CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML+RDFa 1.0//EN" "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/DTD/xhtml-rdfa-1.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" version="XHTML+RDFa 1.0" dir="ltr" prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# article: http://ogp.me/ns/article# book: http://ogp.me/ns/book# profile: http://ogp.me/ns/profile# video: http://ogp.me/ns/video# product: http://ogp.me/ns/product# c: http://s.opencalais.com/1/pred/ sys: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/sys/ lid: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/lid/ cat: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/cat/ resolved: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/er/ cgeo: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/er/Geo/ eventfact: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/em/r/ entity: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/em/e/ cld: http://s.opencalais.com/1/linkeddata/pred/ content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#"> <head profile="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml/vocab"><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects","20180726063812","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1532587092"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta charset="utf-8"/><script type="text/javascript">(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).loader_config={xpid:"XAcAVFVADAsBVFhQBQM="};window.NREUM||(NREUM={}),__nr_require=function(t,n,e){function r(e){if(!n[e]){var o=n[e]={exports:{}};t[e][0].call(o.exports,function(n){var o=t[e][1][n];return r(o||n)},o,o.exports)}return n[e].exports}if("function"==typeof __nr_require)return __nr_require;for(var o=0;o<e.length;o++)r(e[o]);return r}({1:[function(t,n,e){function r(t){try{s.console&&console.log(t)}catch(n){}}var o,i=t("ee"),a=t(15),s={};try{o=localStorage.getItem("__nr_flags").split(","),console&&"function"==typeof console.log&&(s.console=!0,o.indexOf("dev")!==-1&&(s.dev=!0),o.indexOf("nr_dev")!==-1&&(s.nrDev=!0))}catch(c){}s.nrDev&&i.on("internal-error",function(t){r(t.stack)}),s.dev&&i.on("fn-err",function(t,n,e){r(e.stack)}),s.dev&&(r("NR AGENT IN DEVELOPMENT MODE"),r("flags: "+a(s,function(t,n){return t}).join(", ")))},{}],2:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n,e,r,s){try{p?p-=1:o(s||new UncaughtException(t,n,e),!0)}catch(f){try{i("ierr",[f,c.now(),!0])}catch(d){}}return"function"==typeof u&&u.apply(this,a(arguments))}function UncaughtException(t,n,e){this.message=t||"Uncaught error with no additional information",this.sourceURL=n,this.line=e}function o(t,n){var e=n?null:c.now();i("err",[t,e])}var i=t("handle"),a=t(16),s=t("ee"),c=t("loader"),f=t("gos"),u=window.onerror,d=!1,l="nr@seenError",p=0;c.features.err=!0,t(1),window.onerror=r;try{throw new Error}catch(h){"stack"in h&&(t(8),t(7),"addEventListener"in window&&t(5),c.xhrWrappable&&t(9),d=!0)}s.on("fn-start",function(t,n,e){d&&(p+=1)}),s.on("fn-err",function(t,n,e){d&&!e[l]&&(f(e,l,function(){return!0}),this.thrown=!0,o(e))}),s.on("fn-end",function(){d&&!this.thrown&&p>0&&(p-=1)}),s.on("internal-error",function(t){i("ierr",[t,c.now(),!0])})},{}],3:[function(t,n,e){t("loader").features.ins=!0},{}],4:[function(t,n,e){function r(t){}if(window.performance&&window.performance.timing&&window.performance.getEntriesByType){var o=t("ee"),i=t("handle"),a=t(8),s=t(7),c="learResourceTimings",f="addEventListener",u="resourcetimingbufferfull",d="bstResource",l="resource",p="-start",h="-end",m="fn"+p,w="fn"+h,v="bstTimer",y="pushState",g=t("loader");g.features.stn=!0,t(6);var b=NREUM.o.EV;o.on(m,function(t,n){var e=t[0];e instanceof b&&(this.bstStart=g.now())}),o.on(w,function(t,n){var e=t[0];e instanceof b&&i("bst",[e,n,this.bstStart,g.now()])}),a.on(m,function(t,n,e){this.bstStart=g.now(),this.bstType=e}),a.on(w,function(t,n){i(v,[n,this.bstStart,g.now(),this.bstType])}),s.on(m,function(){this.bstStart=g.now()}),s.on(w,function(t,n){i(v,[n,this.bstStart,g.now(),"requestAnimationFrame"])}),o.on(y+p,function(t){this.time=g.now(),this.startPath=location.pathname+location.hash}),o.on(y+h,function(t){i("bstHist",[location.pathname+location.hash,this.startPath,this.time])}),f in window.performance&&(window.performance["c"+c]?window.performance[f](u,function(t){i(d,[window.performance.getEntriesByType(l)]),window.performance["c"+c]()},!1):window.performance[f]("webkit"+u,function(t){i(d,[window.performance.getEntriesByType(l)]),window.performance["webkitC"+c]()},!1)),document[f]("scroll",r,{passive:!0}),document[f]("keypress",r,!1),document[f]("click",r,!1)}},{}],5:[function(t,n,e){function r(t){for(var n=t;n&&!n.hasOwnProperty(u);)n=Object.getPrototypeOf(n);n&&o(n)}function o(t){s.inPlace(t,[u,d],"-",i)}function i(t,n){return t[1]}var a=t("ee").get("events"),s=t(18)(a,!0),c=t("gos"),f=XMLHttpRequest,u="addEventListener",d="removeEventListener";n.exports=a,"getPrototypeOf"in Object?(r(document),r(window),r(f.prototype)):f.prototype.hasOwnProperty(u)&&(o(window),o(f.prototype)),a.on(u+"-start",function(t,n){var e=t[1],r=c(e,"nr@wrapped",function(){function t(){if("function"==typeof e.handleEvent)return e.handleEvent.apply(e,arguments)}var n={object:t,"function":e}[typeof e];return n?s(n,"fn-",null,n.name||"anonymous"):e});this.wrapped=t[1]=r}),a.on(d+"-start",function(t){t[1]=this.wrapped||t[1]})},{}],6:[function(t,n,e){var r=t("ee").get("history"),o=t(18)(r);n.exports=r,o.inPlace(window.history,["pushState","replaceState"],"-")},{}],7:[function(t,n,e){var r=t("ee").get("raf"),o=t(18)(r),i="equestAnimationFrame";n.exports=r,o.inPlace(window,["r"+i,"mozR"+i,"webkitR"+i,"msR"+i],"raf-"),r.on("raf-start",function(t){t[0]=o(t[0],"fn-")})},{}],8:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n,e){t[0]=a(t[0],"fn-",null,e)}function o(t,n,e){this.method=e,this.timerDuration=isNaN(t[1])?0:+t[1],t[0]=a(t[0],"fn-",this,e)}var i=t("ee").get("timer"),a=t(18)(i),s="setTimeout",c="setInterval",f="clearTimeout",u="-start",d="-";n.exports=i,a.inPlace(window,[s,"setImmediate"],s+d),a.inPlace(window,[c],c+d),a.inPlace(window,[f,"clearImmediate"],f+d),i.on(c+u,r),i.on(s+u,o)},{}],9:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n){d.inPlace(n,["onreadystatechange"],"fn-",s)}function o(){var t=this,n=u.context(t);t.readyState>3&&!n.resolved&&(n.resolved=!0,u.emit("xhr-resolved",[],t)),d.inPlace(t,y,"fn-",s)}function i(t){g.push(t),h&&(x?x.then(a):w?w(a):(E=-E,O.data=E))}function a(){for(var t=0;t<g.length;t++)r([],g[t]);g.length&&(g=[])}function s(t,n){return n}function c(t,n){for(var e in t)n[e]=t[e];return n}t(5);var f=t("ee"),u=f.get("xhr"),d=t(18)(u),l=NREUM.o,p=l.XHR,h=l.MO,m=l.PR,w=l.SI,v="readystatechange",y=["onload","onerror","onabort","onloadstart","onloadend","onprogress","ontimeout"],g=[];n.exports=u;var b=window.XMLHttpRequest=function(t){var n=new p(t);try{u.emit("new-xhr",[n],n),n.addEventListener(v,o,!1)}catch(e){try{u.emit("internal-error",[e])}catch(r){}}return n};if(c(p,b),b.prototype=p.prototype,d.inPlace(b.prototype,["open","send"],"-xhr-",s),u.on("send-xhr-start",function(t,n){r(t,n),i(n)}),u.on("open-xhr-start",r),h){var x=m&&m.resolve();if(!w&&!m){var E=1,O=document.createTextNode(E);new h(a).observe(O,{characterData:!0})}}else f.on("fn-end",function(t){t[0]&&t[0].type===v||a()})},{}],10:[function(t,n,e){function r(t){var n=this.params,e=this.metrics;if(!this.ended){this.ended=!0;for(var r=0;r<d;r++)t.removeEventListener(u[r],this.listener,!1);if(!n.aborted){if(e.duration=a.now()-this.startTime,4===t.readyState){n.status=t.status;var i=o(t,this.lastSize);if(i&&(e.rxSize=i),this.sameOrigin){var c=t.getResponseHeader("X-NewRelic-App-Data");c&&(n.cat=c.split(", ").pop())}}else n.status=0;e.cbTime=this.cbTime,f.emit("xhr-done",[t],t),s("xhr",[n,e,this.startTime])}}}function o(t,n){var e=t.responseType;if("json"===e&&null!==n)return n;var r="arraybuffer"===e||"blob"===e||"json"===e?t.response:t.responseText;return h(r)}function i(t,n){var e=c(n),r=t.params;r.host=e.hostname+":"+e.port,r.pathname=e.pathname,t.sameOrigin=e.sameOrigin}var a=t("loader");if(a.xhrWrappable){var s=t("handle"),c=t(11),f=t("ee"),u=["load","error","abort","timeout"],d=u.length,l=t("id"),p=t(14),h=t(13),m=window.XMLHttpRequest;a.features.xhr=!0,t(9),f.on("new-xhr",function(t){var n=this;n.totalCbs=0,n.called=0,n.cbTime=0,n.end=r,n.ended=!1,n.xhrGuids={},n.lastSize=null,p&&(p>34||p<10)||window.opera||t.addEventListener("progress",function(t){n.lastSize=t.loaded},!1)}),f.on("open-xhr-start",function(t){this.params={method:t[0]},i(this,t[1]),this.metrics={}}),f.on("open-xhr-end",function(t,n){"loader_config"in NREUM&&"xpid"in NREUM.loader_config&&this.sameOrigin&&n.setRequestHeader("X-NewRelic-ID",NREUM.loader_config.xpid)}),f.on("send-xhr-start",function(t,n){var e=this.metrics,r=t[0],o=this;if(e&&r){var i=h(r);i&&(e.txSize=i)}this.startTime=a.now(),this.listener=function(t){try{"abort"===t.type&&(o.params.aborted=!0),("load"!==t.type||o.called===o.totalCbs&&(o.onloadCalled||"function"!=typeof n.onload))&&o.end(n)}catch(e){try{f.emit("internal-error",[e])}catch(r){}}};for(var s=0;s<d;s++)n.addEventListener(u[s],this.listener,!1)}),f.on("xhr-cb-time",function(t,n,e){this.cbTime+=t,n?this.onloadCalled=!0:this.called+=1,this.called!==this.totalCbs||!this.onloadCalled&&"function"==typeof e.onload||this.end(e)}),f.on("xhr-load-added",function(t,n){var e=""+l(t)+!!n;this.xhrGuids&&!this.xhrGuids[e]&&(this.xhrGuids[e]=!0,this.totalCbs+=1)}),f.on("xhr-load-removed",function(t,n){var e=""+l(t)+!!n;this.xhrGuids&&this.xhrGuids[e]&&(delete this.xhrGuids[e],this.totalCbs-=1)}),f.on("addEventListener-end",function(t,n){n instanceof m&&"load"===t[0]&&f.emit("xhr-load-added",[t[1],t[2]],n)}),f.on("removeEventListener-end",function(t,n){n instanceof m&&"load"===t[0]&&f.emit("xhr-load-removed",[t[1],t[2]],n)}),f.on("fn-start",function(t,n,e){n instanceof m&&("onload"===e&&(this.onload=!0),("load"===(t[0]&&t[0].type)||this.onload)&&(this.xhrCbStart=a.now()))}),f.on("fn-end",function(t,n){this.xhrCbStart&&f.emit("xhr-cb-time",[a.now()-this.xhrCbStart,this.onload,n],n)})}},{}],11:[function(t,n,e){n.exports=function(t){var n=document.createElement("a"),e=window.location,r={};n.href=t,r.port=n.port;var o=n.href.split("://");!r.port&&o[1]&&(r.port=o[1].split("/")[0].split("@").pop().split(":")[1]),r.port&&"0"!==r.port||(r.port="https"===o[0]?"443":"80"),r.hostname=n.hostname||e.hostname,r.pathname=n.pathname,r.protocol=o[0],"/"!==r.pathname.charAt(0)&&(r.pathname="/"+r.pathname);var i=!n.protocol||":"===n.protocol||n.protocol===e.protocol,a=n.hostname===document.domain&&n.port===e.port;return r.sameOrigin=i&&(!n.hostname||a),r}},{}],12:[function(t,n,e){function r(){}function o(t,n,e){return function(){return i(t,[f.now()].concat(s(arguments)),n?null:this,e),n?void 0:this}}var i=t("handle"),a=t(15),s=t(16),c=t("ee").get("tracer"),f=t("loader"),u=NREUM;"undefined"==typeof window.newrelic&&(newrelic=u);var d=["setPageViewName","setCustomAttribute","setErrorHandler","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","addRelease"],l="api-",p=l+"ixn-";a(d,function(t,n){u[n]=o(l+n,!0,"api")}),u.addPageAction=o(l+"addPageAction",!0),u.setCurrentRouteName=o(l+"routeName",!0),n.exports=newrelic,u.interaction=function(){return(new r).get()};var h=r.prototype={createTracer:function(t,n){var e={},r=this,o="function"==typeof n;return i(p+"tracer",[f.now(),t,e],r),function(){if(c.emit((o?"":"no-")+"fn-start",[f.now(),r,o],e),o)try{return n.apply(this,arguments)}catch(t){throw c.emit("fn-err",[arguments,this,t],e),t}finally{c.emit("fn-end",[f.now()],e)}}}};a("setName,setAttribute,save,ignore,onEnd,getContext,end,get".split(","),function(t,n){h[n]=o(p+n)}),newrelic.noticeError=function(t){"string"==typeof t&&(t=new Error(t)),i("err",[t,f.now()])}},{}],13:[function(t,n,e){n.exports=function(t){if("string"==typeof t&&t.length)return t.length;if("object"==typeof t){if("undefined"!=typeof ArrayBuffer&&t instanceof ArrayBuffer&&t.byteLength)return t.byteLength;if("undefined"!=typeof Blob&&t instanceof Blob&&t.size)return t.size;if(!("undefined"!=typeof FormData&&t instanceof FormData))try{return JSON.stringify(t).length}catch(n){return}}}},{}],14:[function(t,n,e){var r=0,o=navigator.userAgent.match(/Firefox[\/\s](\d+\.\d+)/);o&&(r=+o[1]),n.exports=r},{}],15:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n){var e=[],r="",i=0;for(r in t)o.call(t,r)&&(e[i]=n(r,t[r]),i+=1);return e}var o=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=r},{}],16:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n,e){n||(n=0),"undefined"==typeof e&&(e=t?t.length:0);for(var r=-1,o=e-n||0,i=Array(o<0?0:o);++r<o;)i[r]=t[n+r];return i}n.exports=r},{}],17:[function(t,n,e){n.exports={exists:"undefined"!=typeof window.performance&&window.performance.timing&&"undefined"!=typeof window.performance.timing.navigationStart}},{}],18:[function(t,n,e){function r(t){return!(t&&t instanceof Function&&t.apply&&!t[a])}var o=t("ee"),i=t(16),a="nr@original",s=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty,c=!1;n.exports=function(t,n){function e(t,n,e,o){function nrWrapper(){var r,a,s,c;try{a=this,r=i(arguments),s="function"==typeof e?e(r,a):e||{}}catch(f){l([f,"",[r,a,o],s])}u(n+"start",[r,a,o],s);try{return c=t.apply(a,r)}catch(d){throw u(n+"err",[r,a,d],s),d}finally{u(n+"end",[r,a,c],s)}}return r(t)?t:(n||(n=""),nrWrapper[a]=t,d(t,nrWrapper),nrWrapper)}function f(t,n,o,i){o||(o="");var a,s,c,f="-"===o.charAt(0);for(c=0;c<n.length;c++)s=n[c],a=t[s],r(a)||(t[s]=e(a,f?s+o:o,i,s))}function u(e,r,o){if(!c||n){var i=c;c=!0;try{t.emit(e,r,o,n)}catch(a){l([a,e,r,o])}c=i}}function d(t,n){if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{var e=Object.keys(t);return e.forEach(function(e){Object.defineProperty(n,e,{get:function(){return t[e]},set:function(n){return t[e]=n,n}})}),n}catch(r){l([r])}for(var o in t)s.call(t,o)&&(n[o]=t[o]);return n}function l(n){try{t.emit("internal-error",n)}catch(e){}}return t||(t=o),e.inPlace=f,e.flag=a,e}},{}],ee:[function(t,n,e){function r(){}function o(t){function n(t){return t&&t instanceof r?t:t?c(t,s,i):i()}function e(e,r,o,i){if(!l.aborted||i){t&&t(e,r,o);for(var a=n(o),s=h(e),c=s.length,f=0;f<c;f++)s[f].apply(a,r);var d=u[y[e]];return d&&d.push([g,e,r,a]),a}}function p(t,n){v[t]=h(t).concat(n)}function h(t){return v[t]||[]}function m(t){return d[t]=d[t]||o(e)}function w(t,n){f(t,function(t,e){n=n||"feature",y[e]=n,n in u||(u[n]=[])})}var v={},y={},g={on:p,emit:e,get:m,listeners:h,context:n,buffer:w,abort:a,aborted:!1};return g}function i(){return new r}function a(){(u.api||u.feature)&&(l.aborted=!0,u=l.backlog={})}var s="nr@context",c=t("gos"),f=t(15),u={},d={},l=n.exports=o();l.backlog=u},{}],gos:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n,e){if(o.call(t,n))return t[n];var r=e();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(t,n,{value:r,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),r}catch(i){}return t[n]=r,r}var o=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=r},{}],handle:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n,e,r){o.buffer([t],r),o.emit(t,n,e)}var o=t("ee").get("handle");n.exports=r,r.ee=o},{}],id:[function(t,n,e){function r(t){var n=typeof t;return!t||"object"!==n&&"function"!==n?-1:t===window?0:a(t,i,function(){return o++})}var o=1,i="nr@id",a=t("gos");n.exports=r},{}],loader:[function(t,n,e){function r(){if(!x++){var t=b.info=NREUM.info,n=l.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];if(setTimeout(u.abort,3e4),!(t&&t.licenseKey&&t.applicationID&&n))return u.abort();f(y,function(n,e){t[n]||(t[n]=e)}),c("mark",["onload",a()+b.offset],null,"api");var e=l.createElement("script");e.src="https://"+t.agent,n.parentNode.insertBefore(e,n)}}function o(){"complete"===l.readyState&&i()}function i(){c("mark",["domContent",a()+b.offset],null,"api")}function a(){return E.exists&&performance.now?Math.round(performance.now()):(s=Math.max((new Date).getTime(),s))-b.offset}var s=(new Date).getTime(),c=t("handle"),f=t(15),u=t("ee"),d=window,l=d.document,p="addEventListener",h="attachEvent",m=d.XMLHttpRequest,w=m&&m.prototype;NREUM.o={ST:setTimeout,SI:d.setImmediate,CT:clearTimeout,XHR:m,REQ:d.Request,EV:d.Event,PR:d.Promise,MO:d.MutationObserver};var v=""+location,y={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net",agent:"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-1071.min.js"},g=m&&w&&w[p]&&!/CriOS/.test(navigator.userAgent),b=n.exports={offset:s,now:a,origin:v,features:{},xhrWrappable:g};t(12),l[p]?(l[p]("DOMContentLoaded",i,!1),d[p]("load",r,!1)):(l[h]("onreadystatechange",o),d[h]("onload",r)),c("mark",["firstbyte",s],null,"api");var x=0,E=t(17)},{}]},{},["loader",2,10,4,3]);</script> <script>var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime();</script> <link rel="amphtml" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects?amp"/> <meta property="author" content="Brent Budowsky, opinion contributor"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon"/> <meta name="description" content="Stay tuned for future news of additional Trump tapes, emails or other forms of dirty deeds."/> <meta name="keywords" content="Donald Trump presidential campaign, United States, Paul Manafort, Politics of the United States, Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, Donald Trump, Robert Mueller, Michael Cohen, Special Counsel investigation, Presidency of Donald Trump,Robert Mueller, Paul Manafort, Donald Trump,"/> <meta name="generator" content="Drupal 7 (http://drupal.org)"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects"/> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/node/398750"/> <meta property="fb:admins" content="581787871"/> <meta property="fb:admins" content="732535504"/> <meta property="fb:admins" content="100000299130732"/> <meta property="fb:admins" content="1531470032"/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="566538590082898"/> <meta property="fb:pages" content="7533944086,2064147433830888"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="TheHill"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Blockbuster scandal news rocks GOP midterm prospects"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Stay tuned for future news of additional Trump tapes, emails or other forms of dirty deeds."/> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2018-07-25T12:22:05-04:00"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/cohenmichael_04262018.jpg"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Blockbuster scandal news rocks GOP midterm prospects"/> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Stay tuned for future news of additional Trump tapes, emails or other forms of dirty deeds."/> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2018-07-25T09:45:06-04:00"/> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2018-07-25T12:22:05-04:00"/> <meta name="dcterms.title" content="Blockbuster scandal news rocks GOP midterm prospects"/> <meta name="dcterms.creator" content="Timothy Weatherhead"/> <meta name="dcterms.description" content="Stay tuned for future news of additional Trump tapes, emails or other forms of dirty deeds."/> <meta name="dcterms.date" content="2018-07-25T09:45-04:00"/> <meta name="dcterms.type" content="Text"/> <meta name="dcterms.format" content="text/html"/> <meta name="dcterms.identifier" content="http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects"/> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="/web/20180726063812js_/http://thehill.com/sites/all/modules/thehill/thehill_header_bidding/js/prebid.js" async></script><script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js" async></script> <title>Blockbuster scandal news rocks GOP midterm prospects | TheHill</title> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812cs_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/css/css_kShW4RPmRstZ3SpIC-ZvVGNFVAi0WEMuCnI0ZkYIaFw.css" media="all"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812cs_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/css/css_TyulULwqW0HkHnXNHwZ9xOCK6j9t1UA26FxVjtykkQM.css" media="all"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812cs_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/css/css_5eW3j7smu9FgwOVE8MiuPT3hapGwjIeTf9CDhK2qgUQ.css" media="all"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812cs_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/css/css_ed24DgXLPDRuFWue8ZOcKiN5WdmXjIvDePI0C6jtT4A.css" media="all"/>  <script class="kxint" data-namespace="thehill" type="text/javascript"> window.Krux||((Krux=function(){Krux.q.push(arguments);}).q=[]); (function(){ function retrieve(n){ var k= 'kx'+'thehill_'+n, ls=(function(){ try { return window.localStorage; } catch(e) { return null; } })(); if (ls) { return ls[k] || ''; } else if (navigator.cookieEnabled) { var m = document.cookie.match(k+'=([^;]*)'); return (m && unescape(m[1])) || ''; } else { return ''; } } Krux.user = retrieve('user'); Krux.segments = retrieve('segs') ? retrieve('segs').split(',') : []; })(); </script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_ZlbZCt9VIesFzM75iHKSbqRnsBoSHbjj0YQjK494mHI.js"></script> <script> var PREBID_TIMEOUT = 2000; var AMAZON_SOURCE_ID = '3393'; var adUnits = [ { code: 'dfp-ad-rightrail_top', sizes: [[300, 250], [300, 600], [300, 1050]], bids: [{ bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '538678508', delDomain: 'thehill-d.openx.net' } },{ bidder: 'audienceNetwork', params: { placementId: '566538590082898_1888789727857771', tagVersion: '5.5.web' } },{ bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '9114213' } },{ bidder: 'sonobi', params: { ad_unit:'/1107919/RightRail_top_300x250_ROS_asynch', dom_id:'dfp-ad-rightrail_top' } },{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '15654', siteId: '102722', zoneId: '482104' } }] },{ code: 'dfp-ad-leaderboard', sizes: [[728, 90], [970, 90], [970, 250], [970, 415], [970, 500], [1237, 500]], bids: [{ bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '538678500', delDomain: 'thehill-d.openx.net' } },{ bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '9114153' } },{ bidder: 'sonobi', params: { ad_unit:'/1107919/Leaderboard_728x90_ROS_asynch', dom_id:'dfp-ad-leaderboard' } },{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '15654', siteId: '102722', zoneId: '482104' } }] },{ code: 'dfp-ad-rightrail_bottom', sizes: [[300, 250], [300, 600], [300, 1050]], bids: [{ bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '538678507', delDomain: 'thehill-d.openx.net' } },{ bidder: 'audienceNetwork', params: { placementId: '566538590082898_1888790241191053', tagVersion: '5.5.web' } },{ bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '9114211' } },{ bidder: 'sonobi', params: { ad_unit:'/1107919/RightRail_bottom_300x250_ROS_asynch', dom_id:'dfp-ad-rightrail_bottom' } },{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '15654', siteId: '102722', zoneId: '484056' } }] },{ code: 'dfp-ad-mosad_1', bids: [{ bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '538678494', delDomain: 'thehill-d.openx.net' } },{ bidder: 'audienceNetwork', params: { placementId: '566538590082898_1888890017847742', tagVersion: '5.5.web' } },{ bidder: 'sonobi', params: { ad_unit:'/1107919/Content_300x250_ROS_asynch', dom_id:'dfp-ad-mosad_1' } },{ bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '9114211' } },{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '15654', siteId: '102722', zoneId: '484056' } }] } ]; var pbjs = pbjs || {}; pbjs.que = pbjs.que || []; pbjs.que.push(function() { pbjs.setConfig({ enableSendAllBids: true }) });</script> <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().disableInitialLoad(); }); </script> <script> pbjs.que.push(function() { pbjs.addAdUnits(adUnits); var A9Adaptor = function A9Adaptor() { return { callBids: function(p) { pbjs.loadScript('//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/amzn_ads.js', function() { amznads.getAdsCallback(AMAZON_SOURCE_ID, function() { pbjs.bidsAvailableForAdapter('amazon'); }); }); } }; }; pbjs.registerBidAdapter(A9Adaptor, 'amazon'); pbjs.bidderSettings = { standard: { alwaysUseBid: false, adserverTargeting: [{ key: "hb_bidder", val: function(bidResponse) { return bidResponse.bidderCode; } }, { key: "hb_adid", val: function(bidResponse) { return bidResponse.adId; } }, { key: "hb_pb", val: function(bidResponse) { var cpm = bidResponse.cpm; if (cpm < 3.00) { return (Math.floor(cpm * 100) / 100).toFixed(2); } else if (cpm < 5.00) { return (Math.floor(cpm * 20) / 20).toFixed(2); } else if (cpm < 10.00) { return (Math.floor(cpm * 10) / 10).toFixed(2); } else if (cpm < 25.00) { return (Math.floor(cpm * 2) / 2).toFixed(2); } else { return '25.00'; } } }] }, openx: { alwaysUseBid: true, adserverTargeting: [{ key: "oxb", val: function(bidResponse) { var bid; if (bidResponse.cpm < 20) { //Penny Bid Buckets bid = ((Math.floor(bidResponse.cpm * 100) / 100) * 100).toFixed(0); } else { //Twenty dollar bucket bid = "2000"; } //Returns creativeSize_bidBucket as the value return bidResponse.width + "x" + bidResponse.height + "_" + bid; } }] } }; pbjs.requestBids({ bidsBackHandler: sendAdserverRequest }); }); function sendAdserverRequest() { if (pbjs.adserverRequestSent) return; pbjs.adserverRequestSent = true; googletag.cmd.push(function() { pbjs.que.push(function() { pbjs.setTargetingForGPTAsync(); try{ amznads.setTargetingForGPTAsync('amznslots');} catch(e){} googletag.pubads().refresh(); }); }); } setTimeout(function() { sendAdserverRequest(); }, PREBID_TIMEOUT); </script> <script> googletag.slots = googletag.slots || {};</script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_s3L_uC35AiN5EGYY533su-jccnLRp2aKpOnjgPLbo34.js"></script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_gbyB-8624b04gFWZoHErKXFxSQxvWm7c4JcfaGYxlCo.js"></script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.slots["rightrail_top"] = googletag.defineSlot("1107919/RightRail_top_300x250_ROS_asynch", [[300, 250], [300, 600], [300, 1050]], "dfp-ad-rightrail_top") .addService(googletag.pubads()); }); </script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.slots["rightrail_bottom"] = googletag.defineSlot("1107919/RightRail_bottom_300x250_ROS_asynch", [[300, 250], [300, 600], [300, 1050]], "dfp-ad-rightrail_bottom") .addService(googletag.pubads()); }); </script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.slots["leaderboard"] = googletag.defineSlot("1107919/Leaderboard_728x90_ROS_asynch", [[728, 90], [970, 90], [970, 250], [970, 415], [970, 500], [1237, 500]], "dfp-ad-leaderboard") .addService(googletag.pubads()); }); </script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.slots["infinite_scroll_separator"] = googletag.defineSlot("1107919/infiniteScroll_separator", [[970, 250], [300, 250], [728, 90], [1006, 500], [970, 90], [1340, 500], [1237, 500]], "dfp-ad-infinite_scroll_separator") .addService(googletag.pubads()); }); </script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.slots["new_1x1_asynch"] = googletag.defineSlot("1107919/1x1_asynch", [1, 1], "dfp-ad-new_1x1_asynch") .addService(googletag.pubads()); }); </script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.slots["1x1_oop"] = googletag.defineSlot("1107919/1x1_asynch", [1, 1], "dfp-ad-1x1_oop") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineOutOfPageSlot("1107919/1x1_asynch", "dfp-ad-1x1_oop-oop") .addService(googletag.pubads()); }); </script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_TWesmZWxzUZ3DU050sz8QrIU986Uz2SjL2n2joX_XYk.js"></script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().setTargeting("ksg", Krux.segments); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("kuid", Krux.user); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Article", "398750"); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Category", "White House"); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Section", "Opinion"); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Tarmeta", ["Donald Trump presidential campaign","United States","Paul Manafort","Politics of the United States","Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections","Donald Trump","Robert Mueller","Michael Cohen","Special Counsel investigation","Presidency of Donald Trump","Robert Mueller","Paul Manafort","Donald Trump","blockbuster","scandal","news","rocks","gop","midterm","prospects"]); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Video", "False"); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_4zCT9TF1zdyFo5cHWewfDVwD1ET5wj0vY8l6UcKmAsI.js"></script> <script>(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"]=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,"script","//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js","ga");ga("create", "UA-10188146-1", {"cookieDomain":"auto"});ga("set", "dimension1", "Brent Budowsky, opinion contributor");ga("send", "pageview");</script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_rEhvD9rLzJpd4O2cza8A3rniKj-Yoc4L24b1cBFvCPQ.js"></script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_GcXP4t0dFINjdIvrQdpORWR4eMTNeOGNuFg2vJOlRLg.js"></script> <script> next_data_url = '/continuous-scroll/398750'; scroll_data_exclude[398750] = 398750; jQuery(document).ready(function () { startCache(); }); </script> <script nonce="iXohng2hoh">jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {"basePath":"\/","pathPrefix":"","ajaxPageState":{"theme":"thehill","theme_token":"it1-i5LYv0FKepvcrlF0oxPjkHik-xsJzQY43fS_szI","js":{"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/jquery\/1.7\/jquery.min.js":1,"misc\/jquery.once.js":1,"misc\/drupal.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.core.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.widget.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.effect.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/external\/jquery.cookie.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.accordion.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.effect-highlight.min.js":1,"0":1,"1":1,"2":1,"3":1,"4":1,"5":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/menu_attach_block\/menu_attach_block.js":1,"sites\/all\/libraries\/colorbox\/jquery.colorbox-min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/js\/colorbox.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/styles\/default\/colorbox_style.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/thehill_rba.js":1,"6":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_misc\/js\/person-links.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/continuous.scroll.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/carousel\/jquery.caroufredsel.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/carousel\/helper-plugins\/jquery.ba-throttle-debounce.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/carousel\/helper-plugins\/jquery.mousewheel.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/carousel\/helper-plugins\/jquery.touchSwipe.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/carousel\/helper-plugins\/jquery.transit.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/carousel\/thehill_carousel.js":1,"misc\/jquery.cookie.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/mostpopular\/js\/fade.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/mostpopular\/js\/mostpopular.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/disqus\/disqus.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/ajaxblocks\/ajaxblocks.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/jquery.sticky-kit.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/jquery.visible.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/script.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/dfp.gpt.logger.override.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/overriden\/mostpopular.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/opa.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/th_jwplayer.js":1,"7":1,"8":1,"9":1,"10":1,"11":1,"12":1,"13":1,"14":1,"15":1,"16":1,"17":1,"18":1,"19":1,"20":1,"21":1,"22":1,"23":1,"24":1},"css":{"modules\/system\/system.base.css":1,"modules\/system\/system.menus.css":1,"modules\/system\/system.messages.css":1,"modules\/system\/system.theme.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/date\/date_api\/date.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/date\/date_popup\/themes\/datepicker.1.7.css":1,"modules\/field\/theme\/field.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/menu_attach_block\/menu_attach_block.css":1,"modules\/node\/node.css":1,"modules\/search\/search.css":1,"modules\/user\/user.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/views\/css\/views.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/media\/modules\/media_wysiwyg\/css\/media_wysiwyg.base.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/chartbeat\/chartbeat.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/styles\/default\/colorbox_style.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/ctools\/css\/ctools.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_misc\/css\/person-links.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/mostpopular\/css\/mostpopular-basic.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/mostpopular\/css\/mostpopular-full.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/system.menus.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/normalize.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/wireframes.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/layouts\/responsive-sidebars.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/page-backgrounds.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/tabs.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/pages.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/blocks.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/navigation.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/views-styles.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/nodes.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/comments.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/forms.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/fields.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/print.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/articles-teaser.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/font-awesome.min.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/opa.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/opa-fix.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/hilltv.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/th_jwplayer.css":1}},"chartbeat":{"uid":3100,"domain":"thehill.com","useCanonical":true,"noCookies":false},"colorbox":{"opacity":"0.85","current":"{current} of {total}","previous":"\u00ab Prev","next":"Next \u00bb","close":"Close","maxWidth":"98%","maxHeight":"98%","fixed":true,"mobiledetect":true,"mobiledevicewidth":"480px"},"ad_timeout":"25000","rba":{"start":1431367200000,"end":1431378900000,"expiration":"43200","ad_tag":"road_block_ad","timer":15000,"url":"\/rba_page"},"urlIsAjaxTrusted":{"\/opinion\/white-house\/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects":true},"thehill_mostpopular":{"sid":"1","iid":"1","tag":""},"thehill_carousel":{"carousels":{"#thehill-mostpopular-block .mostpopular--content ul":{"auto":false,"infinite":false,"circular":true,"next":"#most_popular_next","mousewheel":false,"swipe":{"onMouse":true,"onTouch":true},"items":5,"mostpopular":true,"direction":"up","scroll":{"items":5,"duration":1000,"timeoutDuration":2000}}}},"mostpopular":{"url":"\/mostpopular\/ajax"},"disqus":{"domain":"thehill-v4","url":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180726063812\/http:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/white-house\/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects","title":"Blockbuster scandal news rocks GOP midterm prospects","identifier":"node\/398750","developer":1,"language":"en","sso":{"name":"TheHill","url":"\/user\/login?destination=disqus\/closewindow","logout":"\/user\/logout?destination=node\/398750","width":800,"height":600,"button":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180726063812\/http:\/\/thehill.com\/sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/images\/print_logo.png","icon":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180726063812\/http:\/\/thehill.com\/favicon.ico"},"api_key":"MU2vV9R8hBF3W9kH0Zo2HKkiLqQY5ahOlvro6pPtNeOnnI6dQLfkIjd0OgRl9W6x","remote_auth_s3":"W10= 87f03bd723e9828b182a75fcf8283fe6f47d2329 1532585044"},"ajaxblocks":"blocks=mostpopular-1\/views-articles-articles_just_in\u0026path=node"});</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-4e8f5d7e1bc8befe"></script> <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="2700"/><meta name="twitter:widgets:csp" content="on">  <meta name="apple-itunes-app" content="app-id=396640962">   <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://s.ntv.io/serve/load.js" async></script>   <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://launch.newsinc.com/js/embed.js"></script>    <script class="kxct" data-id="sf90wt710" data-timing="async" data-version="3.0" type="text/javascript"> window.Krux||((Krux=function(){Krux.q.push(arguments)}).q=[]); (function() { var k=document.createElement('script');k.type='text/javascript';k.async=true; k.src=(location.protocol==='https:'?'https:':'http:')+'//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://cdn.krxd.net/controltag/sf90wt710.js'; var s=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(k,s); } ()); </script> </head> <body class="html not-front not-logged-in one-sidebar sidebar-second page-node page-node- page-node-398750 node-type-article featured-other--articles section-opinion"> <div id="skip-link"> <a href="#main-content" class="element-invisible element-focusable">Skip to main content</a> </div> <div class="region region-before-header"> <div id="block-system-main-menu" class="block block-system block-menu first last odd" role="navigation"> <div class="expand-menu-header"> <span class="expand-menu-close"></span> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/"></a> </div> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/" class="menu__link menu__link">Home</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/" class="menu__link menu__link">News</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/senate" title="Senate" name="Senate" class="menu__link menu__link">Senate</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/house" class="menu__link menu__link">House</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign" class="menu__link menu__link">Campaign</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/administration" class="menu__link menu__link">Administration</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying" class="menu__link menu__link">Business</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation" class="menu__link menu__link">Regulation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/media" class="menu__link menu__link">Media</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room" class="menu__link menu__link">Briefing Room</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch" class="menu__link menu__link">State Watch</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/latino" class="menu__link menu__link">Latino</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/polls" class="menu__link menu__link">Polls</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/1230-report" class="menu__link menu__link">12:30 Report</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/politics-101" class="menu__link menu__link">Politics 101</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action" class="menu__link menu__link">Floor Action</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know" class="menu__link menu__link">In The Know</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows" class="menu__link menu__link">Sunday Talk Shows</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy" class="menu__link menu__link">Policy</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/defense" class="menu__link menu__link">Defense</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/transportation" class="menu__link menu__link">Transportation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/international" class="menu__link menu__link">International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity" class="menu__link menu__link">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/national-security" class="menu__link menu__link">National Security</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation" class="menu__link menu__link">Regulation</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation/defense" class="menu__link menu__link">Defense</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation/transportation" class="menu__link menu__link">Transportation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation/international" class="menu__link menu__link">International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation/cybersecurity" class="menu__link menu__link">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation/national-security" class="menu__link menu__link">National Security</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion-old" class="menu__link menu__link">Opinion</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog" class="menu__link menu__link">Contributors</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists" class="menu__link menu__link">Columnists</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/contributor-application-form" class="menu__link menu__link">Become a contributor</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog" class="menu__link menu__link">Congress Blog</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1 left"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video" class="menu__link menu__link left">Video</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/campaign" class="menu__link menu__link">Campaign</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/defense" class="menu__link menu__link">Defense</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/transportation" class="menu__link menu__link">Transportation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/international" class="menu__link menu__link">International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/cybersecurity" class="menu__link menu__link">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/national-security" class="menu__link menu__link">National Security</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/sunday-shows" class="menu__link menu__link">Sunday Shows</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/events" class="menu__link menu__link">Events</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/lawmaker-interviews" class="menu__link menu__link">Lawmaker Interviews</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/podcasts" class="menu__link menu__link">Podcasts</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/podcasts/hillcast" class="menu__link menu__link">HillCast</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/podcasts/history-cast" class="menu__link menu__link">HistoryCast</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1 left single"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/events" class="menu__link menu__link single left">Events</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/events" class="menu__link menu__link">Upcoming Events</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/events/past" class="menu__link menu__link">Past Events</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/events/about" class="menu__link menu__link">About</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/people" class="menu__link menu__link">People</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign" class="menu__link menu__link">Campaign</a></li> </ul> <div id="expand-menu-social-share"> <div class="expand-menu-headline">Follow Us</div> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://www.facebook.com/TheHill" class="social-share-facebook" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://twitter.com/intent/follow?screen_name=thehill" class="social-share-twitter-follow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/https://plus.google.com/+thehill/posts" class="social-share-googleplus-follow" target="_blank">Google Plus</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hill" class="social-share-linkedin" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>  </div> <div id="expand-menu-footer"> <div class="expand-menu-headline"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/">TheHill.com</a></div> © 1996-2018 News Communication <ul class="links"><li class="menu-3055 first"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/terms-and-conditions">Terms & Conditions</a></li> <li class="menu-3054 last"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <header id="header" role="banner"> <div> <div class="header_blocks"> </div> <div class="clear"></div> <div id="navigation"> <nav id="main-menu" role="navigation"> <div class="expanded-menu"></div> <div class="region region-navigation"> <div id="block-menu-menu-top-menu" class="block block-menu first last odd" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Top menu</h2> <div class="menu-wrapper"><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded first expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/" class="menu__link menu__link">News</a><div class="menu-wrapper"><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/senate" class="menu__link menu__link">Senate</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/house" class="menu__link menu__link">House</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/administration" class="menu__link menu__link">Administration</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign" class="menu__link menu__link">Campaign</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying" class="menu__link menu__link">Business</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation" class="menu__link menu__link">Regulation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/media" class="menu__link menu__link">Media</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room" class="menu__link menu__link">Briefing Room</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch" class="menu__link menu__link">State Watch</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/latino" class="menu__link menu__link">Latino</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/polls" class="menu__link menu__link">Polls</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/1230-report" class="menu__link menu__link">12:30 Report</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/politics-101" class="menu__link menu__link">Politics 101</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action" class="menu__link menu__link">Floor Action</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know" class="menu__link menu__link">In The Know</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows" class="menu__link menu__link">Sunday Talk Shows</a></li> </ul></div></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy" class="menu__link menu__link">Policy</a><div class="menu-wrapper"><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/defense" class="menu__link menu__link">Defense</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/transportation" class="menu__link menu__link">Transportation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/international" class="menu__link menu__link">International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity" class="menu__link menu__link">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/national-security" class="menu__link menu__link">National Security</a></li> </ul></div></li> <li class="menu__item is-active-trail is-expanded menu__item is-active-trail is-expanded expanded active-trail depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion" class="menu__link is-active-trail menu__link is-active-trail active-trail">Opinion</a><div class="menu-wrapper opa-opinion-menu"><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists" class="menu__link menu__link">Columnists</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog" class="menu__link menu__link">Congress Blog</a></li> </ul><div class="opa-opinion-submenu"> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion" class="opa-opinion-submenu-all">All Contributors</a> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/campaign" class="menu__link menu__link">- Campaign</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights" class="menu__link menu__link">- Civil Rights</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice" class="menu__link menu__link">- Criminal Justice</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/education" class="menu__link menu__link">- Education</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">- Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">- Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">- Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/immigration" class="menu__link menu__link">- Immigration</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/international" class="menu__link menu__link">- International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary" class="menu__link menu__link">- Judiciary</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">- Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-active-trail is-leaf menu__item is-active-trail is-leaf leaf active-trail depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house" class="menu__link is-active-trail menu__link is-active-trail active-trail">- White House</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/contributor-application-form" class="menu__link menu__link">- Become A Contributor</a></li> </ul> </div></div></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/events" class="menu__link menu__link">Events</a><div class="menu-wrapper"><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/events" class="menu__link menu__link">Upcoming Events</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/events/about" class="menu__link menu__link">About</a></li> </ul></div></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/resources/classifieds/employer" class="menu__link menu__link">Jobs</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/hilltv" class="menu__link menu__link hill-tv">HILL.TV</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div class="region region-controls"> <div id="block-social-share-social-share" class="block block-social-share first odd"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://www.facebook.com/TheHill" class="social-share-facebook" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://twitter.com/intent/follow?screen_name=thehill" class="social-share-twitter-follow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/https://plus.google.com/+thehill/posts" class="social-share-googleplus-follow" target="_blank">Google Plus</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hill" class="social-share-linkedin" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>  </div> <div id="block-search-form" class="block block-search last even" role="search"> <form action="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects" method="post" id="search-block-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="container-inline"> <h2 class="element-invisible">Search form</h2> <div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-search-block-form"> <label class="element-invisible" for="edit-search-block-form--2">Search </label> <input title="Enter the terms you wish to search for." placeholder="TYPE TO SEARCH" type="text" id="edit-search-block-form--2" name="search_block_form" value="" size="0" maxlength="128" class="form-text"/> </div> <div class="form-actions form-wrapper" id="edit-actions"><input type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search" class="form-submit"/></div><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-qwIQ8IJH7A-y6RntfRAKUWpBke-hCUBW3uBUxwF2sf0"/> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_block_form"/> </div> </div></form> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </header><div id="page" class="page-new-layout"> <div id="main" class="scrolling-content "> <div class="region region-highlighted"> <div id="block-term-queue-0" class="block block-term-queue first last odd"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">TRENDING:</h2> <ul class="term-queue-links"><li class="0 first"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/person/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a></li> <li class="1 last"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/country/north-korea">North Korea</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="region region-top-page"> <div id="block-dfp-leaderboard" class="block block-dfp first last odd"> <div id="dfp-ad-leaderboard-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <a href="#" class="hide_overlay"></a> <div id="dfp-ad-leaderboard" class="dfp-inner"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-leaderboard"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="scrolling-content-item " data-url="/web/20180726063812oe_/http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects"> <div class="left-sidebar"> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/" title="TheHill" rel="home" alt="TheHill.com"> <img class="logo" alt="TheHill.com" src="/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/sites/all/themes/thehill/images/redesign/thehill-logo-big.png"/> </a> <div class="region region-column-left"> <div id="block-views-articles-articles-just-in" class="block block-views first odd"> <div id="block-views-articles-articles_just_in-ajax-content" class="ajaxblocks-wrapper"></div> </div> <div id="block-thehill-contributors-latest-opinion" class="block block-thehill-contributors even"> <div class="opa-ls-latest"> <div class="opa-view-all additional"> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion">View Latest Opinions >></a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-50" class="block block-block odd"> <div style="width:215px; height:200px; padding:0; margin:0;"></div> </div> <div id="block-block-52" class="block block-block last even">  <div class="OUTBRAIN" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812oe_/http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects" data-widget-id="SB_1" data-ob-template="The Hill"></div> </div> </div> <div class="left-sidebar-space"> </div> </div> <div class="content-wrapper"> <h1 class="title" id="page-title">Blockbuster scandal news rocks GOP midterm prospects</h1> <div class="submitted-wrp"> <span class="submitted-by"> By Brent Budowsky, opinion contributor — <span class="submitted-date">07/25/18 09:45 AM EDT</span> </span> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects#bottom-story-socials" class="disqus-comments" data-disqus-identifier="node/398750"></a> <div class="submitted-by"> The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill </div> </div> <div class="blogs-social-wrp"> <span data-behavior="socialShareCount" data-href="http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects" class="social-share-count"> 45</span> <div class="addthis_inline_share_toolbox_ru82"></div> <div class="share-additional"> <div class="share-linkedin"> <script> ;(function(){ var linkedinScriptEl = document.querySelector('script[src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://platform.linkedin.com/in.js"]'); if (linkedinScriptEl == null) { var shareLinkedinEl = document.querySelector('.share-linkedin'); var scriptEl = document.createElement('script'); scriptEl.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://platform.linkedin.com/in.js"; scriptEl.async = true; scriptEl.innerHTML = " lang: en_US"; shareLinkedinEl.appendChild(scriptEl); } })(); </script> <script type="IN/Share"></script> </div> <div class="share-stumbleupon"> <su:badge layout="6"></su:badge> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { var li = document.createElement('script'); li.type = 'text/javascript'; li.async = true; li.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://platform.stumbleupon.com/1/widgets.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(li, s); })(); </script> </div> </div> <div class="share"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/mailto:/?subject=TheHill.com%3A%20Blockbuster%20scandal%20news%20rocks%20GOP%20midterm%20prospects&body=From%20TheHill.com%3A%20%0A%0AStay%20tuned%20for%20future%20news%20of%20additional%20Trump%20tapes%2C%20emails%20or%20other%20forms%20of%20dirty%20deeds.%0A%0Ahttp%3A//thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects" class="email"> </a> </div></div> <div id="content" class="column"> <article class="node-398750 node node-article view-mode-full clearfix" about="/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects" typeof="sioc:Item foaf:Document"> <header> <span property="dc:title" content="Blockbuster scandal news rocks GOP midterm prospects" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span> </header> <div class="content-img-wrp"> <div class="content-img"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumb_small_article/public/cohenmichael_04262018.jpg?itok=z7MjeMoB" width="640" height="360" alt="Blockbuster scandal news rocks GOP midterm prospects"/></div><div class="credits">© Getty Images</div> </div> <div class="content-with-sidebar-wrp"> <div class="content-wrp"> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Special counsel <span class="rollover-people" data-behavior="rolloverpeople"><a class="rollover-people-link" data-nid="364882" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/people/robert-mueller">Robert Mueller</a><span class="rollover-people-block" id="rollover-people-364882"><span class="rollover-block"><span><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumb_100/public/muellerrobert_031319upi.jpg?itok=TGzvEdul" width="100" height="100" alt=""/><a class="name" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/people/robert-mueller">Robert Swan Mueller</a><a class="people-articles" href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/334440-sasse-us-should-applaud-choice-of-mueller-to-lead-russia-probe">Sasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe</a> <a class="more" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/people/robert-mueller">MORE<span></span></a></span></span></span></span> rocked the Russian deep state that is attacking America by securing the indictments of 12 Russian military officers, shortly before <span class="rollover-people" data-behavior="rolloverpeople"><a class="rollover-people-link" data-nid="261287" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/people/donald-trump">President Trump</a><span class="rollover-people-block" id="rollover-people-261287"><span class="rollover-block"><span><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumb_100/public/trumpdonald_070117getty.jpg?itok=JZMvGO3d" width="100" height="100" alt=""/><a class="name" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/people/donald-trump">Donald John Trump</a><a class="people-articles" href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/398621-2-women-win-georgia-dem-runoffs-extending-streak-for-female-candidates">2 women win Georgia Dem runoffs, extending streak for female candidates</a> <a class="people-articles" href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/398717-giuliani-on-trump-cohen-audio-ive-dealt-with-much-worse-tapes-than">Giuliani on Trump-Cohen audio: 'I've dealt with much worse tapes than this' </a> <a class="people-articles" href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/media/398716-roseanne-to-sit-down-with-hannity-in-first-television-interview-since-abc">Roseanne to sit down with Hannity in first television interview since ABC canceled show</a> <a class="more" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/people/donald-trump">MORE<span></span></a></span></span></span></span> rocked our democratic allies by again praising Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who ordered the attack against us.</p><p>Americans woke up Wednesday morning to news of a “secret tape” of Trump talking with his former “fixer” Michael Cohen about money allegedly changing hands to silence another woman with whom Trump allegedly had a relationship. </p><p>Stay tuned for future news of additional Trump tapes, emails or other forms of dirty deeds disclosed through various means.</p><p>The first of two major criminal trials involving former Trump campaign manager <span class="rollover-people" data-behavior="rolloverpeople"><a class="rollover-people-link" data-nid="365273" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/people/paul-manafort">Paul Manafort</a><span class="rollover-people-block" id="rollover-people-365273"><span class="rollover-block"><span><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumb_100/public/manafortpaul_071816gn.jpg?itok=x7Lu2CT-" width="100" height="100" alt=""/><a class="name" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/people/paul-manafort">Paul John Manafort</a><a class="people-articles" href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/398649-trump-donors-paid-rick-gates-for-advice-on-new-administration-report">Trump donors paid Rick Gates for advice on new administration: report</a> <a class="people-articles" href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/1230-report/398571-will-trump-revoke-security-clearances-thinks-russia-will-help-dems-midterms-national-tequila-day-deals">The Hill's 12:30 Report — Trump worried Russia will help Dems in midterms </a> <a class="people-articles" href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/398547-mueller-to-call-witnesses-from-irs-fbi-fincen-for-manafort-trial">Mueller to call witnesses from IRS, FBI for Manafort trial: report</a> <a class="more" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/people/paul-manafort">MORE<span></span></a></span></span></span></span>, who many analysts believe faces a dark legal future, is set to begin next week. </p><p> </p><p>The pressure on Manafort to reach a plea bargain with the Feds is intense. The legal consequences of a deal, which is a real possibility, would be earthshaking.</p><p>If the Manafort case proceeds to trial next week, there will be a flood of evidence presented that would shine a spotlight on the dark side of Manafort’s various relationships. If a plea deal is announced, all hell would break loose, legally and politically.</p><p>Similarly, the pressure on Cohen to reach a plea deal with the Feds is intense. A treasure trove of evidence has now been turned over to the federal government, including a number of tapes as well as other means of communication. Most likely, the near future will bring news of indictments against Cohen or a major plea deal will be announced.</p><p>The Manafort trial and potential plea deals, the Cohen case and potential plea deals, new indictments and future plea deals and a steady stream of breaking scandal stories reported by leading news organizations promise to plague the GOP through the midterm elections and beyond.</p><p>Scandal-related problems plaguing the GOP occur with the backdrop of the larger issues raised by Trump’s recent performances at the NATO summit, where he castigated democratic leaders, and his meeting with Putin, where he praised the Russian dictator who is attacking our democracy.</p><p>The steady stream of negative news flow is destined to continue indefinitely and escalate to white-hot intensity as the midterm voting comes closer.</p><p>Democrats believe the attack on health care by Trump Republicans is a scandal that will raise insurance premiums to punishing heights for countless millions of Americans. Democrats believe the Trump attack against insurance customers with pre-existing conditions is a scandal that should be resisted and defeated.</p><p>There will be stories about crony capitalist scandals from certain administration officials and stories about payoffs involving scandals we already know about and probably others we will discover. There will be stories about how Putin attacks America and stories about how Mueller prosecutes those guilty of the attacks. </p><p>Republicans face a political death trap. They know that Trump retains strong support in the Republican base, which they can ill afford to lose in November, but also generates intense opposition from the much larger number of voters who are not in the GOP base, who will vote against them in November.</p><p>With every new scandal story, Democrats across America take the offensive, while Republicans across America are forced to defend or condemn the scandalous behavior. </p><p>With every new insurance premium increase story, Democrats take the offensive, while Republicans have to defend the indefensible.</p><p>With every new Russia revelation, every new indictment and every new plea bargain the news flow in the coming months gives Democrats the upper hand and raises the danger to Republicans to potentially catastrophic heights.</p><p><em>Brent Budowsky was an aide to former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) and former Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.), who was chief deputy majority whip of the U.S. House of Representatives. He holds an LLM in international financial law from the London School of Economics.</em></p></div></div></div> <div class="article-tags"> <span>Tags</span> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/person/robert-mueller" title="Robert Mueller">Robert Mueller</a> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/person/paul-manafort" title="Paul Manafort">Paul Manafort</a> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/person/donald-trump" title="Donald Trump">Donald Trump</a> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/social-tags/donald-trump-presidential-campaign" title="Donald Trump presidential campaign">Donald Trump presidential campaign</a> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/social-tags/united-states" title="United States">United States</a> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/social-tags/politics-united-states" title="Politics of the United States">Politics of the United States</a> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/social-tags/russian-interference-in-the-2016-united-states-elections" title="Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections">Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections</a> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/social-tags/michael-cohen" title="Michael Cohen">Michael Cohen</a> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/social-tags/special-counsel-investigation" title="Special Counsel investigation">Special Counsel investigation</a> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/social-tags/presidency-of-donald-trump" title="Presidency of Donald Trump">Presidency of Donald Trump</a> </div> <div id="bottom-story-socials" class="blogs-social-wrp"> <div class="addthis_inline_share_toolbox_ru82"></div> <div class="share-additional"> <div class="share-linkedin"> <script> ;(function(){ var linkedinScriptEl = document.querySelector('script[src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://platform.linkedin.com/in.js"]'); if (linkedinScriptEl == null) { var shareLinkedinEl = document.querySelector('.share-linkedin'); var scriptEl = document.createElement('script'); scriptEl.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://platform.linkedin.com/in.js"; scriptEl.async = true; scriptEl.innerHTML = " lang: en_US"; shareLinkedinEl.appendChild(scriptEl); } })(); </script> <script type="IN/Share"></script> </div> <div class="share-stumbleupon"> <su:badge layout="6"></su:badge> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { var li = document.createElement('script'); li.type = 'text/javascript'; li.async = true; li.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://platform.stumbleupon.com/1/widgets.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(li, s); })(); </script> </div> </div> <div class="share"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/mailto:/?subject=TheHill.com%3A%20Blockbuster%20scandal%20news%20rocks%20GOP%20midterm%20prospects&body=From%20TheHill.com%3A%20%0A%0AStay%20tuned%20for%20future%20news%20of%20additional%20Trump%20tapes%2C%20emails%20or%20other%20forms%20of%20dirty%20deeds.%0A%0Ahttp%3A//thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects" class="email"> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> <div class="region region-content-bottom"> <div id="block-disqus-disqus-comments-398750" class="block block-disqus first odd"> <div id="disqus_thread"><noscript><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill-v4.disqus.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fopinion%2Fwhite-house%2F398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects">View the discussion thread.</a></p></noscript></div> </div> <div id="block-block-51" class="block block-block first last odd">  <div class="OUTBRAIN" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812oe_/http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects" data-widget-id="AR_1" data-ob-template="The Hill"></div> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="sidebars"> <section class="region region-sidebar-second column sidebar"> <div id="block-dfp-rightrail-top" class="block block-dfp first odd"> <div id="dfp-ad-rightrail_top-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <a href="#" class="hide_overlay"></a> <div id="dfp-ad-rightrail_top" class="dfp-inner"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-rightrail_top"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-mostpopular-1" class="block block-mostpopular even"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Most Popular</h2> <div id="block-mostpopular-1-ajax-content" class="ajaxblocks-wrapper"></div> </div> <div id="block-block-60" class="block block-block odd"> <div style="text-align:left; max-width:300px; font-family: 'Graphik Web';"> <div style="font-family:'Graphik Web',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; text-decoration: none; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2; color:#666666; padding-bottom:10px; width:300px;">Sponsored Content</div> <div style="text-align:left; border-top: 1px solid #CCCED7;"> <div style="padding:10px 0 10px 0;"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/branded-content?prx_t=ZdYDAAAAAAx9EMA&utm_source=widget&utm_medium=recirc&utm_campaign=VERIZON5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/verizon-hawaii.jpg" width="300" height="168"/></a></div> <div style="font-family:'Graphik Web',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; text-decoration: none; color: #2B2C30; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2;"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/branded-content?prx_t=ZdYDAAAAAAx9EMA&utm_source=widget&utm_medium=recirc&utm_campaign=VERIZON5" style="color: #2B2C30; text-decoration:none;">How Hawaii Is Building the Future Now</a></div> <div style="font-family:'Graphik Web',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; text-decoration:none; text-transform:uppercase; color:#466AC9; font-size:12px; font-weight:600; line-height: 1; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:10px;"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/branded-content?prx_t=ZdYDAAAAAAx9EMA&utm_source=widget&utm_medium=recirc&utm_campaign=VERIZON5" style="color:#466AC9; text-decoration:none;">Verizon</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-views-hill-tv-block-video-widget" class="block block-views even"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Video</h2> <div class="view view-hill-tv view-id-hill_tv view-display-id-block_video_widget hill-tv-video-widget view-dom-id-a1b9f9382ee7c50d42a2963e43d92b1e"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-image"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/398604-gop-pollster-voters-were-more-excited-about-ocasio-cortezs-age"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/leading_video/public/alexandriaocasiocortez3_062718getty.jpg?itok=sk13frsR" width="306" height="171"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/398604-gop-pollster-voters-were-more-excited-about-ocasio-cortezs-age">GOP pollster: Voters more 'excited' about Ocasio-Cortez's age and gender than 'socialist' label</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-categories"> <div class="field-content">What America's Thinking</div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-image"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/398770-gop-lawmaker-questions-parents-bringing-their-children-across-the-border"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/leading_video/public/migrants-mexico_border_06222018.jpg?itok=67dqrqD9" width="306" height="171"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/398770-gop-lawmaker-questions-parents-bringing-their-children-across-the-border">GOP lawmaker questions parents bringing their children across the border</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-categories"> <div class="field-content">Rising</div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd views-row-last"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-image"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/398580-poll-majority-of-americans-say-the-would-not-vote-for-a"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/leading_video/public/article_images/votesign_getty.jpg?itok=nMIBy_nF" width="306" height="171"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/398580-poll-majority-of-americans-say-the-would-not-vote-for-a">Poll: Majority of Americans say they would not vote for a 'socialist' </a></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-categories"> <div class="field-content">What America's Thinking</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-dfp-rightrail-bottom" class="block block-dfp odd"> <div id="dfp-ad-rightrail_bottom-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <a href="#" class="hide_overlay"></a> <div id="dfp-ad-rightrail_bottom" class="dfp-inner"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-rightrail_bottom"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-3" class="block block-block last even"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">More From The Web</h2> <div class="newsmax-fark-block-target" height="0" width="0"></div> <script> var block=""; var tgt_item = jQuery('.node.view-mode-full').length - 1; var isHero = jQuery('.hero-image').length; tgt_item = tgt_item < 0 ? 0 : tgt_item; var tgt = jQuery(".newsmax-fark-block-target")[tgt_item]; var rnd = Math.floor(Math.random(100) * 100); if(!isHero) { if(rnd >= 35) { block += ""; block += "<p style=\"font-family:Arial;color:#666666;font-size:11px;text-align:right;margin-bottom:-10px;\">Sponsored<\/p>"; block += "<div style=\"margin:20px 0;\">"; block += "<div id=\"ArJ3hAAeLHQlnBN1sd1RthXxn5mzijNmf-LAAxFD\"><\/div>"; block += "<script type=\"text\/javascript\">"; block += " (function(){ "; block += "jQuery.getScript(\"https:\/\/s.newsmaxfeednetwork.com\/static\/js\/connectV5.js\", function(){"; block += " try {"; block += " NM.init({"; block += " widgetId: \"ArJ3hAAeLHQlnBN1sd1RthXxn5mzijNmf-LAAxFD\","; block += " template: \"NM22\""; block += " });"; block += " }"; block += " catch(err) {"; block += " console.log('NM initialization error!');"; block += " }"; block += "});"; block += "})(jQuery);"; block += "<\/script>"; block += "<\/div>"; block += ""; jQuery(block).insertBefore(tgt); } else { block += ""; block += "<p style=\"font-family:Arial;color:#666666;font-size:11px;text-align:right;margin-bottom:-10px;\">Sponsored<\/p>"; block += "<div id=\"M289323ScriptRootC174183\">"; block += " <div id=\"M289323PreloadC174183\">"; block += " Loading..."; block += " <\/div>"; block += " <script>"; block += " (function(){"; block += " var D=new Date(),d=document,b='body',ce='createElement',ac='appendChild',st='style',ds='display',n='none',gi='getElementById';"; block += " var i=d[ce]('iframe');i[st][ds]=n;d[gi](\"M289323ScriptRootC174183\")[ac](i);try{var iw=i.contentWindow.document;iw.open();iw.writeln(\"<ht\"+\"ml><bo\"+\"dy><\/bo\"+\"dy><\/ht\"+\"ml>\");iw.close();var c=iw[b];}"; block += " catch(e){var iw=d;var c=d[gi](\"M289323ScriptRootC174183\");}var dv=iw[ce]('div');dv.id=\"MG_ID\";dv[st][ds]=n;dv.innerHTML=174183;c[ac](dv);"; block += " var s=iw[ce]('script');s.async='async';s.defer='defer';s.charset='utf-8';s.src=\"\/\/jsc.idealmedia.com\/t\/h\/thehill.com.174183.js?t=\"+D.getYear()+D.getMonth()+D.getDate()+D.getHours();c[ac](s);})();"; block += " <\/script>"; block += "<\/div>"; block += ""; jQuery(block).insertBefore(tgt); }; }; </script> </div> </section> </aside> </div> <div class="region region-cs-separator"> <div id="block-dfp-infinite-scroll-separator" class="block block-dfp first last odd"> <div id="dfp-ad-infinite_scroll_separator-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <a href="#" class="hide_overlay"></a> <div id="dfp-ad-infinite_scroll_separator" class="dfp-inner"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-infinite_scroll_separator"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="page-bottom"> <div class="region region-footer-bottom"> <div id="block-thehill-blocks-footer-signup" class="block block-thehill-blocks first last odd"> <div class="simple-signup-form"> <div class="text">Don't miss a brief. <span>Sign up for our daily email.</span></div> <form action="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects" method="post" id="thehill-blocks-signup-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-email"> <label for="edit-email">Your Email </label> <input placeholder="" type="text" id="edit-email" name="email" value="" size="60" maxlength="128" class="form-text"/> </div> <div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-list"> <input class="hidden form-text" type="text" id="edit-list" name="list" value="" size="60" maxlength="128"/> </div> <input type="submit" id="edit-submit--2" name="op" value="Sign Up" class="form-submit"/><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-NHgzBVMscI4bYIGsiq0eZTIAhpQBMgteNYQjq76RyGk"/> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="thehill_blocks_signup_form"/> </div></form></div> </div> </div> <a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/" title="TheHill" rel="home" alt="TheHill.com"> <img class="logo" alt="TheHill.com" src="/web/20180726063812im_/http://thehill.com/sites/all/themes/thehill/images/redesign/thehill-logo-footer.png"/> </a> <div class="region region-bottom-column1"> <div id="block-menu-menu-home" class="block block-menu first odd" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">News</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/senate" class="menu__link menu__link">Senate</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/house" class="menu__link menu__link">House</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign" class="menu__link menu__link">Campaign</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/administration" class="menu__link menu__link">Administration</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/regulation" class="menu__link menu__link">Regulation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/media" class="menu__link menu__link">Media</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room" class="menu__link menu__link">Briefing Room</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/latino" class="menu__link menu__link">Latino</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/polls" class="menu__link menu__link">Polls</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/1230-report" class="menu__link menu__link">12:30 Report</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action" class="menu__link menu__link">Floor Action</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know" class="menu__link menu__link">In The Know</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows" class="menu__link menu__link">Sunday Talk Shows</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/" class="menu__link menu__link">More</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-policy-menu" class="block block-menu even" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Policy</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/defense" class="menu__link menu__link">Defense</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/international" class="menu__link menu__link">International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/transportation" class="menu__link menu__link">Transportation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity" class="menu__link menu__link">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy/national-security" class="menu__link menu__link">National Security</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/policy" class="menu__link menu__link">More</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-video" class="block block-menu odd" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Video</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/hilltube" class="menu__link menu__link">Latest</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/defense" class="menu__link menu__link">Defense</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/transportation" class="menu__link menu__link">Transportation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/international" class="menu__link menu__link">International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/cybersecurity" class="menu__link menu__link">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/national-security" class="menu__link menu__link">National Security</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/sunday-shows" class="menu__link menu__link">Sunday Shows</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/video/events" class="menu__link menu__link">Events</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/hill-tube" class="menu__link menu__link">More</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-opinion" class="block block-menu last even" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Opinion</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/brent-budowsky" class="menu__link menu__link">Brent Budowsky</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists" class="menu__link menu__link">Columnists</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog" class="menu__link menu__link">Congress Blog</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog" class="menu__link menu__link">Contributors</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-active-trail is-leaf menu__item is-active-trail is-leaf last leaf active-trail depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion" class="menu__link is-active-trail menu__link is-active-trail active-trail">More</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="region region-bottom-column2"> <div id="block-menu-menu-anchor-menu" class="block block-menu first odd" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">TheHill.com</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/privacy-policy" class="menu__link menu__link">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/terms-and-conditions" class="menu__link menu__link">Terms & Conditions</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/contact" class="menu__link menu__link">Contact</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/contact/subscriptions" class="menu__link menu__link">Subscriptions</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/contact/advertise" class="menu__link menu__link">Advertise</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-resources" class="block block-menu even" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Resources</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/hill-apps" class="menu__link menu__link">The Hill Apps</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/people/" class="menu__link menu__link">People</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/resources/rss-feeds" class="menu__link menu__link">RSS</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-menu-contributors" class="block block-menu odd" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Contributors</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/contributor-application-form" class="menu__link menu__link">Become a Contributor</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-contact-us" class="block block-menu last even" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Other Areas</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/special-reports/special-reports" class="menu__link menu__link">Special Reports</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/galleries" class="menu__link menu__link">Galleries</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/classifieds" class="menu__link menu__link">Classifieds</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/resources/classifieds/employer" class="menu__link menu__link">Jobs</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="clearer"></div> <div class="copyright-wrp"> <div class="region region-copyright"> <div id="block-thehill-blocks-copyright" class="block block-thehill-blocks first odd"> <p>The Hill 1625 K Street, NW Suite 900 Washington DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 tel | 202-628-8503 fax</p><p>The contents of this site are ©2018 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.</p> </div> <div id="block-dfp-new-1x1-asynch" class="block block-dfp even"> <div id="dfp-ad-new_1x1_asynch-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <a href="#" class="hide_overlay"></a> <div id="dfp-ad-new_1x1_asynch" class="dfp-inner"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-new_1x1_asynch"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-dfp-1x1-oop" class="block block-dfp last odd"> <div id="dfp-ad-1x1_oop-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <a href="#" class="hide_overlay"></a> <div id="dfp-ad-1x1_oop" class="dfp-inner"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-1x1_oop"); }); </script> </div> <div id="dfp-ad-1x1_oop-oop" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-1x1_oop-oop"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js"></script> </div> <div class="region region-page-bottom"> <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config=Drupal.settings.chartbeat; _sf_async_config.sections = "Opinion, Opinion - White House"; _sf_async_config.authors = "Brent Budowsky, opinion contributor"; _sf_async_config._demo = "publish_date=2018-07-25,editor=Timothy Weatherhead"; (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', '//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js'); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = document.ready; document.ready = (typeof document.ready != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script> <script> var _comscore = _comscore || []; _comscore.push({ c1: "2", c2: "10314615", c3: "", c4: "https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects", c5: "", c6: "", c15: "" }); (function() { var s = document.createElement("script"), el = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.async = true; s.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js"; el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el); })(); </script> <noscript> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812im_/http://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=10314615&c3=&c4=http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/398750-blockbuster-scandal-news-rocks-gop-midterm-prospects&c5=&c6=&c15=&cv=2.0&cj=1"/> </noscript> <noscript><div style="display:none;"><img src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812im_/http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-51dZx4IkAE4Zk.gif" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/></div></noscript> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ window.lightboxjs || function (c) { function g(b, d) { d && (d += (/\?/.test(d) ? "&" : "?") + "lv=1"); c[b] || function () { var i = window, h = document, j = b, g = h.location.protocol, l = "load", k = 0; (function () { function b() { a.P(l); a.w = 1; c[j]("_load") } c[j] = function () { function m() { m.id = e; return c[j].apply(m, arguments) } var b, e = ++k; b = this && this != i ? this.id || 0 : 0; (a.s = a.s || []).push([e, b, arguments]); m.then = function (b, c, h) { var d = a.fh[e] = a.fh[e] || [], j = a.eh[e] = a.eh[e] || [], f = a.ph[e] = a.ph[e] || []; b && d.push(b); c && j.push(c); h && f.push(h); return m }; return m }; var a = c[j]._ = {}; a.fh = {}; a.eh = {}; a.ph = {}; a.l = d ? d.replace(/^\/\//, (g == "https:" ? g : "http:") + "//") : d; a.p = { 0: +new Date }; a.P = function (b) { a.p[b] = new Date - a.p[0] }; a.w && b(); i.addEventListener ? i.addEventListener(l, b, !1) : i.attachEvent("on" + l, b); var q = function () { function b() { return ["<head></head><", c, ' onload="var d=', n, ";d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].", d, "(d.", g, "('script')).", i, "='", a.l, "'\"></", c, ">"].join("") } var c = "body", e = h[c]; if (!e) return setTimeout(q, 100); a.P(1); var d = "appendChild", g = "createElement", i = "src", k = h[g]("div"), l = k[d](h[g]("div")), f = h[g]("iframe"), n = "document", p; k.style.display = "none"; e.insertBefore(k, e.firstChild).id = o + "-" + j; f.frameBorder = "0"; f.id = o + "-frame-" + j; /MSIE[ ]+6/.test(navigator.userAgent) && (f[i] = "javascript:false"); f.allowTransparency = "true"; l[d](f); try { f.contentWindow[n].open() } catch (s) { a.domain = h.domain, p = "javascript:var d=" + n + ".open();d.domain='" + h.domain + "';", f[i] = p + "void(0);" } try { var r = f.contentWindow[n]; r.write(b()); r.close() } catch (t) { f[i] = p + 'd.write("' + b().replace(/"/g, String.fromCharCode(92) + '"') + '");d.close();' } a.P(2) }; a.l && q() })() }(); c[b].lv = "1"; return c[b] } var o = "lightboxjs", k = window[o] = g(o); k.require = g; k.modules = c }({}); /*]]>*/</script><script type="text/javascript">window.lightboxlib = lightboxjs.require("lightboxlib", "//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://www.lightboxcdn.com/vendor/ee48a214-dcd9-4d76-af7b-dd194f9094db/lightbox.js?mb=" + (new Date().getTime()));</script>  <script type="text/javascript" async="async" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js"></script> </div> <script> var param = (new URL(window.location)).searchParams; var uid = param.get("userid"); uid = uid === null ? "" : uid; var dataLayer = { "page": { "author": "Brent Budowsky, opinion contributor", "section": "Opinion, Opinion - White House", "keywords": "Donald Trump presidential campaign, United States, Paul Manafort, Politics of the United States, Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, Donald Trump, Robert Mueller, Michael Cohen, Special Counsel investigation, Presidency of Donald Trump,Robert Mueller, Paul Manafort, Donald Trump," }, "user": { "userid" : uid } }; </script> <script>var _qevents = _qevents || [];(function() {var elem = document.createElement("script");elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/https://secure" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://edge") + ".quantserve.com/quant.js";elem.async = true;elem.type = "text/javascript";var scpt = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];scpt.parentNode.insertBefore(elem, scpt);})();_qevents.push({qacct:"p-51dZx4IkAE4Zk"});</script> <script> var disqus_shortname = 'thehill-v4'; (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.async = true; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = '//' + disqus_shortname + '.disqus.com/count.js'; (document.getElementsByTagName('HEAD')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('BODY')[0]).appendChild(s); }());</script> <script> (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812/http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&appId=566538590082898&version=v2.9"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script> <div id="fb-root"></div> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20180726063812js_/http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","licenseKey":"962df17ac8","applicationID":"48109222","transactionName":"YwRXYBQFWhEEUUYNV1pOdFcSDVsMSlxdAF1rEVRTAztCCwBF","queueTime":0,"applicationTime":689,"atts":"T0NUFlwfSR8=","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","agent":""}</script></body> </html>