President Trump criticizes the FBI, CNN, Obama — but not Russia. Hatch apologizes to ex-wives of former aide. Romney’s campaign for the Senate.
Happy Presidents Day. After more indictments have come down in the investigation into Russia’s hacking of the 2016 election, President Donald Trump attacked the FBI, CNN, the Democratic Party, his own national security adviser, former President Barack Obama and the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. One thing he didn’t criticize: Russia. [Politico]
Topping the news: Sen. Orrin Hatch has reportedly apologized to the ex-wives of former White House staff secretary Rob Porter for calling them “character assassins.” The women have accused Porter of alleged domestic abuse. [Trib] [KSL]
-> Mitt Romney launched his bid for the Senate on Friday morning, arguing that he’s conservative enough and Utah enough. [Trib]
-> Romney answered questions about immigration, public lands, gun control and why he’s running in an interview with the Tribune. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @ChuckGrassley: “Welcome to senate race Mitt. I hope to welcome u to senate I don’t claim to kno u well but every time I interacted w u in 2012 I liked it and you”
-> From @ryanbeckwith: “Adults: We need to protect teens from Tide Pods. Teens: Adults need to protect us from guns.”
Happy Birthday: To former State Rep. Brent Wallis and state Rep. Kay Christofferson.
In other news: Though Utah recently eliminated its “porn czar” position, the state continues to fight the “public health crisis” of pornography. [WaPost]
-> Utah Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, said Friday that he will ask President Donald Trump to pardon San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman. Lyman was convicted in court for a misdemeanor conspiracy and illegal use of ATVs. [Trib]
-> State lawmakers seem interested in spending $2 million to sue California for its policy on coal, which they say is penalizing electricity powered with Utah coal. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake County Republican Party Chairman Jake Parkinson resigned unexpectedly Saturday, giving no reason for his departure. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV] [KSL]
-> The Utah Legislature passed a bill Friday to shorten the state’s waiting period for divorce from 90 days to 30 days. The bill now needs Gov. Gary Herbert’s approval. [Trib]
-> The Legislature also passed a bill Friday that allows Utahns to choose water cremation over burial or traditional cremation, another bill Herbert will now consider. [Trib]
-> The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill Thursday that would allow colleges to waive sexual assault victims’ privacy and give information over to police if there is a significant threat. [Trib]
-> As the number of homeless elderly Utahns grows, state lawmakers are considering a bill that would require assisted living centers to report when they force the release of a patient. [Trib]
-> A bill making it illegal to leave a tethered animal outside without proper shelter was held up in a legislative committee Friday. [DNews]
-> The House Political Subdivisions Committee endorsed a bill Thursday that would make the Utahraptor the official state dinosaur. [DNews]
-> A bill that would create new halfway houses across the state is headed to the Utah Senate for a vote. [Trib]
-> State Rep. Mike Noel released a substitute bill Thursday that would help fund water projects around the state. [Trib]
-> Bills that combat the use of tobacco and nicotine have failed to progress in the Utah Legislature this year, and the end of the session is fast approaching. [Trib]
-> The Utah DABC has requested funding from the 2018 Utah Legislature to replace an old liquor store in Salt Lake City and is looking for a solution for another old Salt Lake store. [Trib]
-> Utah lawmakers quietly passed an amendment to a state election law in 2015 that doesn’t require corporations to file campaign donation reports, making that information tricky to find. [Trib]
-> The new mayor of Sandy, Kurt Bradburn, gave himself a 10 percent raise, but after facing backlash, he gave it all — and then some — back to the city. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Two Utah-Arizona towns, known for their polygamous FLDS residents, fired their chief marshal last week after federal juries said the police force discriminated against non-LDS residents. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley shows Utah’s priorities in its relationship with the state of California. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly exhorts Utah Republicans to do something about gun violence. [Trib]
-> Robert Gehrke describes a lunch meeting where KSL leaders told state lawmakers that getting rid of noncompete clauses could hurt journalism in Utah. [Trib]
-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb discuss Utah’s DUI blood alcohol level and Mitt Romney. [DNews]
Nationally: Stoneman Douglas High School students are working to see action taken on gun control by planning a national school walkout and a march on Washington next month. [NBC]
-> The Justice Department indicted 13 Russians Friday for their efforts in using social media to affect the 2016 presidential election by supporting the Trump campaign. [NYTimes]
-> Reports of an alleged affair between Trump and a Playboy playmate surfaced Friday — as well as reports that the woman was paid $150,000 by a tabloid that didn’t publish her story. [WaPost]
-> U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that Trump should back Mitt Romney’s Senate run. [NYTimes]
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— Thomas Burr and Madalyn Gunnell
