memeorandum: No, This Is Not A Pete Buttigieg Campaign Sockpuppet Account (Jane Lytvynenko/BuzzFeed News)

4:50 PM ET, February 16, 2020

Top Items:

Katie Benner / New York Times:

Former Justice Dept. Lawyers Press for Barr to Step Down — More than 1,100 former prosecutors and officials who served in Republican and Democratic administrations signed an open letter condemning the president and the attorney general over the Stone case.

Discussion: Redstate, NBC News, The Guardian, Raw Story and POLITICUSUSA

DOJ Alumni Statement / Medium:

DOJ Alumni Statement on the Events Surrounding the Sentencing of Roger Stone — We, the undersigned, are alumni of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) who have collectively served both Republican and Democratic administrations. Each of us strongly condemns President Trump's …

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, Vox, Politico, The Daily Caller, CNN, Axios, Mother Jones, Law & Crime, Rolling Stone, HuffPost, Slate, The Guardian, The Hill, Common Dreams, WBUR and Washington Post

Joyce White Vance / TIME:

If William Barr Truly Believed in Rule of Law, He Would Resign — Vance is distinguished professor of the practice of law at the University of Alabama, a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama and an NBC News and MSNBC legal analyst. — “Nothing could be more destructive …

Discussion: Raw Story

Jacob Knutson / Axios:

Over 1,100 former DOJ officials call for Barr's resignation — More than 1,100 former Justice Department officials have signed onto a statement condemning Attorney General Bill Barr's intervention in the sentencing of President Trump's associate Roger Stone, arguing that his actions “require” him to resign.

Discussion: Politico and The Hill

George Conway / Washington Post:
There is no one to stop Trump now

Discussion: Raw Story, Althouse and New York Times

Devlin Barrett / Washington Post:
More than 1,100 ex-Justice Department officials call for Barr's resignation

Discussion: Twitchy and Raw Story

Evan Semones / Politico:

Biden admits South Carolina may be make-or-break for campaign — But the former vice president says it is too early to count him out. — Former Vice President Joe Biden. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden suggested on Sunday that winning South Carolina's primary …

Discussion: Associated Press, The Week, Breitbart and The Hill

Axios: How Joe Biden's free fall puts Bernie in command

Garrett Haake / NBC News:
Klobuchar declines to set expectations for New Hampshire

Discussion: The Hill and Fox News

Trevor Hunnicutt / Reuters:
Sanders says presidential rival Bloomberg will not excite voters

Discussion: Axios, The Hill and Fox News

Washington Post:

Trump's soft touch with China's Xi worries advisers who say more is needed to combat coronavirus outbreak — President Trump has lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for his handling of the growing coronavirus outbreak — a posture some in his administration are growing increasingly uncomfortable …

Yanan Wang / Associated Press: Xi's early involvement in virus outbreak raises questions

Amy Qin / New York Times:
China's Leader, Under Fire, Says He Led Coronavirus Fight Early On

Discussion: The Week and Bloomberg

Jane Lytvynenko / BuzzFeed News:

No, This Is Not A Pete Buttigieg Campaign Sockpuppet Account — The man who runs the @easychinedu account — widely accused of being a sockpuppet for a Mayor Pete Buttigieg staffer — told BuzzFeed News that he is a genuine supporter and has nothing to do with the South Bend mayor's campaign.

Philip Rucker / Washington Post:

‘Something has to be done’: Trump's quest to rewrite history of the Russia probe — The U.S. intelligence community long ago produced evidence of Russia's illegal interference in the 2016 presidential election to try to boost Donald Trump's candidacy. Then the special counsel investigating …

Andrew C. McCarthy / National Review:
Why Wasn't Andrew McCabe Charged?

Discussion: The Daily Caller

Houston Chronicle:

We recommend Amy Klobuchar in Democratic primary for president [Editorial] — It's difficult to watch even now — that graceless moment during Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation when he cracked under pressure, shattering the fine shell of judicial temperament and hurling contempt at a senator across the room.

Laura Barrón-López / Politico:

‘A complete disaster’: Fears grow over potential Nevada caucus malfunction — Anxiety is rising over the possibility of another tech-induced meltdown at the Nevada Democratic caucuses on Saturday. — In interviews, three caucus volunteers described serious concerns about rushed preparations …

Discussion: The Nevada Independent

CNN:

The US is finally evacuating Americans from the Diamond Princess. Here's why that's made them mad — (CNN)The US plan to evacuate Americans and their families from the Diamond Princess cruise ship appears, on its face, to be the case of a powerful government coming to the aid of its most vulnerable citizens.

Discussion: UPI and New York Post

Zach Everson / NBC News:

Trump's Secret Service hotel racket is hiding in plain sight. And he's getting away with it. — A complete accounting of how much taxpayers have forked over to the Trump Organization since its CEO's election is as likely as a Trump pardon for Michael Cohen.

Discussion: Washington Post

Dallas Morning News:

We won't recommend a candidate for president in 2020 and here's why — The Dallas Morning News will recommend policy ideas to help prompt much-needed civil discourse to guide our leaders. … If asked to identify one thing that has made this country unique and a model for the world …

Allan Smith / NBC News:

Buttigieg hits back: I won't ‘take lectures on family values’ from Rush Limbaugh — Limbaugh suggested Americans wouldn't elect Buttigieg because he is gay, saying, “How's this going to look ... on stage next to Mr. Man Donald Trump?” — Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg …

Discussion: Vox, HuffPost, Politico, Associated Press and The Hill

Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:

Democrats Plan to Highlight Health Care and Jobs Over Investigating Trump — With impeachment behind them and an eye on November, Democrats appear to have decided that focusing on President Trump's norm-shattering words and deeds only elevates him. — WASHINGTON — House Democrats …

Natasha Korecki / Politico:

Bloomberg in 2013: Civil libertarians and teachers union are like NRA ‘extremists’ — Michael Bloomberg has made it his late life's mission to take on the National Rifle Association, calling the organization “shameful,” “dangerous” and extreme. — The problem now that he's seeking the Democratic nomination?

Discussion: The Hill

Philip V. McHarris / Washington Post:
Should Mike Bloomberg's stop-and-frisk record disqualify him?

Discussion: CNN, Outside the Beltway and Vox

CNN:

Mike Bloomberg in 2010 called Obamacare legislation ‘a disgrace’ and 'another program that's going to cost a lot of money' — (CNN)Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg said the final Obamacare bill would do “absolutely nothing to fix the big health care problems” and also called the program …

Kevin Freking / Associated Press:

Trump taking in Daytona 500 before heading West — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump will give the command for drivers at the Daytona 500 to start their engines Sunday as he looks to win over NASCAR fans. And he will soon be off and running as well with a Western state swing …

Discussion: Politico, Washington Post and Breitbart