Washington (CNN)Former national security adviser has leveled a stunning accusation against his former boss, claiming in his new book that President Donald Trump personally asked his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to help him win the 2020 US presidential election, according to a copy obtained by CNN Wednesday. Bolton also charged that when Xi told Trump last year that was building concentration camps for the mass detention of Uyghur Muslims, Trump said Xi should go ahead building the camps, "which he thought was exactly the right thing to do."At another meeting during last year's G-20...…Washington (CNN)Former national security adviser has leveled a stunning accusation against his former boss, claiming in his new book that President Donald Trump personally asked his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to help him win the 2020 US presidential election, according to a copy obtained by CNN Wednesday. Bolton also charged that when Xi told Trump last year that was building concentration camps for the mass detention of Uyghur Muslims, Trump said Xi should go ahead building the camps, "which he thought was exactly the right thing to do."At another meeting during last year's G-20...WW…

By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Nearly two-dozen Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee are pushing back on a White House plan to , according to a new letter sent to President Donald Trump on Tuesday.Rep. Mac Thornberry, the top Republican on the panel, was joined by 21 other Republicans on the committee in urging Trump not to significantly reduce the number of US forces in Germany.The letter comes after a defense official told CNN last week that the White House has asked for a substantial reduction of US military personnel stationed in the country. The official...…By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Nearly two-dozen Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee are pushing back on a White House plan to , according to a new letter sent to President Donald Trump on Tuesday.Rep. Mac Thornberry, the top Republican on the panel, was joined by 21 other Republicans on the committee in urging Trump not to significantly reduce the number of US forces in Germany.The letter comes after a defense official told CNN last week that the White House has asked for a substantial reduction of US military personnel stationed in the country. The official...WW…

By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Over Memorial Day weekend, Attorney General William Barr removed a low-profile US attorney in Texas following the public airing of a dispute over an investigation into Walmart – a move that didn’t draw the same attention as the , but is now raising new questions about political interference inside the Justice Department.Joseph Brown, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Texas and a Trump appointee, was pushed out after ProPublica published a nearly headlined “Walmart was almost charged criminally over opioids. Trump appointees killed...…By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Over Memorial Day weekend, Attorney General William Barr removed a low-profile US attorney in Texas following the public airing of a dispute over an investigation into Walmart – a move that didn’t draw the same attention as the , but is now raising new questions about political interference inside the Justice Department.Joseph Brown, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Texas and a Trump appointee, was pushed out after ProPublica published a nearly headlined “Walmart was almost charged criminally over opioids. Trump appointees killed...WW…

(CNN)Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas is threatening to stall the nominations of US attorneys from states represented by Democrats on the Judiciary Committee in retribution for the committee's Democrats moving forward on over GOP objections.Cotton said on the Senate floor Thursday during debate on the to be associate attorney general that he would "refuse consent or time agreements for the nomination of any US attorney from any state represented by a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee."Such a move would slow down the Senate and make it harder to confirm nominees to US attorney posts,...…(CNN)Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas is threatening to stall the nominations of US attorneys from states represented by Democrats on the Judiciary Committee in retribution for the committee's Democrats moving forward on over GOP objections.Cotton said on the Senate floor Thursday during debate on the to be associate attorney general that he would "refuse consent or time agreements for the nomination of any US attorney from any state represented by a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee."Such a move would slow down the Senate and make it harder to confirm nominees to US attorney posts,...WW…

By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — The Biden administration slapped on Russia Thursday over Moscow’s alleged interference in the 2020 election, the massive SolarWinds hack and the ongoing occupation of Crimea, signaling it is adopting a tougher posture toward the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin.The sanctions announcement also showed that the Biden administration is more willing to directly call out Russia’s meddling in US affairs after Trump administration officials had to dance around former President Donald Trump’s frequent unwillingness to criticize...…By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — The Biden administration slapped on Russia Thursday over Moscow’s alleged interference in the 2020 election, the massive SolarWinds hack and the ongoing occupation of Crimea, signaling it is adopting a tougher posture toward the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin.The sanctions announcement also showed that the Biden administration is more willing to directly call out Russia’s meddling in US affairs after Trump administration officials had to dance around former President Donald Trump’s frequent unwillingness to criticize...WW…

(CNN)House Republicans are doing their best to steer clear of embattled Rep. amid an FBI investigation into whether he and had sex with a 17-year-old girl.The Republican efforts to keep their distance from Gaetz also offer him a lifeline within the GOP conference, as he appears safe at the moment from facing retribution within the party unless formal charges are filed.House GOP leaders say they're waiting to see what comes of before deciding on any action to take against Gaetz. And rank-and-file Republicans are trying to avoid answering questions or to change the subject when asked about...…(CNN)House Republicans are doing their best to steer clear of embattled Rep. amid an FBI investigation into whether he and had sex with a 17-year-old girl.The Republican efforts to keep their distance from Gaetz also offer him a lifeline within the GOP conference, as he appears safe at the moment from facing retribution within the party unless formal charges are filed.House GOP leaders say they're waiting to see what comes of before deciding on any action to take against Gaetz. And rank-and-file Republicans are trying to avoid answering questions or to change the subject when asked about...WW…

By and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — The House Ethics Committee said Friday it was opening an investigation into the allegations surrounding embattled Rep. , the Florida Republican into whether he violated sex trafficking laws.The top Democrat and Republican on the Ethics Committee said they were examining Gaetz for a host of potential offenses, including both potential illegal activity and .“The Committee is aware of public allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz may have engaged in sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House...…By and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — The House Ethics Committee said Friday it was opening an investigation into the allegations surrounding embattled Rep. , the Florida Republican into whether he violated sex trafficking laws.The top Democrat and Republican on the Ethics Committee said they were examining Gaetz for a host of potential offenses, including both potential illegal activity and .“The Committee is aware of public allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz may have engaged in sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House...WW…

(CNN)It's been one week since the federal investigation into Rep. burst into the public sphere, and almost all of Gaetz's colleagues in the House Republican conference are keeping quiet.House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he'd speak to Gaetz about the matter, though it's not clear that's happened. The Republicans are keeping their powder dry amid the ongoing investigation. And even former President Donald Trump hasn't defended one of his staunchest allies in the House.Trump brought up the Gaetz situation in a recent conversation with an ally, talking as if he was gently fishing about...…(CNN)It's been one week since the federal investigation into Rep. burst into the public sphere, and almost all of Gaetz's colleagues in the House Republican conference are keeping quiet.House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he'd speak to Gaetz about the matter, though it's not clear that's happened. The Republicans are keeping their powder dry amid the ongoing investigation. And even former President Donald Trump hasn't defended one of his staunchest allies in the House.Trump brought up the Gaetz situation in a recent conversation with an ally, talking as if he was gently fishing about...WW…

(CNN)Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican being , made a name for himself when he arrived on Capitol Hill as a conservative firebrand on TV and staunch defender of then-President Donald Trump. Behind the scenes, Gaetz gained a reputation in Congress over his relationships with women and bragging about his sexual escapades to his colleagues, multiple sources told CNN.Gaetz allegedly showed off to other lawmakers photos and videos of nude women he said he had slept with, the sources told CNN, including while on the House floor. The sources, including two people directly shown the material,...…(CNN)Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican being , made a name for himself when he arrived on Capitol Hill as a conservative firebrand on TV and staunch defender of then-President Donald Trump. Behind the scenes, Gaetz gained a reputation in Congress over his relationships with women and bragging about his sexual escapades to his colleagues, multiple sources told CNN.Gaetz allegedly showed off to other lawmakers photos and videos of nude women he said he had slept with, the sources told CNN, including while on the House floor. The sources, including two people directly shown the material,...WW…

Watch the full interview with Kaitlan Collins at 9 p.m. ET Monday on “The Source.” CNN  —  A longtime Mar-a-Lago employee who is a central witness in the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents is now speaking publicly because he believes that voters should hear the truth about his former boss and the case before the November election. Brian Butler, who is referenced as “Trump Employee 5” in the classified documents indictment brought by special counsel Jack Smith,...…Watch the full interview with Kaitlan Collins at 9 p.m. ET Monday on “The Source.” CNN  —  A longtime Mar-a-Lago employee who is a central witness in the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents is now speaking publicly because he believes that voters should hear the truth about his former boss and the case before the November election. Brian Butler, who is referenced as “Trump Employee 5” in the classified documents indictment brought by special counsel Jack Smith,...WW…