Comey Agrees to Testify in Public and More in Politics Today

It’s difficult to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in this country and to break through the clutter, so we’re here to make it easier. Here’s what we at Countable are reading today:

1. Ex-FBI chief Comey to testify to Senate panel in public session

Former FBI Director James Comey, who was fired by President Donald Trump last week amid an agency probe into alleged Russian meddling in the U.S. election, has agreed to testify before the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee at a public hearing, the committee said in a statement on Friday.

The hearing will be scheduled after the May 29 Memorial Day holiday, the statement said.

Read more at Reuters on MSN.

2. Russia probe reaches current White House official, people familiar with the case say

The law enforcement investigation into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign has identified a current White House official as a significant person of interest, showing that the probe is reaching into the highest levels of government, according to people familiar with the matter.

The senior White House adviser under scrutiny by investigators is someone close to the president, according to these people, who would not further identify the official.

Read more at The Washington Post.

3. Trump Told Russians That Firing 'Nut Job' Comey Eased Pressure From Investigation

President Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office this month that firing the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, had relieved "great pressure" on him, according to a document summarizing the meeting.

"I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job," Mr. Trump said, according to the document, which was read to The New York Times by an American official. "I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off."

Read more at The New York Times.

4. White House moving ahead with stiff EPA budget cuts: group, citing document

President Donald Trump's administration plans deep cuts to state environmental programs, a summary of the Environmental Protection Agency's 2018 budget showed on Friday, even after some Republicans in affected states raised concerns when the agency released an initial outline of the budget in March.

The EPA's grants to state and local governments on pollution issues from air quality management to pesticides enforcement would be cut 45 percent to $597 million in the fiscal year 2018 budget proposal the administration will send to Congress next week, according to details released by the National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA).

The nonprofit group, an association of pollution control agencies in 40 states and various municipalities and territories, said details on the budget came directly from a leaked administration document.

Read more at Reuters.

5. Senators introduce lifetime lobbying ban for lawmakers

A bipartisan group of senators wants to ban lawmakers from ever becoming lobbyists after they leave Congress.

GOP Sen. Cory Gardner (Colo.) and Democratic Sens. Michael Bennet(Colo.) and Al Franken (Minn.) have introduced legislation that would impose a lifetime ban on lobbying for current lawmakers.

"Washington has become all too comfortable with the spin of the revolving door," Bennet said. "It's long past time to enact these common-sense reforms."

Read more at The Hill.

6. Jared Kushner masterminds $110bn US weapons deal with Saudi Arabia

Kushner’s personal intervention in the arms sale is further evidence of the Trump White House’s readiness to dispense with custom in favour of informal, hands-on deal making. It also offers a window into how the administration hopes to change America’s position in the Middle East, emphasising hard power and haggling over traditional diplomacy.

What has changed, Chollet said, is that the House of Saud is now dealing directly with a member of the Trump family. "It’s quite normal for them to sit down with the son-in-law of a president and do a deal," he said. “It’s more normal for them than any previous administration.”

While Kushner’s middle-of-the-meeting call to a military contractor was unorthodox, current and former officials said, it did not appear to raise legal issues.

Read more at the Independent UK

7. Utah sets condensed special election calendar — and it’s already started

Just one day after Rep. Jason Chaffetz announced his date of departure from Congress, state officials released an expedited timeline to fill his soon-to-be-vacated 3rd Congressional District seat.

Filing started Friday afternoon — and remains open for one week — with many candidates having already announced their bids in a mad scramble to join the race. The field will be set by June 30, the day Chaffetz steps down.

A special election is scheduled for Nov. 7, aligning with voting for municipal offices. If needed — and Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox said it is "very likely" — a primary will be held on Aug. 15.

Read more at Salt Lake Tribune.

— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Scrumshus / Public Domain)