This week’s news was dominated by responses to Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris climate accords. Also more updates on Trump-Russia investigations.
Paris climate accord
- President Trump announced Thursday that he would pull the United States out of the Paris climate accord..
- Senator Cardin said the decision “makes America last.”
- Senator Van Hollen blasted the move as an “ignorant and destructive decision that will affect generations to come.”
- Sarbanes statement on Paris decision: “reckless gamble”
State Department
- Senator Van Hollen and Republican Senator Dan Sullivan sent a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, pressing for more details of a reported plan to cut thousands of positions at State and USAID.
- Senator Cardin is among those who have expressed concern over the State Department’s plan to license the sale of $1.2 million worth of semiautomatic handguns to the Turkish president’s security detail, after armed guards violently attacked a group of peaceful protestors. The gun deal is now in jeopardy.
On Russia Investigations
- Congressman Cummings (MD-7) demands DNI, NSA leaders turn over documents on Trump Russia conversations
- Discussion of Gowdy, likely successor to Chaffetz, and whether he and Cummings can get along; more here.
- Cummings reacts to DOJ’s refusal to provide information; Congressman Sarbanes (MD-3) issues statement
Local News
- Congressman Cummings (MD-7), was among the leaders who sent letters to the mayors of 10 cities — including Baltimore — requesting an inventory of facial recognition systems, and photographs that result from the use of the technology
Congressman Sarbanes (MD-3) writes opinion piece about public financing for campaigns in Howard County
