| | | | More Russia stories keep Washington chattering | | Just before Memorial Day weekend kicked off, a series of competing stories dropped. - CNN reported that then-FBI Director James Comey acted last summer on a document he knew to be a fake. Comey decided the document, apparently from Russian intelligence, could have undermined the credibility of the FBI and the Justice Department, so he decided to go public with his thinking on the investigation into Hillary Clinton's email practices as secretary of state.
- The Washington Post reported that Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak told Moscow that Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and now a White House aide, last December asked for a back channel for the Trump transition team to communicate with Russia away from prying US eyes.
- The New York Times, however, said the back channel was for Syria and other issues for policy discussion.
- Reuters, citing seven current and former US officials, said Kushner had "at least three" undisclosed contacts with Kislyak.
Virtually all members of Congress on the Sunday shows said they wanted more information.
Sen. Lindsey Graham told CNN's Dana Bash that he didn't trust the storyline around Kushner's reported back channel request and said Comey needed to be held "accountable." He also claimed Comey informed the Senate and House intelligence committees of "explosive documents" relating to the Democratic Party and Russia -- but never said they were fake.
Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said on ABC that Kushner's security clearance should be reviewed.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said on several programs he believed it was a big to-do for nothing.
"I don't see the big deal," Kelly said on Fox. | | "We won't make little concessions,
even symbolic ones." -- French President Emmanuel Macron explains his handshake with US President Donald Trump | | | | German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking in Munich, says Europeans have to fight for their own future. | | Trump makes it back to Washington | | President Donald Trump declared his first foreign trip in office a resounding success. CNN's Kevin Liptak and Jeff Zeleny offered a full recap as the President headed back to the United States:
"'We have been gone for a long time,' Trump declared at the Sigonella Air Base. 'Everywhere I go -- we have been gone close to nine days, this will be nine days -- I think we hit a home run no matter where we are.'"
Likewise, CNN's Jeremy Diamond has five takeaways from Trump's journey: Russia controversy follows Trump wherever he goes. Terrorism is still Trump's core issue. "America first" campaign rhetoric is Trump's go-to (even in Riyadh). In the Middle East, alliances are central, while human rights take a back seat. Trump is still finding his footing on the world stage.
Trump got back to Washington Saturday night and by Sunday morning he issued a series of tweets attacking the "#FakeNews."
In his tweets, Trump claimed anonymous sources cited in news reports were actually fabricated. He has made this claim in the past, only to be rebutted by major media outlets. This time was no different, with many citing Trump's own use of anonymous sources as well as the White House's inclination to attribute information on background. | | | Vice President Mike Pence, along with second lady Karen Pence, headed back home for the Indianapolis 500. | | 4 things you might have missed | | The United States 'might' expand its laptop ban: Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the United States might put a ban on all laptops in international flights to and from the country. Read more from CNN's Jackie Wattles.
US leaving world waiting on climate: President Donald Trump tweeted Saturday that he will make a decision "next week" on whether to withdraw from the Paris climate accord. Read more from CNN's Miranda Green.
What a realized Trump budget would mean: Spending cuts proposed in Trump's budget could touch people across the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Here's a strong piece from way outside of Washington by CNN's Juana Summers and Jeff Simon.
Top Trump advisers dodge Kushner questions: National security adviser H.R. McMaster declined to wade into reports about Jared Kushner, as did Gary Cohn, the director of the National Economic Council. Read more from CNN's Jeremy Diamond and Jeff Zeleny. | | | Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Eric's wife Lara Trump held multiple meetings at the RNC. ... European Union Council President Donald Tusk said he's more optimistic than expected after the G-7 meetings. | | Thanks for reading the CNN Politics Nightcap. Your bartender is Eli Watkins. The tip jar: nightcap@cnn.com. | | | Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. | | | | | |
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