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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 8, 2018)
5A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2018 Sessions out as AG; Russia probe in question By ERIC TUCKER and MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press WASHINGTON — Attorney Gen- eral Jeff Sessions was pushed out after enduring more than a year of blister- ing and personal attacks from Presi- dent Donald Trump, who inserted in his place a Republican Party loyalist with authority to oversee the remain- der of the special counsel’s Russia investigation. The move Wednesday has poten- tially ominous implications for special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe given that the new acting attorney general, Matthew Whitaker, until now Sessions’ chief of staff, has questioned the inqui- ry’s scope and spoke publicly before joining the Justice Department about ways an attorney general could theoret- ically stymie the investigation. Congressional Democrats, con- cerned about protecting Mueller, called on Whitaker to recuse himself from overseeing the investigation in its final but potentially explosive stages. That duty has belonged to Deputy Attor- ney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller and closely moni- tors his work. “Donald Trump must be terrified about what Robert Mueller’s investi- gation has uncovered,” said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon. “Trump is desperately trying to pro- tect himself and his cronies from justice by installing a political hack as acting attorney general,” Wyden added. “Mat- thew Whitaker has openly called for restrictions on Mueller’s investigation and described a game plan to obstruct AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty Attorney General Jeff Sessions left at Trump’s request, according to his resignation letter. Mueller from doing his job and get- ting to the bottom of Russia’s interfer- ence in our democracy. Given these comments, at a minimum, he should recuse himself from the special coun- sel’s investigation. “Whitaker’s appointment raises blaring alarms about the acceleration of obstruction of justice and a fundamen- tal attack on the rule of law in our coun- try. Congress must act right now to pro- tect the special counsel’s investigation.” The resignation, in a one-page letter to Trump, came one day after Republi- cans lost control of the House and was the first of several expected post-mid- terms Cabinet and White House depar- tures. Though Sessions was an early and prominent campaign backer of Trump, his departure letter lacked effu- sive praise for the president and made clear the resignation came “at your request.” “Since the day I was honored to be sworn in as attorney general of the United States, I came to work at the Department of Justice every day deter- mined to do my duty and serve my country,” Sessions wrote. The departure was the culmination of a toxic relationship that frayed just weeks into Sessions’ tenure, when he stepped aside from the Russia investi- gation because of his campaign advo- cacy and following the revelation that he had met twice in 2016 with the Rus- sian ambassador to the U.S. Trump blamed the recusal for the appointment of Mueller, who took over the Russia investigation two months later and began examining whether hush money payments before the 2016 Trump’s hectoring of Sessions was part election to two women who said they of a broader effort to obstruct the probe. had sex with Trump. Trump had repeatedly been talked The investigation has produced 32 criminal charges and guilty pleas out of firing Sessions until after the from four former Trump aides. But the midterms, but he told confidants in work is not done, and critical decisions recent weeks that he wanted Ses- await that could shape the remainder of sions out as soon as possible after the elections. Trump’s presidency. The president A Kremlin deflected ques- spokesman, Dmi- try Peskov, today tions about Ses- sions’ expected called Muel- ler’s investiga- departure at a tion a “headache” White House for U.S. author- news conference ities but said it Wednesday. He “has nothing to do did not mention with us,” and he that White House declined to com- chief of staff John ment on Sessions’ Kelly had called Sessions before- departure. hand to ask for his M u e l l e r ’s resignation. The grand jury has undated letter was heard testimony then sent to the for months about White House. Trump confidant The Jus- Roger Stone and tice Department what advance Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon did not directly knowledge he answer whether may have had Whitaker would about Russian hacking of Democratic emails. Muel- assume control of Mueller’s investiga- ler’s team also has been pressing for an tion, with spokeswoman Sarah Isgur interview with Trump. And the depart- Flores saying he would be “in charge ment is expected to receive a confiden- of all matters under the purview of the tial report of Mueller’s findings, though Department of Justice.” it’s unclear how much will be public. Rosenstein remains at the depart- Separately, Justice Department ment and could still be involved in prosecutors in New York secured a oversight. He has previously said that guilty plea from Trump’s former per- he saw no basis for firing Mueller. sonal lawyer, Michael Cohen, who said Trump said Wednesday that he did not the president directed him to arrange plan to stop the investigation. ‘DONALD TRUMP MUST BE TERRIFIED ABOUT WHAT ROBERT MUELLER’S INVESTIGATION HAS UNCOVERED.’ WORLD IN BRIEF Associated Press Marine combat veteran kills 12 in shooting at crowded California bar THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Using a smoke bomb and a handgun, a hooded Marine combat veteran dressed all in black opened fire during college night at a country music bar in Southern California, killing 12 people and send- ing hundreds fleeing in panic before apparently taking his own life. Authorities said the motive for the attack Wednesday night is under investigation. The killer was identified as 28-year-old Ian David Long, a former machine gunner and dec- orated veteran of the war in Afghanistan who was interviewed by police at his home last spring after an episode of agitated behavior that they were told might be post-traumatic stress disorder. Screaming in fear, patrons rushed for the exits, ducked under tables and hurled barstools to smash second-floor windows and jump to safety as gunfire erupted at the Borderline Bar & Grill, a hangout popular with students from nearby California Lutheran University. The dead included 11 people inside the bar and a veteran sheriff’s sergeant who was the first officer inside the door, Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said. It was the nation’s deadliest such attack since 17 students and teachers were killed at a Park- land, Florida, high school nine months ago. It also came less than two weeks after a gun- man massacred 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. President Donald Trump praised police for their “great bravery” in the California attack and THE DAILY ASTORIAN T HURSDAY E VENING A (2) (-) (-) (6) (-) (8) (9) (10) (12) (13) (-) (20) (-) (29) (30) (31) (32) (34) (35) (36) (38) (39) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) (50) (51) (52) (53) (54) (56) (57) (58) (61) (63) (64) (65) (162) L KATU KOMO KING KOIN KIRO KGW KRCW KOPB KPTV KPDX KCPQ TBS KZJO ESPN ESPN2 NICK DISN FAM FMC LIFE ROOT FS1 SPIKE COM HIST A&E TLC DISC NGEO TNT AMC USA FOOD HGTV FX CNN FNC CNBC BRAV TCM SYFY RFD (2) (4) (5) (-) (7) (-) (3) (10) (12) (-) (13) (20) (22) (29) (30) (31) (32) (34) (35) (36) (38) (39) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) (50) (51) (52) (53) (54) (56) (57) (58) (61) (63) (64) (65) (162) 6 said, “God bless all of the victims and families of the victims.” He ordered flags flown at half- staff in honor of the victims. Long was armed with a Glock 21, a .45-cal- iber designed to hold 10 rounds plus one in the chamber, according to the sheriff. But it had an extended magazine — one capable of holding more ammunition — that is illegal in Califor- nia, Dean said. erals that she should step down in the first two years of President Barack Obama’s second term, when Democrats also controlled the Sen- ate and would have been likely to confirm her successor. She already has hired clerks for the term that extends into 2020, indicating she has no plans to retire. Ginsburg leads the court’s liberal wing. Justice Ginsburg hospitalized after fracturing 3 ribs in fall White House bans CNN reporter after confrontation with Trump WASHINGTON, D.C. — Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 85, fractured three ribs in a fall in her office at the court and is in the hospital, the court said today. The court’s oldest justice fell Wednesday evening, the court said. She called Supreme Court police to take her to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early today after experiencing discomfort overnight. In her absence, the court went ahead today with a courtroom ceremony welcoming new Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who joined the court last month. President Donald Trump and new acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker were on hand. Ginsburg has had a series of health prob- lems. She broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She has had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. She also was hospitalized after a bad reac- tion to medicine in 2009. But she has never missed Supreme Court arguments. The court won’t hear arguments again until Nov. 26. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1993, Ginsburg rebuffed suggestions from some lib- NEW YORK — The White House has sus- pended the press pass of CNN correspon- dent Jim Acosta after he and President Don- ald Trump had a heated confrontation during a news conference. They began sparring Wednesday after Acosta asked Trump about the caravan of migrants heading from Latin America to the southern U.S. border. When Acosta tried to follow up with another question, Trump said, “That’s enough!” and a female White House aide unsuccessfully tried to grab the microphone from Acosta. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement accusing Acosta of “placing his hands on a young woman just try- ing to do her job as a White House intern,” call- ing it “absolutely unacceptable.” The interaction between Acosta and the intern was brief, and Acosta appeared to brush her arm as she reached for the microphone and he tried to hold onto it. “Pardon me, ma’am,” he told her. Acosta tweeted that Sanders’ statement that he put his hands on the aide was “a lie.” CNN said in a statement that the White House revoked Acosta’s press pass out of “retal- SCHEDULE A - Charter Astoria/ Seaside - L - Charter Long Beach iation for his challenging questions” Wednes- day, and the network accused Sanders of lying about Acosta’s actions. “(Sanders) provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democ- racy and the country deserves better,” CNN said. “Jim Acosta has our full support.” Journalists assigned to cover the White House apply for passes that allow them daily access to press areas in the West Wing. White House staffers decide whether journalists are eligible, though the Secret Service determines whether their applications are approved. 8 of 10 Oregon counties approve measure to boost gun rights PORTLAND — Voters in eight Oregon counties have approved ordinances to bolster residents’ gun rights that were championed by militia groups. The ordinances say that residents of those counties now have the right to own semi-auto- matic weapons and high-capacity magazines, regardless of state or federal law. They also empower sheriffs to determine if state and federal gun laws are constitutional and prohibit the use of county funds to enforce them. But the ordinances are likely to be chal- lenged in court and are seen as mostly symbolic. The measure appeared in Baker, Colum- bia, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lake, Lincoln, Linn, Umatilla and Union counties. It passed in all but Jackson and Lincoln counties. Two militia groups, the Three Percenters and Oath Keepers, campaigned for the ordinance across the state. Evening listings THURSDAY N OVEMBER 8 PM 6:30 7 PM 7:30 8 PM 8:30 9 PM 9:30 10 PM 10:30 11 PM 11:30 Jeopardy! (N) KATU News at 6 (N) Wheel Fortune (N) Grey's A. "Anybody Have a Map?" (N) Station 19 "Last Day on Earth" (N) Away With Murder "I Got Played" (N) News (N) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel KOMO 4 News (N) Wheel Fortune (N) Jeopardy! (N) Grey's A. "Anybody Have a Map?" (N) Station 19 "Last Day on Earth" (N) Away With Murder "I Got Played" (N) KOMO 4 News (N) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel NBC News (N) KING 5 News (N) KING 5 News (N) Evening Superstore (N) GoodPlace (N) Will & Grace (N) I Feel Bad (N) Law & Order: S.V.U. "Hell's Kitchen" (N) KING 5 News (N) (:35) Tonight Show KOIN Local 6 (N) Evening News (N) Extra Ent. Tonight (N) The Big Bang (N) Young Sheldon (N) Mom (N) Murphy Brown (N) S.W.A.T. "Inheritance" (N) News (N) (:35) Colbert KIRO 7 News (N) Evening News (N) KIRO 7 News (N) Ent. 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