Here are six questions special counsel Robert Mueller might ask in an interview with President Donald Trump about Russia. Mitt Romney was ‘successfully treated’ for prostate cancer last year, says a close source. Utah lawmakers consider tax increase.
Happy Tuesday. Special counsel Robert Mueller said he will likely interview President Donald Trump as part of the Justice Department’s investigation into his campaign’s potential ties to Russia. So what might Mueller ask? For one, predicts The Washington Post, “Why did you craft Donald Trump Jr.'s misleading response on the meeting with the Russian lawyer?” [WaPost]
Topping the news: A source close to Mitt Romney reported that he was “successfully treated” for prostate cancer over the summer. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV] [Fox13] [KSL]
-> Utah lawmakers are considering increasing taxes — despite a surplus. [Trib]
-> The election of four openly gay candidates to councils in three cities signals a victory for the LGBTQ community in the Utah political landscape. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @ryanbeckwith: “Obama was a constitutional law professor, but it feels like we’re all learning way more about the Constitution under Trump.”
-> From @Philip_Elliott: “Monday has been a very long month.”
-> From @maskedscheduler: “The 2020 Democratic debates among Oprah, the Rock, Tom Hanks and Joe Biden are going to be awesome.”
Happy Birthday: To KUER’s Elaine Clark.
In other news: Gov. Gary Herbert is expected to testify at a Washington hearing Tuesday that will deal with efforts to create twin national monuments in San Juan County. This follows President Donald Trump’s December announcement scaling back Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante. [DNews]
-> Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox spoke with Vox about Utah’s place in the current Republican climate and what a Mitt Romney run for Senate could mean for the state. [Vox]
-> Two transgender Utahns who were denied legal sex designations by a state judge are challenging the ruling in the Utah Supreme Court. [Trib]
-> North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor announced Monday that he will take a yearlong leave of absence to deploy with the National Guard to Afghanistan. A temporary mayor will take his place. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4] [KUTV]
-> Meri Brown, one of four polygamist wives whose lives are documented in the show “Sister Wives,” has opened her own inn in Parowan — though she and her family are considered felons by Utah law. [Trib]
-> Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch spoke about his admiration for LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson in the U.S. Senate Monday. Monson died Tuesday. [DNews]
-> Pat Bagley depicts Trump “trolling” the media. [Trib]
-> Robert Gehrke thanks Matt Hillyard, the son of Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, for the kindness and friendship he brought to the Utah Legislature. Matt had Down syndrome and died Thursday. [Trib]
Nationally: The Trump administration announced Monday that it was ending the Temporary Protected Status program. That means the 200,000 Salvadorans who have lived in the U.S. since earthquakes destroyed their homes in 2001 will be required to leave or obtain legal residency. [NYTimes]
-> Trump will have his first physical in office this week. Opponents have been questioning his mental health and fitness after the release of a new book about his administration. [Bloomberg]
-> A federal judge in Nevada dismissed the charges against the Cliven Bundy family Monday. The Bundys have been at odds with the government since 2014, when the BLM seized some of the family’s cattle over the issue of grazing on public land. [NYTimes]
-> Oprah Winfrey was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille award for lifetime achievement at Sunday’s Golden Globes. Her well-received acceptance speech has led some to call for Winfrey to run for the presidency in 2020. [NYTimes]
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— Courtney Tanner and Madalyn Gunnell
Follow @sltribpolitics