theguardian--2020-09-27--Donald Trump hit by stunning New York Times tax returns report – as it happened

I ’ ve said this before and I ’ ll no doubt say it again , but if there is going to be a # ButHerEmails hashtag for this election , it should be # ButTheJudges .
The Trump administration has not just appointed ( probably ) three supreme court justices – it has appointed around 200 federal judges , a hugely consequential achievement with the power to shape US society for decades to come .
Senate majority leader Mitch “ Mule Piss ” McConnell deserves more credit – in the sense of giving the devil his due , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressive – than Trump .
But if there is one person connected to Trump who should be doing victory laps right now it is Don McGahn , the former White House counsel and Federalist Society mover and shaker who put up with no end of what is technically known as shit , in order to see the judges project through .
And he is doing victory laps , telling CBS Face the Nation earlier Trump “ made a number of promises on the campaign trail , one is his judicial selection , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s had a record number of judges out there – on the circuit courts.
” The New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt wrote an extremely good book about all this .
In response to McGahn ’ s interview on CBS Face the Nation earlier , he tweeted : It really is the case that the Republican establishment has decided to put up with everything Trump can fling at it – temptation to make a King Kong-related gag about what apes often fling at the bars of their cages … resisted – because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former White House chief of staff , treasury secretary and secretary of state James Baker , “ conservative judges , tax cuts and deregulation ” .
I can ’ t say often enough that Baker is a man whose best friend was George HW Bush , the head of a family Trump has trashed , trampled and traduced .
Baker rubbed Bush ’ s feet as he died .
And yet Baker will vote for Trump .
McGahn was subject to truly astonishing pressure , stress and abuse before he finally left the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump too .
Amazing what power can do .

Bryan Armen Graham (now), Tom Lutz  and Martin Pengelly (earlier)

27 Sept 2020 23.56 BST A federal appeals court on Sunday temporarily halted a six-day extension for counting absentee ballots in Wisconsin’s presidential election, a momentary victory for Republicans in the one of the key battleground states. The AP reports: As it stands, ballots will now be due by 8 p.m. on Election Day. A lower court judge had sided with Democrats and their allies to extend the deadline until Nov. 9. Democrats sought more time as a way to help deal with an expected historic high number of absentee ballots. The Democratic National Committee, the state Democratic Party and allied groups including the League of Women Voters sued to extend the deadline for counting absentee ballots after the April presidential primary saw long lines, fewer polling places, a shortage of workers and thousands of ballots mailed days after the election. U.S. District Judge William Conley ruled Sept. 21 that ballots that arrive up to six days after Election Day will count as long as they’re postmarked by Election Day. Sunday’s action puts Conley’s order on hold until the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals or U.S. Supreme Court issues any further action. No further details were immediately posted by the appeals court. US district judge William Conley ruled on 21 September that ballots that arrive up to six days after election day will count as long as they’re postmarked by election day. Sunday’s action puts Conley’s order on hold until the 7th Circuit US court of appeals or US supreme court issues any further action. Photograph: Mike DeVries/AP
27 Sept 2020 23.12 BST Trump is pressed further on his tax information. Asked if he could give the American people a sense of what he pays in federal income tax, he says: “First of all, I’ve paid a lot and I’ve paid a lot of state income taxes, too. ... It’ll all be revealed. It’s going to come out, but after after the audit. They’re doing their assessment. We’ve been negotiating for a long time. Things get settled, like in the IRS. But right now when you’re under audit, you don’t do it. You don’t do that. So we’re under audit. But the story is a total fake.” President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference on Sunday at the White House. Photograph: Joshua Roberts/Getty Images
Updated at 23.51 BST
27 Sept 2020 23.02 BST Trump dismisses New York Times expose as 'fake news' Donald Trump has dismissed the New York Times revelation of his tax information as “fake news”. “It’s fake news,” he says. “It’s totally fake news. Made up, fake. We went through the same stories, you could have asked me the same questions four years ago, I had to litigate this and had to talk about it. Totally fake news. Actually, I paid tax. And you’ll see that as soon as my tax returns – it’s under audit, they’ve been under audit for a long time, the IRS does not treat me well, they treat me like the Tea Party, like they treated the Tea Party, and they don’t treat me well. They treat me very badly. You have people in the IRS that treat me very, very badly. But they’re under audit. And when they’re not, I would be proud to show you. But that’s just fake news.” Trump says he didn’t know the story was going to be published today, but “somebody said they were going to a negative [story].” (His attorney is on record in the piece.) 00:51 'Fake news': Trump denies tax claims from New York Times – video
Updated at 07.15 BST
27 Sept 2020 22.57 BST President Trump says he did not discuss the November election with his third supreme court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, as he thought it would not be appropriate. He’s then asked whether he was joking about demanding Joe Biden take a drug test before Tuesday’s debate. “I’m not joking,” he says. “I’m willing to take a drug test and I think he should, too. Because he’s had a very uneven – I watched him when he was debating Pocahontas and Harris, who treated him so badly – but I watched him and he was out of it.”
27 Sept 2020 22.49 BST Donald Trump has spent more than 10 minutes riffing on an array of baseless conspiracy theories: Hunter Biden, the impeachment “hoax”, widespread voter fraud and more. “These are all things that are very big on the internet,” he says. He has yet to acknowledge the New York Times expose.
Updated at 22.52 BST
27 Sept 2020 22.38 BST “We have noticed some comments made in the media about my incredibly qualified nominee, Amy,” Trump says in opening Sunday afternoon’s news conference from the White House podium as Rudy Giuliani and Chris Christie look on from the wings. “I’m sort of waiting for the New York Times and the Washington Post, ABC, CBS NBC, CNN, MSDNC – I’m waiting for them to endorse me.” The briefing has immediately taken on the tenor of a campaign speech.
27 Sept 2020 22.33 BST New York Times executive editor Dean Baquet has written a note explaining the newspaper’s decision to publish Trump’s tax information. “We are publishing this report because we believe citizens should understand as much as possible about their leaders and representatives – their priorities, their experiences and also their finances,” he writes. “Every president since the mid-1970s has made his tax information public. The tradition ensures that an official with the power to shake markets and change policy does not seek to benefit financially from his actions.” Baquet continues: “Mr. Trump, one of the wealthiest presidents in the nation’s history, has broken with that practice. As a candidate and as president, Mr. Trump has said he wanted to make his tax returns public, but he has never done so. In fact, he has fought relentlessly to hide them from public view and has falsely asserted that he could not release them because he was being audited by the Internal Revenue Service. More recently, Mr. Trump and the Justice Department have fought subpoenas from congressional and New York State investigators seeking his taxes and other financial records.”
27 Sept 2020 22.17 BST New York Times publishes Trump's tax information As we wait for Donald Trump to take the podium in the White House briefing room, the New York Times reveals it has obtained the US president’s tax return data for thousands of personal and corporate returns going back more than two decades. Donald J. Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes the year he won the presidency. In his first year in the White House, he paid another $750. He had paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years — largely because he reported losing much more money than he made. As the president wages a re-election campaign that polls say he is in danger of losing, his finances are under stress, beset by losses and hundreds of millions of dollars in debt coming due that he has personally guaranteed. Also hanging over him is a decade-long audit battle with the Internal Revenue Service over the legitimacy of a $72.9 million tax refund that he claimed, and received, after declaring huge losses. An adverse ruling could cost him more than $100 million. The Times report also reveals the financial pressure on Trump is mounting as he is personally responsible for loans and other debts totaling $421m, with most of it coming due within four years. “Should he win re-election, his lenders could be placed in the unprecedented position of weighing whether to foreclose on a sitting president,” it reads.
Updated at 22.29 BST
27 Sept 2020 21.25 BST The Washington Post has published an investigation on Donald Trump’s seizure of his father’s estate while the future US president faced personal financial ruin in 1990. Notably, Michael Kranish’s piece does not rely on any anonymous sources, rather audiotaped conversations, depositions and other public documents: Donald Trump was facing financial disaster in 1990 when he came up with an audacious plan to exert control of his father’s estate. His creditors threatened to force him into personal bankruptcy, and his first wife, Ivana, wanted “a billion dollars” in a divorce settlement, Donald Trump said in a deposition. So he sent an accountant and a lawyer to see his father, Fred Trump Sr., who was told he needed to immediately sign a document changing the will according to his son’s wishes, according to depositions from family members. It was a fragile moment for the senior Trump, who was 85 years old and had built a real estate empire worth hundreds of millions of dollars. He would soon be diagnosed with cognitive problems, such as being unable to recall things he was told 30 minutes earlier or remember his birth date, according to his medical records, which were included in a related court case. Now, those records and other sources of information about the episode obtained by The Washington Post reveal the extent of Fred Trump Sr.’s cognitive impairment and how Donald’s effort to change his father’s will tore apart the Trump family, which continues to reverberate today. The recent release of a tell-all book by the president’s niece Mary L. Trump and the disclosure of secret recordings of her conversations with her aunt reflect the ongoing resentment of some family members toward Donald Trump’s attempt to change his father’s will. With the election weeks away, the documents and recordings provide more fodder for Mary Trump’s continuing efforts to see her uncle defeated by Democrat Joe Biden, whom she has said she would do “everything in my power” to elect. Trump’s sister Maryanne Trump Barry was recorded by her niece in January 2019 expressing outrage over her brother’s efforts to change the will as their father’s mental capacity was declining. “Dad was in dementia,” Barry said.
Updated at 21.35 BST
27 Sept 2020 20.39 BST Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, said on Sunday she thinks a deal can be reached with the White House on a coronavirus relief package and that talks were continuing, Reuters reports. “We are having our conversations. And when I have a conversation with the administration, it is in good faith,” Pelosi said on CNN. “I trust (Treasury) Secretary (Steve) Mnuchin to represent something that can reach a solution. And I believe we can come to an agreement.” Formal talks between Pelosi, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, Mnuchin and the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, aimed at hammering out a relief package broke down on 7 August with the two sides far apart. Pelosi and Mnuchin have since spoken by phone. With formal Covid-19 relief talks stalled for weeks, the house ways and means committee chairman, Richard Neal, on Thursday said Democratic lawmakers were starting to draft a bill totalling at least $2.2tn. Pelosi on Sunday said it was “definitely a possibility” that she would offer legislation in the coming days if the impasse with the Trump administration continued but said she would rather have a deal with the White House than a “rhetorical argument”. Any legislation the Democratic-led House might approve would be unlikely to advance in the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans. Pelosi and Schumer had originally sought a $3.4tn relief package but have scaled back their demands. Meadows has previously said that Trump would be willing to sign a $1.3tn bill.
27 Sept 2020 19.59 BST Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, who will moderate Tuesday night’s first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, will not be tasked with fact-checking the candidates in real time, the co-chair of the debate commission has confirmed. “We don’t expect Chris or our other moderators to be fact checkers,” Frank Fahrenkopf, co-chair of the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), said Sunday on CNN’s Reliable Sources. “The minute the TV is off there will be plenty of fact checkers.” He added: “When we choose moderators, we make very clear to them that there’s a vast difference between being a moderator in a debate and being a reporter who is interviewing someone. When you’re interviewing someone, if they say something that is in direct opposition to something they said a week ago, your duty is to follow up and say, wait a minute, you didn’t say that a week ago. But that’s not the case in the debate. If one of these candidates says something on the stage Tuesday, it’s the role of the other person in a debate to be the one to raise that and say, wait a minute, you’re changing the position and so forth rather than the moderator.” Fahrenkopf went on to say the CPD would not comply with Trump’s demand – which he reiterated in a tweet on Sunday morning – that both candidates be drug-tested before Tuesday’s meeting. “One of my daughters is a doctor and I’m sure she doesn’t want me taking anybody’s drug test,” Fahrenkopf said. “So, no, that’s not – that’s not within our bailiwick that the commission is going to do or consider.”
27 Sept 2020 19.31 BST Donald Trump departed Trump National in the presidential motorcade shortly before 2pm after spending the morning at his private golf club in Virginia. As has become customary during the president’s visits to the Loudoun county property, groups of supporters and protesters gathered outside were there to make themselves heard as Trump left the property. According to a White House pool report: There is still a cluster of protesters outside the club, both pro and anti Trump. One sign read “GOP senators are hypocrites.” Another person was laying out small fake gravestones along the side of the road with a sign that said “he knew.” Another sign said “Epic failure democracy killer.” There were also pro-Trump flags and 3 Jeeps drove back and forth on the road with Trump campaign flags waving from the back. Dueling chants of “vote him out” and “four more years” broke out among the assembled group. The chants intensified when the motorcade began rolling. There were about 20 protesters on one side of the street; pool didn’t have visibility to count on the other side, but it was a roughly similar amount. Donald Trump swings during a round of golf on Sunday at Trump National golf club in Sterling, Virginia. Photograph: Tasos Katopodis/Reuters A protester stands outside the Trump National on Sunday. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump’s motorcade is met by protesters and supporters on Sunday outside Trump National. Photograph: Ken Cedeno/Reuters
Updated at 19.33 BST
27 Sept 2020 18.17 BST Martin Pengelly Biden returned to his theme from earlier remarks about the process for replacing Ginsburg, lamenting Republicans’ determination to rush Amy Coney Barrett on to the court in defiance of their own precedent, if not of any actual constitutional provision. More in hope than expectation, surely, he also repeated his call for Republican senators to “step back from the brink” and pause the rush to confirmation. Two, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – both supporters of abortion rights, as it happens – have said they do not think a justice should be confirmed before the election. That leaves Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, with a 51-49 vote to confirm – more than enough. In Wilmington, Biden insisted:
The voters will not stand for this abuse of power. And if we are to call ourselves a democracy, their voices must be heard. I urge the American people to keep voting and to let your current Senators know that you want to be heard before they vote to confirm a new Justice. And I urge every Senator to take a step back from the brink — to take off the blinders of politics for just one critical moment — and stand up for the Constitution you swore to uphold. This is the time to de-escalate, to put an end to the shattering of precedents that has thrown our nation into chaos. Just because you have the power to do something doesn’t absolve you from your responsibility to do right by the American people. Uphold your constitutional duty. Summon your conscience. Stand up for the people. Stand up for our cherished system of checks and balances. Americans are watching. Americans are voting. We must listen to them now. We must allow them to exercise their sacred power.
Updated at 18.30 BST


theguardian--2020-09-27--Six key findings from the New York Times' Trump taxes bombshell

The publication of Donald Trump ’ s records by the New York Times is one of the biggest bombshells to hit an unprecedented 2020 election campaign already been hit by a litany of scandals , a bitter fight over a supreme court nomination and a pandemic in which 7m Americans have been infected and more than 200,000 have died , during a bungled federal response .
The president ’ s taxes have long been the great white whale of political reporters in America as well as prosecutors keen to find evidence of wrongdoing .
Democrats too were eager to seize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with which to beat the Trump campaign .
The Times , with its shock report published on Sunday evening , appears to have won the race .
Its publication of details from the documents could send shock waves through the campaign as the key first debate between Trump and challenger Joe Biden looms , in Ohio on Tuesday night .
Here are some of its key findings : The Times reported that Trump paid no federal income taxes in 11 of 18 years the newspaper looked at .
In 2017 , after he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only $ 750 .
This is despite Trump often railing against taxes in America and ushering through a series of tax cuts that critics say mostly helps the rich and big business .
The Times said of Trump ’ s immediate predecessors : “ Barack Obama and George W Bush each regularly paid more than $ 100,000 a year.
” Trump is involved in a decade-long audit with the Internal Revenue Service over a $ 72.9m tax refund he claimed , and received , after declaring huge losses .
A ruling against him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Times reported .
It added : “ In 2011 , the IRS began an audit reviewing the legitimacy of the refund .
Almost a decade later , the case remains unresolved , for unknown reasons , and could ultimately end up in federal court , where it could become a matter of public record.
” The president ’ s oldest daughter , while working as an employee of the Trump Organization , appears to have received “ consulting fees ” that helped reduce the family ’ s tax bill , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further tarnish the reputation of Ivanka , a senior White House adviser married to another , Jared Kushner , who often tries to distance herself from some of the biggest scandals of her father ’ s administration .
She is widely believed to harbor political ambitions of her own after Trump leaves office .
The Times reported : “ Trump ’ s private records show that his company once paid $ 747,622 in fees to an unnamed consultant for hotel projects in Hawaii and Vancouver , British Columbia .
Ivanka Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when joining the White House staff in 2017 – show that she had received an identical amount through a consulting company she co-owned.
” The Times was brutal in its assessment of Trump ’ s businesses , about which he often boasts and on the back of which he sought to promote a carefully curated image as a master businessman .
“ Trump ’ s core enterprises – from his constellation of golf courses to his conservative-magnet hotel in Washington – report losing millions , if not tens of millions , of dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
It detailed how since 2000 , Trump has reported losing more than $ 315m at his golf courses , with much of that coming from Trump National Doral in Florida .
His Washington hotel , which opened in 2016 and has been the subject of much speculation regarding federal ethics laws , has lost more than $ 55m .
The newspaper also reported that Trump is facing a major financial bill , as within the next four years , hundreds of millions of dollars in loans will come due .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of those obligations .
The paper reported : “ In the 1990s , Mr Trump nearly ruined himself by personally guaranteeing hundreds of millions of dollars in loans , and he has since said that he regretted doing so .
But he has taken the same step again , his tax records show .
He appears to be responsible for loans totaling $ 421m , most of which is coming due within four years.
” In a blunt summary of the problem , the Times speculated : “ Should he win re-election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unprecedented position of weighing whether to foreclose on a sitting president.
” The issue of whether Trump ’ s businesses benefit from his position in the White House has been one of the long-running themes of reporting on the Trump presidency .
The global nature of the Trump Organization and its portfolio of hotels , resorts and other interests has left Trump open to speculation that lobbyists , business leaders and foreign powers could spend money in them to try and peddle influence in the US .
The Times report on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s businesses have indeed benefited from his political career .
“ Since he became a leading presidential candidate , he has received large amounts of money from lobbyists , politicians and foreign officials who pay to stay at his properties or join his clubs , ” the newspaper reported , before detailing monies paid at his Mar-a-Largo resort in Florida , his Washington hotel and other locations .

The publication of Donald Trump’s tax records by the New York Times is one of the biggest bombshells to hit a 2020 election campaign already buffeted by a litany of scandals, a bitter fight over a supreme court nomination and a pandemic in which 7m Americans have been infected and more than 200,000 have died.
The president’s taxes have long been the great white whale of political reporters in America as well as prosecutors keen to find evidence of wrongdoing. Democrats too were eager to seize on them as a potentially game-changing stick with which to beat the Trump campaign.
The Times, with its shock report published on Sunday evening, appears to have won the race. Its publication of details from the documents could send shock waves through the campaign as the key first debate between Trump and challenger Joe Biden looms, in Ohio on Tuesday night.
Here are its key findings:
Trump pays little tax
The Times reported that Trump paid no federal income taxes in 11 of 18 years the newspaper looked at. In 2017, after he became president, his tax bill was only $750. This is despite Trump often railing against taxes in America and ushering through a series of tax cuts that critics say mostly helps the rich and big business.
Barack Obama and George W Bush each regularly paid more than $100,000 a year
The Times said of Trump’s immediate predecessors: “Barack Obama and George W Bush each regularly paid more than $100,000 a year.”
A long audit – with potentially hefty costs
Trump is involved in a decade-long audit with the Internal Revenue Service over a $72.9m tax refund he claimed, and received, after declaring huge losses. A ruling against him could cost him more than $100m, the Times reported.
It added: “In 2011, the IRS began an audit reviewing the legitimacy of the refund. Almost a decade later, the case remains unresolved, for unknown reasons, and could ultimately end up in federal court, where it could become a matter of public record.”
Ivanka helps reduce Trump’s tax burden
The president’s oldest daughter, while working as an employee of the Trump Organization, appears to have received “consulting fees” that helped reduce the family’s tax bill, the Times said. Such a revelation might further tarnish the reputation of Ivanka, a senior White House adviser married to another, Jared Kushner, who often tries to distance herself from some of the biggest scandals of her father’s administration. She is widely believed to harbor political ambitions of her own after Trump leaves office.
The Times reported: “Trump’s private records show that his company once paid $747,622 in fees to an unnamed consultant for hotel projects in Hawaii and Vancouver, British Columbia. Ivanka Trump’s public disclosure forms – which she filed when joining the White House staff in 2017 – show that she had received an identical amount through a consulting company she co-owned.”
His lenders could be placed in the unprecedented position of weighing whether to foreclose on a sitting president
Trump businesses lose money
The Times was brutal in its assessment of Trump’s businesses, about which he often boasts and on the back of which he sought to promote a carefully curated image as a master businessman. “Trump’s core enterprises – from his constellation of golf courses to his conservative-magnet hotel in Washington – report losing millions, if not tens of millions, of dollars year after year,” the newspaper said.
It detailed how since 2000, Trump has reported losing more than $315m at his golf courses, with much of that coming from Trump National Doral in Florida. His Washington hotel, which opened in 2016 and has been the subject of much speculation regarding federal ethics laws, has lost more than $55m.
Trump has a big bill to pay
The newspaper also reported that Trump is facing a major financial bill, as within the next four years, hundreds of millions of dollars in loans will come due. The paper said Trump is personally responsible for many of those obligations.
The paper reported: “In the 1990s, Mr Trump nearly ruined himself by personally guaranteeing hundreds of millions of dollars in loans, and he has since said that he regretted doing so. But he has taken the same step again, his tax records show. He appears to be responsible for loans totaling $421m, most of which is coming due within four years.”
In a blunt summary of the problem, the Times speculated: “Should he win re-election, his lenders could be placed in the unprecedented position of weighing whether to foreclose on a sitting president.”
Trump businesses profit from his presidency
The issue of whether Trump’s businesses benefit from his position in the White House has been one of the long-running themes of reporting on the Trump presidency. The global nature of the Trump Organization and its portfolio of hotels, resorts and other interests has left Trump open to speculation that lobbyists, business leaders and foreign powers could spend money in them to try and peddle influence in the US.
The Times report on his tax returns is clear that Trump’s businesses have indeed benefited from his political career.
“Since he became a leading presidential candidate, he has received large amounts of money from lobbyists, politicians and foreign officials who pay to stay at his properties or join his clubs,” the newspaper reported, before detailing monies paid at his Mar-a-Largo resort in Florida, his Washington hotel and other locations.


theguardian--2020-09-27--New York Times publishes Donald Trump's tax returns in election bombshell

Donald Trump , a self-proclaimed billionaire , paid only $ 750 in federal income taxes in the year he was elected US president , according to a stunning New York Times investigation that could shake up the presidential election .
“ Trump taxes show chronic losses and years of tax avoidance , ” was the banner headline on the paper ’ s website on Sunday .
The president ’ s tax returns have long been the holy grail of American political reporting .
The president “ paid $ 750 in federal income taxes the year he won the presidency ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ in his first year in the White House , he paid another $ 750 .
“ He had paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years – largely because he reported losing much more money than he made.
” In all , the paper said , Trump paid no federal income taxes in 11 of 18 years its reporters examined .
Many of his businesses , including his golf courses , report significant financial losses – which have helped him to lower his taxes .
The Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ comprise information that Mr Trump has disclosed to the IRS , not the findings of an independent financial examination .
They report that Mr Trump owns hundreds of millions of dollars in valuable assets , but they do not reveal his true wealth .
Nor do they reveal any previously unreported connections to Russia.
” The paper said it would not publish the documents , in order to protect its source .
At a White House press briefing on Sunday , Trump made wild allegations about plots against him and about Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time on Tuesday .
Eventually , he dismissed the Times report as “ totally fake news ” .
He said : “ We went through the same stories , you could have asked me the same questions four years ago , I had to litigate this and talk about it .
“ Totally fake news , no .
Actually I paid tax .
And you ’ ll see that as soon as my tax returns – it ’ s under audit , they ’ ve been under audit for a long time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not treat me well … they treat me very badly .
You have people in the IRS – they treat me very badly.
” The president added : “ The New York Times tried it , the same thing , they want to create a little bit of a story .
They ’ re doing anything they can .
That ’ s the least of it .
The stories that I read are so fake , they ’ re so phony.
” Pressed on why a billionaire only paid a few hundred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency , Trump insisted : “ First of all I paid a lot , and I paid a lot of state income taxes too .
The New York state charges a lot and I paid a lot of money in state .
It ’ ll all be revealed .
It ’ s going to come out but after the audit.
” The revelations threaten to damage Trump ’ s repeated claim to be a successful businessman and therefore a capable steward of the US economy .
The Times also said he has used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax bill .
He faced a possible hit of “ more than $ 100m ” if he lost “ a decade-long audit battle with the IRS over the legitimacy of a $ 72.9m tax refund that he claimed , and received , after declaring huge losses ” .
It promised more stories in the coming weeks , adding : “ The tax returns that Mr Trump has long fought to keep private tell a story fundamentally different from the one he has sold to the American public.
” Trump will face Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has long resisted demands by political opponents and the media to release decades of tax information .
He is the first president since the 1970s to keep his tax returns concealed .
The Times reported on Trump family tax affairs in late 2018 , winning a Pulitzer Prize .
“ Even while declaring losses , he has managed to enjoy a lavish lifestyle by taking tax deductions on what most people would consider personal expenses , including residences , aircraft and $ 70,000 in hairstyling for television , ” the Times reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while working as an employee of the Trump Organization , appears to have received ‘ consulting fees ’ that also helped reduce the family ’ s tax bill.
” The paper added : “ Over the past two decades , Mr Trump has paid about $ 400m less in combined federal income taxes than a very wealthy person who paid the average for that group each year.
” Alan Garten , a lawyer for the Trump Organization , told the Times that “ most , if not all , of the facts appear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Over the past decade , President Trump has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government , including paying millions in personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2015.
” The newspaper pointed out that “ personal taxes ” appeared to cover other federal taxes , including social security and Medicare .
The report prompted instant criticism .
Ryan Thomas , a spokesperson for the progressive advocacy organisation Stand Up America , said : “ Four years ago , Donald Trump broke decades of precedent when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the public .
At each turn since , he ’ s attempted to shield his financial records from the public – even as congressional and criminal investigators look into how he ’ s profited off the presidency and his decades of fraudulent tax schemes .
“ We ’ ve demanded Trump ’ s tax returns for years because the American people deserve to know what he ’ s paying – and the answer appears to be very little .
A man who uses dubious tax schemes to avoid paying taxes or lies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no place in the Oval Office .
“ This is just one more reason why we must vote to evict him .
”

David Smith in Washington and Martin Pengelly in New York

Donald Trump, a self-proclaimed billionaire, paid only $750 in federal income taxes in the year he was elected US president, according to a stunning New York Times investigation that could shake up the presidential election.
“Trump taxes show chronic losses and years of tax avoidance,” was the banner headline on the paper’s website on Sunday. The president’s tax returns have long been the holy grail of American political reporting.
The president “paid $750 in federal income taxes the year he won the presidency”, the paper reported, adding that “in his first year in the White House, he paid another $750.
“He had paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years – largely because he reported losing much more money than he made.”
In all, the paper said, Trump paid no federal income taxes in 11 of 18 years its reporters examined. Many of his businesses, including his golf courses, report significant financial losses – which have helped him to lower his taxes.
The Times also said the documents it had obtained “comprise information that Mr Trump has disclosed to the IRS, not the findings of an independent financial examination. They report that Mr Trump owns hundreds of millions of dollars in valuable assets, but they do not reveal his true wealth. Nor do they reveal any previously unreported connections to Russia.”
The paper said it would not publish the documents, in order to protect its source.
00:51 'Fake news': Trump denies tax claims from New York Times – video
At a White House press briefing on Sunday, Trump made wild allegations about plots against him and about Biden, who he will debate for the first time on Tuesday. Eventually, he dismissed the Times report as “totally fake news”.
He said: “We went through the same stories, you could have asked me the same questions four years ago, I had to litigate this and talk about it.
“Totally fake news, no. Actually I paid tax. And you’ll see that as soon as my tax returns – it’s under audit, they’ve been under audit for a long time. The [Internal Revenue Service] does not treat me well … they treat me very badly. You have people in the IRS – they treat me very badly.”
The president added: “The New York Times tried it, the same thing, they want to create a little bit of a story. They’re doing anything they can. That’s the least of it. The stories that I read are so fake, they’re so phony.”
Pressed on why a billionaire only paid a few hundred dollars in the year he won the presidency, Trump insisted: “First of all I paid a lot, and I paid a lot of state income taxes too. The New York state charges a lot and I paid a lot of money in state. It’ll all be revealed. It’s going to come out but after the audit.”
The revelations threaten to damage Trump’s repeated claim to be a successful businessman and therefore a capable steward of the US economy.
The Times also said he has used “questionable measures” to reduce his tax bill. He faced a possible hit of “more than $100m” if he lost “a decade-long audit battle with the IRS over the legitimacy of a $72.9m tax refund that he claimed, and received, after declaring huge losses”.
It promised more stories in the coming weeks, adding: “The tax returns that Mr Trump has long fought to keep private tell a story fundamentally different from the one he has sold to the American public.”
Trump will face Joe Biden at the polls on 3 November. He has long resisted demands by political opponents and the media to release decades of tax information. He is the first president since the 1970s to keep his tax returns concealed.
The Times reported on Trump family tax affairs in late 2018, winning a Pulitzer Prize.
“Even while declaring losses, he has managed to enjoy a lavish lifestyle by taking tax deductions on what most people would consider personal expenses, including residences, aircraft and $70,000 in hairstyling for television,” the Times reported on Sunday.
“Ivanka Trump, while working as an employee of the Trump Organization, appears to have received ‘consulting fees’ that also helped reduce the family’s tax bill.”
The paper added: “Over the past two decades, Mr Trump has paid about $400m less in combined federal income taxes than a very wealthy person who paid the average for that group each year.”
Alan Garten, a lawyer for the Trump Organization, told the Times that “most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate”.
He said: “Over the past decade, President Trump has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government, including paying millions in personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2015.”
The newspaper pointed out that “personal taxes” appeared to cover other federal taxes, including social security and Medicare.
The report prompted instant criticism. Ryan Thomas, a spokesperson for the progressive advocacy organisation Stand Up America, said: “Four years ago, Donald Trump broke decades of precedent when he refused to release his tax returns to the public. At each turn since, he’s attempted to shield his financial records from the public – even as congressional and criminal investigators look into how he’s profited off the presidency and his decades of fraudulent tax schemes.
“We’ve demanded Trump’s tax returns for years because the American people deserve to know what he’s paying – and the answer appears to be very little. A man who uses dubious tax schemes to avoid paying taxes or lies to the public about his finances has no place in the Oval Office.
“This is just one more reason why we must vote to evict him.”


theguardian--2020-09-27--Trump deserves four more years, says ex-counsel who called him 'King Kong'

Don McGahn , the former White House counsel credited as an architect of Donald Trump ’ s makeover of the federal judiciary , has defended Amy Coney Barrett ’ s nomination to the supreme court , declaring the conservative judge he vetted was “ the right person at the right time ” .
Perhaps more surprisingly , in a rare public appearance on Sunday McGahn also laid out why he believed Trump deserves four more years in power , despite having incurred the wrath of his former boss who blamed him for failing to protect him from the Mueller inquiry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump to King Kong .
“ He promised justices in the mold of Antonin Scalia , a great justice , ” McGahn told CBS ’ Face the Nation .
“ [ Barrett ] clerked for Scalia , became a protege of his and I think she ’ s a fantastic judge .
There ’ s no reason why the Senate shouldn ’ t confirm her.
” McGahn resigned in October 2018 , amid the special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s inquiry into Russian influence on the Trump administration , with which McGahn cooperated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report confirmed that McGahn refused orders from the president to have the special counsel fired .
Trump called the allegation “ fake news ” but tweeted he was “ never a big fan ” of McGahn .
Nonetheless , as White House counsel McGahn masterminded the ascension not only of two supreme court judges , Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch , but also hundreds of conservatives to the federal bench .
McGahn has never spoken publicly about his links with the special counsel and Trump ’ s orders to fire Mueller , having resisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal appeals court ruled he was not compelled to testify .
McGahn was however quoted by Michael Schmidt , a Pulitzer prize-winning New York Times journalist , in his recent book Donald Trump v the United States : Inside the Struggle to Stop a President .
Schmidt said McGahn insisted his cooperation with Mueller “ damaged the office of the president ” , not the president himself .
On Sunday , Schmidt tweeted his surprise that a man who secretly insulted a president whom he said uttered “ some crazy shit ” would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support .
“ Despite calling Trump ‘ King Kong ’ behind [ his ] back for unnecessary destruction and having to serve as chief witness against him in Mueller investigation , McGahn believes so much in mission of remaking federal judiciary that he says Trump deserves four more years , ” Schmidt wrote .
McGahn told CBS he thought Trump had earned the right to a second term .
“ He had the economy going wonderfully [ before the coronavirus pandemic hit ] , he made a number of promises on the campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ One is his judicial selection , which he ’ s done .
He ’ s set a record number of judges on there , on the circuit courts , and this really matters .
”

Don McGahn, the former White House counsel credited as an architect of Donald Trump’s makeover of the federal judiciary, has defended Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the supreme court, declaring the conservative judge he vetted was “the right person at the right time”.
Perhaps more surprisingly, in a rare public appearance on Sunday McGahn also laid out why he believed Trump deserves four more years in power, despite having incurred the wrath of his former boss, who blamed him for failing to protect him from the Mueller inquiry and for reportedly having compared an angry Trump to King Kong.
“He promised justices in the mold of Antonin Scalia – a great justice,” McGahn told CBS’s Face the Nation. “[Barrett] clerked for Scalia, became a protege of his and I think she’s a fantastic judge. There’s no reason why the Senate shouldn’t confirm her.”
McGahn resigned in October 2018, amid the special counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry into Russian influence on the Trump administration, with which McGahn cooperated extensively as a witness.
The Mueller report confirmed that McGahn refused orders from the president to have the special counsel fired.
Trump called the allegation “fake news” but tweeted he was “never a big fan” of McGahn. Nonetheless, as White House counsel McGahn masterminded the ascension not only of two supreme court judges, Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, but also hundreds of conservatives to the federal bench.
McGahn has never spoken publicly about his links with the special counsel and Trump’s orders to fire Mueller, having resisted a congressional subpoena for months before a federal appeals court ruled he was not compelled to testify.
McGahn was however quoted by Michael Schmidt, a Pulitzer prize-winning New York Times journalist, in his recent book Donald Trump v the United States: Inside the Struggle to Stop a President. Schmidt said McGahn insisted his cooperation with Mueller “damaged the office of the president”, not the president himself.
On Sunday, Schmidt tweeted his surprise that a man who secretly insulted a president whom he said uttered “some crazy shit” would now break his silence to express public support.
“Despite calling Trump ‘King Kong’ behind [his] back for unnecessary destruction and having to serve as chief witness against him in Mueller investigation, McGahn believes so much in mission of remaking federal judiciary that he says Trump deserves four more years,” Schmidt wrote.
McGahn told CBS he thought Trump had earned the right to a second term.
“He had the economy going wonderfully [before the coronavirus pandemic hit], he made a number of promises on the campaign trail that he kept,” he said.
“One is his judicial selection, which he’s done. He’s set a record number of judges on there, on the circuit courts, and this really matters.”


theguardian--2020-09-26--'Scranton v Park Avenue' is Biden's best campaign issue – not the supreme court | Bhaskar Sunkara

With the death of the US supreme court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last Friday , the stakes of November ’ s election are more obvious than ever .
If Trump retains control of the presidency , most likely through a win in the electoral college but loss in the popular vote , that will cement minority Republican rule for a generation .
Abortion rights , healthcare legislation , labor protections and voting rights will all be directly impacted .
Democratic partisans are acutely aware of this fact .
ActBlue , the party ’ s most important fundraiser , raised more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since Ginsburg ’ s passing .
For some , like the New Yorker ’ s Jeffrey Toobin , Ginsburg ’ s death means that Democrats need to ratchet up their rhetoric about the courts and foreground their plans for significant institutional reform .
If Democrats can take the Senate , Toobin suggests , then the filibuster must be abolished , Washington DC and Puerto Rico granted statehood , the number of lower-court federal judges expanded , and the supreme court be packed with three more judges .
On the latter point , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chuck Schumer , agrees , saying that “ everything is on the table ” .
Many of the same commentators and strategists getting on board with plans like court-packing think that Biden should be trying to appeal to moderate Republican suburban voters .
But there is an unacknowledged tension here : Ginsburg ’ s passing will likely limit defections from the small cadre of Republicans who find Trump distasteful enough to contemplate a Biden vote .
Many of these voters may think a conservative court is worth the embarrassment of being associated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treating the election as a referendum on the supreme court is that , as Anne Applebaum recently argued , it “ organizes the electorate along two fronts of a culture war , and forces people to make stark ideological choices .
Instead of focusing voters on the president ’ s failure to control Covid-19 or the consequent economic collapse , the culture war makes voters think only of their deepest tribal identities.
” But whether Applebaum wants it to be the case or not , the courts will be the forefront of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events , then , should call into question the entire Biden premise of building a campaign around current or former Republican voters in affluent suburbs .
Another strategy – instead of chasing suburban voters uncomfortable with Trump ’ s conduct – is to offer bread-and-butter issues to lower propensity young and working-class voters , who Bernie Sanders had tried to mobilize in his primary run to varying levels of success .
( Perhaps easier accomplished in a general election rather than in closed party primaries . )
While the culture war might divide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new electorate can be potentially reached through appeals for widely popular progressive policies such as universal healthcare and a federal jobs program .
In a time where millions of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck – and many are experiencing unemployment and an uncertain future – offering more security and support is a message that can win an election .
Though they obviously overlap , the 64 % of Americans who think the rich should pay more in taxes to support public programs are a firmer basis to build a political coalition than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ liberal ” , or , for that matter , the probably tiny number of former Trump voters who can be won over to Biden by outrage at the president ’ s behavior .
Rather than talking about “ packing the courts ” , Biden would be wise to appear credible on this bread-and-butter agenda and then use his mandate to “ do whatever it takes ” in the way of structural reform to accomplish it .
The former vice-president has been making some populist noises lately , such as when he recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interests of “ Scranton ” and “ Park Avenue ” .
( This sparked the ire of the liberal MSNBC crowd , who , in an incredible encapsulation of their own irrelevance and privilege , attacked Biden ’ s framing for being divisive and Trump-like . )
But he ’ s not always consistent in this messaging .
There is still time for Biden to embrace a populist message more resolutely , and speak to the millions of Americans looking for a strong , progressive leader who can help them weather this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Great Depression .
The question isn ’ t whether Biden should pursue this path , but whether he will – and whether people should believe him if he finally does .
• None Bhaskar Sunkara is the founding editor of Jacobin magazine and a Guardian US columnist .
He is the author of The Socialist Manifesto : The Case for Radical Politics in an Era of Extreme Inequality

With the death of the US supreme court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last Friday, the stakes of November’s election are more obvious than ever. If Trump retains control of the presidency, most likely through a win in the electoral college but loss in the popular vote, that will cement minority Republican rule for a generation. Abortion rights, healthcare legislation, labor protections and voting rights will all be directly impacted.
Democratic partisans are acutely aware of this fact. ActBlue, the party’s most important fundraiser, raised more than $100m from 1.5 million individuals since Ginsburg’s passing. For some, like the New Yorker’s Jeffrey Toobin, Ginsburg’s death means that Democrats need to ratchet up their rhetoric about the courts and foreground their plans for significant institutional reform. If Democrats can take the Senate, Toobin suggests, then the filibuster must be abolished, Washington DC and Puerto Rico granted statehood, the number of lower-court federal judges expanded, and the supreme court be packed with three more judges. On the latter point, at least, the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, agrees, saying that “everything is on the table”.
Many of the same commentators and strategists getting on board with plans like court-packing think that Biden should be trying to appeal to moderate Republican suburban voters. But there is an unacknowledged tension here: Ginsburg’s passing will likely limit defections from the small cadre of Republicans who find Trump distasteful enough to contemplate a Biden vote. Many of these voters may think a conservative court is worth the embarrassment of being associated with another Trump term.
The problem with treating the election as a referendum on the supreme court is that, as Anne Applebaum recently argued, it “organizes the electorate along two fronts of a culture war, and forces people to make stark ideological choices. Instead of focusing voters on the president’s failure to control Covid-19 or the consequent economic collapse, the culture war makes voters think only of their deepest tribal identities.” But whether Applebaum wants it to be the case or not, the courts will be the forefront of the minds of many regular voters. Recent events, then, should call into question the entire Biden premise of building a campaign around current or former Republican voters in affluent suburbs.
Another strategy – instead of chasing suburban voters uncomfortable with Trump’s conduct – is to offer bread-and-butter issues to lower propensity young and working-class voters, who Bernie Sanders had tried to mobilize in his primary run to varying levels of success. (Perhaps easier accomplished in a general election rather than in closed party primaries.) While the culture war might divide much of the existing electorate, this new electorate can be potentially reached through appeals for widely popular progressive policies such as universal healthcare and a federal jobs program. In a time where millions of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck – and many are experiencing unemployment and an uncertain future – offering more security and support is a message that can win an election.
Though they obviously overlap, the 64% of Americans who think the rich should pay more in taxes to support public programs are a firmer basis to build a political coalition than the quarter of Americans who identify as “liberal”, or, for that matter, the probably tiny number of former Trump voters who can be won over to Biden by outrage at the president’s behavior. Rather than talking about “packing the courts”, Biden would be wise to appear credible on this bread-and-butter agenda and then use his mandate to “do whatever it takes” in the way of structural reform to accomplish it.
The former vice-president has been making some populist noises lately, such as when he recently framed the election as a choice between the interests of “Scranton” and “Park Avenue”. (This sparked the ire of the liberal MSNBC crowd, who, in an incredible encapsulation of their own irrelevance and privilege, attacked Biden’s framing for being divisive and Trump-like.) But he’s not always consistent in this messaging.
There is still time for Biden to embrace a populist message more resolutely, and speak to the millions of Americans looking for a strong, progressive leader who can help them weather this economic storm – much like FDR did during the Great Depression. The question isn’t whether Biden should pursue this path, but whether he will – and whether people should believe him if he finally does.


theguardian--2020-09-28--Democrats on the attack after Trump tax return revelations – US politics live

The editorial board at Washington Post have this morning published their endorsement of Joe Biden for president .
The piece opens “ In order to expel the worst president of modern times , many voters might be willing to vote for almost anybody .
Fortunately , to oust president Trump in 2020 , voters do not have to lower their standards.
” They go on to write : In contrast to Trump ’ s narcissism , Biden is deeply empathetic ; you can ’ t imagine him dismissing wounded or fallen soldiers as “ losers.
” To Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith , yes , but also faith in American values and potential .
In place of Trump ’ s belittling and demonizing of opponents and allies alike , Biden offers a deep commitment to finding common ground in service to making government work for the greatest number .
He has demonstrated that commitment in reaching across the aisle to Republicans , and also — most recently — in bringing unity to the Democratic Party without compromising his own fundamental convictions .
They describe Trump ’ s description of Biden as a socialist as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state that the president has “ few accomplishments in his first term and no agenda for his second ” .
In contrast , they posit that Biden ’ s “ competence and honor are more important in this cycle than any particular stand on any particular issue.
” If he takes the oath in the midst of the pandemic ’ s second wave , as is quite possible , with the economy in a tailspin , we can be confident Biden will rise to the occasion .
Why ?
Because when President Barack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the nation was in a similarly frightening tailspin .
Mr. Obama trusted his vice president to work with Congress to deliver a bipartisan recovery package and then to help administer it .
Read it here : Washington Post – Joe Biden for president And that ’ s it from me this morning , Joan Greve will be here presently…

Joan E Greve (now) and Martin Belam (earlier)

29 Sept 2020 01.13 BST Summary Kari Paul, signing out for the night. Here is the news of the last few hours to know: A rift between new Trump appointee Scott Atlas and long-serving public health officials including Anthony Fauci is becoming more clear after Fauci criticized Atlas publicly on Monday.
The US will end census counting on 5 October, defying a ruling from a judge who declared operations should extend into November.
An anonymous grand juror in the Breonna Taylor case has sued to unseal court transcripts.
Updated at 01.26 BST
29 Sept 2020 01.11 BST Anonymous grand juror in Breonna Taylor case sues to unseal court transcripts A juror from the closed trial of three police officers accused of shooting and killing Breonna Taylor has filed a lawsuit requesting transcripts from the trial be published and that jurors be able speak publicly about the case. “The full story and absolute truth of how this matter was handled from beginning to end is now an issue of great public interest and has become a large part of the discussion of public trust throughout the country,” the attorney for the juror wrote in the court filing. The verdict of the grand jury trial led to protests in Kentucky and across the US. None of the three officers were indicted for killing Taylor, an unarmed black woman, in her sleep. One officer, Brett Hankison, was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment related to shots that misfired and hit neighbors’ walls. The filing specifically cites responses from attorney general Daniel Cameron, on whom attorneys for Taylor’s family have also called to release the transcripts and audio recordings. “What we also want is for you to quit dodging the question. You were asked at the press conference (Wednesday): Did you make a recommendation” to the grand jury, Louisville attorney Lonita Baker asked. “You refused to answer. Answer the question: Did you even present any charges regarding Breonna Taylor to the grand jury?”
Updated at 01.36 BST
28 Sept 2020 00.09 BST Trump administration to end Census early, defying federal judge The US will end census counting operations several weeks early, commerce secretary Wilbur Ross announced on Monday, against an order from a federal judge. Ross said the “target date” for ending all counting efforts for the 2020 census is now 5 October, despite a judge ordering the Trump administration to extend counting through 31 October. The move is the latest in an ongoing battle over the census, which is used to allocate seats in Congress. Critics say the Trump administration is seeking to exclude undocumented immigrants from the survey to advantage Republicans in upcoming elections. The Trump administration said it will appeal the original decision from the judge.
28 Sept 2020 23.39 BST White House coronavirus taskforce rift emerges A rift is deepening between longtime US health officials coordinating the coronavirus response and Scott Atlas, a doctor and conservative commentator recently brought onto the team by Donald Trump. In an interview on Monday, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious director, Anthony Fauci, said he is concerned the president’s new task force pick is spreading misinformation and implied he does not work with the other health officials. The interview comes after Fauci was noticeably absent from the president’s Covid briefing, as was the response coordinator, Deborah Birx. Present instead was Atlas, a conservative commentator whose views are more aligned with Trump’s and who praised the president’s coronavirus response. Earlier this month, a group of 98 medical experts including immunologists and infectious disease physicians signed a letter condemning “the falsehoods and misrepresentations of science recently fostered by Dr Scott Atlas”. Fauci said he shared these concerns regarding Atlas spreading misleading and incorrect information. “Well yeah, I’m concerned that sometimes things are said that are really taken either out of context or actually incorrect,” Fauci said. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director, Robert Redfield, has also expressed concerns about Atlas, and was overheard on a phone call saying “everything he says is false” which he later confirmed was about Atlas. Specifically he is concerned Atlas is feeding misinformation to Trump about the concept of herd immunity – that if enough people are infected with coronavirus the numbers will stabilize – and young people’s susceptibility to the virus. Atlas is also against severe lockdowns and mask usage. These views ware at odds with those backed by science and promoted by the likes of Fauci and Birx. Fauci also noted in a CNN interview that as the 2020 presidential election approaches, the coronavirus response has received less attention. “We’re meeting now on an average of one and at the most two times a week,” Fauci said.
Updated at 01.36 BST
28 Sept 2020 22.51 BST Family of unarmed man killed by Maryland police receives record settlement Prince George’s county, Maryland, has reached a $20m settlement with the family of William Green, a 43-year-old black man who was fatally shot by police while handcuffed during an arrest earlier this year. Cpl Michael A Owen Jr, who is also black, was fired from the department the day after the shooting and charged with second-degree murder. He is currently awaiting trial. The $20m settlement was announced in a press conference Monday morning by Angela Alsobrooks, the county executive for Prince George’s county. “I am deeply sorry for your loss,’’ Alsobrooks told Green’s mother at Monday’s news conference.
Updated at 00.26 BST
28 Sept 2020 22.18 BST Fauci implies Atlas is not working with the coronavirus taskforce Anthony Fauci, the doctor and immunologist who serves as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases, had some criticisms for doctor Scott Atlas in an interview on Monday, implying the president’s new task force pick does not work with health officials. I interviewed Dr. Anthony Fauci earlier today and asked if the WH coronavirus task force is working together, or against each other, in light of the Dr. Scott Atlas issues. "Most are working together. I think you know who the outlier is," Fauci told me. — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) September 28, 2020 In an interview with Brian Stelter at CNN, Fauci said “most are working together” on solutions to the coronavirus pandemic, except one person. “I think you know who the outlier is,” he said. Fauci was noticeably absent on Monday at Trump’s coronavirus briefing, as was the response coordinator, Deborah Birx. Present instead was Atlas, a conservative commentator whose views are more aligned with Trump’s and who has been criticized for his past promotion of inaccurate medical information. A group of 98 medical experts including immunologists and infectious disease physicians signed a letter condemning “the falsehoods and misrepresentations of science recently fostered by Dr. Scott Atlas”. Fauci said he shared these concerns regarding Atlas spreading misleading and incorrect information. “Well yeah, I’m concerned that sometimes things are said that are really taken either out of context or actually incorrect,” Fauci said when asked by CNN if he was worried Atlas was sharing misleading information.
Updated at 22.56 BST
28 Sept 2020 22.00 BST Top lawyer on Mueller inquiry claims Trump tried to impede the investigation Andrew Weismann, a key lawyer on the special counsel that investigated Russian interference in the 2016 elections, said Donald Trump tried to interfere with the inquiry. In his new book, Weismann talks about his experience on Robert Muller’s team. He said in an interview with the Today show on Monday that while he believes the probe uncovered a lot of key information, it fell short in some regards. He made it clear that he would have subpoenaed the president for his tax returns. “We did not do a full financial investigation relating to the president,” he said. The comments come after a bombshell New York Times report that showed the president paid just $750 in income taxes the year he won the presidency.
Updated at 22.23 BST
28 Sept 2020 21.52 BST Hello, Kari Paul here in California, sharing the most important news of the next few hours with you. Stay tuned for updates.
28 Sept 2020 21.30 BST Today so far That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Kari Paul, will take over the blog for the next few hours. Here’s where the day stands so far: Vice President Mike Pence warned Americans to expect a rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the coming weeks, during Trump ’s event on coronavirus testing today . Echoing many health experts, Pence said, “The American people should anticipate that cases will rise in the days ahead.” Moments later, the president insisted the country is “rounding the corner” in its coronavirus crisis, even though the US death toll surpassed 200,000 last week.
during ’s event on coronavirus testing today Echoing many health experts, Pence said, “The American people should anticipate that cases will rise in the days ahead.” Moments later, the president insisted the country is “rounding the corner” in its coronavirus crisis, even though the US death toll surpassed 200,000 last week. Democrats attacked Trump over his recent tax returns, some of which were obtained by the New York Times. According to the Times, Trump paid only $750 in federal income taxes the year that he won the presidency, largely because he reported losing more money than he made.
According to the Times, Trump paid only $750 in federal income taxes the year that he won the presidency, largely because he reported losing more money than he made. Nancy Pelosi said Trump’s debt obligations could represent a national security risk. The Democratic speaker argued the American people were entitled to know to whom Trump owes money. “For me, this is a national security question,” Pelosi said. “The public has a right to know.”
The Democratic speaker argued the American people were entitled to know to whom Trump owes money. “For me, this is a national security question,” Pelosi said. “The public has a right to know.” Trump’s 2016 campaign targeted 3.5 million African Americans to deter them from voting, according to a new investigation from Channel 4 News. Voters targeted for “deterrence” were disproportionately black, according to a Trump campaign database reviewed by Channel 4.
according to a new investigation from Channel 4 News. Voters targeted for “deterrence” were disproportionately black, according to a Trump campaign database reviewed by Channel 4. The Washington Post editorial board endorsed Joe Biden’s presidential bid. “In order to expel the worst president of modern times, many voters might be willing to vote for almost anybody,” the board wrote. “Fortunately, to oust president Trump in 2020, voters do not have to lower their standards.” Kari will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
28 Sept 2020 21.13 BST After the vice president spoke, Dr Scott Atlas, a senior adviser to the president who has reportedly been criticized by other members of the White House coronavirus task force, delivered brief remarks. Atlas insisted the country has a handle on the virus, even though the country’s death toll surpassed 200,000 last week. Trump similarly insisted the US is “rounding the corner” in the coronavirus crisis, moments after Vice President Mike Pence said Americans should expect the number of cases to rise in the weeks ahead. The president briefly thanked Abbott for its work developing rapid coronavirus tests. He then left the Rose Garden without taking questions.
28 Sept 2020 21.08 BST Pence says Americans should expect cases to rise in the coming weeks Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the Rose Garden event, claiming the country has “passed through a challenging time” with its coronavirus crisis. Vice President Mike Pence says "the American people should anticipate that [COVID-19] cases will rise in the days ahead" https://t.co/Nj065CIsxp pic.twitter.com/bDik1bL5tq — CBS News (@CBSNews) September 28, 2020 But Pence added, “The American people should anticipate that cases will rise in the days ahead.” A number of health experts have warned that the country could see another surge in coronavirus cases as the weather gets colder.
Updated at 21.10 BST


theguardian--2020-09-28--CDC director takes aim at Trump's Covid adviser: 'Everything he says is false'

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) was overheard on a phone conversation aboard a commercial flight saying a lead member of Donald Trump ’ s coronavirus taskforce has been spreading misinformation about the pandemic .
Dr Robert Redfield was overheard by an employee of NBC News on a flight from Atlanta to Washington .
According to NBC , Redfield criticized Scott Atlas , a radiologist and Fox News talking head added to the taskforce last month .
“ Everything he says is false , ” Redfield said about Atlas , NBC reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Atlas .
Confirmed deaths from Covid-19 in the United States have passed 200,000 and the number of cases has passed 7m .
Atlas , who has no background in infectious diseases but who appears to have the best current access to Trump of any medical adviser , has been frequently criticized by the scientific and medical communities for offering what public health professionals say is bad advice about coronavirus .
Atlas has misleadingly called into question the efficacy of masks and social distancing , has echoed Trump ’ s call for reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support the purposeful contraction of the virus by young people to create so-called “ herd immunity ” .
Public health experts warn that the viability of a “ herd immunity ” against coronavirus without a vaccine is unknown , given uncertainty about levels and duration of immunity in individual cases .
They also say that achieving “ herd immunity ” would involve millions of infections and unknown thousands of cases of serious illness and death .
Atlas is a former Stanford medicine professor and a senior fellow at the conservative Hoover Institution at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an open letter from 78 former colleagues at Stanford medical school , who warned that his advice was dangerous .
“ Many of his opinions and statements run counter to established science , and , by doing so , undermine public-health authorities and the credible science that guides effective public health policy , ” the letter said .
Asked to respond to Redfield ’ s comments , Atlas told NBC News : “ Everything I have said is directly from the data and the science.
” In the judgment of Redfield and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The CDC said NBC News heard only “ one side ” of Redfield ’ s conversation , but did not dispute the report .
“ NBC News is reporting one side of a private phone conversation … overheard on a plane from Atlanta Hartsfield airport , ” the CDC said .
“ Dr Redfield was having a private discussion regarding a number of points he has made publicly about Covid-19 .
”

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was overheard on a phone conversation aboard a commercial flight saying a lead member of Donald Trump’s coronavirus taskforce has been spreading misinformation about the pandemic.
Robert Redfield was overheard by an employee of NBC News on a flight from Atlanta to Washington. According to NBC, Redfield criticized Scott Atlas, a radiologist and Fox News talking head added to the taskforce last month.
“Everything he says is false,” Redfield said about Atlas, NBC reported. Redfield later confirmed he had been talking about Atlas.
Confirmed deaths from Covid-19 in the United States have passed 200,000 and the number of cases has passed 7m.
Atlas, who has no background in infectious diseases but who appears to have the best current access to Trump of any medical adviser, has been frequently criticized by the scientific and medical communities for offering what public health professionals say is bad advice about coronavirus.
On Monday afternoon, the top US public health expert and infectious diseases lead on the taskforce, Anthony Fauci, chimed in to tell CNN he was concerned that Atlas was at times providing misleading or incorrect information on the pandemic to Trump.
“Well, yeah, I’m concerned that sometimes things are said that are really taken either out of context or are actually incorrect,” Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said when asked in an interview if he was worried Atlas was sharing misleading information.
Atlas has misleadingly called into question the efficacy of masks and social distancing, has echoed Trump’s call for reopening schools, and perhaps most controversially has supported the purposeful contraction of the virus by young people to create so-called “herd immunity”.
Public health experts warn that the viability of a “herd immunity” against coronavirus without a vaccine is unknown, given uncertainty about levels and duration of immunity in individual cases. They also say that achieving “herd immunity” would involve millions of infections and unknown thousands of cases of serious illness and death.
Atlas is a former Stanford medicine professor and a senior fellow at the conservative Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
His controversial statements drew an open letter from 78 former colleagues at Stanford medical school, who warned that his advice was dangerous.
“Many of his opinions and statements run counter to established science, and, by doing so, undermine public-health authorities and the credible science that guides effective public health policy,” the letter said.
Asked to respond to Redfield’s comments, Atlas told NBC News: “Everything I have said is directly from the data and the science.”
In the judgment of Redfield and other specialists, that is not true. The CDC said NBC News heard only “one side” of Redfield’s conversation, but did not dispute the report.
“NBC News is reporting one side of a private phone conversation … overheard on a plane from Atlanta Hartsfield airport,” the CDC said. “Dr Redfield was having a private discussion regarding a number of points he has made publicly about Covid-19.”
On Monday afternoon, Atlas had spoken alongside the president at a coronavirus progress briefing, while his better-known White House taskforce public health expert colleagues, Fauci and Deborah Birx, were nowhere to be seen.
Atlas insisted the country has a handle on the virus even though the US death toll surpassed 200,000 last week, and public health experts have admitted the pandemic is still out of control.
But Redfield, who was also absent from the Monday White House briefing, had said “we’re nowhere near the end” of the pandemic, NBC reported.
Cases are currently rising in 21 states and Vice-President Mike Pence, at the Monday briefing in the Rose Garden, said: “The American people should anticipate that cases will rise in the days ahead.”
CNN later tweeted that when asked in an interview on Monday if the taskforce was working together or against each other, in light of the controversy over Atlas, Fauci responded: “Most are working together. I think you know who the outlier is,” in an assumed nod to Atlas.
Meanwhile, Trump called the briefing to talk about a rollout of millions of rapid, easily administered Covid-19 tests, which he had already announced in August.


theguardian--2020-09-28--Donald Trump ‘a bad businessman or a tax cheat – probably both’, say accountants

Accountants say the revelation that Donald Trump paid just $ 750 ( £580 ) in federal income tax in 2016 shows that the US president is either “ a very bad businessman or a tax cheat … probably both ” .
Independent left-leaning accounting experts who analysed Trump ’ s tax returns , which were published by the New York Times on Sunday , said that while the full details of Trump ’ s tax affairs were not yet known , the details published by the newspaper showed that the president was “ abusing the tax system ” .
Alex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tax Justice Network , an international group campaigning for a fairer and more transparent tax system , said : “ This shows that Trump is either a very bad businessman or a tax cheat who is not respecting the tax system that he is asking everyone else to pay .
Probably both are true.
” The New York Times said Trump paid $ 750 in federal income taxes in the year he won the presidency , and in his first year in the White House he paid another $ 750 .
The Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all in 10 of the previous 15 years , largely because he reported losing much more money than he made .
The Times said the records revealed “ chronic losses and years of tax avoidance ” .
Trump has dismissed the Times ’ reporting as “ fake news ” .
“ Actually I paid tax .
And you ’ ll see that as soon as my tax returns – it ’ s under audit , they ’ ve been under audit for a long time , ” he said after the story was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Revenue Service ] does not treat me well … they treat me very badly.
” Trump is the first president since the 1970s not to make his tax returns public , though this is not required by law .
He claims his tax returns are “ under audit ” and therefore he can not release them .
Cobham said the $ 750 annual tax payments made in 2016 and 2017 by Trump , who claims to be a billionaire , were “ far , far below ” what most Americans paid in tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earning $ 25,000 would probably be paying more tax than the president .
Cobham said the tax returns showed that Trump “ ploughed hundreds of millions into businesses that don ’ t make money ” and that “ the case for him being a bad businessman is absolutely proved ” .
“ What Trump is shown to be doing will shine a light on his contribution to society , ” Cobham said .
“ I think that is going to be incredibly difficult to defend paying so little in tax … even with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public healthcare but they do value the US ’ s ability to defend its borders , and that is also paid for by taxes.
” He said it was also very concerning that the president was in a formal dispute with the US tax authority over his tax affairs .
The Times said Trump had used “ questionable measures ” to reduce his tax bill , and he could face a possible hit of “ more than $ 100m ” if he lost “ a decade-long audit battle with the IRS over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he claimed , and received , after declaring huge losses ” .
Richard Murphy , a professor of accounting at Sheffield University management school and a self-described “ tax justice campaigner , ” said the tax records showed that Trump “ wants to be rich .
He wants to be famous .
He does not care how or why .
And he is not willing to work for it.
” Murphy said the records appeared to show that “ Trump is not a successful business person , at all .
Instead he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using them to give the appearance of a successful business career when he is , in fact , simply accumulating debt that he might well be unable to repay .
The possibility that this might arise during the course of a second term in office is particularly worrying : how can the president go bankrupt ?
”

Accountants say the revelation that Donald Trump paid just $750 (£580) in federal income tax in 2016 shows that the US president is either “a very bad businessman or a tax cheat … probably both”.
Independent left-leaning accounting experts who analysed Trump’s tax returns, which were published by the New York Times on Sunday, said that while the full details of Trump’s tax affairs were not yet known, the details published by the newspaper showed that the president was “abusing the tax system”.
Alex Cobham, the chief executive of the Tax Justice Network, an international group campaigning for a fairer and more transparent tax system, said: “This shows that Trump is either a very bad businessman or a tax cheat who is not respecting the tax system that he is asking everyone else to pay. Probably both are true.”
The New York Times said Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes in the year he won the presidency, and the same amount in his first year in the White House. It said Trump paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years, largely because he reported losing much more money than he made. The Times said the records revealed “chronic losses and years of tax avoidance”.
In the US, people who derive their income from company dividends rather than salary only pay tax when the company records a profit and pays a dividend.
Trump has dismissed the Times’ reporting as “fake news”. “Actually I paid tax. And you’ll see that as soon as my tax returns – it’s under audit, they’ve been under audit for a long time,” he said after the story was published. “The IRS [Internal Revenue Service] does not treat me well … they treat me very badly.”
Trump is the first president since the 1970s not to make his tax returns public, though this is not required by law. He claims his tax returns are “under audit” and therefore he cannot release them.
Cobham said the $750 annual tax payments made in 2016 and 2017 by Trump, who claims to be a billionaire, were “far, far below” what most Americans paid in tax. He said people working in supermarkets earning $25,000 would probably be paying more tax than the president.
Cobham said the tax returns showed that Trump “ploughed hundreds of millions into businesses that don’t make money” and that “the case for him being a bad businessman is absolutely proved”.
“What Trump is shown to be doing will shine a light on his contribution to society,” Cobham said. “I think that is going to be incredibly difficult to defend paying so little in tax … even with his base, who might not value public healthcare but they do value the US’s ability to defend its borders, and that is also paid for by taxes.”
He said it was also very concerning that the president was in a formal dispute with the US tax authority over his tax affairs. The Times said Trump had used “questionable measures” to reduce his tax bill, and he could face a possible hit of “more than $100m” if he lost “a decade-long audit battle with the IRS over the legitimacy of a $72.9m tax refund that he claimed, and received, after declaring huge losses”.
The New York Times obtained Trump's tax information. "Donald J. Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes the year he won the presidency. In his first year in the White House, he paid another $750." https://t.co/5vhoAX3OJA — Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) September 27, 2020
The Times reported that Trump had been taking advantage of tax laws that allow business owners to “carry forward leftover losses to reduce taxes in future years”.
The newspaper said many of Trump’s golf courses and hotels had been reporting losses for years. His largest golf course, Trump National Doral in Florida, has lost $162.3m since he bought it in 2012. His Scottish and Irish golf clubs have also reported losses.
The report also said the president was personally liable for more than $300m in loans, due to be paid back within the next four years.
Richard Murphy, a professor of accounting at Sheffield University management school and a self-described “tax justice campaigner”, said the tax records showed that Trump “wants to be rich. He wants to be famous. He does not care how or why. And he is not willing to work for it.”
Trump’s economic free-riding https://t.co/k0b8w3rhRK All Trump’s tax returns do is confirm that he has the mindset of the tax haven abuser coupled with that of the populist politician: he wants to get rich at cost to everyone else — Richard Murphy (@RichardJMurphy) September 28, 2020
Murphy said the records appeared to show that “Trump is not a successful business person, at all. Instead he is an arch-manipulator of borrowed funds, using them to give the appearance of a successful business career when he is, in fact, simply accumulating debt that he might well be unable to repay. The possibility that this might arise during the course of a second term in office is particularly worrying: how can the president go bankrupt?”


theguardian--2020-09-28--Donald Trump wanted daughter Ivanka to be running mate in 2016, book says

Donald Trump wanted to name his daughter , Ivanka Trump , as his running mate in 2016 , according to a new book by former campaign deputy Rick Gates , reported by Bloomberg News .
“ I think it should be Ivanka , ” Trump is quoted as saying in Wicked Game : An Insider ’ s Story on How Trump Won , Mueller Failed and America Lost , which will be published on 13 October .
“ What about Ivanka as my VP ?
” The news lands as Ivanka Trump , who with her husband Jared Kushner remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named in the New York Times ’ bombshell report on her father ’ s taxes , appearing to have received “ consulting fees ” that helped reduce the family tax bill .
Ivanka has not served in elected office but is widely thought to have political ambitions of her own , possibly in the 2024 presidential race .
Gates says Trump was serious about making his then 34-year-old daughter his potential vice-president , returning to the theme and even carrying out public polling .
“ All heads turned toward her , and she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writes of when Trump raised the idea to a group of aides .
“ We all knew Trump well enough to keep our mouths shut and not laugh .
He went on : ‘ She ’ s bright , she ’ s smart , she ’ s beautiful , and the people would love her !
” ’ Ivanka Trump reportedly told her father it wasn ’ t a good idea .
Gates says Mike Pence , then governor of Indiana , was picked after delivering a “ vicious and extended monologue ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opponent .
Gates , who told the Washington Post he was not sure Trump would have gone through with picking his daughter , was indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation of connections between Russia and the Trump campaign .
He co-operated and was sentenced in December 2019 to three years probation and intermittent confinement for tax and lobbying offenses committed with Paul Manafort , Trump ’ s former campaign chair who was sent to prison .
The White House did not immediately comment on Bloomberg ’ s report .
Gates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state Condoleezza Rice , Tennessee senator Bob Corker , Alabama senator Jeff Sessions ( eventually Trump ’ s first attorney general ) , Iowa senator Joni Ernst and former defense secretary Robert Gates were suggested to Trump as possible running mates .
Ivanka and Kushner , Gates says , liked the idea of former House speaker and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination Newt Gingrich .
The Post reported that Gates has remained loyal , writing : “ Unlike a number of other memoirs by former Trump staffers , Gates ’ s book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather a defense of the president and how he and others helped elect him.
” One such tell-all , Stephanie Winston-Wolkoff ’ s Melania & Me : The Rise and Fall of My Friendship With the First Lady , claims Gates worked with Ivanka Trump to undermine Melania Trump , the president ’ s third wife .
For example , Wolkoff details suspicions that Gates was behind a scandal over plagiarism from Michelle Obama in Melania Trump ’ s convention speech in Cleveland in 2016 .
Wolkoff writes : “ If Ivanka controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Melania ’ s convention speech , did that mean Ivanka was behind that major faux pas/sabotage ?
” Wolkoff also writes of a scandal over fundraising for the inauguration , on which Gates worked .
Melania Trump , she writes , called aides to her stepdaughter “ snakes ” .

Donald Trump wanted to name his daughter, Ivanka Trump, as his running mate in 2016, according to a new book by former campaign deputy Rick Gates, reported by Bloomberg News.
“I think it should be Ivanka,” Trump is quoted as saying in Wicked Game: An Insider’s Story on How Trump Won, Mueller Failed and America Lost, which will be published on 13 October. “What about Ivanka as my VP?”
The news lands as Ivanka Trump, who with her husband Jared Kushner remains a senior White House adviser, is named in the New York Times’ bombshell report on her father’s taxes, appearing to have received “consulting fees” that helped reduce the family tax bill.
Ivanka has not served in elected office but is widely thought to have political ambitions of her own, possibly in the 2024 presidential race.
She’s bright, she’s smart, she’s beautiful, and the people would love her! Donald Trump
Gates says Trump was serious about making his then 34-year-old daughter his potential vice-president, returning to the theme and even carrying out public polling.
“All heads turned toward her, and she just looked surprised,” he reportedly writes of when Trump raised the idea to a group of aides. “We all knew Trump well enough to keep our mouths shut and not laugh. He went on: ‘She’s bright, she’s smart, she’s beautiful, and the people would love her!”’
Ivanka Trump reportedly told her father it wasn’t a good idea. Gates says Mike Pence, then governor of Indiana, was picked after delivering a “vicious and extended monologue” about Hillary Clinton, Trump’s opponent.
Gates, who told the Washington Post he was not sure Trump would have gone through with picking his daughter, was indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation of connections between Russia and the Trump campaign. He co-operated and was sentenced in December 2019 to three years probation and intermittent confinement for tax and lobbying offenses committed with Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chair who was sent to prison.
The White House did not immediately comment on Bloomberg’s report.
Gates also reportedly writes that former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, Tennessee senator Bob Corker, Alabama senator Jeff Sessions (eventually Trump’s first attorney general), Iowa senator Joni Ernst and former defense secretary Robert Gates were suggested to Trump as possible running mates.
Ivanka and Kushner, Gates says, liked the idea of former House speaker and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination Newt Gingrich.
The Post reported that Gates has remained loyal, writing: “Unlike a number of other memoirs by former Trump staffers, Gates’s book serves not as a tell-all, but rather a defense of the president and how he and others helped elect him.”
One such tell-all, Stephanie Winston-Wolkoff’s Melania & Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship With the First Lady, claims Gates worked with Ivanka Trump to undermine Melania Trump, the president’s third wife.
For example, Wolkoff details suspicions that Gates was behind a scandal over plagiarism from Michelle Obama in Melania Trump’s convention speech in Cleveland in 2016. Wolkoff writes: “If Ivanka controlled Rick, and Rick had allegedly written Melania’s convention speech, did that mean Ivanka was behind that major faux pas/sabotage?”
Wolkoff also writes of a scandal over fundraising for the inauguration, on which Gates worked. Melania Trump, she writes, called aides to her stepdaughter “snakes”.


theguardian--2020-09-28--$70,000 on hairstyling – Donald Trump's taxes in numbers

The shocking claim that Donald Trump paid only $ 750 in federal taxes has dominated headlines after a New York Times report into his financial affairs , but it is far from the only surprising sum exposed by the documents .
Here are some of the key figures : Federal tax Trump paid in 2016 , when he won the presidency .
Federal tax paid by Trump in 10 of the previous 15 years , including 2014 and 2015 .
By comparison , the kind of figure regularly paid in federal taxes by Trump ’ s predecessors , Barack Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s hair for television , claimed as expenses .
The total sum nine of Trump ’ s companies have paid as expenses to style Ivanka Trump ’ s hair .
The amount written off as expenses to hire a photographer taking photographs at the Mar-a-Lago club .
“ Consulting fees ” charged as a business expense between 2010 and 2018 , at least some of which appears to have been directed to a company co-owned by Ivanka Trump .
What Trump declared his earnings to be in the 2018 presidential public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared to the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) for tax purposes over the same period .
Outstanding loans that Trump owes , most of which becomes due within the next four years .
Revenue generated from outside the US , presenting a potential conflict of interest with US foreign policy .
Earned in one licensing deal for Trump Towers in Istanbul , including $ 1m since he became president .
The tax refund Trump claimed and was awarded , which is now the subject of a decade-long audit battle with the IRS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had paid between 2005 and 2008 .
The annual average amount of federal tax paid by Trump between 2000 and 2017 .
It compares with the $ 25m in federal income taxes the average American with similar declared earnings could expect to pay .
The amount Trump could now have to pay back to the IRS , including penalties , if it finds against him in the audit .
The sum reported “ lost ” by Trump ’ s golf courses since 2000 .
What Alan Garten , a lawyer for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid in personal taxes since 2015 .
The number of individual companies , many bearing the Trump name , that make up the nebulous corporate network generally referred to as the Trump Organization .
• None The president has denied the reports , describing them in a White House press conference on Sunday as “ fake news ” .

The shocking claim that Donald Trump paid only $750 in federal taxes has dominated headlines after a New York Times report into his financial affairs, but it is far from the only surprising sum exposed by the documents. Here are some of the key figures:
$750
Federal tax Trump paid in 2016, when he won the presidency.
$750
Federal tax Trump paid the following year.
Zero
Federal tax paid by Trump in 10 of the previous 15 years, including 2014 and 2015.
$100,000 a year
By comparison, the kind of figure regularly paid in federal taxes by Trump’s predecessors, Barack Obama and George W Bush
$70,000
Paid to style Trump’s hair for television, claimed as expenses.
$95,464
The total sum nine of Trump’s companies have paid as expenses to style Ivanka Trump’s hair.
$210,000
The amount written off as expenses to hire a photographer taking photographs at the Mar-a-Lago club.
$26m
“Consulting fees” charged as a business expense between 2010 and 2018, at least some of which appears to have been directed to a company co-owned by Ivanka Trump.
$434m
What Trump declared his earnings to be in the 2018 presidential public annual financial disclosure.
$47.4m in losses
What he had declared to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax purposes over the same period.
$421m
Outstanding loans that Trump owes, most of which becomes due within the next four years.
$73m
Revenue generated from outside the US, presenting a potential conflict of interest with US foreign policy.
$13m
Earned in one licensing deal for Trump Towers in Istanbul, including $1m since he became president.
$72.9m
The tax refund Trump claimed and was awarded, which is now the subject of a decade-long audit battle with the IRS. It covered all the federal tax he had paid between 2005 and 2008.
$1.4m
The annual average amount of federal tax paid by Trump between 2000 and 2017. It compares with the $25m in federal income taxes an American with similar declared earnings could be expected to pay on average.
$100m
The amount Trump could now have to pay back to the IRS, including penalties, if it finds against him in the audit.
$315m
The sum reported “lost” by Trump’s golf courses since 2000.
‘Tens of millions of dollars’
What Alan Garten, a lawyer for the Trump Organization, claims the president has paid in personal taxes since 2015.
More than 500
The number of individual companies, many bearing the Trump name, that make up the nebulous corporate network generally referred to as the Trump Organization.