A Camera-shy Politician?

From HUFFPOST:

WASHINGTON ― Rep. Greg Gianforte, the Montana Republican who pleaded guilty to assaulting a reporter the day before his election, does not want to be treated like a common criminal ― for more than a month, he has been quietly fighting a court order requiring him to get fingerprinted and photographed at a local jail.

The lawmaker was charged with misdemeanor assault for “body-slamming” The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs after the reporter asked a routine policy question. Gianforte was not arrested for the May 24 assault ― law enforcement officials cited him for it a few hours later. Montanans the next day elected the wealthy tech entrepreneur to the House seat Republican Ryan Zinke had vacated to become President Donald Trump’s Interior Department secretary.

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Are they in the Witless Protection Program?

From Slate:

House Speaker Paul Ryan won’t hold public town hall meetings because he’s concerned about protesters coming in from outside his district. Ryan, who once seemed to relish overflowing town halls, seemed to make the policy official after holding several closed-door meetings with constituents.

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He’s just an idiot, that’s why I endorsed him!

Washington (CNN)House Speaker Paul Ryan sought Thursday to explain President Donald Trump’s asking then-FBI Director James Comey to drop an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, saying he was new at the job and did not understand protocols.

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The Big Queasy

James Comey testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee:

It makes me mildly nauseous to think we might have had an impact on the election. But, honestly, it wouldn’t change the decision.

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Lock him up! Lock him up!

From NBC NEWS:

Former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn has told the Senate Intelligence Committee he is willing to be interviewed about the Trump campaign’s possible ties to Russia in return for immunity from prosecution, a Congressional official told NBC News.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Flynn had told the FBI and Congress he was willing to be interviewed in exchange for a grant of immunity.

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Collusion Course

From THE HUFFINGTON POST:

Of the many questions surrounding House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), and his conduct in investigating President Donald Trump’s ties to Russia, the most puzzling has to be his explanation for his recent visit to the White House grounds. People who have worked in the White House suggest that, on this matter, Nunes and the White House simply aren’t being credible.

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The Name of the Game is Blame

Who is to blame for the health care bill fiasco, and whose job might be in jeopardy? Not Eddie Munster’s  Paul Ryan’s, according to Chris Krueger, strategist at Cowen and Company (WSJ):

Ryan is probably safe as speaker because nobody particularly wants to be Henry VIII’s next wife.

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(The Family of Henry VIII, c. 1543-1547. Unknown artist, after Holbein.
Hampton Court Palace. © The Royal Collection.)