Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Charles Schumer says Comey hearing deepened ‘cloud’ over Donald Trump
The Senate's top Democrat demanded Thursday that President Trump "play the tapes" of any conversations he had with fired FBI Director James B. Comey, saying that unless the White House produces recordings, it cannot contradict Mr. Comey's "eye-opening" testimony. Published June 8, 2017
James Comey leaked his own memos to contradict Trump, spur special prosecutor
Fired FBI Director James B. Comey orchestrated the leak of details of his memos of his conversations with President Trump, he testified to Congress on Thursday, saying he was hoping it would spur the Justice Department to announce an independent prosecutor to probe the Trump operation. Published June 8, 2017
James Comey likely to leave Russia questions unanswered
While former FBI Director James B. Comey intends to speak at length about his strange and strained relationship with President Trump when he testifies before Congress on Thursday, former bureau officials said he is unlikely to shed new light on the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the presidential election and any links with members of the Trump campaign. Published June 7, 2017
Donald Trump asked for end to Flynn probe, former FBI Director Comey will testify
President Trump repeatedly complained to former FBI Director James B. Comey of a "cloud" over his administration because of the bureau's probe into Trump campaign figures' dealings with Russia and asked that the FBI drop its probe into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Mr. Comey says in prepared testimony he'll deliver to Congress on Thursday. Published June 7, 2017
DHS audit clears facilities that detain illegal immigrant families
The facilities Homeland Security uses to detain illegal immigrant families are actually clean, well-run and meet the government's standards, the inspector general said in a new report Wednesday that contradicts the complaints filed by immigrant-rights advocates. Published June 7, 2017
Dreamers won’t be deported, DHS Secretary Kelly says; suggests Congress grant them full legalization
Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly said Wednesday that his agents are not actively trying to deport illegal immigrant Dreamers approved for tentative status President Obama's 2012 deportation amnesty, and suggested Congress should find a way to grant them full legalization. Published June 7, 2017
Donald Trump backs permanent snooping powers for intelligence agencies
Just months after President Trump complained about being spied on by the Obama administration, his administration is embracing a full permanent extension of the secret snooping powers the government used to track conversations between his campaign aides and Russian operatives. Published June 7, 2017
Donald Trump’s Twitter feed welcome change to supporters
Far from fed up with President Trump's Twitter feed, his supporters say they would welcome more missives from their champion. Published June 6, 2017
John Kelly: ‘Terrorist travel’ threat backs up Trump ban
Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly sounded a loud alarm Tuesday over an "unprecedented spike in terrorist travel" including to the U.S., moving to shore up the defense of the administration's travel ban one day after President Trump's tweets seemed to undercut his case before the Supreme Court. Published June 6, 2017
Jeh Johnson may testify to House intelligence committee in Russia probe
The House intelligence committee wants to hear from former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Russia's attempts to interfere in the U.S. election, a top Democrat said Tuesday. Published June 6, 2017
Senators float bipartisan fix to sanctuary cities; liability protection could smooth cooperation
Senators said Tuesday they may have a bipartisan way of allowing local police to cooperate with federal immigration agents, saying Congress could pass a law granting the localities protection from liability lawsuits brought by illegal immigrants who claim they were detained too long. Published June 6, 2017
16 states ask Supreme Court to revive Trump travel ban
Texas and 15 other states filed briefs with the Supreme Court on Monday asking the justices to reinstate President Trump's travel ban policy, saying they're convinced it's both legal and justified. Published June 6, 2017
John Kelly, DHS secretary: World facing most terrorist ‘foot soldiers’ ever
Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly sounded a loud alarm Tuesday over the dangers of terrorists from overseas finding ways into the U.S., saying there are more potential terrorists than ever, and saying federal courts and reluctant state governments are hindering security efforts here at home. Published June 6, 2017
Donald Trump blasts Senate as ‘obstructionists,’ demands approval of his nominees
President Trump accused Senate Democrats Monday of blocking his nominees -- particularly ambassadorships -- from confirmation, issuing yet another Twitter challenge to Capitol Hill. Published June 5, 2017
Donald Trump refugee numbers drop sharply
Despite a court order halting most of his extreme vetting policy, President Trump's administration has quietly been working toward his goal of a drastic cut in the number of refugees the U.S. will accept this fiscal year. Published June 4, 2017
Eric C. Conn, Social Security fraudster, cuts monitoring device, is on the run from the law
Eric C. Conn, a Kentucky lawyer who led one of the biggest Social Security frauds in history, has removed his electronic monitoring device and appears to be on the run, the FBI said late Saturday, writing the latest chapter in a bizarre soap opera that's embarrassed the government and left hundreds of people struggling. Published June 4, 2017
Nancy Pelosi: Donald Trump ‘dishonoring’ God in global warming decision
An emotional Rep. Nancy Pelosi said President Trump was "dishonoring" God and questioned whether his grandchildren will even be able to breath air in the future after his announcement a day earlier that he would withdraw from the Paris climate accord. Published June 2, 2017
Donald Trump to Supreme Court: Let travel ban take effect
The Justice Department petitioned the Supreme Court late Thursday to immediately reinstate President Trump's extreme vetting policy, asking the justices to erase injunctions issued by several lower courts. Published June 1, 2017
U.S. economy, world already locked into lower-emission model
Green groups blasted President Trump for withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement Thursday, but predicted the U.S. economy and much of the rest of the world are already locked into a lower-emission model, even without the U.S. government's involvement. Published June 1, 2017
Deportation cases lagged under Barack Obama, says watchdog
Under the Bush administration, it took an immigration judge less than a month to finish the average deportation case. Near the end of President Obama's tenure, that time had soared to nearly a year, according to a new report Thursday from the government's chief watchdog that underscores the immigration mess the previous administration left. Published June 1, 2017