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TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-WITNESS-THE LATEST
The Latest: Diplomat describes Trump ‘investigations’ call
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was talking so loudly that Ambassador Gordon Sondland had to hold the phone from his ear, which allowed others at a restaurant in Kyiv to overhear a conversation about “investigations” that’s now part of the impeachment inquiry.
That’s according to a person familiar with testimony under way in a closed-door briefing at the Capitol. The person was unauthorized to discuss the proceeding and granted anonymity.
Investigators were interviewing David Holmes, the political counselor at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv, Friday in the impeachment inquiry.
Holmes confirmed he overheard the call at the restaurant, the person says.
The impeachment inquiry centers on Trump’s push for Ukraine to investigate rivals while the administration was withholding military aid to the East European ally.
— Lisa Mascaro
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TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-THE LATEST
The Latest: Barr: Democrats drowning agencies with subpoenas
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr says congressional Democrats are drowning government agencies with an “avalanche of subpoenas” in order to “incapacitate” the executive branch.
Barr spoke Friday at the Federalist Society’s dinner in Washington. His comments came as Congress held a second public hearing in the House impeachment inquiry.
Barr says the “cost of this constant harassment is real.”
The attorney general also took a swipe at liberals who label themselves as part of “the resistance.” He said they “essentially see themselves engaged in a war to cripple by any means necessary.”
He also accused liberal lawmakers of being “engaged in a systematic shredding of norms and undermining of the rule of law.”
CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING-THE LATEST
The Latest: Southern California school shooter dies
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) — A 16-year-old boy who shot five fellow students — killing two — before turning the gun on himself at a Southern California high school has died.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department says Nathaniel Tennosuke Berhow died at about 3:30 p.m. Friday at a hospital with his mother present.
Authorities say Berhow pulled a gun from his backpack Thursday at Saugus High School in the Los Angeles suburb of Santa Clarita, shot five students at random and then shot himself in the head. It was his 16th birthday.
The shooting, captured on security video, took 16 seconds and investigators say they still don’t have a motive.
The attack killed 15-year-old Gracie Muehlberger and 14-year-old Dominic Blackwell. Two girls remain hospitalized but are expected to be released this weekend.
AP-US-ROGER-STONE-TRIAL-THE-LATEST
The Latest: Stone convicted in 7 count indictment
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is reacting to news that his longtime friend and confidant Roger Stone was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering.
The president tweeted Friday, just minutes after the jury handed down its verdict in federal court in Washington.
He called Stone’s conviction “a double standard like never seen before in the history of our Country,” because his frequent nemeses, including Hillary Clinton, former FBI Director James Comey and “including even Mueller himself,” have not been convicted.
“Didn’t they lie?,” Trump’s tweet said.
Stone was convicted on a seven-count indictment brought as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election tampering.
Prosecutors alleged he lied to lawmakers about WikiLeaks, tampered with witnesses and obstructed a House intelligence committee probe.
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TRUMP-UKRAINE CALL
Rough transcript of first Trump-Zelenskiy call released
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump released the summary transcript of an April congratulatory call with Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday.
It is the latest salvo in the White House struggle to blunt Democrats’ contention that Trump abused the power of the presidency.
The focus of the Democratic-led House impeachment inquiry has been on another call between Trump and Zelenskiy that was made on July 25.
In that call, Trump asked Ukraine’s president to do him “a favor” and look into the actions of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son.
The memo recaps the short April call in which Trump congratulates Zelenskiy on his election. There is no mention of Biden or corruption, but Trump does note that he once hosted the Miss Universe contest in Ukraine.
JEFFREY EPSTEIN
AP sources: Epstein jail guards had been offered plea deal
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors offered a plea deal to two correctional officers responsible for guarding Jeffrey Epstein on the night of his death, but the officers have declined the offer.
That’s according to people familiar with the matter.
The existence of the plea offer signals the Justice Department is considering criminal charges in connection with the wealthy financier’s death at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York in August. The city’s medical examiner ruled Epstein's death a suicide.
The people familiar with the matter spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to publicly discuss the investigation.
TRUMP-G-7-DORAL
Email shows Trump’s property not among original G-7 sites
WASHINGTON (AP) — A newly released email shows President Donald Trump’s golf resort near Miami was not among the original sites to be considered to host a major international summit next year.
Trump had claimed in August that his Trump National Doral had emerged as a top contender for the Group of Seven summit after Secret Service and other officials visited various locations. But an internal Secret Service email obtained and released Friday by the government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington shows otherwise.
According to the email dated July 12, agents were told to add Trump’s resort after they had whittled a list of sites to four finalists.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Secret Service declined comment.
BROWNS-GARRETT SUSPENDED
Browns’ Garrett suspended for rest of season by NFL
CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has been suspended for at least the rest of the regular season and postseason by the NFL for swinging a helmet and striking Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head.
Garrett’s violent outburst in the final seconds of Thursday’s nationally televised game against the Steelers landed him the longest suspension for a single on-field infraction in league history. Tennessee’s Albert Haynesworth was suspended five games in 2006.
Garrett ripped off Rudolph’s helmet and clobbered him on top of the head, triggering a brawl between the rivals.
Steelers center Maurkic Pouncey was suspended three games for punching and kicking Garrett, and Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi was suspended for one game. He shoved Rudolph to the ground from behind during the melee.
The league said Garrett will have to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell before his reinstatement is considered.
The Steelers and Browns were also fined $250,000 each.
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BOLIVIA-PROTESTS-THE LATEST
The Latest: Bolivia hospital director: 5 killed in clashes
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — A Bolivian hospital director says five people have been killed and at least 75 injured in a clash between pro-Evo Morales protesters and soldiers and police in the central town of Sacaba.
Guadalberto Lara, the director of the Mexico hospital in Sacaba, said Friday that most of the people who were killed were hit by gunfire.
Lara, a 65-year-old doctor, told The Associated Press by telephone that it is the worst case of violence that he has seen in his 30-year career.
Thousands of largely indigenous protesters had gathered peacefully in Sacaba in the morning. But fighting began when many tried to cross a military checkpoint near the city of Cochabamba, where Morales’ supporters and foes have clashed for weeks.
Morales resigned on Sunday following a disputed election that sparked massive demonstrations against him alleged vote fraud.
TRUMP-PARDON
Trump intervenes in military justice cases, grants pardons
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has issued a full pardon for a former U.S. Army commando being charged with murder, undermining military justice proceedings.
A court-martial for Maj. Mathew Golsteyn had been scheduled for December at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, but was postponed until February.
The former Green Beret is accused of killing a suspected bomb-maker while deployed in Afghanistan. Golsteyn has argued that the Afghan was a legal target because of his behavior at the time of the shooting.
The case attracted Trump’s attention. He tweeted that Golsteyn is a “U.S. Military hero” who could face the death penalty “from our own government.”
Trump also issued a full pardon late Friday for Army 1st Lt. Clint Lorance and ordered a promotion for Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Edward R. Gallagher.
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