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A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 16 February 2019
Ex-Gov. Weld likely not the last primary challenge to Trump

By HOLLY RAMER, STEVE from inside their party. Stephen Stepanek, chair-
PEOPLES and BOB SALS- Speaking in New Hamp- man of the New Hampshire
BERG shire, Weld blasted Trump Republican Party, pointed
Associated Press for leaving the nation in to Weld's past support of
BEDFORD, N.H. (AP) — For- "grave peril." President Barack Obama
mer Massachusetts Gov. "We have a president and said he didn't expect
William Weld, little-known whose priorities are skewed Weld's campaign to get
on the national stage but toward promotion of him- very far among Republican
well-respected among self rather than for the good primary voters.
veterans in the GOP es- of the country," Weld said. Weld "really needs to think
tablishment, announced "He may have great en- about how welcome he is
an exploratory committee ergy and considerable raw in the Republican Party,"
for president on Friday, be- talent, but he does not use Stepanek said.
coming the first Republican that in ways that promote Fiscally conservative but
to move toward a serious democracy, truth, justice socially liberal, the 73-year-
primary challenge against and equal opportunity for old Weld ran on the Liber-
President Donald Trump. all. To compound matters, tarian party ticket in 2016
There are new signs he Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld gestures during a New our president is simply too with former New Mexico
England Council 'Politics & Eggs' breakfast in Bedford, N.H., Fri-
won't be the last. day, Feb. 15, 2019. Weld announced he's creating a presidential unstable to carry out the Gov. Gary Johnson, receiv-
Immediately after the exploratory committee for a run in the 2020 election. duties of the highest execu- ing about 4.5 million votes,
73-year-old Weld's an- Associated Press tive office in the land." or a little more than 3 per-
nouncement at a breakfast Asked to comment on cent of the national popu-
event in New Hampshire, a Hogan aides acknowledge of credit for being the first Weld's campaign, White lar vote.
senior aide for former Ohio that the two-term Repub- one in the pool. The water's House press secretary Sar- Despite a pledge that he
Gov. John Kasich indicated lican governor is openly pretty cool at this point," ah Sanders responded: would remain a loyal lib-
Kasich is likely to launch a considering a Trump chal- Kristol said of Weld. "But he "Who?" ertarian, Weld on Jan. 17
primary challenge as well. lenge. Hogan is expected won't be the last." The Republican National walked into the clerk's of-
"All of our options remain on to spend the next two While Trump's overall ap- Committee last month is- fice of the Massachusetts
the table, and we're lean- months focused on his proval ratings have been sued a nonbinding resolu- town where he lives and
ing toward a primary run," state legislative session to poor for much of his presi- tion to declare the party's reregistered with the GOP.
Kasich aide John Weaver be followed by a more ac- dency, he remains popular undivided support for Weld has not won a politi-
told The Associated Press. tive exploratory phase likely with Republican voters. Yet Trump. cal race since his landslide
Maryland Gov. Larry Ho- to include appearances in some Republican opera- "The RNC and the Republi- re-election in heavily Dem-
gan, meanwhile, met pri- key primary states such as tives have taken steps to can Party are firmly behind ocratic Massachusetts in
vately last week with con- Iowa and New Hampshire. protect the president from the president," said RNC 1994. He was first elected to
servative leader Bill Kristol, Weld's move makes Trump a serious primary chal- spokeswoman Cassie Sm- the office in 1990, defeating
who's driving an effort to the first incumbent presi- lenge, which historically edile. a conservative Democratic
recruit a top-tier Trump pri- dent since George H.W. has foreshadowed trouble. "Any effort to challenge candidate, and quickly be-
mary challenger and oper- Bush in 1992 to face a no- Bush and Jimmy Carter lost the president's nomination came one of Massachu-
atives on the ground in key table primary challenge. their bids for a second term is bound to go absolutely setts' most popular gover-
states. "I think he deserves a lot after facing challenges nowhere." nors in recent history.q

Ex-FBI official recounts discussion

about 25th Amendment

votes" to invoke the Consti- in a position to consider to downplay McCabe's
tution's 25th Amendment, invoking the 25th Amend- involvement in any discus-
which allows Cabinet ment." sions about a potential re-
members to seek the re- CBS News posted the ex- moval of the president.
moval of a president if they cerpt of its interview after "Certain statements made
conclude that he or she is ex-FBI official McCabe is- by Mr. McCabe, in inter-
mentally unfit. sued a statement saying views associated with the
Though McCabe wouldn't comments of his on the release of his book, have
confirm that Rosenstein subject had "been taken been taken out of context
In this June 7, 2017, file photo, then-FBI acting director Andrew was plotting to get rid of out of context and misrep- and misrepresented," the
McCabe listens during a Senate Intelligence Committee hear-
ing about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, on Capitol Trump, he said: "What I can resented." The interview will statement said. "To clarify,
Hill in Washington. say is the deputy attorney air Sunday on "60 Minutes." at no time did Mr. McCabe
Associated Press general was definitely very CBS released a story Thurs- participate in any extend-
concerned about the pres- day about its interview in ed discussions about the
By ERIC TUCKER Justice Department official ident, about his capacity which correspondent Scott use of the 25th Amend-
WASHINGTON (AP) — For- "discussed it with me in the and about his intent at that Pelley said McCabe had ment, nor is he aware of
mer FBI Deputy Director An- context of thinking about point in time." confirmed a discussion any such discussions."
drew McCabe said in an in- how many other cabinet The Justice Department about the Constitution's The interview was done
terview posted Friday that officials might support such issued a statement Thurs- 25th Amendment. But the ahead of the release next
Deputy Attorney General an effort." day that did not deny the transcript of that section week of McCabe's book
Rod Rosenstein broached McCabe, in his interview conversation but that said of the interview was not about his time in the FBI,
the idea of using the Con- with "60 Minutes," said Rosenstein believes "there is released until Friday, after "The Threat: How the FBI
stitution to oust President Rosenstein was discussing no basis to invoke the 25th McCabe spokeswoman Protects America in the
Donald Trump, saying the "counting votes or possible Amendment, nor was (he) Melissa Schwartz sought Age of Terror and Trump."q