Report: Trump Tried to Bribe Julian Assange With a Presidential Pardon

Asked by CNN’s Erin Burnett at a Las Vegas town hall whether he takes the president at his word, Buttigieg responded: “Not if he’s sending out his supporters to talk in this way. The idea of the likes of Rush Limbaugh or Donald Trump lecturing anybody on family values—I mean, sorry but, one thing about my marriage is it’s never involved me having to send hush money to a porn star after cheating on my spouse with him or her,” the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor said. “So they wanna debate family values? Let’s debate family values. I’m ready.”

Trump, of course, had his personal attorney pay porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about the affair they reportedly had shortly after the first lady gave birth, which the president claims never happened despite the hush money.

Elsewhere!

Bernie Sanders surges into double-digit lead in new nationwide poll (Washington Post)

Bloomberg Bankrolls a Social Media Army to Push Message (WSJ)

“Mike Would Have Dinner Parties and Piss All Over Obama”: Why Obamaworld Is Mad About Bloomberg’s Obama Ads (Hive)

Pentagon policy chief resigns amid reported discord with Trump (Axios)

Bloomberg in 2016: “Yes, Donald, I do love you” (Politico)

Goldman says market underestimating coronavirus risk: “Correction is looking much more probable” (CNBC)

Ivanka Finally Found Her Perfect Quid-Pro-Quo Pals (TDB)

Mark Zuckerberg reportedly gets his armpits blow-dried before speeches (NYP)

Hiss and tell: Florida park officials urge visitors not to disturb snake “orgies” (NYP)

More Great Stories From Vanity Fair

— After acquittal, Trump plots revenge on Bolton and other impeachment enemies
— Behind the scenes of Trump’s secret birther implosion
— Why Bernie’s message and media machine could be potent against Trump
— With accused wife-murderer Fotis Dulos on life support, a look inside the grim end of a perfect couple
— The hedge fund vampire that bleeds newspapers dry now has the Chicago Tribune by the throat
— The most deranged moments from Trump’s post-acquittal press conference
— From the Archive: If Donald Trump is the political equivalent of a pathogen, who’s responsible for letting him wreak havoc in the national bloodstream?

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