D.C. Buzz: Himes open to future Trump deals

Richard Blumenthal, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut in 1978. Richard Blumenthal, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut in 1978. Photo: File Photo / File Photo Photo: File Photo / File Photo Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close D.C. Buzz: Himes open to future Trump deals 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Rep. Jim Himes is no stranger to life in the center lane. He chairs the New Democrat Coalition, an amalgam of 61 “pro-economic-growth’’ House Democrats devoted to “challenging outmoded partisan approaches to governing.’’

Basically, it’s not the kind of forum where Sens. Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren would hang their hats.

So when President Trump last week ran an end-run around Republican leadership on Capitol Hill and did a deal with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, did that not put Himes in Washington’s catbird seat? Is it a trend or a one-off?

“It’s a very schizoid moment,’’ Himes said. “But I believe the president may actually look to replicate what he did last week.’’

Given the wide gap that remains between Democrats and Trump on everything from health care to tax reform to immigration, shouldn’t Himes be adding a healthy dollop of skepticism to his evening cocktail?

“There’s no question there’ll be awkward moments,’’ he said. “Can you imagine an infrastructure-deal celebration where he cuts loose on an abused minority?’’

Well, that doesn’t sound too promising. But as a lawmaker schooled in the power of positive thinking, Himes reasoned: “I was sent to Washington to get things done; that’s my orientation.’’

So, yes, the art of this particular kind of deal is compromise without compromising your values.

“We’re not walking out on our ideals, but the president had a taste of success, so he may try again,’’ Himes said. “He’s not a dumb man.’’

Piling up cash, just in case

Well-funded

Sen. Chris Murphy is not a guy to take things for granted. What else would explain schlepping across the state in the summer heat with a hydration pack when he could be relaxing, feet up, iced tea at the ready or maybe something more potent?

That’s a joke, sort of, but what’s not a joke is the impressive amount of cash Murphy has raised for what is shaping up — so far — as a slam-dunk re-election bid in 2018.

Federal Election Commission records show Friends of Murphy, his official re-election committee, with $5.1 million in the bank as of June 30. His nearest Republican rival, Dominic Rapini, had $26,775 as of the same date.

At first glance, Murphy’s list of major donors is a humdrum amalgam of law firms and people connected to Yale, plus the deep-pockets folks over at Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Weighing in at No. 10 on the Murphy-contributor list is the law firm of Shipman & Goodwin. That’s where his father, Scott Murphy, is a partner at the Hartford office and served as managing partner between 1995 and 2015. Their total of individual contributions amount to $18,845. Nice piece of backup there from what was once the nation’s insurance capital.

Trust in the law

Sen. Richard Blumenthal is in the thick of opposition to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ effort to roll back Obama-era guidance to colleges and universities on how to adjudicate allegations of sexual assault on campus.

It’s a complicated subject, but the short version is DeVos believes the Obama balance tips too far in the direction of the victim, leaving the accused vulnerable to a miscarriage of justice.

Blumenthal believes that’s not the case, and would keep the Obama legal standards right where they are.

But in musing over the inherent difficulties of determining fact in these kinds of cases, Blumenthal harkened back to the 1980s when, as a young attorney in private practice, he was called upon to work pro bono on behalf of a Florida death-row inmate Jason Green Brown, who adopted the name “Shabaka’’ while in prison.

He was within 24 hours of execution, had his head shaved and was served his last meal, Blumenthal recalled.

Over the course of several years, Blumenthal uncovered evidence that ultimately got the sentence reversed and won Brown his freedom. The evidence showed that the gun Brown allegedly used in a jewelry store robbery could not have fired the bullet that killed the victim.

The one eyewitness admitted he lied to get more lenient treatment for an unrelated crime. Prosecutors threatened the supposed eyewitness with return to prison unless he recanted his recanting.

The crime occurred, but Brown was not the perpetrator, a judge eventually ruled.

Embittering experience to see such a raw side of the American justice system, warts and all? Not hardly, Blumenthal replied.

“It reaffirmed my belief in the American justice system,’’ said Blumenthal, who went on to win election as Connecticut’s attorney general in 1990 and as U.S. senator in 2010. “It’s not infallible but it still provides the best system of justice on the planet.’’

dan@hearstdc.com