| | | | So, about that Strzok hearing... | | If you are among the people who think hearings on the Hill are boring, you are often very, very right. After all, C-SPAN isn't riveting content for everyone. But on Thursday, FBI agent Peter Strzok proved that a hearing can be anything but boring. Today's hearing came two weeks after Strzok was interviewed by the House Judiciary and Oversight committees behind closed doors for a whopping 11 hours. This time, however, it was Strzok's chance to publicly give his side of the story in front of the cameras -- and he didn't shy away from them.
As CNN's Jeremy Herb and Laura Jarrett reported, Strzok faced off with House Republicans "at a fiery and raucous hearing where he forcefully defended his actions in the Hillary Clinton and Russia investigations amid sharp attacks over the anti-Trump text messages he sent. ... It was one of the most contentious in Congress so far tied to the Russia investigation, as Republicans had their opportunity to grill one of the key FBI officials they have accused of misconduct. President Donald Trump, who has tweeted about Strzok multiple times, has pointed to dozens of text messages Strzok exchanged with former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, with whom he was having an extramarital relationship, slamming Trump. The President has used the messages to argue that special counsel Robert Mueller's probe is biased and compromised, since the two were briefly on Mueller's team last summer."
Here are some of the fieriest moments from the hearing:
-The opening statement that set the hearing's tone. "Let me be clear, unequivocally and under oath: not once in my 26 years of defending our nation did my personal opinions impact any official action I took," Strzok said. He continued to defend himself, noting: "In the summer of 2016, I was one of a handful of people who knew the details of Russian election interference and its possible connections with members of the Trump campaign. This information had the potential to derail, and quite possibly, defeat Mr. Trump. But the thought of expressing that or exposing that information never crossed my mind."
-The partisan shouting match. As detailed in CNN's reporting: "House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte threatened to hold Strzok in contempt after the committee devolved into a partisan brawl over whether Strzok could answer questions about the Russia investigation. Democrats loudly objected to Goodlatte's attempts to force Strzok to answer Gowdy's first question about how many witnesses were interviewed in the opening days of Russia probe. Strzok said he was directed by FBI's legal counsel not to answer questions about an ongoing investigation, but Goodlatte demanded that he answer Gowdy's question, prompting a lengthy delay before Strzok asked to speak to the FBI general counsel." The exchange, below:
Goodlatte: "Only with your own counsel."
Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, the top Judiciary Democrat. "Mr. Chairman, there's no basis for that. He can consult with the FBI counsel, he's an FBI employee."
Goodlatte: "The gentleman is not recognized."
Nadler: "And the chairman is not being proper."
-Rep. Elijah Cummings' signs. The Democratic congressman from Maryland brought posters featuring photos of people who've admitted guilt in the Mueller inquiry. (CNN's Manu Raju posted a photo of the signs on Twitter). Republicans initially objected to the signs, deeming them a violation of the rules. But ultimately Cummings was allowed to keep them.
-The Trump texts, explained. In one of Strzok's texts, he wrote "we'll stop" Trump, which he said was written in response to the President's attacks on a Gold Star family during the 2016 campaign. "My presumption, based on that horrible, disgusting behavior, that the American population would not elect somebody demonstrating that behavior to be President of the United States," Strzok said. "It was in no way, unequivocally, any suggestion that me, the FBI, would take any action whatsoever to improperly impact the electoral process, for any candidate." He also said the suggestion of improper political action from the FBI "deeply corrodes what the FBI is in American society, the effectiveness of their mission; and it is deeply destructive." Some people in the chamber applauded after this remark.
The Point: Well, the fireworks definitely went off. Next up: Ex-FBI lawyer Lisa Page will meet with members of Congress behind closed doors on Friday.
Read more coverage of the Strzok hearing here.
-- Saba | | "I think they like me in the UK."
-- President Donald Trump, speaking at an impromptu press conference after the NATO summit in Brussels. Trump also said the British people shared his concerns on immigration, saying "that's why Brexit happened." A giant "Trump baby" balloon will fly for two hours in London on the morning of Friday, July 13, at the same time as the "Stop Trump" march in central London. | | | THE POINT Q&A: JANE FONDA | | Jane Fonda was spotted on the Hill on Wednesday. The actress, producer and fitness mogul is in DC with a delegation called "Unstoppable Women Workers," which is made up of domestic workers and farmworkers who are lobbying Congress for safe and dignified workplaces. The delegation plans to meet with Sens. Bernie Sanders, Patty Murray and Cory Booker; as well as Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Pramila Jayapal.
Saba asked Fonda, who recently starred in the film "Book Club," a few questions via email for The Point about her visit to Washington. The exchange has been edited for clarity. Here's what she had to say:
What made you want to speak up about protecting all working women?
The issue of workers rights has been very important to me for a long time and was one of the reasons I produced the movie "9 to 5." From then to now, I've known caregivers who had experienced isolation and sexual harassment on the job. I've been in the fields and witnessed the long hours and hard conditions of farmworkers. As mostly women of color, domestic workers and farmworkers are threatened, robbed of their wages, not paid overtime, and made to be invisible. No woman should have to choose between paying her rent and her own personal safety.
How can workplaces be safer places for women? And where do we go from here?
To make workplaces safe for all women, we have to start with our laws. Dignified workplaces mean laws that include every worker -- no loopholes, no exclusions. We need all women workers to have safe and accessible ways to report harassment, and that means expanding Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. We are also pushing for laws that provide farmworkers and domestic workers with basic labor protections, like overtime protection. We are inviting everyone to join us. Organize, march, and raise your voices.
Why do you think the #metoo and #timesup movements are resonating so much across industries?
I think many of us are realizing that if women in all sectors, of all races and ethnicities, can't be safe and work with dignity, then we cannot truly call ourselves a democracy. We have been in silos for too long. It's time for all of us to embrace the powerful notion of intersectionality and stand in solidarity with our sisters in other workplaces.
Read the full interview here. | | | Since President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have touched down in London town today, here's "London Calling." | | | Today's topic, tackled by Brenna: What a trade war with China could mean for you. | | JUSTICE DEPT REOPENS INVESTIGATION INTO EMMETT TILL | | CNN's Eliott C. McLaughlin reported Thursday: "The murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till, barbarous even in an era in which blacks in the South were subjected to untold viciousness, has been reopened, according to a US Justice Department report to Congress. The report, issued in March, said the department reopened the case 'after receiving new information.' It doesn't elaborate. The department declined to comment on the matter.
"Emmett's savage murder in 1955 jolted a nation, spurring it to action on civil rights. Gruesome photos of the boy's mutilated body spread across the globe, lending jarring visuals to the stories of violence and discrimination coming out of the South." Read more here. | | MANAFORT TRANSFERRED TO ALEXANDRIA JAIL | | From CNN's Katelyn Polantz: "Paul Manafort arrived at the jail in Alexandria, Virginia -- the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center -- Thursday morning, according to a spokesperson for the Alexandria Sheriff's Office. A mugshot released by the sheriff's office shows an unsmiling Manafort with graying hair and light facial stubble four weeks after the former Trump campaign chairman was locked up in a Virginia facility. His mugshot from the previous jail was not available.
"Spokesperson Amy Bertsch tells CNN he will likely be held in 'protective custody status' -- which means he would likely have no interaction with other inmates. While Manafort was not required to wear a jail-issued uniform at Northern Neck Regional Jail where he was being housed until Thursday morning, Bertsch says all inmates at the jail in Alexandria are required to wear the dark green jail jumpsuits used at that facility.
"Manafort has not been seen since a DC federal judge revoked his bail and sent him to the regional jail in Warsaw, Virginia, about two hours from DC, for alleged witness tampering. He did not appear at a court hearing for one of his upcoming trials two weeks ago, and his lawyers have indicated he does not want to come to court until he faces a jury." Read more here. | | | A new Pew Research Center poll released this week found that more Americans consider former President Barack Obama the best president of their lifetimes than any other president, CNN's Doug Criss reported Thursday. Fourty-four percent of Americans say Obama had done the best job as president during their lifetimes. He's followed by Bill Clinton at 33% and Ronald Reagan at 32%. Read more here. | | | From Brenna: "Sen. Tammy Duckworth's baby, Maile, is my favorite DC celebrity. She's so well-behaved! Totally unfazed by being picked up by Sen. Elizabeth Warren so that Mom could talk at a press conference on women's reproduction. (Appropriate)." Thanks for reading The Point. If you like us, tell others to subscribe! | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Saba Hamedy. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Saba. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Saba.
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