Trump faces fresh investigation

WASHINGTON: A US House of Representatives committee has opened a new investigation into the alleged Russian meddling case and President Donald Trump’s financial interests abroad. It came just a day after he told Congress that “if there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation”.

The probe was announced on Wednesday by Adam Schiff, the Democrat who heads the powerful House intelligence committee. He said the new investigation will focus on alleged Russian meddling in the US elections, links and coordination with Trump’s campaign, and “any credible allegation that financial interests or other interests are driving decisionmaking of the US president or anyone in the administration”.

“That pertains to any credible allegations of leverage by the Russians or the Saudis or anyone else,” Schiff told reporters.

In a statement, he added that the probe will address questions of “whether any foreign actor has sought to compromise or hold leverage, financial or otherwise, over Donald Trump, his family, his business, or his associates”.

In response, Trump attacked Schiff, saying that he did not know him - he had tweeted about him several times, though. And then Trump proceeded to attack the Congressman as a “political hack” out to make a name for himself.

NEOMI RAO ‘CRINGES’ AT HER PAST WRITINGS

Trump’s Indian-origin nominee to replace Brett Kavanaugh on an appeals court backed away from the language she used as a college student in writing about sexual assault, race and equal rights for women.

“I like to think I’ve matured as a thinker and a writer,” Neomi Rao said, adding that she “cringed” at the language that she had used back then.