Keep up with what’s happening in DC. Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team read this week.
DOJ Seeks to Defend President: Lawyers for the Department of Justice have stepped in to try and take over President Trump’s defense in a defamation lawsuit related to sexual assault allegations. Full story at New York Times.
Middle East Diplomacy Wins: President Trump announced Bahrain will establish normal relations with Israel, following a similar move by the United Arab Emirates. Both countries are US allies, and were not at war with Israel, however disputes over Palestinian territory have previously marred their relations. The move signals stronger cooperation between US allies in the region. Full story at Washington Post.
FBI Announces Arrest in North Korea Sanctions Violation: The Department of Justice announced Ri Jong Chol, who was previously arrested on suspicion of killing Kim Jong Un’s half brother, has been arrested for violating sanctions against North Korea and purchasing commodities on behalf of the DPRK. More here.
GOP Skinny Bill Fails: A “skinny” COVID-19 Relief Bill introduced in the Senate by GOP leaders failed to advance. Democrats criticized the bill for being too lean to be effective. Full story.
Russian Interference: Microsoft announced in a blog post that Russia-backed entities continue hacking in order to interfere in the 2020 US elections. Read more.
9/11 Anniversary: The US acknowledged the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Both President Trump and Presidential Candidate Joe Biden paid their respects at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania. Read the full story.