Grassley says briefing did not contradict Trump

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Thursday that in a briefing with FBI Director James Comey two months ago, he heard nothing to contradict President Donald Trump's claim this week that the ousted director told him he wasn't under investigation in connection with Russian interference in the 2016 election. Grassley made the revelation at a Judiciary Committee meeting, and it comes a day after he explicitly said in a conference call with Iowa reporters that Trump was not under investigation.

Kevin Cramer protester booted from town hall after shoving money into Republican’s collar

Two men who got into a heated confrontation during a North Dakota town hall for Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer had to be escorted from the event Thursday afternoon. Mr. Cramer faced a hostile crowd in Mandan during a question-and-answer session largely focused on his support for the American Health Care Act.

Court ruling detours, but doesn’t stop efforts to curtail feds’ due process

President Trump, accompanied by Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, center, holds up an executive order on "Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protection" after signing it at the Department of Veterans Affairs, April 27, in Washington. On the same day President Trump plunged the nation into crisis by sacking the FBI director, a court ruling demonstrated the importance of due process for federal employees being fired.

Into the Fray: Precursor for victory – a diplomatic “Iron-Dome” Dr. Martin Sherman

The writer served for seven years in operational capacities in the Israeli Defense establishment, was ministerial adviser to Yitzhak Shamir's government and lectured for 20 years at Tel Aviv University in Political Science, International Relations and Strategic Studies. He has a B.Sc.

Trump launches commission to investigate voter fraud

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday launching a commission to review alleged voter fraud and voter suppression, building upon his unsubstantiated claims that millions of people voted illegally in the 2016 election. The White House said the president's "Advisory Commission on Election Integrity" would examine allegations of improper voting and fraudulent voter registration in states and across the nation.

GOP Senator Suggests Shunned SCOTUS Nominee Replace Comey

In an exclusive interview with NBC's Lester Holt, President Donald Trump claims that he was going to fire former FBI director James Comey regardless of recommendations to do so, claiming responsibility for an action that sparked instant outrage with most Democratic and some Republican lawmakers. Acting FBI director Andrew McCabe says the Russia probe is still ongoing.

DWR hosts final community meeting addressing Oroville Dam emergency in Chico

Chico >> Questions about Oroville Dam spillway plans, fish hatchery deaths and transparency were on the minds of those who attended the Department of Water Resources meeting Thursday. State water agency officials got an earful at the Chico Masonic Family Center during a session designed to take questions and comments about the Oroville Dam spillway crisis.

Lawmakers reach agreement on stalled VA accountability bill

Congressional Republicans and Democrats have reached agreement on a long-stalled bill to make it easier for the Department of Veterans Affairs to fire its employees, part of an accountability effort touted by President Donald Trump. The deal announced Thursday could smooth the way for final passage on an issue that had been in limbo since the 2014 wait-time scandal at the Phoenix VA medical center.

Outside money floods House special elections in Georgia and Montana

The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super pac tied to House Speaker Paul Ryan, tops spending in special elections and tests get-out-the-vote strategy for the 2018 midterm elections. Outside money floods House special elections in Georgia and Montana The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super pac tied to House Speaker Paul Ryan, tops spending in special elections and tests get-out-the-vote strategy for the 2018 midterm elections.

Trump’s Proposed USAID Head Knows Aid – And Politics

Mark Green, second from left, president of the International Republican Institute, testifies in 2014 before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill. Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images hide caption Mark Green, second from left, president of the International Republican Institute, testifies in 2014 before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill.

New study to mull salary system for military

By year's end, the Department of Defense expects to launch its 13th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, which will assess the pros and cons of converting service members from traditional basic pay and tax-free allowances to a single, civilian-like salary system. That's a slower pace of study than Congress wanted last December when it ordered the department to prepare a plan to begin to transition to a salary system no later than Jan. 1, 2018, and in the interim to provide "an initial assessment and progress report" on the effort by March 1 this year.

The Latest: Schumer seeks briefing from Justice official

President Donald Trump fired Comey on Tuesday, ousting the nation's top law enforcement official in the midst of an investigation ... Graphic shows key dates in tenure of FBI Director James Comey; 4c x 4 inches; 195.7 mm x 101 mm; . President Donald Trump talks to reporters during a meeting with Dr. Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor under President Richard Nixon, in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, May 10,... .

Scarborough On Mike Pence: ‘It Appears That He Lied’

A lot of people think Pence will be the next president. I'm not so sure, because when someone like Joe Scarborough, in a conversation with New York Times reporter Glenn Thrush, openly calls a Republican VP a liar, it's because he doesn't expect him to be an issue: GLENN THRUSH: Let me just backtrack for a second.

The Latest: Trump calls Comey ‘showboat,’ ‘grandstander’

President Donald Trump says former FBI Director James Comey is a "showboat" and a "grandstander" who has brought turmoil to the agency. Trump, who abruptly fired Comey earlier this week, tells NBC News in an interview Thursday that the FBI was in "virtual turmoil" less than a year ago and hasn't recovered.

Senators introduce VA accountability bill after 2-month stall

Nearly two months after the House passed legislation that would allow Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin to fire bad workers more quickly, the Senate on Thursday introduced its own version of the bill - one with bipartisan support. The bill, a deal between Senate Republicans and Democrats, signals the most likely opportunity that Congress has to pass VA accountability legislation following the 2014 scandal when veterans were found to be waiting long periods for health care.