Monday, Dec. 17
á
A report prepared for the Senate Intelligence
Committee of emails turned over by social media platforms found that RussiaÕs
disinformation campaign during and after the 2016 election used every major social media
platform to deliver words, images and videos tailored to votersÕ interests to
help elect President Trump and to support him while in office.
á
The report prepared for the Senate Intelligence
Committee also said that after the election, Russian disinformation teams
launched a propaganda attack on Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
á
U.S. stock markets declined again as
criticism about the Federal ReserveÕs pace of interest rate increases,
including from President Donald Trump, also increased volatility. The Dow and
S&P 500 are now down about 5 percent for 2018. The Nasdaq is down about
2.45 percent.
Tuesday, Dec. 18
á
In an agreement with the New York attorney
general, Trump agreed to shut down his charity, the Donald J. Trump Foundation,
amid a lawsuit filed by the state that alleges he used the foundation for his
political and personal benefit including to pay off legal settlements for his
private business, to purchase art that decorated one of his golf clubs and to
make a prohibited political donation.
á
U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan, poised
to issue Michael FlynnÕs sentence for lying to the FBI, blasted the former
Trump national security adviser for lying to the FBI and questioned whether
Special Counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors could have tried him for treason.
FlynnÕs attorneys and the judge agreed to postpone sentencing so Flynn could
continue to cooperate with investigators.
á
Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker signed
a rule, expected to take effect March 21, 2019, banning bump stocks, which accelerate
the rate of fire of semi-automatic weapons
Wednesday, Dec. 19
á
Incoming House Oversight and Government Reform
Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings sent more than 50 letters to multiple
agencies and departments as well as to the Trump Organization and Trump's
personal attorneys requesting documents on a series of scandals the administrationÕs handling of
hurricanes Irma and Maria, TrumpÕs family separation policy at the border, the
White House decision to revoke the security clearances of high ranking former
officials who became Trump critics.
á
U.S.
District Judge Emmet Sullivan struck down most of a Trump administration policy
that turned away asylum seekers who claimed to suffer domestic violence or gang
violence.
á
The United States will move quickly to withdraw all forces from
Syria, the White House announced, as Trump defied warnings from his top
advisers and upended plans for a continued mission against the Islamic State.
á
With bipartisan support, the Senate
approved legislation that would extend funding for several major government
departments until Feb. 8, 2019, a measure that would avert a partial government
shutdown at the end of the week but does not include any new funds President
Trump sought for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The House will vote next
on the measure.
Thursday, Dec. 20
á
Trump
told legislators at an emergency meeting that he will not sign the just-passed
legislation that would avert a government shutdown.
á
U.S. stocks dropped deeper into the red as
investors reacted to the Federal ReserveÕs rate increase and its softer outlook
for 2019. They sank deeper still on the news that President Trump would not
sign the spending bill that would avert a government shutdown. The Dow and the
Standard & PoorÕs 500-stock index are on pace for their worst quarter since
2011
á
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned after clashing with Trump
over the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan, saying in a
parting letter that the president deserves someone atop the Pentagon Òbetter
alignedÓ with his views.
á
The
Trump administration announced it had reached a deal with Mexico that would
force asylum seekers to wait in that country as their cases are processed.
á
Trump
signed a farm bill with $867 billion in agricultural subsidies, food stamps and
conservation programs. His signing ended months of wrangling over a House
GOP/Trump endeavor to reduce food stamp benefits.
á
The
House passed bi-partisan legislation already approved by the Senate for an
overhaul of the criminal justice system that shortens sentences for some offenders
and expands job training and other programs for prisoners.
á
Speaking at his annual news conference in
Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said TrumpÕs move to withdraw troops
from Syria was appropriate because the U.S. presence in Syria is Òillegitimate.Ó
á
House Republicans passed legislation that would
keep the government funded until February and allocate $5.7 billion to build a
wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, but Senate Democrats are opposed and have
enough votes to block the measure in that house.
Friday, Dec. 21
á
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had surgery to remove
two malignant nodules in her left lung, the Supreme Court announced, adding
that there was no evidence of any remaining disease and that no further
treatment is planned.
Saturday, Dec. 22
á
Major parts of the federal government began
shutting down when their funding expired without legislation for new funding
after Trump insisted any funding bill must contain money for his border wall,
although Republicans lack the votes in the senate to pass such legislation.
Sunday, Dec. 23
á
Trump announced he was removing Mattis on Jan.
1, not two months later on the date Mattis had named for his departure, and
installing Patrick Shanahan as acting defense secretary.