Trump read Dems’ memo
Mr. Trump is likely to redact parts of a classified Democratic memo on the Russia investigation that rebuts allegations of political bias at the FBI despite the release last week of a Republican memo without any redactions, people close to theWhiteHousesaid.
Democraticlawmakers expressed concern Tuesday that the president would edit the memo to remove parts that he viewed as politically embarrassingor damaging.
Administration officials said Mr. Trump had read the memorandum, which seeks to undermine Republican claims that biased top law enforcement officials had abused their powers when they sought a warrant to wiretap a former Trumpcampaignofficial.
People close to the White House said they anticipated that the president would release the Democratic memo — with parts blacked out — once it went through a national securityand legalreview.
President pursues parade
closer to reality in the Pentagon and White House, where officials say they have begun to plan a grand military parade later this year showcasing the might of America’s armedforces.
Mr. Trump has long mused publicly and privately about wanting such a parade, but a Jan. 18 meeting between Mr. Trumpand top generals in the Pentagon’s tank — a room reserved for top secret discussions — marked a tipping point, according to two officialsbriefed on the planning.
Surrounded by the military’s highest ranking officials, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joe Dunford, Mr. Trump’s seemingly abstract desire for a parade was suddenly heard as a presidential directive, the officials said.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed the request Tuesdayevening.
‘Too lazy’ to seek DACA?
Some immigrants may have been “too afraid” or “too lazy” to sign up for the Obama-era program that offers protection from deportation,White House chief of staff John Kelly said Tuesday as he defended Mr. Trump’s proposalon the divisive issue.
Mr. Kelly discounted the possibility Mr. Trump would announce a temporary extension of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program beyond March 5, when its protections could expire. He said the administration would not ask Congress to set a later date to give bargainers more time to reach a bipartisan deal, but said the government would not start deporting “Dreamers” who don’t havecriminal records.