thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Joe Biden Tests Negative For COVID-19

Joe Biden Tests Negative For COVID-19

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said he has tested negative for COVID-19 days after debating President Donald Trump , who announced early Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus .
His wife , Jill Biden , also tested negative , their physician confirmed in a statement from the Biden campaign .
In a tweet , the former vice president urged Americans to follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines , which he — unlike Trump — has been seen implementing at campaign events .
I ’ m happy to report that Jill and I have tested negative for COVID .
Thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern .
I hope this serves as a reminder : wear a mask , keep social distance , and wash your hands .
— Joe Biden ( @ JoeBiden ) October 2 , 2020 Biden was in a room with Trump during Tuesday night ’ s presidential debate in Cleveland .
They were spaced more than 6 feet apart , but both yelled without face masks in an indoor space ― factors that increase the risk of spreading the virus .
Trump said Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hope Hicks was diagnosed with the virus .
Hicks had been part of the team traveling with the president for the debate and was seen stepping off Air Force One afterward without a mask .
Members of Trump ’ s family flouted mask-wearing guidelines during the event .
Prior to receiving his test result Friday , Biden expressed his well wishes to the Trumps .
Biden campaign officials told several news outlets they had no prior notification from the Trump campaign about the president ’ s COVID-19 exposure , and learned about Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s campaign has focused on Trump ’ s failure to protect Americans from the pandemic .
The president has for months downplayed the severity of the virus — even as the U.S. death toll topped 200,000 , the highest in the world .
Trump has pressured states and schools to reopen , spread falsehoods about treatments , held packed campaign rallies and mocked others for wearing face masks .
During Tuesday night ’ s debate , Biden pointed out that Trump rarely wears a face mask in public .
Trump responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest mask I ’ ve ever seen.
” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says face masks greatly reduce the spread of COVID-19 .

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said he has tested negative for COVID-19 days after debating President Donald Trump, who announced early Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus.
His wife, Jill Biden, also tested negative, their physician confirmed in a statement from the Biden campaign.
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In a tweet, the former vice president urged Americans to follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines, which he — unlike Trump — has been seen implementing at campaign events.
I’m happy to report that Jill and I have tested negative for COVID. Thank you to everyone for your messages of concern. I hope this serves as a reminder: wear a mask, keep social distance, and wash your hands. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 2, 2020
Biden was in a room with Trump during Tuesday night’s presidential debate in Cleveland. They were spaced more than 6 feet apart, but both yelled without face masks in an indoor space ― factors that increase the risk of spreading the virus.
Trump said Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive, hours after top Trump aide Hope Hicks was diagnosed with the virus. Hicks had been part of the team traveling with the president for the debate and was seen stepping off Air Force One afterward without a mask. Members of Trump’s family flouted mask-wearing guidelines during the event.
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Prior to receiving his test result Friday, Biden expressed his well wishes to the Trumps. Biden campaign officials told several news outlets they had no prior notification from the Trump campaign about the president’s COVID-19 exposure, and learned about Trump’s diagnosis through news reports.
Biden’s campaign has focused on Trump’s failure to protect Americans from the pandemic. The president has for months downplayed the severity of the virus — even as the U.S. death toll topped 200,000, the highest in the world. Trump has pressured states and schools to reopen, spread falsehoods about treatments, held packed campaign rallies and mocked others for wearing face masks.
During Tuesday night’s debate, Biden pointed out that Trump rarely wears a face mask in public. Trump responded by ridiculing Biden for wearing “the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says face masks greatly reduce the spread of COVID-19.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--As A Doctor, Here's The First Thing I Thought When I Found Out Trump Has COVID-19

SAUL LOEB via Getty Images President Donald Trump walks from Marine One after arriving on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington , DC , October 1 , 2020 .
When I learned that Donald Trump is infected with COVID-19 , I did not have the normal reaction that I would have , as a doctor , to an overweight septuagenarian getting infected with this deadly virus .
Instead , I immediately thought of the positives that could come out of this .
Not because I revel in suffering but precisely because I ardently desire millions more people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this virus invites .
A virus that snuffs out life indiscriminately .
Or perhaps a little too discriminatingly in certain populations , most of whom are not represented in the Trump inner circle .
Maybe Donald and Melania will finally , though inadvertently , be the effective spokespeople for this virus that reason , logic , science , compassion and morality dictated that they be 200,000 lives ago .
Perhaps this will be the wake-up call that the tens of millions who adore him , who hang on his every word , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so much so that they are willing to consider ingesting bleach , will heed .
Is it wrong for a doctor to be writing these words ?
I would argue , in fact , that it is precisely in line with the ethics of my profession to welcome the dissemination and augmentation of public health awareness in the context of this pandemic and our country ’ s failed response to it .
For some who follow Hollywood types , it was beloved Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson whose diagnoses snapped people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take it with the gravity it deserved .
For sports fans , it was the stories coming out of the NBA with Rudy Gobert ’ s ridiculous mic touching stunt and the souring of his relationship with Donovan Mitchell after the Utah Jazz coronavirus outbreak .
Others looked to their president and saw a maskless man who mocked those who covered their faces in the context of an airborne illness , who compared it to the flu and said it would go away like a miracle .
They looked to the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prayed for as he persisted to downplay the virus as the number of COVID-19 deaths continued to fill increasing numbers of imaginary football stadiums many times over .
And even as stories came out of diehard Trump loyalists who succumbed to COVID-19 while regretting not taking this more seriously , he continued to contradict the clear public health messaging of his top officials , undermining and undercutting at every turn .
My colleagues and I have watched , our stomachs turning and churning in twisted knots of anger , as Trump has continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as recently as this past week .
Just like the one Herman Cain attended whose life ended shortly thereafter .
White hot rage has been our default setting for so many of us in health care over the last eight months , as we have been keenly aware of the broad swaths of precious lives needlessly lost due to the criminal negligence of this administration .
I remember how my insides blazed as I watched Vice President Mike Pence traipse through Mayo Clinic without a mask and how there wasn ’ t a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to stand up for their patients and colleagues and call out the emperor who had no mask .
This administration has been , literally , sickening .
This moment is bigger than Trump in that it is pregnant with the potential for many of his followers and fans to consider that , maybe , just maybe , Trump isn ’ t the one whose advice they should heed during this pandemic .
Yes , there is the aspect of comeuppance , because what do you expect when you do the very thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world are pleading the populace to avoid ?
But this moment is bigger than Trump in that it is pregnant with the potential for many of his followers and fans to consider that , maybe , just maybe , Trump isn ’ t the one whose advice they should heed during this pandemic .
And perhaps this can be the inflection point this nation needs to begin to turn the tide on this pandemic , something other countries , many of whom do not tout themselves as the greatest country in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ succeed in .
Every time Trump turned up in public , maskless face for all to see , I thought about a nurse somewhere in an ICU who was reusing her sole N95 mask for her shift .
And when he would persist in dismissing the virus as akin to the flu , my heart would ache for the patients whose final moments with their kids were over FaceTime , because they believed in their president ― they imagined that his words meant something .
I have been meaning to write an essay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beach , please don ’ t kill my mom and dad .
Both cancer patients on chemotherapy , they are surrounded by unmasked COVID-19 skeptic neighbors whose jumbo screens can be seen from the street blaring Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity peddling their special brand of COVID-19 ignorance .
I have wanted to plead with my hometown , whose very air molecules could fell my parents at any given moment , on their way to and from chemo .
I thought perhaps an essay like this could appeal to their sense of humanity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my mom freshly cut Gerbera daisies from their garden , unmasked faces wanting to chat it up with her on her side patio .
Today , I welcome this moment ― not because I wish this disease on anyone but because there is now a sliver of hope , however thin , that Donald Trump ’ s COVID-19 infection could be the tipping point that finally makes millions of Americans finally understand the gravity of this illness , finally realize the importance of wearing a mask , finally take steps to protect themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crucial difference between life and death for my mom , my dad , and so many tens of thousands of other beloveds all across this land .

President Donald Trump walks from Marine One after arriving on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, October 1, 2020. SAUL LOEB via Getty Images
When I learned that Donald Trump is infected with COVID-19, I did not have the normal reaction that I would have, as a doctor, to an overweight septuagenarian getting infected with this deadly virus. Instead, I immediately thought of the positives that could come out of this. Not because I revel in suffering but precisely because I ardently desire millions more people to avoid the death and disability that this virus invites. A virus that snuffs out life indiscriminately. Or perhaps a little too discriminatingly in certain populations, most of whom are not represented in the Trump inner circle.
Maybe Donald and Melania will finally, though inadvertently, be the effective spokespeople for this virus that reason, logic, science, compassion and morality dictated that they be 200,000 lives ago. Perhaps this will be the wake-up call that the tens of millions who adore him, who hang on his every word, who look to him for guidance and leadership, so much so that they are willing to consider ingesting bleach, will heed.
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Maybe, just maybe, this is the jolt of reality that only this reality TV star can provide.
Is it wrong for a doctor to be writing these words? I would argue, in fact, that it is precisely in line with the ethics of my profession to welcome the dissemination and augmentation of public health awareness in the context of this pandemic and our country’s failed response to it. For some who follow Hollywood types, it was beloved Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson whose diagnoses snapped people to attention at the start of this pandemic to take it with the gravity it deserved. For sports fans, it was the stories coming out of the NBA with Rudy Gobert’s ridiculous mic touching stunt and the souring of his relationship with Donovan Mitchell after the Utah Jazz coronavirus outbreak.
Others looked to their president and saw a maskless man who mocked those who covered their faces in the context of an airborne illness, who compared it to the flu and said it would go away like a miracle. They looked to the man they voted for and believed in and prayed for as he persisted to downplay the virus as the number of COVID-19 deaths continued to fill increasing numbers of imaginary football stadiums many times over. And even as stories came out of diehard Trump loyalists who succumbed to COVID-19 while regretting not taking this more seriously, he continued to contradict the clear public health messaging of his top officials, undermining and undercutting at every turn.
My colleagues and I have watched, our stomachs turning and churning in twisted knots of anger, as Trump has continued to host superspreader events throughout the country as recently as this past week. Just like the one Herman Cain attended whose life ended shortly thereafter. White hot rage has been our default setting for so many of us in health care over the last eight months, as we have been keenly aware of the broad swaths of precious lives needlessly lost due to the criminal negligence of this administration. I remember how my insides blazed as I watched Vice President Mike Pence traipse through Mayo Clinic without a mask and how there wasn’t a single person in that hospital who was willing to stand up for their patients and colleagues and call out the emperor who had no mask. This administration has been, literally, sickening.
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“This moment is bigger than Trump in that it is pregnant with the potential for many of his followers and fans to consider that, maybe, just maybe, Trump isn’t the one whose advice they should heed during this pandemic.”
And now Trump has the virus, like other infected politicians on the world stage that have come before him, the Jair Bolsanaros and Boris Johnsons ― so-called leaders who eschew science and brag about shaking hands with COVID-19-positive patients in hospitals.
Yes, there is the aspect of comeuppance, because what do you expect when you do the very thing that the best and the brightest scientists in the world are pleading the populace to avoid? But this moment is bigger than Trump in that it is pregnant with the potential for many of his followers and fans to consider that, maybe, just maybe, Trump isn’t the one whose advice they should heed during this pandemic. And perhaps this can be the inflection point this nation needs to begin to turn the tide on this pandemic, something other countries, many of whom do not tout themselves as the greatest country in the world, have been able to succeed in.
Every time Trump turned up in public, maskless face for all to see, I thought about a nurse somewhere in an ICU who was reusing her sole N95 mask for her shift. And when he would persist in dismissing the virus as akin to the flu, my heart would ache for the patients whose final moments with their kids were over FaceTime, because they believed in their president ― they imagined that his words meant something.
I have been meaning to write an essay for many months entitled: Dear Huntington Beach, please don’t kill my mom and dad. Both cancer patients on chemotherapy, they are surrounded by unmasked COVID-19 skeptic neighbors whose jumbo screens can be seen from the street blaring Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity peddling their special brand of COVID-19 ignorance. I have wanted to plead with my hometown, whose very air molecules could fell my parents at any given moment, on their way to and from chemo. I thought perhaps an essay like this could appeal to their sense of humanity and decency the next time they bring my mom freshly cut Gerbera daisies from their garden, unmasked faces wanting to chat it up with her on her side patio.
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Today, I welcome this moment ― not because I wish this disease on anyone but because there is now a sliver of hope, however thin, that Donald Trump’s COVID-19 infection could be the tipping point that finally makes millions of Americans finally understand the gravity of this illness, finally realize the importance of wearing a mask, finally take steps to protect themselves and their community. It’s the crucial difference between life and death for my mom, my dad, and so many tens of thousands of other beloveds all across this land.
Dipti S. Barot is a primary care doctor in the Bay Area. She is also a freelance writer and you can follow her on Twitter by heading here.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Pelosi: Trump Flouting COVID-19 Guidelines Was 'A Brazen Invitation For This To Happen'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) said President Donald Trump ’ s frequent flouting and dismissal of COVID-19 health guidelines “ was sort of a brazen invitation for something like this to happen , ” after the president announced early Friday that he tested positive for the virus .
“ This is tragic .
It ’ s very sad .
But it also is something that , again , going into crowds unmasked and all the rest was sort of a brazen invitation for something like this to happen , ” she said on MSNBC Friday .
Pelosi said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and hoped that , for those who continue to doubt the gravity of the pandemic and dismiss the advice of public health experts , the president ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis “ will be a transition to a saner approach to what this virus is all about.
” “ Maybe now that people who see the president of the United States — with all the protection that he has — and the first lady still having this exposure , it might be , as you say , a learning experience .
But more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something that is acted upon , ” she said .
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the pandemic , even as more than 200,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 .
He rarely wears masks in public , mocks those who do , and has held multiple crowded campaign events where most of the attendees did not wear masks .
Researchers at Cornell University published a study on Thursday concluding that the president has been “ the largest driver ” of COVID-19 misinformation , as he routinely disseminates false claims , conspiracy theories and “ miracle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Friday , Pelosi , who is second in the presidential line of succession — and like many top lawmakers , in the age range considered especially high risk for serious complications from the virus — said she had received a COVID-19 test that morning and was waiting for the results .

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said President Donald Trump’s frequent flouting and dismissal of COVID-19 health guidelines “was sort of a brazen invitation for something like this to happen,” after the president announced early Friday that he tested positive for the virus.
“This is tragic. It’s very sad. But it also is something that, again, going into crowds unmasked and all the rest was sort of a brazen invitation for something like this to happen,” she said on MSNBC Friday.
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Pelosi said she prayed for Trump and his family, and hoped that, for those who continue to doubt the gravity of the pandemic and dismiss the advice of public health experts, the president’s COVID-19 diagnosis “will be a transition to a saner approach to what this virus is all about.”
“Maybe now that people who see the president of the United States — with all the protection that he has — and the first lady still having this exposure, it might be, as you say, a learning experience. But more than learning, it has to be something that is acted upon,” she said.
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the pandemic, even as more than 200,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. He rarely wears masks in public, mocks those who do, and has held multiple crowded campaign events where most of the attendees did not wear masks.
Researchers at Cornell University published a study on Thursday concluding that the president has been “the largest driver” of COVID-19 misinformation, as he routinely disseminates false claims, conspiracy theories and “miracle cures” with no scientific basis.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Trump Held Fundraiser, Mingled With Crowd Hours Before Revealing COVID-19 Diagnosis

President Donald Trump went to a New Jersey fundraiser for his reelection campaign on Thursday , mingling with crowds and posing for photographs mere hours before he tweeted that he ’ d tested positive for the coronavirus .
Trump appeared at his Bedminster golf club despite learning that one of his closest aides and advisers , Hope Hicks , had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the day .
Hicks has been in close quarters with Trump and many other senior-level White House officials , having traveled with them Tuesday for the first presidential debate .
President Donald Trump steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Oct. 1 .
The president returned to Washington , D.C. , after attending a fundraiser in Bedminster , New Jersey .
New Jersey ’ s governor , Phil Murphy , tweeted on Friday morning that anyone who had attended the fundraiser should go get tested for the virus .
He also wished Trump and first lady Melania Trump a “ speedy ” recovery .
We urge everyone who attended yesterday 's event in Bedminster to take full precautions , including self-quarantining and getting tested for # @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : https : //t.co/JZg9mGpUuV .
— Governor Phil Murphy ( @ GovMurphy ) October 2 , 2020 Murphy also said in a statement that “ the contact-tracing process is underway.
” It ’ s not clear exactly how many people attended the fundraiser , but The Washington Post reported the president had been in close contact with dozens of people .
Ticket options included opportunities for photos and/or a reception with Trump , My Central Jersey reported Tuesday .
Some attendees have posted on Facebook that they were in close proximity to Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that Trump was not wearing a mask at the fundraiser or on the flight back to Washington , D.C .
The Republican National Committee said Friday in a statement that those in attendance were tested for COVID-19 , passed a temperature screening and stayed more than 6 feet away from the president at all times .

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President Donald Trump went to a New Jersey fundraiser for his reelection campaign on Thursday, mingling with crowds and posing for photographs mere hours before he tweeted that he’d tested positive for the coronavirus.
Trump appeared at his Bedminster golf club despite learning that one of his closest aides and advisers, Hope Hicks, had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the day.
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Hicks has been in close quarters with Trump and many other senior-level White House officials, having traveled with them Tuesday for the first presidential debate.
President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Oct. 1. The president returned to Washington, D.C., after attending a fundraiser in Bedminster, New Jersey. MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images
New Jersey’s governor, Phil Murphy, tweeted on Friday morning that anyone who had attended the fundraiser should go get tested for the virus. He also wished Trump and first lady Melania Trump a “speedy” recovery.
Wishing @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a speedy and complete return to good health. https://t.co/T9uiifbee5 — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) October 2, 2020
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We urge everyone who attended yesterday's event in Bedminster to take full precautions, including self-quarantining and getting tested for #COVID19.
Find your nearest testing location: https://t.co/JZg9mGpUuV. — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) October 2, 2020
Murphy also said in a statement that “the contact-tracing process is underway.”
It’s not clear exactly how many people attended the fundraiser, but The Washington Post reported the president had been in close contact with dozens of people. Ticket options included opportunities for photos and/or a reception with Trump, My Central Jersey reported Tuesday.
Some attendees have posted on Facebook that they were in close proximity to Trump at the event.
The Post also noted that Trump was not wearing a mask at the fundraiser or on the flight back to Washington, D.C.
The Republican National Committee said Friday in a statement that those in attendance were tested for COVID-19, passed a temperature screening and stayed more than 6 feet away from the president at all times.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Mike Lee May Have Infected Senate Judiciary Committee Members With COVID-19

Sen. Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) announced Friday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and said he first began feeling symptoms Thursday morning ― right around the time he attended a nearly 90-minute Senate Judiciary Committee hearing without a mask on for at least part of the time .
Lee ’ s positive COVID-19 test raises serious questions not just about which other senators he may have infected , but what it means for the committee ’ s plan to begin Amy Coney Barrett ’ s Supreme Court confirmation hearing in 10 days .
Lee was there for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 10 minutes straight when it was his turn to talk , at times shouting into the room .
He sat feet away from Cruz .
He did not have a mask on when talking , and at times did not have it on when not talking .
It is hard to confirm when , exactly , a senator may have taken off or put on a mask during the hearing given the C-SPAN camera angles .
It ’ s also hard to gauge when a senator may have left or returned .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing , it appears that neither Graham , the chairman , nor Feinstein , the ranking Democrat , wore a mask at all .
Leahy wasn ’ t wearing a mask when on camera , and neither were Ernst , Cornyn , Cruz , Booker , Blumenthal or Hirono .
Grassley appeared to be the only committee member who wore a mask for the duration of the hearing , even when talking .
Every member of the committee will need to be tested now , and they would need to test again in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clear from a COVID-19 infection .
If more of them turn out to test positive , that means they won ’ t be able to attend Barrett ’ s hearing , which raises new questions about whether the Senate is prepared to move forward with a first-of-its-kind virtual Supreme Court confirmation hearing .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) and Feinstein said Friday morning that it is “ premature ” to commit to a Supreme Court hearing schedule without knowing the full extent of COVID-19 exposure in the Senate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our colleague Senator Mike Lee makes even more clear that health and safety must guide the schedule for all Senate activities , including hearings , ” Schumer and Feinstein said in a statement .
“ In addition , there is bipartisan agreement that a virtual confirmation hearing for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench is not an acceptable substitute .
All circuit court nominees have appeared in person during the pandemic , and there is far more at stake for the American people with this Supreme Court nomination , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down and more than 7 million COVID survivors being denied health coverage.
” A Graham spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on whether he would consider postponing the hearing if more committee members test positive for COVID-19 , or if he is prepared to hold a virtual confirmation hearing for Barrett .

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Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) announced Friday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and said he first began feeling symptoms Thursday morning ― right around the time he attended a nearly 90-minute Senate Judiciary Committee hearing without a mask on for at least part of the time.
Lee’s positive COVID-19 test raises serious questions not just about which other senators he may have infected, but what it means for the committee’s plan to begin Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing in 10 days.
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Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, tested positive for the coronavirus late Friday, his office said.
Most members of the committee attended the Thursday hearing. Those in attendance included Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Lee.
Lee was there for the entire hearing. He spoke for more than 10 minutes straight when it was his turn to talk, at times shouting into the room. He sat feet away from Cruz. He did not have a mask on when talking, and at times did not have it on when not talking.
Here’s Lee talking during Thursday’s hearing:
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It is hard to confirm when, exactly, a senator may have taken off or put on a mask during the hearing given the C-SPAN camera angles. It’s also hard to gauge when a senator may have left or returned. But based on video footage of the hearing, it appears that neither Graham, the chairman, nor Feinstein, the ranking Democrat, wore a mask at all. Leahy wasn’t wearing a mask when on camera, and neither were Ernst, Cornyn, Cruz, Booker, Blumenthal or Hirono.
Grassley appeared to be the only committee member who wore a mask for the duration of the hearing, even when talking.
Every member of the committee will need to be tested now, and they would need to test again in five days to confirm they are in the clear from a COVID-19 infection. If more of them turn out to test positive, that means they won’t be able to attend Barrett’s hearing, which raises new questions about whether the Senate is prepared to move forward with a first-of-its-kind virtual Supreme Court confirmation hearing.
Barrett herself was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this year, The Washington Post reported Friday, but has since recovered.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Feinstein said Friday morning that it is “premature” to commit to a Supreme Court hearing schedule without knowing the full extent of COVID-19 exposure in the Senate.
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“The unfortunate news about the infection of our colleague Senator Mike Lee makes even more clear that health and safety must guide the schedule for all Senate activities, including hearings,” Schumer and Feinstein said in a statement. “In addition, there is bipartisan agreement that a virtual confirmation hearing for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench is not an acceptable substitute. All circuit court nominees have appeared in person during the pandemic, and there is far more at stake for the American people with this Supreme Court nomination, including the Affordable Care [Act] being struck down and more than 7 million COVID survivors being denied health coverage.”
But Barrett’s hearings are staying on schedule for now. Graham tweeted Friday that he is sticking with his originally planned Oct. 12 start date.
Talked to Senator Lee earlier today and wished him a speedy recovery.
Look forward to welcoming him back to the @senjudiciary to proceed with the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barret on October 12. https://t.co/OVm0OQbnQF — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 2, 2020
A Graham spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on whether he would consider postponing the hearing if more committee members test positive for COVID-19, or if he is prepared to hold a virtual confirmation hearing for Barrett.
This article has been updated to include that Sen. Thom Tillis has tested positive for the coronavirus.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Chelsea Clinton Explains Why Her Friendship With Ivanka Trump Ended In 2016

Appearing on “ Watch What Happens Live ” Thursday , Chelsea told host Andy Cohen she and Ivanka hadn ’ t spoken since their parents , Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump , battled for the presidency four years ago .
“ I ’ ve not spoken to her since 2016 , ” she said .
“ I have no interest in being friends with someone who is not only complicit but actively taking part in this administration ’ s everyday collision of cruelty and incompetence.
” Given the marked difference in the political stances of their parents , Chelsea and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subject of intense media scrutiny for some time .
In 2014 , the two women appeared together at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards , happily embracing on the red carpet for the cameras .
A year later , Chelsea even compared Ivanka ’ s temperament to that of her own father , former President Bill Clinton , in an interview with Vogue .
Ivanka Trump ( left ) and Chelsea Clinton at the 2014 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in New York .
“ She ’ s always aware of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is enjoying the moment , ” she said at the time .
“ It ’ s an awareness that in some ways reminds me of my dad , and his ability to increase the joy of the room .
There ’ s nothing skin-deep about Ivanka.
” Just days before the 2017 inauguration , Ivanka told “ 20/20 ” that she intended to maintain her friendship with Chelsea once her father was in the White House .
“ She ’ s been a friend of mine long before the campaign , of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ I haven ’ t spoken about the specific challenges about this next chapter with her just yet , but I intend to.
” Though Chelsea and Ivanka were photographed in close proximity to one another at former President George H.W .
Bush ’ s 2018 funeral , it appears things have now changed .
“ It ’ s just really hard when there ’ s someone who ’ s actively embracing their candidate , whether it ’ s their father or not , who is trafficking in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islamophobia , and homophobia , and transphobia , and conspiracy theories and lies and is so fundamentally corrupt , ” Chelsea told Cohen Thursday , noting that Ivanka is “ more than complicit , as anyone who has worked for him for so long by definition is .
”

It’s official: Chelsea Clinton’s days of palling around with Ivanka Trump are over.
Appearing on “Watch What Happens Live” Thursday, Chelsea told host Andy Cohen she and Ivanka hadn’t spoken since their parents, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, battled for the presidency four years ago.
“I’ve not spoken to her since 2016,” she said. “I have no interest in being friends with someone who is not only complicit but actively taking part in this administration’s everyday collision of cruelty and incompetence.”
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Given the marked difference in the political stances of their parents, Chelsea and Ivanka’s friendship had been the subject of intense media scrutiny for some time. In 2014, the two women appeared together at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards, happily embracing on the red carpet for the cameras.
A year later, Chelsea even compared Ivanka’s temperament to that of her own father, former President Bill Clinton, in an interview with Vogue.
Ivanka Trump (left) and Chelsea Clinton at the 2014 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in New York. Laura Cavanaugh via Getty Images
“She’s always aware of everyone around her and ensuring that everyone is enjoying the moment,” she said at the time. “It’s an awareness that in some ways reminds me of my dad, and his ability to increase the joy of the room. There’s nothing skin-deep about Ivanka.”
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Just days before the 2017 inauguration, Ivanka told “20/20” that she intended to maintain her friendship with Chelsea once her father was in the White House.
“She’s been a friend of mine long before the campaign, of course will be a friend of mine after,” she said. “I haven’t spoken about the specific challenges about this next chapter with her just yet, but I intend to.”
Though Chelsea and Ivanka were photographed in close proximity to one another at former President George H.W. Bush’s 2018 funeral, it appears things have now changed.
“It’s just really hard when there’s someone who’s actively embracing their candidate, whether it’s their father or not, who is trafficking in racism and sexism and anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia, and homophobia, and transphobia, and conspiracy theories and lies and is so fundamentally corrupt,” Chelsea told Cohen Thursday, noting that Ivanka is “more than complicit, as anyone who has worked for him for so long by definition is.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Amy McGrath Is Airing A Pro-Trump Ad In A Swing State Media Market

The ad is standard fare for McGrath , who needs to court Trump supporters to defeat McConnell in a state the president is likely to win by double-digits .
But it isn ’ t running only in deep-red Kentucky .
The ad is also appearing in the Cincinnati , Ohio , media market ― meaning a Democratic candidate is paying for a television spot praising Trump in a state where former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s campaign is spending millions of dollars to win in November .
“ I worry about losing my job every day , ” a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ky. , says in the ad , which the McGrath campaign spent $ 200,000 to air in the Cincinnati market this week .
“ I ’ m voting for President Trump again , but I can not vote for Mitch McConnell.
” “ Mitch McConnell voted for 16 trade deals and sent those jobs overseas , and that ’ s crap in my book , ” he adds .
“ That ’ s basically stabbing the knife in my back , as well as all the other Kentuckians .
Thirty-six years is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drain the swamp , let ’ s start with Mitch McConnell.
” The Cincinnati ad market reaches into northern Kentucky , an area that Trump won in 2016 when he carried the Bluegrass State by 30 percentage points .
But Democratic Gov .
Andy Beshear flipped two of the largest suburban counties there in his race last year , and McGrath , who is originally from the area , has made them a priority in her race against McConnell .
Trump won Ohio by nearly 10 percentage points in 2016 , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead in the state .
While winning the state is not crucial to Biden ’ s path to 270 electoral votes , a victory there would essentially eliminate Trump ’ s path to victory .
Trump has spent more than $ 6 million on ads in Ohio and has reserved $ 10 million for the final weeks of the race .
Biden has spent $ 3 million so far and reserved $ 4 million .
McGrath , a former Marine fighter pilot who narrowly lost a congressional race in 2018 , launched her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Democratic voters and donors eager to knock off McConnell .
She is one of the top fundraisers among Democratic Senate candidates , despite the long odds she faces in the race against the six-term Kentucky Republican .
From the beginning , she has made appealing to Trump voters a core part of her strategy ― a decision that , while necessary in Kentucky , has also earned criticism from Democrats in the Bluegrass State and beyond .
McGrath kicked off her run by arguing that McConnell was the epitome of the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drain and the biggest roadblock to the implementation of key parts of the president ’ s agenda ― including his efforts to “ bring back jobs ” and lower prescription drug prices .
That assertion drew questions from Kentucky newspapers about whether she was a “ pro-Trump Democrat , ” a label that was used against her during the Democratic primary this year .
McGrath also said she would have voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh before changing her position amid backlash .
McGrath supported House Democrats ’ impeachment of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early endorser of Biden ’ s presidential campaign , backing the former vice president in January .
In recent months , she has run animated web ads that depict McConnell as a hapless “ swamp turtle ” who refuses to meet with Kentucky voters and draws the ire of Trump for standing in the way of his policy preferences .
McGrath ’ s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the decision to run the ad in Ohio or about whether it is also running in other media markets @ @ @

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Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath this week released a new television ad that features a supporter praising President Donald Trump and attacking her opponent, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The ad is standard fare for McGrath, who needs to court Trump supporters to defeat McConnell in a state the president is likely to win by double-digits.
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But it isn’t running only in deep-red Kentucky. The ad is also appearing in the Cincinnati, Ohio, media market ― meaning a Democratic candidate is paying for a television spot praising Trump in a state where former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign is spending millions of dollars to win in November.
“I worry about losing my job every day,” a man identified as John W. from Paducah, Ky., says in the ad, which the McGrath campaign spent $200,000 to air in the Cincinnati market this week. “I’m voting for President Trump again, but I cannot vote for Mitch McConnell.”
“Mitch McConnell voted for 16 trade deals and sent those jobs overseas, and that’s crap in my book,” he adds. “That’s basically stabbing the knife in my back, as well as all the other Kentuckians. Thirty-six years is long enough. If President Trump wants to drain the swamp, let’s start with Mitch McConnell.”
“I’m voting for Amy,” John W. concludes.
The Cincinnati ad market reaches into northern Kentucky, an area that Trump won in 2016 when he carried the Bluegrass State by 30 percentage points. But Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear flipped two of the largest suburban counties there in his race last year, and McGrath, who is originally from the area, has made them a priority in her race against McConnell.
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The ad stopped airing in the northern Kentucky area on Thursday, the McGrath campaign said.
Trump won Ohio by nearly 10 percentage points in 2016, but public polls show Biden with a slight lead in the state. While winning the state is not crucial to Biden’s path to 270 electoral votes, a victory there would essentially eliminate Trump’s path to victory.
Trump has spent more than $6 million on ads in Ohio and has reserved $10 million for the final weeks of the race. Biden has spent $3 million so far and reserved $4 million.
McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot who narrowly lost a congressional race in 2018, launched her campaign in July 2019 to national fanfare from Democratic voters and donors eager to knock off McConnell. She is one of the top fundraisers among Democratic Senate candidates, despite the long odds she faces in the race against the six-term Kentucky Republican.
Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath's latest efforts to win over Trump voters in Kentucky could complicate Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's attempts to swing Ohio. Bryan Woolston/Associated Press
From the beginning, she has made appealing to Trump voters a core part of her strategy ― a decision that, while necessary in Kentucky, has also earned criticism from Democrats in the Bluegrass State and beyond.
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McGrath kicked off her run by arguing that McConnell was the epitome of the Washington “swamp” Trump had promised to drain and the biggest roadblock to the implementation of key parts of the president’s agenda ― including his efforts to “bring back jobs” and lower prescription drug prices. That assertion drew questions from Kentucky newspapers about whether she was a “pro-Trump Democrat,” a label that was used against her during the Democratic primary this year. McGrath also said she would have voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh before changing her position amid backlash.
McGrath supported House Democrats’ impeachment of Trump in December. She was also an early endorser of Biden’s presidential campaign, backing the former vice president in January.
In recent months, she has run animated web ads that depict McConnell as a hapless “swamp turtle” who refuses to meet with Kentucky voters and draws the ire of Trump for standing in the way of his policy preferences.
McGrath’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the decision to run the ad in Ohio or about whether it is also running in other media markets across Kentucky.
McGrath trailed McConnell by 12 points, 53-41, among Kentucky voters in a September poll conducted by Quinnipiac University.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--With Trump's Coronavirus Diagnosis, The World Sees A Fully Failed Pandemic Response

President Donald Trump ’ s announcement that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus dominated global news , shook financial markets and spurred an outpouring of commentary from world leaders and others .
The common theme : The U.S. is a mess .
That the president has fallen ill with the virus is a sharp reminder that it continues to spread rapidly in the U.S. , which already has the world ’ s highest number of infections and deaths .
Officials abroad extended sympathy to the president .
But across the world , it was tempting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s response to the pandemic with Trump ’ s in the U.S. Trump potentially exposed dozens of people to the disease by attending the first presidential debate on Tuesday , where he and his entourage mostly eschewed the basic protective measure of wearing masks .
On Wednesday , he attended a campaign rally .
Thursday , even after White House officials knew that close aide Hope Hicks was likely infected , he attended a private fundraiser .
His campaign did not inform Biden ’ s team they may have been exposed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Koike , the governor of Tokyo , said Trump ’ s diagnosis reminded her “ of how widely masks are worn in Japan , ” The Associated Press reported .
Japan , with a population of 126 million , has lost 1,580 citizens to COVID-19 .
The U.S. , with a population 2.5 times larger , has recorded 207,000 deaths .
“ There are a lot of concerns around the world at the moment … foreign leaders have to be worried about the capacity of our commander-in-chief and whether he would cede control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to govern , ” Brett Bruen , the director for global engagement at the White House from 2013 to 2015 , told HuffPost .
The news comes amid multiple international crises that Washington is doing little to address , Bruen noted , including the escalating conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan , and concerns in Europe over Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s suspected role in poisoning a top political opponent and shoring up a dictator in Belarus .
It also makes it harder for those responsible for explaining America to the world and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a collapse in the country ’ s global reputation because of the coronavirus catastrophe and international anxiety over Trump ’ s attacks on the integrity of the November election .
“ American diplomats will try and project calm .
They are bound to emphasize that our institutions and laws remain strong , ” Bruen said .
“ Yet this comes after an embarrassing performance by President Trump during the debate , which has raised further questions as to the state and strength of our democracy.
” Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley , a former ambassador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 years , said U.S. representatives could use the opportunity to note the contagiousness of the coronavirus and the importance of remaining vigilant until a vaccine is distributed .
“ I ’ d expect our diplomats to add something along the lines of , ‘ We ’ ve seen highly responsible behavior and highly irresponsible behavior around the world .
He isn ’ t the first leader to get the virus and he likely won ’ t be the last ... Once the president recovers fully , hopefully he ’ ll make these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ add resonance to his words , ’ ” Abercrombie-Winstanley continued .
But there were already indications that Trump ’ s diagnosis could actually make his administration ’ s coronavirus response worse .
On “ Fox & Friends , ” a television show the president frequently promotes , co-host Brian Kilmeade said a Trump recovery from the virus could send a message that “ you can say whatever you want with stats and graphs , ” but perhaps it ’ s less serious than thought .
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro , who shares many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualities , successfully battled the virus over the summer .
He has since doubled down on skepticism of measures to control what he calls “ a small flu , ” saying no Brazilians would be required to be vaccinated against it .
Should Trump and his allies keep downplaying the coronavirus to make him appear strong and distract from the pandemic ’ s sweeping effects on the U.S. , they would be adding to the torrent of disinformation and confusion that ’ s already had deadly consequences for Americans , including those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatments on Trump ’ s recommendation .
National security officials warned that U.S. adversaries like Iran and North Korea could try to tap that doubt and disorientation to influence Americans in the sensitive pre-election period , further polarizing the country the way Russian interference did in 2016 .
Analysts can track and attempt to counter those messages .
But it ’ s particularly hard for them to deny reports that contain a kernel of truth , often the crucial element in luring readers and viewers down rabbit-holes of untrue or manipulated information .

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President Donald Trump’s announcement that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus dominated global news, shook financial markets and spurred an outpouring of commentary from world leaders and others. The common theme: The U.S. is a mess.
That the president has fallen ill with the virus is a sharp reminder that it continues to spread rapidly in the U.S., which already has the world’s highest number of infections and deaths.
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Officials abroad extended sympathy to the president. But across the world, it was tempting for people to contrast their country’s response to the pandemic with Trump’s in the U.S.
Trump potentially exposed dozens of people to the disease by attending the first presidential debate on Tuesday, where he and his entourage mostly eschewed the basic protective measure of wearing masks. On Wednesday, he attended a campaign rally. Thursday, even after White House officials knew that close aide Hope Hicks was likely infected, he attended a private fundraiser. His campaign did not inform Biden’s team they may have been exposed to the virus, according to PBS.
Yuriko Koike, the governor of Tokyo, said Trump’s diagnosis reminded her “of how widely masks are worn in Japan,” The Associated Press reported. Japan, with a population of 126 million, has lost 1,580 citizens to COVID-19. The U.S., with a population 2.5 times larger, has recorded 207,000 deaths.
Other observers were less restrained. The Australian satire website the Betoota Advocate posted a story claiming the Trump family had caused greater community transmission than the entire population of the Australian state of Queensland, AP noted.
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If Trump’s condition worsens, it could lead to global chaos and disengagement from the U.S., one expert predicted.
“There are a lot of concerns around the world at the moment … foreign leaders have to be worried about the capacity of our commander-in-chief and whether he would cede control to Mike Pence if he is unable to govern,” Brett Bruen, the director for global engagement at the White House from 2013 to 2015, told HuffPost.
The news comes amid multiple international crises that Washington is doing little to address, Bruen noted, including the escalating conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and concerns in Europe over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suspected role in poisoning a top political opponent and shoring up a dictator in Belarus. It also makes it harder for those responsible for explaining America to the world and sustaining its foreign relations, already contending with a collapse in the country’s global reputation because of the coronavirus catastrophe and international anxiety over Trump’s attacks on the integrity of the November election.
“American diplomats will try and project calm. They are bound to emphasize that our institutions and laws remain strong,” Bruen said. “Yet this comes after an embarrassing performance by President Trump during the debate, which has raised further questions as to the state and strength of our democracy.”
Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a former ambassador who served in the foreign service for 30 years, said U.S. representatives could use the opportunity to note the contagiousness of the coronavirus and the importance of remaining vigilant until a vaccine is distributed.
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“I’d expect our diplomats to add something along the lines of, ‘We’ve seen highly responsible behavior and highly irresponsible behavior around the world. He isn’t the first leader to get the virus and he likely won’t be the last ... Once the president recovers fully, hopefully he’ll make these points — and his own experience will add resonance to his words,’” Abercrombie-Winstanley continued.
But there were already indications that Trump’s diagnosis could actually make his administration’s coronavirus response worse. On “Fox & Friends,” a television show the president frequently promotes, co-host Brian Kilmeade said a Trump recovery from the virus could send a message that “you can say whatever you want with stats and graphs,” but perhaps it’s less serious than thought.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who shares many of Trump’s nativist and quasi-authoritarian qualities, successfully battled the virus over the summer. He has since doubled down on skepticism of measures to control what he calls “a small flu,” saying no Brazilians would be required to be vaccinated against it.
Should Trump and his allies keep downplaying the coronavirus to make him appear strong and distract from the pandemic’s sweeping effects on the U.S., they would be adding to the torrent of disinformation and confusion that’s already had deadly consequences for Americans, including those who fell ill after taking risky, unproven treatments on Trump’s recommendation.
Falsehoods about Trump’s illness quickly began circulating. On Twitter, 4Chan, Reddit and Facebook, users were casting doubt on the news of the president’s diagnosis, Britain’s New Statesman noted.
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National security officials warned that U.S. adversaries like Iran and North Korea could try to tap that doubt and disorientation to influence Americans in the sensitive pre-election period, further polarizing the country the way Russian interference did in 2016.
“Our enemies will see us in a vulnerable state,” former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos told Politico.
Analysts can track and attempt to counter those messages. But it’s particularly hard for them to deny reports that contain a kernel of truth, often the crucial element in luring readers and viewers down rabbit-holes of untrue or manipulated information.
“The coronavirus continues to spread, even as Trump has tried desperately to suggest it no longer poses a danger,” the state-run Chinese outlet China Daily tweeted.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Contact Tracers Waited On Names Of Trump Fundraiser Guests Who Had Already Scattered

New Jersey contact tracers did not have a complete list of the names of those who attended a Bedminster fundraiser Thursday with President Donald Trump , just hours before his COVID-19 diagnosis , until at least Friday afternoon , 24 hours after the event , HuffPost has learned .
But asked if the state had a list of everyone who attended — not just donors , but outside vendors and members of the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster staff — a senior aide to Murphy said Friday afternoon that the state was still waiting for the full roster , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RNC , the White House and the golf club .
The aide said all three were being “ cooperative.
” On Friday night , the state confirmed it had all the names .
“ We have received the information , and contact tracing has begun , ” the spokesperson , who asked to remain unnamed , said .
Murphy noted Friday night that , “ as far as we know , folks are cooperating , and we need them to.
” His campaign had emailed the attendees by about noon Friday to urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began to experience COVID-19 symptoms .
But his team reportedly neglected to alert Democratic nominee Joe Biden ’ s campaign of his diagnosis ; Biden officials said they learned about it through media reports .
Trump and Biden shared a stage on Tuesday night for their first presidential debate .
Biden said he has tested negative for COVID-19 .
“ Met the President @ realdonaldtrump of the United States today , ” Dawson captioned an Instagram photo of himself and Workman , both mask-free , indoors at the event .
In subsequent Instagram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves taking a private plane to Phoenix .
At one point , Dawson appeared to be in very close proximity to two pilots in the cockpit , at least one of whom was not wearing a mask .
On Friday afternoon , more than 12 hours after news broke of Trump ’ s positive diagnosis , Dawson and Workman each posted a series of Instagram Stories of themselves touring a building under construction in Arizona together , where at least one other person was present .
No one was wearing a mask .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stifling a sneeze , claimed in comments on his Instagram post that he and Workman had already tested negative for COVID-19 .
But getting tested within 24 hours of potential exposure to the virus is unlikely to yield accurate results , according to MIT Medical — a concern Murphy also emphasized in his remarks urging people to immediately isolate themselves .
Later in the day , Dawson appeared on social media to be at an indoor business conference in Scottsdale , where few or no participants wore masks or practiced social distancing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ HuffPost ’ s requests for comment via phone call , text message or email .
In interviews with the New Jersey Globe , three people who attended Trump ’ s fundraiser in Bedminster also claimed that they would get tested Friday , but said they do not intend to self-quarantine until they receive their test results .
In social media footage from Workman , Dawson and political activist Charlie Kolean , multiple people could be seen gathered outside the Bedminster golf club without masks , including the three of them .
After it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves driving through Times Square and elsewhere in Manhattan , briefly exiting their vehicle to take photos in front of the Charging Bull statue on Wall Street and to walk around .
Trump ’ s diagnosis was not yet public ; Kolean declined to comment on the record .
Virtually everyone who attended Thursday ’ s fundraiser is by now probably already aware of Trump ’ s diagnosis .
But contact tracers do more than alert people when they have been exposed to COVID-19 .
They provide accurate medical information about testing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close contacts , making lists of who attended the Trump event crucial .
Spokespeople for the White House and the Trump National golf course did not respond to questions about their efforts to help with contact tracing .
An RNC spokesperson said “ every guest was at least six feet from the president at all times , ” but did not respond to the question about whether it had provided the guests ’ names to contact tracers .
Attendees told the New Jersey Globe that the more crowded portion of Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roundtable and photo-op with the president was held indoors .
Sixteen donors attended the roundtable , which reportedly cost $ 250,000 per head .
But a separate report by the Washington Post said Trump met with “ dozens ” of supporters at the roundtable .
The Trump National Golf Club was slated to host a large annual tournament known as the Gentleman ’ s Invitational , the Globe reported , which involves more than 180 golfers and at least two people who attended the Thursday fundraiser with the president : golf pro Mickie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schutzenhofer .

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New Jersey contact tracers did not have a complete list of the names of those who attended a Bedminster fundraiser Thursday with President Donald Trump, just hours before his COVID-19 diagnosis, until at least Friday afternoon, 24 hours after the event, HuffPost has learned.
The Republican National Committee sent the names of those it knew had attended to the office of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) at 2:30 p.m. Friday, a spokesperson for the RNC said.
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But asked if the state had a list of everyone who attended — not just donors, but outside vendors and members of the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster staff — a senior aide to Murphy said Friday afternoon that the state was still waiting for the full roster, which it was compiling from information from the RNC, the White House and the golf club.
The aide said all three were being “cooperative.” On Friday night, the state confirmed it had all the names. “We have received the information, and contact tracing has begun,” the spokesperson, who asked to remain unnamed, said. Murphy noted Friday night that, “as far as we know, folks are cooperating, and we need them to.”
Trump reportedly came into contact with 100 people at the fundraiser and seemed “lethargic,” a common symptom of the novel coronavirus.
His campaign had emailed the attendees by about noon Friday to urged them to contact a doctor if they began to experience COVID-19 symptoms. But his team reportedly neglected to alert Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s campaign of his diagnosis; Biden officials said they learned about it through media reports. Trump and Biden shared a stage on Tuesday night for their first presidential debate. Biden said he has tested negative for COVID-19.
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At least a few people who attended Trump’s Bedminster fundraiser are disregarding pleas to self-quarantine, HuffPost has found, and appear to be in public settings with other people without wearing masks.
Brandon Dawson, the CEO and founder of the Washington-based firm Audigy Group, and his fiancée, Natalie Workman, were both guests at the fundraiser.
“Met the President @realdonaldtrump of the United States today,” Dawson captioned an Instagram photo of himself and Workman, both mask-free, indoors at the event. In subsequent Instagram Stories on Thursday, the pair documented themselves taking a private plane to Phoenix. At one point, Dawson appeared to be in very close proximity to two pilots in the cockpit, at least one of whom was not wearing a mask.
On Friday afternoon, more than 12 hours after news broke of Trump’s positive diagnosis, Dawson and Workman each posted a series of Instagram Stories of themselves touring a building under construction in Arizona together, where at least one other person was present. No one was wearing a mask.
Dawson, who joked on video about stifling a sneeze, claimed in comments on his Instagram post that he and Workman had already tested negative for COVID-19. But getting tested within 24 hours of potential exposure to the virus is unlikely to yield accurate results, according to MIT Medical — a concern Murphy also emphasized in his remarks urging people to immediately isolate themselves.
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Later in the day, Dawson appeared on social media to be at an indoor business conference in Scottsdale, where few or no participants wore masks or practiced social distancing. He and Workman did not respond to HuffPost’s requests for comment via phone call, text message or email.
In interviews with the New Jersey Globe, three people who attended Trump’s fundraiser in Bedminster also claimed that they would get tested Friday, but said they do not intend to self-quarantine until they receive their test results.
In social media footage from Workman, Dawson and political activist Charlie Kolean, multiple people could be seen gathered outside the Bedminster golf club without masks, including the three of them. After it ended, Kolean and another attendee filmed themselves driving through Times Square and elsewhere in Manhattan, briefly exiting their vehicle to take photos in front of the Charging Bull statue on Wall Street and to walk around. Trump’s diagnosis was not yet public; Kolean declined to comment on the record.
Virtually everyone who attended Thursday’s fundraiser is by now probably already aware of Trump’s diagnosis. But contact tracers do more than alert people when they have been exposed to COVID-19. They provide accurate medical information about testing and quarantining, and they may call other close contacts, making lists of who attended the Trump event crucial.
Spokespeople for the White House and the Trump National golf course did not respond to questions about their efforts to help with contact tracing. An RNC spokesperson said “every guest was at least six feet from the president at all times,” but did not respond to the question about whether it had provided the guests’ names to contact tracers.
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The senior official for Murphy projected confidence in the state’s ability to carry out contact tracing for everyone who was at the event.
Saying the state has had a tracing program in place for several months, he added, “Within minutes of us seeing the news, we started the contact tracing process.”
Local and county officials run contact tracing in New Jersey, with help from the state as needed.
It is not clear how many supporters Trump spent time with indoors, where the coronavirus is more likely to spread, versus outdoors.
Attendees told the New Jersey Globe that the more crowded portion of Trump’s fundraiser was held outdoors, but a roundtable and photo-op with the president was held indoors. Sixteen donors attended the roundtable, which reportedly cost $250,000 per head. But a separate report by the Washington Post said Trump met with “dozens” of supporters at the roundtable.
The Trump National Golf Club was slated to host a large annual tournament known as the Gentleman’s Invitational, the Globe reported, which involves more than 180 golfers and at least two people who attended the Thursday fundraiser with the president: golf pro Mickie Gallagher III and club general manager David Schutzenhofer.
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Schutzenhofer, whom HuffPost reached by phone, declined to answer any questions about Thursday night’s event or the tournament scheduled for Friday.
Travis Waldron contributed reporting.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--What We Know About Trump Contracting The Coronavirus

The White House has provided few details about the president ’ s diagnosis , leading to rampant online speculation and the potential for misinformation to spread .
The complete list of who Trump has been in contact with over the past week remains unknown , and questions are swirling about the implications of this news for the presidential election , which is only 32 days away .
It is unclear exactly when Trump started showing symptoms , which can appear up to two weeks after exposure to the virus .
Trump currently has cold-like symptoms , according to one person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with The New York Times .
Was Amy Coney Barrett exposed ?
Will this delay her confirmation ?
Was any other White House staff exposed ?
Trump had a busy week of travel , fundraisers and rallies before his announcement on Friday .
He came into close contact with multiple staffers , often in enclosed spaces and without a mask , leaving them at risk of exposure to the virus .
Multiple White House officials have announced that they are being tested or have received Covid-19 tests , and there are ongoing updates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Trump associates that have been in recent contact with the president and what we know about their status : It is unclear who else the president came into close contact with during the past week , which included a fundraiser on Thursday at his golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey .
What happens to the rest of the debates ?
It is unclear how Trump ’ s announcement will affect the remaining two presidential debates , which are scheduled for Oct. 15 and Oct. 29 .
People who become sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-isolate for a period of 14 days ― which in Trump ’ s case would extend past the Oct. 15 debate .
Can we trust the White House about Trump ’ s medical status ?
The lack of details around Trump ’ s medical status and his late night announcement have fueled rampant speculation and conspiracy theories .
Misinformation tends to thrive when there are gaps in knowledge around news events , and while there are questions about White House transparency surrounding Trump ’ s health there is no evidence that it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The White House does have a responsibility to keep the public informed about the health of the president .
It is not uncommon for governments to downplay concerns about the health of their leaders .
In the United Kingdom , government officials initially assured the public that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in fairly good health and only exhibiting mild symptoms .
Privately , officials had more serious concerns , however , and Johnson eventually required time in an intensive care unit to recover .

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President Donald Trump announced early Friday that both he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus, and that they will currently self-isolate.
The White House has provided few details about the president’s diagnosis, leading to rampant online speculation and the potential for misinformation to spread. The complete list of who Trump has been in contact with over the past week remains unknown, and questions are swirling about the implications of this news for the presidential election, which is only 32 days away.
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Here is what we know so far.
Is the president showing symptoms?
Trump is showing mild symptoms, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters on Friday. Melania Trump tweeted that she has mild symptoms as well.
It is unclear exactly when Trump started showing symptoms, which can appear up to two weeks after exposure to the virus. Trump currently has cold-like symptoms, according to one person with knowledge of the situation who spoke with The New York Times.
Was Biden exposed?
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced Friday that he and his wife, Jill Biden, had tested negative for COVID-19.
On Tuesday, the former vice president and Trump shared a stage for 90 minutes at the presidential debate, standing roughly 9 feet apart. Debate moderator Chris Wallace also announced on Friday that he will be tested for the virus.
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Was Amy Coney Barrett exposed? Will this delay her confirmation?
Amy Coney Barrett, Trump’s latest Supreme Court nominee, tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday, according to the White House.
Barrett met with the president on Saturday at the White House following his nomination, and is currently set for a confirmation hearing on Oct. 12.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted on Friday that it would be “full steam ahead” with Barrett’s nomination process.
Was any other White House staff exposed?
Trump had a busy week of travel, fundraisers and rallies before his announcement on Friday. He came into close contact with multiple staffers, often in enclosed spaces and without a mask, leaving them at risk of exposure to the virus. Multiple White House officials have announced that they are being tested or have received Covid-19 tests, and there are ongoing updates about their results.
Here are some of the Trump associates that have been in recent contact with the president and what we know about their status:
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Senior adviser Hope Hicks tested positive for the virus on Thursday. Trump tweeted about Hicks’ testing positive on Thursday night, just hours before releasing his statement that he had contracted COVID-19.
Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence announced on Friday that they have tested negative for COVID-19.
for COVID-19. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett has tested negative , according to the White House.
, according to the White House. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have both tested negative.
Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, has tested negative.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has tested negative.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has tested negative .
. Attorney General William Barr has tested negative .
. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has tested negative .
. Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani is awaiting results.
It is unclear who else the president came into close contact with during the past week, which included a fundraiser on Thursday at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.
What happens to the rest of the debates?
It is unclear how Trump’s announcement will affect the remaining two presidential debates, which are scheduled for Oct. 15 and Oct. 29. People who become sick with the coronavirus are generally required to self-isolate for a period of 14 days ― which in Trump’s case would extend past the Oct. 15 debate.
The Commission on Presidential Debates, an independent body, had not released any statements regarding the situation as of Friday morning.
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Can we trust the White House about Trump’s medical status?
The lack of details around Trump’s medical status and his late night announcement have fueled rampant speculation and conspiracy theories. Misinformation tends to thrive when there are gaps in knowledge around news events, and while there are questions about White House transparency surrounding Trump’s health there is no evidence that it is a hoax or otherwise politically motivated stunt.
The White House does have a responsibility to keep the public informed about the health of the president. It is not uncommon for governments to downplay concerns about the health of their leaders. In the United Kingdom, government officials initially assured the public that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in fairly good health and only exhibiting mild symptoms. Privately, officials had more serious concerns, however, and Johnson eventually required time in an intensive care unit to recover.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--17 GOP Congressmen Vote No On Resolution Condemning QAnon

Jeff Swensen via Getty Images A woman holds up a QAnon sign to the media as attendees wait for President Donald Trump to speak at a Sept. 22 campaign rally at Atlantic Aviation in Moon Township , Pennsylvania .
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution Friday condemning the far-right conspiracy movement QAnon , yet 17 white Republican men and one independent voted no on the measure , demonstrating the sway of the movement — which the FBI considers a potential domestic terrorism threat — over a significant portion of the GOP .
The resolution , which passed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August by Rep. Tom Malinowski ( D-N.J. ) and Rep. Denver Riggleman ( R-Va. ) in response to an alarming rise in QAnon ’ s popularity .
It “ condemns QAnon and rejects the conspiracy theories it promotes , ” encourages federal law enforcement agencies to focus on the movement and calls on intelligence agencies to investigate “ any foreign support , assistance or online amplification QAnon receives.
” The text of the resolution amounts to a withering takedown of the QAnon phenomenon , which is an ever-evolving collection of pro-Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to message boards by an anonymous poster known as “ Q ” who claims to be a senior government official with inside knowledge of a globalist cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles waging war against the president .
( 1 ) a man arrested in 2018 for plotting to plant a bomb in the Illinois Capitol rotunda to make Americans aware of the “ Pizzagate ” conspiracy theory ; ( 2 ) a man arrested in 2018 for using an armored car to block traffic on the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge ; ( 3 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for vandalizing a Catholic church ; ( 4 ) a woman in Colorado arrested in 2019 for plotting an armed raid to kidnap her child , who had been taken from her custody ; ( 5 ) a man charged with the murder of an organized crime boss in New York in 2019 ; and ( 6 ) a woman arrested in New York with a car full of knives after posting a video accusing Joe Biden of participating in child sex trafficking and threatening to kill him .
According to BuzzFeed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after “ Q ” named him in a post Tuesday .
The post from Q mentioned the resolution and parroted a false accusation made by the National Republican Campaign Committee that Malinowski has “ lobbied to protect sexual predators.
” Despite the obvious danger the QAnon movement poses , 17 Republicans still decided to vote no on the resolution , which simply asserts the opinion of the House and does not have the effect of law .
Here are their names : Rep. Justin Amash , a Michigan independent who left the Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the resolution .
He defended his vote in a tweet , stating that the “ resolution threatens protected speech ( absurd as that speech may be ) .
” Emily Mayer , political director of IfNotNow , a progressive Jewish American activist group , told HuffPost in a statement that the congressmen had taken “ another step in mainstreaming QAnon , ” which she called “ the same set of age-old , anti-Semitic tropes that have been used against Jews for hundreds of years , just repackaged for the 21st Century.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that prominent Democrats and other elites are harvesting abducted children ’ s blood in order to conduct Satanic rituals , mirroring “ blood libel ” conspiracies that have historically targeted Jews .
Stosh Cotler , CEO of Bend the Arc : Jewish Action , told HuffPost in a statement that it was “ astounding that 17 House Republicans voted against condemning a fundamentally anti-Semitic conspiracy theory just days after President Trump refused to condemn a white supremacist group on the national debate stage.
” Cotler noted that QAnon believers often promote conspiracy theories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ have been used to stir up fear and violence against Jewish people for centuries ― including the Tree of Life massacre in 2018.
” Many in the GOP have often condoned those who follow QAnon or are believers themselves .
Alex Kaplan , a senior researcher at the liberal watchdog group Media Matters , has counted 81 current or former for congressional candidates who say they are QAnon believers , along with 23 for current or former state legislative candidates .
Yet as widespread as the conspiracy theory is among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ QAnon phenomenon were still relieved Friday to see that the resolution had at least passed .

A woman holds up a QAnon sign to the media as attendees wait for President Donald Trump to speak at a Sept. 22 campaign rally at Atlantic Aviation in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Jeff Swensen via Getty Images
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution Friday condemning the far-right conspiracy movement QAnon, yet 17 white Republican men and one independent voted no on the measure, demonstrating the sway of the movement — which the FBI considers a potential domestic terrorism threat — over a significant portion of the GOP.
The resolution, which passed by a vote of 371-18, was introduced in August by Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) and Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) in response to an alarming rise in QAnon’s popularity.
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It “condemns QAnon and rejects the conspiracy theories it promotes,” encourages federal law enforcement agencies to focus on the movement and calls on intelligence agencies to investigate “any foreign support, assistance or online amplification QAnon receives.”
The text of the resolution amounts to a withering takedown of the QAnon phenomenon, which is an ever-evolving collection of pro-Donald Trump conspiracy theories based on cryptic clues posted to message boards by an anonymous poster known as “Q” who claims to be a senior government official with inside knowledge of a globalist cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles waging war against the president.
The resolution lists some of the crimes committed by QAnon believers:
(1) a man arrested in 2018 for plotting to plant a bomb in the Illinois Capitol rotunda to make Americans aware of the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory;
(2) a man arrested in 2018 for using an armored car to block traffic on the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge;
(3) a man in Arizona arrested in 2019 for vandalizing a Catholic church;
(4) a woman in Colorado arrested in 2019 for plotting an armed raid to kidnap her child, who had been taken from her custody;
(5) a man charged with the murder of an organized crime boss in New York in 2019; and
(6) a woman arrested in New York with a car full of knives after posting a video accusing Joe Biden of participating in child sex trafficking and threatening to kill him.
According to BuzzFeed, Malinowski himself received death threats this week after “Q” named him in a post Tuesday. The post from Q mentioned the resolution and parroted a false accusation made by the National Republican Campaign Committee that Malinowski has “lobbied to protect sexual predators.”
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Despite the obvious danger the QAnon movement poses, 17 Republicans still decided to vote no on the resolution, which simply asserts the opinion of the House and does not have the effect of law. Here are their names:
Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas)
Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas)
Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah)
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.)
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas)
Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.)
Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio)
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.)
Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.)
Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas)
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.)
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.)
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa)
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.)
Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.)
Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.)
Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.)
Rep. Justin Amash, a Michigan independent who left the Republican Party in July 2019, also voted against the resolution. He defended his vote in a tweet, stating that the “resolution threatens protected speech (absurd as that speech may be).”
QAnon is a deeply anti-Semitic conspiracy theory, and Jewish groups on Friday expressed anger over the Republican congressmen’s no votes.
Emily Mayer, political director of IfNotNow, a progressive Jewish American activist group, told HuffPost in a statement that the congressmen had taken “another step in mainstreaming QAnon,” which she called “the same set of age-old, anti-Semitic tropes that have been used against Jews for hundreds of years, just repackaged for the 21st Century.”
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“The conspiracy theory is, at its core, a modern-day blood libel,” Mayer said.
Many QAnon followers believe, absurdly, that prominent Democrats and other elites are harvesting abducted children’s blood in order to conduct Satanic rituals, mirroring “blood libel” conspiracies that have historically targeted Jews.
Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, told HuffPost in a statement that it was “astounding that 17 House Republicans voted against condemning a fundamentally anti-Semitic conspiracy theory just days after President Trump refused to condemn a white supremacist group on the national debate stage.”
Cotler noted that QAnon believers often promote conspiracy theories about “shadowy global puppet masters” that “have been used to stir up fear and violence against Jewish people for centuries ― including the Tree of Life massacre in 2018.”
The congressmen’s actions, Cotler added, “will only make Jewish Americans and other communities targeted by white nationalism less safe.”
Many in the GOP have often condoned those who follow QAnon or are believers themselves.
In August, a QAnon believer named Marjorie Taylor Greene won a Republican congressional primary, earning praise from Trump, who called her a “future Republican Star.” (Greene is expected to win in the general election next month.)
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Republican congressional candidate and QAnon conspiracy cultist Marjorie Taylor Greene brandishes an AR-15 assault rifle while defending property against antifa activists who never appeared. YouTube
Alex Kaplan, a senior researcher at the liberal watchdog group Media Matters, has counted 81 current or former for congressional candidates who say they are QAnon believers, along with 23 for current or former state legislative candidates.
Gosar, one of the GOP congressmen who voted no on the resolution Friday, has promoted QAnon-related conspiracies in the past.
Yet as widespread as the conspiracy theory is among the Republican Party, those who study the QAnon phenomenon were still relieved Friday to see that the resolution had at least passed.
“It’s absurd that QAnon has grown to the point that such a resolution is even necessary,” said Travis View, who researches conspiracy theories and hosts the “QAnon Anonymous” podcast.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Recordings Of Grand Jury Deliberations In Cop Shooting Of Breonna Taylor Released

Hours of grand jury recordings in the case of Breonna Taylor , a Black first responder gunned down in her own home by police in Lousiville , Kentucky , were released Friday .
A state judge ruled earlier this week that audio recording of the grand jury presentation would be added to the court ’ s case file .
The 20 hours of recorded deliberations were taped over three days .
At 1 a.m. on March 13 , plainclothes officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department shot Taylor , a 26-year-old Black EMT , to death in her own apartment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been issued a “ no-knock ” drug warrant for the home as part of a drug-dealing investigation .
Taylor ’ s boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , fired at the officers in fear that the apartment was being burglarized , Walker ’ s lawyer said at the time .
Taylor was killed when officers fired back , striking the woman 6 times .
No drugs were found in the home , and neither Taylor nor Walker were the specific targets of the probe .
And a key point in dispute is whether the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the officers and one neighbor said they did , Walker and several neighbors said they heard no knocks or identifying information .
The decision to release deliberations came amid outrage that the three officers involved in Taylor ’ s killing were never charged with manslaughter or homicide .
Instead , Det .
Brett Hankison was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment last week after an investigation found that he had shot through an outside sliding glass door into multiple apartments , including one where a pregnant woman and her child lived .
The charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to five years in prison under Kentucky law .
Adding to the outrage was a claim from an anonymous member of the grand jury earlier this week that Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron ( R ) never asked jury members to consider homicide charges .
Cameron , a protege of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) , said at a news conference following the grand jury ’ s decision last week that he wouldn ’ t be releasing the full grand jury report , citing an ongoing federal investigation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his decision .
The lawyer for the anonymous grand juror , Keven Glogower , said at a news conference Tuesday that his client “ is ‘ aggrieved , ’ to use that term , that what was presented is not being publicly disclosed.
” “ I think ( grand jurors ) were aware ... there were certain questions that were left unanswered , ” Glogower added .
“ It ’ s the accountability and the sense of public trust to make sure that everything that can get out there does and there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t .
”

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Hours of grand jury recordings in the case of Breonna Taylor, a Black first responder gunned down in her own home by police in Lousiville, Kentucky, were released Friday.
A state judge ruled earlier this week that audio recording of the grand jury presentation would be added to the court’s case file. The 20 hours of recorded deliberations were taped over three days.
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At 1 a.m. on March 13, plainclothes officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department shot Taylor, a 26-year-old Black EMT, to death in her own apartment. The shooting occurred after police had been issued a “no-knock” drug warrant for the home as part of a drug-dealing investigation. Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at the officers in fear that the apartment was being burglarized, Walker’s lawyer said at the time. Taylor was killed when officers fired back, striking the woman 6 times.
No drugs were found in the home, and neither Taylor nor Walker were the specific targets of the probe. And a key point in dispute is whether the police knocked and announced themselves before entering; the officers and one neighbor said they did, Walker and several neighbors said they heard no knocks or identifying information.
The decision to release deliberations came amid outrage that the three officers involved in Taylor’s killing were never charged with manslaughter or homicide. Instead, Det. Brett Hankison was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment last week after an investigation found that he had shot through an outside sliding glass door into multiple apartments, including one where a pregnant woman and her child lived. The charge is a felony with a sentence of up to five years in prison under Kentucky law.
Adding to the outrage was a claim from an anonymous member of the grand jury earlier this week that Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R) never asked jury members to consider homicide charges.
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Cameron, a protege of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said at a news conference following the grand jury’s decision last week that he wouldn’t be releasing the full grand jury report, citing an ongoing federal investigation. A Jefferson County Circuit Court judge overruled his decision.
The lawyer for the anonymous grand juror, Keven Glogower, said at a news conference Tuesday that his client “is ‘aggrieved,’ to use that term, that what was presented is not being publicly disclosed.”
“I think (grand jurors) were aware ... there were certain questions that were left unanswered,” Glogower added. “It’s the accountability and the sense of public trust to make sure that everything that can get out there does and there was some concern that maybe it wasn’t.”
The city of Louisville previously reached a $12 million settlement with Taylor’s family over her killing.