In a Hotel Deal OF TRUMP AIDES Complications USED IN ... · 20/01/2017  · Trump s Presidency...

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When C.I.A. interrogators in aThai prison sent a cable to agencyheadquarters recounting thatthey had been slamming AbuZubaydah, a terrorism suspectcaptured in early 2002, against awall, they emphasized that theywere obeying instructions to takesteps to prevent his injury, likeputting a rolled-up towel behindhis neck, and described the prac-tice in detached terms.

“Subject was walled with thequestion, ‘What is it that you donot want us to know?’” reported acable from Aug. 5, 2002, part of atrove of newly disclosed docu-

ments about the agency’s now-de-funct “enhanced interrogation”program. “Subject continued todeny that he had any informa-tion.”

From the perspective of Mr.Zubaydah — whom interrogatorseventually conceded had no addi-tional information, contrary totheir suspicions at the time — theexperience felt far different.

“He kept banging me againstthe wall,” Mr. Zubaydah told his

lawyer in 2008, in a narrative thathas now been declassified. “Giventhe intensity of the banging thatwas strongly hitting my head I felldown on the floor with each bang-ing. I felt for few instants that Iwas unable to see anything, letalone the short chains that pre-vented me from standing tall. Andevery time I fell he would drag mewith the towel which causedbleeding in my neck.”

Batches of newly disclosed doc-uments about the Central Intelli-gence Agency’s defunct tortureprogram are providing new de-tails about its practices of slam-ming terrorism suspects intowalls, confining them in coffinlikeboxes and subjecting them to wa-

New Details of C.I.A. Torture, and a New ClashThis article is by Sheri Fink,

James Risen and Charlie Savage.A Classified Report Is inLegal Limbo Ahead ofTrump’s Presidency

Continued on Page A6

GEORGE ETHEREDGE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

Scott Hayes and Dianna Ploss, at a McDonald’s with a DonaldTrump cutout, took a road trip to the inauguration. Page A14.

Three for the Road

WASHINGTON — Steven T.Mnuchin, President-elect DonaldJ. Trump’s pick to head the Treas-ury Department, came underwithering fire on Thursday forforeclosing on homes in Califor-nia, managing an offshore invest-ment account and initially failingto disclose almost $100 million inassets.

During five hours of con-tentious questioning, Democratson the Senate Finance Committeepressed Mr. Mnuchin to explainhow he could fail to disclose $95million of real estate assets, in-cluding property in New York, LosAngeles and Mexico, on his initialcommittee ethics questionnaire.The former Goldman Sachsbanker also did not initially dis-close that he is the director ofDune Capital International, an in-vestment fund incorporated onthe Cayman Islands, an offshoretax haven. And he belatedly dis-closed that his children ownnearly $1 million in artwork.

Such problems of fabulouswealth seem almost part and par-cel to the confirmation strugglesof a Trump government thatwould be filled with billionairesand multimillionaires. Mr.Trump’s pick for commerce secre-tary, Wilbur Ross, admitted thisweek that he had fired an undocu-mented immigrant — one of the“dozen or so” housekeepers the

billionaire investor employs.Mr. Trump’s pick to be White

House budget director, Repre-sentative Mick Mulvaney of SouthCarolina, admitted paying backtaxes of more than $15,000 for ahousehold employee whose pay-roll taxes he had not paid, and hischoice for health secretary, Repre-sentative Tom Price of Georgia,

Issues of Riches Trip Up Picks,But Few, if Any, May Be Denied

By ALAN RAPPEPORT

Continued on Page A22

WASHINGTON — With sirensblaring, a fleet of limousines andsecurity personnel raced downPennsylvania Avenue twice inless than the last 24 hours to de-liver Donald J. Trump to inaugura-tion events.

But he was not heading to theWhite House. He was going toTrump International Hotel.

It was a telling destination forthose visits Wednesday night andThursday afternoon. Perhapsmore than any other location inMr. Trump’s real estate empire,this 263-room hotel epitomizes theconvergence of Donald Trump theglobal businessman and DonaldTrump the president-elect.

Conflicts that for months havebeen theoretical are now about tobecome real — most immediatelya possible challenge by the federalgovernment. It owns the buildingthat houses Mr. Trump’s hotel andhas granted him a 60-year lease.From the moment he is sworn inas president at noon Friday, Mr.Trump may be in violation of thatlease, given a provision that ap-pears to prohibit federal electedofficials from renting the Old PostOffice building, the PennsylvaniaAvenue landmark that houses thehotel, from the government.

Guests at the hotel include for-eign diplomats and politicianswho could be looking to curry fa-vor with Mr. Trump — but eventhe act of paying their bills as theycheck out after the inaugurationmay open Mr. Trump to a chal-lenge that he has violated theUnited States Constitution, which

With an Oath,Complications In a Hotel Deal

Ethical ‘Minefield’ forthe President-Elect

By ERIC LIPTONand SUSANNE CRAIG

Continued on Page A19

WASHINGTON — Americanlaw enforcement and intelligenceagencies are examining inter-cepted communications and fi-nancial transactions as part of abroad investigation into possiblelinks between Russian officialsand associates of President-electDonald J. Trump, including hisformer campaign chairman PaulManafort, current and formersenior American officials said.

The continuing counterintelli-gence investigation means thatMr. Trump will take the oath of of-fice on Friday with his associatesunder investigation and after theintelligence agencies concludedthat the Russian government hadworked to help elect him. As presi-dent, Mr. Trump will overseethose agencies and have the au-thority to redirect or stop at leastsome of these efforts.

It is not clear whether the inter-cepted communications had any-thing to do with Mr. Trump’s cam-paign, or Mr. Trump himself. It isalso unclear whether the inquiryhas anything to do with an investi-gation into the hacking of theDemocratic National Committee’scomputers and other attempts todisrupt the elections in November.The American government hasconcluded that the Russian gov-

WIRETAPPED DATAUSED IN INQUIRY

OF TRUMP AIDES

EXAMINING RUSSIAN TIES

Business Dealings ofCampaign Advisers

Are Investigated

This article is by Michael S.Schmidt, Matthew Rosenberg,Adam Goldman and Matt Apuzzo.

Continued on Page A16

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump’s cabinetnominees, while moderatingsome of their stances, have madeit clear during two weeks of hear-ings that they intend to work hardto sweep away President Obama’sdomestic policy by embracing adeeply conservative approach togoverning.

In dozens of hours of testimony,Mr. Trump’s nominees told sena-tors that they favored less regula-tion, a smaller federal govern-ment, more state control over pol-icy decisions and taxpayer money,and greater personal responsibil-ity by Americans across the coun-try.

The sometimes contentioushearings continued up until theday before the inauguration, asMr. Trump triumphantly arrivedin Washington on Thursday tokick off three highly choreo-graphed days that will usher Re-publicans back into full politicalpower in Washington for the firsttime in more than a decade.

After arriving at Joint Base An-drews on a military plane that willbecome Air Force One the nexttime he steps onboard, Mr. Trumpvisited the Trump InternationalHotel before making an appear-ance at the Lincoln Memorial,where thousands watched an in-augural concert.

“All over the world they aretalking about it. All over theworld,” Mr. Trump told the crowdbefore a fireworks display overthe National Mall. “And I love youfolks, and we’re going to work to-gether. And we are going to makeAmerica great again.”

That work will be shaped by thenew president’s cabinet, which iscoming under scrutiny as law-makers from both parties pressthe nominees about their fealty toMr. Trump’s campaign promisesand their adherence to their ownlong records.

Many of the nominees sought toshave the sharp edges off Mr.Trump’s more provocative cam-paign promises and their own pastdecisions and statements. Somebacked away completely from

TRUMP ARRIVES, SET TO ASSUME POWER

Donald J. Trump and his wife, Melania, arriving at Joint Base Andrews on Thursday.DOUG MILLS/THE NEW YORK TIMES

In Cabinet Hearings,Strong Rejection ofObama’s Policies

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR

Continued on Page A23

WASHINGTON — No Bey-oncé. No Jon Bon Jovi. No U2. Butno matter: For many of the thou-sands gathering at the LincolnMemorial on Thursday afternoonfor the preinaugural concert, theartists in the lineup were second-ary to the chance to celebrate thecoming presidency of Donald J.Trump.

The day’s programming washeavy on country music, “GodBless America,” and a hefty num-

ber of bagpipes. Two friends, KimShourds and Susan Perkins Love-lady, drove in from Norfolk, Va., toattend the evening’s concerts.They danced and sang along to“God Bless Texas,” but as theytook a break, they said the volatilepolitical climate wasn’t far fromtheir minds.

“This is a celebration of Amer-ica,” Ms. Perkins Lovelady, 53,said. “After all of the negativity ofthe past year, all of the positivity isa good thing. It’s a heartsore coun-try.”

Kenny and Katherine Dunhamdecided to make the four-hour

drive from Kinston, N.C., afterhearing that Representative JohnLewis of Georgia would boycottMr. Trump’s inauguration. TheDunhams were not fazed by thelack of top-flight entertainers.

“I think if they don’t want to per-form, they shouldn’t perform,” Mr.Dunham, 60, said. “But at thesame time, my understanding isthey weren’t asked to. Toby Keithis going to perform. Lee Green-wood is going to perform.”

Some of the loudest cheers ofthe evening were for Jon Voight,the only high-profile Hollywood

Beyoncé? Concertgoers Prefer the President-ElectBy SOPAN DEB

and KATIE ROGERS

Continued on Page A18

INVOCATION Paula White will bethe first female clergy member topray at an inauguration. PAGE A20

REVERSAL Rick Perry regretssaying the Energy Departmentshould be abolished. PAGE A22

Senegal invadedits tiny neighborto dislodge alongtime dictatorand install Gam-bia’s newlyelected leader,Adama Barrow,left. PAGE A3

INTERNATIONAL A3-12

Senegal Acts in Gambia Crisis

Scientists got a glimpse of New York’sperilous path from rising sea levels inan ancient patch of salt marsh in theBronx. PAGE A26

NEW YORK A26-29

Climate Clues in the Bronx

A Texas appellate court found that aman imprisoned for decades after hismurder conviction was voided had beendenied a speedy trial. PAGE A24

NATIONAL A13-24

‘Justice Nightmare’ in Texas

In New England, moose are being killedby droves of ticks that thrive when thefall is warm and winter is late. PAGE A24

Ticks Are Decimating Moose

Wall Street professionals, who usuallyshun political protests, are set to marchin Washington on Saturday. PAGE B1

BUSINESS DAY B1-7

Joining the Women’s March

A show at theMorgan Library& Museum offersa fresh take onEmily Dickinson.A review byHolland Cotter.

PAGE C17

WEEKEND ARTS C1-28

Revisiting a Master Poet

The six-timeAustralian Openchampion NovakDjokovic fell tothe 117th-rankedDenis Istomin,the latest dent tohis armor. OnTennis. PAGE B8

SPORTSFRIDAY B8-12

Djokovic Is Upset in Australia

Roberta Peters, who sang publicly forthe first time when a Met Opera starwas taken ill in 1950, was 86. PAGE B12

OBITUARIES B12-14

A Diva by Surprise

David Brooks PAGE A31

EDITORIAL, OP-ED A30-31

Oakland bids to move to Las Vegas, acity long snubbed by the N.F.L. PAGE B8

Raiders Flirt With Las VegasAt least 20 firefighters died when a firebrought down a prominent 17-storybuilding in downtown Tehran. PAGE A4

High-Rise Collapses in Iran

In an about-face, the Mexican govern-ment turned over Joaquín GuzmánLoera, known as El Chapo, to UnitedStates officials. PAGE A12

Drug Kingpin Extradited

Late Edition

VOL. CLXVI . . . No. 57,483 © 2017 The New York Times Company NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

Today, some sunshine giving way toclouds, rain late, high 46. Tonight,rain and drizzle, low 40. Tomorrow,clouds giving way to some sunshine,high 54. Weather map, Page B14.

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