Here's what's happening in the political world this weekend, Nov. 25-26, 2017.
Confusion as consumer agency director, Trump pick competing successors
— The head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Richard Cordray, announced his resignation from the consumer watchdog group Friday.
But before he left he appointed his chief of staff, Leandra English, as deputy director - making her the bureau's acting director as he left, CNN reports.
However, President Donald Trump moved Friday to place Mick Mulvaney, the current director of the Office of Management and Budget, as interim director of the CFPB - creating confusion.
"Director Mulvaney will serve as acting director until a permanent director is nominated and confirmed," the White House said in a statement.
Senator Elizabeth Warren argued Trump was not authorized to make the pick.
"The Dodd-Frank Act is clear: if there is a [CFPB] Director vacancy, the Deputy Director becomes Acting Director. [Trump] can’t override that," Warren tweeted, along with a photo of the act.
The Dodd-Frank Act is clear: if there is a @CFPB Director vacancy, the Deputy Director becomes Acting Director. @realDonaldTrump can’t override that. pic.twitter.com/r949ccaJAb
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) November 25, 2017
More confusion as Trump says he's "probably" TIME person of the year, TIME disputes
— President Trump tweeted late Friday that he will "probably" be chosen as TIME Magazine's person of the year again. But TIME says Trump is "incorrect."
The confusion came after the president tweeted, "Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named 'Man (Person) of the Year,' like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!"
Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named “Man (Person) of the Year,” like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2017
TIME responded later saying, "The President is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6."
The President is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6.
— TIME (@TIME) November 25, 2017
The White House nor Trump have since responded publicly after TIME's comment.
The move wasn't Trump's first TIME fiasco.
This year reporters say TIME issues at a handful of Trump golf clubs were forged to feature the president on the cover, CNN reported.
Flynn team no longer including Trump lawyers in Russia probe
— Lawyers for former national security adviser Michael Flynn are no longer sharing information on special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election with President Trump's legal team, ABC News reported.
Jay Sekulow, a member of President Trump's legal team, told ABC, “This is not entirely unexpected. No one should draw the conclusion that this means anything about Gen. Flynn cooperating against the president."
Pentagon sees uptick in complaints against senior officials
— According to a recent Pentagon inspector general report, complaints alleging misconduct against senior officials have increased 13 percent from 2015 to 2017, CNN reported.
The report found complaints have "increased over the past several years," and "the most common allegations involved personal misconduct including improper relationships, improper personnel actions, misuse of government resources, and travel violations."
One of the challenges, the reports stated, ensuring victims do not face retaliation "remains a continuing challenge" and sexual assault reports continue to rise.
"In the category of personal misconduct, there has been a steady trend in substantiated allegations of improper relationships and sexual misconduct," the report said.
President to head to Capitol Hill ahead of tax vote
— President Trump is expected to meet with Senate Republicans ahead of a vote on the Senate's tax bill, ABC News reported.
Trump has said he wants tax reform passed before Christmas. It's not clear if Senate Republicans have enough votes to pass their tax bill.
“This is a historic opportunity for our conference and the president to build on our momentum to give Americans the tax relief they’ve been waiting for,” Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said.
