Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Dems’ first bid to force independent Trump commission fails
The House turned back Democrats' first effort to force a vote on creating an independent commission to look into Trump campaign dealings with Russia, with the GOP maintaining ranks to shoot down the aggressive maneuver. Published May 17, 2017
Immigration arrests up 38 percent under Donald Trump
Immigration arrests surged 38 percent during the first 100 days of President Trump's tenure, authorities said Wednesday, adding that agents have been freed from the tight restrictions of the Obama era and are now able to target a far broader universe of illegal immigrants for deportation. Published May 17, 2017
Paul Ryan: ‘Lot of politics being played’ over Trump accusations
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said Wednesday he told congressional Republicans to spend time gathering all the facts on the questions surrounding President Trump, and warned against jumping to conclusions based on news reports. Published May 17, 2017
Countries refusing U.S. deportees cut from 20 to 12
Between cajoling, threats and actual punishments, Homeland Security has managed to drastically cut the number of countries that habitually refuse to take back immigrants whom the U.S. is trying to deport, officials said Tuesday, notching an early immigration success for President Trump. Published May 16, 2017
John Cornyn says he won’t be FBI director
Sen. John Cornyn took himself out of the running to be FBI director, saying Tuesday that he'd rather remain in Congress, where he's the No. 2 Republican in the upper chamber. Published May 16, 2017
Chuck Schumer demands transcript of Trump-Russia meeting
The Senate's top Democrat demanded Tuesday that the White House release the transcript of his meeting with the Russian foreign minister to congressional intelligence committees so they can determine the extent of the damage. Published May 16, 2017
GOP rolled back 14 of 15 Obama rules using Congressional Review Act
Republicans' test-drive of a little-used regulatory review law is now over and party leaders say it was a smashing success, allowing Congress roll back 14 rules President Obama's team issued at the end of his administration, for a savings of billions of dollars. Published May 15, 2017
Trey Gowdy takes himself out of FBI search
Rep. Trey Gowdy took himself out of the running to be the new FBI director, saying Monday that he doesn't feel like he'd be the right pick. Published May 15, 2017
Rod Rosenstein to brief senators on Trump probe
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will brief senators behind close doors on Thursday, giving lawmakers a chance to prod the man who's now at the forefront of the firing of FBI Director James B. Comey and the ongoing probe into Trump campaign figures' dealings with Russia. Published May 15, 2017
Al Green, Democratic congressman, makes case to impeach Trump
A Democratic congressman called for impeaching President Trump on Monday, saying Congress must prove to the country that the laws apply to everyone. Published May 15, 2017
Supreme Court declines to revive North Carolina’s voter ID law
The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear a case seeking to reinstate North Carolina's voter ID law, letting a lower court's ruling blocking the law remain in place. Published May 15, 2017
Top Democrats demand Donald Trump’s James Comey tapes
Top House Democrats on Friday demanded that President Trump turn over any tapes he has of his conversation with then-FBI Director James B. Comey, saying the president forced the issue by suggesting the possibility of recordings. Published May 14, 2017
David B. Daugherty pleads guilty in massive Social Security fraud case
An administrative judge involved in one of the biggest Social Security frauds in history pleaded guilty Friday, admitting that he helped scam the federal government out of potentially more than half a billion dollars in bogus disability payments. Published May 14, 2017
Democrats demand Trump produce ‘tapes’ of Oval Office talk with Comey
Top House Democrats on Friday demanded President Trump turn over any tapes he has of his conversation with then-FBI Director James B. Comey, saying the president forced the issue by suggesting the possibility of recordings. Published May 12, 2017
Feds nab three Dreamers, 10 UAC in nationwide gang operation
Three illegal immigrant Dreamers approved under President Obama's 2012 amnesty have been snared in a new nationwide anti-gang operation targeting traffickers and violent criminals, federal authorities announced Thursday. Published May 11, 2017
Donald Trump not personally under investigation, top senators say
President Trump was correct when he said he wasn't personally under investigation in the FBI's Russia election meddling probe, two key senators said Thursday, though both of them said the government owes the public a better explanation of what's going on. Published May 11, 2017
Rod Rosenstein’s firing memo faces questions as Democrats demand recusal
Key Democrats are questioning the memo Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein wrote justifying the ouster of FBI Director James B. Comey, saying it doesn't sound like the kind of document someone with the lawyer's long experience would craft -- and saying it's more evidence for why he should recuse himself from probing President Trump. Published May 11, 2017
Donald Trump signs order creating voter-fraud panel
President Trump established a commission Thursday to study voter fraud and suppression, tapping Vice President Mike Pence and Kansas Secretary of State Kris W. Kobach to lead an effort that is drawing fire even before its first meeting. Published May 11, 2017
James Comey’s firing stops Washington business
Washington ground to a halt Wednesday as Democrats exploded over the firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, laying out a list of demands they said must be met before President Trump and Congress regain a sense of normalcy. Published May 10, 2017
Millennials increased their voter participation in 2016 election
Millennials actually increased their participation in last year's election, according to new Census Bureau data Wednesday that challenges conventional wisdom that frustrated young people fed up with the choices failed to turn out to vote. Published May 10, 2017
