thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-26--Biden: I'd use 'federal leverage' to require mask-wearing in public

Joe Biden said that he would use executive power to try to mandate the wearing of face masks in public if elected president .
`` I would insist that everybody in public be wearing that mask , '' Biden told local Pittsburgh CBS news station KDKA after giving an address on the Affordable Care Act in Lancaster , Pennsylvania .
`` Anyone to reopen , it would have to make sure that they walked into a business that had masks.
” Asked whether Biden `` federal leverage '' to mandate mask-wearing , Biden said , `` Yes , I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would . ''
`` I would do everything possible to make it required the people had to wear masks in public , ” said the former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee .
The pledge came as Biden listed actions he would take as president to combat the spread of the coronavirus .
“ I would go back to making sure that everybody had masks , that you had PPE lined up , making sure we stockpile all the things that we need and we don ’ t have now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen states and the District of Columbia require mask-wearing in public places , with varying levels of strictness and enforcement .
Biden has donned a face covering in public since he started conducting small public outings and events .
His first public appearance since the coronavirus lockdowns started was on Memorial Day , when he and his wife Jill Biden placed a wreath at Veteran 's Memorial Park in Newcastle , Delaware .

Joe Biden said that he would use executive power to try to mandate the wearing of face masks in public if elected president.
"I would insist that everybody in public be wearing that mask," Biden told local Pittsburgh CBS news station KDKA after giving an address on the Affordable Care Act in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. "Anyone to reopen, it would have to make sure that they walked into a business that had masks.”
Asked whether Biden "federal leverage" to mandate mask-wearing, Biden said, "Yes, I would from an executive standpoint. Yes, I would."
"I would do everything possible to make it required the people had to wear masks in public,” said the former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
The pledge came as Biden listed actions he would take as president to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
“I would go back to making sure that everybody had masks, that you had PPE lined up, making sure we stockpile all the things that we need and we don’t have now," Biden said.
At least a dozen states and the District of Columbia require mask-wearing in public places, with varying levels of strictness and enforcement.
Biden has donned a face covering in public since he started conducting small public outings and events. His first public appearance since the coronavirus lockdowns started was on Memorial Day, when he and his wife Jill Biden placed a wreath at Veteran's Memorial Park in Newcastle, Delaware.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-26--DC statehood is about Senate power, not enfranchising voters

The renewed push for Washington , D.C. , to become a state is couched in the language of enfranchising voters , but the primary objective is adding two safe Democratic Senate seats .
Since Washington was granted three electoral votes for the 1964 election , it has voted overwhelmingly for the Democratic candidate .
The closest any Republican has come to winning the city was when Richard Nixon won 49 states in 1972 .
In his landslide victory , he barely topped 21 % in D.C. Democrats have landed over 90 % of the city ’ s voters in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been the target of Democrats since Mitch McConnell blocked Judge Merrick Garland from being appointed to the Supreme Court in 2016 .
Since then , Democrats have complained about the “ undemocratic ” Senate , and they ’ ve been even more frantic in their complaints as McConnell and President Trump have filled the courts with originalist judges .
David Frum was willing to give up the game and say that D.C. statehood isn ’ t really about D.C. , as was David Leonhardt from the New York Times .
Having the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed Democrats to vote down the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court .
In 2017 , it would have allowed them to block Betsy DeVos , who has been one of the most effective members of the Trump administration .
If Democrats were serious about the representation of D.C. residents , then the conversation would be about the retrocession of the city back to Maryland .
Democrats know Republicans will resist D.C. statehood , and this compromise would solve the problem they claim they are fighting — but it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In their desire to centralize government power , Democrats have our federalist system backward .
Rather than view the country as a collection of states who delegate a few select powers to the federal government , they see states only as outposts for the federal government to delegate to .
Therefore , you see a wealth of nonsensical arguments such as Frum ’ s about population numbers that are completely irrelevant to the point of the Senate and have been since the Constitution went into effect .
D.C. statehood isn ’ t about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cynical play for power in an institution that they claim is illegitimate because it hasn ’ t given them power yet .
This is the congressional version of the argument 2020 Democratic presidential candidates had for packing the Supreme Court , and it should be rejected out of hand .

The renewed push for Washington, D.C., to become a state is couched in the language of enfranchising voters, but the primary objective is adding two safe Democratic Senate seats.
Since Washington was granted three electoral votes for the 1964 election, it has voted overwhelmingly for the Democratic candidate. The closest any Republican has come to winning the city was when Richard Nixon won 49 states in 1972. In his landslide victory, he barely topped 21% in D.C. Democrats have landed over 90% of the city’s voters in the last three presidential elections.
The Senate has been the target of Democrats since Mitch McConnell blocked Judge Merrick Garland from being appointed to the Supreme Court in 2016. Since then, Democrats have complained about the “undemocratic” Senate, and they’ve been even more frantic in their complaints as McConnell and President Trump have filled the courts with originalist judges. David Frum was willing to give up the game and say that D.C. statehood isn’t really about D.C., as was David Leonhardt from the New York Times.
The lopsidedness of the Senate looks likely to grow much worse between now and 2040, by which time less than one-third of the US population will control 70 seats in the Senate. This cannot endure, and won't. Timely reforms can avert future radical disruptions.
2/2 — David Frum (@davidfrum) June 25, 2020
The Senate gives disproportionate power to small states, as everyone knows. These smaller states are overwhelmingly white: Wyoming, Vermont, the Dakotas, Montana, New Hampshire etc.
(2/n) — David Leonhardt (@DLeonhardt) June 26, 2020
Having the two extra senators in 2018 would have allowed Democrats to vote down the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. In 2017, it would have allowed them to block Betsy DeVos, who has been one of the most effective members of the Trump administration. If Democrats were serious about the representation of D.C. residents, then the conversation would be about the retrocession of the city back to Maryland. Democrats know Republicans will resist D.C. statehood, and this compromise would solve the problem they claim they are fighting — but it’s the senators that Democrats really want.
In their desire to centralize government power, Democrats have our federalist system backward. Rather than view the country as a collection of states who delegate a few select powers to the federal government, they see states only as outposts for the federal government to delegate to. Therefore, you see a wealth of nonsensical arguments such as Frum’s about population numbers that are completely irrelevant to the point of the Senate and have been since the Constitution went into effect.
D.C. statehood isn’t about enfranchising voters. It’s a cynical play for power in an institution that they claim is illegitimate because it hasn’t given them power yet. This is the congressional version of the argument 2020 Democratic presidential candidates had for packing the Supreme Court, and it should be rejected out of hand.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-26--Supreme Court set to repeat as a top election issue, losses a 'wake-up call'

President Trump thought he had it made .
With the appointment of two right-leaning Supreme Court judges and 200 federal judicial appointments , Trump felt that he had made good on a key 2016 campaign promise to turn the judiciary conservative .
For the reelection , Trump and his aides didn ’ t see it firing up supporters in the 2020 race , they said .
The focus instead would be on job creation and opening the economy after the coronavirus crisis .
But then came back-to-back Supreme Court losses on immigration and gay and transgender rights , backed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost like we ’ re a minority court , right ?
It ’ s almost like we ’ re a minority court , ” Trump said with exasperation at an Oklahoma rally about the court made up of five Republicans and four Democrats .
Others said the president felt let down to key conservative judges who voted with the liberals , Chief Justice John Roberts and Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch .
Now , officials told Secrets , the White House is planning a new major campaign push to revive the court as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week in which we lost , I actually believe that puts the Supreme Court right back in the mix .
We need more conservatives on the Supreme Court , ” Vice President Mike Pence told me late this week .
Officials noted that in 2016 , the courts were a surprise issue .
In past campaigns , both sides have tried to make it a vote driver , but it ’ s typically received in a ho-hum fashion .
But in 2016 , 26 % of Trump voters said it was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week , Pence rolled out a Supreme Court line in the first of several planned “ Faith in America ” campaign events .
To applause , he said , “ We need more conservatives on the Supreme Court of the United States .
So , we need four more years of President Trump in the White House.
” The effort started when Trump announced plans to issue a new list of potential Supreme Court picks that he will only consider if there is another opening .
He did the same thing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatives that he was one of them .
They also plan to make the case that while Trump has out-appointed former President Barack Obama 50-19 with appeals judges , there is a chance for the Republican to fill a record number of district and appeals judges in the next four years , essentially locking in a conservative judicial bent for the next quarter-century .
Lose the election , and that could be gone in a moment .
In Tulsa , Oklahoma , Trump said , “ The recent Supreme Court cases prove that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will stack the court with extremists , the forgotten men and women , together with everyone else .
We ’ ll lose everything.
” Mollie Hemingway , the senior Federalist editor and court expert , said “ more than ever ” that Trump needs to stay to save his legal legacy .
Biden , she warned , will put in “ radical activist ” judges .
“ He is willing to go whatever the direction the political winds are blowing .
And in the Democratic Party , it is a hurricane-force wind just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Left.
” And she agreed that the issue will be “ a motivating factor ” this year .
Pence , a bit surprised at the popularity of talking about the court on the campaign trail , said he plans to step up his references at future events .
“ It ’ s an ‘ If it ain ’ t broke , don ’ t fix it ’ country .
If the economy was rolling , there would be less urgency about keeping on doing what we ’ re doing .
I think those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call for conservatives .
We need a couple more .
Give us four more years , ” he told me .

President Trump thought he had it made. With the appointment of two right-leaning Supreme Court judges and 200 federal judicial appointments, Trump felt that he had made good on a key 2016 campaign promise to turn the judiciary conservative.
For the reelection, Trump and his aides didn’t see it firing up supporters in the 2020 race, they said. The focus instead would be on job creation and opening the economy after the coronavirus crisis.
But then came back-to-back Supreme Court losses on immigration and gay and transgender rights, backed by key court conservatives.
“It's almost like we’re a minority court, right? It’s almost like we’re a minority court,” Trump said with exasperation at an Oklahoma rally about the court made up of five Republicans and four Democrats. Others said the president felt let down to key conservative judges who voted with the liberals, Chief Justice John Roberts and Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch.
Now, officials told Secrets, the White House is planning a new major campaign push to revive the court as a top issue.
“The two decisions last week in which we lost, I actually believe that puts the Supreme Court right back in the mix. We need more conservatives on the Supreme Court,” Vice President Mike Pence told me late this week.
Officials noted that in 2016, the courts were a surprise issue. In past campaigns, both sides have tried to make it a vote driver, but it’s typically received in a ho-hum fashion. But in 2016, 26% of Trump voters said it was a key factor in their decision.
Earlier this week, Pence rolled out a Supreme Court line in the first of several planned “Faith in America” campaign events. To applause, he said, “We need more conservatives on the Supreme Court of the United States. So, we need four more years of President Trump in the White House.”
The effort started when Trump announced plans to issue a new list of potential Supreme Court picks that he will only consider if there is another opening. He did the same thing in 2016, in part to show skeptical conservatives that he was one of them.
“Personnel is policy,” said a top White House insider.
They also plan to make the case that while Trump has out-appointed former President Barack Obama 50-19 with appeals judges, there is a chance for the Republican to fill a record number of district and appeals judges in the next four years, essentially locking in a conservative judicial bent for the next quarter-century.
Lose the election, and that could be gone in a moment. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, Trump said, “The recent Supreme Court cases prove that if Joe Biden is elected, he will stack the court with extremists, the forgotten men and women, together with everyone else. We’ll lose everything.”
Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Crisis Network, said “more than ever” that Trump needs to stay to save his legal legacy.
Biden, she warned, will put in “radical activist” judges. “He is willing to go whatever the direction the political winds are blowing. And in the Democratic Party, it is a hurricane-force wind just going off the deep end to the Left.”
And she agreed that the issue will be “a motivating factor” this year.
Pence, a bit surprised at the popularity of talking about the court on the campaign trail, said he plans to step up his references at future events.
“It’s an ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ country. If the economy was rolling, there would be less urgency about keeping on doing what we’re doing. I think those two Supreme Court decisions were a wake-up call for conservatives. We need a couple more. Give us four more years,” he told me.
CORRECTION: In a previous version of this article, Carrie Severino's quotes were previously attributed to Mollie Hemingway in error, and the attribution has been changed accordingly. The Washington Examiner regrets the error.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-27--Republicans wonder where Trump misplaced his second-term agenda

When President Trump makes his reelection pitch to voters , some Republicans are concerned they don ’ t hear much talk of a detailed second-term agenda .
Trump often speaks of digging the country out of its current economic problems — “ renewing , restoring , rebuilding ” is how his campaign frames it — and avoiding Democratic challenger Joe Biden ’ s preferred policies .
But conspicuously missing are new , big-ticket agenda items .
In 2016 , Trump promised to renegotiate specific trade deals , cut taxes , and build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second term ... What ’ s at stake in this election as you compare and contrast ?
” asked Fox News ’ s Sean Hannity in a Green Bay town hall with the president on Thursday night .
“ And what are your top priority items for a second term ?
” “ Well , one of the things that will be really great — you know , the word ‘ experience ’ is still good , ” Trump replied .
“ I always say talent is more important than experience .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the word ‘ experience ’ is a very important word.
” Trump went on to talk about how little time he spent in Washington before becoming president , how he has gotten to know the major political players since he has been in office , and what a mistake it was to hire “ idiot ” John Bolton as his national security adviser .
“ You don ’ t have to drop bombs on everybody , ” he said .
“ You don ’ t have to kill people.
” No top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a huge problem , ” said a veteran Republican strategist who requested anonymity to speak candidly .
“ And he obviously has no strategy at all now that the virus is interrupting his strength on the economy .
He needs to get a better answer than , ‘ I 've done a good job.
’ There are a multitude of issues that the country is facing and that he needs to have a plan and strategy on.
” Others say a contrast with Biden is what ’ s needed .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second term to provide voters with a vision of what they want to accomplish if they are reelected , President Trump ’ s mission is clear — to retool and rebuild the country and the economy in the wake of the Chinese virus , ” said Republican strategist Ford O ’ Connell .
“ Yes , Trump should drive that message home at every opportunity , but this is not what is currently dogging his campaign given how little Biden has talked about his own vision for America ’ s future .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ should focus on making the case to a majority of the voters in the battleground states that the United States under a Biden presidency would be an unmitigated disaster , ” O ’ Connell added .
He said Trump should make the case the Biden is a `` senile '' hypocrite on the China issue who is `` a willing Trojan horse for socialism and the far-left of the Democratic Party.
” Trump has tried .
“ He will be run by a radical , fringe group of lunatics , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bernie Sanders wing lost the primaries but would win the governing turf wars .
Trump also tied Biden to the rioters , looters , and statute-topplers seen in big cities , saying , “ Joe Biden would have that be the whole country.
” “ Before the booming economy was artificially interrupted by an unprecedented pandemic , President Trump ’ s pro-growth policies , tax cuts , and deregulation delivered record economic success — and he ’ ll do it again , ” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Samantha Zager .
“ President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefited Americans in every corner of the nation , including historic low unemployment for nearly every minority group , record job growth , freer and fairer trade deals , strong national security , and stopping endless wars .
In his second term , President Trump will continue to deliver on those ‘ Promises Made , Promises Kept.
’ Joe Biden would be a disaster economically and would put America ’ s interests second — that ’ s why he refuses to be held accountable to the American public.
” Not everyone is convinced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of beating up on Joe Biden will bring many of his 2016 supporters back , but it will not get him over 50 % , ” said Republican pollster Frank Luntz .
“ He has to look towards the future .
He has to tell people what comes next .
It 's not enough to focus on what he 's done.
” “ He needs a plan on how to get the economy running again , ” said the first strategist .
“ Now that he 's suing to get rid of Obamacare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With China threatening to pull out of phase one of the trade agreement , he needs a new plan .
He needs an infrastructure plan .
He needs a plan to heal this country.
” Or maybe just a plan to define Biden .
“ Poll after poll suggests that Biden may have high name ID , but he is largely undefined in the voters ’ eyes , ” O ’ Connell said .
“ So , this is where the sweet spot is for Trump , and if he can hit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be reelected . ''

When President Trump makes his reelection pitch to voters, some Republicans are concerned they don’t hear much talk of a detailed second-term agenda.
Trump often speaks of digging the country out of its current economic problems — “renewing, restoring, rebuilding” is how his campaign frames it — and avoiding Democratic challenger Joe Biden’s preferred policies. But conspicuously missing are new, big-ticket agenda items. In 2016, Trump promised to renegotiate specific trade deals, cut taxes, and build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.
“Let’s talk about a second term ... What’s at stake in this election as you compare and contrast?” asked Fox News’s Sean Hannity in a Green Bay town hall with the president on Thursday night. “And what are your top priority items for a second term?”
“Well, one of the things that will be really great — you know, the word ‘experience’ is still good,” Trump replied. “I always say talent is more important than experience. I’ve always said that. But the word ‘experience’ is a very important word.”
Trump went on to talk about how little time he spent in Washington before becoming president, how he has gotten to know the major political players since he has been in office, and what a mistake it was to hire “idiot” John Bolton as his national security adviser. “You don’t have to drop bombs on everybody,” he said. “You don’t have to kill people.”
No top priority items were mentioned. “It’s a huge problem,” said a veteran Republican strategist who requested anonymity to speak candidly. “And he obviously has no strategy at all now that the virus is interrupting his strength on the economy. He needs to get a better answer than, ‘I've done a good job.’ There are a multitude of issues that the country is facing and that he needs to have a plan and strategy on.”
Others say a contrast with Biden is what’s needed. “While it is customary for presidents seeking a second term to provide voters with a vision of what they want to accomplish if they are reelected, President Trump’s mission is clear — to retool and rebuild the country and the economy in the wake of the Chinese virus,” said Republican strategist Ford O’Connell. “Yes, Trump should drive that message home at every opportunity, but this is not what is currently dogging his campaign given how little Biden has talked about his own vision for America’s future."
“Trump’s messaging efforts should focus on making the case to a majority of the voters in the battleground states that the United States under a Biden presidency would be an unmitigated disaster,” O’Connell added. He said Trump should make the case the Biden is a "senile" hypocrite on the China issue who is "a willing Trojan horse for socialism and the far-left of the Democratic Party.”
Trump has tried. “He will be run by a radical, fringe group of lunatics,” he said of Biden in Green Bay, suggesting the Bernie Sanders wing lost the primaries but would win the governing turf wars. Trump also tied Biden to the rioters, looters, and statute-topplers seen in big cities, saying, “Joe Biden would have that be the whole country.”
“Before the booming economy was artificially interrupted by an unprecedented pandemic, President Trump’s pro-growth policies, tax cuts, and deregulation delivered record economic success — and he’ll do it again,” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Samantha Zager. “President Trump’s America First vision has benefited Americans in every corner of the nation, including historic low unemployment for nearly every minority group, record job growth, freer and fairer trade deals, strong national security, and stopping endless wars. In his second term, President Trump will continue to deliver on those ‘Promises Made, Promises Kept.’ Joe Biden would be a disaster economically and would put America’s interests second — that’s why he refuses to be held accountable to the American public.”
Not everyone is convinced that is sufficient. “A strategy of beating up on Joe Biden will bring many of his 2016 supporters back, but it will not get him over 50%,” said Republican pollster Frank Luntz. “He has to look towards the future. He has to tell people what comes next. It's not enough to focus on what he's done.”
“He needs a plan on how to get the economy running again,” said the first strategist. “Now that he's suing to get rid of Obamacare, he needs a healthcare plan. With China threatening to pull out of phase one of the trade agreement, he needs a new plan. He needs an infrastructure plan. He needs a plan to heal this country.”
Or maybe just a plan to define Biden. “Poll after poll suggests that Biden may have high name ID, but he is largely undefined in the voters’ eyes,” O’Connell said. “So, this is where the sweet spot is for Trump, and if he can hit the right notes on this front, he will be reelected."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-27--White House: Trump wasn't briefed on 'alleged Russian bounty intelligence'

The White House denied President Trump had been briefed on U.S. intelligence that reportedly determined Russia offered secret bounties to kill U.S. troops .
Kayleigh McEnany , the White House press secretary , issued a statement soon after presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden castigated Trump for allegedly taking no retaliatory action .
`` The United States receives thousands of intelligence reports a day , and they are subject to strict scrutiny .
While the White House does not routinely comment on alleged intelligence or internal deliberations , the CIA director , national security adviser , and the chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president nor the vice president were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence , '' she said on Saturday .
The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that a U.S intelligence assessment concluded that a Russian spy unit paid Taliban-connected militants in Afghanistan to kill U.S. troops , even as the Trump administration sought to reach a peace deal involving the Taliban and the Afghan government .
McEnany stressed that the White House did not dispute the `` alleged intelligence , '' but rather took issue with `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter . ''
The New York Times reported that Trump was briefed about the bounties during an interagency meeting late in March .
Officials developed a list of options to respond , but the outlet 's sources said the administration has yet to authorize any of the actions .
Biden reacted to the news during a Saturday virtual town hall event focused on Asian American and Pacific Islander issues .
`` There is no bottom to the depth of Vladimir Putin and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true , '' the former vice president said , referring to Russia 's president .
`` President Trump , the commander in chief of American troops in a dangerous theater of war , has known about this for months , according to the Times , and has done worse than nothing . ''
`` Donald Trump has continued his embarrassing campaign of deference and debasing himself before Vladimir Putin , '' Biden later said , chiding the president for being willing to invite him to the White House while knowing this information .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin had not been made aware of the accusations .
`` If someone makes them , we 'll respond , '' he said .
Twenty-four U.S. service members have been killed in combat in Afghanistan since the beginning of 2019 .
It remains unclear which of those killings may be under suspicion of having a financial incentive .
The U.S. and the Taliban struck a peace agreement in February , and the Taliban have not attacked any U.S. positions since that time .

The White House denied President Trump had been briefed on U.S. intelligence that reportedly determined Russia offered secret bounties to kill U.S. troops.
Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, issued a statement soon after presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden castigated Trump for allegedly taking no retaliatory action.
"The United States receives thousands of intelligence reports a day, and they are subject to strict scrutiny. While the White House does not routinely comment on alleged intelligence or internal deliberations, the CIA director, national security adviser, and the chief of staff can all confirm that neither the president nor the vice president were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence," she said on Saturday.
The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that a U.S intelligence assessment concluded that a Russian spy unit paid Taliban-connected militants in Afghanistan to kill U.S. troops, even as the Trump administration sought to reach a peace deal involving the Taliban and the Afghan government.
McEnany stressed that the White House did not dispute the "alleged intelligence," but rather took issue with "the inaccuracy of the New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter."
The New York Times reported that Trump was briefed about the bounties during an interagency meeting late in March. Officials developed a list of options to respond, but the outlet's sources said the administration has yet to authorize any of the actions.
Biden reacted to the news during a Saturday virtual town hall event focused on Asian American and Pacific Islander issues.
"There is no bottom to the depth of Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin's depravity, if that's true," the former vice president said, referring to Russia's president. "President Trump, the commander in chief of American troops in a dangerous theater of war, has known about this for months, according to the Times, and has done worse than nothing."
"Donald Trump has continued his embarrassing campaign of deference and debasing himself before Vladimir Putin," Biden later said, chiding the president for being willing to invite him to the White House while knowing this information.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin had not been made aware of the accusations. "If someone makes them, we'll respond," he said.
Trump on Sunday denied knowledge of the allegations himself in a series of tweets, saying, "Nobody briefed or told me," Vice President Mike Pence, or chief of staff Mark Meadows.
...Nobody’s been tougher on Russia than the Trump Administration. With Corrupt Joe Biden & Obama, Russia had a field day, taking over important parts of Ukraine - Where’s Hunter? Probably just another phony Times hit job, just like their failed Russia Hoax. Who is their “source”? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 28, 2020
Twenty-four U.S. service members have been killed in combat in Afghanistan since the beginning of 2019. It remains unclear which of those killings may be under suspicion of having a financial incentive. The U.S. and the Taliban struck a peace agreement in February, and the Taliban have not attacked any U.S. positions since that time.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-27--Trump campaign postpones Pence events in Florida and Arizona as coronavirus cases spike

The Trump campaign has postponed events next week with Vice President Mike Pence in Florida and Arizona .
A campaign official told NBC News that the decision was made `` out of an abundance of caution '' as coronavirus cases spike in those two states and others .
Pence will still attend planned meetings with the states ' governors and local officials .
`` The Vice President is still traveling to Texas , Arizona , and Florida this week as he said he is meeting with the governors and their healthcare teams , '' a spokesperson for the Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 9.9 million reported cases of the coronavirus across the globe , and more than 491,000 COVID-19 patients have died .
In the United States , nearly 2.5 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus , with the nation 's death toll totaling more than 125,000 .
Almost 30 million people in the U.S. have been tested for COVID-19 , according to the latest reading of the Johns Hopkins University tracker .
Spikes in cases were reported last week , prompting some governors to reconsider how quickly they are reopening their states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health of COVID-19 on Saturday , racking up its tally to more than .
Deaths in the state hover at nearly 3,400 .
The Arizona Department of Health Services also reported an uptick of nearly 3,600 new cases between Friday and Saturday .
There are more than 70,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arizona and approximately 1,500 deaths .
Pence , who oversees the White House coronavirus task force , claimed on Friday during a briefing that the U.S. had successfully “ flattened the curve ” of the disease , even as spikes were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president referred to the amount of testing the U.S. has conducted as a “ national accomplishment.
” Pence also told reporters during the briefing that he planned to travel to Texas , Florida , and Arizona to `` get a ground report . ''
Pence is expected to speak at a `` Celebrate Freedom Rally '' at First Baptist Church in Dallas , Texas on Sunday and will later meet with Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott about the COVID-19 pandemic , according to CNN .
During a campaign rally in Tulsa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak slammed the U.S. , Trump said he told members of his administration to decrease the amount of testing for the coronavirus in the U.S. , claiming it would give a false representation of COVID-19 spikes and further worsen the economy .
`` When you do testing to that extent , you ’ re going to find more people .
You ’ re going to find more cases .
So I said to my people : 'Slow the testing down , please , ' '' Trump said .
White House trade adviser Peter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tongue-in-cheek , '' but the president doubled down on his comments , telling reporters , `` I do n't kid . ''
This week , the Trump administration also announced it will end funding for drive-thru coronavirus testing sites across the country by the end of June .
The move will affect testing sites in Texas , Illinois , New Jersey , Colorado , and Pennsylvania , but Adm. Brett Giroir , the Trump administration 's testing czar , told reporters on a Wednesday phone call that the federal government is not `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather `` providing federal support in a different way . ''

The Trump campaign has postponed events next week with Vice President Mike Pence in Florida and Arizona.
A campaign official told NBC News that the decision was made "out of an abundance of caution" as coronavirus cases spike in those two states and others.
Pence will still attend planned meetings with the states' governors and local officials.
"The Vice President is still traveling to Texas, Arizona, and Florida this week as he said he is meeting with the governors and their healthcare teams," a spokesperson for the Vice President's office told CNN.
There are nearly 9.9 million reported cases of the coronavirus across the globe, and more than 491,000 COVID-19 patients have died.
In the United States, nearly 2.5 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus, with the nation's death toll totaling more than 125,000. Almost 30 million people in the U.S. have been tested for COVID-19, according to the latest reading of the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
Spikes in cases were reported last week, prompting some governors to reconsider how quickly they are reopening their states' economies.
The Florida Department of Health reported 10,000 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, racking up its tally to more than 132,500 total cases . Deaths in the state hover at nearly 3,400.
The Arizona Department of Health Services also reported an uptick of nearly 3,600 new cases between Friday and Saturday. There are more than 70,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arizona and approximately 1,500 deaths.
Pence, who oversees the White House coronavirus task force, claimed on Friday during a briefing that the U.S. had successfully “flattened the curve” of the disease, even as spikes were being reported in multiple states. The vice president referred to the amount of testing the U.S. has conducted as a “national accomplishment.”
Pence also told reporters during the briefing that he planned to travel to Texas, Florida, and Arizona to "get a ground report." Pence is expected to speak at a "Celebrate Freedom Rally" at First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas on Sunday and will later meet with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott about the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CNN.
During a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the first since the coronavirus outbreak slammed the U.S., Trump said he told members of his administration to decrease the amount of testing for the coronavirus in the U.S., claiming it would give a false representation of COVID-19 spikes and further worsen the economy.
"When you do testing to that extent, you’re going to find more people. You’re going to find more cases. So I said to my people: 'Slow the testing down, please,'" Trump said.
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro dismissed Trump's remarks as "tongue-in-cheek," but the president doubled down on his comments, telling reporters, "I don't kid."
This week, the Trump administration also announced it will end funding for drive-thru coronavirus testing sites across the country by the end of June.
The move will affect testing sites in Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado, and Pennsylvania, but Adm. Brett Giroir, the Trump administration's testing czar, told reporters on a Wednesday phone call that the federal government is not "withdrawing" support for the sites but rather "providing federal support in a different way."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-27--Barr: Widespread mail-in voting ripe for fraud 'that cannot be policed'

Attorney General William Barr said he supports mail-in balloting for a “ limited ” amount of people but is concerned about expanding the process .
“ I think there ’ s a range of concerns about mail-in ballots .
And let me just clarify here , I ’ m not talking about a mail-in ballot for a limited number of cases where somebody is going to be traveling around the world , and the way that the state has provided for that is , you mail in your ballot , ” Barr said in an interview with NPR last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a comprehensive rule where all the ballots are essentially mail-in , and there ’ s so many occasions for fraud there that can not be policed.
” '' I think it would be very bad .
But one of the things I mentioned was the possibility of counterfeiting , '' he added .
When asked if he had evidence to warrant such a concern , Barr said , `` No , it 's obvious . ''
Barr also said he believes widespread mail-in voting could be a target for foreign countries .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are a number of foreign countries that do want to sow discord in the United States by undermining confidence in the results of the election .
And I think if we do adopt programs of mail-in , that will be an area which they will exploit , '' he said .
When asked if he thought an election conducted mainly by mail could be secure , Barr responded , “ Personally , no.
” Prominent Democrats , including House Speaker and California Gov .
, have been pushing for increased mail-in voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including and Texas Lt. Gov .
, have opposed it , warning about potential fraud .
Some Democrats , including former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams , have voter fraud as largely being a `` myth . ''
Still , there have been in voter fraud cases .
Four New Jersey men were recently charged with voter fraud in connection to a recent special election .

Attorney General William Barr said he supports mail-in balloting for a “limited” amount of people but is concerned about expanding the process.
“I think there’s a range of concerns about mail-in ballots. And let me just clarify here, I’m not talking about a mail-in ballot for a limited number of cases where somebody is going to be traveling around the world, and the way that the state has provided for that is, you mail in your ballot,” Barr said in an interview with NPR last week. “I’m talking about a comprehensive rule where all the ballots are essentially mail-in, and there’s so many occasions for fraud there that cannot be policed.”
"I think it would be very bad. But one of the things I mentioned was the possibility of counterfeiting," he added. When asked if he had evidence to warrant such a concern, Barr said, "No, it's obvious."
Barr also said he believes widespread mail-in voting could be a target for foreign countries.
“I have specific reason to believe that there are a number of foreign countries that do want to sow discord in the United States by undermining confidence in the results of the election. And I think if we do adopt programs of mail-in, that will be an area which they will exploit," he said.
When asked if he thought an election conducted mainly by mail could be secure, Barr responded, “Personally, no.”
Prominent Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Gov. Gavin Newsom , have been pushing for increased mail-in voting, citing coronavirus fears. Republicans, including President Trump and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick , have opposed it, warning about potential fraud.
Some Democrats, including former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, have dismissed voter fraud as largely being a "myth."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-27--Four men charged with voter fraud after 800 ballots are discounted in New Jersey special election

Four people have been charged with voter fraud stemming from the May 12 special election in New Jersey .
Paterson , New Jersey , City Councilman Michael Jackson , Council-Elect Alex Mendez , and two other men have been charged with voter fraud , .
This comes after the Passaic County Board of Elections had opted not to count 800 ballots across several different municipalities .
Jackson , 48 , and Mendez , 45 , were charged with fraud related to casting mail-in votes , unauthorized possession of ballots , tampering with public records , and falsifying public records .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Two others from Passaic County were also charged .
Authorities began investigating after reports surfaced that hundreds of mail-in ballots were found in a Paterson mailbox and another one in Haledon .
“ Today ’ s charges send a clear message : If you try to tamper with an election in New Jersey , we will find you , and we will hold you accountable , ” New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement Thursday .
“ We will not allow a small number of criminals to undermine the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process.
” Mendez and Jackson are both accused of approaching voters in the district and taking their mail-in ballots for delivery without being authorized as the bearer , and in Mendez ’ s case , he also allegedly acquired and submitted at least one voter registration application for someone who knew to be ineligible to vote .
“ While it ’ s gravely disappointing to see another episode of potential corruption in Paterson , I remain hopeful that this is the final chapter in what unfortunately has plagued our city for generations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sayegh , said in a statement .
Voter fraud , specifically mail-in voting , has been a hot-button issue in recent months as Democrats push to expand mail-in voting , citing coronavirus fears .
Republicans often oppose it , arguing the mail-in process is susceptible to fraud .

Four people have been charged with voter fraud stemming from the May 12 special election in New Jersey.
Paterson, New Jersey, City Councilman Michael Jackson, Council-Elect Alex Mendez, and two other men have been charged with voter fraud, according to NJ.com . This comes after the Passaic County Board of Elections had opted not to count 800 ballots across several different municipalities.
Jackson, 48, and Mendez, 45, were charged with fraud related to casting mail-in votes, unauthorized possession of ballots, tampering with public records, and falsifying public records. Mendez was also charged with election fraud.
Two others from Passaic County were also charged.
Authorities began investigating after reports surfaced that hundreds of mail-in ballots were found in a Paterson mailbox and another one in Haledon.
“Today’s charges send a clear message: If you try to tamper with an election in New Jersey, we will find you, and we will hold you accountable,” New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement Thursday. “We will not allow a small number of criminals to undermine the public’s confidence in our democratic process.”
Mendez and Jackson are both accused of approaching voters in the district and taking their mail-in ballots for delivery without being authorized as the bearer, and in Mendez’s case, he also allegedly acquired and submitted at least one voter registration application for someone who knew to be ineligible to vote.
“While it’s gravely disappointing to see another episode of potential corruption in Paterson, I remain hopeful that this is the final chapter in what unfortunately has plagued our city for generations,” Paterson’s mayor, Andre Sayegh, said in a statement.
Voter fraud, specifically mail-in voting, has been a hot-button issue in recent months as Democrats push to expand mail-in voting, citing coronavirus fears. Republicans often oppose it, arguing the mail-in process is susceptible to fraud.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-27--Journalist who attended Trump rally in Tulsa tests positive for the coronavirus

A journalist who attended President Trump 's rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , last weekend has tested positive for the coronavirus .
Oklahoma Watch reporter Paul Monies said he found out about his diagnosis on Friday , less than a week after the rally took place .
`` Friends , I tested positive for # COVID19 .
I ’ m pretty surprised .
I have zero symptoms ( so far ) and I feel fine .
In fact , I ran 5 miles this morning , '' he tweeted , adding that he 's been calling people with whom he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks .
Monies said he wore a mask while he was at the rally last Saturday , which was attended by thousands of people , and claimed that he did not come in close contact with the president , according to the Associated Press .
“ I can ’ t say definitively that I got it at the rally , ” he noted .
“ But it ’ s someone I ’ ve been in contact with in the last two weeks.
” “ I spent a couple of hours reaching out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoors , a few friends in the neighborhood , ” Monies said .
“ I just felt it was my responsibility to tell people I knew myself that I have tested positive.
” Several members of Trump 's campaign team tested positive for the virus just hours before the event was set to begin .
Dozens of Secret Service agents were asked to quarantine after being exposed to the coronavirus during the trip to Oklahoma .
Trump and his campaign team have been criticized for their decision to hold the rally , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spite of the pandemic and a spike of cases in Oklahoma .

A journalist who attended President Trump's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last weekend has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Oklahoma Watch reporter Paul Monies said he found out about his diagnosis on Friday, less than a week after the rally took place.
"Friends, I tested positive for #COVID19. I’m pretty surprised. I have zero symptoms (so far) and I feel fine. In fact, I ran 5 miles this morning," he tweeted, adding that he's been calling people with whom he's come in contact over the past two weeks.
Monies said he wore a mask while he was at the rally last Saturday, which was attended by thousands of people, and claimed that he did not come in close contact with the president, according to the Associated Press.
“I can’t say definitively that I got it at the rally,” he noted. “But it’s someone I’ve been in contact with in the last two weeks.”
“I spent a couple of hours reaching out to anyone I was in contact with indoors, a few friends in the neighborhood,” Monies said. “I just felt it was my responsibility to tell people I knew myself that I have tested positive.”
Several members of Trump's campaign team tested positive for the virus just hours before the event was set to begin. Dozens of Secret Service agents were asked to quarantine after being exposed to the coronavirus during the trip to Oklahoma.
Trump and his campaign team have been criticized for their decision to hold the rally, the president's first in months, in spite of the pandemic and a spike of cases in Oklahoma.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-27--Newt Gingrich: Trump will 'probably' lose election if states shut down again

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicted President Trump will `` probably '' lose the election if states reenact shutdowns amid the coronavirus .
As coronavirus cases spike in places across the country , prompting some states to halt their plans to reopen , Gingrich told Just The News on Friday that another economic blow could be fatal to Trump 's political prospects in November .
“ If Trump is right and we can reopen safely with reasonable precautions , he ’ ll probably get reelected .
If Trump is wrong , and as a result states have to shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tank , then he probably won ’ t get reelected , no matter what the consequence is , because at that point , people will say , ‘ Well , that didn ’ t work , ' '' Gingrich said .
Earlier , Gingrich said the president believes people seek a return to normalcy and is willing to take a short-term political hit if it means benefit in the long run .
`` For some people , they prefer safety to risk-taking .
It is very clear Trump is a risk-taker .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus and the economy and the Chinese , etc.
, we got a lot of risk out there right now .
It 's conceivable that Biden , by hiding , looks passive and looks non-threatening .
And that may be reassuring to people , '' he said .
On Thursday night , the Wall Street Journal editorial board published a critical review of Trump 's chances of winning reelection amid the coronavirus pandemic and the civil unrest following George Floyd 's death on Memorial Day in Minneapolis , attributing the assessment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a survey released by Fox News on Thursday , former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee , leads Trump by 45 % -44 % in Texas and 47 % -45 % in Georgia .
Texas last backed a Democratic presidential nominee in 1976 and Georgia in 1992 .
Both states are within the poll 's 3-point margin of error .
But the fact that they are even competitive shows the challenges Trump faces as he seeks reelection in November amid the pandemic and double-digit unemployment .
The poll also found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points and North Carolina by 2 points .
Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee , holds similar leads in other polls taken over the past week .
The Wall Street Journal editorial board emphasized how the Trump campaign is dismissing the political environment as similar to the 2016 election but noted that failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton 's popularity was lower than Biden 's approval .
`` Mr. Trump has little time to recover .
The President ’ s advisers say that he trailed Hillary Clinton by this much at this point in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a chance to define Mr. Biden , and that as the election nears voters will understand the binary choice .
Perhaps .
But in 2016 Mrs. Clinton was as unpopular as Mr. Trump , while Mr. Biden is not , '' the board wrote .

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicted President Trump will "probably" lose the election if states reenact shutdowns amid the coronavirus.
As coronavirus cases spike in places across the country, prompting some states to halt their plans to reopen, Gingrich told Just The News on Friday that another economic blow could be fatal to Trump's political prospects in November.
“If Trump is right and we can reopen safely with reasonable precautions, he’ll probably get reelected. If Trump is wrong, and as a result states have to shut down again and the economy goes back in the tank, then he probably won’t get reelected, no matter what the consequence is, because at that point, people will say, ‘Well, that didn’t work,'" Gingrich said.
Earlier, Gingrich said the president believes people seek a return to normalcy and is willing to take a short-term political hit if it means benefit in the long run.
"For some people, they prefer safety to risk-taking. It is very clear Trump is a risk-taker. And it is very clear that between the virus and the economy and the Chinese, etc., we got a lot of risk out there right now. It's conceivable that Biden, by hiding, looks passive and looks non-threatening. And that may be reassuring to people," he said.
On Thursday night, the Wall Street Journal editorial board published a critical review of Trump's chances of winning reelection amid the coronavirus pandemic and the civil unrest following George Floyd's death on Memorial Day in Minneapolis, attributing the assessment to an unclear political platform.
According to a survey released by Fox News on Thursday, former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, leads Trump by 45%-44% in Texas and 47%-45% in Georgia. Texas last backed a Democratic presidential nominee in 1976 and Georgia in 1992.
Both states are within the poll's 3-point margin of error. But the fact that they are even competitive shows the challenges Trump faces as he seeks reelection in November amid the pandemic and double-digit unemployment.
The poll also found Biden leading Trump in Florida by 9 points and North Carolina by 2 points. Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, holds similar leads in other polls taken over the past week.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board emphasized how the Trump campaign is dismissing the political environment as similar to the 2016 election but noted that failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's popularity was lower than Biden's approval.
"Mr. Trump has little time to recover. The President’s advisers say that he trailed Hillary Clinton by this much at this point in 2016, that they haven’t had a chance to define Mr. Biden, and that as the election nears voters will understand the binary choice. Perhaps. But in 2016 Mrs. Clinton was as unpopular as Mr. Trump, while Mr. Biden is not," the board wrote.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-28--Harry Reid strikes again

Harry Reid strikes again

When he was running the U.S. Senate in 2012 , Harry Reid asserted , without presenting evidence , that an anonymous source had told him that Republican nominee Mitt Romney was a tax cheat .
“ So , the word is out that he has not paid any taxes for 10 years , ” the majority leader declared from the Senate floor .
“ Let him prove that he has paid taxes , because he hasn ’ t. ” It was a classless move from a classless politician .
As it turned out , his comment didn ’ t bear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it turned out that Romney paid in taxes each year and gave a significant amount to charity .
Asked years later if he had any regrets about the dastardly attack , Reid , “ Romney didn ’ t win , did he ?
” A lot has changed since 2012 .
Back then , Romney proudly accepted Donald Trump ’ s endorsement for president .
Also back then , Democrats mocked the Republican nominee for arguing that Russia posed a serious threat to America .
But one thing has held constant : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a dishonest weasel by making outrageous assertions that he can not back up .
In a new book , Reid has now declared there ’ s “ no question ” that Russian hackers tampered with vote totals in 2016 .
“ I think one reason the elections weren ’ t what they should have been was because the Russians manipulated the votes .
It ’ s that simple , '' Reid said .
“ It doesn ’ t take a math expert to understand that by changing a few votes , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have no doubt.
” There are multiple variations of the Trump-Russia conspiracy theory , and Reid is no stranger to them .
A week before the 2016 election , in a letter accusing James Comey of breaking the law by revealing that the FBI was looking into Hillary Clinton emails , Reid also , “ In my communications with you and other top officials in the national security community , it has become clear that you possess explosive information about close ties and coordination between Donald Trump , his top advisors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we know how that story ends — with years of investigation by Robert Mueller failing to establish any conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia to swing the election .
But as inaccurate as the Trump-Russia collusion narrative ended up being , the idea that Russian hackers were actually able to tap into voting systems to change vote counts is pure tinfoil hat territory .
While the Mueller report offered evidence that the GRU , the Russian intelligence unit , “ targeted individuals and entities involved in the administration of the elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a database containing information on Illinois voters , there was no suggestion that actual vote totals were tampered with .
Similarly , a report by the Select Committee on Intelligence found that `` the Russian government directed extensive activity , beginning in at least 2014 and carrying into at least 2017 , against U.S. election infrastructure at the state and local level.
” However , it also made clear that `` the Committee has seen no evidence that any votes were changed or that any voting machines were manipulated.
” The Senate report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not know with confidence what Moscow 's intentions were , Russia may have been probing vulnerabilities in voting systems to exploit later .
Alternatively , Moscow may have sought to undermine confidence in the 2016 U.S. elections simply through the discovery of their activity.
” In other words , there ’ s no actual evidence to support Reid ’ s wild assertion that Russia actually was able to tamper with vote totals in U.S. elections .
It ’ s wildly irresponsible .
But then again , it ’ s par for the course @ @ @

When he was running the U.S. Senate in 2012, Harry Reid asserted, without presenting evidence, that an anonymous source had told him that Republican nominee Mitt Romney was a tax cheat. “So, the word is out that he has not paid any taxes for 10 years,” the majority leader declared from the Senate floor. “Let him prove that he has paid taxes, because he hasn’t.”
It was a classless move from a classless politician. As it turned out, his comment didn’t bear any relation to reality. In reality, it turned out that Romney paid millions of dollars in taxes each year and gave a significant amount to charity.
Asked years later if he had any regrets about the dastardly attack, Reid replied , “Romney didn’t win, did he?”
A lot has changed since 2012. Back then, Romney proudly accepted Donald Trump’s endorsement for president. Also back then, Democrats mocked the Republican nominee for arguing that Russia posed a serious threat to America. But one thing has held constant: Even in retirement, Reid is behaving like a dishonest weasel by making outrageous assertions that he cannot back up.
In a new book, Reid has now declared there’s “no question” that Russian hackers tampered with vote totals in 2016.
“I think one reason the elections weren’t what they should have been was because the Russians manipulated the votes. It’s that simple," Reid said. “It doesn’t take a math expert to understand that by changing a few votes, the outcome will be different. So, I have no doubt.”
There are multiple variations of the Trump-Russia conspiracy theory, and Reid is no stranger to them. A week before the 2016 election, in a letter accusing James Comey of breaking the law by revealing that the FBI was looking into Hillary Clinton's emails, Reid also claimed , “In my communications with you and other top officials in the national security community, it has become clear that you possess explosive information about close ties and coordination between Donald Trump, his top advisors, and the Russian government.”
Of course, we know how that story ends — with years of investigation by Robert Mueller failing to establish any conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia to swing the election.
But as inaccurate as the Trump-Russia collusion narrative ended up being, the idea that Russian hackers were actually able to tap into voting systems to change vote counts is pure tinfoil hat territory.
While the Mueller report offered evidence that the GRU, the Russian intelligence unit, “targeted individuals and entities involved in the administration of the elections” and was able to hack into a database containing information on Illinois voters, there was no suggestion that actual vote totals were tampered with.
Similarly, a report by the Select Committee on Intelligence found that "the Russian government directed extensive activity, beginning in at least 2014 and carrying into at least 2017, against U.S. election infrastructure at the state and local level.” However, it also made clear that "the Committee has seen no evidence that any votes were changed or that any voting machines were manipulated.”
The Senate report noted that "while the Committee does not know with confidence what Moscow's intentions were, Russia may have been probing vulnerabilities in voting systems to exploit later. Alternatively, Moscow may have sought to undermine confidence in the 2016 U.S. elections simply through the discovery of their activity.”
In other words, there’s no actual evidence to support Reid’s wild assertion that Russia actually was able to tamper with vote totals in U.S. elections. It’s wildly irresponsible. But then again, it’s par for the course for Reid.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-06-29--Trump moving fast to shore up immigration campaign promises

President Trump is racing to fulfill immigration-related campaign promises as he enters a tough reelection fight against Democratic challenger Joe Biden .
Trump ’ s most memorable promise from the 2016 race was his pledge to build a wall along the United States ’ s border with Mexico .
The administration is touting 200 miles of recently completed border security fencing , on track to reach about 450 miles by the end of the year .
“ We ’ ll have 500 miles just a little bit after the end of the year , ” Trump said during his Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Wisconsin , on Thursday night .
Trump also extended his executive order temporarily during a period of high unemployment following the coronavirus lockdowns , expanding it to include many of the guest-worker programs immigration hawks were disappointed to see exempted when the first version of the edict was handed down back in April .
“ It seems to me that curtailing the issuance of work visas at a time of massive unemployment is a matter of common sense , ” said Jerry Kammer , author of the new book Losing Control : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Provoked the Backlash That Elected Trump .
“ But , of course , the immigration lobby 's hunger for foreign workers is insatiable .
At times like this , it 's unconscionable.
” “ President Trump has repeatedly promised that he would put American workers first , and to his credit , he did just that , ” said Dan Stein , president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform , in a statement .
Stein had been critical of the order before it covered more nonimmigrant temporary workers , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now “ mostly satisfied '' with it .
Trump won the 2016 Republican presidential nomination and then the general election in part because he vowed to break with the last two presidents of both parties , who were in favor of offering legal status to most illegal immigrants in the U.S. and expanding immigration more generally .
He was advised on the issue by restrictionists such as Jeff Sessions , Steve Bannon , and Stephen Miller and later endorsed legislation sponsored by Republican Sens .
Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president has been under fire from Democrats and immigrant rights activists for his record on this issue the entire time he has been in office .
But the Trump White House is not uniformly populated by immigration hardliners , and he hasn ’ t always satisfied immigration hawks either .
Syndicated conservative columnist Ann Coulter famously backed Trump over his tough immigration stance but has spent most of the last four years criticizing him for not completing the border wall or overhauling the system and for breaking with Sessions .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is undecided on whether to vote for Trump this November .
Kammer , a senior research fellow at the restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies , noted that “ Trump , who campaigned on a pledge to make E-Verify mandatory , has now backed away from that commitment.
” Sen. Mitt Romney , a Utah Republican and Trump nemesis , this week touted the system for preventing employers from hiring illegal immigrants .
The Trump campaign is highlighting the president ’ s immigration record under the banner of “ Promises Made , Promises Kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in apprehensions along the southern border .
Arrests tend to track the number of people trying to enter .
“ While Joe Biden , President Trump is keeping to protect the safety and health of Americans by securing our Southern Borders , ” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Abigail Marone in a statement .
“ The Biden people — and he 's controlled totally by the radical left , as you understand .
He ’ s not controlling it ; they 're controlling him , ” Trump said at a border security roundtable discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They want open borders .
They want criminal sanctuaries .
They want everything that does n't work.
” Trump has fallen behind Biden in his race for a second term .
He trails the former vice president by 9.6 points in the RealClearPolitics national polling average and is also down in both the Fox News and New York Times/Siena College battleground state polls .
Returning to the immigration issue is potentially one way to fire up his base and win back wavering supporters .
“ If my speeches ever get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first campaign , “ I just go : ‘ We will build a wall !
’ You know , if it gets a little boring , if I see people starting to sort of maybe thinking about leaving — I can sort of tell the audience — I just say , ‘ We will build the wall , ’ and they go nuts.
” Trump has held steady among Hispanic voters but has lost ground with white people .
While college-educated suburbanites tend to be turned off by his immigration rhetoric , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attract more of the working class .

President Trump is racing to fulfill immigration-related campaign promises as he enters a tough reelection fight against Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
Trump’s most memorable promise from the 2016 race was his pledge to build a wall along the United States’s border with Mexico. The administration is touting 200 miles of recently completed border security fencing, on track to reach about 450 miles by the end of the year.
“We’ll have 500 miles just a little bit after the end of the year,” Trump said during his Fox News town hall meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Thursday night.
Trump also extended his executive order temporarily suspending most immigration during a period of high unemployment following the coronavirus lockdowns, expanding it to include many of the guest-worker programs immigration hawks were disappointed to see exempted when the first version of the edict was handed down back in April.
“It seems to me that curtailing the issuance of work visas at a time of massive unemployment is a matter of common sense,” said Jerry Kammer, author of the new book Losing Control: How A Left-Right Coalition Blocked Immigration Reform and Provoked the Backlash That Elected Trump. “But, of course, the immigration lobby's hunger for foreign workers is insatiable. At times like this, it's unconscionable.”
“President Trump has repeatedly promised that he would put American workers first, and to his credit, he did just that,” said Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, in a statement. Stein had been critical of the order before it covered more nonimmigrant temporary workers, but the FAIR told the Washington Examiner it was now “mostly satisfied" with it.
Trump won the 2016 Republican presidential nomination and then the general election in part because he vowed to break with the last two presidents of both parties, who were in favor of offering legal status to most illegal immigrants in the U.S. and expanding immigration more generally. He was advised on the issue by restrictionists such as Jeff Sessions, Steve Bannon, and Stephen Miller and later endorsed legislation sponsored by Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia that would reduce legal immigration levels.
The president has been under fire from Democrats and immigrant rights activists for his record on this issue the entire time he has been in office. But the Trump White House is not uniformly populated by immigration hardliners, and he hasn’t always satisfied immigration hawks either.
Syndicated conservative columnist Ann Coulter famously backed Trump over his tough immigration stance but has spent most of the last four years criticizing him for not completing the border wall or overhauling the system and for breaking with Sessions. The In Trump We Trust author has said she is undecided on whether to vote for Trump this November.
Kammer, a senior research fellow at the restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies, noted that “Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to make E-Verify mandatory, has now backed away from that commitment.” Sen. Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican and Trump nemesis, this week touted the system for preventing employers from hiring illegal immigrants.
The Trump campaign is highlighting the president’s immigration record under the banner of “Promises Made, Promises Kept,” citing an 84% reduction in apprehensions along the southern border. Arrests tend to track the number of people trying to enter. “While Joe Biden campaigns on open borders , President Trump is keeping his promise to protect the safety and health of Americans by securing our Southern Borders,” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Abigail Marone in a statement.
“The Biden people — and he's controlled totally by the radical left, as you understand. He’s not controlling it; they're controlling him,” Trump said at a border security roundtable discussion in Yuma, Arizona, on Tuesday. “They want open borders. They want criminal sanctuaries. They want everything that doesn't work.”
Trump has fallen behind Biden in his race for a second term. He trails the former vice president by 9.6 points in the RealClearPolitics national polling average and is also down in both the Fox News and New York Times/Siena College battleground state polls. Returning to the immigration issue is potentially one way to fire up his base and win back wavering supporters.
“If my speeches ever get a little off,” Trump said during his first campaign, “I just go: ‘We will build a wall!’ You know, if it gets a little boring, if I see people starting to sort of maybe thinking about leaving — I can sort of tell the audience — I just say, ‘We will build the wall,’ and they go nuts.”
Trump has held steady among Hispanic voters but has lost ground with white people. While college-educated suburbanites tend to be turned off by his immigration rhetoric, showing he has kept his promises could attract more of the working class.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-01--New poll shows Trump losing voters in swing states

President Trump 's response to the coronavirus pandemic is costing him voters in states he needs to secure his reelection , a new survey finds .
According to a CNBC/Change Research poll released Wednesday , Joe Biden is extending his lead over Trump in the states of Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin .
Trump 's problems there are likely the direct result in the new surge of coronavirus cases sweeping the country , with 35 % of all likely voters asked in those states blaming him more than anything else .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to people not wearing masks , while 32 % blame states reopening economies too soon .
And 55 % of those polled say the president 's pressure on states to reopen their economies is because he 's concerned about his reelection chances and not public safety with another 57 % of voters disagreeing with the statement that his administration is providing accurate information on how to best avoid the spread of the virus .
At the individual state level , the president 's numbers do n't fare much better .
In Arizona , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 7 points , with 44 % support .
In both Florida and Pennsylvania , Biden earns 50 % support with Trump at 45 % and 44 % , respectively .
In the neighboring states of Michigan and Wisconsin , Biden holds a substantial lead as well .
In Michigan , 48 % of voters currently back Biden compared to 45 % saying the same for Trump .
The former vice president also leads Trump by eight points in Wisconsin , with 51 % support .
Across all states , Biden 's lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % support .
The poll was taken from Friday to Sunday and interviewed 3,729 voters and has a margin of error of 1.6 points .
Voters in those states see the coronavirus as their top concern , with 71 % saying they worry about the outbreak .
Two weeks ago , 64 % of voters said the same .
A majority of voters in the states , 70 % , say the states should either increase precautions or pause reopenings altogether .
Additionally , 75 % say they are wearing facemasks when going @ @ @ @

President Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic is costing him voters in states he needs to secure his reelection, a new survey finds.
According to a CNBC/Change Research poll released Wednesday, Joe Biden is extending his lead over Trump in the states of Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Trump's problems there are likely the direct result in the new surge of coronavirus cases sweeping the country, with 35% of all likely voters asked in those states blaming him more than anything else. And 34% say the cases are due to people not wearing masks, while 32% blame states reopening economies too soon.
And 55% of those polled say the president's pressure on states to reopen their economies is because he's concerned about his reelection chances and not public safety with another 57% of voters disagreeing with the statement that his administration is providing accurate information on how to best avoid the spread of the virus.
At the individual state level, the president's numbers don't fare much better. In Arizona, he trails the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee by 7 points, with 44% support. In both Florida and Pennsylvania, Biden earns 50% support with Trump at 45% and 44%, respectively.
In the neighboring states of Michigan and Wisconsin, Biden holds a substantial lead as well. In Michigan, 48% of voters currently back Biden compared to 45% saying the same for Trump. The former vice president also leads Trump by eight points in Wisconsin, with 51% support.
Across all states, Biden's lead is averaged at 6 points with 50% support. The poll was taken from Friday to Sunday and interviewed 3,729 voters and has a margin of error of 1.6 points.
Voters in those states see the coronavirus as their top concern, with 71% saying they worry about the outbreak. Two weeks ago, 64% of voters said the same.
A majority of voters in the states, 70%, say the states should either increase precautions or pause reopenings altogether. Additionally, 75% say they are wearing facemasks when going out in public.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-01--How presidential generations define and redefine American history

Americans naturally tend to think of their presidents , like their families , in terms of generations .
This may have started with the news that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson had both died on July 4 , 1826 , half a century to the day from the time the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence they jointly drafted .
The Founding Generation ( born 1732-1767 ) held the presidency for nearly half a century , from 1789 to 1837 .
Five of those presidents were adults during the American Revolution ; two had childhood memories of it : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoke from Bunker Hill at age 7 , and Andrew Jackson , who was slashed by a British officer ’ s sword at age 14 .
Less than a month after Jackson left office , a 28-year-old Abraham Lincoln gave his Springfield Lyceum speech , venerating the Founders and warning of mob rule .
He was part of the Antebellum Generation ( birth years 1773-1809 ) , which held office between 1837 and 1869 .
It grappled with the fissiparous issue of slavery and its expansion .
After a bloody civil war , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Civil War Generation presidents ( birth years 1821-1843 ) all fought in that war , except Grover Cleveland , who paid $ 300 not to do so .
Regarded by historians as undistinguished , they presided over amazing technological innovation and tumultuous economic growth in the years 1869-1901 .
They were followed by the post-Civil War Generation presidents ( birth years 1856-74 ) , all college graduates , who led America ’ s emergence as a world power between 1901 and 1933 .
Each generation held the presidency for 30-some years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birth years 1882-90 ) who served as subordinates in World War I and commanders in World War II , holding office from 1933 to 1961 .
There was more turnover for the seven presidents of the G.I .
Generation ( birth years 1908-24 ) , each with World War II military experience , who served from 1961 to 1993 .
One was murdered , one resigned , and two were defeated for reelection .
But after floundering in the late 1960s and 1970s , in the 1980s , they presided over revived broad-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cold War .
How have their successors , the Baby Boom Generation ( birth years 1946-1961 ) , done ?
They started off when some thought we ’ d reached “ the end of history , ” with democratic capitalism not seriously challenged .
Its first three presidents each served eight years ( the first such trio since the political allies Jefferson , James Madison , and James Monroe ) and followed elite consensus policies on immigration and trade .
But some consensus policies imploded .
Subsidies for minority homebuying produced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afterward .
The non-enforcement of immigration restrictions produced at least marginal downward pressure on low-skill wages and widening economic inequality .
The trade opening to China produced cheap consumer goods but didn ’ t move China toward rule-based conduct or anything like democracy .
And it facilitated the spread of coronaviruses — with minimal disruption earlier this century , but this year with the devastating COVID-19 , which has killed thousands and shut down the economies of Europe and North America .
The arguable failures of consensus trade and immigration policies fueled the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So did dynastic politics : Trump used Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton as foils in the primaries and in the general election .
Baby boomer self-righteousness played a role too .
Consider Trump ’ s stubborn refusal to admit error or avoid trivia or Barack Obama ’ s ( and Hillary Clinton ’ s ) apparent attempts to delegitimize Trump , in contrast to earlier presidents ’ and candidates ' choices not to delegitimizing the close presidential winners in 1960 and in 2000 .
Now , after nearly 30 years , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , the third president born in 1946 , is running again .
Joe Biden , born December 1942 , is technically a generational throwback , just a month too early for boomer status ( defined by William Strauss and Neal Howe ’ s prescient 1991 book Generations as starting in birth year 1943 ) .
While 37 % of 2016 Republican voters backed post-boomer candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio , only 4 % of Democratic primary and caucus voters backed Gen Xers Pete Buttigieg , Tulsi Gabbard , and Andrew Yang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean that younger generations have no influence .
The G.I .
Generation maintained its hold on the White House after the 1960s and 1970s ghetto riots and campus rebellions .
But it ceded control of the culture to boomer rebels , as Ronald Reagan lamented in his 1989 farewell address .
Similarly , as boomers keep hold of the presidency , many politicians and corporate executives seem ready to cede control of the culture to Black Lives Matter and campus radicals .
They ’ re apparently cool with statue smashing , unbothered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smashing of the Bamiyan statues in Afghanistan — and with trashing American history , as with the New York Times ’ s 1619 Project .

Americans naturally tend to think of their presidents, like their families, in terms of generations. This may have started with the news that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson had both died on July 4, 1826, half a century to the day from the time the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence they jointly drafted.
The Founding Generation (born 1732-1767) held the presidency for nearly half a century, from 1789 to 1837. Five of those presidents were adults during the American Revolution; two had childhood memories of it: John Quincy Adams, who watched gunfire smoke from Bunker Hill at age 7, and Andrew Jackson, who was slashed by a British officer’s sword at age 14.
Less than a month after Jackson left office, a 28-year-old Abraham Lincoln gave his Springfield Lyceum speech, venerating the Founders and warning of mob rule. He was part of the Antebellum Generation (birth years 1773-1809), which held office between 1837 and 1869. It grappled with the fissiparous issue of slavery and its expansion. After a bloody civil war, this generation abolished the “peculiar institution.”
The Civil War Generation presidents (birth years 1821-1843) all fought in that war, except Grover Cleveland, who paid $300 not to do so. Regarded by historians as undistinguished, they presided over amazing technological innovation and tumultuous economic growth in the years 1869-1901. They were followed by the post-Civil War Generation presidents (birth years 1856-74), all college graduates, who led America’s emergence as a world power between 1901 and 1933.
Each generation held the presidency for 30-some years, as did the three presidents (birth years 1882-90) who served as subordinates in World War I and commanders in World War II, holding office from 1933 to 1961.
There was more turnover for the seven presidents of the G.I. Generation (birth years 1908-24), each with World War II military experience, who served from 1961 to 1993. One was murdered, one resigned, and two were defeated for reelection. But after floundering in the late 1960s and 1970s, in the 1980s, they presided over revived broad-based economic growth and nearly bloodless victory in the Cold War.
How have their successors, the Baby Boom Generation (birth years 1946-1961), done? They started off when some thought we’d reached “the end of history,” with democratic capitalism not seriously challenged. Its first three presidents each served eight years (the first such trio since the political allies Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe) and followed elite consensus policies on immigration and trade.
But some consensus policies imploded. Subsidies for minority homebuying produced the 2008 financial collapse and lingering slow growth afterward. The non-enforcement of immigration restrictions produced at least marginal downward pressure on low-skill wages and widening economic inequality.
The trade opening to China produced cheap consumer goods but didn’t move China toward rule-based conduct or anything like democracy. And it facilitated the spread of coronaviruses — with minimal disruption earlier this century, but this year with the devastating COVID-19, which has killed thousands and shut down the economies of Europe and North America.
The arguable failures of consensus trade and immigration policies fueled the oddball candidacy of Donald Trump in 2016. So did dynastic politics: Trump used Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton as foils in the primaries and in the general election.
Baby boomer self-righteousness played a role too. Consider Trump’s stubborn refusal to admit error or avoid trivia or Barack Obama’s (and Hillary Clinton’s) apparent attempts to delegitimize Trump, in contrast to earlier presidents’ and candidates' choices not to delegitimizing the close presidential winners in 1960 and in 2000.
Now, after nearly 30 years, the boomers won’t go away. Trump, the third president born in 1946, is running again. Joe Biden, born December 1942, is technically a generational throwback, just a month too early for boomer status (defined by William Strauss and Neal Howe’s prescient 1991 book Generations as starting in birth year 1943). While 37% of 2016 Republican voters backed post-boomer candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, only 4% of Democratic primary and caucus voters backed Gen Xers Pete Buttigieg, Tulsi Gabbard, and Andrew Yang this year.
That doesn’t mean that younger generations have no influence. The G.I. Generation maintained its hold on the White House after the 1960s and 1970s ghetto riots and campus rebellions. But it ceded control of the culture to boomer rebels, as Ronald Reagan lamented in his 1989 farewell address.
Similarly, as boomers keep hold of the presidency, many politicians and corporate executives seem ready to cede control of the culture to Black Lives Matter and campus radicals. They’re apparently cool with statue smashing, unbothered by the resemblance to the Taliban’s smashing of the Bamiyan statues in Afghanistan — and with trashing American history, as with the New York Times’s 1619 Project.
Happy Fourth of July.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-01--Jon Huntsman behind in bid to reclaim Utah governorship

Jon Huntsman 's hopes to become Utah governor again 11 years after leaving the office are n't looking good , with the state 's lieutenant governor , Spencer Cox , leading in Republican primary voting .
Early Wednesday , Cox led Huntsman 37 % -34.3 % .
But with a large swath of mail-in votes still to be counted , the race has n't been called .
Cox , 44 , was the favorite for much of the four-way race for the GOP nomination to replace incumbent Gov .
Gary Herbert after a decade as Utah 's chief executive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ polled as the front-runners , essentially tying in a Salt Lake Chamber survey published last week .
The other candidates , former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes and ex-Utah GOP Chairman Thomas Wright , trailed the top two contenders .
All four men steered clear of criticizing President Trump in a state that 's home to U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney , one of Trump 's most vocal Republican critics .
Tuesday 's contest was conducted entirely by mail for the first time under the new rules introduced in April .
In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in all the campaigns .
Each of the rivals relied more heavily on TV advertising than in the past .
And while Cox was tasked with managing much of Utah 's response to the outbreak , Huntsman himself tested positive for the novel respiratory illness in the closing weeks of his bid .
Results were held until 10 p.m. MT to accommodate voters who had until midnight Tuesday to postmark their ballots .
Election officials have three weeks to tabulate the outcome .
Herbert , Huntsman 's successor who 's not seeking reelection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cox , before Huntsman entered the race in November .
But Huntsman , Utah 's governor from 2005 to 2009 , picked up support from Sen. Mike Lee and retired Sen. Orrin Hatch .
Huntsman , a 2012 GOP presidential candidate , was Trump 's leading Russian diplomat from 2017 to 2019 .
He was also President Barack Obama 's ambassador to China between 2009 and 2011 , and President George H. W. Bush 's envoy to Singapore from 1992 to 1993 .
Democrat Chris Peterson , a University of Utah law professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the fall .

Jon Huntsman's hopes to become Utah governor again 11 years after leaving the office aren't looking good, with the state's lieutenant governor, Spencer Cox, leading in Republican primary voting.
Early Wednesday, Cox led Huntsman 37%-34.3%. But with a large swath of mail-in votes still to be counted, the race hasn't been called.
Cox, 44, was the favorite for much of the four-way race for the GOP nomination to replace incumbent Gov. Gary Herbert after a decade as Utah's chief executive. Cox and Huntsman, 60, consistently polled as the front-runners, essentially tying in a Salt Lake Chamber survey published last week. The other candidates, former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes and ex-Utah GOP Chairman Thomas Wright, trailed the top two contenders.
All four men steered clear of criticizing President Trump in a state that's home to U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, one of Trump's most vocal Republican critics.
Tuesday's contest was conducted entirely by mail for the first time under the new rules introduced in April. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic was an influential factor in all the campaigns. Each of the rivals relied more heavily on TV advertising than in the past. And while Cox was tasked with managing much of Utah's response to the outbreak, Huntsman himself tested positive for the novel respiratory illness in the closing weeks of his bid.
Results were held until 10 p.m. MT to accommodate voters who had until midnight Tuesday to postmark their ballots. Election officials have three weeks to tabulate the outcome.
Herbert, Huntsman's successor who's not seeking reelection, endorsed his No. 2, Cox, before Huntsman entered the race in November. But Huntsman, Utah's governor from 2005 to 2009, picked up support from Sen. Mike Lee and retired Sen. Orrin Hatch.
Huntsman, a 2012 GOP presidential candidate, was Trump's leading Russian diplomat from 2017 to 2019. He was also President Barack Obama's ambassador to China between 2009 and 2011, and President George H. W. Bush's envoy to Singapore from 1992 to 1993.
Democrat Chris Peterson, a University of Utah law professor, will be the Republican's opponent in the fall.