NEW YORK — A judge ordered the release from prison of President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer on Thursday, saying he believes the government retaliated against him for writing a book about Trump. Michael Cohen's First Amendment rights were violated when he was ordered back to prison on July 9...
GOP Revolts on New COVID Spending as Aid Expiration Nears
WASHINGTON — In a shift, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was preparing Wednesday to roll out a “handful” of COVID-19 aid bills instead of a single package as Republicans revolt and split from the White House over priorities, according to a top lawmaker involved in the negotiations. "I think what the leader...
Trump's New Immigration Fight: How to Redraw House Districts
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a memorandum Tuesday that seeks to bar people in the U.S. illegally from being included in the headcount as congressional districts are redrawn, a move that drew immediate criticism and promises of court challenges on constitutional grounds. Trump said including them in the count...
Storm Clouds Hang Over Trump's Attempted Campaign Reboot
MIAMI — Friday was supposed to be the day President Donald Trump's campaign reboot itself got a reboot. Instead, it hit another snag. Amid uncertainty over whether he can still draw big and enthusiastic crowds to his signature rallies in the coronavirus era, Trump postponed a planned Saturday rally in...
Trump Aims to Bar Counting Those in US Illegally From Congressional Calculation
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a memorandum Tuesday that seeks to bar people in the U.S. illegally from being counted in congressional reapportionment, a move that drew immediate criticism and promises of court challenges on constitutional grounds. Trump said that including people who are in the country illegally in...
Trump Says Virus in US Will Get Worse Before It Gets Better
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump sought to paint a rosier picture of the coronavirus for the nation Tuesday but conceded the pandemic is likely to get worse for a time as he revived his daily briefings with an eye to halting a campaign-season erosion of support as new cases spike...
Trump Dons a Mask and Says It’s Patriotic
Donald Trump has yet to explain why he abandoned his personal practice of not wearing a face mask, but now that he has, the president wants everyone to know it. Monday, Trump tweeted a black-and-white image of himself with a mask on that likely was taken July 11 during his...
Trump, Statehood, Police Funding Fight Boost DC Mayor's Profile
WASHINGTON — Muriel Bowser’s national profile had never been higher, thanks to a Twitter beef with President Donald Trump and a renewed push to turn the nation's capital into the 51st state. Now Washington's mayor must pull off a public juggling act as the city budget becomes a battleground for the country's debate on overhauling...
Asylum Rules Test Trump's Legal Skills to Make New Policy
SAN DIEGO — Critics of the Trump administration's most sweeping set of rules to restrict asylum in the United States sent in a deluge of comments opposing the effort, hoping an old law that serves as a check on presidential power will weaken or even doom it. Opponents submitted nearly...
Biden's Bid Touts Faith, Courts Even Religious Conservatives
President Donald Trump’s appeal to religious conservatives is a cornerstone of his political identity. But Joe Biden is a different kind of foe than Trump has faced before: one who makes faith a central part of his persona — often literally wearing it on his sleeve. In fact, Biden’s practice...