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Talk of Washington: Trump Said to Demand Justice Dept. Pay Him $230 Million for Past Cases (New York Times)
President Trump is demanding that the Justice Department pay him about $230 million in compensation for the federal investigations into him, according to people familiar with the matter, who added that any settlement might ultimately be approved by senior department officials who defended him or those in his orbit, the Times reports. Compensation is typically covered by taxpayers.
The situation has no parallel in American history, as Trump, a presidential candidate, was pursued by federal law enforcement and eventually won the election, taking over the very government that must now review his claims. It
is also the starkest example yet of potential ethical conflicts created by installing the president’s former lawyers atop the Justice Department, according to the New York Times.
Asked about the issue at the White House after this article published, the president said, “I was damaged very greatly and any money I would get, I would give to charity.” He added, “I’m the one that makes the decision and that decision would have to go across my desk and it’s awfully strange to make a decision where I’m paying myself.”
According to the Justice Department manual, settlements of claims against the department for more than $4 million “must be approved by the deputy attorney general or associate attorney general.” The current deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, served as Trump’s lead criminal defense lawyer.
Diplomacy Push: Europe and Ukraine Prepare 12-Point Proposal to End Russia’s War (Bloomberg)
European nations are working with Ukraine
on a 12-point proposal to end Russia’s war along current battle lines, pushing back against Vladimir Putin’s renewed demands to the US for Kyiv to surrender territory in return for a peace deal.
If Russia follows Ukraine in agreeing to a ceasefire and both sides commit to halting territorial advances, the proposals envisage the return of all deported children to Ukraine, exchanges of prisoners, and security guarantees, funds to repair war damage, and a pathway to rapidly join the European Union.
Sanctions on Russia would gradually be lifted though some $300 billion in frozen central bank reserves would only be returned once Moscow agrees to contribute toward Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.
Ukraine’s allies said they “strongly support”
an immediate halt to Russia’s war in Ukraine along existing positions to allow for peace talks.
U-Turn: In a Reversal, Trump Will Not Meet With Putin in Coming Weeks (New York Times)
The White House reversed itself on Tuesday and said that President Trump no longer planned to meet with President Vladimir Putin of Russia in “the immediate future,” after Russian officials made clear they had no intention of making a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
US-China Talks? Trump Sees Successful Xi Meeting, But Allows It Might Not Happen (Bloomberg)
President Trump predicted an upcoming meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, would yield a “good deal” on trade — while also conceding that the highly anticipated talks may not happen.
While Trump foresaw the sit-down
as being “very successful,” he said the possibility remains that it could fail to materialize. The two leaders are scheduled to meet later this month at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.
Big Media News: Warner Bros. Weighs Sale Amid Interest From Several Parties (Bloomberg)
Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. said it
has begun to consider various deal scenarios in light of “unsolicited interest” the media and entertainment conglomerate has received from “multiple parties” for all or part of the company, company, which includes HBO Max, CNN, and TNT. The company said there is no deadline or definitive timetable set for completion of the strategic review process.
Insurrectionist
Back in Custody: Man Pardoned After Jan. 6 Arrested Over Jeffries Death Threat (Bloomberg)
A New York man pardoned by President Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol was arrested Sunday after threatening to kill House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Latest from France: Former President Sarkozy Proclaims His Innocence as He Begins Five-Year Prison Term (France 24)
France's ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy became the first former head of an EU state to be jailed Tuesday, proclaiming his innocence as he entered a Paris prison. Sarkozy was handed a five-year jail term in September for criminal conspiracy over a plan for late Libyan dictator Gaddafi to fund his electoral campaign.
Japan on Display: 21 Best Art Exhibitions in Tokyo Right Now (Time Out - Japan)
Tokyo’s museums and galleries are bursting with variety this season, from the Museum of Contemporary Art’s 30th Anniversary show exploring everyday life through global contemporary art, to vivid retrospectives of icons like Hokusai, Van Gogh and Andy Warhol.
With Bloomberg Connects expanding to Japan last year, users can use the app to explore guides and expert-curated content on Tokyo’s leading museums and exhibitions.
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