The Daily 202: Why Mark Zuckerberg is embracing more regulation of political ads on Facebook

The Daily 202: Why Mark Zuckerberg is embracing more regulation of political ads on Facebook

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:

-- Lawyers for the Trump Organization wrote directly to Panama’s president last month asking for help in a legal fight connected to the company’s hotel in Panama City.

-- Attorney General Jeff Sessions turned to longtime GOP donor Elliott Broidy, who was convicted in 2009 for his role in a public corruption case, for recommendations on U.S. attorney appointments.

-- The acting director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics demanded that the EPA investigate Pruitt’s spending habits, housing arrangements and personnel decisions. Brady Dennis reports: “In a [letter, David J. Apol] took the atypical step of telling EPA officials that several recent ethics questions deserve further scrutiny … [citing actions including] Pruitt’s first-class travel expenses, round-the-clock security and steep salary increases that recently were granted to two top aides … He said Pruitt’s frequent trips to his home in Oklahoma, often at taxpayer expense, ‘raise concerns about whether the Administrator is using his public office for personal gain ...’ In addition, Apol wrote that reports that an aide at EPA helped shop for a house for Pruitt also may have been a misuse of his position. Apol called reports that Pruitt reassigned or demoted staff member who questioned his spending and other actions ‘extremely concerning.’ Apol said that his office “expects that EPA will review and analyze the alleged conduct …’ [and] ‘take appropriate action’ if it finds any violations. But it’s unclear how agency officials are likely to respond.”

-- Mike Pompeo has reached out to past secretaries of state – including Hillary Clinton – as he navigates the confirmation process. Politico’s Nahal Toosi reports: “As a sharply partisan Republican member of Congress, [Pompeo] tormented [Clinton] over her response to the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, which Pompeo called ‘morally reprehensible.’ He also once liked a tweet that branded her successor, John Kerry, a ‘traitor.’ But now that Pompeo faces a tough confirmation process to become secretary of state himself, he has reached out to Clinton and Kerry, as well as every other living occupant of the office, to ask for guidance. Clinton, for one, has been willing to help. … During their talk, Clinton advised Pompeo to stem the flight of career diplomats who quit under Tillerson, according to a person familiar with the call.”

-- Gina Haspel received the endorsement of more than 50 former national security officials and lawmakers to be the next CIA director. CNN’s Jennifer Rizzo reports: “Former directors of the CIA and national intelligence, secretaries of state and lawmakers who have chaired the Senate and House intelligence committees make up the list of signatories [in a letter sent Monday to the Senate Intelligence Committee]. The top intelligence officials include former CIA Directors John Brennan, Leon Panetta, Jose Rodriguez, George Tenet, Michael Hayden and former President Barack Obama's Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.” The letter does not address Haspel’s role in the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation” program, which will likely prove her greatest barrier to confirmation.

CLICK ON LINK FOR MORE OR CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING FOR YOURSELF.