When Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein meets with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, the fate of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation may also hang in the balance. Rosenstein, who is Mueller’s direct supervisor, may be ousted after a New York Times story published last week said he had floated the idea of wearing a wire to record Trump in the midst of perceived chaos and discussed invoking the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office. If Rosenstein is fired, critics fear that would subject the special counsel’s probe to new uncertainty and new restrictions. [Politico]
Happy Tuesday.
Topping the news: A judge rejected the efforts of the Department of Justice — which is defending Trump and other associated persons — to move a lawsuit opposing the shrinking of Bears Ears National Monument to the Utah courts. The case will remain before federal judges in Washington D.C. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> As confirmation hearings continue for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh amid two allegations of sexual misconduct from his youth, Utahns — including Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski and U.S. Congressional District 2 candidate Shireen Ghorbani — are taking to Twitter to explain why they didn’t report their own experiences with sexual assault. [Trib]
-> Mormon Women for Ethical Government, a group of around 6,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that was founded in the wake of Trump’s election, are pushing for the Senate to take seriously the allegations against Kavanaugh. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @bogcommenter: twitter just asked me if i wanted to register to vote. If there’s one thing i know from years of using twitter it’s that I absolutely do not want anyone who uses twitter voting in any election ever.”
-> From @StephenAtHome: “!!BREAKING!!: I have no idea what's going on with Rod Rosenstein.”
Happy Birthday: To state Sen. Lyle Hillyard.
In other news: U.S. Senate candidates Mitt Romney and Jenny Wilson are split on medical marijuana legalization and Medicaid, both casting support towards the measures but advocating for different approaches. [Trib]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert nominated two new board members to the Utah Transit Authority who have vowed to help restore trust in the scandal-ridden organization. But the governor remains at a standstill with Utah County leaders over the third nominee after Herbert rejected both of their recommendations. [Trib] [DNews]
-> U.S. Rep. Mia Love said on Fox News Radio’s Brian Kilmeade Show that Democrats are targeting her because “they do not like the fact that I am a black female Republican." [Trib]
-> Love’s latest campaign commercial draws ties between Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams and the Clinton family, pointing out that her Democratic opponent served an internship with former President Bill Clinton during his time in office. [DNews]
-> A small band of conservative volunteers have joined together to fight against proposals that would raise taxes to pay for Medicaid and education. Currently the only such group in Utah, they said they hope their efforts will help educate voters that more money doesn’t necessarily mean it will be put to better use. [Trib]
-> An emergency room in Salt Lake City has reported a 161 percent increase in the number of scooter-related visits since dockless e-scooters dropped on city streets in June. [TribviaWaPost]
-> Sen. Orrin Hatch attacked Democrats on Monday for causing harm to Kavanaugh’s reputation, referring to the allegations against the nominee as “character assassination." [DNews]
-> Anita Hill, who during the 1991 confirmation hearings of then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas accused him of sexually harassment, will give a free lecture next week at the University of Utah about the #MeToo movement. [KUER]
-> Pat Bagley imagines former U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz promoting his new book. [Trib]
Nationally: After a series of conversations and meetings hinting he would likely either resign or be fired, Rosenstein will meet with Trump on Thursday to discuss his comments about trying to secretly record the president. Trump may also consider whether Rosenstein should keep his position. [NYTimes] [TribviaWaPost] [Politico] [CNN]
-> Kavanaugh has vowed not to withdraw his name from consideration, seeking confirmation despite Republicans revising their earlier confidence with statements that “it all comes down to Thursday," when he will be heard in a formal hearing with his accuser. [NYTimes] [CNN]
-> Gina Haspel, the director of the CIA, said in a rare public statement that she is skeptical about North Korea’s willingness to stop developing and give up its nuclear arms. The country has been developing the weapons for decades and considers them to be a great asset, she said. [NYTimes] [WSJ]
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-- Taylor Stevens and Cara MacDonald
https://twitter.com/tstevensmedia and Twitter.com/carammacdonald