The National Interest Foundation Newsletter
Issue 18, October 31, 2019
Welcome to this week’s edition of the NIF Newsletter. In our domestic headlines: The Department of Justice launches a criminal investigation into the origins of the Mueller probe and U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings passes away from longstanding health issues. Meanwhile, around the world: ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is killed in an American Special Forces raid and Israeli President Rivlin tasks Gantz with attempting to form a coalition government, following Netanyahu’s failure to do so.
United States
DOJ Criminal Investigation
Attorney General William Barr approves Durham’s upgrade of the administrative review of the Mueller Report to a criminal inquiry, though Durham has not released what criminal charge he is investigating. (Photo from Reuters)
DOJ Opens Criminal Investigation into Mueller Report Origins
The U.S. Department of Justice upgraded its administrative review of the origins of the Mueller Report to a criminal inquiry last week. The investigation is being conducted by Prosecutor John Durham and closely supervised by Attorney General William Barr. The switch of status to a criminal probe means that investigators can now issue subpoenas for testimony and documents. Critics of the investigation maintain that the administrative review, now a criminal inquiry, was started in the interests of President Trump and not in the interest of justice.
Elijah Cummings
Representative Cummings was a highly-respected member of Congress, and his passing triggered an outpouring of kind words and condolences from many of his colleagues. (Photo from AP)
Cummings Passes Away from Longstanding Health Issues
Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD), who had represented Maryland’s 7th Congressional District since 1996, passed away at age 68 from complications related to longstanding health challenges. Cummings had been in failing health in recent weeks, frequently in and out of the hospital and unable to take part in committee votes. He was a passionate defender of Democratic causes in Congress, but was also known for his strong friendships with Republicans on Capitol Hill. Following Cummings’ passing, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan called for a special election to fill his seat – with a primary election scheduled for February 2020 and a general election shortly thereafter in April 2020.
Around the World
Syria
Rubble is all that remained of al-Baghdadi’s compound in northern Syria, after the American raid which led to his death. (Photo from NBC News)
American Raid Kills ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
United States Special Forces operatives executed a raid into northwestern Syria over the weekend, in an operation to find and eliminate Islamic State (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The raid, which had been planned over a number of months, culminated in al-Baghdadi detonating a suicide vest and killing himself, along with three of his children. American forces suffered no casualties as a result of the operation. While announcing the success of the raid on Sunday morning, President Trump praised his administration, the operatives who carried out the attack, and international actors for facilitating the operation.
Israel
Former leader of Israel’s military, Benny Gantz, was given permission to form a coalition government after incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to do so. (Photo from AP)
Gantz Tasked with Forming Israeli Government
The Israeli election of this past September saw incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fail to win the requisite number of parliamentary seats to form a government. Despite this, Netanyahu was initially tasked to form a coalition government by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, but failed to do so. As a result, Gantz has now been authorized by Rivlin to form a government, which allows the Blue and Whites to seek partners from minority parties in the Knesset to form a coalition government. Gantz has just under a month to gather the requisite support, and this marks the first time in over a decade that someone other than Netanyahu was mandated to form an Israeli government.
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