THEY SAID

Trump defends Cummings tweets

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump upped a feud with Rep. Elijah Cummings on Sunday.

In a series of tweets, Trump insisted his comments Saturday referring to Cummings’ majority-black district as a disgusting mess where “no human being would want to live” were not racist. On the contrary, Trump argued, “if racist Elijah Cummings would focus more of his energy on helping the good people of his district, and Baltimore itself, perhaps progress could be made in fixing the mess that he has helped to create over many years of incompetent leadership.”

A White House aide said Sunday that Trump swung hard at Cummings and his Baltimore district because he thinks such Capitol Hill critics are neglecting serious problems back home in their zeal to undermine his presidency.

Vazquez does not want governor job

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The woman who is supposed to replace Puerto Rico’s embattled governor announced Sunday she doesn’t want the job.

Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez said in a Twitter post she hopes Gov. Ricardo Rossello will appoint a secretary of state before resigning Aug. 2 as planned.

Rossell on Wednesday announced he would step down following nearly two weeks of massive protests amid anger over a leaked chat, corruption charges against several former government officials and a 13-year recession.

Nadler supports impeachment

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said Sunday he believes President Donald Trump “richly deserves impeachment,” an explosive statement from the lawmaker whose committee has the power to launch proceedings to remove the president from office.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” said Trump “has done many impeachable offenses, he’s violated the law six ways from Sunday.”

As the leader of the committee that would launch the impeachment hearings, Nadler is the most important Democrat yet to publicly state his personal support for the cause in no uncertain terms.

McAleenan gives border wall update

The ruling that cleared Donald Trump’s administration to start using disputed Pentagon funds for fencing on the U.S.-Mexico border will “really accelerate” progress on the president’s wall project, the top Department of Homeland Security official said.

Meanwhile, segments that have already been built are “providing significant new operational capability and helping us control some high-traffic areas of the border,” acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” Some 54 miles of wall had already been built, he said.

From wire reports