By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — sought a preemptive pardon for himself near the end of President Donald Trump’s term and made his request known to someone outside the White House Counsel’s office, according to two people familiar with the matter, but Gaetz’s request was never seriously considered by the White House because they decided preemptive pardons were off the table.In the final days of Trump’s term, that Pat Cipollone and other lawyers for the President told him he should not pardon himself, his family or any Republican lawmakers in a prospective manner unless he...…By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — sought a preemptive pardon for himself near the end of President Donald Trump’s term and made his request known to someone outside the White House Counsel’s office, according to two people familiar with the matter, but Gaetz’s request was never seriously considered by the White House because they decided preemptive pardons were off the table.In the final days of Trump’s term, that Pat Cipollone and other lawyers for the President told him he should not pardon himself, his family or any Republican lawmakers in a prospective manner unless he...WW…

(CNN)Federal investigators looking into 's relationships with young women have examined whether any federal campaign money was involved in paying for travel and expenses for the women, a person briefed on the matter said. Investigators are examining whether the Florida Republican engaged in a relationship with a woman that began when she was 17 years old and whether his involvement with other young women broke federal sex trafficking and prostitution laws, according to that source and another person briefed on the matter.Investigators are also pursuing allegations from witnesses and other...…(CNN)Federal investigators looking into 's relationships with young women have examined whether any federal campaign money was involved in paying for travel and expenses for the women, a person briefed on the matter said. Investigators are examining whether the Florida Republican engaged in a relationship with a woman that began when she was 17 years old and whether his involvement with other young women broke federal sex trafficking and prostitution laws, according to that source and another person briefed on the matter.Investigators are also pursuing allegations from witnesses and other...WW…

By and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — will speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, next Sunday, according to a source familiar with the matter, while former Vice President Mike Pence declined an invitation to speak at the conference, two sources told CNN.One source said organizers still hope to change Pence’s mind about attending, while another source said Pence is planning to stay under the radar for the next six months. Politico that Pence declined the invitation.The divergence between the two former leaders, which comes as the GOP is grappling...…By and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — will speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, next Sunday, according to a source familiar with the matter, while former Vice President Mike Pence declined an invitation to speak at the conference, two sources told CNN.One source said organizers still hope to change Pence’s mind about attending, while another source said Pence is planning to stay under the radar for the next six months. Politico that Pence declined the invitation.The divergence between the two former leaders, which comes as the GOP is grappling...WW…

(CNN)Advisers to former say he still has not expressed remorse for the siege at the US Capitol, which could end up being important for Senate jurors to consider after of the violent mob's assault on January 6. One of the new clips show then-Vice President Mike Pence and his family being hustled away by Secret Service as the siege was under way. That affirms what in the days following the deadly insurrection. Some of those aides were outraged with Trump and believed he had put his own vice president in danger. Pence, who plans to keep laying low during the impeachment trial, has not quite...…(CNN)Advisers to former say he still has not expressed remorse for the siege at the US Capitol, which could end up being important for Senate jurors to consider after of the violent mob's assault on January 6. One of the new clips show then-Vice President Mike Pence and his family being hustled away by Secret Service as the siege was under way. That affirms what in the days following the deadly insurrection. Some of those aides were outraged with Trump and believed he had put his own vice president in danger. Pence, who plans to keep laying low during the impeachment trial, has not quite...WW…

By , , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Former President Donald Trump was unhappy with his impeachment lawyer on the Senate floor Tuesday, two people familiar with his reaction told CNN.Castor, who is representing Trump alongside attorney David Schoen, delivered a meandering argument during the first day of the Senate impeachment trial, including praise for the House impeachment managers for a presentation that he said was “well done.”Trump was almost screaming as Castor struggled to get at the heart of his defense team’s argument, which is supposed to be over the...…By , , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Former President Donald Trump was unhappy with his impeachment lawyer on the Senate floor Tuesday, two people familiar with his reaction told CNN.Castor, who is representing Trump alongside attorney David Schoen, delivered a meandering argument during the first day of the Senate impeachment trial, including praise for the House impeachment managers for a presentation that he said was “well done.”Trump was almost screaming as Castor struggled to get at the heart of his defense team’s argument, which is supposed to be over the...WW…

Washington (CNN) is open to some negotiation on his $1.9 trillion , a senior administration official told CNN, but the $600 billion counterproposal announced by Sunday is "not going to scratch the itch."The White House is specifically open to considering scaling down stimulus checks for families making more than $150,000 per year, the official said, but the administration is not considering cutting off months of unemployment insurance access or money going to schools. The official told CNN that if the Republican counterproposal moved forward, lawmakers would have to return to negotiating...…Washington (CNN) is open to some negotiation on his $1.9 trillion , a senior administration official told CNN, but the $600 billion counterproposal announced by Sunday is "not going to scratch the itch."The White House is specifically open to considering scaling down stimulus checks for families making more than $150,000 per year, the official said, but the administration is not considering cutting off months of unemployment insurance access or money going to schools. The official told CNN that if the Republican counterproposal moved forward, lawmakers would have to return to negotiating...WW…

(CNN)President Joe Biden said Wednesday that former President Donald Trump left him a "very generous letter" before . Biden, speaking from the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office after signing , said he would not immediately reveal the contents of the letter out of respect for Trump."The President wrote a very generous letter," Biden told reporters. "Because it was private, I will not talk about it until I talk to him, but it was generous." A senior Trump aide described the letter to CNN as a "personal note" that prays for the success of the country and the new administration to care for the...…(CNN)President Joe Biden said Wednesday that former President Donald Trump left him a "very generous letter" before . Biden, speaking from the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office after signing , said he would not immediately reveal the contents of the letter out of respect for Trump."The President wrote a very generous letter," Biden told reporters. "Because it was private, I will not talk about it until I talk to him, but it was generous." A senior Trump aide described the letter to CNN as a "personal note" that prays for the success of the country and the new administration to care for the...WW…

By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — President Donald Trump pardoned in a last-minutebefore he is scheduled to depart the White House for a final time.Trump told people that after much deliberation, he had decided to pardon Bannon as one of his final acts in office.“President Trump granted a full pardon to Stephen Bannon. Prosecutors pursued Mr. Bannon with charges related to fraud stemming from his involvement in a political project,” the statement from White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany read. “Mr. Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and...…By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — President Donald Trump pardoned in a last-minutebefore he is scheduled to depart the White House for a final time.Trump told people that after much deliberation, he had decided to pardon Bannon as one of his final acts in office.“President Trump granted a full pardon to Stephen Bannon. Prosecutors pursued Mr. Bannon with charges related to fraud stemming from his involvement in a political project,” the statement from White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany read. “Mr. Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and...WW…

(CNN) issued a early Wednesday that included his onetime political strategist, a former top fundraiser and two well-known rappers but not himself or his family.The batch of 73 pardons and 70 commutations issued in the final hours of his presidency was expected, and is in keeping with a long-standing presidential tradition of exercising clemency powers at the last minute.The list reflected a President keen on awarding pardons to his stalwart allies, an unusual number of whom have been swept up in corruption or lying charges.The on Trump's list were doled out to individuals whose cases have...…(CNN) issued a early Wednesday that included his onetime political strategist, a former top fundraiser and two well-known rappers but not himself or his family.The batch of 73 pardons and 70 commutations issued in the final hours of his presidency was expected, and is in keeping with a long-standing presidential tradition of exercising clemency powers at the last minute.The list reflected a President keen on awarding pardons to his stalwart allies, an unusual number of whom have been swept up in corruption or lying charges.The on Trump's list were doled out to individuals whose cases have...WW…

(CNN)At least eight Secret Service agents are currently holed up in a hotel in Phoenix, some suffering the flu-like coronavirus symptoms after coming down with the disease while preparing for a visit by Vice President Mike Pence, two people familiar with the matter say.Last month, up to 15 agents who tested positive for the virus loaded into cars and drove themselves home, avoiding flights after becoming infected while preparing for campaign rally, according to another source familiar with the situation.And in South Dakota, agents have been on the ground for days preparing for Trump's --...…(CNN)At least eight Secret Service agents are currently holed up in a hotel in Phoenix, some suffering the flu-like coronavirus symptoms after coming down with the disease while preparing for a visit by Vice President Mike Pence, two people familiar with the matter say.Last month, up to 15 agents who tested positive for the virus loaded into cars and drove themselves home, avoiding flights after becoming infected while preparing for campaign rally, according to another source familiar with the situation.And in South Dakota, agents have been on the ground for days preparing for Trump's --...WW…