1 Pentagon Authorizes One Billion Dollar Transfer To Begin Border Wall Construction
The Pentagon has reportedly told Congress that it has authorized the transfer of one-billion-dollars to begin the construction of the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. The announcement is just the first billion of a multi-billion-dollar plan, which will allocated courtesy of the national emergency President Trump declared regarding the southern border last month. Sources say this first billion dollars will go toward building 57 miles of fencing and road improvements along the border. The Trump administration plans to direct an additional one-point-five-billion in funds for the wall in the future.
2 Dems Demand Full Russia Report
Top Democrats in the House are pushing for the full report of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. They’re not entirely alone, of course – the House vote to push for the reveal was 420-0. Either way, six Dem House committee chairs have sent a letter to Attorney General Bill Barr saying his summary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe "is not sufficient for Congress." What do they want? The full, unredacted report – and they want it no later than April 2nd. To review, Barr wrote in his summary that Mueller's expansive investigation did not find that President Trump or his campaign worked with Russia in its efforts to meddle in the election. And while it was noted that Trump is not exonerated, Barr has said he won’t pursue it further. Meanwhile…the top Republican in the Senate is blocking an effort to release Mueller's report. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell objected to the resolution passed by the House, saying the A-G is working with the special counsel to determine what can be released publicly. McConnell noted that Barr has committed to releasing as much information as possible.
3 Avenatti Charged For Trying To Extort Money From Nike…And More
First, it was accusations of domestic abuse, then it was accusations of having very sticky fingers with his firm’s money. Now New York federal prosecutors are announcing extortion charges against famed attorney Michael Avenatti for threatening Nike. According to U.S. Attorney Geoff Berman, Avenatti's actions were nothing more than an "old-fashioned shakedown." Prosecutors charge that “suggested” Nike pay him to conduct an internal investigation about rumors that company employees authorized payments to the families of top high school basketball players. He allegedly said he’d remain quiet as to the truth of the matter. When he took to Twitter yesterday to say that he was about to drop a bomb on Nike…the Feds dropped in on him. But there’s more! Avenatti has also been charged in Los Angeles for embezzling money from one of his clients. Prosecutors say that he absconded with client’s money “in order to pay his own expenses and debts” and those of his law firm and coffee company, and of “defrauding a bank in Mississippi.” If convicted in both cases, Avenatti faces 100 years in prison in addition to losing his license to practice law. For his part, Avenatti is confident that he’ll be “fully exonerated.” “For the entirety of my career, I have fought against the powerful — powerful people and powerful corporations,” Avenatti told reporters. “I will never stop fighting that good fight.”