Rep. Cummings Plans More Oversight Of Trump
Democrats in U.S. Congress take aim at Trump with multiple probes. Reuters: "In addition to Special Counsel Robert Mueller and other federal prosecutors, several U.S. congressional committees are pursuing investigations focusing on President Donald Trump, looking at questions regarding Russia’s role in the 2016 presidential election as well as the Republican president’s finances. Democrats took control of the House of Representatives in January, giving them new investigatory powers including the ability to issue subpoenas. Republicans control the Senate. Mueller is due to submit to U.S. Attorney General William Barr a report on his investigation into whether Trump’s campaign conspired with Russia and whether the president unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe. Mueller’s findings and those of the congressional committees may influence whether Congress seeks to impeach Trump and remove him from office."
Dems Fight To Present United Front
House Democrats explode in recriminations as liberals lash out at moderates. WaPo: "House Democrats exploded in recriminations Thursday over moderates bucking the party, with liberal Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez threatening to put those voting with Republicans “on a list” for a primary challenge. In a closed-door session, a frustrated Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) lashed out at about two dozen moderates and pressured them to get on board. “We are either a team or we’re not, and we have to make that decision,” Pelosi said, according to two people present but not authorized to discuss the remarks publicly. But Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), the unquestioned media superstar of the freshman class, upped the ante, admonishing the moderates and indicating she would help liberal activists unseat them in the 2020 election. Corbin Trent, a spokesman for Ocasio-Cortez, said she told her colleagues that Democrats who side with Republicans “are putting themselves on a list.” “She said that when activists ask her why she had to vote for a gun safety bill that also further empowers an agency that forcibly injects kids with psychotropic drugs, they’re going to want a list of names and she’s going to give it to them,” Trent said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement."
Number Of Detained Infants Rises
Immigration groups file complaint over ‘alarming increase’ in detained infants at Texas center. ThinkProgress: "At least nine infants under one year of age are being detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center (STFRC) in Dilley, Texas, according to a complaint filed Thursday by the American Immigration Council, American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the Catholic Immigration Network. One of the infants has been detained for over 20 days. The groups allege that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is unable adequately care for non-citizen minors in its custody and call for the immediate release of the infants and their mothers. The complaint was filed with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and Office of the Inspector General. “We have grave concerns about the lack of specialized medical care available in Dilley for this vulnerable population,” the complaint states. “Advocacy groups have long documented the limited access to adequate medical care in family detention centers including the STFRC. Concerns include lengthy delays in receiving medical attention and lack of appropriate follow-up treatment.”
More from OurFuture.org:
Activists Ask Candidates Where They Stand on Good Jobs, Sustainable Growth and Economic Justice. Roger Hickey: "Suddenly Americans are debating big ideas that used to be off the table. New ways to raise taxes on the rich and big corporations have been proposed by candidates Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders. A Medicare-style public health system to expand coverage and cut costs has the support of millions and many Presidential candidates – even as we defend Obamacare. The Green New Deal has been swept onto the national debate by the dynamic grass-roots Sunrise Movement and by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and colleagues in Congress. With new urgency, sponsors call for massive public investment to retool our economy to stop global warming and create the next generation of good jobs. Who knows? Some of the best candidates may cancel each other out. Even if the eventual nominee ends up being the most conventional Democrat in the race, all progressives will work hard to get rid of Trump. And after that we will unite to organize to push the new President – and a larger Congressional majority – to fight for a plan for economic transformation. This Agenda will not go away, no matter who wins the elections. Because the growing number of Americans see themselves as enlisting for a long-term movement for change – not just for the next campaign."
