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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 5 december 2017

Officials: Manafort Trump scales back size of Utah national monuments
wrote op-ed with
colleague in Russia Continued from Front glyphs. Trump argued that ing some who said they fa- nated in 1996 by President
the people of Utah know vor potential drilling or min- Bill Clinton, will be reduced
By CHAD DAY Both monuments encom- best how to care for their ing there that could create from nearly 1.9 million acres
ERIC TUCKER pass millions of acres of land. jobs. “Your timeless bond (nearly 3,000 square miles)
Associated Press land. “Some people think that with the outdoors should to 1,003,863 acres (1,569
WASHINGTON (AP) — State officials said the pro- the natural resources of not be replaced with the square miles).
While facing several felony tections were overly broad Utah should be controlled whims of regulators thou- Both were among a group
charges, Donald Trump’s of 27 monuments that
former campaign chair- Trump ordered Interior Sec-
man Paul Manafort has retary Ryan Zinke to review
been working on an op- this year.
ed essay with a longtime Zinke accompanied Trump
colleague “assessed to aboard Air Force One, as
have ties” to a Russian in- did Utah’s Republican U.S.
telligence service, accord- senators, Orrin Hatch and
ing to court papers filed Mike Lee. Hatch and other
Monday by prosecutors Utah Republican leaders
working for special counsel pushed Trump to launch
Robert Mueller. the review, saying the mon-
In the court filing, pros- uments designated by the
ecutors say Manafort and former Democratic presi-
the colleague sought to dents locked up too much
publish the op-ed under federal land.
someone else’s name and Trump framed the decision
intended it to influence as returning power to the
public opinion about his state, saying, “You know
work in Ukraine. The op-ed and love this land the best
was being drafted as late and you know the best how
as last week, with Manafort to take care of your land.”
currently under house ar- He said the decision would
rest. Prosecutors did not After they took over the intersection of 100S and State Street stopping traffic, the protesters kneel “give back your voice.”
name the colleague but in solidarity during the protest against President Donald Trump during his visit to the State Capital “Public lands will once
noted the person is based in Salt Lake on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP) again be for public use,”
in Russia. Trump said to cheers.
Manafort is currently fac- and closed off the area to by a small handful of very sands and thousands of Hatch, who introduced
ing several felony charges energy development and distant bureaucrats locat- miles away,” Trump said. Trump, said that when “you
involving allegations of other access. ed in Washington,” Trump “I’ve come to Utah to take talk, this president listens”
money laundering and Environmental and tribal said. “And guess what? a very historic action to re- and that Trump promised
other financial crimes relat- groups plan to sue, saying They’re wrong.” verse federal overreach to help him with “federal
ed to his political consult- the designations are need- Roughly 3,000 demonstra- and restore the rights of this overreach.” Patagonia
ing work in Ukraine. He has ed to protect important ar- tors lined up near the State land to your citizens.” President and CEO Rose
been confined to his home chaeological and cultural Capitol to protest Trump’s Bears Ears, created last Marcario said the outdoor-
while he works out a bond resources, especially the announcement. Some held December by President apparel company will join
arrangement with the gov- more than 1.3 million-acre signs that said, “Keep your Barack Obama, will be an expected court fight
ernment. (2,030-square-mile) Bears tiny hands off our public reduced by about 85 per- against the monument
In the court filing, pros- Ears site featuring thou- lands,” and they chanted, cent, to 201,876 acres (315 reduction, which she de-
ecutors say the op-ed sands of Native American “Lock him up!” A smaller square miles). scribed as the “largest elim-
appeared to violate an artifacts, including ancient group gathered in support Grand Staircase-Escalante ination of protected land in
admonishment from the cliff dwellings and petro- of Trump’s decision, includ- National Monument, desig- American history.”q
judge last month to refrain
from public statements.
“Even if the ghostwritten Trump, congressional leaders plan budget meeting
op-ed were entirely accu-
rate, fair, and balanced, it
would be a violation of this By ALAN FRAM needed to keep agencies GOP conservatives has Leader Chuck Schumer, D-
Court’s November 8 Order ANDREW TAYLOR functioning beyond mid- left the pathway unclear N.Y., abruptly called off the
if it had been published,” Associated Press night Friday night. for averting a closure just session.
the prosecutors wrote. WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- Complicating the search weeks before the start of The cancellation came af-
“The editorial clearly was dent Donald Trump and for a pact are disputes the 2018 election year. ter Trump took to Twitter to
undertaken to influence congressional leaders have over immigration, health Adding an obstacle, the vilify their stances on taxes,
the public’s opinion of de- scheduled a summit to be- and other issues folded into roughly 30 members of the immigration and crime
fendant Manafort, or else gin sorting out their budget the year-end mix. hard-right House Freedom and say he saw no pros-
there would be no rea- differences, top lawmakers Republican leaders want Caucus planned a Mon- pects for an agreement,
son to seek its publication and the White House said to push a bill through Con- day evening meeting to and the standoff has exac-
(much less for Manafort Monday, as a clash that gress this week keeping discuss the budget clash erbated bitter feelings on
and his long-time associ- could produce a partial government afloat through as their leader said he was both sides.
ate to ghostwrite it in an- government shutdown by Dec. 22 as bargainers seek against a short-term deal. “We hope the president will
other’s name).” the weekend hung in the a longer-term spending Hours before Trump and go into this meeting with an
They added, “It com- balance. pact. Capitol Hill leaders were open mind, rather than de-
pounds the problem that The summit, set for Thursday But the GOP will need to hold a budget meeting ciding that an agreement
the proposed piece is not at the White House, comes Democratic votes to suc- last Tuesday, House Minor- can’t be reached before-
a dispassionate recitation just a day before federal ceed, and potential oppo- ity Leader Nancy Pelosi, D- hand,” they said Monday
of the facts.”q spending expires that’s sition from Democrats and Calif., and Senate Minority in a written statement.q