Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 29, 2019)
A6 THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 Democrats intensify demand for Mueller’s full report Fired-up Trump pushes ‘no collusion’ angle in Russia report By JONATHAN LEMIRE and JILL COLVIN Associated Press By LISA MASCARO, LAURIE KELLMAN and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press WASHINGTON — Democrats intensifi ed their demands for Robert Muel- ler’s full report after learning the special counsel’s fi nd- ings from his Trump-Rus- sia investigation run to more than 300 pages, while Presi- dent Donald Trump boasted of total exoneration based on a four-page summary by his attorney general. House Judiciary Chair- man Jerrold Nadler was told by Attorney General William Barr that there’s no inten- tion of giving the confi den- tial report to Congress imme- diately as he redacts grand jury testimony and other elements. Democrats say they may subpoena the report if it’s not forthcoming by their Tues- day deadline, which Barr has said will not be met. Through the day, tempers were rising on Capitol Hill. Shaking her fi st for emphasis, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Barr’s summary, which cleared Trump of campaign collu- sion with Russia and crimi- nal obstruction of Mueller’s federal probe, was “conde- scending” and “arrogant.” “Mr. Attorney Gen- eral,” she said, “show us the report and we’ll come to our own conclusions.” She asked what Trump and the Republicans were afraid of and mocked them as “scaredy-cats.” The length of Muel- ler’s still-confi dential report makes clear that there are substantially more details that he and his team have documented in their inves- tigation than Barr disclosed to Congress and the public. The volume of pages was described Thursday by a Justice Department offi cial AP Photo/Cliff Owen The attorney general has summarized Robert Mueller’s report. and another person familiar with the document. The Justice Department offi cial said Barr discussed the length of the report during a phone call Wednes- day with Nadler, who would only indicate it was less than 1,000 pages. Barr would not commit to providing the full report with its underlying evi- dence, according to a House Democratic aide. The attorney general has been going through the report amid Democratic concerns that what has been made public so far was tilted in Trump’s favor. It’s unclear whether whatever Barr might release next will be Mueller’s own words or another summary. Nadler offered to join Barr to seek a judge’s approval to unseal grand jury testimony, the aide said. Barr has said he’ll pro- vide Congress with at least a partial version in April and told Nadler he would agree to testify before his committee. As that battle brews, House Democrats barreled ahead with their own inves- tigation of the Trump admin- istration, and Trump resumed his attack on Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., just as the chairman of the intelligence committee was about to gavel his panel into session. “Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Con- gress!” Trump tweeted early Thursday. Republicans picking up on Trump’s complaints for- malized their demand that Schiff resign as chairman of the intelligence panel over his comments that there was signifi cant evidence the pres- ident and his associates con- spired with Russia. “We have no faith in your ability to discharge your responsibilities” in line with the Constitution, the Repub- licans wrote to Schiff in a missive they read aloud at the hearing. Republicans pointed to Barr’s synopsis, released Sunday, that said Muel- ler’s probe didn’t fi nd that Trump’s campaign “con- spired or coordinated” with the Russian government to infl uence the 2016 presiden- tial election. Schiff stood by his remarks, listing the meetings that people in Trump’s circle had with Russians. He noted Trump’s pursuit of a deal to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. “There is a different word for that than collusion, and it’s called compromise,” Schiff said, as he opened the session. The hearing was called to provide an overview on how Russia in the past has blackmailed Americans. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Presenting him- self as both vindicated and vindictive, a fi red-up Pres- ident Donald Trump turned the fi ndings of the Russia investigation into a political weapon at a Michigan rally that was part victory lap, part 2020 campaign push. Trump unleashed a fer- vent diatribe Thursday about the inquiry, which he deemed “the greatest hoax in the history of our coun- try.” He warned that those behind the probe “would be held accountable,” aired his grievances about the “unfair” media coverage and seethed that the mat- ter was an attempt “to tear up the fabric of our great democracy.” “After three years of lies and smears and slander, the Russia hoax is dead,” said Trump. “This was nothing more than a sinister effort to undermine our historic election victory and to sab- otage the will of the Amer- ican people.” The rollicking 82-min- ute speech unfolded before a boisterous crowd in a key state Trump swiped from Democrats in 2016. It marked his fi rst political event since Attorney Gen- eral William Barr released a summary that said spe- cial counsel Robert Muel- ler found no evidence that his campaign “conspired or coordinated” with the Rus- sian government to infl u- ence the 2016 campaign. With the cloud of the probe largely lifted, Trump is hop- ing to win re-election by keeping Michigan and sev- eral other Rust Belt states in his column. “It’s going to be so much easier the second time: We’re one for one,” Trump boasted. He basked in the adu- AP Photo/Paul Sancya President Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Grand Rapids, Mich. lation of his supporters at the Grand Rapids rally. The packed crowd, some of whom began to line up the night before, delivered a deafening roar for the president while unleashing its vitriol as he bashed the media and Democrats. The president linked Mueller’s probe with the myriad investigations launched by House Demo- crats and tried to make the case that, after Mueller’s fi ndings, further inquiries are partisan overreach. “The Democrats now have to decide if they will continue to defraud the American public with this ridiculous bulls--t,” said Trump, who urged the opposing party to instead work with him on issues like infrastructure repair and drug pricing. While Trump’s base has long been suspicious of Mueller, the president’s team believes indepen- dents and moderate Dem- ocrats who backed him in the last election but have since soured may return to the fold if convinced he was unfairly targeted. Trump used the moment to heighten his attacks on the media, which many Trump supporters believe unjustly fanned the fl ames of the special counsel’s probe in an effort to bring down the president. Trump stood before a familiar backdrop: a giant American fl ag, signs read- ing “Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!” and, of course, “Make America Great Again.” Though the aftermath of the probe was at the forefront of his mind, Trump also ticked off what he portrayed as his admin- istration’s accomplishments, including a booming stock market and victories over the Islamic State terror group. He also framed the Democrats’ presidential candidates as “radical,” and slammed the Green New Deal, an ambitious, wide-ranging plan to com- bat climate change, as a “dangerous” reinvention of American society. But he spent relatively little time on his administration’s renewed push to overturn the Affordable Care Act, other than to declare that the “Republican Party will be the party of health care.” He didn’t present many details as to what the new GOP plan might be. His eldest son, Don- ald Trump Jr., provided a high-energy warm-up act and, in particular, sav- aged family foe Michael Avenatti, the celebrity lawyer who represented Stormy Daniels, the porn star who alleged an affair with the president. Avenatti was arrested this week on charges of extortion. Clatsop CASA Thanks you! Destination Honda Your support at the 21 st A nnual CASA C elebration Thank you to our generous sponsors, donors, and volunteers. You are truly making a positive difference in children’s lives. Thank you to our generous sponsors, donors, and volunteers. You are truly making a positive difference in children’s lives. Hands & Hearts 2019 Sponsors / Major Donors 2018 Hands & Hearts 2019 Sponsors • Major Donors 2018 165 West Bond Adrienne Hunter Amy Baker Ann Lederer Astoria Coffeehouse and Bistro / Carruthers Astoria Cooperative Astoria High Leadership Class Babette Heimbuch Bank of the Pacific Barbara Crass Bay Breeze Boarding and Grooming Blair Henningsgaard Bob McEwan Construction, Inc. Bridgewater Bistro Carol Newman Chris and Mary Martin Christian Zupancic and Andrea Wahl Cindy Price City Lumber City of Astoria City of Cannon Beach City of Seaside Clatsop Community Bank Cliff and Arline LaMear Columbia Memorial Hospital Columbia Pacific CCO 165 West Bond Adrienne Hunter Amy Baker Ann Lederer Astoria Coffeehouse and Bistro / Carruthers Astoria Cooperative Astoria High Leadership Class Babette Heimbuch Bank of the Pacific Barbara Crass Bay Breeze Boarding and Grooming Blair Henningsgaard Bob McEwan Construction, Inc. Bridgewater Bistro Carol Newman Chris and Mary Martin Christian Zupancic and Andrea Wahl Cindy Price City Lumber City of Astoria City of Cannon Beach City of Seaside Clatsop Community Bank Columbia State Bank Constance Waisanen Craft 3 Dan and Sue Stein David Paul Deborah and William Armington Diane and Mike Tiedelman Diane Heintz Diane Somers D.R. and K.L. Leedom Dr. James Cartwright Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Klemp Dr. Raymond and Jennifer Lund Duane and Rebecca Johnson Ed and Jan Johnson Elizabeth Martin Ford Family Foundation Fred Meyer Fund Geraldine (Gerry) Swenson Jim and Sharon Damon John and Janet Nybakke Julie Olsen Kelley Rankin Kiwanis Club of Seaside Knutsen Insurance Lee Wheeler LEKTRO, Inc. LUM’s Auto Center Lylla Gaebel Margaret Lederer Martin Hospitality Martin Giguiere Northwest Natural Gas Oregon Community Foundation Pat’s Pantry Patsy and David Oser Peter and Mary Bales Salmon For All Scott Reuter Stacey and Chris Womack Steve and Jody Heverly Steve Emmons and James Atteberry Steve Forester and Brenda Penner Teevin Bros Land and Timber The Samuel S. Johnson Foundation TLC, a division of Fibre Federal Credit Union Tony Estrada Two Old Goats Farm and Feed, LLC United Way of Clatsop County US Bank Wendy and Ted Osborn Wimahl Family Clinic Zuplaw For destinations found on a map, or ones that are simple a state of mind. Trust a reliable Honda outboard to get you there. And back. Find out more at mainehonda.com Food and Beverage Donors Anne Teaford – Cantor Astoria Co-Op Baked Alaska Blue Scorcher Bridgewater Bistro Buoy Beer Carruthers Columbia River Coffee Roasters Dough Dough Bakery Finn’s Fishouse Fulio’s Growler Guys Hills Wild Flours Inferno Lounge James Atteberry Maggie’s on the Prom Mariju Yaakola Mary Ann Murk Mi Corazon Osprey Peter Pan Seaside Brewing Co. T – Paul’s Supper Club The Naked Lemon Times Theater and Brewery Tongue Point Job Corps Ctr. Twisted Fish Our Thanks To: Ann and Tony Kischner & the Bridgewater Bistro Staff • Dave Drury & Todd Pederson – Basin Street • Jazz Ensemble • Honorable Judge Dawn McIntosh • Foster Club • Briana Smith – The Loft in the Red Building • Bussert Law & Associates • Coast Community Radio – KMUN • Susan Spence • ifocus Consulting • ALSCO Linen • Tongue Point Job Corps Center • The Daily Astorian • Ohana Media Group Special thanks to the bakers, volunteers, Board members, and other supporters throughout the year whose efforts help create hopeful futures for kids! If you would like to learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, please visit our website at www.clatsopcasa.org New volunteer training starts April 10th! Your Authorized Honda Marine Dealer CLATSOP POWER EQUIPMENT, INC. 34912 HWY. 101 BUSINESS ASTORIA, OR. 97103 1-800-220-0792 • 503-325-0792