memeorandum: Lev Parnas Paid His Way Into Donald Trump's Orbit (Wall Street Journal)

11:30 PM ET, January 19, 2020

Top Items:

AP sources: Security probe targets Trump's Russia adviser — WASHINGTON (AP) — A White House adviser on Europe and Russia issues has been placed on administrative leave pending a security-related investigation, two people with knowledge of his exit said Sunday.

Discussion: POLITICUSUSA and Washington Post

NBC News:

White House's top Russia official put on leave pending investigation — It's another jolt of uncertainty to an office in the White House that has seen significant turnover during the past year. — The top White House official responsible for Russia and Europe has been put …

Discussion: CNN, The Daily Caller, New York Post and Axios

John Bresnahan / Politico:

Schiff says NSA, CIA withholding Ukraine info due to White House pressure — “The intelligence community is beginning to withhold documents from Congress on the issue of Ukraine,” he said. — House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff. Zach Gibson/Getty Images

Discussion: Washington Post, Daily Kos, KTLA, The Hill and NBC News

Anne Gearan / Washington Post:

Top National Security Council official placed on leave pending security investigation — The top White House official responsible for Russia and Europe policy was placed on leave last week pending a security investigation, U.S. officials said Sunday. — Andrew Peek is a former State Department official …

Axios:
Trump to decide in coming days on when to release Middle East peace plan

Discussion: Raw Story

Axios: Trump legal team to argue calling new witnesses could compromise national security

Wall Street Journal: How Trump Has Kept Near-Unanimous GOP Support Through Impeachment

John Hinderaker / Power Line:
Tigers at the White House

Discussion: americandigest.org, Breitbart and The Gateway Pundit

New York Times:

Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren — THE DEMOCRATS' BEST CHOICES FOR PRESIDENT — American voters must choose between three sharply divergent visions of the future. — The incumbent president, Donald Trump, is clear about where he is guiding the Republican Party …

Discussion: Axios, Sara A. Carter and Lawyers, Guns & Money

Lisa Lerer / New York Times:

New York Times Editorial Board Endorses Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren — The New York Times editorial board endorsed the two leading female candidates for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination on Sunday, throwing its support behind Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

Discussion: Slate

Quad-City / Quad City Times:
Klobuchar is the one — Amy Klobuchar earned our endorsement.

Discussion: Washington Post and HuffPost

Astead W. Herndon / New York Times:

The Big Ask of Black Voters: Trust the Government — Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg are trying to woo older black voters with policy. Those policies may be why they're struggling to win their support. — DANVILLE, VA. — Ten minutes into a small community meeting …

Discussion: Bloomberg

Kurt Bardella / NBC News:

Trump's MAGA supporters and Twitter Bernie Bros have this ugly tactic in common — Bernie Twitter operates under the self-righteous guise of being the true progressives of the internet. But their harassing tactics are anything but progressive. — On the morning after Tuesday's Democratic …

Discussion: Associated Press and Daily Kos

Eliza Collins / Wall Street Journal: Sanders Lands Key Endorsement of Progressive Rep. Pramila Jayapal

Alex Thompson / Politico:
Warren joins Bernie in jabbing Biden on Social Security

Discussion: Washington Post, CNN and New York Times

Washington Post:
Rep. Jayapal, a leading liberal congresswoman, endorses Sanders for president

Discussion: CNN, Common Dreams, HuffPost, Associated Press, The Guardian, The Hill and Des Moines Register

Ryan Saavedra / The Daily Wire:

McConnell Creates ‘Kill Switch’ To End Impeachment If It Becomes ‘Circus Run By Adam Schiff’ — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has reportedly created a “kill switch” for President Donald Trump's upcoming Senate impeachment trial that would allow for the president's legal team …

Discussion: Fox News, The Gateway Pundit and The Federalist

Adia Robinson / ABC News:
As Democrats push for witnesses in Senate trial, Alan Dershowitz slams impeachment case

Discussion: HuffPost, Talking Points Memo, PJ Media Home, The Hill, Vox, Law & Crime, Bloomberg, Mother Jones, New York Post, Washington Times, Slate, Mediaite and Breitbart

Matthew Boyle / Breitbart:
The Impeachment ‘Kill Switch’: McConnell Dismissal Rule Corners Democrats, Blocks Antics as Trial Commences

Discussion: Axios, No More Mister Nice Blog, Politico and The Hill

Washington Post: When McConnell speaks, Trump listens. Impeachment trial will test the unlikely bond.

Wall Street Journal:

Lev Parnas Paid His Way Into Donald Trump's Orbit — Ukrainian-American with reputation for quick access to financing made inroads at White House, won GOP allies while his business ventures soured — After Donald Trump's election, Lev Parnas saw a chance to cash in on his connections.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, emptywheel and CNN

Mike Lillis / The Hill:
House Democrats may call new impeachment witnesses if Senate doesn't

Discussion: Washington Monthly, The Week, The Mahablog and Axios

Chandelis Duster / CNN: Senate Democrat says ‘fine’ if Hunter Biden were to testify in impeachment trial

George Conway / Washington Post:

Why Trump had to hire this legal odd couple — This is what happens when you don't pay your legal bills. — President Trump, whose businesses and now campaign have left a long trail of unpaid bills behind them, has never discriminated when it comes to stiffing people who work for him.

Discussion: Digby's Hullabaloo, Mediaite, Raw Story and Slate

Laurence Tribe / Washington Post:

Trump's lawyers shouldn't be allowed to use bogus legal arguments on impeachment — Laurence H. Tribe is the Carl M. Loeb University Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard and the co-author, most recently, of “To End a Presidency: The Power of Impeachment.” His Twitter handle is @tribelaw.

Discussion: HuffPost, Raw Story, Politico and ABC News

Jacob Knutson / Axios: Dershowitz claims abuse of power is not an impeachable offense even if proven

KHNL:

Suspect fatally shot 2 Honolulu officers, set fire that destroyed several homes: Sources — HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Two police officers were fatally shot Sunday, a third was injured and at least four homes in an affluent Diamond Head neighborhood were destroyed by fire …

Discussion: CNN, WIBW-TV, fox8.com, Breitbart, Big League Politics, FOX2now.com, Raw Story, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, The Gateway Pundit, The Independent, Townhall, Fox News, New York Post and The Hill

Lois Beckett / The Guardian:

Virginia gun rally: anti-fascist activists will not mount counter-protest — Anti-fascist activists will not mount a counter-protest at a gun rights rally at Virginia's state capitol on Monday that is expected to attract thousands, including white supremacists and anti-government militia groups.

Discussion: VICE and Washington Post

Robert Evans / bellingcat: Richmond Gun Rally: Is A Virginia Cop Giving 4Chan's /pol Board Inside Info?

Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:

Even C-SPAN Is Piqued: Senate Puts Limits on Trial Coverage — The Senate will control the cameras during the impeachment trial, limiting what viewers see, and reporters will be confined to roped-off areas. — News coverage of President Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate began last week …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »

Rebecca Mansour / Breitbart:

‘Profiles in Corruption’ Contains 1,126 Endnotes, No Unnamed Sources — The forthcoming bombshell investigative book Profiles in Corruption: Abuse of Power by America's Progressive Elite contains 1,126 endnotes totaling 83 pages of source material, Breitbart News has learned.

New York Times:

How U.S. Firms Helped Africa's Richest Woman Exploit Her Country's Wealth — LISBON — It was the party to be seen at during the Cannes Film Festival, where being seen was the whole point. A Swiss jewelry company had rented out the opulent Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, drawing celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio …

Discussion: Quartz

David French / The French Press:

‘And No One Will Make Them Afraid’ — If you're a regular reader of the Sunday edition, you know that I've focused my analysis and commentary on America's Christian community. I'm a Christian, a lifelong Evangelical, and it's the community and culture I know best.