Trump controversies swirl by Pence

Thursday, May 18, 2017V22, N36

tutional no man’s land. It shifted into higher gear Wednes-day with the Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s hiring of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel for the Russia/Trump campaign probe. And it has raised the specter of a potential Trump impeachment and the potential of a Pence presidency. OnWednesday,PencefiledFECpaperworkforthecreationofanewleadershipPAC. SinceTrumpfiredFBIDirectorJamesComeyon

“There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump. Swear to God.” - House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, in a conver- sation recorded in June 2016. House Speaker Paul Ryan ordered the remarks kept secret.

Trump controversies swirl by Pence

Freelancing Trump in ‘downwardspiral’ as Pence stays positioned By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS–Letmemakeonethingperfectlyclear:VicePresidentMikePencearduouslystickstohighlyscripted,time-tested,narrowtalkingpoints.AndPresidentTrump? Not so much. Sad! Thispastweek,we’vewitnessedahoneymoonlessWhite House teetering somewhere in a legal and consti-

Trump Jr. reminds GOPBy TONY SAMUEL INDIANAPOLIS–WhatahugeweekfortheStateGOP and especially for original Trump supporters in Indi-ana.HavingaTrumpinthestatesixmonthstothenightofbeingfirstontheboardtoelectDonaldJ.Trumppresi-

dent,andoneyeartotheweekof winning the critical Indiana primary, was a big-league way to cap off a great year. The 20-point general electionvictoryfollowedbutalsoovershadowsIndiana’sprimarywin when candidate Trump won all nine congressional districts, thus collecting all 57 Indiana delegatesandknockingouthislast two opponents. Remember the surprise withdrawal by Sen.

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TedCruzthatnightfollowedbyGov.Kasichthenextday?Backthen,DonaldTrumpJr.wasinthestateinApril,stumpingforhisDad.Havinghimbackwasacoolreminderofhowimportant Indiana was for the Trump nomination. That May 3 primary win, at a time when pundits could only focus onwhatwouldkeepDonaldTrumpfrom the nomination, propelled him onaclearpathtowelloverthe1,237delegatesneededwithouthavingtoworry about any further competition. DonJr.acknowledgeditinhisspeechbeforeover1,000loyalists,sayingthatit all started in Indiana. Kudos to Kyle Hupfer, do-ingaterrificjobinhisnewroleasstatechairman,foraskingDonJr.toheadlinethefirststateGOP dinner under new leadership. I am especially pleased that Republicans inIndianahaveunifiedaround our president. Hopefully it stays that way after the latest round of unsubstanti-ated stories coming out of the Washington Post and NewYorkTimesandpurehypocrisy coming from national democrats follow-ingJamesComey’sfiring.Not to digress, but it is funnyhowComey’sfiringcompletely confused Hill-ary’scomebackaftershehad again blamed him for her loss. I don’tthinkwe’veheardfrom her since – what can she say now? And why are stories with unnamed sources,thatareeasilydebunked,soquicktobecomethelatestbombshellsfrom the unglued media? A mob mentalityhasnowtakenoverthena-tional media and national democrats. Remember that none of the people thatwearehearingfromhaveevenseentheComeymemo.Butbackto that dinner in and about Indiana, whereheadsaremorelevel. For true Trumpers, it was greatnotjusttohaveDonJr.intownbutalsotohavetheIndianaTrump

statechairRexEarlyintroducethenation’sfirstson.Aftermorethanayearofcampaigningandtravelingthestatewithhim,IknewthatRexwashonored,excitedandnervoustobeon that stage and again in the spot-light.Ofcoursehecamethroughlikea true Marine and added some humor whensharinghowDonJr.tooktimeoutfromhuntingforvotestodosometurkeyhuntingwhileinIndianalastspring,apassionsharedbyRex. The reminder of all of the hardworkandhowrewardingthepayoff has been was followed by a call tostayvigilantandcontinuetheeffortin2018towinbacktheSenateseatheldbyJoeDonnelly,“Myfatherwillneedthatvote,”saidDonJr. Another reminder from the

primarycamewhenDonJr.men-

tioned Bob Knight’s support and that hewantstokeephelping.CandidateTrumpheldsevenralliesinthelast13daysbeforethatprimarywin,notjustwith Bob Knight but also with Gene Keady,DiggerPhelpsandLouHoltzviaavideoendorsementshownattheSouthBendrally,provingTrumpwasaunifier,notadivider.HeunitedIndiana sports fans. April,2016,wassignificantfor another reason. On April 20, the dayafterTrumphaddevastatedhis

Donald Trump Jr. gets a hug from Rex Early at the Indiana GOP Spring Dinner. Early chaired the presidents 2016 Indiana campaign. (HPI Photo by Tony Samuel)

opponentsintheNewYorkprimary,hemadehisfirstcampaignvisittoIndiana,holdingthefirstofthetwostatefairgroundrallies.HemadeastopattheGovernor’sResidenceforhisfirstmeetingwiththenGov.MikePencewhichwentextremelywellandwastheactualbeginningof a great partnership that was cemented again in Indiana onJuly12and13.Onthosedates,Gov.PencehadthegoodfortuneofaflattiretotheTrumpplaneafterarallyinWestfield,followingafundraisingeventattheColumbiaClub. That flat tire led to an unscheduled dinner meet-ingatadowntownrestaurantattendedbyDonaldandEricTrumpandGov.PenceandFirstLadyKarenPence,andthenahastilyscheduledmorningbreakfastmeetingwithDonJr.andIvankaflyingintoparticipate.

The rest is history, but much of this story is forgot-tenbecauseofthedizzyingpaceofeventsthatfollowed,includingtheRepublicanConventioninCleveland,theracetothefinishonNov.8,thetransitionandnowfourmonthsintothefirstterm. ItwasgreattohaveDonaldTrumpJr.backinIndianawithapositivemessageandasareminderoftheeventsthatoccurredbeforeandafterthatMay3primary.IncrediblethingshavehappenedforIndianaandfromIndiana for this Trump presidency, and they will continue. vSamuel is president of Samuel Solutions in India-napolis and was vice chair of the Indiana Trump campaign in 2016.

Trump/Pence, from page 1

May9,we’vewitnessedhimundercuthisdefenders,in-cludingPence,acknowledgingtoNBC’sLesterHoltaweekago,“IwasgoingtofireComey,mydecision.Thereisnogoodtimetodoit;bytheway,Iwasgoingtofireregard-lessofrecommendation.” ThatcameafterPencesaidonMay9,“Letmebeveryclearthatthepresident’sdecisiontoaccepttherec-ommendation of the deputy attorney general and the attorneygeneraltoremoveDirectorComeyastheheadof the FBI was based solely andexclusivelyonhiscom-mitment to the best interests of the American people and to ensuring that the FBI has thetrustandconfidenceofthepeoplethisnation.”Po-liticoreported,“Penceknewthis wasn’t about Rosenstein writing a memo, the president seeing it and suddenly decidingtofireComey,”saidthisperson.“Heknowsbetterthanthat.” We’velearnedthatTrumppressedComeyforhis“loyalty”inFebruaryandthenaskedhimtoterminatetheFBIinvestigationofformerNationalSecurityAdviserMichaelFlynn,whohadliedtoPencelastJanuary,some-thingthatthevicepresidentwasn’tinformedofforabouttwoweeks.TheseactionshaveconjuredtheNixonianeraphrase“obstructionofjustice.” It’s insightful when the legendary White House utilityinfielder,DavidGergen,whoworkedforbothim-peachablePresidentsNixonandClinton,picksupthenarrativetellingCNN,“IwasintheNixonadministration,asyouknow,andIthoughtafterwatchingtheClintonim-peachmentI’dneverseeanotherone,butIthinkwe’rein

impeachmentterritorynowforthefirsttime.”Orthe2000Republicanpresidentialnominee,U.S.Sen.JohnMcCain,who described the emerging Trumpian scandals as reach-ing“Watergatesizeandscale.” AndRepublicanU.S.Sen.BobCorkersaidtheTrumpWhiteHousewasina“downwardspiral.” NewYorkTimesreporterCharlieSavageaskedthequestion,whatisobstructionofjustice?Severalfederalstatutescriminalizeactionsthatimpedeofficialinvestiga-

tions.Whilesomeexamplesofillegalwaystothwartthejusticesystemarespecific–likekillingawitnessordestroyingevidence–thelawalsoincludes broad, catchall prohibitions. Forexample,Sections1503,1505and1512ofTitle18havevariantsoflanguagemakingitacrimeifsome-onecorruptly“obstructs,influencesorimpedesanyofficialproceeding.”CouldthatcoveraskingtheFBIdirectortodroppartofaninvestiga-tion,andlaterfiringhim?Intheory,yes. Such statutes were broadly

drafted.GeorgetownProf.JulieO’Sullivan,aformerfederalprosecutor, said the power relationship between a presi-dentandtheFBIdirectorcouldelevatearequesttoshutdownacaseintoanactthatamountstoimpedinganoffi-cialinvestigation.“Hereallyneedsalawyer,”Ms.O’SullivansaidofMr.Trump.“Heisbuildingabeautifulcaseagainsthimself.” As bomblets, MOABs, boulders and shards careen downCapitolHillto1600PennsylvaniaAvenue,wefindthe Trump White House in a state of bedlam and paranoia. Axiosreported:“RepublicansclosetotheWhiteHousefearthatTuesday’srevelationscouldtakePresidentTrumpintoa legal or constitutional realm where his staff and support-erscan’tsavehim.‘Awholenewdoorhasopened,’saidawell-knownRepublicanoperativewhohasworkedtohelptheTrumpWhiteHouse.‘Aweekago,weweretalking

about the agenda grinding to a halt,’ theRepublicansaid.‘Now,thetrainisgoingdownthehillbackwards.’” TheNewYorkTimesre-ported:“Mr.Trump’sappetiteforchaos, coupled with his disregard for theself-protectiveconventionsofthepresidency,havelefthisstaffconfusedand squabbling. And his own mood, accordingtotwoadviserswhospokeontheconditionofanonymity,hasbecomesouranddark,turningagainstmostofhisaides–evenhisson-in-law,JaredKushner–anddescribingtheminafuryasincom-petent,accordingtooneofthoseadvisers.”AndthisfromPolitico:“’Nobodyknowswherethisreallygoesfromhere,’theWhiteHouseofficialsaid.‘Everyoneiswalkingaroundsaying,‘Whatisnext?’Anotherofficialsaid,‘Wearekindofhelpless.’”

The Mueller factor The appointment of former FBI Director Mueller as theDepartmentofJustice’sspecialprosecutorfortheRus-sian/Trumpcampaignprobeinjectsanewdynamic.MikeAllenofAxiosobservesthismorning:PresidentTrumpgets a Russia respite — at the price of long-term peril. The surprise appointment of straight-arrow Mueller as Special Counsel(“tooverseethepreviously-confirmedFBIinvesti-gationofRussiangovernmenteffortstoinfluencethe2016presidentialelectionandrelatedmatters”)letstheWhiteHouse and Hill try to get traction on other topics. But Ya-hoo’sMichaelIsikoff,steepedinfederallawenforcement,toldGretaVanSusterenonMSNBCthattheselectionwasthe“worstpossiblechoicefortheWhiteHouse...danger-ous.” Muellerisby-the-book,focusedonmakingcases,viewedasimpervioustooutsideinfluence.MuelleralsohappenstobefriendswiththespurnedJimComey,another reason that the choice — announced by Rosen-stein,whoapparentlywasiratethattheComeyfiringwasinitially pinned on him by the White House — is worrisome for the West Wing.

Hoosier GOP shift begins Some Hoosier Republicans began shifting their tonethisweek.U.S.Sen.ToddYoungreactedtoTrump’srelayofhighlyclassifiedmaterialtotheRussians,tell-ingRollCallitwasan“incrediblyserioussituation.”U.S.Rep.JimBankssaid,“PresidentTrumphastheauthorityto disclose intelligence information but the implications of sharingsensitivematerialmustbecarefullyconsidered.Thelivesofintelligenceprofessionalsaroundtheglobeandvitalinternationalpartnershipsdependontherespon-siblesafeguardingofsensitiveinformation.” Andthecontoursofthe2018U.S.Senateracebegantotakeshape,withU.S.Rep.ToddRokitaardentlydefendingTrump,saying,“EverydayWashingtonliberals

throwsomenewphonyattackatthewalltoseewhatsticks.Whiletheyplaypoliti-calgames,theMiddleEastisonfireandIran has been empowered. North Korea is threateningtheworld.RussiahasneverbeenmoreinfluentialsincethefalloftheBerlin Wall. All of this is because of the naive,failedforeignpolicyoftheObamaadministration and Washington liber-alsincludingJoeDonnelly.They’vemade

Americalesssafe.IhaveconfidencethatPresidentTrump,Vice President Pence, Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Mattis, DirectorCoatsandourintelligenceandlawenforcementagencieswillkeepAmericasafe.” Hispotentialopponent,U.S.Sen.JoeDonnellyobserved,“ThisWhiteHouseneedstogetitsacttogether.ThisinformationshouldneverhavebeensharedwiththeRussiansoranyoneelsewithouttheokayofwhoevershareditwithus.LivesareonthelineinthefightagainstISISandotherextremistadversaries.Thisisn’tagame.”

The notion of ‘President Pence’ Throughallofthisself-inflictedturmoilthatthreat-ens to swamp the GOP agenda, the once obscure notion thattheremightbea“PresidentPence”betweennowand2021hasjustratchetedupseveralnotches. Pence has emerged as what Politico describes as “theinvisibleman,”withreportersMatthewNussbaumandElianaJohnsonwriting:“WhilemanyvicepresidentsangleforpowerinsidetheWestWing,Pencehasdefinedhisrolenarrowly.Histhinking,accordingtothoseclosetohim,isthatthevicepresidenthasonlytwoconstitutionalduties–toserveaspresidentoftheSenateandtobepreparedfor the worst. The rest is up to Trump. The former Indiana governorspeakswithTrumpmultipletimesadayandisaregularpresenceintheOvalOffice,senioradministra-tionofficialssay.HehascultivatedgoodrelationshipswithIvankaTrumpandson-in-lawJaredKushner,remainsclosewithchiefofstaffReincePriebusandsenioradviserKel-lyanneConway,hasdevelopedabondwitheconomicad-viserGaryCohn,andevenhasagoodrapportwithSteveBannon.” It’s worth noting that while Pence is a constant OvalOfficepresence,hewasnowheretobeseenwhentheRussiansshoweduplastweek. Thisweek,PencelaunchedhisownleadershipPAC-GreatAmericaCommittee-whichwillbeledbylongtimeaidesMartyObstandNickAyers.Itsregistra-tionwaspostedwiththeFEConWendesday.“TheVicePresident is playing a leading role in passing legislation on theHill,”AyerstoldPolitico.“HewantstosupportHouseand Senate members who are helping pass the president’s agenda.” “HavingPenceinreserveisoneofthefewthings,Ithink,thatiscalmingRepublicannerves,”RiceUniversitypresidentialhistorianDouglasBrinkleytoldPoliticotoday.“Itwouldjustbeamoremild-manneredPencewhonever

saysanythingoffensive,whodoesn’ttaketoTwitter,whogoestoChurcheverySunday.” Pence’s loyalty to Trump in a White House where the president has lined up yes men hasn’t translated into thekindofDickCheneycloutwithintheadministrationorapositionwithinTrump’sinnercircle,NussbaumandJohn-son reported. Nor is it clear Pence has tried to place him-selfthere.“Ifheisn’tineffectual,hesureisinvisible,”saidoneprominent Republican. Another, a longtimefriendofthevicepresi-dent,saidthatit’s“notclearthathehasanymoreinfluencethananyotherseniorstaffer.”ChrisRuddy, a friend of the president’s andCEOoftheconservativemediacompanyNewsmax,calledhim“theperfectvicepresidentforDonaldTrump”inpartbecausehe“letsthepresidentglowwithoutdistraction.” FormerHouseSpeakerNewtGingrichobserved,“Hehasn’tgottenanyscarsinthefirst100days.Inaplacethiscontroversial,I’dsaythat’sprettygood.” Butwe’vewatchedTrump’s“glow”gofromthekindoflimelightoneearnswithoneofthegreatestpoliti-calupsetsinAmericanhistorytothatofradioactive.

Can’t fire a veep Pence occupies a unique position amid the churn-ingturmoil.WhileSteveBannon,ReincePriebus,KellyanneConwayandanycabinetsecretarywhocrossesaTrumpapparatchikcouldconceivablyhear“You’refired,”Trumpcannotfirehisvicepresident.Pencecanbemarginal-ized,asPresidentWilsondidwithVicePresidentThomasMarshall a century ago. Pence seems to be doing what he doesbest,whichistohoverovertheflotsamandjetsamwith a sunny disposition, irritating no one, and positioning himself for perhaps the great reward emanating from the mostepicShakespeareanpoliticaldramawe’lleverwit-ness. Thus, the coming months will be fascinating for MikePence.Itcouldbeapainfulexperience. Twice, with the Flynn lies and now his defense of theComeyfiring,PencehasbeenundercutbyPresidentTrump. This has happened to H.R. McMaster, Sean Spicer andahostofotherswhohavedefendedthepresident,onlytofindthemselvescontradictedontheTwitterma-chineorinTrumpinterviews.TrumpveersoffscriptlikeacarnivalbumpercaroraRosieO’DonnellrenditionoftheNational Anthem. JamesHohmannoftheWashingtonPostcalledloyaltytoTrumpaone-waystreet.“ManyWestWingstaff-ershavesacrificedtheirpersonalreputationsbyparrot-ing falsehoods on behalf of Donald Trump. How will their devotionberepaid?Perhapswithpinkslips,”Hohmannwrites.“Thepresidenthasacongenitalinabilitytotakepersonalresponsibilityforhisownmistakes.Throughouthiscareer,he’ssoughtoutscapegoatswheneversituations

get hairy. He’s doing it again amid the continuing fallout fromhisdecisiontofireJamesComeyasFBIdirector.Trump demands unquestioning loyalty from his subordi-nates,butkowtowingandpayingfealtydonotensurethathe’llreturnthefavor.” Trumpclearlyprefersyesmen.Justlastweekend,seniorofficialsattestedtothis.“IunderstandIhaveto

earnhisconfidenceeveryday,”SecretaryofStateRexTillersonsaidonNBC’sMeetthePress.KellyanneConway,counselortothepresident,explainedonFoxNewslastThursday,astheComeyimbroglioblewup,“Thepresidentexpectspeoplewhoareservinginhisadministration…tobeloyaltotheadministration.”AndUNAmbassadorNikkiHaleysaidonABC’sThisWeek,“Thepresidentisthe

CEOofthecountry.Hecanhireandfirewhomeverhewants.That’shisright.” TheHaleyquotewasrebukedbyMSNBC’sJoeScarborough, who reminded Trumpers that the presi-dencyisnothinglikeaprivatebusinessrunbyaCEO.ItissubjecttoconstitutionalchecksandbalancesthatchafePresidentTrump,andhemustworkwithCongresstoachieveobjectives,insteadofjustorderingthemper-formed. “Trumpislikeapilotoptingtoflyaplanethroughheavyturbulencethenblamingtheflightattendantswhenthepassengersgetjittery,”PostreporterPhilRuckerobserved.“SomeofTrump’salliessaidtheyareworriedthatthepresidentviewstheComeyepisodeentirelyasa public-relations crisis – a branding problem – and has notbeenjudiciousaboutprotectinghimselffromlegalexposureastheFBIcontinuestoinvestigatepossiblelinksbetweenhiscampaignandRussia.”

The ultimate Pence caluculation LastJune,whenscoresofestablishmentRepub-licanswouldn’ttouchTrump’sveepstakeswitha10-footpole,MikePencewasallin.Hesoughttobecomethetopyesman.Itwasahistoricrollofthedice.ItsavedPence’spolitical career from a potential Indiana reelection defeat. ButithasplacedtheformerIndianagovernoratthenexusofscandal,dysfunction,paranoiaandturmoil. The speculation that President Trump might notwanttoserveafullterm–somethinghefueledwithstrangecommentslastJulyinthemiddleofthecampaign–hasevolvedintoascenariowherehisownactions and words might bring him to trial in the Senate. Trump’s antagonism of the U.S. intelligence community (hecomparedthemtoNazis)andthepress(“enemiesofthepeople”),andhisfiringofthemeticulousnote-takingComeyhavepositionedthispresidentonawitheringfiringline. Listeningtothisstaccato,keepinghisheadbelowthe crosshairs, is Vice President Pence, a heartbeat away. v

The day Ruckleshausstood tall vs. NixonBy BRIAN A. HOWEY BRECKENRIDGE,Colo. – The storm clouds of scandalthathadgatheredoverPresidentNixonin1973appearedtohavereachedaclimaxwhenVicePresidentSpiroAgnewabruptlyresigned,pleading“nolocontendere”totakingbribesasapublicservantinMaryland.Lead-

ingthatinvestigationhadbeenDeputy Attorney General William D.Ruckleshaus. When Agnew resigned, Ruckleshaus,aformerstatesenator from Indianapolis and the1968RepublicanU.S.Sen-ate nominee, headed to Grand Rapidstolaunchabackgroundcheckintothenewlynominatedvicepresident,U.S.Rep.GeraldFord.InaninterviewwithC-SPAN’sBrianLamb,Ruckleshaus

relatedthatAttorneyGeneralEliotRichardsontoldhim,“We’vegotanevenworseproblemthanthevicepresi-dent.” “That’snotpossible,”Ruckleshausreacted.Richard-sonresponded,“Yes,itis.TheWhite House seems determined tofireArchibaldCox.’”Coxwasthe Watergate special prosecu-torinvestigatingPresidentNixon.“AndIremembersaying,‘Don’tworryaboutit.They’llneverdothat. There would be too much of apublicfuroriftheytried.’” OnOct.19,1973,Coxhadgivenanimpassionedpressconference, defending his in-vestigationthatbeganwiththeWatergatebreak-inoftheDemo-craticNationalCommitteeandhadbecomeadirectthreattoNixon.“WhetheroursshallcontinuetobeagovernmentoflawsandnotofmenisnowforCon-gressandultimatelytheAmericanpeople,”Coxsaid. As the heat turnedupinWashington,Ruckle-shaus returned from Grand Rapids two days prior to the Coxnewsconference.ThepressurefromNixontofireCoxintensifiedashewasseekingtheWhiteHouseOvalOf-fice’stapes. Thus,theso-called“SaturdayNightMassacre”wasset.NixonorderedRichardsontofireCoxonOct.20andherefused.“Hesubsequentlyaskedme,andItoldhimthesamething,thatIhadbeenthinkingaboutthisallweek.

I was aware the pressure was building, and I’d decided I didn’twanttodoit,”Ruckleshausexplained.“Inmyjudg-ment,Coxhaddoneeverythinghewassupposedtodoasspecialprosecutor.”RichardsonresignedandRuckleshauswasfired. The“SaturdayNightMassacre”createdtheulti-mateslipperyslopeforNixon,whowasorderedbytheSupremeCourttoturnovertheWatergatetapesinJuly1974.HeresignedonAug.8,facingimminentimpeach-ment. TherelevancyofthisepisodegainedtractiononTuesdaywhenPresidentTrumpfiredFBIDirectorJamesComey. There were three investigations into Trump’s 2016presidentialcampaignandwhethertherewascollu-sionwiththeRussiangovernmenttoimpacttheoutcome:The U.S. House, the U.S. Senate and the FBI. Only one of those, the FBI, could press criminal charges against the president, his inner circle, or campaign aides. Trump’s rationale? In a memo from Deputy At-torneyGeneralRodRosenstein,Comeyrefused“toacceptthenearlyuniversaljudgmentthathewasmistaken”togopublicinJulywithhisreasonsforrecommendingnocriminalchargesagainClintonandhehad“usurped”theattorney general’s authority. Trump, who was reportedly fuming about the Rus-siaprobeforthepasttwoweeks,hasnowfiredComey,

Manhattan District Attorney Preet Bharara, and Acting At-torneyGeneralSallyYates,allwithauthoritytoinvestigatethe president. Inthiswake,NBC’sFirstReadpointsout:“Ev-ery time President Trump has faced the choice between advancinghisowninterestsandupholdingthecountry’sseparationofpowers,traditionsandnorms,he’spickedtheformer.”Hewon’treleasehistaxes.Hewantstobreakupthe9thCircuitCourtofAppeals.Hehasn’tdivestedbusinessconflicts.HeclaimsObamawiretappedhim.HecallstheFBIinvestigation“phony”and“fakenews.”

Therivetingques-tioniswhydidn’tTrumpfireComeyinJanuarywhenhetookoffice?Hewouldhavehad wide support, including here. Instead, this comes afterComey’sMarch20testimonyconfirmingtheFBIprobe while refuting Trump’s claims of the Obama wire-taps. AsJayCaruso,writ-ingontheconservativeblogRedState,observed,“Theanswers to both steamroll President Trump’s rantings andravingsaboutthemonTwitterandinpublic.” Conservative commentator Peter Wehner, ob-served,“Apowerful,independentpersonMr.Trumpdidnotappointandwhoseinvestigationheclearlyfearedhasbeensummarilyfired.Hewouldnotusepowerbenevo-lentlybutunwisely,recklessly,andinwaysthatwouldundermine our democratic institutions and faith in our government.” Comeyimpactedthe2016electiontwiceandinunprecedentedformforanFBIdirector.Hehadlostconfi-

dence of both Republicans and Democrats.IfTrumpwastofireComey,heshouldhavedoneitonJan.20,becauseonMarch20,wenowrealizethatthepresident is possibly in the legal crosshairs. Here are two reactions ofnote:TheRussianshavetobedoingtheSovietequivalentofthehigh-fivesforalloftheresultingYankeechaos.AskedabouttheComeyfiringjusthours before he was to meet with Trump on Wednesday in theOvalOffice,RussianForeignMinisterSergeiLavrovsaid,

“Washefired?You’rekidding?You’rekidding?” Yes, America, they’re not laughing with us, but at us. AndC-SPAN’sLambaskedRuckleshausifheeverworriedtheU.S.wouldfallapartbackin1973-74.“Ineverhad any doubt that the system would hold. In a sense, the wheels...cameoffthoseindividuals,theydidn’tcomeoffthecountry,”Ruckleshaussaid.“Thecountryheldtogetherverywell.”v

http://www.politicalbank.com

Are political spousesfair campaign game?By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – Ahhhhh, the political spouse. Are these people fair political game? The issue surfaced with the Associated Press story lastweekthatJenniferMesser,wifeofU.S.Rep.LukeMesser,made$580,000since2015forlegalconsultingshelargelydoesfromtheWashington,D.C.,areaforthecityof

Fishers,“anunusuallylargesumeveninastaterifewithhighlypaidgovernmentcontractors,”ac-cordingtoareviewbytheAssoci-ated Press. Mrs.Messermakes$20,000amonthworkingasa

contractattorneyforFishers,accordingtotheAP’sreviewof public documents. Messer defended his wife, calling her the“brainsoftheMesseroutfit”andsayingthecontractpredated his political career. Messer is blaming a planted storylinebyhispotential2018U.S.Senateopponent,U.S.Rep.ToddRokita.Inanemail to supporters ob-tained by Howey Politics Indiana,Messersaid,“Forwhat it’s worth, the story is a complete hatchet jobdirectlyattributabletoRokita.Justabouttheonly element not dis-torted is the headline. Needless to say, it’s rare for campaigns to start by attackinganopponent’sspouse. But, I guess we allknewToddisanythingbut ordinary. Most impor-tantly, this is completely unfair to my wife. I, of course,ranforoffice,but she did not. She has worked16yearstobuildacareer.” Thisfollowsa2016campaign/media dynamic where the campaign of U.S. Sen. ToddYoungrepeatedlyplantednegativestoriesonU.S.Rep.MarlinStutzman(andhisfamily)toBrianSlodyskooftheAssociatedPress.Anditworked!YoungeasilywontheprimaryandSlodyskowasnamedIndianaJournalistoftheYearbytheSocietyofProfessionalJournalists. In the modern era of Indiana politics, political wiveshavetakenonavarietyofroles.MarvellaBayhwasthereveredmatriarchofasenatorialdynasty.JudyO’Bannonwieldedconsiderableinfluenceasaconspicuous

partnerofGov.FrankO’BannonandwowedDemocraticcrowdswithherimpassionednarratives.KarenPencewasanimpactfulpresenceinGov.MikePence’sinnercircle.RuthieMcIntoshplayedakeyrolewithU.S.Rep.DavidMcIntosh.LakeSuperiorJudgeMarisaMcDermottisthewifeoffour-termHammondMayorThomasMcDermottJr. Otherpoliticalwives,suchasMaggieKernan,CheriDanielsandJosieOrrwereknownfordifferentreasons,playinglimitedrolesforGovs.JoeKernan,MitchDaniels and Robert Orr, often by their own design. Mrs. Kernan,forinstance,wasaSouthBendbankexecutiveduringherhusband’stenureaslieutenantgovernorandgovernor. One other political wife stands out: Susan Bayh, wifeofformerU.S.Sen.andGov.EvanBayh.Shewasthetopic numerous reports that when Bayh retired from the U.S.Senatein2011,heleftwithafortuneestimatedtobearound$14million.MuchofthatwasattributedtoMrs.Bayh,whoheldanarrayoflucrativecorporateboardposi-tionsforCurisInc.,DendreonCorp.,DyaxCorp.,EmmisCommunications,andWellpointInc. BecausetheBayhsappearedtohavecashedinon his political position, Mrs. Bayh stood to be a campaign issue when Sen. Bayh was presumed to be preparing

for a reelection bid. When he suddenly bolted the race in February2010,therewaswidespeculation that Mrs. Bayh’s exposedfinanceswereakeyreason.Itresurfacedin2016when Bayh tried a political comeback,pushingBaronHillout of the U.S. Senate nomina-tionlastJuly.TheBayhbrandwas damaged by the campaign ofToddYoungandavarietyofU.S.SenateandconservativePACs,whowentontoclaima52-42%upsetvictory. The2016Senateracealsoskirtedanotherpoliticalspouse,ChristyStutzman,whoplayedasignificantroleintheSenatecampaign of U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman.TheYoungcampaign

successfully seeded stories with the Associated Press about po-

tentialcampaignfinanceviolationsinvolvingthetravelsoftheStutzmanfamily.ShewasalsoatopicofstoriesduringacoupleofshakeupsintheStutzmanSenatecampaign. Inthiscontext,JenniferMesserstandstojoinSu-sanBayhasaspousewho“cashedin,”astheAPnarrativegoes. JenniferMesserbeggedtodiffer,sayinginanop-edarticlecirculatedlastweek,“LastweekIwasfeaturedinanewsstoryaboutthefactthatIprovidelegalservicesfor the city of Fishers. The story was unfair, intellectually

The family of U.S. Rep. Luke and Jennifer Messer.

dishonest and straight-up sexist.Youknowthecharge;congressman’swife(bytheway,Ihaveaname;it’sJenniferMesser)getspaidtoo much for not really do-ingverymuch,leavingthepresumption that me and the local municipality are doing somethingwrong.” Mrs. Messer pre-sented“thefacts,”saying,“IhaveworkedwithFishersfor nearly eight years, and Fishers was my client two years before my husband was electedtoCongress.Iampaidwellformylegalservicesbut the city is paying less todayforlegalservicesthanit was before its contract with myfirm.IworkdiligentlyforFishersandhavenever,ineightyears,takenmyjobforgranted.Myjobisaprivilege,notjustbecauseIlovetheeconomicdevelopmentworkthatIdo,butbecauseIworkwithagroupofrock-stars.ThesearepeoplewhowakeupeverydayandwanttomakeFishersabetterplacefor its residents, potential residentsandbusinesses.” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness defended Mrs. Mess-er,writinginaFacebookposting,“IhaveworkedwithJen-niferonlegalmattersforthecitysince2010,beforeherhusbandwasinCongress.Jenniferwastheauthorofourtransition ordinance that transformed our town to a city. Sinceherstartwiththecitywehavetransitionedourlegaldepartment from an all-outsourced department to a hybrid withsomein-housestaffandsomecontractual.Jenniferhasstayedonthroughacontractualprofessionalservicesagreement. She is responsible for drafting and negotiating amajorityoftheeconomicdealsthatareconductedonbehalf of the city. She has an hourly rate that is less than $200anhourandsubstantivelylessthanwhatyouwouldfindinlargefirmswiththistypeofspecialexpertise.” Fadnessadded,“Iamdisappointedatthetoneofthisstory.Jenniferissmart,capable,andprofessional.Herworkstandsonitsownandthevaluethatshebringsto the city is real, regardless of who she is married to. My goal is to always build the best team for my city, with the bestexperienceandexpertise.” ThereisanexusintheMesser/Fadnessrelation-ship.BothhaveworkedextensivelywithGOPpoliticalop-erativeJenniferHallowellandherhusband,formerMarion

CountyRepublicanchairmanKyleWalk-er. Both preside overanextensivefinancialnetworkthat has been as-sociated with political figuresrangingfromformer Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard to former Marion CountyprosecutorCarlBrizzi.It’struethat Mrs. Messer’s tenure with Fishers pre-datesRep.LukeMesser’s congres-sional career, though heranforCongressin2000and2010when he challenged U.S. Rep. Dan Bur-ton,losing30-28%inacrowdedfield.Heservedthreeterms in the Indiana House and had been executivedirec-tor of the Indiana Republican Party. In short, Messer has long been seen as a rising star in Hoosier politics, and he has

risenrapidlytothefifthmostpowerfulpositionintheU.S.House. This is one of these stories where no laws were broken.Therearenoclearethicalviolations.Byallac-counts, she is a talented attorney in her own right. But the moneyshemadeoffmunicipaltaxpayersraisedeyebrowsin Republican circles. It was a topic among Republicans whodidn’thaveabonetopickwithRep.Messer. Don’tbesurprisedifthisisanactiveissuethroughthe2018Republicanprimary.

Rokita names finance team Rep.ToddRokita,R-4th,hastakenasteptowardlaunching a U.S. Senate bid by appointing a statewide campaignfinancestaff(Francisco,FortWayneJournalGazette).RokitahasnamedDanDumezichtochairtheteam.Dumezich,anattorneyfromSchererville,isaformertreasurer of the Indiana Republican Party and a former statelegislatorwhohasworkedoncampaignfinanceteams for GOP presidential candidates Donald Trump, Mitt RomneyandGeorgeW.Bush.“ThereisnobetterpoliticalfundraiserinIndiana,”Rokitasaidinanewsrelease.OthermembersofRokita’sfinanceteamincludeJamieWeber

First Lady Judy O’Bannon (top with Gov. Frank O’Bannon, Maggie Kernan with Gov. Joe Kernan, and Susan Bayh on the campaign trail in 2016. (HPI Photos by Brian A. Howey and Mark Curry)

andDaveBuskill,whohaveworkedonRokita’sHousecampaigns, and Washington-based fundraisers Laura Van Hove,JonGrahamandMikeGula.RokitaisconsideringseekingtheRepublicannominationnextyearfortheseatheldbySen.JoeDonnelly,D-Ind.Democrats aim at Messer, Rokita Democrats are running YouTube ads targeting two leadingRepublicanslikelytorunforU.S.SenatefortheirrecentvotesinfavoroftheAffordableCareActreplace-ment(Lange,IndyStar).Thesix-secondadvertisementreleasedbytheDemocraticSenatorialCampaignCom-mitteefeaturesamockmedicalbillwithrisingcostsnexttothewords“Drugaddictiontreatment–pre-existingcondition.”ItencouragesHoosierstoholdU.S.Reps.ToddRokita,andLukeMesseraccountablefortheirvoteonthemeasure.OpponentsoftheHouse’shealthcareplanhavecriticizedthebillforweakeningprotectionsagainstthosewithpre-existingconditions.

Rokita slams Donnelly over Comey HoosiersforRokitareleasedthefollowingstate-mentregardingSen.JoeDonnelly’sresponsetoFBIDirectorComey’sdismissal:“Sen.DonnellyknowsfullwelltheFBIdirectorservesatthepleasureofthepresidentoftheUnitedStates.DirectorComeyhadlosttheconfidenceof Democrats and Republicans, and in consultation with

the attorney general, President Trump made the decision todismissComeyandstartfresh.TheFBIneedstomovebeyondthepoliticalcontroversieswhichhaveconsumeditoverthepastyear.JoeDonnellyisshowinghistruecolorsonceagainwithhiscynical,politicallymotivatedcallsforaninvestigation.Topacifyhisliberalpoliticalbase,whichheadmitstovotingwithnineoutof10times,DCJoeDon-nellyislockingarmswithextremeliberalsintheirphonyoutrage.Donnelly’sboss,ChuckSchumer,hadlostcon-fidenceinComey,untilofcoursePresidentTrumpactedwithinhisauthorityandremovedhim.Hoosiersshouldexpectbetterfromtheirsenatorthanarubberstampforthedivisive,obstructionistpoliciesofWashingtonliberals.”

Congress: 4th CD Democrats talk Democratic4thDistrictcandidatesSherryShipleyandJoeMackeyfocusedonhealthcareissuesatseparateeventsonTuesdayinanefforttofindsupporttowintheseatcurrentlyoccupiedbyU.S.Rep.ToddRokita(R-IN).Shipley gathered with Greater Lafayette residents to hear concerns about the proposed replacement for Obamacare (Tuggle,WBAA).MackeysaidthatiftheACAisrepealed,anotherpossible(thoughnotdefinite)resultwouldbesmallhospitals,likeSt.VincentClayinBrazil,closing,leav-ingonehospitalforeveryfourorfivecountiesinruralIn-diana.“Hoosiersaregoodpeoplebutweneedtobegreatwhenitcomestohealthcare,”Mackeysaid.“’Trumpcare’

FUELING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERITY STATEWIDE

www.indianachamber.com/2025

isactually‘Republicancare’becausetheyownit”referringto the bill that was passed by the U.S. House of Represen-tativesandsenttotheU.S.Senate.

Siekman weighs another 6th CD AnattorneyfromRisingSunhaskickedoffaCrowdPaccampaigntoraisefundsandgaugesupportforabidinthe6thCongressionalDistrict.DemocratLaneSiekmantouts“hislifelongtiestoIndianatogivehiminsightintothechallengesfacingdistrictresidents,work-ers,andbusinesses,”thewebsitestated.“Ourhealthcareisinjeopardy,publiceducationisnotbeingsupported,andquestionsaboutintegrityingovernmentareonthemindsofmanyHoosiers,”accordingtotheSiekmanCrowdPacwebpage.“YetLukeMesserrefusestotalkwithhis constituents or hold town halls. Rep. Messer must be heldresponsible.ItisalsoverylikelythathewilljumptotakeonJoeDonnellyfortheSenate,leavingthe6thasaopenseatin2018.Eitherwayhemustbestopped.WecannotaffordtojustcrownanotherRepublicansuccessorin2018.”AccordingtoWRBI,SiekmanhasservedaslegalcounselformanygovernmententitiesandistheexecutivedirectoroftheOhioCountyEconomicDevelopmentCor-poration and secretary of the southeast Indiana Regional

Growth Alliance.

Counties: Sheriff candidates emerge TheracetobethenextMarionCountysheriffisinfullswing(WTHR-TV).SheriffJohnLaytoncan’trunin2018becausehe’sreachedhistermlimit.Thisweek,twopeoplethrewtheirnamesinthehatforhisjob.SouthportPoliceChiefTomVaughnisoneofthem.MarionCountySgt.JimGrimesannouncedearlierthisweekhe’sseekingthe Republican nomination for sheriff.

Parties: Hammond elected Rules vice chair JohnHammondIII,Indiana’sRepublicannationalcommitteeman,waselectedasvicechairoftheRepublicanNationalCommittee’sStandingCommitteeonRulesattheorganization’sspringmeetinginSanDiego,Cal.,anewsreleaseannounced(HoweyPoliticsIndiana).Thecommit-teeischargedwithcontinuouslyreviewingtherulesoftheRepublicanNationalCommitteeandproposingupdatestothoserules.Thecommitteecomprises56members,onefromeachstate,territoryandtheDistrictofColumbia.IndianaRepublicanPartyChairmanKyleHupferisalsoat-tending the spring meeting. v

http://mark1tc.smugmug.com/Political/

TrumpCare politicalhealth for GOPBy JACK COLWELL SOUTHBEND––Thefocusofthepoliticalstetho-scope,forsolongexaminingthepoorhealthofDemocratswhovotedinCongressforObamacare,shiftsnowtomea-suring the prospects for political health of Republicans who votedforTrumpcare. A health care plan, especially if complicated and

pushed through without the publicorevensupportersinCongressreallyunderstandingthe effects, can cause terrible health problems for those who voteforit.Democratslearnedthat. Will Republicans now learn the same lesson? There is no doubt that Trumpcarewillbeamajorissueinthe2018elections.Polls show it is unpopular, justasObamacarewaswhenRepublicans hammered it and

Democrats to win congressional elections. Now,ironically,justasRepublicanscontrolCon-gressandthepresidencyandcanrepealit,provisionsoftheAffordableCareAct,Obamacare,havebecomepopular.AGalluppollshows53%approvalofObamacare,highestfavorabilityever,forthefirsttimeover50%.SotheGOPishavingadifficulttimefiguringouthowtodumpitwithoutseverehealthcareandpoliticalhealthwoes. The monstrosity pushed through the House, with-out hearings or analysis of the cost and impact of what was put together with arm-twisting and political dealing, is no answer to the nation’s health concerns. It was passed quicklysothatPresidentTrumpcouldclaimavictoryafterunflatteringreviewsofhisfirst100days.Hegleefullycelebrated passage with a Rose Garden rally. He called the thing“incrediblywellcrafted.” House Republicans whovotedtopassitknowbetter.ThelastthingtheywantisforthatversionofTrumpcare to become law. If it did, they would lose control oftheHousein2018. The thing was denounced by doctors, hospi-tals,theAARP,healthinsuranceprovidersandconsumergroups.Criticssaiditwouldknockmillionsoffhealthinsur-ance,trimprotectionsforfolkswithpre-existingcondi-tions, hurt especially the poor, the middle class, the old andchildrenandprovidelesscareatmorecost. Thething,however,isnotgoingtobecomelaw.ItwillbejunkedintheSenate.SoeitheranimprovedTrump-carewillemerge,withactualcostandimpactclarifiedandwith some of the worst parts eliminated, which is what House Republicans hope and pray for, or nothing will be

done.Nothingisabadchoice.Obamacare,evenifbecom-ingmorepopular,hasseriousflawsthatneedtobefixed.Health care will suffer if nothing is done. DemocratsquicklypouncedonthatHouseversion.The Indiana Democratic Party immediately denounced twoHoosierRepublicans,CongressmenToddRokita,4thDistrict,andLukeMesser,6thDistrict,forvotingfor“thishorrifyingbill”andwarnedthatvoterswillrememberwhattheydid“thenexttimeCongressmenMesserandRokitaareontheballot.” Other Republican House members from Indi-ana,includingJackieWalorski,2ndDistrict,alsovotedforTrumpcare. But they were not mentioned by name in the initialblasts.Strange?Notatall.RokitaandMesserareregarded as top contenders for the Republican nomination fortheSenatefortheraceagainstSen.JoeDonnelly,theDemocraticincumbent,in2018. Other Republican House members will be hit later ifDemocratsfindviablechallengers.Butthemostimpor-tanttargetsforDemocratsnowareMesserandRokita,becauseonelikelywillbeinthathighprofileSenaterace.Democratswanttotattooontheirforeheadstheirvotesfor Trumpcare. EveniftheSenateprovidesamuchimprovedTrumpcare,DemocratsstillwillhammeratthatHousever-sion.AndRepublicanswhovotedforitwillsay,asMesseralreadyhas,thattheHousevotewasonlyaneededfirststep.Hedescribedthebillas“agreenflag,notacheck-eredflag,”markingthestartoftherace,notthefinish.v

Colwell has covered Indiana politics over five de-cades for the South Bend Tribune.

The Gary air show jokeBy RICH JAMES MERRILLVILLE––TheGaryAirShow–orIshould

saythelackofitinrecentyears–hasbecomeajoke. It was announced this weekthattherewon’tbeashowinGaryontheshoreofLakeMichiganthis year. The same was the case in 2013and2014. The cancellation this year is because Gary can’t afford the $350,000neededtoprovidethesupporttomaketheeventareality.Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson

saidshewasunabletofindacorporatesponsor.Themayor had a year to secure the money and apparently was unable to do so. AndIcanunderstandwhyfirmslikeU.S.SteelCorp.andtheNorthernIndianaPublicServiceCo.wouldn’t

Parsing Indiana’sanemic GDPBy MORTON MARCUS INDIANAPOLIS – It is a pity no town crier rings our news about the latest data for our nation and state. LastweektheU.S.BureauofEconomicAnalysismade

publicthe2016GDPfigures.Didmembers of the Indiana General As-sembly or the state administration pausetostudyandreflectonthesenumbers? I doubt it.Possiblysomeisolatedjournal-istpickedupanewsreleaseontheInternet, but I doubt it. And what wouldthatlonesoulreport?“Indianaranked42ndofthe50stateswithagrowthrateofjust0.8%inGDPdur-ingtheclosingthreemonthsof2016,

comparedtothenationaladvanceof1.9%.” No s/he didn’t, not if s/he wants to do any inter-viewswithstateofficialsintherestofthiscalendaryear.S/hewouldhavetodigandfindsomethingcheerfultogiveeveryHoosierawarm,fuzzyfeeling:“IndianadoubledNewYork’seconomicgrowthrateinthelastquarterof2016.Detailsat11,10Centraltime.”Thiswouldn’tbeexactlytrue,butcloseenoughtobeacceptable. The people who sell the idea that Indiana is in the midst of a boom would discount a single quarter and compare2016quarterfour,withthesamequarterayearearlier.ThenourannualGDPgrowthratewas1.4%(23rd)

comparedwiththenational1.8%rate. We always learn by comparing different periods of time. Thus, from the start the business cycle in 2002 to its endin2009,ourstate’saverageannualrateofeconomicgrowthwasjust0.55%(46th)whilethenationmanageda1.4%annualrate.Businessboomers,ontheotherhand,wouldfavorour15th-placerankingfrom2009to2016(2%vs.thenation’s1.9%GDPgrowthrate). Some Hoosiers often prefer the middle ground. Fortheentire14yearsfrom2002to2016,Indiana’seconomyaveraged1.3%growthwhilethenationman-aged1.7%.Werode34thintheGDPderby.Allofthesemanynumberstellusjustonething:Thenationaleconomyismovingalong,slowly,butmovingwhileIndianausuallylagsbehind.Yes,wehavespurtsofgrowth, but they are few and far between. Ah,buttheworldlywisewilltellyou,“Indianaischangingevenfasterthantherapidchangeinthenation.”Statistically,that’sdifficulttoprovewiththedataathand.From the bottom of the Great Recession in 2009 to the endof2016,thecompositionofIndiana’seconomy(ourindustrymix)haschangedbyjust3.40%,hardlyastun-ningdifferencefromthenation’schangeof3.37%per-cent. Where Indiana was 19.5% different from the nationin2008,wehavedriftedtoa20.2%difference.That’s hardly spitting distance. Should we aim to be more (orless)liketheU.S.?Whicheverwechoose,whenwillourstatestopditheringandgetmoving?v Mr. Marcus is an economist, writer, and speaker who may be reached at [email protected].

want to pony up the money. Speros Batistatos, the presi-dentandCEOoftheSouthShoreConventionandVisitorsAuthority,saidthelossoftheshowisdevastatingbecauseof the hundreds of thousands of people it attracts. Batista-tos’organizationusedtobeoneofthesponsorsoftheshowandlost$1.4millionoveranine-yearspan. I’ve never believed the air show was such a goodthingforGary.IthasbeensuchawonderfulfinancialthingforGarythatBatistatoswasgoingtomovetheshowfarsouthtoFairOaksFarmsafewyearsbackwhenitcouldn’tbeinGaryontheshoresofLakeMichiganbe-cause of logistics reasons. ItstillwasgoingtobeafinancialbonusforLakeCountydespitethenewlocation,Batistatossaid.Butitneverhappened.HeavyrainspriortotheshowmadethefarmfieldssurroundingFairOaksunsuitableforparking.Whileitisawonderfulshow,I’veneverbelieveditisafinancialbenefitforNorthwestIndiana. Basically,thevisitorsdrivetotheshow,watchitforseveralhoursanddrivehome.Theymaybuyahotdog

andsoftdrinkfromvendorsattheshow,buttheydon’tspend a dime in the city of Gary. If it was a financial windfall for Gary, Free-man-Wilsonwouldhavefoundthemoneytomaketheshow a reality. The show is good for Gary only in that it puts a depressed city on the map. That’s it. Freeman-Wilsonsaid,“Ourfirstjobistobegoodstewards and our team has determined that we cannot af-fordtohosttheGaryAirShow.Weknowthatafullyspon-sored show is attainable and we will begin immediately to workonmakingthathappen.”Ifafullysponsoredshowisattainable,onehastowonderwhythecitydidn’tembarkon that mission a year ago. v

Rich James has been writing about state and local government and politics for more than 30 years. He is a columnist for The Times of Northwest Indiana.

Pondering regulargovernment shutdownsBy LEE HAMILTON BLOOMINGTON–Everyfewmonthswehavetocontemplatetheveryrealpossibilitythatthegovernmentmight close its doors. Is this really the best we can do? Thinkaboutthisforamoment.Twodaysawayfromafederalshutdown,Congresscomesupwithastopgapmeasuretokeepthegovernmentoperating–foraweek.Afewdayslateritarrivesatabipartisanbudgetdeallastingabitoverfourmonths.This,inturn,movesthepresidenttotaketoTwitterwiththefollowingstate-

ment:“Ourcountryneedsagood‘shutdown’inSeptembertofixmess!” With respect to President Trump, this assertion seems more focused on settling political scores than on the good of the country. There is no such thing asa“good”shutdown.Thelasttimeithappened,in2013,itcosttheeconomy$24billion,accord-ing to Standard & Poor’s at the time. National institutions get

shuttered,federalworkersareoutofajobforanindeter-minateperiod,federalloansandsupportforveteransarefrozen,stateandlocalgovernments–andallthebusiness-es,non-profitsandcommunityorganizationsthatdependon them – face cash shortages, and the country’s most economicallyvulnerablemustshiftforthemselves.Allthatand more happens during a shutdown. Yet this is the state of budget politics in this era. We’retheworld’sgreatestdemocracy,andeveryfewmonthswehavetocontemplatetheveryrealpossibil-itythatthegovernmentmightcloseitsdoors.Isthisreallythebestwecando?Ifthenon-profitorbusinessyou respect most operated in this manner, would you be anythingbutappalled?Somehow,we’veallowedourselvesto see this as standard operating procedure for the federal government. How can it be that the most important docu-mentofthefederalgovernment–remember,thebudgetis the national blueprint for what we’ll do and how we’ll do it – gets handled in such a distressing, irrational, inef-fective,uneconomic,andalmostnonsensicalmanner?I’lltellyouhow:Wekeepelectingpeoplewhotellusthey’redistressed about conducting business in this fashion and thenyearafteryearfailtogetusbackontrack. Becausemakenomistake,weknowhowtodoitbetter.Congressdiditformanydecades.Ithandledap-propriations bills through committee hearings, gathered expertopinions,allowedmemberstoproposeimprove-ments,andvettedfederaltaxingandspendingthoroughly

in both the House and the Senate before passing it on to the president. We had a steady annual process that may havehaditsdifficulties,butofferedthecountryademo-cratic and politically rational mechanism for deciding on our priorities and how to fund them. We haven’t followed it since the middle of the 1990s.Instead,we’vebeenforcedtolivewithaprocessmarkedbyhigh-stakesfiscalbrinksmanship.Everyimpor-tantdecisionofgovernmentisreflectedinthebudget,but now we operate through omnibus spending bills and continuingresolutions,allofwhichputthegovernmentmore or less on automatic pilot. Operations and processes thatshouldbereviewedannuallygetnorealscrutiny.Newinitiativesarerarelyconsidered. The current budget deal, negotiated between Re-publicansandDemocrats,atleasthasthevirtueofhavingincludedbothpartiesatthetablewithgiveandtakeonboth sides. In Washington these days, that’s what passes forgoodgovernment.Butlet’snotmistakeitforgoodpro-cess.Congressisstillputtingthebudgettogetherwithnoaccountability, no transparency, and scanty debate. Most of it is written in secret largely by leadership staff. The processlargelyexcludesordinarymembersofCongress,excepttovoteafterverylimiteddebate.Itofferslittleop-portunitytoconsideramendmentsorexperttestimony,ortoconductcarefulevaluationsofproposedimprovementsandreforms.Theordinaryself-correctivemechanismsthatshouldkeepgovernmentonanevenkeelarenotoperat-ing. And here’s the interesting thing: In all my conversationswithpublicofficialsfamiliarwiththecurrentstateofaffairs,Ican’tfindasingleonewhodefendsit.Theyallknowit’sbadprocess.Buttheykeepusingityearafter year. Thisisarealchallengetoourrepresentativede-mocracy.Thegovernmentfacesenormousresponsibilitiesat home and abroad, and the budget is the blueprint for how it’s going to deal with them. Isn’t it time we started getting it right? v

Lee Hamilton is a Senior Advisor for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government; a Distinguished Scholar, IU School of Global and International Studies; and a Professor of Practice, IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.

Trump imperils 2018GOP Senate gainsBy KYLE KONDICKSabato’s Crystal Ball CHARLOTTESVILLE,Va.–AstheWhiteHouselurchesfromoneself-inflictedcrisistothenext--“chaosisthenewnormal,”astheColumbiaJournalismReviewputitinaTuesdaymorningheadline--SenateRepublicanshavetobeworriedthatPresidentDonaldTrump’sdifficultieswillimperiltheiropportunitytomakegainsnextyeardespiteaveryfavorablemap. While Republicans can and probably will suffer at leastsomeerosionintheirHousemajoritynextyear,withsignificantlossespossiblebutfarfromguaranteed,theGOPcouldendupnettingSenateseatsnextyeareveninabadenvironment(andcouldnetseveralinagoodone).AnewmodelfromRealClearPoliticssuggeststhatevenwithPresidentTrumpataweak40%approval--hiscurrentav-erageapprovalratingaccordingtothepollaggregators--thelikeliestprojec-tion would be for no net change in the Senate. AsnotedpreviouslyintheCrystalBall,Republicansareonlydefendingnineseatsthiscycle(includingaspecialelectioninAlabamalaterthisyear),whileDemocratsaredefending25seats(in-cluding two held by independents who caucus with the Democrats).TheDemocratshold11Senateseatsinstatesthat Trump won in the presidential race last year, and all butoneofthoseisontheballotthisyear(theexceptionisMichiganSen.GaryPeters).Republicans,meanwhile,onlyholdthreeSenateseatsinstatesHillaryClintonwon,andonlyoneisontheballotnextyear(NevadaSen.DeanHeller). SoRepublicanshavemanymoretargetsthanDemocratsdothiscycle,butinvariablysomeofthosetar-getswilldevelopbetterforthemthanothers.TwostateswhereRepublicanprospects,neverparticularlystrong,seem to be fading are Maine and Minnesota, where we’re makingratingschangesthisweek.DespiteTrump’snearwinsinbothstates--HillaryClintononlycarriedMainebythreepointsandMinnesotabyjusthalfthat--incumbentSens.AmyKlobuchar(D-MN)andAngusKing,aMainein-dependent who caucuses with the Democrats, both appear tobeingoodpositiontowinnextyear. KlobucharappearsunlikelytofaceacredibleopponentasRepublicansfocusmoreontheopengover-nors’race,andshehasasignificantamountofcrossoverappeal:AStarTribunepollfoundherwitha72%approvalrating(MorningConsulthadheratalessimpressivebutstillstrong63%).KlobucharmovesfromLikelyDemocraticto Safe Democratic, and assuming she wins reelection shecouldverywellbeapresidentialcontenderwhentheDemocratic nomination contest begins in earnest following

nextyear’smidterm. InMaine,Kinggotwelcomenewslastweekwhenterm-limitedGov.PaulLePage(R)decidednottorun.KingprobablywouldhavebeenfavoredoverthecombustibleLePage, but facing a challenge from an often underesti-matedsittinggovernorwouldhavemadetheincumbent’slifemuchharder.StateSen.EricBrakey(R)isrunning,butwithcredibleDemocratslikelytotakeapassontherace,Brakey’staskisdifficultagainstthepopularKing.Moreover,Mainehasn’tvotedoutanincumbentsenatorinnearlyfourdecades(BillHathaway,aDemocrat,wasthelastincumbenttolose,backin1978).We’removingthisracefromLeansIndependent/DemocratictoLikelyInde-pendent/Democratic.

House races Justlastweek,wearguedthatclosetotwo-thirdsofthe435HousedistrictsareessentiallyeithertooRe-publican or too Democratic to be credibly targeted by the otherparty.Butthereareafewexceptions:Rep.CollinPeterson(D,MN-7),forinstance,holdsaseatthatDonald

Trumpwonby31points--aseatthatissignificantlymoreRe-publican than any other held by Democrats. Now there could be

anotherexception:acompetitiveraceinaseatthatwasTrump’s13th-bestdistrictbymarginofvictoryintheentirecountry. Rep.EvanJenkins(R,WV-3),aformerDemocratwhodefeatedlongtimeincumbentNickRahall(D)in2014,isrunningagainstSen.JoeManchin(D-WV).Thatcre-ates an open-seat race in his southern West Virginia seat, whichbackedTrumpby49pointsin2016,betterthanhis42-pointstatewidemargin.However,manyvotersinthisancestrally Democratic, depopulating coal country district splittheirtickets:Gov.JimJustice(D)wonthedistrictby17pointsin2016,10pointsbetterthanhisseven-pointstatewidemargin.Ifhewinsreelectionnextyear,ManchinalmostcertainlyneedstocarryWV-3,andprobablybymorethanjustafewpoints. The open seat has attracted a credible Democratic candidate:newly-electedstateSen.RichardOjeda.Ojeda,anArmyveteranwhounsuccessfullychallengedRahallinthe2014primary,defeatedasittingDemocraticstatesenatorinaprimarylastyear,whichwasheldjustafewdaysafterOjedawasseverelybeateninanattackthatmayhavebeenpoliticallymotivated.OjedabackedTrumplastyear,justlikesomanyotherregisteredDemocratsinthedistrict.SeveralRepublicansareeitherrunningorcon-sideringrunning,includingex-stateDel.RickSnuffer,wholosttoRahallin2012,stateDel.RupiePhillips,andstateRepublicanPartyChairmanConradLucas. Despite West Virginia’s shift to the Republicans overthelasttwodecades,open-seatHouseracesinthestatecanbequitecompetitive:In2014,Rep.AlexMooney(R,WV-2)onlywonbythreepointsinhissuccessfulbidto

replacenow-Sen.ShelleyMooreCapito(R)intheHouse. Unique local considerations and the possibility of plentyofticket-splittinginWV-3promptsustomovethisopenseatfromSafeRepublicantoLikelyRepublican. Wealsohaveacoupleofratingschangesinsomeupcoming special House elections. GregGianforte(R),theGOP’s2016gubernatorialnominee,remainsafavoriteinnextweek’sMontanaHousespecialelectionovermusicianRobQuist(D).However,Republicanoutsidegroupshavespentabout$4milliontoboostGianforte’sbid,aclearsignthattheyaretakingthe possibility of an upset quite seriously in a statewide “district”thatTrumpcarriedby20points.Democratshavespentamoremodest$630,000,althoughQuisthasout-raisedGianforteandthusishardlystarvedforresources.TheelectionisnextThursday(May25),andthelikeliestoutcome seems to be a Gianforte win in the single digits. If that’s what happened, the outcome would continue thetrendofDemocratssignificantlyoutperformingClin-ton’s2016showinginthelion’sshareoffederalandstatelegislativespecialelectionsheldsofar,apositivesignofDemocraticvoterengagementintheTrumpera.AQuistwin,thoughunlikely,wouldnotbeacompleteshockgiventheamountofattentiontheracehasreceived,andwe’removingtheracetoLeansRepublicanasawayofallowingfor an upset. Meanwhile, we’re still about a month away from themuch-anticipatedspecialHouseelectioninGA-6,whereformercongressionalaideJonOssoff(D)facesfor-merGeorgiaSecretaryofStateKarenHandel(R)inwhathasbecomethemostexpensiveHouseelectionofalltime.Therehavebeenonlytwononpartisanpollssincetheini-tialroundofvotinglastmonth:HandelledbytwopointsinonepollandOssoffledbytwointheother.There’severyreasontoexpectaverycloseoutcome. On Tuesday, former state Rep. Ralph Norman appeared to win a primary runoff to become the Republi-cannomineeinSC-5,althoughhisleadoverstateHouseSpeakerProTemTommyPope--200votes,orabout half a percentage point -- was so small that a recount looms. Assuming he is the nominee, NormanstartsasaheavyfavoriteagainstArchieParnell(D),aformerGoldmanSachstaxadviser,in a race that hasn’t yet attracted national spend-ing outside of the GOP primary. As with the other special elections, where Parnell performs in relation toClintonisworthwatching:Shelostthedistrictby19pointslastyear. There’s really no indication that Parnell has muchofashottowin.Butwe’regoingtomovethisracefromSafeRepublicantoLikelyRepublicananyway.Why?Becauseeventhoughthesespecialelectionsaredifferent,Trump’sproblemsmakethemallalikeinthesensethattheGOPhastoconstantly be on guard for upsets. BoththeSC-5andGA-6specialswillbeonTuesday,June20.Giventheseeminglyendless

floodofnewandpotentiallydamagingrevelationscomingout of the White House, the circumstances under which those elections are contested a month from now could be significantlydifferentthantheyarenow.

Alternative Trump ‘deep state’ campaign WASHINGTON—Enemiesfromwithinhavelauncheda“deep-state”smearcampaign,newsorgani-zationsareactingwithulteriormotives,andtheworstattacksareyettocome(Peters,NewYorkTimes).PushingbackagainstthebiggestthreatsofartoDonaldTrump’syoungpresidency,hismostferventsupportersarebuildingalternativenarrativestorunalongsidethe“establishment”mediaaccount—fromrelativelybenigndiversionstomorebizarreconspiracies. “They’regoingtosaythatDonaldTrumphasAlzheimer’s,”saidthepresident’sfriendandlongtimeas-sociateRogerStone,whomadeanonlinevideolayingouthowthepresident’sowncabinetcouldtriggeranever-usedprovisionoftheConstitution’s25thAmendmenttostage a coup on the grounds that Mr. Trump is mentally unsound.“Thisisthegameplan.Watchcarefully,”Mr.Stone swore. AsAmericansprocessadizzyingweekofdamningrevelationsaboutthepresident—hisfiringoftheF.B.I.director,JamesB.Comey;hisdisclosureofhighlysensitiveintelligencetotheRussians;andhispleatoMr.Comeytodropthebureau’sinvestigationofhisfirednationalsecuri-tyadviser,MichaelT.Flynn—Mr.Trumphasfoundshelterontheright,wherethecollectivejudgmentoftheconser-vativemediaandtheRepublicanPartysofarseemstobetodismisstheallegationsas“fakenews,”shifttheblameandchangethesubject. Withvaryingdegreesofcredibilityandcredulity,conservativeshavefedstoriesthatMr.TrumpisthevictimofsabotagebyanadversarialintelligencecommunityfullofTrojanhorseholdoversfromtheObamaadministration.v

David Brooks, New York Times: At certain times DonaldTrumphasseemedlikeabuddingauthoritarian,acorruptNixon,arabble-rousingpopulistorabigbusinesscorporatist. But as Trump has settled into his White House role,hehasgivenaseriesoflonginterviews,andwhenyou study the transcripts it becomes clear that funda-mentally he is none of these things. At base, Trump is an infantalist.Therearethreetasksthatmostmatureadultshavesortoffiguredoutbythetimetheyhit25.Trumphas mastered none of them. Immaturity is becoming the dominantnoteofhispresidency,lackofself-controlhisleitmotif.First,mostadultshavelearnedtositstill. But mentally, Trump is still a 7-year-old boy who is bouncing around the classroom. Trump’sanswersintheseinterviewsarenotverylong—200wordsatthehighend—buthewilltypicallyflitthroughfourorfivetopicsbefore ending up with how unfair the press is tohim.Hisinabilitytofocushisattentionmakesit hard for him to learn and master facts. He is ill informed abouthisownpoliciesandtrampleshisowntalkingpoints.Itmakesithardtocontrolhismouth.Onanimpulse,hewillpromiseataxreformwhenhisstaffhasdonelittleoftheactualwork.Second,mostpeopleofdrinkingagehaveachievedsomeaccuratesenseofthemselves,someinter-nal criteria to measure their own merits and demerits. But Trump seems to need perpetual outside ap-provaltostabilizehissenseofself,soheisperpetuallydesperateforapproval,tellingheroicfabulisttalesabouthimself.“InashortperiodoftimeIunderstoodeverythingtherewastoknowabouthealthcare,”hetoldTime.“Alotofthepeoplehavesaidthat,somepeoplesaiditwasthesinglebestspeechevermadeinthatchamber,”hetoldTheAssociatedPress,referringtohisjointsessionspeech.ByTrump’sownaccount,heknowsmoreaboutaircraftcarriertechnologythantheNavy.Accordingtohisinter-viewwithTheEconomist,heinventedthephrase“primingthepump”(eventhoughitwasfamousby1933).Trumpisnotonlytryingtodeceiveothers.Hisfalsehoodsareattempts to build a world in which he can feel good for an instantandcomfortablydeceivehimself.Heisthustheall-time record-holder of the Dunning-Kruger effect, the phe-nomenon in which the incompetent person is too incompe-tent to understand his own incompetence. Trump thought he’dbecelebratedforfiringJamesComey.Hethoughthispresscoveragewouldgrowwildlypositiveoncehewonthe nomination. He is perpetually surprised because reality does not comport with his fantasies. Third,byadulthoodmostpeoplecanperceivehowothersarethinking.Forexample,theylearnsubtleartssuchasfalsemodestysotheywon’tbeperceivedasobnoxious.ButTrumpseemstohavenotyetdevelopedatheoryofmind.Otherpeopleareblackboxesthatsup-plyeitheraffirmationordisapproval.Asaresult,heisweirdlytransparent.Hewantspeopletolovehim,soheisconstantlytellinginterviewersthatheiswidelyloved.InTrump’stelling,everymeetingwasscheduledfor15min-

utesbuthisguestsstayedtwohoursbecausetheylikedhim so much. v

Jon Webb, Evansville Courier & Press: You don’tneedthis,Donald.Quit.Lookatyourself.PacingaroundtheWhiteHouseinaketchup-stainedbathrobe.CursingandaskingthenearestadviserifyoucanlegallyhaveJakeTappershippedtoChechnya.Themediaaregnawingatyouranklesagain.Theyaccuseyoudivulg-ingclassifiedinformationtoahostilecountry.Interferingwithinvestigations.StabbingJimmyHoffaandentomb-

ing him in the walls of Trump Tower. That last one’snottrue–atleastnotyet.Givethem24hoursandyou’llbetheBlackDahliakiller.Tuesdayeveningbroughtoneofthebiggestblockbustersyet.Iwouldsayit’sthebiggest,but that statement could be outdated within minutes.TheNewYorkTimesisreportingthatyouaskedformerFBIdirectorJamesComey

toceasethefederalinvestigationintoMichaelFlynn’sal-legedtiestoRussia.TheyevenhaveamemodraftedbyComeyhimself,inwhichhelaysoutaFebruarymeetinginpoint-by-pointdetail.It’sthekindofreportthatmakesNixon’sskeletonwince.TrumppressedJamesComeytocloseFBIinquiryintoformeradviserMichaelFlynn.EvenifTrumprevealedclassifiedinteltoRussia,it’sstillclassifiedforeveryoneelse.We’recreepingclosertoobstructionofjusticehere,pal.Andwhileyou’llstillhaveplentyofGOPlawmakersandhardcoresupportersandright-wingmediatypes go out of their way to defend you, what’s the point? Youdon’tneedthis,Donald.Quit.v

Michael Gerson, Washington Post:Eveninaneraofmarriagediversity,itremainsthemostunlikelymatch:PresidentTrumpandhisloyalevangelicalbase.Inthecompulsivelytransgressive,foul-mouthed,loser-disdaining,mammon-worshipingbillionaire,conservativeChristians“havefoundtheirdreampresident,”accordingtoJerryFalwellJr.Itisamiracle,ofsorts.Inarecentanalysis,thePewResearchCenterfoundthatmorethanthree-fourthsofwhiteevangelicalChristiansapproveofTrump’sjobperformance,mostofthem“strongly.”Withtheseevangelicalscomprisingaboutaquarteroftheelectorate,theirsupportisthelifejacketpreventingTrumpfromslippingintounrecoverablepoliticaldepths.Thees-senceofTrump’sappealtoconservativeChristianscanbefound in his otherwise anodyne commencement speech at LibertyUniversity.“Beinganoutsiderisfine,”Trumpsaid.“Embracethelabel.”Andthenhepromised:“AslongasIamyourpresident,nooneisevergoingtostopyoufrompracticingyourfaith.”Trumppresentedevangelicalsasagroup of besieged outsiders, in need of a defender. This senseofgrievanceandculturaldispossession—thecom-mon ground between The Donald and the faithful — runs deepinevangelicalChristianhistory.v

Mueller namedspecial prosecutor WASHINGTON—TheJus-tice Department appointed Robert S. Mueller III, a former F.B.I. director, as special counsel on Wednesday to overseetheinvestigationintotiesbetween President Trump’s campaign andRussianofficials,dramaticallyraisingthelegalandpoliticalstakesinan affair that has threatened to engulf Mr. Trump’s four-month-old presidency (WashingtonPost).Thedecisionbythe deputy attorney gen-eral,RodJ.Rosenstein,came after a cascade of damagingdevelopmentsfor Mr. Trump in recent days, including his abrupt dismissal of the F.B.I. director,JamesB.Comey,andthesubsequent disclosure that Mr. Trump askedMr.Comeytodroptheinvesti-gation of his former national security adviser,MichaelT.Flynn.“Mydecisionisnotafindingthatcrimeshavebeencommitted or that any prosecution is warranted,”Mr.Rosensteinadded.“Ihavemadenosuchdetermination.”Inastatement,Mr.Trumpsaid,“AsIhavestatedmanytimes,athoroughinvestigationwillconfirmwhatwealreadyknow—therewasnocollu-sion between my campaign and any foreignentity.Ilookforwardtothismatterconcludingquickly.”

Holcomb to signEast Chicago bill INDIANAPOLIS — The governor’sofficeannouncedthatGov.HolcombwillceremoniallysignHEA1344,regardingassistanceforresidents in lead contaminated areas ofEastChicago.Theeventisslatedtobeginat11:30a.m.CDTatRileyParkRecreationPavilioninEastChicago.AmongthosejoiningthegovernorwillbeStateSen.EdCharbonneau(R-Val-poraiso),StateSen.LonnieRandolph(D-EastChicago),StateRep.EarlHarris,Jr.(D-EastChicago)andotherstateandlocalofficialsandstakehold-

ers.HolcombwillvisitMichiganCity,to sign new Indiana State legisla-tionthatwillprovidefundingforthedouble-trackingoftheSouthShoreLinebetweenGaryandMichiganCity(WIMS).Holcomb,MayorRonMeerandseveralguestswilltakeaceremo-nious ride on the South Shore Line.

Holcomb returnsto DC lobbyst Hohlt INDIANAPOLIS—Gov.EricHolcomb has turned the reins of Indiana’slobbyingeffortsbacktoa

D.C.insiderwhohasexpe-rience pushing the state’s interests(Kelly,FortWayneJournalGazette).DeborahHohlt has returned as the state’s primary lobbyist after servinginthatroleforeight

yearsunderformerGov.MitchDan-iels.Whenthen-Gov.MikePencecameonin2013hewentanotherdirectionwithJoshPitcock,whoisnowhischiefofstaffintheVicePresident’soffice.

McCormick willreview vouchers INDIANAPOLIS — Republican stateSuperintendentJenniferMcCor-micktoldNPRIndiana’svoucherpro-gramshouldbereviewedtodeterminewhetherit’sawiseuseoftaxdollars.“Youknow,we’respendingroughly$146milliononaprogramandnotreallyreviewingit,”shesaid.“Thatisirresponsible.”

McCarthy: Trump paid by Putin KIEV,Ukraine—Amonthbefore Donald Trump clinched the Republican nomination, one of his closestalliesinCongress—HouseMajorityLeaderKevinMcCarthy—madeapoliticallyexplosiveassertioninaprivateconversationonCapitolHill with his fellow GOP leaders: that Trumpcouldbethebeneficiaryofpay-ments from Russian President Vladimir Putin(WashingtonPost).“There’stwo

peopleIthinkPutinpays:Rohrabach-erandTrump,”McCarthy(R-Calif.)said, according to a recording of the June15,2016,exchange,whichwaslistenedtoandverifiedbyTheWash-ington Post. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher isaCalifornianRepublicanknowninCongressasaferventdefenderofPutinandRussia.HouseSpeakerPaulD.Ryanimmediatelyinterjected,stoppingtheconversationfromfurtherexploringMcCarthy’sassertion,andswore the Republicans present to se-crecy.Beforetheconversation,McCar-thy and Ryan had emerged from sepa-ratetalksattheCapitolwithUkrainianPrime Minister Vladi mir Groysman, who had described a Kremlin tactic offinancingpopulistpoliticianstoun-dercutEasternEuropeandemocraticinstitutions.Newshadjustbrokentheday before in The Washington Post thatRussiangovernmenthackershadpenetratedthecomputernetworkoftheDemocraticNationalCommit-tee,promptingMcCarthytoshifttheconversationfromRussianmeddlinginEuropetoeventsclosertohome.

Fox News founderAiles dies at age 77 WASHINGTON—FoxNewsreportedthismorningthatnetworkfounder Roger Ailes died today at age 77.AileswasfiredfromFoxNewsafteranumberofsexualharassmentsuitswereleveledatthenetwork.

Special judge forex-Columbus mayor COLUMBUS—TheformermayorofColumbuswhofiledalawsuitagainst the city’s police department was unsuccessful in getting the case movedoutofBartholomewCounty(WCSI).However,thecasebroughtby Kristen Brown will be heard by a specialjudge.Theformermayorhasbeenbattlingcityofficialsonissuesrelated to information being made availabletothepublicsinceshewasreplacedbycurrentMayorJimLien-hoopinJanuary.

Trump controversies swirl by Pence

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