1. Senate grills Jeff Sessions over troubled past
Donald Trump’s controversial nominee for US attorney general denied being a racist, and said he didn’t support a ban on Muslims.
Jeff Sessions described allegations of bigotry that have dogged his career as “damnably false charges” and told the confirmation hearing: “I abhor the Klan and what it represents, and its hateful ideology.”
2. Protesters interrupt Sessions hearing
No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA
– chants by multiple protesters during today’s Senate hearing of Jeff Sessions for attorney general
3. Homeland security nomination time
John Kelly, a retired marine corps general would be first homeland security boss to come from non-civilian background if confirmed. He is being quizzed today in his confirmation about immigration and building a wall between the US and Mexico.
4. Say what?
I would never comment on investigations ... in an open forum like this.
FBI director James Comey refused to tell a Senate panel whether the bureau is investigating connections between Trump and Russia, although he had no such trouble speaking about inquiries into Hillary Clinton’s emails.
5. Comey: Russia also targeted Republicans
There was evidence of hacking directed at state-level organizations, state-level campaigns, and the RNC, but old domains of the RNC, meaning old emails they weren’t using. None of that was released.
Comey also told the Senate panel that Russia tried to hack the Republican national convention.
6. Vaccine safety commission announced despite science
Donald Trump has asked Robert F Kennedy Jr, a prominent skeptic regarding the use of vaccines, to chair a commission on vaccination safety.
7. Sexual harassment at chains run by labor sec nominee
Andrew Puzder, Donald Trump’s nomination for US labor secretary, is the CEO of the parent company of chains including Carl’s Jr and Hardee’s. A new report shows two-thirds of female employees at his restaurants have suffered sexual harassment at work, much higher than the industry average.
8. Ivanka and Jared ring alarm bells
Ethics experts are concerned that the appointment of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner to a senior adviser role breaks nepotism laws – and raises issues of conflicts of interest because of his own family business, reports Lauren Gambino.
Ironically, Hillary Clinton helped pave the way for Kushner to get the role.
... And another thing:
Jan 20, Jill and I will head home to Delaware the same way I have for 44 years: by train. Serving this country has been our greatest honor. pic.twitter.com/D0g2rEvE9R
— Vice President Biden (@VP) January 10, 2017
