyed, but that the declaration would allow inspectors to verify the process.
Tongchang-ri has been North Korea's main satellite launch facility since 2012, according to monitoring group 38 North.
It has also been used for testing engines for North Korean missiles capable of reaching the US.
Read more on North Korea's missile and nuclear programme
He said Mr Kim had also agreed to shut down the Yongbyon nuclear facility - where North Korea is believed to have produced the material used in its nuclear tests - but only if the US took some reciprocal action. The details of that were not specified.
North Korea blew up its main nuclear testing site at Punggye-ri shortly before Mr Kim's meeting with US President Donald Trump in June.
"The outcome is a big win for Moon Jae-in, who has managed to extract a series of positive headlines from Kim Jong-un related to denuclearisation," Ankit Panda, editor of The Diplomat, told the BBC.
"None of the concessions are truly costly to Kim and won't help move North Korea toward short-term disarmament, but provide a further basis for confidence building on which US-North Korea talks can move forward."
Summit results: North and South relations
The two countries also made advances on inter-Korean ties, announcing plans to link up their railways, allow more reunions for families separated by war and co-operate on health care.
Mr Moon invited the North Korean leader to Seoul, suggesting the visit should take place before the end of this year.
They will also seek to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympics.
How North Korea welcomed the South Korean leader
The South's defence minister and the head of the North Korean army also signed an agreement to reduce military tensions, establishing a buffer zone along the border to prevent accidental clashes.
The signing came mid-way through a three-day visit to Pyongyang by Mr Moon.
While it is the first trip to the North Korean capital in a decade by a leader from the South, it is Mr Moon's third meeting with Kim Jong-un since their historic summit in April.
Sanitizers, salutes and other Korea summit moments
Kim Jong-un: King of Pyongyang
Will historic Koreas summit lead to peace?
What does this mean for the US?
Efforts towards denuclearisation between the North and the US had recently hit a deadlock and this week's Pyongyang summit will bolster the South's role as a mediator.
Mr Trump was quick to tweet his applause for the Moon-Kim summit.
The US and North Korea held their own historic meeting in June when Mr Trump and Mr Kim agreed in broad terms to work towards denuclearisation.
Since then though, there's been little progress with no clear process nor timeline laid out.
The June Trump-Kim summit has so far yielded limited results
Most observers warn that so far the North has taken no meaningful steps to end its controversial nuclear weapons programme and this week's summit might not be enough to convince them otherwise.
The stories behind Korean family reunions
Imagine a North Korean family...
Six months' training for 10 minutes on parade
"For instance, the commitment to shutting down the Yongbyon complex is premised on reciprocal US measures, which raises difficulties," warns Mr Panda. "Washington will have to help move the needle here and it's unclear if the Trump administration can do that."
Mr Trump recently said that he and Mr Kim would "prove everyone wrong", after he received an invitation from the North Korean leader for a second summit. Both sides say they are working on making that meeting happen.
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