Watchdog says democratic freedoms waning in US under Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new report by the group Freedom House says basic rights and political freedoms in the United States are deteriorating at a faster pace under President Donald Trump, exacerbated by attacks on key institutions like the press and the courts.

In its annual global assessment, the think tank is slamming the Trump administration for withdrawing from America's "historical commitment to promoting and supporting democracy." The group is calling it perhaps the most striking on a "long list of troubling developments" around the world in 2017.

The report criticizes Trump for making false statements, refusing to disclose his taxes and other information, violating basic ethical standards and taking insufficient steps to counter Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

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