Today’s Headlines & Commentary

President Trump tweeted about Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s statement on Wednesday, apparently stating for the first time that Russia helped him win the 2016 election without his own involvement, though he later walked back these statements to reporters at the White House, notes the Washington Post.

Sen. Cory Booker, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and other 2020 Democratic presidential candidates pushed for Congress to begin impeachment proceedings against Trump following Mueller’s statement, according to NBC News.

Officials from the Defense Intelligence Agency believe that Russia may be conducting low-level nuclear tests—or that the country has the capability to carry out tests exceeding the zero-yield limit set out in the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty—reports Reuters. The head of the body monitoring this treaty, Lassina Zerbo, said there are no signs Moscow has violated the treaty.

Israelis will vote in parliamentary elections for a second time in two months after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government coalition before a midnight deadline on Wednesday, reports the Post.

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan stated that recent North Korean missile tests violated a U.N. Security Council resolution, breaking with President Trump’s comments that he was not bothered by the short-range missile tests earlier this month, according to the Hill.

At least six people have been killed and six more injured in a suicide bomb attack at the entrance to a military training center in Kabul on Thursday, reports Reuters.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Andrew Patterson examined Attorney General William Barr’s denial of bond hearings to detained asylum seekers who have viable asylum claims in the recent immigration case Matter of M-S-.

Matthew Kahn shared Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s statement on the Russia investigation on Wednesday.

Benjamin Wittes reflected on Mueller’s statement and the next steps Congress might take in response.

Robert Chesney, Danielle Citron and Quinta Jurecic discussed the recent video on Nancy Pelosi and how political campaigns might mitigate the harm of similar videos in the run-up to the 2020 elections.

Matthew Kahn shared a special edition of the Lawfare Podcastin which Quinta Jurecic, Benjamin Wittes, David Kris and Paul Rosenzweig reflected on Mueller’s statement and what the next steps might be.

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