On the trail
Republican leaders asked the Justice Department on Monday to open a criminal investigation into whether Hillary Clinton lied to Congress in testimony last fall about her private e-mail server, opening a new front in their long-running attacks on the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. The GOP request comes five days after the Justice Department closed a yearlong investigation into Clinton's handling of classified information in the e-mails. In a letter Monday, House Republicans asked the Justice Department to determine whether Clinton had "committed perjury and made false statements" during her appearance in October before a special House panel on the 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya.
Donald Trump says that he expects to decide on his vice presidential pick by the end of the week and that he is leaning toward a "political" pick rather than a "military" one. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who remains on Trump's shortlist, met privately with the attorney leading the candidate's vetting effort on Saturday, the Washington Post reported.
The Communications Workers of America that previously supported Sen. Bernie Sanders is now backing Hillary Clinton for president. The union, which represents 700,000 telecommunications and technology members, said that Clinton "has stood with CWA members and pledges her commitment to making life better for working families."
Donald Trump often cites his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania's prestigious Wharton business school as evidence that he is a pretty smart guy and singularly qualified to be president. But some in the Wharton community would prefer the presumptive Republican presidential nominee simply leave his alma mater out of his campaign. In an open letter to Trump, Wharton backers wrote that they have been "deeply disappointed" in his candidacy and "outraged that an affiliation with our school is being used to legitimize prejudice and intolerance."
Senate Democrats have lured former Sen. Evan Bayh out of retirement and expect him to be their nominee in Indiana, scrambling a previously overlooked Senate race and increasing Democratic chances for reclaiming the majority. Early Monday, former Rep. Baron Hill withdrew as the Democratic nominee for the seat of retiring GOP Sen. Dan Coats, setting in motion events that should result in placing Bayh's name on the ballot in about 10 days. news services
