The Morning Briefing: Show Me the Documents and Much, Much More

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein leaves the White House, Monday, May 21, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Good Tuesday morning.

Here is what’s on the President’s agenda today:

  • The President receives his intelligence briefing
  • President Trump meets with the President of the Republic of Korea
  • The President participates in a working lunch with the President of the Republic of Korea
  • President Trump meets with the Secretary of State
  • The President delivers remarks at the Susan B. Anthony List 11th Annual Campaign for Life Gala
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House GOP calls for second Special Counsel

Some Republicans in Congress are going to introduce a resolution for another Special Counsel to investigate the illegal snooping and deep state shenanigans going on within the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The resolution is backed by Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., the chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus as well as two of the group’s co-founders — Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla.

Fox News has learned the 12-page resolution will ask a second special counsel to probe matters related to three topics: The ending of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s personal email server, the progress of the Trump-Russia investigation from its origins through the appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel, and abuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) during the warrant application process.

And that’s not the only development on the deep state front…

Trump meets with DOJ, FBI about slow-walked documents, Kelly will set up meeting to review documents

You’ve got to wonder what is in these documents that the DOJ and FBI will not turn them over to Congress.  For months, they have resisted turning over documents rightful requested as part of the Congressional oversight. Yesterday, Trump met with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director hris Wray and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.

President Trump huddled with the FBI director and the deputy attorney general in the Oval Office on Monday – a day after he demanded the Justice Department’s internal watchdog investigate whether the special counsel’s probe into his 2016 campaign was politically motivated.

Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the meeting had been planned since last week and the “focus is on the response to congressional requests.”

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The meeting wasn’t on the WH daily schedule so I’m not sure it was “planned.” The confab lasted about an hour and since nothing leaked out, we have to assume it was not a victory for the deep state/never Trump forces.

However, WH spox Sarah Sanders said the men “agreed that White House Chief of Staff Kelly will immediately set up a meeting with the FBI, DOJ, and DNI together with Congressional Leaders to review highly classified and other information they have requested.”

“Based on the meeting with the President, the Department of Justice has asked the Inspector General to expand its current investigation to include any irregularities with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s or the Department of Justice’s tactics concerning the Trump Campaign,” Sanders said in her statement.

Related:

Justice Dept. to meet with lawmakers as controversy over FBI source swirls

Jake Tapper has sadz Trump listening to outside advisers, not insiders, on fight with DOJ

Grassley seeks DOJ documents on official’s contacts with dossier author

Former Trump aide drops a major accusation about Obama admin spying on Trump

Watchdog to fault FBI’s review of Clinton emails before election: report

Trump praises Nunes as ‘a very courageous man’

Dem group targets Nunes with ‘Three Billboards’-style attack

SHOCKING Paul Manafort accuses Mueller team member of leaking to reporters

Pompeo flexes

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hit the ground running with a cheek-clenching speech about America’s next steps with Iran, after the President decided to jettison Obama’s garbage Iran deal.

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“Relief from our efforts will come only when we see tangible, demonstrated, and sustained shifts in Tehran’s policies,” Pompeo said during the speech delivered at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington. I love how ABC News wants readers to know that Heritage is “conservative” but never characterizes the Brookings Institute as “liberal.”

Pompeo said the new sanctions are “just the beginning” of the pressure campaign and the sting “will only grow more painful” if the regime does not change course.

“These will be the strongest sanctions in history by the time we are done,” Pompeo said.

Europe is helping Iran out — they want to soften the blow of the U.S. actions.

The European Union is currently moving ahead with launching a “blocking statute” against U.S. sanctions on Iran to soften the blow. The law would prevent European companies from complying with U.S. sanctions. The European Commission also suggested EU governments make direct money transfers to Iran’s central bank to avoid U.S. penalties and bypass the U.S. financial system.

National Security Advisor John Bolton suggested “it’s possible” that the U.S. would impose sanctions on Europe. Pompeo agreed, “You should know that we will hold those doing prohibited business in Iran to account. Over the coming weeks, we will send teams of specialists to countries around the world to further explain the Administration’s policy, discuss the implications of sanctions re-imposition, and hear your concerns.”

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Historical picture of the day:

Talk show host Johnny Carson, with his personalized coffee cup in front of him, watches clips from earlier shows during the last taping of the “Tonight Show” in front of family and friends in Burbank, Ca., Friday, May 22, 1992. The king of late-night comedy is retiring after 30 years. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

Other morsels:

‘Too inconvenient’: Trump goes rogue on phone security

Helpful? Clinton backs Georgia governor hopeful on eve of primary

Front-Runner In Key Dem Primary Refuses To Drop Out Over Wife-Beating Accusations

Everytown for Gun Safety takes out full-page ad in Houston Chronicle

‘I now actually do want to take your guns. All of your guns. Right now,’ magazine editor declares

Trump to meet with South Korean president amid summit anxiety

The nerve of this guy. Chuck Schumer Blasts Trump For ‘Autocratic Behavior We’d Expect In A Banana Republic’

Alleged CIA leaker accused of sending press info about case

Another California city rebels against state’s pro-illegal immigration ‘sanctuary city’ policies

Sweden to send war pamphlet to 4.8 million households

#mariotoo? Mario Batali’s company to cut all ties with him after allegations lead to police investigation

Funny. Kimmel mocks Trump for misspelling ‘Melania’ in welcome-home tweet

Companies win big at U.S. top court on worker class-action curbs

Michael Dyson to Jordan Peterson: ‘You’re a mean, mad, white man’

Hard pass. Barack and Michelle Obama sign multiyear production deal with Netflix

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People are threatening to boycott Netflix after the Obamas signed a deal with the streaming service

Study: Women View Male Feminists As Less Masculine

Keith Ellison: Republicans Doing Bible Studies In Jails Are Making It Harder For Dems To Win

Trump-backed prisons bill DOA in the Senate

Florida Man Climbed Playground Equipment, Told Children Where Babies Come From, Police Say

Trump blames ‘weak people’ in Congress for failing to stop illegal immigration

Teen who started fire that burned 48,000 acres ordered to pay $36 million

And that’s all I’ve got, now go beat back the angry mob!

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