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Michael Cohen is sentenced to 3 years in prison: |
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President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen has been sentenced to serve 36 months in federal prison for a series of crimes he committed while working for Trump. I.e.: Cohen was Trump's personal "fixer." http://bit.ly/2QQfMzU What about Cohen allegedly lying to Congress?: "Judge sentenced him to 2 months for lying to Congress, to be served concurrently to 36-month sentence." I.e.: No additional time. http://bit.ly/2GdwULQ Keep in mind: This is the longest sentence so far in the probes by the special counsel and the Southern District of New York. http://bit.ly/2zSC3n6 When Michael Cohen will have to surrender to prison: March 6 His charges: "Cohen pleaded guilty in August to tax evasion, lying to banks and violating campaign finance laws ... The campaign finance charges relate to his facilitation of two hush-money payments to [ex-porn star Stormy Daniels] and Playboy model Karen McDougal shortly before the 2016 presidential election. Both women say they had sex with Trump in the prior decade. The White House has denied Trump had sex with either woman." https://cnb.cx/2BbrRG8 |
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| FROM THE COURTROOM: |
| Cohen on Trump in recent months: Cohen said during remarks in the courtroom: "For months now, the president of the United States, publicly mocks me, calling me a rat and a liar and insisting that the court sentence me to the maximum time in prison." http://bit.ly/2QMo8Zy Cohen on working for Trump: "It was my duty to cover up his dirty deeds." https://bloom.bg/2EjdKBX Cohen on his family: "There is no sentence that can supersede the suffering I live with on a daily basis knowing that my actions have brought undeserved pain and shame upon my family. I deserve that shame, they do not." http://bit.ly/2EgcSxH Cohen on today: "This may seem hard to believe but today is one of the most meaningful days of my life. The irony is today is the day I get my freedom back. I have been leading a personal and mental incarceration ever since the fateful day that I accepted the offer to work for a famous real estate mogul whose business acumen I greatly admired." (Via Bloomberg) http://bit.ly/2EgcSxH Reaction from his daughter: Cohen reportedly handed a tissue to his daughter during his remarks, according to Bloomberg. http://bit.ly/2EgcSxH How Cohen reacted as his sentence was read: "As the fines were read out, Cohen shut his eyes, shook his head and put his left hand to his face and pinched his brow. He looked shaken and hung his head." (Via Bloomberg's Patricia Hurtado) https://bloom.bg/2EjdKBX From the judge: "Mr. Cohen should receive some credit for providing assistance to the special counsel's office ... [but he] should have known better." (Via Newsday's Nicole Fuller) http://bit.ly/2RUX7jZ |
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| SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: |
| Photo of Cohen going through security -- we're all too familiar with those bins: http://bit.ly/2QMepm0 Michael Cohen arrives with his family: http://bit.ly/2C6GbBs Some perspective on Cohen's past few years: "Two years ago, Michael Cohen had visions of being chief of staff. He then began soaking up mega contracts from major companies to influence the president. Trump winning was going to be a gold mine for him. And now... he's going to jail for three years." (From The Daily Beast's Sam Stein) http://bit.ly/2QxqT1C Spotted at Cohen's sentencing: Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for ex-porn star Stormy Daniels. https://nyti.ms/2QQa7Ka Livestream outside the courthouse: http://bit.ly/2C8t0jC |
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| REACTION FROM TRUMP…: |
| http://bit.ly/2S03uCE |
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| It's Wednesday --> http://bit.ly/2SIL09w I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com -- and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook. Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn |
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How Trump's meeting with Schumer and Pelosi ended -- with papers thrown into the air: |
| The Los Angeles Times's Eli Stokols reports that President Trump's contentious meeting with Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) ended with Trump throwing papers across the room and storming out. http://bit.ly/2B9gONE Stokols said on MSNBC's "Hardball": "He stormed out of the Oval, walked into an anteroom just off the Oval Office and had in his hand a folder of briefing papers. And he just scattered them out of frustration -- threw them across the room." Watch Stokols explain what happened: http://bit.ly/2UD0vSk LOL -- Pelosi leaving the meeting as a meme: "Me leaving your Holiday Party after starting major drama" Photo: http://bit.ly/2Era6GL |
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| THIS A.M. FROM SCHUMER: |
| Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said this morning on the Senate floor: "President Trump will soon realize that his position will not result in a wall, but will result in a Trump shutdown." http://bit.ly/2RUxAaD |
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To the floor! -- (really, to the floor?): |
| Via The Hill's Juliegrace Brufke, House Republican leaders are considering bringing a bill to allocate $5 billion for border wall funding to the floor for a vote. http://bit.ly/2rAezP7 |
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| KEEP IN MIND: |
| Republicans are far from the 218 votes needed to pass the legislation. http://bit.ly/2rAezP7 |
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| OK SO IF LIGHTNING STRIKES AND IT PASSES IN THE HOUSE -- WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SENATE?: |
| That won't be a fun fight in the Senate. Roll Call's Niels Lesniewski tweeted, "So let's say the House Republicans get the votes for the $5 billion for to the wall. Then what? Trump tweets hammering McConnell about using the nuclear option, just before the House goes Democratic?" http://bit.ly/2SGrt9G |
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Happening this afternoon -- Saudi Arabia vote: |
| Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urged senators to vote against the measure to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. What McConnell wants instead: A resolution to name Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as "responsible" for journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder. Why: While there are "grave concerns" about Khashoggi's death, "we also want to preserve the 70-year partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia and we want to ensure it continues to serve American interests and stabilizes a dangerous and critical region." http://bit.ly/2Gc8baJ |
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Haspel in the House: |
| CIA Director Gina Haspel is on Capitol Hill today to brief House leadership on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Didn't this happen last week?: Last week, Haspel briefed senators. Photo of Haspel arriving: http://bit.ly/2SL8Rpd |
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| THIS A.M. FROM POMPEO: |
| Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the killing of Jamal Khashoggi is still under investigation. In Pompeo's words: "We all know they're still working on this, this is still a developing set of facts with respect to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The intelligence community is still working on that." http://bit.ly/2zY4q38 |
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The question we're all wondering for 2019 -- the I-word: |
| Via The Hill's Melanie Zanona, House Democrats are discussing whether they should start impeachment proceedings for President Trump, but agree the timing is not right -- yet. Before the midterms: Democratic leaders tamped down talk of impeachment for fear of energizing Trump's base. But now: Since last week's court documents about President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, talks are ramping up again. http://bit.ly/2zU5pl0 |
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It's presidential exploratory committee SZN: |
| Via The Associated Press's Paul J. Weber, Julián Castro, who served as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development under former President Obama, has formed a presidential exploratory committee and will make his decision on Jan. 12. What to know about Castro: http://bit.ly/2G9ElDJ LOL: 
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Ain't no party like an Ambani party: |
| Hillary Clinton and John Kerry were seen partying at wedding festivities for the daughter of India's richest man. As part of the pre-wedding festivities: Beyoncé performed. When's the actual wedding: Today. Photos of the celebrations -- I know that's why you've read this far ;) https://dailym.ai/2PwJFAE Video of Clinton and Kerry dancing: "You will never be able to unsee Hillary Clinton and John Kerry awkwardly dancing to Bollywood music in India." Watch: http://bit.ly/2Es4xrS |
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It's ugly sweater day at The New York Times: |
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No big deal: |
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| The House and Senate are in. President Trump and Vice President Pence are in Washington, D.C. 11:30 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence meets with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. 12:15 p.m. EST: The Senate votes. The Senate's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2rvWkKq 1:30 p.m. EST: First votes in the House. The House's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/2jYhqPv 2:30 p.m. EST: President Trump signs an executive order to help economically stressed communities. Details: http://bit.ly/2QQYJh2 4 p.m. EST: Last votes in the House. Tomorrow -- Dec. 23: Rent the Runway is hosting a sample sale in Washington, D.C. Details: http://bit.ly/2SKaV0G Jan. 12: Julián Castro, former secretary of Housing and Urban Development, will announce whether he will run for president. The news today: Castro launched a presidential exploratory committee to help make his decision. http://bit.ly/2G9ElDJ |
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| 12:30 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence participates in a meet and greet with NASA employees. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2C87Ba8 9 p.m. EST: Fox News's Sean Hannity interviews first lady Melania Trump. http://bit.ly/2B9pyTY |
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| Today is National Cocoa Day. |
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For good vibes and Christmas cheer: |
| Here's a livestream at 30 Rock in New York City. The Christmas tree! Is! So! Pretty! Tune out of work briefly and watch: http://bit.ly/2rzFevw |
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Selfies from Mars: |
| NASA tweeted a photo from the InSight mission on Mars. "I'm feeling healthy, energized and whole. This is me on Mars." Photo: http://bit.ly/2BniEuD |
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| And because you made it to the end, here's a bunny enjoying a nutritious snack. Great manners, btw: http://bit.ly/2Lazscs |
