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Three years ago when he was starting to run for president, Sen. Rand Paul spoke with then-California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris about his proposals to reduce the rates at which convicted criminals commit new crimes and return to jail. Now that theyre both in the Senate, Paul and Harris are teaming up on another criminal-justice idea they know is popular back home and believe can find bipartisan support: providing aid to people who cant afford bail.

It literally is about do you have cash sitting at home that you can afford to write the check to get out versus you dont, youre barely making ends meet every month, said Harris (D-Calif.).

But bills co-written by Democrats and Republicans barely move past the first round of headlines and news conferences these days even if they are backed by an unlikely pair. Just ask Paul (R-Ky.), who earned attention in 2014 for partnering with Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) to try changing the nations sentencing laws and drug-control policies. The combination of a short, mop-topped ophthalmologist from rural Kentucky and the tall, bald former big-city mayor was too good to be ignored. Their plans went nowhere.

And yet, Paul is trying again.

He and Harris argue that the requirement that defendants provide some cash to get bail and earn their release keeps hundreds of thousands of defendants behind bars awaiting trial on minor charges because they cannot afford to get out. They call it one of the most inequitable aspects of the criminal-justice system.

I think theres a majority there might even be 60 votes for some of these things on criminal-justice reform, Paul said in a joint interview with Harris on Tuesday. We have to push forward.

Harris agreed.

A lot of what were talking about is disparities in terms of how Americans are treated in the criminal-justice system because of their wealth or not, she said. Poor people, working people are treated differently, particularly on this issue of bail.

Paul and Harriss Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act is a modest proposal that would set aside $10million in federal grant money to begin encouraging more states to drop or curtail cash bail systems and consider other factors when sorting out whether a defendant should be kept behind bars before trial.

Nationwide, roughly 47percent offelony defendants with bonds remain jailed before their cases are heard, because they cannot make bail. Harriss office said the problem affects more than 450,000 people nationwide.

But a growing number of large jurisdictions are changing their policies to ease prison populations and to account for a defendants financial situation.For years, Washington, D.C., has released suspects awaiting trialwithout requiring them to leave behind any money, on a promise that they will return to court and meet conditions such as checking in with a pretrial officer or submit to drug tests.

And last week, Chicago became the largest city in the nation to allow judges to consider whether people do not have enough money to pay for their release, an important victory for bail-overhaul advocates. Under the new rules, judges can no longer set bail so high that defendants cannot afford to pay for their release. The decision followed a Chicago Tribune investigation that found as many as 300 prisoners sat in the Cook County Jail because they could not pay $100 to post bail.

Its not just about race its about poverty, Paul said, noting that support for overhauling the criminal-justice system cuts across states, parties and ideologies.

In Kentucky, state lawmakers are debating whether to expand a felony expungement law that would allow people convicted of minor drug offenses to clear their records after 10 years. That comes after the Republican governor signed a bill last year that allows people convicted of nonviolent felonies to apply to expunge their records if they stay out of trouble for five years and pay a $500 fee.

Paul said he supports such bills because you cant work if you have this glaring criminal record out there that prevents you from finding work.

Three years ago this summer, as buzz about a potential presidential campaign hit a fever pitch, Paul traveled to Guatemala to perform free eye surgeries for hundreds of impoverished people. The stage-managed political voyage helped reveal a rarely seen side of the senator and helped stoke speculation ahead of an ultimately unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign.

Harris, just seven months into her first Senate term, is already enduring speculation about her political future. In recent weeks, she has met with top-dollar Democratic donors who backed Hillary Clintons presidential campaign and as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee has earned plaudits from progressives and national exposure for her aggressive questioning of Trump administration officials during nationally televised hearings.

In their only joint interview to tout their new bill, Paul indirectly encouraged Harris to explore a presidential bid but did not endorse her. After all, he has not ruled another presidential campaign some day.

I think on the Democrat side theres a huge opening for lots and lots of people to rise up to be that person, Paul said.

Harris dismissed speculation about the presidency but did not deny an interest. Asked why she thinks people are talking about her as a presidential candidate, she said, I think people like to gossip.

She added, I came to D.C. hoping to have impact on real human beings and their lives, and sharing with this incredible body of people these smart, powerful people the views and the voices of folks that might not otherwise be seen or heard.

Read more at PowerPost

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Why are Rand Paul and Kamala Harris teaming up on a bill? - The ... - Washington Post

Republican SenatorRand Paul slammedAttorney General Jeff Sessions support for civil asset forfeiture during a Tuesday interview, calling the practice offensive.

Fox News host Steve Doocy askedthe senator from Kentucky about his thoughts on President Donald Trumps recent criticisms of Sessions, particularly on Sessions recusal from the Russian probe and his apparent unwillingness to investigateHillary Clintons emails.

I understand both sides, Paul responded, before stating, I have my own concerns with Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

I am very much offendedby the fact that he is now promoting a policy of going after poor peoples property, taking it without a conviction, he said. This is called civil asset forfeiture.

Civil asset forfeiture allows law enforcement officers to takeassets away from peopleif those assets are suspected of being used in a crime. In order to get their property back, owners must prove that their goods were not used for criminal activity.

As Paul explains in the interview, law enforcement officers may be incentivized to improperly seize assets because those assets can then be used to fund police office expenses.

In our country you should be innocent until proven guilty and your property shouldnt be taken without a court trial, Paul argued. The fact that Attorney General Sessions is going all-in on this really is offensive to a lot of us who have been trying to reform this situation.

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Sen. Rand Paul said Sunday that President Trump likely has the power to pardon himself under the U.S. Constitution.

The Kentucky Republicans interpretation of the Constitution comes after the president tweeted Saturday about having the complete power to pardon, and after The Washington Post reported that Mr. Trump discussed pardons with his advisers.

The question about whether Mr. Trump has the authority to pardon himself is being debated as the investigation into connections between his campaign and the Russian government during the 2016 election heats up.

I think, in all likelihood, he does, Mr. Paul said during an interview on CNNs State of the Union. I think that some of this hasnt been adjudicated.

Mr. Paul said he understands the president is frustrated with the constant allegations of collusion, but he cautioned him from thinking about pardoning family members or himself.

But Jay Sekulow, one of Mr. Trumps lawyers, said the issue would likely end up at the U.S. Supreme Court, and he told ABCs This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos that no one from the legal team is researching pardoning powers for the president.

The issue of pardons is not on the table. Theres nothing to pardon from, Mr. Sekulow said Sunday. Were not researching it, I havent researched it because its not an issue were concerned with or dealing with.

Mr. Trump said in one of his tweets on Saturday: While all agree the U. S. President has the complete power to pardon, why think of that when only crime so far is LEAKS against us.FAKE NEWS.

According to The Post report, Mr. Trump has inquired about the authority he has as president to pardon aides, relatives or even himself.

Congressional lawmakers say Mr. Trumps eldest son and his former campaign chairman wont be forced to testify publicly this week as part of the Russia election meddling investigation. Donald Trump Jr. and former campaign Chairman Paul Manafort are discussing undergoing a private interview with the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The committees chairman, Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican, and top Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, also say they are negotiating with Mr. Trump Jr. and Mr. Manafort about possibly turning over documents.

Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and top White House aide, is scheduled to speak behind closed doors with the Senate Intelligence Committee on Monday and the House intelligence committee on Tuesday.

Mr. Trump defended his son in one of the tweets, saying he openly gave his e-mails to the media & authorities whereas Crooked Hillary Clinton deleted (& acid washed) her 33,000 e-mails!

Mr. Trumps eldest son has become a focus of the investigation after it was revealed that he, Mr. Kushner and Mr. Manafort met with Russian representatives at Trump Tower in June 2016. Mr. Trump Jr. later released email exchanges concerning the meeting on Twitter, after learning that The New York Times was about to publish them.

This article includes wire service reports.

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Rand Paul: Trump likely has ability to pardon himself - Washington Times

Sen. Rand Paul said Sunday that savings from buying foreign-made goods "allows working-class people to have savings to get a television set, to go on vacation, to buy gas for their truck." | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said Sunday theres a reason why buying American-made goods is not always the best option: cost.

You know, I think all of us have this goal to buy American, but we have to think this thing through, Paul told Jake Tapper on CNNs "State of the Union."

Story Continued Below

Tapper was pressing Paul on why President Donald Trump touted "Made in the USA" goods all week but still hires foreign workers at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida. Tapper also noted that Trump's company manufacturers a bevy of Trump-branded clothing products abroad.

The libertarian-leaning Paul said global trade, the same kind that candidate Trump slammed for ripping off the U.S., allows Americans to buy cheaper goods, stretching their dollars so they can then pay for things like a vacation or a new vehicle.

It used to be a shirt, just a regular button-up shirt, might be $20, $25, and still might be in places. And at Wal-Mart, it's $7," Paul said. "And so that savings, though, allows working-class people to have savings to get a television set, to go on vacation, to buy gas for their truck. So trade is really a good thing.

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As a candidate, Trump defended his decision to manufacture some of his own products abroad, especially apparel, characterizing himself as someone who was simply making smart business decisions based on the costs.

In response to Paul's answer, Tapper noted that the members of Mar-a-Lago, where "the membership fee is $200,000 a year," were not in the same situation as average American workers.

Paul, who ran against Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, did concede that using foreign workers at Mar-a-Lago was "different," but he did not elaborate.

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Rand Paul: Buying American isn't necessarily the right choice - Politico - Politico

Sen. Rand Paul said Sunday that President Trump likely has the power to pardon himself under the U.S. Constitution.

The Kentucky Republicans interpretation of the Constitution comes after the president tweeted about having the complete power to pardon on Saturday, and after The Washington Post reported that Mr. Trump discussed pardons with his advisers.

The question about whether Mr. Trump has the authority to pardon himself is being debated as the investigation into whether his campaign colluded with the Russian government during the 2016 election heats up, and it has legal scholars debating the issue.

I think in all likelihood he does, Mr. Paul said during an interview on CNNs State of the Union. I think that some of this hasnt been adjudicated.

Mr. Paul said he understands the president is frustrated with the constant allegations of collusion, but he cautioned him from thinking about pardoning family members or himself.

But Jay Sekulow, one of Mr. Trumps lawyers, said the issue would likely end up at the U.S. Supreme Court, and he told ABCs This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos that no one from the legal team is researching pardoning powers for the president.

The issue of pardons is not on the table. Theres nothing to pardon from, Mr. Sekulow said Sunday. Were not researching it, I havent researched it because its not an issue were concerned with or dealing with.

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Sen. Rand Paul says President Trump likely has authority to pardon himself - Washington Times