Horror author Stephen King attacked President Donald Trump by peddling the fake news reports that the FBI thought Trump was a “Russian asset.”

The It writer went on the attack against several GOP politicians, particularly Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who have sided with President Trump at one time or another.

“Republican Reps and Senators—including Kavanaugh sweetie Susan Collins—may be supporting a President who is an active or passive Russian asset. How surreal is that?” King said.

King is, of course, referring to a recent report that the Obama-era FBI began “investigating” Trump for being a “possible” Russian operative in 2016. The reports contained no proof at all, just claims and innuendo.

But Sunday’s tweet is just another example of how President Trump lives in King’s head every single day. The horror writer and Hollywood producer is so obsessed with President Trump that he unleashes near daily Twitter attacks on the president.

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Several days ago, for instance, the Pet Cemetery author claimed Trump was “holding federal workers hostage” for his “pet project” of building the wall.

In another screed, King insisted that Trump was “rotten to the core.” And in another he screeched that Trump must be “removed from office.”

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.

midday brief, in brief

Today at Commission: Migration and Monkeygate

It is ‘prudent and wise’ for the Commission to not talk about Brexit negotiations as they take place.

On the agenda: Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica will later Thursday attend the Global Partnership for Education conference in Dakar, Senegal. The EU announced an additional €100 million for the fund in December on top of the €375 million it has already pledged toward investment in global education.

Commission chief spokesperson Margaritis Schinas also announced that €471.5 million from the EU’s cohesion fund will go toward developing a high-speed railway line between Sofia and Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s largest cities. An additional €125.5 million will go toward modernizing a regional rail link in Budapest to reduce car congestion and upgrade signaling systems.

The Commission didn’t talk about: Brexit, despite multiple questions on freedom of movement and the leaked British impact assessments. Not commenting while the negotiations are taking place, Schinas said, was the “prudent and wise thing to do.”

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Migration: The European Border and Coast Guard Agency announced a new operation, called Themis, to replace Operation Triton in the EU’s bid to help Italy deal with migrants crossing the Mediterranean. Asked if the new operation will instruct rescue operations to send migrants to the nearest facility rather than the safest, Commission spokesperson Natasha Bertaud said “the best would be to address your question to the agency,” adding that the Commission is “fully confident” there will be proper coordination between EU countries.

Monkeygate: Schinas said the Commission was “shocked to find out about these practices” — of monkeys and humans being used in exhaust fumes tests — and called on “responsible national governments” to address these concerns.

Austrian family law: A new proposal intends to cut family benefits for workers whose children live abroad. Asked if the proposal runs against EU law, Schinas said: “We will examine this law with regard to their compatibility to EU law if and once adopted.”

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersWinners and losers from the South Carolina debate Five takeaways from the Democratic debate Sanders most searched, most tweeted about candidate during Democratic debate MORE (I-Vt.) called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin (Bibi) NetanyahuMORE a “reactionary racist” while defending his support for Israel at Tuesday night’s Democratic debate.

“I’m very proud of being Jewish. I actually lived in Israel for some months. But what I happen to believe is that right now, sadly, tragically, in Israel, through Bibi NetanyahuBenjamin (Bibi) NetanyahuMORE, you have a reactionary racist who is now running that country,” Sanders said at the debate in Charleston, S.C., just days ahead of the state’s Democratic primary.

Sanders’s comments came the same week that he said he wouldn’t be attending the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference, accusing the pro-Israel lobbying group of providing a platform to “leaders who express bigotry.”

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“The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security,” Sanders tweeted Sunday. “So do the Palestinian people. I remain concerned about the platform AIPAC provides for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights.”

AIPAC shot back that Sanders “has never attended our conference and that is evident from his outrageous comment.”

“By engaging in such an odious attack on this mainstream, bipartisan American political event, Senator Sanders is insulting his very own colleagues and the millions of Americans who stand with Israel,” AIPAC said in its statement.

AIPAC, founded in 1963 with a mission of promoting the U.S.-Israeli relationship, has long been seen as a power player in Washington politics. The organization garners bipartisan support, but tensions with progressive Democrats have increased in recent years.

AIPAC announced earlier Tuesday that former New York City Mayor Michael BloombergMichael Rubens BloombergWinners and losers from the South Carolina debate Sanders most searched, most tweeted about candidate during Democratic debate Democrats duke it out in most negative debate so far MORE, who is also running for the Democratic nomination and was on the debate stage Tuesday night, will speak at this year’s conference.

At the debate, Sanders was asked about his AIPAC comments and what he would tell American Jews who might be worried he is not supportive enough of Israel.

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“I happen to believe that what our foreign policy in the Mideast should be about is absolutely protecting the independence and security of Israel. But you cannot ignore the suffering of the Palestinian people,” he said. “We have got to have a policy that reaches out to the Palestinians.”

He added his policy, if elected, would “come in the context of bringing nations together in the Mideast.”

Sanders declined to say whether he would move the U.S. Embassy in Israel back to Tel Aviv but said it is “something that we would take into consideration.”

Trump moved the embassy to Jerusalem and officially recognized the city as Israel’s capital in May 2018, prompting warnings from critics that he was undermining chances for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

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Former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenWinners and losers from the South Carolina debate Five takeaways from the Democratic debate Sanders most searched, most tweeted about candidate during Democratic debate MORE during Tuesday night’s Democratic debate pledged to nominate the first black woman to the Supreme Court if he’s elected president.

The former vice president used a question round about every candidate’s personal motto to make the pledge, pivoting to his message about the high court after listing his personal values.

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“When you’re get knocked down, get up, and everyone’s entitled to be treated with dignity — no matter what, no matter who they are,” Biden began. “Also, that everyone should be represented. No one is better than me and I’m no better than everyone else.”

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“We talked about the Supreme Court — I’m looking forward to making sure there’s a black woman on the Supreme Court to make sure we in fact get everyone represented,” he went on.

The brief comment was the only mention of the Supreme Court at the debate in Charleston, S.C., Tuesday night and one of only a handful of mentions that the court has gotten throughout the campaign.

Some progressives have criticized the Democratic field for not making it a bigger issue, given President TrumpDonald John TrumpWinners and losers from the South Carolina debate Five takeaways from the Democratic debate Democrats duke it out in most negative debate so far MORE’s success in securing conservative control of the court and the federal judiciary more generally.

Some of the candidates have proposed structural reforms to the court, like term limits for the justices or increasing the number of seats — an idea known as court packing.

A pair of progressive groups last month gave businessman Tom SteyerTom Fahr SteyerWinners and losers from the South Carolina debate Five takeaways from the Democratic debate Sanders most searched, most tweeted about candidate during Democratic debate MORE’s court reform plan the highest grade out of the entire field for his explicit embrace of court packing.

A global pandemic outbreak of a new coronavirus will almost inevitably spread to the United States, public health experts are warning, putting new pressure on the Trump administration to act as cases begin to mount outside of the Chinese epicenter.

 

Those experts, many of whom were on the front lines of the battle against an Ebola outbreak six years ago, said the coronavirus represents an even greater threat to the United States. Though much is still unknown about the virus, which first appeared late last year in Wuhan, China, it’s clear it spreads easily between humans.

 

“We’ve seen what this disease can do. We’ve seen what it did in China. We’ve seen what it did on the cruise ship,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development who directed USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance during the Ebola outbreak. “This is a highly transmissible disease, and there’s nothing magic about China that means it’s going to spread there and not here.”

 

Experts have watched with growing alarm as clusters of cases have popped up, and multiplied exponentially, both in poor countries with weak health infrastructure like Iran and in wealthy countries with strong infrastructure like Italy and South Korea. The latest case counts showed nearly a thousand cases of the coronavirus in South Korea, just days after cases numbered in only the single digits.

 

“This is going to continue to spread around the world like a pandemic, not like SARS or MERS, and you can’t stop it with traditional public health measures,” said Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. “The only thing that would stop it is if you have a vaccine for the world. And we don’t and we won’t.”

 

Nancy Messonnier, who directs the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told reporters Tuesday that the virus’s spread inside the United States is now inevitable. She said she had spoken to her children about the virus Tuesday morning.

 

“It’s not a question of if this will happen but when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illnesses,” Messonnier said. “Disruption to everyday life might be severe.”

 

In a series of briefings and hearings on Capitol Hill, top American health officials told members of Congress that the government is making plans to fight the virus here in the United States. Senators expressed skepticism about the administration’s planning, and even Republicans urged the White House to seek more funding to fight a potential outbreak.

 

“I am very concerned that we are not prepared for this or for anything like it in the future, especially with the budget that came out, it cut CDC, it cut NIH, we’re seeing firsthand right now why it’s so important,” Sen. Patty MurrayPatricia (Patty) Lynn MurrayLawmakers raise alarms over Trump coronavirus response Public health experts raise alarm as coronavirus spreads Overnight Health Care: Senate panel to hold hearing on US coronavirus response | Dems demand Trump withdraw religious provider rule | Trump Medicaid proposal sparks bipartisan backlash MORE (D-Wash.) told reporters after a briefing Tuesday morning.

 

Later on Tuesday, two senior administration officials seemed to contradict each other on when a potential vaccine might be available. Speaking to a Senate subcommittee, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad WolfChad WolfLawmakers raise alarms over Trump coronavirus response Public health experts raise alarm as coronavirus spreads Romney: Trump administration unprepared for coronavirus outbreak MORE said a vaccine could be only a few months away. Hours later, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said a vaccine might be a year off.

 

The Trump administration has sought $2.5 billion in emergency spending to combat the coronavirus, a little under half the amount Congress appropriated to fight the Ebola virus in West Africa. Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyTrump defends handling of coronavirus as Democrats hit him during debate Overnight Health Care — Presented by American Health Care Association — Lawmakers raise alarms over Trump coronavirus response | Top official warns virus appears inevitable in US | Democrats block two Senate abortion bills San Francisco declares state of emergency over coronavirus MORE (R-Ala.), an administration ally, said he is concerned that HHS was “lowballing” the amount that would be required.

 

Public health experts agreed that the money necessary to fight the virus is multiples of what the administration has sought.

 

“This is going to cost, it looks like, at least $100 billion to the world. Maybe 10 times that,” said Tom Frieden, the former director of the CDC who now directs Resolve to Save Lives, a nonprofit aimed at preventing epidemics and chronic disease. “Even once the funds are appropriated, it takes a really long time to move them through the system. So the sooner things get moving, the better.”

 

The coronavirus poses global threats beyond those who may become infected themselves, Osterholm said. He pointed to the potential for supply chain disruptions in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in China, which could lead to shortages of common drugs used to treat other conditions.

 

Osterholm’s group, CIDRAP, has identified 153 generic drugs that are at risk of disruption in the coming months. Medical experts recommend keeping a three-month supply of prescription medication on hand in case of such disruptions. 

 

Personal protective items such as face masks are already in short supply, both in the United States and around the world. Some of that equipment is also manufactured in China, though an already-bad influenza season has taken a toll on global stockpiles. Azar said Tuesday that the government has a stockpile of 30 million masks, but that 300 million would be needed to protect health care workers alone.

 

Several public health officials said they were worried about the messages coming out of the White House, and President TrumpDonald John TrumpWinners and losers from the South Carolina debate Five takeaways from the Democratic debate Democrats duke it out in most negative debate so far MORE’s Twitter feed especially. On Monday, Trump sought to calm stock market jitters over the disease’s spread.

 

“The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. We are in contact with everyone and all relevant countries. CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart. Stock Market starting to look very good to me!” Trump tweeted. 

 

On CNBC, Trump’s top economic adviser echoed his call for calm.

 

“We have contained this. I won’t say air-tight, but it’s pretty close to air-tight,” Larry KudlowLawrence (Larry) Alan KudlowMORE said as stocks took a dive for the second straight day.

 

Veterans of the Ebola outbreak said the projected optimism recalled the mistakes made by the Obama administration six years ago, when the White House said the Ebola virus posed a low risk to Americans. Public confidence was rattled when a man with the Ebola virus showed up at a Dallas hospital, and shattered when two nurses treating the man came down with the viruses themselves. The man died, but the two nurses recuperated.

 

“If you mislead [the public] and tell them it’s going to be okay and it’s not, then you have the double impact of a real problem on top of major distrust,” Osterholm said.

 

The risk coming from the promise that the virus is under control now is even greater, experts said, because of the likelihood that widespread transmission is so much higher for the coronavirus than it was for Ebola. The coronavirus spreads through droplets in the air, while contracting Ebola requires coming into physical contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids.

 

“When the president tweets something, that carries weight,” Konyndyk said. “He seems more focused on keeping the markets calm.”

 

“The overarching priority of White House messaging seems to be to project calm and to project that the risk is low. And that is responsible if in fact the domestic transmission risk is low, as it was about Ebola,” Konyndyk went on. “In this case it is not.”

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Several Obama administration veterans said they were concerned, too, that the administration has not put one person in charge of the response to the coronavirus. President Obama eventually tapped Ron Klain, a former chief of staff to Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenWinners and losers from the South Carolina debate Five takeaways from the Democratic debate Sanders most searched, most tweeted about candidate during Democratic debate MORE, as the administration’s Ebola response coordinator. Even before the outbreak, the Trump administration drastically cut the number of staffers at the National Security Council who were dedicated to coordinating responses to viral outbreaks.

 

The experts said the early strategy of simply containing the virus has not worked, and that governments around the world need to be focused on mitigation strategies if and when transmission chains pop up. That raises a host of other questions, both for national and sub-national governments, about the types of guidance to give to hospitals and health care systems. 

 

“It’s inevitable that it will be spread within the US. Now how widespread it is, how much harm it causes, that only time will tell,” Frieden said.

 

Among those questions: How will hospitals handle a surge of patients who may outnumber the beds available in which to treat them? How will hospitals mete out their supply of protective gear if it runs low? How will hospitals protect their health care workers, a question of particular significance after 3,000 Chinese health care workers have come down with the virus.

 

“If we see health care workers go down, that’s what will cause panic among the people,” Osterholm said.

 

Peter Sullivan, Niv Elis and Nathaniel Weixel contributed.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump suggests Sotomayor, Ginsburg should have to recuse themselves on ‘Trump related’ cases Sanders says idea he can’t work with Republicans is ‘total nonsense’ Sanders releases list of how to pay for his proposals MORE cheered his relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and declared the U.S.-India partnership “stronger than ever before” on Tuesday.

Trump and Modi during a joint press statement touted the new defense cooperation between the two countries and progress on various fronts over the president’s past two days in India.

Still, a comprehensive trade agreement between the U.S. and India remains elusive after the two-day meeting, though Trump insisted “tremendous progress” had been made on the topic.

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“Prime Minister Modi, we have made tremendous advances for our people over the past few days and, working together, I know that our two nations will continue to achieve new breakthroughs, unlock new potential and forge even brighter futures in the years ahead,” Trump said.

“I am pleased to say that the U.S.-Indian partnership is now truly stronger than ever before,” Trump continued. “This was a great visit with a tremendous friend and a tremendous leader.”

The president thanked India for offering him and first lady Melania TrumpMelania TrumpThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Sanders’s momentum puts Democrats on edge Trumps tour Taj Mahal to cap off first day in India The Hill’s Morning Report – Sanders steamrolls to South Carolina primary, Super Tuesday MORE an “outstanding welcome” the day prior, when roughly 100,000 Indian citizens gathered at a cricket stadium in Ahmedabad to participate in a rally-type event called “Namaste Trump.”

Modi called the event an “unprecedented and historic welcome” that will “always be remembered” and said he was happy that Trump brought his family along for the visit. The U.S. delegation also included Trump’s daughter and senior adviser Ivanka TrumpIvana (Ivanka) Marie TrumpTrumps tour Taj Mahal to cap off first day in India Manufacturers group kicks off campaign to close the industry’s skills gap Fed chief issues stark warning to Congress on deficits MORE and her husband Jared KushnerJared Corey KushnerTrumps tour Taj Mahal to cap off first day in India The Hill’s Morning Report – Democrats duke it out during Nevada debate Blagojevich heaps praise on Trump after release from prison MORE, who is also a White House senior adviser.

“In the last eight months, this is the fifth meeting between President Trump and myself,” Modi said. “This relationship is the most important partnership of the 21st century.”

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Officials announced Tuesday that the United States and India signed two memorandums of understanding – one on mental health and another on safety of drug products – and that India had inked a letter of cooperation with Exxon Mobil to improve India’s natural gas distribution network.

Trump also touted a deal that he announced during his remarks in Ahmedabad a day prior in which India agreed to purchase roughly $3 billion in U.S. military helicopters.

Trump said both sides also discussed combatting “radical Islamic terrorism,” the importance of a secure 5G wireless network and trade.

Trump has spoken optimistically about securing a trade pact with India, but tempered expectations ahead of his trip  about the possibility a deal would be completed soon, saying it could be delayed until after the November presidential election.

“Our teams have made tremendous progress on a comprehensive trade agreement and I’m optimistic we can reach a deal that will be of great importance to both countries,” Trump said Tuesday.

The remarks between Trump and Modi at the joint press statement came after an expanded bilateral meeting between officials from both countries.

There was no explicit mention of India’s controversial new citizenship law, which favors non-Muslims and has prompted protests in the capital of New Delhi, though Trump noted during his remarks that the U.S. and India have always been “united by shared traditions of democracy and constitutions that protect freedom, individual rights and the rule of law.”

Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: More closures possible at US bases in Europe as coronavirus spreads | Pompeo says Afghan ‘reduction in violence is working’ | Man accused of trying to blow up vehicle at Pentagon Pompeo: Afghanistan ‘reduction of violence is working’ Pompeo accuses China and Iran of hiding coronavirus outbreak MORE on Tuesday criticized China and Iran for allegedly suppressing information about the spread of coronavirus and warned the countries’ efforts at censorship are harming a global response. 

The secretary’s remarks come as the U.S. considers a response to China’s expulsion of three Wall Street Journal reporters — a response that came in opposition to the Journal’s editorial published criticizing Beijing’s handling of the viral outbreak. 

Pompeo, during a briefing on Tuesday, accused China of suppressing information and exacerbating the outbreak. 

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“Had China permitted its own — and foreign journalists and medical personnel — to speak and investigate freely, Chinese officials and other nations would have been far better prepared to address the challenge,” he said to reporters. 

The vast majority of the more than 2,600 deaths from coronavirus have occurred in China since the outbreak first began in late December. The World Health Organization (WHO) in its latest situation report said there are more than 77,000 cases in China and more than 2,000 globally.

At least 23 people have died around the world, and cases have been identified in 29 countries, including parts of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Canada and the U.S.

Later in his remarks, the secretary said that Iran is also hiding information about the number of people who contracted the virus. The WHO estimates that eight people have died among a total of 43 confirmed cases.

However, reports out of Iran are contradictory to the organization’s tallies. An Iranian lawmaker claimed that 50 people have died in the city of Qom and the deputy health minister, who confirmed he tested positive for coronavirus Tuesday, said the number of deaths stands at 12. 

The Iranian deaths are the highest number of deaths outside of China.

“The United States is deeply concerned by information indicating that the Iranian regime may have suppressed vital details about the outbreak in that country,” Pompeo said.

“All nations, including Iran, should tell the truth about the coronavirus and cooperate with international aid organizations,” he added. 

In a recent effort to combat the disease in the U.S., the Trump administration has asked Congress for $2.5 billion in additional funding. 

The White House heard an outpouring of opposition to its plans to roll back a landmark environmental law that requires the government to weigh the environmental impacts of pipelines, highways, oil development and a host of other projects.

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in January proposed a massive rewriting of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) eliminating the requirement that the government consider climate change when evaluating projects and in some cases even allowing companies to assess the impacts of their own projects. 

At a hearing Tuesday, the second of just two that accepted public comment, speakers accused the Trump administration of gutting the law to fast-track polluting projects for industry at the expense of human health.

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“When the NEPA process is cut short or weakened, ill-conceived projects advance that can have devastating public health and environmental consequences for all Americans,” said Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) at the hearings. The representative highlighted a consequence of the rollback that will be worse for low income communities, areas where polluting industries often house their projects.

The hearing was held in a boisterous auditorium at the Department of the Interior, with people traveling from as far away as California, Texas and Florida to oppose the rule, including a number of people from towns that are already home to polluting industries. 

“I am the citizen that is here not as anti-mining, anti-drilling, anti-livestock, or anti-infrastructure, but I care about what they are trying to do,” said Liz Cramp, a Virginia resident. “And I am also the citizen that is not really concerned that these and other profit-hungry industries are having to spend time and money to insure that America’s environment and Americans’ health are protected.”

The environmental review required under NEPA is a broad one, a precaution that looks at how oil and gas drilling, construction projects and other infrastructure impact not just the air, water and soil but the people and wildlife that live nearby.

However, supporters of the proposal have pegged the rollback as a modernization of the law, arguing projects have been unnecessarily slowed by environmental assessments that take years and might number 1,000 pages.

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“Since the NEPA statute was enacted over 50 years ago, the environmental review and permitting process has become much more complex and time consuming, and can result in delays of critical infrastructure projects for communities,” said CEQ Chairwoman Mary Neumayr, saying the law has spurred extensive litigation that has made implementation costly and unpredictable.

“We support the fundamental goals of NEPA: considering the significant environmental impacts of projects. However, the Federal decision-making process is getting progressively longer. Delays are affecting economic growth, public safety, welfare, national security, and the environment,” said Chad Whiteman with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

In addition, industry groups have focused their efforts on framing the debate over the rollback on its forseen advantages, like promoting infrastructure, roads and high speed internet.

But critics have stressed the benefits to the oil and gas industry and other polluting industries, and Grijalva last week asked CEQ to turn over communications with a number of oil companies, citing “concerns with the development of CEQ’s proposed rule.”

Environmentalists and others opposed to the changes are particularly averse to cutting consideration of the “cumulative” effects of new projects, an aspect of the law widely believed to be used to determine how a project might contribute to climate change.

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“We simply cannot afford to have ill-informed decisionmaking, which is exactly what this would do. Instead of looking before you leap, this is like leaping before you look,” said Collin O’Mara, head of the National Wildlife Federation.

Sen. Tom CarperThomas (Tom) Richard CarperOvernight Energy: Critics pile on Trump plan to roll back major environmental law | Pick for Interior No. 2 official confirmed | JPMorgan Chase to stop loans for fossil fuel drilling in the Arctic White House effort to roll back bedrock environmental law spurs strong opposition Where do we go from here? Conservation can show the way MORE (D-Del.) told reporters after his testimony that he was opposed to measures in the proposal that would allow businesses to conduct their own environmental assessments of their projects.

“It’s a little bit like a take-home, self-graded exam,” he said. “If we had that option in school, I would have done a lot better. I would have passed every time. I would have made the dean’s list every time.”

Having companies do their own environmental assessments would also cut communities out of the process, as NEPA guarantees the public’s right to comment on development.

“NEPA is at the core of our democracy,” said Sharon Buccino with the Natural Resources Defense Council, with the law giving people a chance to weigh in on projects and offer alternatives. “NEPA is the people’s environmental law.”

Some opposed to the Trump administration acknowledged the law should be streamlined to address some business leaders’ concerns, but characterized the proposal as gutting the law rather than tweaking its flaws. Carper has led some efforts to do so.

But business groups that commented in favor of the Trump administration’s changes said NEPA had morphed, becoming instead a way for the government to protect itself from lawsuits.

“NEPA should be driven by actual impact, not fear of litigation,” said Chase Adams with the American Sheep Industry Association.

The American Sheep Industry Association must comply with NEPA in order for livestock to graze on public lands.

Rep. John RatcliffeJohn Lee RatcliffeJohn Ratcliffe back under consideration by Trump for top intel job Trump’s intel moves spark Democratic fury Sunday shows preview: 2020 candidates look to South Carolina MORE (R-Texas) is back under consideration as a potential pick to serve as President TrumpDonald John TrumpWinners and losers from the South Carolina debate Five takeaways from the Democratic debate Democrats duke it out in most negative debate so far MORE‘s next Director of National Intelligence (DNI), sources confirmed to The Hill on Tuesday.

Ratcliffe was considered for the role last year, but he withdrew from consideration in August amid media scrutiny about his résumé and questions about his experience.

Trump at the time blamed the media for derailing Ratcliffe as his pick to replace Dan CoatsDaniel (Dan) Ray CoatsGrenell asks top intel official to remain in role amid lawmaker concerns John Ratcliffe back under consideration by Trump for top intel job Trump creates new headaches for GOP with top intelligence pick MORE, but the Texas Republican also faced resistance from key GOP senators like Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard BurrRichard Mauze BurrJohn Ratcliffe back under consideration by Trump for top intel job The Hill’s Morning Report – Can Sanders be stopped? Trump creates new headaches for GOP with top intelligence pick MORE (R-N.C.) and others whose support he would have needed to secure confirmation in the Senate.

 

It is unclear if Burr has changed his view on Ratcliffe. Burr and his office have declined to comment on media reports about possible DNI picks.

 

Nevertheless, sources say Ratcliffe is one of the four or so candidates under consideration for the top role overseeing the intelligence community. His competition includes U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands Pete Hoekstra.

 

Sources previously told The Hill that Rep. Chris StewartChristopher (Chris) Douglas StewartJohn Ratcliffe back under consideration by Trump for top intel job Trump’s intel moves spark Democratic fury House Republicans boycott public Intelligence panel hearing MORE (R-Utah), a former Air Force pilot, is also under consideration.

 

CNN first reported that Ratcliffe is again under consideration for the DNI post.

 

Trump has said he expects to announce his nominee in the next week or so.

 

“We are talking to five different people right now, all people you know, all people you respect,” Trump said Tuesday during a press conference in India. “I will make a decision probably over the next week to two weeks.”

 

Both Ratcliffe and Stewart sit on the House Intelligence Committee, a key panel during the information-gathering portion of the Democrat-led House impeachment inquiry into Trump’s contacts with Ukraine.

 

Ratcliffe and Stewart both captured attention during the public impeachment hearings as they vigorously defended the president against allegations that he sought to pressure Ukraine to investigate political rivals.

 

Hoekstra, a former Michigan congressman turned Trump surrogate, served from 2004-2007 as the chair of the House Intelligence panel.

 

Trump last week tapped Richard Grenell to take over for Joseph MaguireJoseph MaguireGrenell asks top intel official to remain in role amid lawmaker concerns John Ratcliffe back under consideration by Trump for top intel job The Hill’s Morning Report – Can Sanders be stopped? MORE and serve as his acting DNI, prompting fierce attacks from Democrats and other critics who argue that his appointment was based solely on loyalty and not experience in intelligence matters. Grenell, a vocal Trump supporter, previously served as a spokesman for the United Nations.

 

Allies of the president praised Grenell, asking whether he could be blamed for wanting to put a loyal ally after facing multiple federal and congressional investigations about his conduct that involved decisions made by the intelligence community.

 

Trump reportedly moved to oust Maguire after a senior DNI official briefed the House Intelligence Committee about Russian efforts to aid his reelection bid. Subsequent reports say the briefer may have overstated the assessment on 2020 Russian interference.

The president is said to have viewed the briefing as an act of disloyalty, in part because it involved sharing information with a House panel led by one of his political foes, Rep. Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffOcasio-Cortez: Trump would ‘never’ say to her face some of the shots he takes at her on Twitter John Ratcliffe back under consideration by Trump for top intel job Trump says he wants ‘no help from any country’ in 2020 election MORE (D-Calif.). He also reportedly said the briefing should not have occurred, while denying the analysis by intelligence officials and claiming the intelligence community is being “played.”

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersWinners and losers from the South Carolina debate Five takeaways from the Democratic debate Sanders most searched, most tweeted about candidate during Democratic debate MORE (I-Vt.), the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, has also acknowledged that intelligence officials notified his campaign that Russia was seeking to interfere, with The Washington Post reporting last week that Russia has sought to help his presidential campaign.

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A key juror from Roger StoneRoger Jason StoneRepublicans give Barr vote of confidence Key juror questioned in Roger Stone case Trump attacks Stone juror during hearing on motion for new trial MORE’s trial was questioned in court on Tuesday over allegations that she prejudiced the jury that convicted the longtime GOP political operative, with the juror also facing public attacks from President TrumpDonald John TrumpWinners and losers from the South Carolina debate Five takeaways from the Democratic debate Democrats duke it out in most negative debate so far MORE on Twitter.

In a lengthy hearing in a court in Washington, D.C., Judge Amy Berman Jackson brought in the juror, Tomeka Hart, to respond to accusations that she provided misleading answers about her political bias — a claim Stone says justifies a new trial.

Hart said she stood by the answers she gave during jury selection, when she said she could fairly act as a juror in the case. She said in a written questionnaire at the time that she did not remember ever posting about Stone or any other figures involved in the case. 

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“I was zeroed in about Roger Stone in responding to that question, but I still didn’t remember,” she said Tuesday.

The hearing came as Trump attacked Hart on Twitter. Hart was targeted by the president and conservative media figures after she spoke publicly in support of the prosecutors who had withdrawn from the case after Attorney General William BarrWilliam Pelham BarrRepublicans give Barr vote of confidence Hillicon Valley: Twitter falling short on pledge to verify primary candidates | Barr vows to make surveillance reforms after watchdog report | DHS cyber chief focused on 2020 Key juror questioned in Roger Stone case MORE intervened to lower their sentencing recommendation.

“There has rarely been a juror so tainted as the forewoman in the Roger Stone case. Look at her background,” Trump wrote in a tweet Tuesday afternoon. “She never revealed her hatred of ‘Trump’ and Stone. She was totally biased, as is the judge. Roger wasn’t even working on my campaign. Miscarriage of justice. Sad to watch!”

After Hart’s role as the jury foreperson became publicly known earlier this month, several of her social media posts criticizing Trump were uncovered.

Seth Ginsberg, an attorney for Stone, argued that Hart’s lack of candor misled the defense team as he sought to portray her opposition to Trump as evidence of bias against Stone.  

Jackson, an Obama appointee, also brought in two other jurors for questioning, both of whom said that Hart did not try to prejudice the panel and did not appear biased. Neither one was identified during the questioning.

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“I never had any feeling that she was attempting anything like that,” one of the jurors told the judge.

Another juror said that the foreperson even slowed down deliberations so that the jury could more carefully consider one of the charges.

Jackson said the testimony showed that there was little evidence that Hart had acted improperly on the jury and added that Hart’s political beliefs would not be grounds for a new trial.

“Posts about the president do not constitute bias against the defendant,” Jackson said. “Having an opinion about the president on some or all of his policies does not mean she can not fairly judge evidence against Roger Stone.”

Stone’s attorneys alleged that the foreperson of his trial jury misled the court during jury selection when asked about her social media activity and political beliefs.

“She concealed evidence regarding her views which would have been important for the court and the parties for understanding her bias,” Ginsberg said in Tuesday’s hearing.

“Based on the social media posts, it appears to me that [her answers] are misleading — intentionally,” he added.

Stone was convicted of seven counts of lying to Congress and witness tampering related to testimony he gave in 2017 about his supposed role as a back-channel intermediary between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and WikiLeaks, which was releasing stolen emails from Democrats at the time.

Last week, Jackson sentenced him to three years and four months in prison. His sentence will be delayed until she rules on his motion for a new trial.