memeorandum: Avenatti indicted on 36 counts of tax dodging, perjury, theft from clients and other crimes (Michael Finnegan/Los Angeles Times)

4:50 PM ET, April 11, 2019

Top Items:

WikiLeaks Founder Charged in Computer Hacking Conspiracy — ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Julian P. Assange, 47, the founder of WikiLeaks, was arrested today in the United Kingdom pursuant to the U.S./UK Extradition Treaty, in connection with a federal charge of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion …

Kevin Poulsen / The Daily Beast:

Why Ecuador Finally Got Sick of Julian Assange and Ended His Refuge at the Embassy in London — The Justice Department is set to announce charges against the Wikileaks founder after he was dragged from Ecuador's embassy in London. — Six years, nine months and 24 days after walking …

Washington Post:

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrested by British police after being evicted from Ecuador's embassy in London — PARIS — Ecuador handed Julian Assange over to British authorities Thursday, ending a standoff that left the controversial WikiLeaks founder holed up in the Ecuadoran Embassy in London for nearly seven years.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Vanity Fair, Politico, IJR, Balloon Juice, ThinkProgress, POLITICUSUSA, National Review, New York Post and Shakesville

Mynewsdesk:

Arrest of Julian Assange — UPDATE: Julian Assange arrest. — Julian Assange, 47, (03.07.71) has today, Thursday 11 April, been further arrested on behalf of the United States authorities, at 10:53hrs after his arrival at a central London police station. This is an extradition warrant under Section 73 of the Extradition Act.

The Guardian:

Assange arrest: Trump claims to ‘know nothing about WikiLeaks’ despite past praise - live — The US president says WikiLeaks is ‘not my thing’, despite frequently applauding the organization during 2016 campaign — Donald Trump, who frequently praised WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential campaign …

Discussion: CNN, Rolling Stone, The Local, 1A, The American Conservative, WREG-TV and New York Post, more at Mediagazer »

New York Times:

Julian Assange Charged by U.S. With Conspiracy to Hack a Government Computer — WASHINGTON — The United States has charged WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with one count of conspiracy to hack a computer related to his role in the 2010 release of reams of secret American documents …

BBC:

Julian Assange: Wikileaks co-founder arrested in London — Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange has been arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. — Mr Assange took refuge in the embassy seven years ago to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault case that has since been dropped.

Discussion: The Intercept, Mynewsdesk, Shareblue Media, Outside the Beltway, Law & Crime, The Daily Caller, Washington Post, Breitbart, The Wrap, Conservative News Today, UNILAD, Patterico's Pontifications, Big League Politics, Mashable, The American Conservative and Boing Boing

Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Trump on WikiLeaks after Assange arrest: 'It's not my thing'

Discussion: Axios, USA Today and The Week

Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
Is Julian Assange's arrest a threat to press freedom or an appropriate response to hacking?

Discussion: The Guardian, The Verge and Washington Post, more at Mediagazer »

Timothy L. O'Brien / Bloomberg:
If Assange Burgled Some Computers, He Stopped Being a Journalist

Discussion: CNN, Mediaite and Salon

Nancy LeTourneau / Washington Monthly:
Assange Indictment is Good News for Both Trump and Press Freedom

Discussion: The Atlantic, Fox News and Mother Jones

Michael Finnegan / Los Angeles Times:

Avenatti indicted on 36 counts of tax dodging, perjury, theft from clients and other crimes — In a sweeping expansion of the criminal charges against Michael Avenatti, a federal grand jury has indicted the Los Angeles lawyer on 36 counts of fraud, perjury, failure to pay taxes, embezzlement and other financial crimes.

Chuck Ross / The Daily Caller:

Avenatti Allegedly Scammed Paraplegic Client Out Of $4 Million Settlement — Michael Avenatti was indicted Thursday on 36 charges of tax fraud, bribery and embezzlement, including in a case in which the embattled celebrity lawyer allegedly hid $4 million of settlement money from a mentally ill, paraplegic client.

Discussion: Trending Home and Law & Crime

Associated Press:
The Latest: Avenatti could face 335 years in prison

Discussion: Louder With Crowder

U.S. Department of Justice:
Attorney Michael Avenatti Named in Federal Grand Jury Indictment that Accuses Him of Stealing Millions …

Discussion: Politico and Quartz

Brian Melley / Associated Press:
Avenatti charged with embezzlement, fraud, cheating on taxes

Discussion: Conservative News Today

Sylvan Lane / The Hill:

Fourth GOP senator comes out against Trump Fed pick Cain — A fourth Republican senator announced Thursday that he would oppose Herman Cain if President Trump nominated him to the Federal Reserve Board, all but dooming his potential appointment. — Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a close Trump ally …

Discussion: Axios and Political Wire

Eliana Johnson / Politico:

Republicans confront Trump amid cascading controversies — As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked Republicans this week to head off problematic nominees before President Donald Trump officially picked them, the Kentucky Republican singled out Ken Cuccinelli.

Discussion: The Daily Caller and Daily Kos

Kansas City Star:
Herman Cain, Trump's prospective Fed nominee, calls Senate critics ‘a bunch of yahoos’

Discussion: Washington Monthly, New York Times, Bloomberg and Daily Kos

Bloomberg:
Herman Cain Lacks GOP Support for Fed Seat If Democratic Foes Unite

Discussion: The Week, Splinter and CNBC

Mike DeBonis / Washington Post:
Four Senate Republicans signal opposition to Trump's plan to put Herman Cain on Federal Reserve Board …

Discussion: National Review

Isaac Chotiner / New Yorker:

Bret Easton Ellis Thinks You're Overreacting to Donald Trump — “When did people start identifying so relentlessly with victims, and when did the victim's world view become the lens through which we began to look at everything?” So begins Bret Easton Ellis's take on, of all things …

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money

Polls:

Health Care, Environment Top Dem Issues — West Long Branch, NJ - Democratic voters in the Hawkeye State like Joe Biden - a lot. The former vice president leads the pack and holds the best favorability rating in a field of two dozen presidential contenders, according to the first Monmouth University Poll …

Discussion: Fox News, Axios, Saint Anselm College, Political Wire and The Guardian

Steven Shepard / Politico:
Poll: Buttigieg busts out in Iowa

Discussion: Washington Post, Bloomberg, CNN, New York Times and Splinter

Katie Galioto / Politico:
Pence knocks Buttigieg for criticizing him: ‘He knows better’

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

CNN:

Letters from Joe Biden reveal how he sought support of segregationists in fight against busing — (CNN)Joe Biden's road to a third presidential bid has been lined with a series of explanations and apologies, illustrating the challenges of preparing a long record of public service …

New York Times:

Ron Burkle, Billionaire Investor, Is Said to Be in Talks to Buy National Enquirer — The owners of The National Enquirer are in talks to sell the tabloid to the California billionaire Ronald W. Burkle, according to two people with direct knowledge of the negotiations.

Discussion: New York Post, Towleroad Gay News, The Wrap, Gizmodo and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »

Orion Rummler / Axios:

Trump tweets incorrect approval rating from Fox Business segment — President Trump tweeted a screenshot of his approval rating Thursday morning from a segment on Fox Business' “Lou Dobbs Tonight” that incorrectly presented polling numbers from Georgetown's Institute of Politics & Public Service, New York Magazine reports.

Discussion: The Wrap, Washington Post, New York Magazine, Vox, IJR and The Daily Beast

Ken Meyer / Mediaite:
Trump Spreads Fake Poll on His ‘Soaring Approval’ Aired By Fox's Lou Dobbs

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Politico and POLITICUSUSA

John Wagner / Washington Post:
Trump shares an inaccurate graphic on Twitter that overstates his job approval by 12 points

Discussion: USA Today, Opinion Today, Raw Story and Shareblue Media

Washington Post:

Gregory Craig, former Obama White House counsel, indicted for offering false statements related to Ukraine work in latest Mueller fallout — Washington attorney Gregory B. Craig, who served as White House counsel for President Barack Obama, was charged Thursday with lying to federal officials …

Discussion: Politico, CNBC, Associated Press, The Week and The Daily Beast

U.S. Department of Justice:
Washington-Based Lawyer Indicted on Charge of Making False Statements to the Department of Justice

Discussion: The Federalist, Axios and Trending Home

Aaron Lorenzo / Politico:

Pascrell suggests contempt of Congress for Mnuchin over Trump's tax returns — Rep. Bill Pascrell, an outspoken advocate of getting President Donald Trump's tax returns, lashed out today at what he considers administration stonewalling. — Congress could hold Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin …

Discussion: Raw Story

Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
Mnuchin's act of abject lawlessness

Discussion: Raw Story

Jacqueline Alemany / Washington Post:
Power Up: Trump's Washington is... exhausted

Discussion: USA Today and The Sun

Elizabeth Warren / Team Warren:

I'm proposing a big new idea: the Real Corporate Profits Tax — It's almost Tax Day, and chances are you'll be paying federal taxes this year. Maybe it's a lot, maybe it's a little. But you'll be kicking in something for our military, for medical research, for highways and bridges …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Townhall, Center for Public Integrity, Vox, Daily Kos, Common Dreams, American Prospect, Talking Points Memo, Observer and Axios

Kathryn Kranhold / NBC News:
Twice as many companies paying zero taxes under Trump tax plan

Discussion: Shareblue Media, ITEP, Shakesville, Common Dreams and The Intercept

Brandon Morse / RedState:

NY Post Was Not Playing Around With Its Take Down Of Ilhan Omar's 9/11 Comments — Many are rightfully outraged by Rep. Ilhan Omar's comments about the terrorists that attacked on 9/11 taking the lives of some 3,000 innocent people, with Omar describing it as “some people” who “did something.”

Discussion: Hot Air and New York Post

Glenn Kessler / Washington Post:
‘Some people did something’: Rep. Omar's remarks in context

Discussion: Vox, American Greatness, New York Post, twitchy.com, The Week, Contemptor, Washington Free Beacon, Breitbart and Mediaite

Benjamin Wittes / Lawfare:

Bill Barr's Low Moment — Attorney General Bill Barr's statements today on supposed “spying” by the FBI on the Trump campaign before the Senate Appropriations Committee were indefensible. They at once indecipherable and contentless, on the one hand, and incendiary, on the other hand.

Discussion: New York Times and The Week

Eli Lake / Bloomberg:
Focus on the Leaking, Not Just the Spying

Discussion: Washington Post, The Hill and Geller Report

Fox News:

Nunes sends criminal-referral notification to Barr, alleges several ‘potential violations’ in Russia probe — EXCLUSIVE: Republican Rep. Devin Nunes sent a criminal-referral notification to Attorney General William Barr on Thursday alleging several “potential violations” of the law.

Tal Axelrod / The Hill:
Gaetz introduces ‘PENCIL’ resolution to oust Schiff from House Intel

Discussion: Roll Call, Talking Points Memo, USA Today and IJR

Washington Post:

Ex-Pope Benedict contradicts Pope Francis in unusual intervention on sexual abuse — ROME — Breaking years of silence on major church affairs, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has written a lengthy letter devoted to clerical sex abuse in which he attributes the crisis to a breakdown of church …

Discussion: The Daily Caller, New York Times, Press Herald, National Review and Raw Story

Burgess Everett / Politico:

Joe Manchin endorses Susan Collins for reelection — Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin endorsed GOP Sen. Susan Collins for reelection on Thursday, in a rare rebuff of partisan politics in an increasingly polarized Senate. — The moderate West Virginia senator also offered to campaign for the vulnerable Maine incumbent.

Discussion: The Hill and IJR