10 things you need to know today: May 30, 2019

1. Mueller says charging Trump was 'not an option'

Special Counsel Robert Mueller, in his first public comments since releasing his report on Russian election interference, said charging President Trump with obstruction of justice or any crime was "not an option" because federal rules say only Congress can charge a sitting president. Mueller said his team could have exonerated Trump, but did not. "If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so," Mueller said. Mueller's statement amounted to a rebuttal of the White House's claim that Mueller's two-year investigation exonerated Trump. Still, Trump tweeted that he considered himself in the clear. "There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent," Trump wrote. "The case is closed! Thank you."

The Associated Press The New York Times

2. More Democrats back impeachment after Mueller statement

More Democratic presidential candidates on Wednesday joined the call to impeach President Trump after Special Counsel Robert Mueller reiterated that his two-year investigation did not clear Trump of possible obstruction of justice crimes, and said it was up to Congress to decide whether to charge a sitting president. Seven of the 23 Democrats vying for the party's 2020 nomination supported impeachment before Mueller's hastily arranged news conference. Immediately after he spoke, three more presidential hopefuls — Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) — said for the first time that the House should start impeachment proceedings. The rising chorus increased the pressure on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who vowed to continue investigations.

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The New York Times

3. Israel to hold new election after Netanyahu fails to form coalition

After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to form a coalition government within the required six-week timeframe, the Knesset — Israel's national legislature — voted to dissolve itself, setting up an unprecedented second national election which will be held on Sept. 17. Netanyahu's party won a tightly contested election in April, but he was unable to broker a deal between secular right-winger and ex-Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and the country's ultra-Orthodox parties, who were at odds over a bill that would increase the number of ultra-orthodox Jewish men conscripted into the army. Instead, by a vote of 74-45, the Knesset agreed to disband. That means for the second time this year, Israelis will head to the voting polls, casting doubt on Netanyahu's political future.

Haaretz

4. Man sets himself on fire near White House

A man reportedly set himself on fire near the White House on Wednesday. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that "a man lit himself on fire on the Ellipse," a 52-acre park area south of the White House and north of the National Mall. The incident occurred near the Washington Monument. Uniformed officers "responded in seconds," Secret Service spokesman Jeffrey Adams said. Video of the incident showed the man calmly walking on the grass before officials doused the flames with a fire extinguisher. National Park Service personnel and park police administered first aid to the man, who was transported to a hospital with life-threatening burns over most of his body and reportedly later died.

CNBC Daily Mail

5. Louisiana's Democratic governor expected to sign strict abortion ban

The Louisiana state legislature on Wednesday passed a so-called "heartbeat" abortion ban, which Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards has said he supports. Under the measure, abortions are illegal after an ultrasound can pick up the electric pulsing of what will become a fetus' heart; this can happen as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. There are no exceptions for cases of rape and incest, and doctors found guilty of performing abortions illegally would face up to two years in prison. Edwards, who is up for re-election, has long touted his anti-abortion beliefs, and the bill is now headed to his desk. Anti-abortion activists are hoping that newly-enacted restrictions in Alabama, Missouri, Ohio, and other states will lead the Supreme Court to reconsider Roe v. Wade.

The New York Times NPR

6. New Mexico town orders halt to private border wall construction

City officials in Sunland Park, New Mexico, have issued a "cease and desist" order to landowners building a private border wall, saying the project lacked proper permits. "The rules apply to everyone," Sunland Park spokesman Peter Ibarbo said Wednesday. "That's the process." Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea said the project's application was incomplete, but there were other problems. "My understanding is that city ordinance only allows a wall up to six feet tall, and this far exceeds that," he said. Brian Kolfage started a GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $20 million to put up the private wall. He said the "cease and desist" order was political intimidation by local authorities who are politically opposed to the border wall.

CNN

7. Nepal considers tightening Everest rules after human traffic jams

Nepalese authorities said Wednesday that they were considering changing rules on allowing climbers to attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest following reports of human traffic jams near the world's highest peak. At least 11 climbers have died on Everest this climbing season, some after waiting in lines before reaching the peak and trying to descend. Some climbers have complained of aggressive behavior that has created "a zoo" at dangerously high elevations. Currently, nearly anyone interested in trying to reach the summit can get a permit, but some authorities are pushing to make applicants show proof of extensive mountaineering experience and good health. "It's time to review all the old laws," said Yagya Raj Sunuwar, a member of the Nepalese Parliament.

The New York Times

8. White House asked Navy to hide USS John McCain during Trump's Japan trip

The White House asked Navy officials to move the USS John S. McCain "out of sight" during President Trump's visit to Japan, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing Pentagon and White House officials. Navy personnel tried to obscure the McCain name with a tarp, before senior Navy officials called a stop to the effort and had the tarp removed. Then a barge was used to hide the name. The ship's crew, whose uniforms say USS John McCain, was not invited to Trump's speech aboard the nearby USS Wasp. A senior White House official told The Washington Post the goal was to keep Trump, who frequently clashed with the late Sen. John McCain, from being upset. Trump tweeted Wednesday he was not informed about the request.

The Wall Street Journal The Washington Post

9. Pelosi slams Facebook for not removing doctored videos

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday harshly criticized Facebook for refusing to remove a video altered to make her appear to be slurring her words, saying the social media site is "lying to the public." The videos have been shared by right-wing websites, and President Trump. Pelosi said the social network's decision to leave up the clip showed that it knowingly let false information spread to its users, including during the 2016 presidential election when Russian operatives used Facebook and other social media to post fake news to support Trump's campaign, and hurt his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. "We have said all along, poor Facebook, they were unwittingly exploited by the Russians," Pelosi told the San Francisco public radio station KQED. "I think wittingly, because right now they are putting up something that they know is false."

The New York Times

10. Uber to ban riders with low ratings

Uber plans to start banning riders who have received low ratings from drivers, the ride-hailing company said in a blog post Wednesday. Only riders with ratings that are significantly below average will be kicked out. "Respect is a two-way street, and so is accountability. Drivers have long been expected to meet a minimum rating threshold which can vary city to city," Kate Parker, Uber's head of safety brand and initiatives, wrote. "While we expect only a small number of riders to ultimately be impacted by ratings-based deactivations, it's the right thing to do." The company said it would launch the policy in the U.S. and Canada, giving riders a screen on the Uber app advising them on expectations such as being polite and not leaving trash in the vehicle. Riders will get warnings before being banned.

CNN NPR