Donald Trump says he’d ‘of course’ tell FBI if he gets foreign dirt
President Donald Trump shifted gears Friday on election interference, saying “of course” he would go to the FBI or the attorney general if a foreign power offered him dirt about an opponent. Trump’s new stance was a walk back — to a degree — after he set off a Washington firestorm earlier in the week by asserting he would not necessarily contact law enforcement if offered damaging material from an overseas source. But in his latest comments, the president still said he would look at the proffered information to see whether it was “incorrect.” “Of course, you have to look at it,” Trump said during a birthday appearance on “Fox and Friends.” He added: “But of course, you give it to the FBI or report it to the attorney general or somebody like that. You couldn’t have that happen with our country, and everybody understands that.” That was a step back from his comments to ABC days earlier. “OK, let’s put yourself in a position: You’re a congressman, somebody comes up and says, ‘Hey I have information on your opponent.’ Do you call the FBI? You don’t,” Trump said in an interview that aired Wednesday. “I’ll tell you what. I’ve seen a lot of things over my life. I don’t think in my whole life I’ve ever called the FBI.” His assertion that he would be open to accepting a foreign power’s help in his 2020 campaign alarmed Democrats, who condemned it as a call for further election interference while Republicans struggled to defend his comments. Asked by ABC News what he would do if Russia or another country offered him dirt on his election opponent, Trump said: “I think I’d want to hear it.” He added that he’d have no obligation to call the FBI. “There’s nothing wrong with listening.” Special counsel Robert Mueller painstakingly documented Russian efforts to boost Trump’s campaign and undermine that of his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. In a segment released Friday from the president’s interview earlier this week, Trump told ABC that “it doesn’t matter” what former White House counsel Don McGahn told investigators and that McGahn may have been confused when he told prosecutors he had been instructed to seek Mueller’s removal. McGahn was a crucial witness for Mueller, spending hours with investigators and offering detailed statements about episodes central to the special counsel’s investigation into possible obstruction of justice. McGahn described how Trump directed him to press the Justice Department for Mueller to be fired by insisting that he raise what the president perceived as the special counsel’s conflicts of interest. Trump denied that account, saying, “The story on that very simply, No. 1, I was never going to fire Mueller. I never suggested firing Mueller.” Asked why McGahn would have lied, Trump said, “Because he wanted to make himself look like a good lawyer. Or he believed it because I would constantly tell anybody that would listen — including you, including the media — that Robert Mueller was conflicted. Robert Mueller had a total conflict of interest.” Though Trump tried to cast doubt on McGahn’s credibility, it is clear from the Mueller report that investigators took seriously his statements, which in many instances were accompanied by contemporaneous notes, and relied on his account to paint a portrait of the president’s conduct. It is also doubtful that McGahn, a lawyer, would have had any incentive to make a misstatement given that lying to law enforcement is a crime and Mueller’s team charged multiple Trump aides with making false statements. Though Mueller’s investigation didn’t establish a criminal conspiracy between Russia and the president’s campaign, Trump repeatedly praised WikiLeaks in 2016 and at one point implored hackers to dig up dirt on Hillary Clinton, The role of Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., in organizing a 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer offering negative information on Clinton was a focus of Mueller’s probe of Russian meddling in the last presidential campaign. Trump Jr. spoke with the Senate Intelligence Committee for about three hours Wednesday to clarify an earlier interview with the committee’s staff. By Jonathan Lemire and Zeke Miller Associated Press. Lemire reported from New York. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Don Siegelman finishes probation for bribery
A judge has ended probation for former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, who went to federal prison in a bribery scheme. WSFA-TV reports that a federal judge this week agreed with an officer’s report recommending that probation end for the 73-year-old Democrat. A federal jury convicted Siegelman in 2006. Prosecutors said he gave a seat on a state regulatory board to HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy, and that in exchange Scrushy donated $500,000 to Siegelman’s signature political issue, a 1999 campaign to establish a state lottery. Siegelman served about six years in prison before his release in 2017. The probation was supposed to end next year, but a probation officer determined the former governor had complied with all the rules. Siegelman shared the judge’s order on social media. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Roby Weekly Column: Honoring Our Symbol of Freedom
On June 14th, 1777, our country’s flag was officially adopted by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Many years later, in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that established June 14th as Flag Day, and on August 3, 1949, this day of observance was officially established by an Act of Congress. Now, every year on June 14th, our country has a special opportunity to celebrate our flag and reflect upon what it symbolizes. The American flag displays thirteen horizontal stripes alternating red and white with a blue rectangle, specifically referred to as the “union,” that bears fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine horizontal rows. As you may know, the fifty stars on the American flag represent our fifty states. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen original colonies that declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain and became the first states in the U.S. While the design of the American flag has been officially modified 26 times since its initial adoption in 1777, the symbolic meaning has remained the same. Whether flown on front lawns across Alabama, in front of schools, universities, and businesses of all sizes, or proudly displayed at military installations across this great country, for centuries the American flag has been an inspiring emblem of pride, hope, and freedom for countless people throughout the world. Whenever I see our flag, I am especially reminded of the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have fought to defend it and all it represents. This year, Flag Day comes during an especially important time, as I recently was proud to announce my 2019 appointees to our United States service academies. Each year, it is my distinct privilege and honor as a member of Congress to nominate students from the Second District to be considered for appointment to the United States Air Force, Naval, Military, and Merchant Marine Academies. This year, I am very pleased to announce that I nominated the following students who received official appointments to the service academies: Daniel Brayden Banner is the son of Dan and Amanda Banner. He is a graduate of Providence Christian School in Dothan, and he received an offer of appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point.Theodore Maxwell Dowd is the son of John and Donna Dowd. He is a graduate of Northview High School in Dothan, and he received an offer of appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Amore Jacarra Hardy is the daughter of Regina Hardy. She is a graduate of Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery, and she received an offer of appointment to the United States Air Force Academy.Timothy Jurard McClendon is the son of Emma Lee McClendon. He is a graduate of Carroll High School in Ozark, and he received an offer of appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Johnny M. Montgomery, III, is the son of Johnny Montgomery. He is a graduate of Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook, and he received an offer of appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Jackson Scott Parker is the son of Scott and Hannah Parker. He is a graduate of Abbeville High School, and he received an offer of appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Isaac Taylor Sherman is the son of Jeremy and Morgan Sherman. He is a graduate of Prattville High School, and he received an offer of appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Seth Cameron White is the son of Steve and Terri White. He is a graduate of Wicksburg High School, and he received an offer of appointment to the United States Naval Academy. In the spirit of Flag Day, I believe these students from our communities are to be commended not only for their academic excellence, but more importantly, for their eagerness to serve our great country. I am incredibly proud to join their families, friends, teachers, and hometowns in offering my sincerest congratulations and thanks. Our flag will continue to shine as a symbol of freedom because of young leaders like these men and women. Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband Riley and their two children.
John W. Giles: Charles A. “Kayo” Sipper – one man sawmill – last generation
As we travel down the road of life, we often meet extraordinary people, who enrich our path beyond measurable standards. This is an amazing story about a rare, yet simple man named Kayo, who in my estimation is a legend. One day his skills, trade and livelihood will be extinct like so many other rural treasures, when he passes on. I have wanted to commit this story to paper for quite some time but needed to ensure the timing was right and did not want overlook any of these rich details of this story steeped in the traditions of the Deep South. This allegory is truly a message of living out the gospel as a Christian, touching so many. The contents here should be a book, but I will try to compress this into a short story mega-blog. Seventy-two years ago, Charles A. (Kayo) Sipper was born in a one room farmhouse (now Kayo’s Cabinet Shop), located in central Crenshaw County. His father nicknamed him Kayo inspired by the newspaper cartoon. Today on Sipper Ridge stands a cluster of homes, barns, sheds and sawmill where three Sipper brothers currently live. Four of Kayo’s five siblings were also born in this one room home, in addition, his father and his nine siblings who were born here as well. The Sipper family has occupied these seventy acres of promise land in Crenshaw County since 1860, when his great-great grandfather came to these parts to homestead. Crenshaw County is fertile concentrated ground for Churches of Christ. Kayo’s childhood dream was to preach the gospel and have a family. That he did. He attended and graduated from Alabama Christian College in Montgomery where he met his bride Olivia in 1967; they married in 1969 (50 years), have two sons, Josh, Sam and five grandchildren. Kayo has been preaching the Gospel for over 50 years and was at one church alone for 30 years. I first met Kayo when we bought our farm in 2004; we were looking for someone with a large wood planer to dress out wood we accumulated after Hurricane Ivan. I am not sure why, but even today he calls me John Giles. My friends call me John, but in this region of the south, I am generally referred to as Mr. G, Mr. John or Mr. Giles, but Kayo has always called me John Giles, to me it’s comical! Being a complete stranger to the area and seeking common ground, I mentioned I was friends with John Harrison, who I met in 1989. For years he was a local banker and mayor. That is all it took, from that point forward, I was immediately adopted into the family. He barely knew me when he delivered a wagon load of rough saw timber, we bought to wrap the outside of our home. He first showed me some tips on how to shiplap this pine and then he asked me if I had a compound miter saw, at that time I did not own one. After only knowing me for a just a few minutes, he voluntarily wanted to loan me his saw, I was speechless at his trust and for being such a giver to a stranger. He has over the years loaned me his personal tools that I did not have in my arsenal. In addition, he would always undercharge me for his materials, products and services; he is a role model giver. You must experience this to appreciate it, but Kayo will take a log, cut it on his one-man sawmill, stack it to dry, dress it out on his planer and make finished cabinets and furniture to perfection. From the woods, to the kitchen, amazing! Kayo recently helped me make some beautiful benches from a downed poplar tree; we sawed up the logs, dried it, planed and built beautiful Pinterest style benches for Deborah. These one of a kind benches will be heirlooms for my children and grandchildren. As a side note, Kayo always said it was a one-man sawmill that would work three men to death, he is right. While woodworking, he would tell me lets measure twice and cut once; and he purposely put me on what he called the idiot end of the measuring tape. Officially, Kayo is 72 and retired, but he works every day doing something. As a newly adopted member of his family, Kayo called me to come over on a Saturday night to the one room house, which is now his cabinet shop, he said “John Giles we are going to be making music.” I knew about playing music, but he called it making music. It was old fashion fun, much like the old Saturday night barn dances, but in this case, locals would come together, play instruments and sing music. As a hobby, Kayo and his brother would build from scratch handmade guitars, to date they have made 30, one of a kind guitars. Talking hospitality, they often wanted us to come play Mexican Train Dominos during a weeknight and then join them for music making on Saturday night. Before his mother passed, she would make her three sons a huge country breakfast every Saturday morning at 7 am sharp. I was invited to one of those historic Saturday morning breakfasts; I still remember Mrs. Addie Mae Sipper’s homemade biscuits and gravy. One Saturday morning I was over there making some gift trays with Kayo, and in walks his brother with homemade biscuits stuffed with fried salmon. His brother does this every Saturday morning and carries a batch down to the local hardware store for fellowship and some good eating. The Sipper family was consumed in being given to hospitality. One day, I called looking for Kayo and Olivia didn’t know where he was, mind you it was pouring down rain. About ten minutes later he called me, and I asked him where he was. He said, “I was sitting out on the porch John Giles, watching the rain
