Trump legal troubles may not be over despite Senate acquittal

Despite his acquittal by the Senate, former President TrumpDonald TrumpFederal prosecutors investigated Proud Boys ties to Roger Stone in 2019 case: CNN Overnight Defense: One-third of service members decline coronavirus vaccine | Biden to take executive action in response to Solar Winds hack | US, Japan reach cost sharing agreement Trump ‘won’t say yet’ if he’s running in 2024 MORE’s legal problems may not be over.

He’s already been hit with one lawsuit connected to allegations he incited last month’s riot at the U.S. Capitol and faces the possibility of more to come.

Shortly after the Senate voted against convicting Trump in his impeachment trial Saturday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump ‘won’t say yet’ if he’s running in 2024 On The Trail: Trump threatens a Tea Party redux Trump to appear on conservative networks in wake of Limbaugh’s death MORE (R-Ky.) argued that impeachment was not the proper venue for holding the former president accountable and suggested he could face legal consequences for his actions.

ADVERTISEMENT

McConnell, who voted to acquit, said Trump is “practically and morally responsible” for provoking the riot.

“President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office, as an ordinary citizen, unless the statute of limitations has run. … [He] didn’t get away with anything yet,” McConnell said in a floor speech.

Three days later, the NAACP filed a lawsuit on behalf of Rep. Bennie ThompsonBennie Gordon ThompsonFederal prosecutors investigated Proud Boys ties to Roger Stone in 2019 case: CNN The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden on COVID-19: Next year Americans will be ‘better off’ Riot probe to likely focus on McCarthy-Trump call MORE (D-Miss.) against Trump, his adviser Rudy GiulianiRudy GiulianiFederal prosecutors investigated Proud Boys ties to Roger Stone in 2019 case: CNN The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden on COVID-19: Next year Americans will be ‘better off’ Giuliani not representing Trump in legal matters, spokesman says MORE and right-wing groups for inciting the mob that overran the Capitol on Jan. 6, disrupted the counting of Electoral College votes by Congress and left five people dead.

The lawsuit alleges that Trump violated a Reconstruction-era law known as the Ku Klux Klan Act, which forbids conspiring to “prevent, by force, intimidation, or threat,” public officials from carrying out their duties.

“You cannot move forward if you don’t address the illegality of what took place, the treasonous act,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson told The Hill on Tuesday. “If you try to move forward without holding people accountable, you only set yourself up [for] future activity that could possibly be successful in toppling our democracy.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The allegations echo those brought by the House impeachment managers: that in the weeks after the election and in the hours before the riot, Trump incited his supporters with outlandish claims that electoral fraud caused his defeat.

In response to the lawsuit, Jason Miller, a spokesman for Trump, maintained that the former president was not responsible for what happened on Jan. 6.

“President Trump has been acquitted in the Democrats’ latest Impeachment Witch Hunt, and the facts are irrefutable. President Trump did not plan, produce or organize the Jan. 6th rally on the Ellipse,” Miller said in a statement. “President Trump did not incite or conspire to incite any violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6th. Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiMajor union that backed Biden in 2020 endorses Foy in Virginia governors race The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Biden navigates pressures from Dems Pelosi’s ‘9/11-type’ commission to investigate Capitol riot could prove dangerous for Democrats MORE and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel BowserMuriel BowserNAACP, Rep. Bennie Thompson sue Trump, Giuliani over Capitol riot Trump World stunned by move to call witnesses Union alleges safety protocol violations at DC school where teacher died of COVID MORE must answer questions as to why they rejected additional security and National Guard assistance in the run-up to Jan. 6th.”

Miller did not immediately respond when asked for comment on the possibility that Trump could face more cases over the Capitol riot.

Gregory Magarian, a constitutional law professor at the Washington University School of Law, said Trump could very well win against any of the civil suits that might be brought against him, but that he should be concerned about the possibility of spending his time following the presidency swamped in litigation.

ADVERTISEMENT

“These are not frivolous cases,” Magarian said. “There is a realistic possibility that Trump could end up facing legal liability. As with anything else, if you’re trying to succeed with something you diversify your efforts. I think we’re probably going to see a variety of different kinds of lawsuits based on a variety of different egregious, things that Trump did.”

“These lawsuits are going to be brought under different legal theories,” he continued. “They’re going to be brought in different courts in different jurisdictions. If you’re Trump, your concern is OK, am I going to skate on all of this stuff? It only takes, you know, potentially one or two big successes for the plaintiffs to really cause him some problems.”

Some of Trump’s critics have also called for him to be charged criminally for provoking his supporters to commit violence. It’s unclear whether the Biden administration would take the unprecedented step of prosecuting a former president, but the possibility adds to the criminal liability that Trump faces elsewhere, including investigations into his business practices in New York and a district attorney’s probe into a call he made pressuring Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) over the state’s election results.

Chuck Rosenberg, a former U.S. attorney and senior FBI official, says that it would be difficult for prosecutors to secure a conviction against Trump based on the evidence he’s seen.

“I think Sen. McConnell’s characterization is correct  that Trump is morally responsible  but you need more evidence to hold him criminally responsible,” Rosenberg said. “The question is, do you have a good-faith basis sufficient predication to open a criminal investigation? Absolutely. It’s not a close call.”

Rosenberg says that prosecutors would need to establish Trump’s intent in rallying his supporters to protest what he had convinced them was a stolen election.

“Unless he kept all of his thoughts to himself, which seems unlikely for Mr. Trump, I’d want to talk to everyone he talked to,” Rosenberg said. “What did he tell them? When did he tell it to them?”

As for the potential civil lawsuits like the one already filed by Thompson and the NAACP, Magarian said that Trump’s lawyers will likely argue that comments he made while in office are at least partially protected from legal liability, forcing federal judges to grapple with whether they can impose restraints on an elected official’s speech.

“I think that kind of big picture tension, which comes up all the time in constitutional cases of various kinds, is going to be very prominent in these Trump lawsuits,” Magarian said.

Democrats offer bills to boost IRS audits of rich, corporations

House Democrats on Thursday rolled out legislation to boost tax enforcement on wealthy individuals and corporations.

Rep. Ro KhannaRohit (Ro) KhannaBiden’s move on Yemen sparks new questions Khanna calls for further action from Biden on Yemen Biden faces familiar dilemma in Afghanistan MORE (D-Calif.), the deputy whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, unveiled a bill that calls for an additional $100 billion in funding for the IRS over 10 years, with $70 billion of that money going to enforcement. 

The bill would require the IRS to use the additional enforcement funds to increase audits of the wealthy and corporations. The measure would require the agency to meet targets of auditing 95 percent of corporations with more than $20 billion in assets, 50 percent of individual tax returns with income of more than $10 million, 33 percent of individual tax returns with income of between $5 million and $10 million, and 20 percent of individual tax returns with income between $1 million and $5 million.

ADVERTISEMENT

The bill also would increase penalties for millionaires who falsify their tax returns to pay less than they owe.

In addition to the funds for enforcement, Khanna’s bill would provide the IRS with $20 billion for taxpayer services and $10 billion to improve its technology.

“We know our tax system is broken, and it’s long past time we start fixing it,” Khanna said in a statement.

The congressman announced the bill hours before a House committee holds a hearing about the GameStop stock market frenzy. Khanna linked his bill to the hearing, saying that “today’s hearing is just one example among thousands of the ways in which the ultra-wealthy play by different rules than the rest of us.”

Khanna estimates that his bill would raise $1.2 trillion in federal revenue over a decade, citing estimates from former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, University of Pennsylvania law professor Natasha Sarin and former IRS Commissioner Charles Rossotti.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Congressional Budget Office has also estimated that increasing IRS funding for enforcement would raise federal revenue, but by a smaller amount than Summers, Sarin and Rossotti have estimated.

Rep. Peter DeFazioPeter Anthony DeFazioHouse Democrats call on Biden to fill Postal Service Board vacancies to pave way for ousting DeJoy House Democrats’ draft coronavirus relief legislation includes B for U.S. airlines It’s time to impose a COVID-19 equity surcharge on Wall Street MORE (D-Ore.), the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced Thursday that he is reintroducing a separate piece of legislation that similarly would increase IRS funding and set target audit rates for wealthy individuals and corporations.

“My bill would make significant investments in the IRS to equip the agency to collect from top earners what the government is owed and set minimum audit levels to ensure the wealthiest are held accountable and pay what they legitimately owe,” DeFazio said.

The two bills are supported by a number of left-leaning groups, including Americans for Tax Fairness, the Center for American Progress and the Patriotic Millionaires.

Increasing funding for the IRS has long been a priority for Democrats and tax professionals, and there is also some support among Republicans for boosting IRS funding as well. The IRS’s budget has been cut by about 20 percent on an inflation-adjusted basis since fiscal 2010, according to a recent report from the National Taxpayer Advocate.

Stocks hit new highs as record streak continues

U.S. stock markets opened to new records Tuesday, continuing a February winning streak as investors look toward recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened up 100 points, or 0.3 percent, and the S&P 500 rose 13 points, or 0.3 percent.

Increases in vaccine distribution in recent weeks and a steady drop in COVID-19 cases have bolstered confidence that the economy can bounce back from pandemic recession, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

ADVERTISEMENT

President BidenJoe BidenMcConnell doesn’t rule out getting involved in Republican primaries Perdue files paperwork to explore 2022 Senate run Hillicon Valley: Parler announces official relaunch | Google strikes news pay deal with major Australian media company | China central to GOP efforts to push back on Biden MORE‘s push for a $1.9 trillion relief plan is also adding to hopes of a quick recovery, though some critics are warning that the economy could overheat with such a large stimulus.

With former President TrumpDonald TrumpMichigan Democrat Dingell on violent rhetoric: ‘I’ve had men in front of my house with assault weapons’ McConnell doesn’t rule out getting involved in Republican primaries 75 percent of Republicans want Trump to play prominent role in GOP: poll MORE‘s impeachment trial complete, the Senate is now free to turn to legislative business, including confirming additional Biden nominees and advancing the stimulus package.

The House Budget Committee is set to receive legislative pieces of the stimulus bill from various committees Tuesday for compiling before advancing the legislation to the House floor.

Myanmar security forces deploy armored vehicles, crack down on protesters

Myanmar security forces on Monday cracked down on those protesting against the military coup and deployed armored vehicles and military personnel into the streets.

Authorities in Myanmar deployed armored vehicles, fired rubber bullets and slingshots into crowds of protesters, pointed guns at demonstrators and arrested many as protests have continued for days over the military takeover of the democratically elected government, the Associated Press reported.

The rubber bullets did injure some in the crowd although it does not appear there were any deaths in the crackdown. Many have been arrested across the nation, including high schoolers as young as 13-years-old and journalists. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The U.S. embassy in Myanmar warned Americans in the country on Sunday to “shelter in place” whenever military vehicles took to the street. 

The protests began after a military coup was led on Feb. 1 by Military General Min Aung Hlaing who took over the government and arrested democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others in her political party. 

Suu Kyi was supposed to be released Monday, but the date got pushed back to Feb. 17 where she will have to appear in court for having an unregistered walkie-talkie, according to the Associated Press. 

Hlaing reversed key laws protecting protesters on Saturday and officials are now allowed to search private property and hold protesters in jail for more than 24 hours without a court order. 

Myanmar also saw thousands of engineers and doctors protest Monday saying they refuse to work while the military is controlling the government. The military claims their takeover is justified as they believe the government did not investigate election fraud well enough. 

The military coup and their violent response to protesters have caused international condemnation and the U.S. has announced sanctions and redirected aid from the country.

Pfizer exec 'confident' in ability to deliver 2 billion coronavirus vaccine doses this year

An executive at Pfizer said he and the company are “confident” in its ability to deliver 2 billion doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year in an interview with the Associated Press published Sunday.

“Right now, we can potentially deliver approximately 2 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021,” Mike McDermott, the president of global supply at Pfizer, told the AP.

“We are confident in this commitment, but of course are constantly looking for ways to make and distribute more doses faster,” he added. 

ADVERTISEMENT

McDermott, who has worked at Pfizer for 30 years, said in his interview that the company is working to increase the efficiency of vaccine development, through methods including adding more manufacturing lines, using contract manufacturers and doubling batch sizes. 

“There is a dire need to vaccinate more people quickly,” he said. “We are expanding our capacity to make more vaccine as quickly as possible.”

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine became the first approved in the U.S. in December. But since then, more contagious COVID-19 variants, first discovered in the U.K. and South Africa have made their way to the U.S., sparking concern about the current vaccines’ effectiveness against the strains. 

McDermott said Pfizer’s construction of the virus’s messenger RNA genetic code is “the perfect science to be able to make modifications quickly” if needed.

“In essence there would be no changes to the manufacturing network,” he said. “That altered genetic material would come into the system – and production would begin immediately on a new vaccine version.”

The Pfizer-BioNTech is one of two vaccines, along with the Moderna vaccine, approved for emergency use in the U.S., both requiring two doses. 

ADVERTISEMENT

More than 27.2 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been administered in the country, compared to more than 25.5 million doses of Moderna’s vaccine, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

In the meantime, the CDC has documented 981 cases of the variant first found in the U.K. across 37 states and 13 cases of the variant first discovered in South Africa across five states.

Early data has indicated that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can help protect against the mutations in these two variants.

MVP suffers leg injury on WWE Raw

MVP suffered a leg injury last night on Raw.

The injury occurred during a match where he, Shelton Benjamin, and Cedric Alexander faced the Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado) and Riddle. Dave Meltzer reported on.Wrestling Observer Radio this morning that MVP needed getting help to the back while the cameras were off . He appeared on Raw Talk later that night in crutches.  Additionally, PWInsider reported this morning that MVP had traveled to Brimingham, Alabama.

Riddle scored the win for his team in the match, pinning MVP with a knee strike and a floating bro. After the match, Riddle was laid out by Bobby Lashley. Riddle is scheduled to face Lashley for the United States title at Elimination Chamber this Sunday in a triple threat match that also includes Keith Lee.

After returning to WWE last year, MVP aligned himself with Lashley. His association with Lashley would later turn into managing his own stable, adding Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin to the mix.