A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo.
Maybe Just A Tad Defensive
Clearly sick of being pushed on the criminal investigation into the Trump Organization that he seemed to have unraveled, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg put out a somewhat irritated announcement on Thursday clarifying that the probe is still going on.
- Two leading prosecutors in the investigation quit out of frustration in February when Bragg decided not to seek an indictment against Trump. One of the prosecutors wrote in his resignation letter that the former president was guilty of “numerous felony violations,” and argued that Bragg’s decision “will doom any future prospects” of Trump being prosecuted for the alleged crimes the investigators uncovered.
New York AG Now Seeking To Hold Trump In Contempt
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) asked a state judge to hold Trump in contempt yesterday, saying the former president has refused to give her the documents she requested eight times in her civil investigation into the Trump Organization.
- James also requested that the judge slap Trump with a $10,000 fine every day until he hands over the documents.
- Trump’s legal team called James’ request “baseless” and (predictably) complained that the investigation was a “witch hunt.”
Jackson Confirmed In Historic First
After enduring a series of long and truly ugly Senate hearings, Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed as the first Black woman Supreme Court.
- Only three Republicans voted for her: Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Mitt Romney (R-UT)
- It’ll be several months before Jackson actually gets sworn in, however. Outgoing Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will stay until the end of the court’s current term in the summer.
- Even though Jackson’s appointment obviously won’t change conservatives’ current 6-3 majority on the court, the dissents she’s likely to pen as her right-wing colleagues chip away at abortion rights and others will matter. TPM’s Kate Riga explains why here.
Legal Effort To Disqualify Jan. 6 GOPers Expands
Free Speech For People, the nonpartisan good governance group that’s been leading voters’ lawsuits to get several Trump goons in Congress kicked off the ballot for helping Trump fuel the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, has expanded the effort. It’s focused on trying to enforce 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause for members of Congress who engage in insurrection.
- The group filed separate state lawsuits in Arizona against Reps. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and Mark Finchem (R-AZ) on Thursday.
- Two other lawmakers are already facing similar challenges to their candidacy: Reps. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).
At Least 30 Killed By Russian Airstrike On Train Station, Ukraine Says
- New York Times: “At Least 39 Killed in Strike on Train Station, Ukraine Says, as Thousands Flee From East”
- The Guardian: “Kramatorsk mayor: 4,000 people were at Kramatorsk train station when it was struck”
- CNN: “EU’s top diplomat and European Council president condemn Kramatorsk railway strike”
Dem Sen. Schatz Dresses Down Hawley
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) took to the Senate floor and ripped Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) a new one on Thursday for holding up Biden’s civilian nominations to the Pentagon and State Department until Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken resign:
McConnell Argues He Has Absolutely No Choice But To Support Trump, None At All
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told Axios on Thursday that he has an “obligation” to support a Republican presidential nominee, including Trump, who by McConnell’s own admission was “morally responsible” for the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
And Moar Trump Probes!
The Justice Department is gearing up to investigate Trump taking 15 boxes of White House records, which included classified material, to his Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida, according to the Washington Post and the New York Times.
Pelosi Gets COVID
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) tested positive for COVID-19 but is asymptomatic, her deputy chief of staff announced on Thursday.
WTF Read Of The Day
“Yakuza Boss Arrested at Manhattan Steakhouse for Alleged Rockets-for-Heroin Scheme” – The Daily Beast
Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know!
