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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 6 OctOber 2017
Treasury report says no laws violated in Mnuchin’s travels

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER he needed to use the more required.Mnuchin’s office ter in a controversy over trips.
AP Economics Writer expensive modes of travel. said it would incorporate expensive plane flights The Treasury report said
WASHINGTON (AP) — The report prepared by “enhancements” called for taken by top Trump admin- Mnuchin’s staff had made
A report by the Treasury De- Rich Delmar, counsel to the by the report in future travel istration officials which has nine requests for the use of
partment’s inspector gen- Treasury inspector general, requests. already cost one Cabinet government aircraft since
eral on Thursday said that said that in many cases Mnuchin’s requests includ- secretary his job. Mnuchin became Treasury
Secretary Steven Mnuchin Mnuchin’s office relied on ed one, later withdrawn, Health and Human Ser- secretary this year, includ-
did not violate any law “a single boilerplate state- for a government plane for vivces Secretary Tom Price ing a request for a govern-
in the seven trips he has ment” to justify the use of use on his European honey- resigned last week af- ment plane this summer
taken on government air- military aircraft rather than moon. ter questions were raised for Mnuchin’s honeymoon
planes but did fail to pro- the more complete “facts The IG report on Mnuchin’s about his use of private jets travels to Britain, France
vide enough proof of why and arguments” that are travels was the latest chap- for multiple government and Italy.q
White House seeks to move past Trump/Tillerson friction

missals this summer. provocative tweets that
But an administration offi- have interfered directly
cial who has dealt with Til- with ongoing diplomatic
lerson described Trump and efforts.
others at the White House “The premise of that ques-
as growing irritated at Til- tion is absolutely ridicu-
lerson’s style, which is more lous,” she said. “The presi-
restrained than that of the dent can’t undercut his
president and can leave own Cabinet. The presi-
the impression he isn’t fully dent is the leader of the
engaged in the discussion. Cabinet. He sets the tone.
Tillerson also has struggled He sets the agenda.”
to adjust to Washington, Tillerson tried to settle the
including the constant bar- question Wednesday in
rage of media attention fo- an unusually personal ad-
cused his way, the official dress from the State De-
said, and the reality that partment’s staid 7th-floor
he can’t dole out orders Treaty Room outside of his
the way the Texas oilman office. “There has never
did as head of Exxon Mobil. been a consideration in
The official insisted on ano- my mind to leave,” he de-
nymity in order to disclose clared, without truly putting
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson makes a statement at the State Department in Washington, private assessments of the all questions to bed.
Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. secretary of state. Beyond dodging the mat-
(AP Photo/Cliff Owen) Asked about the “moron” ter of whether he insult-
By BRADLEY KLAPPER Tillerson “never threatened lerson against Trump’s U.N. claim, Sanders echoed the ed the president’s intel-
Associated Press to resign,” Trump tweeted, envoy Nikki Haley and other sentiments of Tillerson in ligence, Tillerson strained
WASHINGTON (AP) — labelling NBC News’ ac- top officials.The NBC story, declaring it a “petty, ridic- unconvincingly to portray
The Trump administration count as “fake news.” The recounted by others, also ulous accusation.” While himself as content with all
sought Thursday to move former Exxon Mobil CEO claimed Tillerson called the Tillerson didn’t deny he his fellow members of team
past the brouhaha over previously rejected the president a “moron” after made such a statement in Trump. He pointedly noted
Rex Tillerson’s reported claim on Wednesday.At a contentious July meeting his uncomfortable address the diplomatic successes
insult of his boss, making the White House, spokes- of top national security of- at the State Department of Haley, with whom he
clear President Donald woman Sarah Huckabee ficials at the Pentagon.At on Wednesday, he later has been privately clash-
Trump alone sets the na- Sanders attempted to ad- the time, The Associated had a spokeswoman deny ing for several months.
tion’s agenda that his ad- dress broader concerns Press and others reported that he ever used such lan- Still, the exhortation in de-
visers must execute.A day about an administration the strains between Tiller- guage.Sanders also took fense of Trump’s “America
after the duo’s sometimes that has been beset by son and several of Trump’s umbrage at the arguments First” policy was enough
difficult relationship burst high-profile departures — closest confidants, such of some of Tillerson’s de- for the president. Travel-
into public view, the presi- already including a chief as strategist Steve Bannon fenders, including the Re- ing in Las Vegas, where he
dent joined his top diplo- of staff, national security and controversial coun- publican chairman of the met with medical person-
mat in disputing a report adviser, chief strategist and terterror adviser Sebastian Senate Foreign Relations nel and others affected by
that Tillerson had consid- Cabinet secretary — and Gorka. Those tensions had Committee, that Trump has this week’s mass shooting,
ered abandoning Trump’s persistent infighting that subsided somewhat after undermined his secretary Trump said he had “total
Cabinet earlier this year. now seems to be pitting Til- Bannon and Gorka’s dis- of state through his often confidence” in Tillerson. q
GOP Rep. Murphy resigning after reports of affair

By ANDREW TAYLOR is resigning from Congress. next year.“It was Dr. Mur- country as a naval reserve congressman he had “zero
Associated Press House Speaker Paul Ryan, phy’s decision to move on officer.”Murphy’s downfall issue posting your pro-life
WASHINGTON (AP) — Re- R-Wis., on Thursday an- to the next chapter of his came quickly, within days stance all over the place
publican Rep. Tim Murphy nounced Murphy’s plans life, and I support it,” Ryan of the Pittsburgh Post-Ga- when you had no issue ask-
of Pennsylvania, an anti- to leave Congress, effec- said in a statement. “We zette publishing text mes- ing me to abort our unborn
abortion lawmaker who al- tive Oct. 21. The decision thank him for his many years sages between the married child just last week when
legedly urged his mistress to comes less than 24 hours of tireless work on mental congressman and Shannon we thought that was one
have an abortion when he after Murphy said he would health issues here in Con- Edwards.A Jan. 25 text mes- of the options,” according
thought she was pregnant, retire at the end of his term gress and his service to the sage from Edwards told the to the newspaper. q