Trump calls on GOP to defund FBI, DOJ

Lawmakers continue search for border deal

Apr 06, 2023

Also in today’s edition of ‘Regular Order’ for April 6, 2023:

Pelosi praises McCarthy’s support for Taiwan.
The infrastructure sales effort rolls on in New Mexico.
Rep. Massie endorses DeSantis over Trump.

SPRING BREAK. With Congress out for the Easter Break, I’m going to take some time off with my family. Barring some kind of crazy breaking news, there will be no ‘Regular Order’ newsletter on Friday or Monday. But I’ll be back on Tuesday.

INDIVIDUAL ONE. A day after pleading not guilty to 34 felony charges related in part to hush money payments he made to a porn star during the 2016 campaign, former President Donald Trump called on GOP lawmakers in Congress to respond to his indictment by defunding the police - that is, defunding federal law enforcement agencies.

DEFUND. "REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SHOULD DEFUND THE DOJ AND FBI UNTIL THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES," Trump wrote in all caps on his fake Twitter website. "THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TOTALLY WEAPONIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR COUNTRY AND ARE VICIOUSLY USING THIS ABUSE OF POWER."
GOP. Some House Republicans have already threatened to cut funding for the FBI and Justice Department - all in retaliation for their investigations involving Trump. Not everyone is on board. "I understand his frustration, but defunding the police is not the right answer," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
IRONY. Democrats - who are routinely accused by Republicans of wanting to 'defund the police' - were happy to point out the irony of Trump's remarks. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) said the GOP is now 'a defund the police party in Congress.' "They aren't pro law and order," added Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL).
HOUSE. Even Trump’s true believers in the House have steered clear of his call to defund the FBI and DOJ at this point. It would be really interesting to see the House go on the record about his call for action - just to see how many Republicans would actually vote for what Trump wants.

BORDER. Looking for a bipartisan deal on immigration, a group of lawmakers visited the southern border on Wednesday, checking the situation in Cochise County, Arizona, southeast of Tucson. "What we’re seeing at our border is a humanitarian and national security crisis – finding a solution requires working across the aisle," said Rep. David Valadao (R-CA).

MEMBERS. One of those in the group was Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), a freshman Republican who won a swing seat in 2022. "Securing our border is an all-of-the-above approach," Ciscomani said after meetings with Border Patrol officials along a section of border fencing near Douglas, Arizona.
DRUGS. The border security issue is not just about illegal immigration. "Most of the fentanyl that comes across our borders is smuggled through our POEs (Ports of Entry)," said Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), who has sparred with his own party about the best legislative response on immigration.
SINEMA. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) touted it as a 'bipartisan' border meeting. But four Republicans and one Independent doesn't really sound like a bipartisan group to me. Democrats must be on board in order to get any immigration deal through the Congress.
SENATE. Also with Sinema was Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). Those two Senators have been trying for some time to put together a bipartisan immigration package. Frankly, I'm not sure a significant immigration compromise is possible in today’s political environment - but they are still trying.

TAIWAN. Ignoring the criticism of the Chinese government, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy welcomed the President of Taiwan at an event at the Ronald Reagan Library outside Los Angeles on Wednesday. "We must continue arms sales to Taiwan," McCarthy said, as he called for the U.S. to further strengthen trade and technology links with the island.

MCCARTHY. In his remarks, McCarthy brushed off complaints from Beijing about top American officials meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen. "I’m the Speaker of the House," McCarthy said. "There’s no place that China is going to tell me where I can go or who I can speak to," he added.
PELOSI. Agreeing with that sentiment was former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Today's meeting between President Tsai of Taiwan and Speaker McCarthy is to be commended for its leadership, its bipartisan participation and its distinguished and historic venue," Pelosi said in a written statement.
TSAI. "After meeting with members of the U.S. Congress from both sides of the aisle, I was heartened by their strong bipartisan support for Taiwan," President Tsai said. "When we stand together, we are all stronger."
TAIPEI. U.S. lawmakers weren't the only ones holding meetings with Taiwanese officials. A group of House members led by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) is now in Taiwan on an official visit. The delegation will meet with business leaders and senior government officials on economic and defense cooperation matters.

BUDGET. After his meeting with the Taiwanese President, Speaker McCarthy was asked during an interview with Bloomberg News about what's next on the budget and debt limit - as no talks have been scheduled between McCarthy and President Biden.

MCCARTHY. "What I've told the President is listen, we're bringing in more revenue than at any time in the history of America, but we're spending more than any time," McCarthy said, again calling for spending restraint by Uncle Sam.
DETAILS. McCarthy blamed President Biden for 'not wanting to communicate' - but Biden has told McCarthy no talks can happen until House Republicans put out their own budget. "We're out of session right now," the Speaker added. "When we come back, we might make some news."
TICK TICK TICK. The clock is ticking on the debt limit. Congress isn’t back in legislative session until April 17. House Republicans haven’t put forward a budget or even a budget outline. I’m going to say it again - I don’t like where this is going.

ABORTION. This week’s election results from Wisconsin again demonstrated how Democrats can get a big boost when abortion is a main issue in a campaign. The latest win came in a race for state Supreme Court in the Badger State, but was clearly felt around the nation by Democrats.

DEMS. "When we run on abortion rights, we win on abortion rights," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). "When abortion rights are on the ballot they win over and over again," added Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO).
STATES. Wednesday was a perfect example of the divide over abortion. In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed a bill which repeals an old law that banned all abortions. "Michigan's 1931 law criminalizing abortions is no more," said Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who was on hand for the signing ceremony.
IDAHO. Meanwhile, the pendulum was swinging the other way in Idaho on Wednesday. Gov. Brad Little (R) signed an abortion 'trafficking' law, which would restrict women from traveling outside the state to get an abortion.

INFRASTRUCTURE. Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus were on the road in New Mexico and Texas on Wednesday, joining Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in highlighting new funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law approved in late 2021.

NEW MEXICO. "The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law keeps delivering for New Mexico," Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) said as she welcomed Buttigieg to Albuquerque on Tuesday. Yesterday, Buttigieg made two other stops in the state - all part of the continuing infrastructure sales job by the White House.
BUTTIGEG. "We're just getting started," Buttigieg said while standing on a dirt road with Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) in Deming, a small town of 15,000 along I-10. "There's going to be more where this came from," promised Buttigieg, who later also visited the El Paso airport in Texas.
CLEAN WATER. Buttigieg’s trip was part of the non-stop White House effort to highlight money from the infrastructure law - like $6.5 billion for drinking water infrastructure announced this week by the EPA. "These new resources will be a massive boost for our towns,” said Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT).
MESSAGING. You might not see it, but Democrats in Congress are pressing that kind of funding message every single week back home. “I wonder how many Republicans are at ribbon cutting ceremonies this week pretending they voted for the Infrastructure law,” said Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI).

DESANTIS. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis isn't in the GOP race for President, but he has another endorsement from Congress - this time from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). "America needs a leader who is decisive, respects the Constitution, understands policy, puts family first, and leads by inspiring," Massie said of DeSantis.

NOT TRUMP. It's not a surprise that Massie would support someone other than Trump, as the two men tangled when Trump was President over the need for COVID funding. Massie joins Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) in endorsing DeSantis, who still hasn't announced if he will run for the GOP nomination against Trump.

MUSE OF HISTORY. April 6, 1886. On this date, Sen. Henry Blair of New Hampshire presented a petition from a gathering of more than 2,000 women in Utah Territory, asking that their right to vote be preserved by Congress. "To deprive non-polygamous women of the suffrage is high-handed oppression for which no valid excuse can be offered," the group stated. But Congress would not listen. In 1887, lawmakers passed an anti-polygamy bill which also stripped women in Utah of the ability to vote.

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:

The House next has votes on April 17.

The Senate next has votes on April 17.

President Biden’s daily schedule link.

Follow me on Twitter @jamiedupree. Email me at jamiedupree@substack.com

If you want to say ‘thanks’ - you can buy me a cup of coffee.