Trump Hits Back, Firing Witnesses After Acquittal

C M Y K Nxxx,2020-02-08,A,001,Bs-4C,E2

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Purge of Security Aide and E.U. Envoy Is Called ‘Friday Night Massacre’

from Democrats, who said the This article is by Peter Baker, president was demonstrating that Maggie Haberman, Danny Hakim he feels unleashed, and compli- and Michael S. Schmidt. cated the politics of impeachment for moderate Republicans who WASHINGTON — President stood by him while arguing that he Trump wasted little time on Fri- had learned his lesson and would day opening a campaign of retri- be more restrained in the future. bution against those he blames for “There is no question in the his impeachment, firing two of the mind of any American why this most prominent witnesses in the man’s job is over, why this country House inquiry against him barely now has one less soldier serving it 48 hours after being acquitted by at the White House,” David Press- the Senate. man, Colonel Vindman’s lawyer, Emboldened by his victory and said in a statement. “Lt. Col. Vind- determined to strike back, Mr. man was asked to leave for telling Trump ordered Gordon D. Sond- the truth. His honor, his commit- land, the founder of a hotel chain ment to right, frightened the pow- who donated $1 million to the erful.” president’s inaugural committee, Colonel Vindman spoke pub- recalled from his post as the ambassador to the European Union on the same day that Lt. Col. Alex- ander S. Vindman, a decorated Iraq war veteran on the National

CHANG W. LEE/THE NEW YORK TIMES Security Council staff, was Seven Democrats took to the debate stage on Friday night in Manchester, N.H., with only days to go before the state’s primary. marched out of the White House by security guards. The ousters of Mr. Sondland and Colonel Vindman — along Tops in Iowa, How Buttigieg Became Surprise of the Caucuses with Mr. Vindman’s brother, Lt. Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vind- Col. Yevgeny Vindman, an Army man, left, and Gordon D. officer who also worked on the Na- Under Attack points over former Vice President tional Security Council staff — Sondland both gave testimony. By REID J. EPSTEIN Wooing Rural Counties Joseph R. Biden Jr., who placed may only presage a broader effort and TRIP GABRIEL second. to even accounts with the presi- licly only once, after being or- At Every Turn Now, as the focus turns to New OELWEIN, Iowa — Two days as Rivals Attended dent’s perceived enemies. In the dered to under subpoena, Mr. Hampshire and its primary next two days since his acquittal in the Pressman added. “And for that, before the Iowa caucuses, Pete Tuesday, Mr. Buttigieg has Buttigieg stopped for a town hall to Impeachment Senate, Mr. Trump has railed the most powerful man in the By ALEXANDER BURNS emerged as a formidable top-tier about those who stood against event at the Oelwein Coliseum, a world — buoyed by the silent, the and JONATHAN MARTIN contender, harnessing the mo- him, calling them “evil,” “corrupt” 92-year-old music venue that in its pliable and the complicit — has mentum from Iowa and cam- and “crooked,” while his press sec- MANCHESTER, N.H. — The heyday hosted the likes of decided to exact revenge.” probably not going to vote Demo- paigning with confidence and a retary declared that those who two victors in the Iowa caucuses, Mr. Sondland took a more meas- Lawrence Welk and Sammy Kaye. cratic.” large dose of swagger. hurt the president “should pay Senator Bernie Sanders of Ver- ured approach, confirming that he Recent history suggested there “Well,” Mr. Buttigieg told the New polls this week have af- for” it. mont and former Mayor Pete had been dismissed without offer- weren’t many Democrats to win crowd of 250, about a third of the firmed his strength as a moderate Even as he began purging ad- Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., ing any protest. over in Oelwein: After President 2016 Fayette County caucus uni- rivaling or even surpassing Mr. ministration officials who testified came under sharp and sustained “I was advised today that the Barack Obama won surrounding verse, “I better win, then.” Biden: A Monmouth survey put in the House impeachment inqui- criticism in a Democratic presi- president intends to recall me ef- Fayette County by 12 percentage Mr. Buttigieg, the 38-year-old him second in New Hampshire, ry, Mr. Trump assailed a Demo- dential debate on Friday, as their points in 2012, Donald J. Trump former mayor of South Bend, Ind., four percentage points behind Mr. cratic senator who he had hoped fective immediately as United rivals tried to stop their momen- carried it by 19 points four years appears to have succeeded. His Sanders, and a Boston Globe/Suf- would side with him during the States ambassador to the Euro- tum by assailing Mr. Sanders for later. showing across Iowa’s rural coun- folk University poll published on trial but did not and called on the Continued on Page A16 his left-wing ideas and past oppo- During the event’s question pe- ties on Monday propelled him to a Friday showed him gaining mo- House to “expunge” his impeach- sition to gun control while target- riod, one man described himself to dead heat with Senator Bernie mentum there and in a virtual tie ment because he deems it illegiti- ing Mr. Buttigieg over his thin ré- Mr. Buttigieg as a fiscally respon- Sanders for the lead in the state’s with Mr. Sanders. mate. MAJORITY LEADER With the ac- sumé and ties to big donors. sible “lifelong Republican” and caucuses. Mr. Buttigieg carried For a long time in this primary, quittal, Mitch McConnell becomes In the most contentious debate The flurry of actions and out- so far, taking place four days be- said that “if you don’t win, I’m Fayette County by 14 percentage Continued on Page A20 bursts drew quick condemnation a conservative icon. PAGE A13 fore the New Hampshire primary, the runners-up in Iowa charged at Mr. Sanders and Mr. Buttigieg, who appeared in the best position Weinstein Case among the top candidates to win Hiring Surges, New Hampshire and perhaps take command of the race. Presents Jurors Giving Trump But their opponents, several of whom have significant advan- With Quandary tages of their own, showed that Fuel for 2020 they would not give way without a fight: Mr. Buttigieg especially By MEGAN TWOHEY came in for bruising treatment, and JODI KANTOR By BEN CASSELMAN drawing tough challenges from every other candidate onstage, in- The Manhattan district attor- Job growth accelerated last cluding over his criminal-justice ney’s office made an unusually month, posting a strong start to an record as mayor and his failure so risky decision when it brought election year in which the econ- far to appeal to black and Latino criminal charges against Harvey omy could prove pivotal. voters. Weinstein. The two women at the Employers added 225,000 jobs Former Vice President Joseph center of the case not only had in January and the unemploy- R. Biden Jr., seeking to recover friendly communications with the ment rate stayed near a half-cen- from his limp finish in Iowa, raised Hollywood producer after their al- tury low, the Labor Department the issue of Mr. Buttigieg’s lack of leged attacks, but also agreed to reported Friday. Perhaps most en- support among minorities in the have sex with him. couragingly, the strong labor mar- opening moments of the debate, Rape experts say victims some- ket continued to pull in workers saying Mr. Buttigieg had not times remain on outwardly good off the sidelines, giving opportuni- shown he could “get a broad scope terms with their assailants and ties to people who were left behind of support.” He repeatedly alluded even have sexual encounters with in earlier stages of the decade- throughout the evening to his own them after assaults. But it is rare long economic expansion and sug- base among African-Americans, to prosecute such cases, accord- gesting that companies can keep especially in South Carolina, ing to police officials, defense law- adding jobs without running out of whose primary is this month and GETTY IMAGES yers and victim advocates across workers. is considered a political firewall if A memorial for Dr. Li Wenliang. He had been reprimanded for warning others about the new virus. the country. The longstanding as- “It means we don’t have to set- his flagging campaign does not re- sumption is that jurors will find tle for a lower pace of job growth,” cover before then. the accusers less than credible or said Michelle Meyer, chief United But Mr. Buttigieg was not Mr. the dynamics too complicated for States economist for Bank of Biden’s only target: He also Flood of Anger in China Over a Doctor’s Death a conviction. America Merrill Lynch. “Not only warned that nominating Mr. Sand- Trying those cases is “practi- is there demand for labor, there’s ers would taint down-ballot Dem- est assault on the censors in al- cial media called the doctor a mar- cally unheard-of,” said Kaethe supply to fill that demand, and ocratic candidates with the label By CHRIS BUCKLEY most a decade, began with the tyr and a hero, and government Morris Hoffer, executive director that’s a very positive narrative.” of socialism, and, in his most blunt and PAUL MOZUR death of one man: the doctor who officials, celebrities and business of the Chicago Alliance Against Hiring slowed somewhat last attack so far on Mr. Sanders, Mr. tried to warn others about the co- leaders risked rebuke by the Com- Sexual Exploitation, who after year amid trade tensions and re- Biden rebuked him for having op- WUHAN, China — More than ronavirus. munist Party to join ordinary citi- working with victims for three cession fears, but the job market posed gun control legislation in 700 people have died. Tens of thou- The deluge of mourning and an- zens in expressing frustration and decades could recall only a single has proved resilient, adding jobs Continued on Page A19 sands are infected. Millions are ger at the death of the doctor, Li grief. prosecution under these circum- for 112 straight months, far and living under lockdown, and the Wenliang — from the same virus “Li Wenliang’s death has be- stances — one that ended in ac- away a record. That strength is government has sought to silence he was reprimanded for mention- come an emotional flash point,” quittal. good news for President Trump, FLAWS No candidate seems to be complaints. ing — at times overwhelmed Chi- said Wang Yu, a Wuhan man in his “Sexual contact afterward is who has made the economy the a safe option for the Democrats. But what provoked an online re- na’s sophisticated censorship and 20s, showing the torrent of com- very problematic unless it really centerpiece of his bid for re-elec- News Analysis. PAGE A18 volt in China on Friday, the fierc- propaganda systems. Many on so- Continued on Page A6 Continued on Page A25 Continued on Page A17

NATIONAL A12-22 NEW YORK A23-25 Links to China Scrutinized A Preventable Death? China’s Thousand Talents recruitment A man charged in the killing of his plan attracted U.S. scientists with its infant son had been investigated at grants. Investigators now say China least six times for domestic violence, used it to steal technology. PAGE A12 and city agencies are facing scrutiny for actions not taken. PAGE A23 BUSINESS B1-8 9 Months for Admissions Bribes SPORTSSATURDAY B9-12 ARTS C1-7 Douglas Hodge, the retired chief execu- Suit Over Global Entry Freeze A Lift for Black Workers ‘Sell the Team,’ Please! Handel Is Vital at the Met tive of the bond giant Pimco, paid to get New York State will challenge the fed- After a decade of stagnation, pay has four children into elite colleges. PAGE A17 New York team owners like the Mets’ eral government’s decision to bar New A vivid new production of “Agrippina,” risen for African-Americans. One man’s Fred Wilpon have fans at wits’ end, Yorkers from enrolling in programs that with Joyce DiDonato, yanks this opera story shows the struggles. PAGE B1 Michael Powell writes. PAGE B10 of political power grabbing from ancient INTERNATIONAL A4-11 allow travelers to skip lines at airports and borders. PAGE A23 Rome into the present day. PAGE C1 Antitrust Action Is Dropped A Symbol of Pride and Fury N.Y.C.F.C. Nears Stadium Deal The government told four carmakers Alma Zadic, a Bosnian migrant, is jus- A seven-year search for a home for the EDITORIAL, OP-ED A26-27 that they broke no laws in negotiating a tice minister in Austria’s far-right gov- Major League Soccer team appears set fuel standard with California. PAGE B1 ernment. The Saturday Profile. PAGE A4 to end in the South Bronx. PAGE B9 Michelle Goldberg PAGE A26 U(D54G1D)y+z!]!.!$!"