Today’s edition of quick hits:
* The fourth judge to endorse the legitimacy of Mueller’s investigation: “A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump ruled Monday that special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe is constitutional and legitimate, rejecting an effort by a Russian company — accused of financing a massive political influence operation in the United States — to stamp out the ongoing investigation.”
* Speaking of legal proceedings, prosecutors targeting Paul Manafort rested their case late this afternoon.
* This story can, and probably will, get worse: “Jilted ex-‘Apprentice’ star and former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman has told friends and associates that she has tapes of private phone calls from first daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, according to two sources with whom she has discussed the recording.”
* Erdogan’s monetary crisis: “Turkey’s currency fell to another record low on Monday, hitting stocks in Europe and Asia and raising fears that the country is on the verge of an economic meltdown that could spread to other emerging markets.”
* A wild story out of West Virginia: “West Virginia’s House of Delegates voted to impeach two of the four justices on the state’s Supreme Court of Appeals on Monday, saying Justices Allen Loughry and Robin Davis should face an impeachment trial in the Senate over the use of state funds to renovate Supreme Court offices.”
* Trump’s trade war: “As the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum products begin to impact bottom lines, auto suppliers are taking actions to sidestep the impact — all proactive, but some on the outside of legality.” * The latest congressional ethics misstep: “The House Ethics Committee has called for Rep. Markwayne Mullin to return $40,000 to his family business, Mullin West, following a review that concluded the money was paid out to him in a manner that is out of compliance with House rules and the committee’s recommendations.” * And Chris Cox, the founder of the Bikers for Trump group that has organized demonstrations for the president, is organizing opposition to Harley-Davidson for moving some production abroad. Cox is also selling Trump t-shirts made in Haiti. Asked why, he said American-made shirts just weren’t affordable enough. Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
