Tipsheet: Trump, GOP shifts focus from alleged surveillance abuse to Durham Russia probe

View in your browser     Trump, GOP shifts focus from alleged surveillance abuse to Durham Russia probe BY JORDAIN CARNEY Republicans are preparing to shrug off a forthcoming report on alleged surveillance abuse during the 2016 campaign and turn their focus to an ongoing investigation of the Russia probe.  The Justice Department on Monday is expected to release the long-awaited results of DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz’s investigation into whether the Trump campaign was improperly spied upon during the previous presidential election.  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), during an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News, noted, however, that Horowitz is “not a prosecutor” and that following up on his findings would rest with John Durham, who is investigating the origins of the Russia probe, and Attorney General Bill Barr.   Read the full story here     Judiciary panel releases report defining impeachable offenses BY MARTIN JOHNSON The House Judiciary Committee on Saturday released a report explaining the constitutional grounds for the impeachment of President Trump. Read the full story here     Trump: Giuliani to deliver report on Ukraine trip to Congress, Barr BY TAL AXELROD President Trump said that Rudy Giuliani, his personal attorney, will deliver a report to Congress and Attorney General William Barr about information he uncovered during his latest trip to Ukraine. Read the full story here     Pence's office questions Schiff's request to declassify more material from official's testimony: report BY MARINA PITOFSKY Vice President Pence rejected House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)’s request Saturday to declassify more material from an aide’s testimony in the ongoing House impeachment investigation, saying that his office is unsure what information the lawmaker is requesting. Read the full story here       Warren, Buttigieg fight echoes 2004 campaign, serves as warning for 2020 race BY REID WILSON   An escalating feud between Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) is highlighting old schisms in the Democratic Party over ideology and political strategy — disputes that highlight just how crucial the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses are to both candidates. Read the full story here     Democrats battle for Hollywood's cash BY JUDY KURTZ AND JULIA MANCHESTER The battle for celebrity support — and dollars — is growing in the Democratic presidential primary. Read the full story here     Biden declines to rule out tapping donors for ambassadorships BY MARTIN JOHNSON Former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday declined to rule out appointing campaign donors to ambassadorships or other posts if he wins the 2020 presidential election but said he would pick the "best people" for the jobs. Read the full story here     Katie Hill pens op-ed about Congress resignation, toxic marriage, mental health and resilience BY TAL AXELROD Former Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.) penned an op-ed in The New York Times published Saturday, speaking out about the struggles she faced following her resignation from Congress and ending a toxic marriage. Read the full story here     US Defense secretary can't label US base attack 'terrorism' at this point BY RACHEL FRAZIN Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Saturday that he is not characterizing a Friday attack on a U.S. naval air base as terrorism at this time. Read the full story here     Tech finds surprise ally in Trump amid high-stakes tax fight BY EMILY BIRNBAUM President Trump is defending Google, Facebook and other big tech companies he's repeatedly railed against when it comes to France's digital tax, a position that underscores how Trump's policies on tech don't always match his fiery, antagonistic rhetoric. Read the full story here     'Fast and Furious' impeachment looks like a rush to a failed case BY JONATHAN TURLEY Opinion | The day after the first House Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the panel would move immediately to draft articles of impeachment, with a vote expected within two weeks. The most discussed crime is now obstruction of Congress, based on the Trump administration seeking to block witnesses. Democratic lawmakers in the hearing repeated the words of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in rejecting claims of immunity like a mantra, “Presidents are not kings.” Read the full story here     The House Judiciary Committee's fundamental choice BY COREY LEWANDOWSKI Opinion | The House Judiciary Committee’s ranking member, Rep. Doug Collins (D-Ga.), did a great job at Wednesday’s hearing of pointing out how ridiculous the new phase of this impeachment charade really is. But there was one thing he said in his opening remarks that I didn’t really think was the case. Read the full story here     The Associated Press: Impeachment collides with funding deadline, testing Congress BY ANDREW TAYLOR The impeachment drama is dominating Washington, but leading figures such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi still have their day jobs to do. Read the full story here     CNN: Vulnerable House Democrats anxiously eye impeachment vote BY ALEX ROGERS AND MANU RAJU As the House Judiciary Committee held its first impeachment hearing into President Donald Trump this week, some of the House's most vulnerable Democrats privately huddled to discuss how to protect their majority. Read the full story here     The Washington Post: Bloomberg’s money buys him a very different kind of campaign. And it’s a big one. BY ISAAC STANLEY-BECKER AND MICHAEL SCHERER In two weeks, Mike Bloomberg has spent more on ads than other top Democratic candidates combined. Read the full story here     The New York Times: For Trump, instinct after Florida killings is simple: Protect Saudis BY DAVID E. SANGER Before issuing his own condolences, the president channeled the Saudi king’s, and avoided any discussion of the hard questions about why the U.S. is training Saudi officers. Read the full story here     Reuters: North Korea carries out 'very important' test at once-dismantled launch site: KCNA BY JOSH SMITH North Korea has carried out a “very important” test at its Sohae satellite launch site, state media KCNA reported on Sunday, a rocket testing ground that U.S. officials once said Pyongyang had promised to close. Read the full story here   Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up for The Hill Tipsheet       Forward this Tipsheet     You might like         Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  |  Email to a friend  |  Sign Up for Other Newsletters   The Hill 1625 K Street, NW 9th Floor, Washington DC 20006 ©2016 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.