THIS WEEK IN POLITICS: APRIL 19, 2019
SUNDAY APRIL 14, 2019: PETE BUTTIGIEG FORMALLY ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL BID

The mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, formally announced his 2020 Presidential run on Sunday. Since announcing his exploratory committee, he has been able to raise over $7 million, winning a spot at the primary Democratic debates starting in June. If Buttigieg were to win the 2020 Presidential Election, he would become America’s first openly gay president.
MONDAY APRIL 15, 2019: BILL WELD, FIRST REPUBLICAN TO CHALLENGE PRES. TRUMP IN 2020

The former Governor of Massachusetts, Bill Weld, officially announced on Monday that he is joining the 2020 Presidential race, being the first Republican to challenge Pres. Trump. He has publicly condemned many stances of Pres. Trump, such as those on climate change and overall conduct in office. In 2016, Weld was on the Libertarian party ticket as the vice president of former New Mexico governor, Gary Johnson.
TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019: PRES. TRUMP VETOES BILL TO END U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN YEMEN WAR
Earlier this year, Congress had passed a bill that would end U.S. military assistance in the war in Yemen. The bill came after members of Congress had expressed concern about the thousands of civilians killed in the conflict in Yemen, with U.S. providing millions of dollars worth of weapons Saudi-led coalition fighting. Pres. Trump argued against the bill, and vetoed it on Wednesday but Congress lacks the votes needed to override that decision. Pres. Trump said that “This resolution is an unnecessary, dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities…” when he was talking about the bill, after vetoing it.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 17, 2019: HOUSE DEMOCRATS REQUEST FOR WHITE HOUSE AIDE TO TESTIFY

The House Oversight and and Reform Committee has requested for White House aide, Stephen Miller, to testify in front of the committee with matters concerning Pres. Trump’s policies on immigration. Miller is one of the most conservative and influential voices in the White House when it comes to immigration policies, and was one of the driving forces behind the travel ban. The Committee wants Miller to make his case as to why the Trump administration has been taking the actions it has, such as sending illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities, and why they believe those policies are good. Chairman Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) said in the letter, that he would like Miller to testify on May 1st and is expecting a response back by April 24th.
THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2019: SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT MUELLER’S REPORT RELEASED TO PUBLIC
The Department of Justice released the full report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller to the public. The nearly 400 page report on the investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 Presidential Election was ready by many members of Congress, news journalists and citizens. A few of the main points found in the report were:
-The investigation was unable to clear Pres. Trump of obstruction and that no criminal behavior had occurred.
-Pres. Trump tried to remove Special Counsel Robert Mueller from the investigation, because of “conflicts of interest”.
-Congress has the right to investigate and take action against Pres. Trump on obstruction of justice.
-Pres. Trump had asked a few of his campaign aides to look for Hillary Clinton’s deleted emails, so that they could be used against her.
-Members of the Trump campaign expected Russian help because they knew it would benefit them, but did not take steps towards it.
-White House Press Secretary, Sarah Sanders, misled the media and public about information concerning the firing of F.B.I. director, James Comey.
-Pres. Trump believed it would be the end of his Presidency after Robert Mueller got appointed as Special Counsel.
You can read the full report here:
https://dataviz.nbcnews.com/projects/20190415-mueller-report-embed/assets/full-mueller-report.pdf
FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019: CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT OF PRES. TRUMP AFTER RELEASE OF MUELLER REPORT

Democrats, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and 2020 Presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) join calls for Pres. Trump to be impeachment after the release of the Robert Mueller report. This past March, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) an impeachment resolution to Congress, gaining a few more signatures since then. House Democrats are also calling for Special Counsel, Robert Mueller, to testify before the House Judiciary Committee no later than May 23rd.
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