Trump removes strategist from security council role News
Trump removes strategist from security council role

[JURIST] US President Donald Trump on Tuesday removed [executive order] Chief Political Strategist Steve Bannon [BBC backgrounder] from the National Security Council (NSC). Bannon was a controversial pick for the council, and according to the administration, was only placed on the council to help Trump control then-national security adviser Michael Flynn [official website]. With Flynn resigning [text] in February, the administration says Bannon is no longer need on the NSC. Instead, Bannon will continue to advise Trump, while National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster [BBC backgrounder] will take control of both the NSC and the Homeland Security Council [official website]. Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert [NYT backgrounder] will now be under McMaster’s command as well.

Trump’s presidency has faced a good deal of controversy. Earlier this week, Trump signed a bill [JURIST report] officially repealing internet privacy regulations set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) during the end of former president Barrack Obama’s term. A pending FCC rule, Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services, would have required internet providers to seek consumer consent before sharing and selling their private information. The week before, advocacy group Human Rights Watch criticized [JURIST report] Trump’s plan to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, saying the move effectively endorses the country’s poor recent human rights record. That same day, a federal judge rejected [JURIST report] Trump’s free speech defense in response to his alleged inciting of violence among protesters during his presidential campaign.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Justice Department brings anit-trust action against AT&T

On November 20, 1974, the Department of Justice filed its final anti-trust suit against AT&T. United States v. AT&T was ultimately settled out of court with an agreement that the corporation would break up its monopoly on phone service throughout the country.

Nuremberg war crimes trials began

On November 20, 1945, the war crimes trials of Nazi World War II leaders began in the German city of Nuremberg. Review the Nuremberg Tribunal's Charter and the verdicts and sentences handed down on major war figures.

Winston Churchill born

On November 20, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Woodstock, England. He would go on to lead the United Kingdom as Prime Minister through World War II. Toward the end of the war, Churchill worked with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft the treaties and accords that have defined the world since WWII. A 2002 poll by the BBC declared Churchill the Greatest Briton of all time.

New Jersey ratifies Bill of Rights

New Jersey ratified the Bill of Rights, a set of 10 fundamental amendments to the US Constitution, on November 20, 1789, becoming the first state to do so. The state also ratified an amendment on federal representation which ultimately failed. Additionally, New Jersey rejected an amendment on congressional salaries, which would eventually become the 27th Amendment more than 200 years later. Read the articles ratified by New Jersey.