Developments in Washington, D.C., on Thursday include a congressional ballgame that is a tribute to Congressman Steve Scalise, who was injured in a shooting Wednesday, President Donald Trump's plan to tighten policy on Cuba, his Twitter tirade against an investigation into a possible obstruction of justice charge, and Vice President Mike Pence saying in a speech that the U.S. must end illegal immigration from Central America.
Trump Attacks Investigation of Possible Obstruction of Justice -- U.S. President Donald Trump is assailing reports that the prosecutor investigating Russian meddling in last year's election is now probing whether he tried to obstruct justice in the case. "They made up a phony collusion with the Russians story, found zero proof, so now they go for obstruction of justice on the phony story. Nice," Trump wrote sarcastically on his Twitter account Thursday.
Teams Play for Wounded Lawmaker at Annual Congressional Baseball Game -- The old rule "there is no crying in baseball" was not in effect Thursday night in Washington at the annual Congressional Baseball Game. The event held this year at Nationals Park, home of the major league Washington Nationals, was an emotional affair, coming a day after a gunman opened fire at the Republican team practice, wounding four. Congressman Steve Scalise, who was supposed to be playing second base for the Republican team, was instead lying in a hospital bed after being critically wounded in the hip. Also shot were a congressional aide, a lobbyist and a Capitol Police officer.
Trump to Tighten Cuba Policy Relaxed by Obama -- Trump on Friday will begin rolling back some of his predecessor's actions that were meant to engage Cuba after more than a half-century of isolation by the United States. “The policy goes into effect tomorrow, but the policy directs the creation of new regulations so the actual impact occurs when those regulations go into effect,” a senior White House official told reporters on Thursday evening. The actions, to be unveiled by the president in Miami's Little Havana district on Friday, will tighten travel restrictions for Americans and ban doing business with the island nation's military conglomerate, GAESA, which is estimated to control more than half of the Cuban economy.
VP Pence: Illegal Immigration From Central America 'Must End' -- The United States pledges a strong commitment to Central America while urging those nations to help stop "illegal and dangerous migration," defeat transnational drug cartels and gangs, and end corruption. "This must end," said U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday, "and this will end." Pence said he plans to travel to Central and South America later this year.
Trump Administration Suspends Methane Gas Rules -- The Trump administration is suspending regulations aimed at cutting dangerous methane gas emissions from oil and natural gas wells. The Interior Department is indefinitely putting on hold methane trapping rules imposed on wells on federal lands. The Senate rejected the suspension last month, prompting the department to act on its own.
