thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-11--Don't Expect To See Joe Biden's Papers

Don't Expect To See Joe Biden's Papers

Tara Reade , who served as a staffer to the former vice president when he was in the Senate , says Biden sexually assaulted and harassed her in 1993 .
Biden has repeatedly and forcefully denied the allegations , telling the press to request documentation from the National Archives of a formal complaint she says she made at the time .
So far , though , the search has been fruitless .
The National Archives doesn ’ t keep Senate personnel records , and the Senate itself refuses to give up its HR documents for 50 years after severance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Senate records , but they ’ re closed to the public .
Biden refused in his MSNBC interview denying the allegations to open them up himself , and said they don ’ t contain personnel records .
This raises two questions , which are likely to linger over the next few months as the controversy simmers on .
Does the law offer the public a way to get at these records ?
And if it does , are Biden ’ s Senate papers likely to hold any smoking guns ?
The short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the only way to know for sure is to look .
Delaware ’ s FOIA law exempts universities .
Some Democrats want to change that .
Delaware ’ s Freedom of Information Act , or FOIA , laws exempt most public university records .
Biden donated his Senate papers to the university eight years ago , on the condition that they remain closed to the public until two years after he ’ d left office .
Last year , ahead of the announcement of his presidential bid , that deadline was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ public life.
” Several media outlets , including HuffPost , have already asked the University of Delaware to provide documents relating to Biden ’ s Senate papers , including the agreement that stipulates when the collection becomes public and visitor logs .
A conservative legal group and a political action committee backing President Donald Trump ’ s reelection have taken the request a step further , demanding access to the Biden collection itself under the state ’ s Freedom of Information Act .
On Monday , Reade ’ s lawyer Douglas Wigdor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s papers .
He pointed to the case of a former University of Delaware professor as evidence of the need for reform .
After transferring to San Diego State University , the former professor was accused of sexually harassing four female students .
He asked one student to meet him a hotel while wearing a “ French maid outfit , ” repeatedly asked another out to drinks over the course of 200 text messages even though she was underage , and made a third student feel “ extremely uncomfortable ” when trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to steal a box of wine from a hotel conference room , according to allegations documented by NBC San Diego .
Kowalko described himself as friendly with Biden despite backing Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary .
The Delaware Democrat doubted Biden was capable of perpetrating the allegations Reade accused him of .
But Kowalko still believed the University of Delaware should have to disclose its records “ regardless of what the outcome would be , ” including portions of the Biden collection that might relate to the Reade allegations .
Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former presidents and vice presidents .
Members of Congress , on the other hand , aren ’ t subject to the federal Freedom of Information Act .
And once they leave office , the records they take with them are considered personal property — even if they donate them to a public institution like a university , which is common .
Donor agreements , rather than state or federal law , usually dictate when such collections become public .
( The University of Delaware describes the Biden collection as private property received as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legal and Policy Center , a conservative nonprofit , hopes to dispute that .
The group filed a lengthy Freedom of Information Act Request last week asking the university to disclose any Biden collection documents dating from 1993 that mention Reade .
The request acknowledges the university doesn ’ t have to comply under Delaware law , but asks it to do so voluntarily .
“ I don ’ t think they have much of an argument that these are not records within the control and custody of the university , because in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paul Kamenar said .
“ We intend to take judicial action if they turn us down on this.
” Will the Biden collection settle the dispute ?
Access to Biden ’ s Senate papers would give important insight into Biden ’ s thinking during his three-decade career in the Senate , including on some of his more controversial positions such as his opposition to school busing and his handling of Anita Hill ’ s testimony against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas .
It would , however , be unusual for a former member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the public ― which would also provide potential fodder for their opponents ― in the midst of a White House campaign .
But Biden ’ s Senate records probably won ’ t confirm or disprove Reade ’ s allegations .
Reade herself says she did not discuss her most severe allegation against Biden with his staff at the time , and that she described upsetting behavior without using the term “ sexual harassment ” in the written complaint she says she filed with the Senate personnel office .

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Somewhere, there may be documents that shed light on allegations of sexual harassment and assault leveled by a former aide against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. But if they exist, it will be difficult to unearth them.
Tara Reade, who served as a staffer to the former vice president when he was in the Senate, says Biden sexually assaulted and harassed her in 1993. Biden has repeatedly and forcefully denied the allegations, telling the press to request documentation from the National Archives of a formal complaint she says she made at the time.
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Such a document, if it exists, could help corroborate Reade’s story. It could do the opposite: cast doubt on the allegation. Or it may not include anything relevant at all.
So far, though, the search has been fruitless. The National Archives doesn’t keep Senate personnel records, and the Senate itself refuses to give up its HR documents for 50 years after severance. The University of Delaware has Biden’s Senate records, but they’re closed to the public. Biden refused in his MSNBC interview denying the allegations to open them up himself, and said they don’t contain personnel records.
This raises two questions, which are likely to linger over the next few months as the controversy simmers on. Does the law offer the public a way to get at these records? And if it does, are Biden’s Senate papers likely to hold any smoking guns? The short answer to both questions is probably no. But the only way to know for sure is to look.
Delaware’s FOIA law exempts universities. Some Democrats want to change that.
In this April 4, 2019, photo Tara Reade poses for a photo during an interview with The Associated Press in Nevada City, California. (AP Photo/Donald Thompson) ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, laws exempt most public university records. Biden donated his Senate papers to the university eight years ago, on the condition that they remain closed to the public until two years after he’d left office. Last year, ahead of the announcement of his presidential bid, that deadline was postponed to two years after Biden left “public life.”
Several media outlets, including HuffPost, have already asked the University of Delaware to provide documents relating to Biden’s Senate papers, including the agreement that stipulates when the collection becomes public and visitor logs. A conservative legal group and a political action committee backing President Donald Trump’s reelection have taken the request a step further, demanding access to the Biden collection itself under the state’s Freedom of Information Act. On Monday, Reade’s lawyer Douglas Wigdor sent a letter asking to inspect Biden’s papers.
None of these requests are promising.
The university only has to release documents if they concern financial records, University of Delaware communications director Andrea Boyle Tippet said. The Biden collection was a gift.
Delaware has the “broadest exemption anywhere in the country for records maintained by public universities,” according to Frank LoMonte, the director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information — putting the state in a “very extreme category with only Pennsylvania for company.”
“It’s just bad luck that it’s in Delaware,” LoMonte said. “Pretty much any other state, you’d have a fighting chance.”
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Delaware State Rep. John Kowalko, a Democrat, has tried multiple times to put public universities squarely under the state’s Freedom of Information Act. His most recent bill died last session in committee.
He pointed to the case of a former University of Delaware professor as evidence of the need for reform. After transferring to San Diego State University, the former professor was accused of sexually harassing four female students. He asked one student to meet him a hotel while wearing a “French maid outfit,” repeatedly asked another out to drinks over the course of 200 text messages even though she was underage, and made a third student feel “extremely uncomfortable” when trying to kiss her twice after urging her to steal a box of wine from a hotel conference room, according to allegations documented by NBC San Diego.
But when reporters sought the man’s disciplinary record at the University of Delaware, the university refused to provide it, citing the institution’s carve-out from the FOIA law. California officials later disclosed that he had resigned from the University of Delaware after a student accused him of sexual harassment.
Kowalko described himself as friendly with Biden despite backing Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary. The Delaware Democrat doubted Biden was capable of perpetrating the allegations Reade accused him of. But Kowalko still believed the University of Delaware should have to disclose its records “regardless of what the outcome would be,” including portions of the Biden collection that might relate to the Reade allegations.
“A public institution should not enjoy some kind of privacy exclusion when it’s in the public interest to look at what’s in there,” Kowalko said. “That FOIA exemption should be repealed.”
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Are Biden’s records public?
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks about the coronavirus outbreak at the Hotel Du Pont on March 12 in Wilmington, Delaware. Drew Angerer via Getty Images
Those requests raise a rarely considered hypothetical: Should a politician’s congressional records be considered public once they enter the possession of a university? Historically, the answer to that question is no.
Federal law governs access to the papers of former presidents and vice presidents. Members of Congress, on the other hand, aren’t subject to the federal Freedom of Information Act. And once they leave office, the records they take with them are considered personal property — even if they donate them to a public institution like a university, which is common. Donor agreements, rather than state or federal law, usually dictate when such collections become public. (The University of Delaware describes the Biden collection as private property received as a gift.)
“These are not university records,” said Mark Walsh, a certified archivist who chairs the Advocacy Committee for the National Association for Government Archives and Records Administrations. “They’re a private donation to the university. These are personal papers.”
But the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative nonprofit, hopes to dispute that. The group filed a lengthy Freedom of Information Act Request last week asking the university to disclose any Biden collection documents dating from 1993 that mention Reade. The request acknowledges the university doesn’t have to comply under Delaware law, but asks it to do so voluntarily.
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Whether or not that Hail Mary succeeds, NLPC insists the Biden collection is actually public, pointing to a federal FOIA standard dictating that records become public when they enter the government’s hands, regardless of who created them.
Delaware’s legal definition of a public record includes “information of any kind” that is “owned,” “used,” “retained,” or “received” by an agency.
“I don’t think they have much of an argument that these are not records within the control and custody of the university, because in fact they are,” NLPC lawyer Paul Kamenar said. “We intend to take judicial action if they turn us down on this.”
Will the Biden collection settle the dispute?
Access to Biden’s Senate papers would give important insight into Biden’s thinking during his three-decade career in the Senate, including on some of his more controversial positions such as his opposition to school busing and his handling of Anita Hill’s testimony against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. It would, however, be unusual for a former member of Congress to open up their records to the public ― which would also provide potential fodder for their opponents ― in the midst of a White House campaign.
But Biden’s Senate records probably won’t confirm or disprove Reade’s allegations. Reade herself says she did not discuss her most severe allegation against Biden with his staff at the time, and that she described upsetting behavior without using the term “sexual harassment” in the written complaint she says she filed with the Senate personnel office.
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The most likely possibility is that the papers might contain records of Biden staffers referring to Reade’s sexual harassment allegations or the terms on which she left her job. (Three of Biden’s former Senate staffers told The New York Times they didn’t recall Reade making harassment allegations against their boss.)
Even unearthing that scrap of evidence is unlikely. Historical archives usually don’t contain voluminous personnel files, largely because librarians try to avoid taking them. They view them as business records that offer little interest to historians, but saddle archivists with the job of redacting sensitive information like social security numbers.
“If you imagine for a moment that somehow you could wave a wand and we would know every document that’s in the collection, it’s unlikely that there’s anything pertinent to the Tara Reade matter,” Princeton University Library archivist Daniel Linke said. “As a rule, we don’t want personnel information in these collections.”
“This was the approach before the ‘Me Too’ movement,” Linke added. “Maybe we’ll change our minds about this.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-11--COVID-19 Exposes How Many Unemployment Websites Are Truly Terrible

Each time the 65-year-old disabled North Carolina resident reached the final page of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ( PUA ) application , the website wouldn ’ t let her select “ submit.
” But when she , like many others , contacted the state ’ s Division of Employment Security for help , she reached the same voicemail over and over : All of their lines were busy , no one could talk to her and she would have to try calling back later .
Click .
By her 20th call , someone eventually picked up ― an employee representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ located in a different state .
Diane said the employee seemed almost as confused as she was with the state ’ s online unemployment application for claims involving the coronavirus pandemic .
Diane realized the next day that the employee had filled out her application incorrectly .
She ’ s tried calling back but hasn ’ t been able to get another person on the line again .
“ I ’ m just going to have to keep calling , ” said Diane , who was hesitant to let HuffPost publish her last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her payment .
“ I don ’ t have any other way forward .
This money would have bid me some time to find other solutions , but now I ’ m just stuck calling one day after another.
” “ Advancing your website is expensive , and it ’ s ongoing , ” Harrell said .
“ And for quite a while , the government would fund things like websites in a capital expense model .
You would do it , and it would be done , and you would assume that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on it for a while.
” There are numerous factors that can affect how smoothly a site works .
On the front end , websites should be sleek and easy enough to understand that a user can intuitively know how to move around and access resources .
Meanwhile , websites should be equipped on the back end to have enough surge capacity to handle numerous users at one time and to properly run without glitches .
A year later , the U.S. government experienced one of its earliest , and probably most notorious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2013 , the Obama administration introduced Healthcare.gov to disastrous results .
The Affordable Care Act website featured issues on both the front and back end .
When it crashed within a few hours of its debut , users reported that drop-down menus wouldn ’ t load and that information on the website was inaccurate .
Only six applications were successfully filed through the site on its first day .
“ Before the pandemic , there was already record-low unemployment , ” said the group ’ s unemployment insurance team lead , Reshma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t stressed , and there wasn ’ t a lot of attention needed to the systems .
And then suddenly millions of applications came in , and [ these websites ] became really hard to modify and keep online while under that much stress .
It ’ s just all kinds of chaotic .
”

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As soon as Diane completed her unemployment application, she knew something was wrong.
Each time the 65-year-old disabled North Carolina resident reached the final page of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) application, the website wouldn’t let her select “submit.” But when she, like many others, contacted the state’s Division of Employment Security for help, she reached the same voicemail over and over: All of their lines were busy, no one could talk to her and she would have to try calling back later. Click.
By her 20th call, someone eventually picked up ― an employee representing North Carolina’s call center but located in a different state. Diane said the employee seemed almost as confused as she was with the state’s online unemployment application for claims involving the coronavirus pandemic. Diane realized the next day that the employee had filled out her application incorrectly. She’s tried calling back but hasn’t been able to get another person on the line again.
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“I’m just going to have to keep calling,” said Diane, who was hesitant to let HuffPost publish her last name for fear it would further jeopardize her payment. “I don’t have any other way forward. This money would have bid me some time to find other solutions, but now I’m just stuck calling one day after another.”
Plenty of other unemployment applicants are experiencing technical issues as they try to file. In North Carolina, more than one-fifth of its working population is now unemployed. And across the country, 33 million people have lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic ― a 14.7% unemployment rate.
For those who have been working on the technology behind state unemployment websites, the fact that they’re widely dysfunctional right now is not a surprise.
“Unemployment systems are designed to deal with a few thousand applicants a week,” said Cyd Harrell, a civic designer who has worked as a consultant to state governments who want to create accessible websites. “Now they’re suddenly dealing with hundreds of thousands of people in a heightened state of emergency. It’s important to understand that access and ease aren’t always aligned with government policy.”
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A Structure Built On Rickety Old Architecture
In Florida, thousands of residents discovered that their unemployment applications have been marked ineligible, but the site provided no supporting documentation as to why or information on how to appeal.
Lauren Koff, a 27-year-old resident of Port St. Lucie, Florida, has been calling the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) every day to figure out why she’s ineligible. Koff had been working at a nonprofit until April 6. She’s been furloughed but isn’t sure when she’ll be able to get back to work.
“When I finally got someone on the line, they told me that hundreds of other people had been calling,” Koff said. “They told me it was a possible computer glitch and to just be patient.”
A screenshot of the Florida Department of Employment Opportunity site. myflorida.com
But Koff said it’s hard to remain patient since she’s had to ask relatives to help her cover next month’s mortgage. And Diane, who is already a month behind rent herself, says she’s used up all of her savings.
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“There’s just no hope,” Koff says. “Most of my friends have never been unemployed before or have even had to use this system.”
Harrell, who is the former head of product for the nonprofit tech group Code of America, said that a major contributing factor is funding.
“Advancing your website is expensive, and it’s ongoing,” Harrell said. “And for quite a while, the government would fund things like websites in a capital expense model. You would do it, and it would be done, and you would assume that you didn’t need to work on it for a while.”
There are numerous factors that can affect how smoothly a site works. On the front end, websites should be sleek and easy enough to understand that a user can intuitively know how to move around and access resources. Meanwhile, websites should be equipped on the back end to have enough surge capacity to handle numerous users at one time and to properly run without glitches.
State government websites that were once state-of-the-art have not been updated, while the private sector has enlisted design teams to keep websites from having even the slightest lag in buffering or awkward conversion to mobile.
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Harrell believes that state governments’ bureaucratic process was only compounded by the 2008 recession, which depleted already limited state budgets. By the time she began working in civic design in 2012, as one of the first to specialize in working directly with government entities, usability and design weren’t on anyone’s radar.
“When I started, design wasn’t a big consideration,” Harrell said. “It really wasn’t a big part of the conversation.”
A year later, the U.S. government experienced one of its earliest, and probably most notorious, technical fumbles. On Oct. 1, 2013, the Obama administration introduced Healthcare.gov to disastrous results. The Affordable Care Act website featured issues on both the front and back end. When it crashed within a few hours of its debut, users reported that drop-down menus wouldn’t load and that information on the website was inaccurate. Only six applications were successfully filed through the site on its first day.
In response, tech startups Ad Hoc and Nava were enlisted to fix the website.
“Healthcare.gov instigated public conversation on how technical failure can prevent access to basic services,” said Sha Hwang, the chief operating officer and founder of Nava. “This was a case where the interface and design of the website was actually blocking people from enrolling into health care services.”
Despite that high-profile failure, most state government websites still have not changed. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) made headlines in April when he asked tech programmers fluent in the programming language COBOL to help update the state’s unemployment website. That software reached its peak in the ’90s.
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A screenshot of the login page for New Jersey's unemployment website. New Jersey Department of Labor
Organizations such as the U.S. Digital Response, which provides technical support to federal agencies, has started matching voluntary tech engineers and programmers to states whose websites need the most help to deal with the pandemic.
“Before the pandemic, there was already record-low unemployment,” said the group’s unemployment insurance team lead, Reshma Khilnani. “But the mainframes weren’t stressed, and there wasn’t a lot of attention needed to the systems. And then suddenly millions of applications came in, and [these websites] became really hard to modify and keep online while under that much stress. It’s just all kinds of chaotic.”
Though Khilnani could not reveal which other states are still using COBOL, she could confirm that several still do.
“Modern software development is all about using the cloud or Javascript,” Khilnani says. “None of these are compatible with COBOL, it’s a completely separate universe. ... It’s hard to change, and a lot of states haven’t made that change.”
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The Move to Mobile Usage
State unemployment websites also struggle when it comes to compatibility on smartphones. In a study published in April from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, 86% of state unemployment websites failed at least one benchmark for the speed or user-friendliness of its mobile site.
This is particularly concerning when you consider that Black and Latino Americans are more likely than whites to rely on a smartphone rather than a personal computer.
“It’s frustrating that we haven’t seen improvements that are obtainable,” said Michael McLaughlin, a research analyst and co-author of the study. “Even in the private sectors, their websites are performing much, much better.”
The study found that 45 states were unprepared for increased traffic from COVID-19. Twenty-six sites have reportedly crashed due to a surge in website traffic, and 19 states did not meet accessibility standards for those who are visually impaired or might rely on screen readers.
The results echo a similar study released from ITIF three years ago. It showed that 9 out of 10 government websites failed to meet the benchmark standards each state had outlined.
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“This has been happening for years, every day, to people who don’t have as much political and social capital,” said Harrell. “It’s not just an epidemic problem, and it shouldn’t just be visible when it’s now affecting a large chunk of middle-class people.”
In North Carolina, Diane was eventually approved and received a direct deposit of $600. In Florida, Koff was finally able to get a state representative on the phone a week after initially being marked as ineligible. Her application has now been marked as active and she’s waiting for verification from her employer. She’s even received her first PUA check but is still waiting to hear back about her additional unemployment benefits.
At the very least, it’s given her some peace of mind.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-11--Supreme Court Hears Case Of Teachers Claiming Discrimination From Catholic Schools

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — A case about the appropriate separation between church and state is taking center stage at the Supreme Court , which is hearing arguments by telephone for a second week because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The case involving two ex-Catholic school teachers and their former employers is one of two the court is tackling Monday .
The three days of arguments last week might be considered something of a warm-up , a test of how telephone arguments would work and of making audio of arguments live for the first time .
The stakes are higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-profile fights over President Donald Trump ’ s financial records and whether presidential electors have to cast their Electoral College ballots for the candidate who wins the popular vote in their state .
Those cases will be heard Tuesday and Wednesday .
On Monday , the court is hearing a case involving Kristen Biel and Agnes Morrissey-Berru , both former fifth grade teachers at Catholic schools in California .
Biel taught at St. James Catholic School in Torrance and Morrissey-Berru at Our Lady of Guadalupe in nearby Hermosa Beach .
Morrissey-Berru ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 , when she was in her 60s , after she ’ d taught more than 15 years at the school .
And Biel ’ s contract wasn ’ t renewed after she disclosed she had breast cancer and would need time off .
Both sued their former employers , with Morrissey-Berru alleging age discrimination and Biel alleging disability discrimination .
A lower court said both lawsuits could go forward , but the schools have appealed and have the support of the Trump administration .
The question for the justices is whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of a unanimous 2012 Supreme Court decision that said the Constitution prevents ministers from suing their churches for employment discrimination .
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington , DC , on May 4 , 2020 , during the first day of oral arguments held by telephone , a first in the Court 's history , as a result of COVID-19 , known as coronavirus .
The so-called ministerial exception “ ensures that control over religious functions lies with the church , not the state , to the great benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the court .
The schools argue that both women count as ministers , in part because they taught religion among other subjects .
Lawyers for Morrissey-Berru and Biel disagree .
The other case the justices are hearing arguments in Monday is about whether a large swath of eastern Oklahoma , including most of Tulsa , remains Indian land that belongs to the Muscogee ( Creek ) Nation .
The issue is whether tribal members can be prosecuted in state court for crimes committed on Indian land , and has been heard before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were evenly divided after the first round of arguments involving a Native American man who was convicted of murder .
Justice Neil Gorsuch took no part in that case , because he participated in it at an earlier stage when he was a judge on the federal appeals court in Denver .
But he will participate in Monday ’ s arguments involving a convicted child molester , who also is a member of the Creek Nation .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A case about the appropriate separation between church and state is taking center stage at the Supreme Court, which is hearing arguments by telephone for a second week because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The case involving two ex-Catholic school teachers and their former employers is one of two the court is tackling Monday. The three days of arguments last week might be considered something of a warm-up, a test of how telephone arguments would work and of making audio of arguments live for the first time.
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The stakes are higher later this week when the cases include high-profile fights over President Donald Trump’s financial records and whether presidential electors have to cast their Electoral College ballots for the candidate who wins the popular vote in their state. Those cases will be heard Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Monday, the court is hearing a case involving Kristen Biel and Agnes Morrissey-Berru, both former fifth grade teachers at Catholic schools in California. Biel taught at St. James Catholic School in Torrance and Morrissey-Berru at Our Lady of Guadalupe in nearby Hermosa Beach. Morrissey-Berru’s teaching contract wasn’t renewed in 2015, when she was in her 60s, after she’d taught more than 15 years at the school. And Biel’s contract wasn’t renewed after she disclosed she had breast cancer and would need time off.
Both sued their former employers, with Morrissey-Berru alleging age discrimination and Biel alleging disability discrimination. A lower court said both lawsuits could go forward, but the schools have appealed and have the support of the Trump administration.
The question for the justices is whether the schools are exempt from being sued as a result of a unanimous 2012 Supreme Court decision that said the Constitution prevents ministers from suing their churches for employment discrimination.
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The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2020, during the first day of oral arguments held by telephone, a first in the Court's history, as a result of COVID-19, known as coronavirus. SAUL LOEB via Getty Images
The so-called ministerial exception “ensures that control over religious functions lies with the church, not the state, to the great benefit of both,” the schools have told the court. The schools argue that both women count as ministers, in part because they taught religion among other subjects. Lawyers for Morrissey-Berru and Biel disagree.
Biel died last year at age 54 after a five-year battle with breast cancer. Her husband has pursued the case in her place.
The other case the justices are hearing arguments in Monday is about whether a large swath of eastern Oklahoma, including most of Tulsa, remains Indian land that belongs to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The issue is whether tribal members can be prosecuted in state court for crimes committed on Indian land, and has been heard before the court before.
Eight justices apparently were evenly divided after the first round of arguments involving a Native American man who was convicted of murder. Justice Neil Gorsuch took no part in that case, because he participated in it at an earlier stage when he was a judge on the federal appeals court in Denver. But he will participate in Monday’s arguments involving a convicted child molester, who also is a member of the Creek Nation.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-11--Michigan GOP Stonewalls Banning Guns In State Capitol After Militia 'Intimidation'

Paul Sancya/ASSOCIATED PRESS A protester carries his rifle at the state Capitol in Lansing , Michigan , on April 30 , 2020 .
Hoisting U.S. flags and handmade signs , protesters denounced Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer 's stay-at-home order and business restrictions amid the pandemic .
Late last month , private militiamen carrying high-capacity , semi-automatic rifles shouted from the Michigan State Capitol galleries while lawmakers on the floor below debated an extension of the stay-at-home order issued by Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ( D ) to curb the coronavirus pandemic .
At least one state representative wore a bulletproof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislature and the Michigan State Capitol Commission — the two entities that could enact a ban — and neither appears willing to act .
On Monday morning , the commission , which manages the state Capitol building , decided against voting immediately on a firearms ban .
Four of the six commission members effectively answer to GOP legislative leaders , while Whitmer appointed the other two .
Instead , the commission formed a subcommittee to “ study the issue , ” but set no timeline for action .
They did so just days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has been planned by conservative groups .
Angry Michiganders on social media have promised violence and “ bloodshed ” at the demonstration and threatened to assassinate Whitmer .
“ Plain and simple she needs to eat lead and send a statement to the rest of the democrats that they are next , ” one person wrote on a Facebook page called People of Michigan vs. Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .
“ Wonder how long till she ’ s hit with a shotgun blast , ” another wrote , while one said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they hope Thursday ’ s protesters are “ armed to the teeth ” because “ Voting is too late.
” Democratic state Sen. Mallory McMorrow told HuffPost that she appreciates that the Michigan State Capitol Commission is considering the issue , but said there are “ open threats of violence and death ” and there is “ no time ” for a delay .
The commission ’ s legal consultant , Amy Shaw , who is also a GOP political operative , argued ― in what was essentially a speech filled with political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make cosmetic improvements to the state Capitol and lacks the power to ban weapons .
“ The concept of ‘ open carry ’ in Michigan law does not provide the unfettered right to bring firearms into any public space , ” the attorney general said in a Friday letter to the commission .
She added that allowing “ assault weapons ” in the Capitol building during an emotional debate creates “ an absurdly dangerous situation that would cause the heart of any security expert to skip a beat.
” The commission ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is “ ridiculous , ” Nessel said in a phone interview with HuffPost following the panel ’ s Monday meeting .
The attorney general ’ s formal opinions are binding on state departments and agencies , she noted , and her opinion “ clearly illustrated ” why the commission has the authority to ban guns .
Though the state Capitol allows visitors to carry guns , it prohibits signs in a rule that Commissioner Kerry Chartkoff noted at the meeting is designed to shield the historic structure from damage and to protect people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questioned the sense in banning signs but not guns .
Michigan is among a small number of states that don ’ t prohibit firearms in their legislative chambers .
Randall said he looked at how other states enacted bans and found they did it via legislation , an administrative rule or a governor ’ s executive order .
Gun rights advocates bring weapons into Michigan ’ s state Capitol during annual Second Amendment marches , but last month ’ s show of force during the stay-at-home order debate appeared to be unprecedented .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ D ) called it a threat to legislators and the democratic process .
The commissioners who failed to act on Monday should be removed , he added .
“ I believe that this is a direct threat to the civic fabric of our country , and if they fail to act then it ’ s an unraveling of that fabric , ” Rabhi said .
“ There are going to be protesters who will come next week and they will be here with guns because the commission has failed to act.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said in reference to the stay-at-home orders .
“ All of our freedoms have been stomped on in Michigan .
That ’ s what people should be afraid of .
Not law-abiding citizens carrying guns .
”

A protester carries his rifle at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 30, 2020. Hoisting U.S. flags and handmade signs, protesters denounced Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order and business restrictions amid the pandemic. Paul Sancya/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Late last month, private militiamen carrying high-capacity, semi-automatic rifles shouted from the Michigan State Capitol galleries while lawmakers on the floor below debated an extension of the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) to curb the coronavirus pandemic. At least one state representative wore a bulletproof vest.
The shocking display of weaponry, which Democratic and some Republican lawmakers characterized as an “intimidation” tactic, sparked a strong push to ban guns at the state legislature in Lansing.
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But Republicans are stonewalling that effort.
The GOP controls both the legislature and the Michigan State Capitol Commission — the two entities that could enact a ban — and neither appears willing to act. On Monday morning, the commission, which manages the state Capitol building, decided against voting immediately on a firearms ban. Four of the six commission members effectively answer to GOP legislative leaders, while Whitmer appointed the other two.
Instead, the commission formed a subcommittee to “study the issue,” but set no timeline for action. They did so just days ahead of another protest of stay-at-home orders that has been planned by conservative groups. Angry Michiganders on social media have promised violence and “bloodshed” at the demonstration and threatened to assassinate Whitmer.
“Plain and simple she needs to eat lead and send a statement to the rest of the democrats that they are next,” one person wrote on a Facebook page called People of Michigan vs. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
“Wonder how long till she’s hit with a shotgun blast,” another wrote, while one said on the Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine page that they hope Thursday’s protesters are “armed to the teeth” because “Voting is too late.”
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Meanwhile, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) said the state is investigating credible threats to state politicians.
“The concept of ‘open carry’ in Michigan law does not provide the unfettered right to bring firearms into any public space.” - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel
Democratic state Sen. Mallory McMorrow told HuffPost that she appreciates that the Michigan State Capitol Commission is considering the issue, but said there are “open threats of violence and death” and there is “no time” for a delay.
“This escalating rhetoric is dangerous and someone’s going to get hurt...or killed,” she said via text message on Monday afternoon.
The commission’s Republican members and the legislature’s GOP leadership claim the commission lacks the authority to ban guns inside the Capitol building, despite a formal opinion from Nessel stating that it can.
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At Monday’s meeting, Commissioner Gary Randall, a GOP appointee who helped create the entity in 2013, said it has “control over upkeep and care” of the Capitol grounds but no authority over firearms.
The commission’s legal consultant, Amy Shaw, who is also a GOP political operative, argued ― in what was essentially a speech filled with political commentary ― that the commission exists to make cosmetic improvements to the state Capitol and lacks the power to ban weapons.
“The commission does not set public policy — the legislature does,” she said.
Michigan law, however, prohibits guns in places like airports and day care centers. In her formal opinion, Nessel cited nonlegislative bans on guns in the state’s court systems and some schools.
“The concept of ‘open carry’ in Michigan law does not provide the unfettered right to bring firearms into any public space,” the attorney general said in a Friday letter to the commission. She added that allowing “assault weapons” in the Capitol building during an emotional debate creates “an absurdly dangerous situation that would cause the heart of any security expert to skip a beat.”
The commission’s claim that it lacks the relevant authority is “ridiculous,” Nessel said in a phone interview with HuffPost following the panel’s Monday meeting. The attorney general’s formal opinions are binding on state departments and agencies, she noted, and her opinion “clearly illustrated” why the commission has the authority to ban guns.
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“This was them kicking the can down the road,” Nessel said. “They aren’t taking the attorney general’s formal opinion, so I don’t know whose advice they’re taking on this.”
Though the state Capitol allows visitors to carry guns, it prohibits signs in a rule that Commissioner Kerry Chartkoff noted at the meeting is designed to shield the historic structure from damage and to protect people from being hit with signs. She questioned the sense in banning signs but not guns.
Michigan is among a small number of states that don’t prohibit firearms in their legislative chambers. Randall said he looked at how other states enacted bans and found they did it via legislation, an administrative rule or a governor’s executive order.
Gun rights advocates bring weapons into Michigan’s state Capitol during annual Second Amendment marches, but last month’s show of force during the stay-at-home order debate appeared to be unprecedented. House Minority Floor Leader Yousef Rabhi (D) called it a threat to legislators and the democratic process. The commissioners who failed to act on Monday should be removed, he added.
“I believe that this is a direct threat to the civic fabric of our country, and if they fail to act then it’s an unraveling of that fabric,” Rabhi said. “There are going to be protesters who will come next week and they will be here with guns because the commission has failed to act.”
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But Meshawn Maddock, who runs the Michigan Conservative Coalition, said it’s “absolutely ridiculous” for people to perceive the protesters as a threat. She noted that her husband, state Rep. Matt Maddock (R), regularly carries a gun on the House floor.
“We should be more afraid of tyranny,” she said in reference to the stay-at-home orders. “All of our freedoms have been stomped on in Michigan. That’s what people should be afraid of. Not law-abiding citizens carrying guns.”
Monday’s meeting, which was held via Zoom video conference, was shut down early after the commission started receiving threats from suspected gun rights activists.
Rabhi noted the irony. “That’s exactly why we need to ban guns in the legislature,” he said.
Nessel said the state will have a heavy police presence at the Capitol going forward.
“We can’t allow the state Capitol to be a sanctuary for crime,” the attorney general said. “You don’t get to come to the state Capitol and do whatever you want, whenever you want, however you want.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-11--Most Voters Don't Think Sexual Assault Is Disqualifying For A Presidential Candidate

Just 29 % of voters , the survey finds , say that if former Senate aide Tara Reade ’ s allegation against former Vice President Joe Biden is true , it would disqualify him from the presidency ― 43 % say it would be relevant but not disqualifying , 16 % that it wouldn ’ t be relevant to the election , and the rest that they ’ re unsure .
A slightly higher 36 % of voters say that the multiple allegations against President Donald Trump , if true , are disqualifying , with 35 % calling them relevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the rest unsure .
( The order in which the questions about Biden and Trump were asked was rotated for different respondents . )
Underlying those numbers is a somewhat muted partisan divide .
Republican and Republican-leaning voters don ’ t see it as a death knell for either candidate ― 32 % say it would be disqualifying for Biden , and just 12 % that it would be for Trump .
A modest 55 % majority of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters say the allegations against Trump , if true , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying the same of the allegation against Biden .
Their reactions to Trump suggest a shift within the party since the fall of 2016 .
Back then , about three-quarters of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters said the allegations against Trump , if true , disqualified him .
“ And when you ’ re a star , they let you do it , ” Trump said on the tape .
“ You can do anything .
Grab ’ em by the pussy .
You can do anything.
” Trump and his campaign dismissed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump later said he would sue the women who had accused him of sexual assault , but he never followed through on the threat .
In March , Reade accused Biden of kissing her and penetrating her with his fingers without her consent in a Senate hallway in 1993 , when she was a staff assistant in his office .
She had previously come forward in April 2019 to say that Biden had sexually harassed and inappropriately touched her .
“ It never happened , ” Biden said on Friday morning during an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe , ” around the same time he released a statement suggesting “ responsible news organizations should examine and evaluate the full and growing record of inconsistencies in her story.
” Four in 10 voters now say they ’ ve heard at least a little about Reade ’ s allegation against Biden , up from 21 % in a poll taken at the end of April .
About one-third of voters say they consider the allegation generally credible , with one-quarter saying it is not credible and the rest that they haven ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure .
Just 13 % of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters say they find the accusation credible , with 41 % calling it not credible and the rest giving no opinion either way .
A majority of voters , 56 % , say they ’ ve heard a lot about the accusations of sexual harassment and sexual assault that women have made against Trump .
About half say those allegations are credible , with 22 % not finding them credible , and the rest not having heard enough or unsure .
Just 17 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusations credible , with 46 % saying they are not credible and the rest undecided .
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov survey , using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups .
HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls .
You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov ’ s nationally representative opinion polling .
More details on the polls ’ methodology are available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of error that represents some but not all potential survey errors .
YouGov ’ s reports include a model-based margin of error , which rests on a specific set of statistical assumptions about the selected sample rather than the standard methodology for random probability sampling .
If these assumptions are wrong , the model-based margin of error may also be inaccurate .

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Most voters say that allegations of sexual assault against this year’s presumed presidential nominees, even if true, would not be disqualifying, a new HuffPost/YouGov survey finds.
Just 29% of voters, the survey finds, say that if former Senate aide Tara Reade’s allegation against former Vice President Joe Biden is true, it would disqualify him from the presidency ― 43% say it would be relevant but not disqualifying, 16% that it wouldn’t be relevant to the election, and the rest that they’re unsure. A slightly higher 36% of voters say that the multiple allegations against President Donald Trump, if true, are disqualifying, with 35% calling them relevant but not disqualifying, 21% irrelevant, and the rest unsure. (The order in which the questions about Biden and Trump were asked was rotated for different respondents.)
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3dfoto via Getty Images
Underlying those numbers is a somewhat muted partisan divide. Republican and Republican-leaning voters don’t see it as a death knell for either candidate ― 32% say it would be disqualifying for Biden, and just 12% that it would be for Trump.
A modest 55% majority of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters say the allegations against Trump, if true, are disqualifying, with just 23% saying the same of the allegation against Biden. Their reactions to Trump suggest a shift within the party since the fall of 2016. Back then, about three-quarters of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters said the allegations against Trump, if true, disqualified him.
Two dozen women have accused Trump of some form of sexual misconduct. An audio recording of a 2005 Trump appearance on “Access Hollywood” leaked shortly before the 2016 presidential election captured him boasting about sexually assaulting women.
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“And when you’re a star, they let you do it,” Trump said on the tape. “You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.”
Trump and his campaign dismissed the recording as “locker room talk.” Trump later said he would sue the women who had accused him of sexual assault, but he never followed through on the threat.
In March, Reade accused Biden of kissing her and penetrating her with his fingers without her consent in a Senate hallway in 1993, when she was a staff assistant in his office. She had previously come forward in April 2019 to say that Biden had sexually harassed and inappropriately touched her.
People who were top Biden aides in 1993 have said they never heard of the accusation, despite Reade’s insistence she had informed them. Biden has steadfastly denied assaulting Reade.
“It never happened,” Biden said on Friday morning during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” around the same time he released a statement suggesting “responsible news organizations should examine and evaluate the full and growing record of inconsistencies in her story.”
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The poll was conducted after Biden’s Morning Joe interview. Reade’s first on-air interview, with former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, took place during the fielding of the poll.
Four in 10 voters now say they’ve heard at least a little about Reade’s allegation against Biden, up from 21% in a poll taken at the end of April. About one-third of voters say they consider the allegation generally credible, with one-quarter saying it is not credible and the rest that they haven’t heard enough or aren’t sure. Just 13% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters say they find the accusation credible, with 41% calling it not credible and the rest giving no opinion either way.
A majority of voters, 56%, say they’ve heard a lot about the accusations of sexual harassment and sexual assault that women have made against Trump. About half say those allegations are credible, with 22% not finding them credible, and the rest not having heard enough or unsure. Just 17% of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters find the accusations credible, with 46% saying they are not credible and the rest undecided.
Overall, voters say by a narrow 5-percentage-point margin, 39% to 34%, that Biden respects women, and by a 23-point margin, 56% to 33%, that Trump does not.
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov survey, using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups.
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The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted May 6-8 among U.S. adults, including 769 registered voters, using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population.
HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov’s nationally representative opinion polling. More details on the polls’ methodology are available here.
Most surveys report a margin of error that represents some but not all potential survey errors. YouGov’s reports include a model-based margin of error, which rests on a specific set of statistical assumptions about the selected sample rather than the standard methodology for random probability sampling. If these assumptions are wrong, the model-based margin of error may also be inaccurate.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-12--Mitch McConnell: ‘Classless’ Obama ‘Should’ve Kept His Mouth Shut’ About Trump

And he called Obama “ classless ” for criticizing Trump ’ s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic , which has so far claimed more than 80,000 lives in the U.S .
In a private call last week with former members of his administration , Obama called Trump ’ s handling of the matter “ an absolute chaotic disaster.
” He also warned that “ the rule of law is at risk ” after Trump ’ s Justice Department dropped charges against former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn .
“ I think President Obama should ’ ve kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview with Lara Trump , who is the president ’ s daughter-in-law and an adviser to his reelection campaign .
“ I think it ’ s a little bit classless , frankly , to critique an administration that comes after you , ” he said .
“ You had your shot .
You were there for eight years.
” However , in recent weeks they ’ ve each taken a few public swipes at the other .
Without mentioning Trump , Obama last month called out the lack of “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” And in March ― again without mentioning Trump ― Obama warned of “ the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic.
” However , he could not provide any details of the alleged crime , saying only that it ’ s “ very obvious to everybody.
” Trump has also repeatedly blamed his administration ’ s failure to respond quickly to the crisis on Obama , claiming his predecessor left behind “ bad , broken tests.
” McConnell has his own history with Obama .
In 2010 , he declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Republicans was to make Obama a one-term president .
And last year , he bragged about blocking Obama ’ s judicial nominees , then laughed about it .
Users on Twitter called McConnell out for telling a former president of the United States ― and the nation ’ s first Black president ― to keep his mouth shut : You know what ’ s “ classless ” ?
Saying the former President of the United States — a grown , free , American man with every right do as he pleases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep his mouth shut.
”  @ senatemajldr McConnell should remember his manners .
https : //t.co/pYP4zFF1pN — Joy Reid ( @ JoyAnnReid ) May 12 , 2020 Interesting how @ senatemajldr and others in the @ gop are all for freedom of speech until it 's exercised by the former first black president of the United States .
Then they 're deeply offended .
What 's classless now ?
https : //t.co/FvcOyCRakj — Tracy Hahn-Burkett ( @ THahnBurkett ) May 12 , 2020 I have way too many black friends to not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his mouth shut '' than to ignore this .
Holy fucking shit , @ senatemajldr .
You 're a ride or die kind of guy , huh ?
https : //t.co/MMWQ40w2cj — David Binkowski ( @ dbinkowski ) May 12 , 2020 For McConnell : Trump claiming Obama was an illegitimate President was fine and dandy Trump suggesting Obama engaged in high treason is a campaign theme to embrace Obama suggesting that a pandemic response that has left 80K ( and counting ) dead has been chaotic is classless .
https : //t.co/LNyym7bZXW @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 12 , 2020

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) thinks former President Barack Obama should’ve “kept his mouth shut” about President Donald Trump since leaving office.
And he called Obama “classless” for criticizing Trump’s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, which has so far claimed more than 80,000 lives in the U.S.
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In a private call last week with former members of his administration, Obama called Trump’s handling of the matter “an absolute chaotic disaster,” as reported by Michael Isikoff of Yahoo News. Obama also warned that “the rule of law is at risk” after Trump’s Justice Department dropped charges against former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn.
McConnell believes Obama shouldn’t have said anything.
“I think President Obama should’ve kept his mouth shut,” he said in an interview with Lara Trump, who is the president’s daughter-in-law and an adviser to his reelection campaign.
“I think it’s a little bit classless, frankly, to critique an administration that comes after you,” he said. “You had your shot. You were there for eight years.”
Sen. Mitch McConnell: "President Obama should've kept his mouth shut... It's a little bit classless, frankly, to critique an administration that comes after you. You had your shot." https://t.co/9jamjiGV0P pic.twitter.com/bj3EQhLKd9 — The Hill (@thehill) May 12, 2020
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Obama was initially largely silent on Trump.
However, in recent weeks they’ve each taken a few public swipes at the other.
Without mentioning Trump, Obama last month called out the lack of “a coherent national plan to navigate this pandemic.” And in March ― again without mentioning Trump ― Obama warned of “the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic.”
Trump has been more direct, accusing Obama of the “biggest political crime in American history.”
However, he could not provide any details of the alleged crime, saying only that it’s “very obvious to everybody.”
Trump has also repeatedly blamed his administration’s failure to respond quickly to the crisis on Obama, claiming his predecessor left behind “bad, broken tests.”
COVID-19 didn’t exist until nearly three years after Obama left office.
McConnell has his own history with Obama. In 2010, he declared the “single most important thing” for Republicans was to make Obama a one-term president. And last year, he bragged about blocking Obama’s judicial nominees, then laughed about it.
Users on Twitter called McConnell out for telling a former president of the United States ― and the nation’s first Black president ― to keep his mouth shut:
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You know what’s “classless”?Saying the former President of the United States — a grown, free, American man with every right do as he pleases and say what he wants, should “keep his mouth shut.” @senatemajldr McConnell should remember his manners. https://t.co/pYP4zFF1pN — Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) May 12, 2020
I’d say Moscow Mitch McConnell stealing a SCOTUS seat, blocking Obama’s warning about Russia’s attacks, helping a Russian Oligarch more than Americans, blocking election security bills, delaying pandemic relief to have a 4 day weekend with pervert Kavanaugh is pretty classless. — Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) May 12, 2020
OMG! Let me simply exhale or find that calm app.
McConnell: Obama 'should have kept his mouth shut' on Trump's coronavirus response https://t.co/9Dp0J7fVpk — Donna Brazile (@donnabrazile) May 12, 2020
Interesting how @senatemajldr and others in the @gop are all for freedom of speech until it's exercised by the former first black president of the United States. Then they're deeply offended.
What's classless now? https://t.co/FvcOyCRakj — Tracy Hahn-Burkett (@THahnBurkett) May 12, 2020
McConnell is cool with Trump blaming Obama for “broken tests” for a disease that didn’t exist until 2019, but if Obama criticizes Trump then he’s “classless.” https://t.co/JxWzqwF2yu — Eric Columbus (@EricColumbus) May 12, 2020
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I have way too many black friends to not see the racism in the "kept his mouth shut" than to ignore this. Holy fucking shit, @senatemajldr . You're a ride or die kind of guy, huh? https://t.co/MMWQ40w2cj — David Binkowski (@dbinkowski) May 12, 2020
For McConnell:
Trump claiming Obama was an illegitimate President was fine and dandy
Trump suggesting Obama engaged in high treason is a campaign theme to embrace
Obama suggesting that a pandemic response that has left 80K (and counting) dead has been chaotic is classless. https://t.co/LNyym7bZXW — Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) May 12, 2020
So like McConnell to tell a Black man to shut his mouth and call him classless. https://t.co/neDvqCqKUe — Wesley Whistle (@WesleyWhistle) May 12, 2020
“Classless” he says. If you ever wonder whether McConnell is on the level, just read this again. https://t.co/GfigTOSewz — Ian Bassin (@ianbassin) May 12, 2020
McConnell calling Obama ‘classless’ is huge fodder for late-night comics. And your moment of Zen. https://t.co/fjYzX7abHc — Jeff Stein (@SpyTalker) May 12, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-12--Fauci Reportedly To Warn Senate Of ‘Needless Suffering And Death’ If U.S. Reopens Too Soon

Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , plans to warn lawmakers on Tuesday that the country could face “ needless suffering and death ” should the American economy reopen too soon , according to an email exchange with The New York Times .
“ The major message that I wish to convey to the Senate [ Health , Education , Labor and Pensions ] committee tomorrow is the danger of trying to open the country prematurely , ” Fauci wrote to the Times ’ Sheryl Gay Stolberg on Monday evening .
“ If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk the danger of multiple outbreaks throughout the country.
” He added that reopening too soon “ would actually set us back on our quest to return to normal ” since the rise of the coronavirus pandemic .
Fauci will testify before lawmakers on the health committee for the first time since the pandemic was declared a national emergency in March .
He will be joined by Robert Redfield , the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Stephen Hahn , commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for health at the Department of Health and Human Services .
The comments to the Times on Monday are a stark departure from White House talking points that have been pushed by President Donald Trump and some Republican lawmakers .
The president has cheered states that have gone forward with relaxing stay-at-home orders even if they haven ’ t met guidelines laid out in a three-phase plan released by the White House called “ Opening Up America Again.
” At the same time , infections around the nation have continued to surge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 80,000 have died of the virus Fauci has regularly urged caution as the nation has suffered the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic , warning of catastrophic consequences should the nation return to normal unless a bevy of safety measures are adopted and the level of infections stabilizes .
The doctor himself is in a “ modified quarantine ” after coming in contact with a White House staffer who was diagnosed with COVID-19 .
The nation ’ s top medical officials have also warned that the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon , even though Trump has suggested it could disappear even without a vaccine .

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Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, warned lawmakers on Tuesday that the country could face dire consequences should the American economy reopen too soon, as he previously told The New York Times in an email exchange.
“The major message that I wish to convey to the Senate [Health, Education, Labor and Pensions] committee tomorrow is the danger of trying to open the country prematurely,” Fauci wrote to the Times’ Sheryl Gay Stolberg on Monday evening. “If we skip over the checkpoints … then we risk the danger of multiple outbreaks throughout the country.”
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He added that reopening too soon “would actually set us back on our quest to return to normal” since the rise of the coronavirus pandemic.
Full Fauci email message to me: pic.twitter.com/yq8IAa9f8g — Sheryl Gay Stolberg (@SherylNYT) May 12, 2020
Fauci testified before lawmakers on the health committee for the first time since the pandemic was declared a national emergency in March. He was joined by Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and Adm. Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services.
His comments to the Times represented a stark departure from White House talking points that have been pushed by President Donald Trump and some Republican lawmakers. The president has cheered states that have gone forward with relaxing stay-at-home orders even if they haven’t met guidelines laid out in a three-phase plan released by the White House called “Opening Up America Again.”
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At the same time, infections around the nation have continued to surge. More than 1.3 million people have now tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 80,000 have died of the virus
Fauci has regularly urged caution as the nation has suffered the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic, warning of catastrophic consequences should the nation return to normal unless a bevy of safety measures are adopted and the level of infections stabilizes.
The doctor himself is in a “modified quarantine” after coming in contact with a White House staffer who was diagnosed with COVID-19.
The nation’s top medical officials have also warned that the coronavirus is not going to go away anytime soon, even though Trump has suggested it could disappear even without a vaccine.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-11--Trump Shredded On Twitter For 'Meltdown' Before Bailing From Press Conference

President Donald Trump trended for all the wrong reasons Monday after an already tense press briefing came to an abrupt end .
The president hastily concluded and departed his coronavirus press conference following altercations with two female reporters , CBS ’ s Weijia Jiang and CNN ’ s Kaitlan Collins .
Jiang , who is Asian American , had asked why Trump chooses to praise the U.S. response to the pandemic and treat it as though it were a “ global competition ” when so many Americans are still dying and falling ill. “ Well , they ’ re losing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And maybe that ’ s a question you should ask China , ” Trump responded .
“ Don ’ t ask me .
Ask China that question , OK ?
” When Jiang asked , “ Sir , why are you saying that to me specifically ?
” Trump declared her question “ nasty ” and cut her off .
Collins , whom Trump had called on next , approached the microphone as Jiang tried to repeat her question , but then the president stopped her from asking her own question and called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to be allowed her turn , the president ended the briefing and left .
Trump has clashed with both women previously and has often disparaged female reporters asking unfavorable questions as being “ nasty ” to him .
Earlier in the briefing , when a reporter asked him to name the crime he was accusing former President Barack Obama of in a tweet on Sunday , Trump failed to name a crime but instead riffed that “ the crime is very obvious to everybody.
” And before the briefing began , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rose Garden declaring that “ America leads the world in testing ” faced criticism .
Racism , an incomprehensible conspiracy theory , and a tantrum in which he storms off , all in a minute and a half .
This is our president .
https : //t.co/qAvYuMkDhf — German Lopez ( @ germanrlopez ) May 11 , 2020 Another day , another flailing , erratic , scapegoating dumpster-fire news conference from the incompetent Liar-in-Chief .
# TrumpMeltdown It 's not China .
It 's not Obama .
It 's you who keeps screwing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President would own it & try to do better .
https : //t.co/hVNvn8mzPU — Eric Swalwell ( @ ericswalwell ) May 12 , 2020 I updated the banners .
We 're # 1 in testing , Covid-19 cases , AND deaths .
Next time can we do more testing BEFORE all of the dying ?
@ realDonaldTrump # TrumpMeltdown pic.twitter.com/VhogZL5Tts — Sally Dowell ( @ saldowell ) May 11 , 2020

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President Donald Trump trended for all the wrong reasons Monday after an already tense press briefing came to an abrupt end.
The president hastily concluded and departed his coronavirus press conference following altercations with two female reporters, CBS’s Weijia Jiang and CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. Jiang, who is Asian American, had asked why Trump chooses to praise the U.S. response to the pandemic and treat it as though it were a “global competition” when so many Americans are still dying and falling ill.
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“Well, they’re losing their lives everywhere in the world. And maybe that’s a question you should ask China,” Trump responded. “Don’t ask me. Ask China that question, OK?”
When Jiang asked, “Sir, why are you saying that to me specifically?” Trump declared her question “nasty” and cut her off. Collins, whom Trump had called on next, approached the microphone as Jiang tried to repeat her question, but then the president stopped her from asking her own question and called on someone else. When Collins pressed him to be allowed her turn, the president ended the briefing and left.
Trump has clashed with both women previously and has often disparaged female reporters asking unfavorable questions as being “nasty” to him.
Earlier in the briefing, when a reporter asked him to name the crime he was accusing former President Barack Obama of in a tweet on Sunday, Trump failed to name a crime but instead riffed that “the crime is very obvious to everybody.”
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And before the briefing began, the misleading, laudatory banners hanging in the Rose Garden declaring that “America leads the world in testing” faced criticism.
The hashtag TrumpMeltdown skyrocketed up Twitter’s trending topics following the briefing’s contentious finale.
Racism, an incomprehensible conspiracy theory, and a tantrum in which he storms off, all in a minute and a half. This is our president. https://t.co/qAvYuMkDhf — German Lopez (@germanrlopez) May 11, 2020
When a rat is backed into a corner it scurries away. #TrumpMeltdown https://t.co/syHoFbnlqF — Jerry Avenaim (@avenaim) May 11, 2020
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Another day, another flailing, erratic, scapegoating dumpster-fire news conference from the incompetent Liar-in-Chief. #TrumpMeltdown
It's not China. It's not Obama. It's you who keeps screwing up, @realDonaldTrump. A real President would own it & try to do better. https://t.co/hVNvn8mzPU — Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) May 12, 2020
Dude, FoxNews cut it off before the end. Cspan kept the feed going. pic.twitter.com/8fl0Vuscu0 — KevinlyFather 🇺🇲🇨🇦🇲🇼🇸🇿 (@KevinlyFather) May 11, 2020
Millions of women watch this and think, “I divorced that.” https://t.co/8OFdAL5w3m — Connie Schultz (@ConnieSchultz) May 11, 2020
This is like bragging about having the most lifeboats 3 months after the Titanic sank. https://t.co/UWbRziPdXq — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) May 11, 2020
I updated the banners. We're #1 in testing, Covid-19 cases, AND deaths. Next time can we do more testing BEFORE all of the dying? @realDonaldTrump #TrumpMeltdown pic.twitter.com/VhogZL5Tts — Sally Dowell (@saldowell) May 11, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-12--Chris Cuomo Hits Trump’s Coronavirus Claims With A Blunt Reality Check

President Donald Trump on Monday said the nation has “ met the moment and we have prevailed ” when it comes to coronavirus testing .
Banners at the White House even declared that “ America leads the world in testing , ” but CNN ’ s Chris Cuomo wasn ’ t buying it .
“ Why are governors today begging the president for money to test and trace ?
” he asked .
“ The only thing that we have the most of in this world is deaths when it comes to COVID.
” Indeed , the United States has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , passing 80,000 on Monday .
And when it comes to testing , America is well below a number of nations on a per capita basis , including Denmark , Italy , New Zealand , Germany and Canada .
Cuomo warned Trump that this was “ no time to pretend ” as none of the states reopening had the capacity to test and trace those who may be ill to stop new outbreaks .
And he called out the president for his shifting rhetoric on testing .
See more of his monologue below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pretend .
We have not met the moment .
We have not prevailed on testing , ” says @ chriscuomo , refuting President Trump ’ s claim of victory against the virus .
“ None of the states that have re-opened , none , has the capacity to test and trace the way they need to.
” pic.twitter.com/jsI3Lomx7F — Cuomo Prime Time ( @ CuomoPrimeTime ) May 12 , 2020

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President Donald Trump on Monday said the nation has “met the moment and we have prevailed” when it comes to coronavirus testing.
Banners at the White House even declared that “America leads the world in testing,” but CNN’s Chris Cuomo wasn’t buying it.
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“Why are governors today begging the president for money to test and trace?” he asked. “The only thing that we have the most of in this world is deaths when it comes to COVID.”
Indeed, the United States has the highest death toll from the infection, passing 80,000 on Monday. And when it comes to testing, America is well below a number of nations on a per capita basis, including Denmark, Italy, New Zealand, Germany and Canada.
Cuomo warned Trump that this was “no time to pretend” as none of the states reopening had the capacity to test and trace those who may be ill to stop new outbreaks. And he called out the president for his shifting rhetoric on testing.
See more of his monologue below:
“There’s no time to pretend. We have not met the moment. We have not prevailed on testing,” says @chriscuomo, refuting President Trump’s claim of victory against the virus.
“None of the states that have re-opened, none, has the capacity to test and trace the way they need to.” pic.twitter.com/jsI3Lomx7F — Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) May 12, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-12--Joe Biden Attack Ad Nails What Donald Trump 'Doesn’t Understand’ About Coronavirus Pandemic

Joe Biden ’ s campaign team pointed out what President Donald Trump just “ doesn ’ t understand ” about @ @ @ @ @ new attack ad .
Trump ’ s botched response to the public health crisis that @ @ @ @ @ than 81,000 people nationwide is laid stunningly bare in the spot that the presumptive Democratic @ @ @ @ @ released this week .
The video directly links Trump ’ s weeks of dithering over @ @ @ @ @ in deaths and unemployment .
Donald Trump doesn ’ t understand : We have an @ @ @ @ @ a public health crisis , and we have a public health crisis because he refused @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t build a great economy .
His failure to lead destroyed one .
@ @ @ @ @ ad here : Donald Trump just does n't understand : We have an economic crisis @ @ @ @ @ health crisis — and we have a public health crisis because he failed to act @ @ @ @ @ ( @ JoeBiden ) May 11 , 2020

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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-11--Trump Rails About 'Obamagate,' But Won't Explain What It Is At Press Briefing

President Donald Trump tweeted the single word “ Obamagate ” on Sunday .
On Monday , he refused to explain what it meant or what accusation he is making against his predecessor .
“ Mr .
President , in one of your Mother ’ s Day tweets , you appeared to accuse President Obama of the biggest political crime in American history , ” he noted .
“ What crime exactly are you accusing President Obama of committing , and do you believe the Department of Justice should prosecute him ?
” Trump responded : “ Obamagate .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time ... from before I even got elected .
It ’ s a disgrace that it happened ...
Some terrible things happened , and it should never be allowed to happen in our country again.
” Trump : “ You know what the crime is .
The crime is very obvious to everybody .
All you have to do is read the newspapers — except yours.
” .
@ PhilipRucker : You appeared to accuse Obama of a crime yesterday .
What did he do ?
TRUMP : `` Obamagate . ''
RUCKER @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` You know what the crime is .
The crime is very obvious to everybody . ''
pic.twitter.com/EUueidNwGp — Aaron Rupar ( @ atrupar ) May 11 , 2020 “ Obamagate ” trended on Twitter Sunday after Trump ’ s tweet , with many responding with single words like “ BLEACH !
” “ SHARPIEGATE !
” and “ PATHETIC !
” Trump ’ s Twitter attack included a retweet of a fringe , right-wing podcast claiming that Obama somehow tried to “ sabotage ” the new administration — a theme many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially in the wake of Attorney General William Barr ’ s controversial ― and widely criticized ― move to drop charges against ousted Trump ’ s short-lived national security adviser , Michael Flynn .
Trump ’ s targeting of Obama on Sunday came after the former president , in leaked comments to former aides , characterized his successor ’ s handling of the nation ’ s coronavirus crisis as an “ absolute chaotic disaster.
” Obama also ripped Barr ’ s actions in the Flynn case an “ assault on the rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty to lying to the FBI about secret talks with former Russian ambassador to the U.S. and reputed spymaster Sergey Kislyak during the interim between Trump ’ s election and his inauguration .
The talks occurred after the Kremlin had interfered in the 2016 presidential election , U.S. intelligence determined , and the Obama administration was imposing sanctions on Russia .
Someone pleading guilty to perjury and then getting off “ scot-frees [ is ] the kind of stuff where you begin to get worried that ... our basic understanding of rule of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a tape of his phone call .
“ And when you start moving in those directions , it can accelerate pretty quickly .
”

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President Donald Trump tweeted the single word “Obamagate” on Sunday. On Monday, he refused to explain what it meant or what accusation he is making against his predecessor.
Washington Post reporter Philip Rucker asked Trump about the term at a press briefing.
“Mr. President, in one of your Mother’s Day tweets, you appeared to accuse President Obama of the biggest political crime in American history,” he noted. “What crime exactly are you accusing President Obama of committing, and do you believe the Department of Justice should prosecute him?”
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Trump responded: “Obamagate. It’s been going for on a long time ... from before I even got elected. It’s a disgrace that it happened ... Some terrible things happened, and it should never be allowed to happen in our country again.”
Rucker: “What is the crime exactly?“
Trump: “You know what the crime is. The crime is very obvious to everybody. All you have to do is read the newspapers — except yours.”
.@PhilipRucker: You appeared to accuse Obama of a crime yesterday. What did he do?
TRUMP: "Obamagate."
RUCKER: What is the crime?
TRUMP: "You know what the crime is. The crime is very obvious to everybody." pic.twitter.com/EUueidNwGp — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2020
“Obamagate” trended on Twitter Sunday after Trump’s tweet, with many responding with single words like “BLEACH!” “SHARPIEGATE!” and “PATHETIC!”
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OBAMAGATE! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2020
Trump’s targeting of Obama on Sunday came after the former president, in leaked comments to former aides, characterized his successor’s handling of the nation’s coronavirus crisis as an “absolute chaotic disaster.”
Obama also ripped Barr’s actions in the Flynn case an “assault on the rule of law.”
Flynn had already pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about secret talks with former Russian ambassador to the U.S. and reputed spymaster Sergey Kislyak during the interim between Trump’s election and his inauguration. The talks occurred after the Kremlin had interfered in the 2016 presidential election, U.S. intelligence determined, and the Obama administration was imposing sanctions on Russia.
Someone pleading guilty to perjury and then getting off “scot-frees [is] the kind of stuff where you begin to get worried that ... our basic understanding of rule of law is at risk,” Obama said in a tape of his phone call. “And when you start moving in those directions, it can accelerate pretty quickly.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-12--Longtime Lindsey Graham Donor Reveals Why He’s Now Supporting Democratic Rival

Wilkerson is the former head of Michelin ’ s North America unit , which is based in South Carolina .
While he has contributed to Graham ’ s campaign for years , last month he endorsed Harrison .
Graham , he wrote , was once a moderate Republican who could reach across the aisle to get results .
“ But I started having real misgivings about him when he failed to mount any significant defense when Donald Trump attacked his best friend , the late Sen. John McCain , ” Wilkerson wrote .
Trump has insulted the veteran Arizona senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alive and after he died of cancer in 2018 .
While on the campaign trail in 2015 , Trump famously mocked McCain ’ s POW status , saying : “ I like people who weren ’ t captured.
” After McCain died , Trump resisted lowering the flag at the White House in his honor , said he was “ never a fan ” of the senator and complained he didn ’ t get thanked for the funeral .
“ I asked myself , ‘ What is the character of a man who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If he won ’ t defend John McCain , why would I expect him to defend any of us in South Carolina ?
’ My conclusion was that he was more interested in currying favor than in honoring the memory of a true American hero whom he had described as his best friend .
I was extremely disappointed.
” Wilkerson admitted that Graham used to criticize Trump , but now he blindly defends the president and any notion of him as a moderate has vanished .
Wilkerson also noted that Graham supported changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealthy while giving only a “ small benefit to working people.
” And he slammed the senator for trying to block money for people struggling financially due to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ These two actions tell me who is important to him and I do not agree with his direction , ” Wilkerson wrote .
Wilkerson concluded that Harrison could be the candidate who could reach across the aisle to “ work effectively with people from both parties.
” Wilkerson has donated more than $ 10,000 to Graham since 2011 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He even served on the South Carolina finance committee of Graham ’ s brief campaign for president in 2015 .
While Graham retains a polling edge , Harrison has outraised him this year , bringing in $ 7.36 million over the first three months versus $ 5.6 million for Graham .
That haul caused the Cook Political Report to downgrade Graham ’ s seat from “ Solid Republican ” to “ Likely Republican.
” One unnamed GOP operative told the website that Harrison was “ a very dangerous candidate to Sen. Graham @ @

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A former top donor to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is revealing why he’s switched sides and is now endorsing Democratic challenger, Jaime Harrison.
“I no longer recognized him as the man I once supported,” Richard Wilkerson wrote in the Greenville News.
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Wilkerson is the former head of Michelin’s North America unit, which is based in South Carolina. While he has contributed to Graham’s campaign for years, last month he endorsed Harrison.
Graham, he wrote, was once a moderate Republican who could reach across the aisle to get results.
“But I started having real misgivings about him when he failed to mount any significant defense when Donald Trump attacked his best friend, the late Sen. John McCain,” Wilkerson wrote.
Wilkerson said Graham flunked the character test by not defending McCain more staunchly:
“I asked myself, ‘What is the character of a man who will not defend his best friend? If he won’t defend John McCain, why would I expect him to defend any of us in South Carolina?’ My conclusion was that he was more interested in currying favor than in honoring the memory of a true American hero whom he had described as his best friend. I was extremely disappointed.”
Wilkerson admitted that Graham used to criticize Trump, but now he blindly defends the president and any notion of him as a moderate has vanished.
Wilkerson also noted that Graham supported changes to the tax law that helped the wealthy while giving only a “small benefit to working people.” And he slammed the senator for trying to block money for people struggling financially due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“These two actions tell me who is important to him and I do not agree with his direction,” Wilkerson wrote.
Wilkerson concluded that Harrison could be the candidate who could reach across the aisle to “work effectively with people from both parties.”
Wilkerson has donated more than $10,000 to Graham since 2011, the Charleston Post and Courier reported last month. He even served on the South Carolina finance committee of Graham’s brief campaign for president in 2015.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-12--Twitter Users ‘Fix’ Donald Trump’s Coronavirus Briefing Banners

The banners at President Donald Trump ’ s abruptly-ended press briefing on the coronavirus pandemic were given a scathing reworking on social media .
The signs on display in the White House Rose Garden on Monday boasted that “ America Leads The World In Testing ” for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
While the U.S. has conducted more tests than any other country ( upwards of 9.6 million ) , it still languishes in around 40th place worldwide for the number of tests as a percentage of the population .
Twitter users edited ― or “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the signs to note what the United States is actually leading the world in , and that ’ s the number of deaths from the disease .
So far , it ’ s killed more than 81,000 people nationwide .
Others noted how the U.S. leads the confirmed coronavirus case count , with upwards of 1.3 million positive diagnoses .
I updated the banners .
We 're # 1 in testing , Covid-19 cases , AND deaths .
Next time can we do more testing BEFORE all of the dying ?
@ realDonaldTrump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saldowell ) May 11 , 2020 When you put up a banner , the @ WhiteHouse should expect to get this .
pic.twitter.com/ti3KNz1HRa — Paul McGraw ( @ socalmcgraw ) May 11 , 2020 Watch the # trumpnewsconference .
He turned the White House into a huckster-like Trump University prop .
Giant Banners are hanging , tables with brochures .
# trumppresser pic.twitter.com/nDXGndLg4h — ScanMyPhotos.com® 😷STAY HEALTHY , STAY AT HOME ( @ ScanMyPhotos ) May 11 , 2020

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Social media users scathingly reworked the boastful banners displayed at the coronavirus press briefing President Donald Trump ended abruptly on Monday.
The props for Trump’s appearance in the White House Rose Garden crowed that “America Leads The World In Testing” for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
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Trump, who has been criticized for his administration’s inaction and testing failures, has been trying to rewrite the blunderous history with falsehoods and distortions.
President Donald Trump at a press briefing at the White House on Monday. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
The U.S. has conducted more tests than any other country, but many other countries have administered more tests per capita. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
The U.S. has indeed conducted more tests than any other country (upward of 9.6 million), but languishes in around 40th place worldwide for the number of tests completed per capita.
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Twitter users edited ― or “fixed,” as some said ― the signs to note that the United States is actually leading the world in the number of deaths from the disease. So far, it has killed about 81,000 people nationwide.
Others noted that the U.S. leads in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, with upward of 1.3 million positive diagnoses.
Bold new coronavirus messaging from the Trump White House pic.twitter.com/Uh9kS66kLW — Adam Blickstein (@AdamBlickstein) May 11, 2020
I updated the banners. We're #1 in testing, Covid-19 cases, AND deaths. Next time can we do more testing BEFORE all of the dying? @realDonaldTrump #TrumpMeltdown pic.twitter.com/VhogZL5Tts — Sally Dowell (@saldowell) May 11, 2020
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New banner hanging from White House. pic.twitter.com/BUFWuvBvGo — Hondo Resists (@HondoResists) May 11, 2020
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When you put up a banner, the @WhiteHouse should expect to get this. pic.twitter.com/ti3KNz1HRa — Paul McGraw (@socalmcgraw) May 11, 2020
Watch the #trumpnewsconference. He turned the White House into a huckster-like Trump University prop. Giant Banners are hanging, tables with brochures. #trumppresser pic.twitter.com/nDXGndLg4h — ScanMyPhotos.com® 😷STAY HEALTHY, STAY AT HOME (@ScanMyPhotos) May 11, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-11--2,000 Former Justice Officials Demand William Barr Resign Over Michael Flynn Case

The letter also calls on Congress to formally censure Barr for manipulating the law to do the president ’ s “ personal bidding rather than acting in the public interest.
” The striking response by attorneys who have served in both Democratic and Republican administrations was triggered by Barr ’ s move last week to drop federal charges against Flynn .
Flynn had already pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his secret talks with former Russian ambassador and reputed spymaster Sergey Kislyak after Trump won office .
The talks were ongoing after the Kremlin interfered in the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were suspicions of possible payback from Trump officials to the Russians who wanted Obama administration sanctions dropped .
The letter urges the judge in charge of Flynn ’ s case , U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan , to “ take a long , hard look at the government ’ s explanation and the evidence ” before agreeing to drop the case as Barr uses his power “ to further President Trump ’ s personal and political interests.
” “ The Department ’ s action is extraordinarily rare , if not unprecedented , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of us , or anyone reading this statement who is not a friend of the President , were to lie to federal investigators in the course of a properly predicated counterintelligence investigation , and admit we did so under oath , we would be prosecuted for it.
” It concludes : “ Our democracy depends on a Department of Justice that acts as an independent arbiter of equal justice , not as an arm of the president ’ s political apparatus .
”

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The letter also calls on Congress to formally censure Barr for manipulating the law to do the president’s “personal bidding rather than acting in the public interest.”
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The striking response by attorneys who have served in both Democratic and Republican administrations was triggered by Barr’s move last week to drop federal charges against Flynn. Flynn had already pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his secret talks with former Russian ambassador and reputed spymaster Sergey Kislyak after Trump won office. The talks were ongoing after the Kremlin interfered in the election, U.S. intelligence investigators determined. There were suspicions of possible payback from Trump officials to the Russians who wanted Obama administration sanctions dropped.
The letter urges the judge in charge of Flynn’s case, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan, to “take a long, hard look at the government’s explanation and the evidence” before agreeing to drop the case as Barr uses his power “to further President Trump’s personal and political interests.”
“The Department’s action is extraordinarily rare, if not unprecedented,” the letter declares. “If any of us, or anyone reading this statement who is not a friend of the President, were to lie to federal investigators in the course of a properly predicated counterintelligence investigation, and admit we did so under oath, we would be prosecuted for it.”
It concludes: “Our democracy depends on a Department of Justice that acts as an independent arbiter of equal justice, not as an arm of the president’s political apparatus.”
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