The Presidential Daily Brief

Trump Touts His ‘Right’ to Declare an Emergency

While visiting the U.S.-Mexico border yesterday, President Donald Trump claimed he has “the absolute right to declare a national emergency” if House Democrats refuse to fund his border wall to end the three-week partial government shutdown. He also claimed he “never meant” Mexico would directly pay for the wall — even though the pledge was a key part of his campaign platform.

What’s left at Trump’s disposal? Back in Washington, White House officials were reportedly considering diverting $13.9 billion in federal aid from disaster-hit Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas and California for the project. One source even claimed Trump asked the Army Corps of Engineers whether they could start work within 45 days.

Carlos Ghosn Is Facing Fresh Charges

They’re driving this one home. Japanese prosecutors have leveled a new indictment against the former Nissan chairman, who’s already been charged with underreporting his pay by around $44 million over a five-year period that ended in early 2015. Now authorities say the 64-year-old continued the illicit practice through March 2018.

What’s in store for Ghosn? His lawyers are pushing for his release on bail, but prospects for the disgraced executive — once one of the auto world’s most powerful — don’t look good: Japan boasts a 99 percent conviction rate for criminal indictments.

Don’t miss OZY’s profile of the comic superhero-turned-international villain.

These Reuters Journalists Will Stay Jailed in Myanmar

Two reporters imprisoned for violating the country’s Official Secrets Act will remain there after a court found they’d presented insufficient evidence to prove their innocence. Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, are serving seven-year sentences for what critics claim are fabricated charges in retaliation for their reporting on Myanmar’s alleged ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims. 

What does their case tell us about Myanmar? Human rights groups say it represents the country’s broader crackdown on civic freedoms. Meanwhile, Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler called their prosecution “yet another injustice among many” visited upon the two journalists — just for doing their work.

Michael Cohen Will Testify Before Congress

President Trump’s former personal attorney will appear before the House Oversight and Reform Committee early next month. Cohen — who in March will begin serving three years in prison for financial crimes, lying to Congress and violating campaign finance laws — said he welcomed giving “a full and credible account” as part of his commitment to “provide the American people with answers.” 

What might those answers reveal? We’ll have to wait until Feb. 7 to find out. But the first major move by Democrats to scrutinize the president’s dealings with Russia will likely shed light on details, including Trump’s alleged ties to Russia and other unsavory aspects of his personal life, about which we’ve long only speculated.

Check out OZY’s profile of the prosecutor going after Cohen.

Also Important…

A spokesman for the U.S.-led military coalition in Syria has announced that the American troop withdrawal has begun. A 13-year-old Wisconsin teen has been found alive after being missing for nearly three months following the murder of her parents. And Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will reportedly head to Washington later this month to talk trade with his U.S. counterparts.

Try This: Feeling presidential after a week of briefings? Prove it with the PDB Quiz.

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