Friends,
If you woke up this morning with a feeling of serenity and contentment, you aren’t alone. After a week that featured a blatantly racist year book page, calls for resignation, ballooning “executive time” and another impending shutdown it seems the only constant in life anymore is the New England Patriots, champions again.
Let’s dig in.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam
Ralph Northam, Governor of Virginia, has been dealt what should be a death blow to his political career. On Friday, a copy of Gov. Northam’s medical school year book page surfaced online. His personal page included a photograph showing one person in blackface and another in a KKK consume.
Northam, on Friday, confirmed he was one of the people in the picture and apologized for what he called “clearly racist and offensive.”
But then, a day later, he reversed course saying:
· “I am not either of the people in the photo”
· “I am not the person in that photo”
· “That is not my person in that picture”
· “I truly do not believe that I am in the picture”; and “The picture is not me.”
In the same press conference, Northam admitted to dressing in blackface previously to impersonate Michael Jackson and made comments about how difficult it is to remove shoe polish from one’s face.
Almost every single Democrat has called for Northam to resign, which he has not. However, it is clear he is contemplating an exit. He called an urgent senior staff meeting during the Super Bowl to discuss his options. Now, the very fact he thinks he has options is an implicit admission he has zero understanding of his actions and their consequences.
Before I get to the man who would replace him, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, let’s be very very clear. Gov. Northam needs to resign immediately.
Northam defenders say it was not him in the photograph and his remorse is sincere.
But what I keep going back to is the fact that he, at some point, allowed that photograph to be associated with his name. He is either in the photograph, which warrants resignation, or, he is not and put it on his page, which warrants resignation, or, he is not in the photograph, did not put it on his page, but saw it afterwards and did not raise absolute hell that he was associated with such heinous imagery, which still warrants resignation.
If he does step aside Justin Fairfax , Virginia’s only African-American statewide office holder will become Governor. Great, end of story. Right? No.
As if you thought this couldn’t get worse, the conservative website Big League Politics published a story which accuses Fairfax of sexually assaulting a woman at the 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston. Fairfax denies the allegations calling the encounter completely consensual.
The Washington Post reported that the woman who has accused Fairfax approached the paper in 2017 and they did not public the allegations because: “Fairfax and the woman told different versions of what happened in the hotel room” and the Post “could not find anyone who could corroborate either version.”
Fairfax allies are suspicious that Gov. Northam is behind the resurfaced accusations.
If Northam does not step aside, the state legislature could try and impeach him, however, many lawmakers and constitutional lawyers have cast doubt on such an effort, noting that the constitution only calls for impeachment in cases of mental or physical incapacitation.
Inauguration Committee Investigation
Prosecutors from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York received a subpoena for documents relating to the President’s inaugural committee. They are seeking documents detailing to donors, attendees, benefits (including photo opportunities), vendors, contracts etc. specifically looking for illegal foreign donations.
Specifically, US Attorneys are looking for evidence of foreigners illegally donating through “straw donors” to disguise their identity. New York state investigations represent another legal headache for the Trump Administration. Such investigations would continue even after Robert Mueller’s investigation concludes.
Immigration Negotiation
The President has, of late, changed his tone on the wall. He is increasingly floating the idea of using his National Emergency powers to finish the wall which he now says is already being built, which, begs the question, if it’s already being built why did federal employees have to endure the longest shutdown in US history?
Regardless, several Republican Senators are opposed to Trump using emergency action. Fundamentally, expanding executive power is the antithesis of the small government foundation of conservative politics.
This could come to a head if the House passes a resolution of disapproval. Such a resolution is required to be taken up on the floor of the Senate. It would take only four Republican Senators to side with Democrats to sustain the resolution and publicly condemn the President.
Senator Lindsey Graham, whose selective amnesia has caused him to forget his dedication to constitutional conservatism, is telling his fellow Republicans to back the President no matter what.
Bite Sized Politics
· A senior White House official leaked President Trump’s personal schedule from the past 51 days. What they show is that 60% of President Trumps day is classified as “executive time” which he uses to watch TV, talk on the phone and meet with allies.
· President Trump is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union tomorrow at 9 pm. Stacey Abrams, former candidate for Georgia Governor, will deliver the Democratic response.
· David Malpass, undersecretary for international affairs at the Treasury Department, is expected to be Trump’s pick to lead the World Bank.
· A POLITICO/Morning Consult poll released on Monday that found 76 percent of registered voters believe the wealthiest Americans should pay more in taxes and a Fox News survey showed that 70 percent of Americans favor raising taxes on those earning over $10 million — including 54 percent of Republicans.
· Democrats are increasingly worried about ex-Starbucks CEO Howard Schutltz running for President, and for good reason. 26% of those who approve of Trump’s performance as President would consider a third party-candidate while 41% of those who disapprove of the President would do so.
· Cory Booker, Senator from New Jersey and former mayor of Newark is running for President. Watch his campaign announcement video here.
Thanks,
Crawford
The Lens 