memeorandum: Why it will be a tough climb to confirm anyone new to Berman's post before the November elections (CNN)

5:00 PM ET, June 20, 2020

Top Items:

Trump Fires U.S. Attorney Who Investigated His Associates — The president's move deepened a crisis over the independence of law enforcement and the president's purge of officials he views as disloyal. — Attorney William P. Barr said on Saturday that President Trump had fired …

Discussion: The Guardian, Raw Story and The Hill

The Daily Beast:

Chaos Erupts at SDNY as ‘Two Popes’ Duel for Legal Supremacy — Who's in charge? Can crucial deadlines be hit? And what happens to all those big, politically-charged cases? — A law-enforcement source with knowledge of the situation inside the Southern District of New York described …

Discussion: POLITICUSUSA and Law & Crime

Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:

A Friday night massacre that backfired — The Associated Press reports: … It is telling that we do not know which of many possible investigations may have triggered Barr's ire. There are so many to choose from. AP reports, “The move to oust Berman also comes days after allegations surfaced …

Discussion: Raw Story and New York Post

New York Times:

Barr Abruptly Seeks to Fire U.S. Attorney Who Investigated Trump Associates — But the United States attorney in Manhattan, Geoffrey Berman, who had been leading the inquiry into Rudolph Giuliani, is refusing to leave his position. — Attorney General William P. Barr on Friday night abruptly tried …

Discussion: The Hill, Fox News, Mother Jones, Bloomberg, ABC News, Vanity Fair, Politico, Raw Story, Why Evolution Is True, Gothamist, The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Caller, Daily Kos, New York Post and Axios

Wall Street Journal:

Barr Says Trump Fired Manhattan U.S. Attorney — Geoffrey Berman went into his office after rejecting claim he had resigned — Attorney General William Barr said Saturday afternoon that President Trump had fire the Manhattan U.S. attorney at his request, the latest twist in a legal showdown between …

Zoe Tillman / BuzzFeed News:

Trump Wants To Replace A Prosecutor Taking Aim At His Allies. It's Not The First Time His Sudden Removals Have Backfired. — Attorney General Bill Barr announced Trump was replacing the US attorney in Manhattan, Geoffrey Berman, who was never confirmed by the Senate. Berman is refusing to leave.

Discussion: Raw Story, The Last Refuge, The Hill, Law & Crime, The Gateway Pundit, Patterico's Pontifications, Mediaite, New York Post, The Guardian and CBS New York

CNN:

Why it will be a tough climb to confirm anyone new to Berman's post before the November elections — Can Trump fire and replace US Attorney for SDNY? — (CNN)Attorney General Bill Barr's effort to push out one of the most powerful prosecutors in the country ran into headwinds Saturday …

Discussion: KEYT-TV

Charlie Savage / New York Times:
Who Can Fire a Court-Appointed U.S. Attorney? A New Legal Fight, Explained

Discussion: Reason and The Hill

Associated Press:
US attorney who oversaw cases of Trump allies steps down

Discussion: New York Post, The Atlantic, Common Dreams, Fox News and The Last Refuge

Politico:
POLITICO Playbook: Questions for Trump on last night's SDNY chaos

Discussion: Washington Post and Political Wire

Alexander Mallin / ABC News: Bolton suggests possible ‘obstruction’ by Trump in SDNY Turkey investigation

Washington Post: Barr says at his request, Trump has removed Geoffrey Berman as U.S. attorney in Manhattan

U.S. Department of Justice:
Attorney General William P. Barr on the Nomination of Jay Clayton to Serve as U.S. Attorney …

Discussion: Redstate, Fox News, Washington Post, Daily Kos, Raw Story, The Gateway Pundit, Rolling Stone, Vox, The Hill, Justice News, JONATHAN TURLEY, Reason, The Week, Slate, TheBlaze, The Root, The Daily Beast, NPR, emptywheel, Law & Crime, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Talking Points Memo, Mediaite and Axios

Devlin Barrett / Washington Post:
Trump administration replaces Manhattan U.S. Attorney

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Washington Monthly, The Signorile Report and Liberty Unyielding

NBC News:
‘I have not resigned’: Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman fires back at Barr, who says he's leaving

Discussion: Politico, The Hill, New York Post, One America News Network, Political Wire, Talking Points Memo, Bloomberg, Outside the Beltway and Raw Story

CNN:
Powerful US attorney who investigated Trump associates refuses to step down after Barr tries to push him out

Discussion: Bloomberg

NBC News:

6 Trump campaign members in Tulsa test positive for the coronavirus ahead of rally — Six members of Trump's Tulsa advance team test positive for coronavirus — Six members of President Donald Trump's campaign staff who are in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to setup for the president's first campaign rally …

Discussion: Politico, The Daily Beast, Axios, Informed Comment, Associated Press and Breitbart

Kaelan Deese / The Hill:

Trump coronavirus ‘Death Clock’ truck enters Tulsa ahead of rally — The “Trump Death Clock” truck moved in to join the camaraderie in Tulsa, Okla., ahead of President Trump's rally there Saturday evening. — The truck displays digital statistics on three different faces of the vehicle …

Discussion: Mother Jones and WHDH-TV

Donald Judd / CNN:

Six Trump campaign staffers working on Tulsa rally test positive for coronavirus — (CNN)Six staffers working on President Donald Trump's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have tested positive for coronavirus, the Trump campaign said Saturday. — Just hours before the President is expected to arrive in the state …

Discussion: Washington Post, Vox, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Daily Caller, KEYT-TV, The Guardian and Lawyers, Guns & Money

Lauren Egan / NBC News:
Outside Trump's Tulsa rally site, few face masks and no social distancing

Discussion: The Hill, Raw Story, Lawyers, Guns & Money, DCist and MSNBC

Orion Rummler / Axios:
Six Trump campaign staffers test positive for coronavirus ahead of Tulsa rally

Discussion: The Week and The Hill

Associated Press:
Thousands headed to indoor Trump rally, raising virus fears

Discussion: Indian Country Today

New York Times:
Waiting for Trump: Hats, Flags, Little Fear of the Virus

Discussion: TheBlaze, Politico and National Review

Public Affairs / SPD Blotter:

Homicide Investigation Inside Protest Area — Homicide detectives are investigating following a fatal shooting that occurred early Saturday morning at 10th Avenue and East Pine Street. One man was declared deceased at the hospital and another male is being treated for life-threatening injuries.

Discussion: CHS Capitol Hill Seattle, New York Post, Axios, Redstate, Townhall, KEYT-TV, Associated Press, The Last Refuge, The Daily Caller, Q13 FOX News, Disrn and The Gateway Pundit

New York Times:

Live Updates on Trump Rally: 6 Campaign Workers Test Positive for Virus — The president's remarks will come a day after the Juneteenth holiday and during a period of nationwide protests and discussions over racism. — RIGHT NOW Ahead of President Trump's rally in Tulsa …

Lisa Baumann / Associated Press:

Shooting in Seattle protest zone leaves 1 dead, 1 injured — SEATTLE (AP) — One person was killed and another was in critical condition in a pre-dawn shooting in Seattle's protest zone, authorities said Saturday. — The shooting happened at about 3 a.m. in the area near downtown known as CHOP …

Discussion: Breitbart, Associated Press and MyNorthwest.com

Charlie Savage / New York Times:

Judge Rejects Trump Request for Order Blocking Bolton's Memoir — But the judge also sharply criticized the former national security adviser, suggesting his $2 million book advance may be in jeopardy. — WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Saturday ruled that John R. Bolton …

Discussion: The Wrap

Eric Tucker / Associated Press:
Judge: Bolton can publish book despite efforts to block it

Discussion: The Hill, Slate, Raw Story, One America News Network and The Week

Katelyn Polantz / CNN:
Federal judge denies Trump administration's attempt to block release of Bolton's book

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, The Week, Raw Story and POLITICUSUSA

Spencer Hsu / Washington Post:
U.S. judge declines to block release of book by former national security adviser John Bolton

Discussion: Rolling Stone and CNBC, more at Mediagazer »

Mike Memoli / NBC News:

Biden builds out his presidential transition operation — While President Donald Trump eagerly returns to the campaign trail, Joe Biden is building out a team with an eye toward governing. — Ted Kaufman, one of Biden's longest-serving advisers, has tapped a half-dozen government veterans …

Discussion: CNN and The Hill

Julie Bykowicz / Wall Street Journal: Joe Biden Topped Donald Trump in May Fundraising

Brooke Singman / Fox News:
Trump and RNC trail Biden in May fundraising, but maintain cash advantage heading into summer

Discussion: Politico, The Hill and Associated Press

Jonathan Martin / New York Times:

How the Shooting of Breonna Taylor Changed the Kentucky Senate Race — With a war chest of $40 million, Amy McGrath was considered a safe bet in the Democratic primary. But the recent movement for racial justice has elevated the candidacy of her African-American rival, Charles Booker.

Discussion: The Nation

James Queally / Los Angeles Times:

Adam Schiff drops endorsement of Jackie Lacey in L.A. County district attorney's race — U.S. Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) has withdrawn his endorsement of Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey ahead of a contentious November election where she will seek a third term in office.

Daniel Dale / CNN:

Fact check: Trump falsely claims ‘insurance reasons’ prevented him from entering St. John's Church — The day police charged a peaceful protest for Trump's photo-op — Washington (CNN)More than two weeks after his controversial photo-op outside a Washington, DC, church …

Discussion: Washington Post and Los Angeles Times