shareblue--2020-07-08--Republicans worry as Democratic Senate candidates set massive fundraising records

Democratic Senate candidates are posting massive fundraising hauls and setting fundraising records , potentially giving Democrats an edge in their quest to win back control of Congress ' upper chamber in November .
The fundraising totals are a sign of enthusiasm among the Democratic base to wrest the Senate majority from Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) .
The figures are also causing concern among Republicans , who are worried that an onslaught of ads could hurt their chances in the fall , when they 're defending 23 seats , CNN reported .
Republicans had similar concerns in 2018 , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , oftentimes outraising both GOP incumbents and candidates alike .
Those GOP concerns were valid , as Democrats used that fundraising advantage to run a bevy of ads on health care , helping the party ride a wave to take back the House majority for the first time in eight years .
So far , Republicans have yet to release their fundraising numbers from the second quarter of 2020 , which ran from April 1 through June 30 .
The deadline to release their numbers is July 15 .
According to HuffPost , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every single race .
That could prove problematic for the GOP , as campaign finance laws give candidates better advertising rates than super PACs — which Republicans have historically relied on to make up for their fundraising disadvantage .
That means even if GOP super PACs spend the same amount of money as a Democratic Senate candidate , the Democratic candidates ' money goes further .
Ultimately , the numbers from Democratic senate candidates are eye-popping .
Jaime Harrison , the Democratic nominee taking on GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 and June 30 , almost doubling the $ 7.3 million he raised in the first three months of 2020 .
Amy McGrath , the Democratic nominee in Kentucky taking on McConnell , pulled in $ 17.4 million in the second quarter of 2020 — more than the $ 12.6 million she raised in the first quarter .
The Republicans are favored in both of those races , however the influx of cash could make the races more competitive .
Democrats also raised huge sums in ultra-competitive contests that could prove key to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats need to net three seats for control if they also win the White House , or four seats if they do not .
Sara Gideon , the likely Democratic nominee to face off against Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine , raised $ 9 million in the second quarter .
Montana Democratic Gov .
Steve Bullock raised $ 7.7 million in his race to take on GOP Sen. Steve Daines .
That fundraising haul set a record in Montana .
And Cal Cunningham , the Democratic nominee taking on North Carolina GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million — a record single-quarter haul for a North Carolina Senate candidate , according to the Hill .
All three of those races are rated a toss-up by the non-partisan Cook Political Report .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Democratic Senate candidates are posting massive fundraising hauls and setting fundraising records, potentially giving Democrats an edge in their quest to win back control of Congress’ upper chamber in November.
The fundraising totals are a sign of enthusiasm among the Democratic base to wrest the Senate majority from Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The figures are also causing concern among Republicans, who are worried that an onslaught of ads could hurt their chances in the fall, when they’re defending 23 seats, CNN reported.
Republicans had similar concerns in 2018, when Democratic House candidates were raking in millions, oftentimes outraising both GOP incumbents and candidates alike. Those GOP concerns were valid, as Democrats used that fundraising advantage to run a bevy of ads on health care, helping the party ride a wave to take back the House majority for the first time in eight years.
So far, Republicans have yet to release their fundraising numbers from the second quarter of 2020, which ran from April 1 through June 30. The deadline to release their numbers is July 15.
According to HuffPost, Republicans believe Democratic candidates outraised them almost every single race.
That could prove problematic for the GOP, as campaign finance laws give candidates better advertising rates than super PACs — which Republicans have historically relied on to make up for their fundraising disadvantage.
That means even if GOP super PACs spend the same amount of money as a Democratic Senate candidate, the Democratic candidates’ money goes further.
Ultimately, the numbers from Democratic senate candidates are eye-popping.
Jaime Harrison, the Democratic nominee taking on GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina, raised nearly $14 million between April 1 and June 30, almost doubling the $7.3 million he raised in the first three months of 2020.
Amy McGrath, the Democratic nominee in Kentucky taking on McConnell, pulled in $17.4 million in the second quarter of 2020 — more than the $12.6 million she raised in the first quarter.
The Republicans are favored in both of those races, however the influx of cash could make the races more competitive.
Democrats also raised huge sums in ultra-competitive contests that could prove key to Democrats winning control of the chamber. Democrats need to net three seats for control if they also win the White House, or four seats if they do not.
Sara Gideon, the likely Democratic nominee to face off against Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, raised $9 million in the second quarter.
Montana Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock raised $7.7 million in his race to take on GOP Sen. Steve Daines. That fundraising haul set a record in Montana.
And Cal Cunningham, the Democratic nominee taking on North Carolina GOP Sen. Thom Tillis, raised $7.4 million — a record single-quarter haul for a North Carolina Senate candidate, according to the Hill.
All three of those races are rated a toss-up by the non-partisan Cook Political Report.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-08--Movement for Black Lives unveils bill to transform US criminal justice system

Proposed federal legislation that would radically transform the nation 's criminal justice system through such changes as eliminating agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration and the use of surveillance technology was unveiled Tuesday by the Movement for Black Lives .
Dubbed the BREATHE Act , the legislation is the culmination of a project led by the policy table of the Movement for Black Lives , a coalition of more than 150 organizations .
It comes at an unprecedented moment of national reckoning around police brutality and systemic racism that has spurred global protests and cries for change after several high-profile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd .
`` We stand on the shoulders of giants and there has been 400 years of work that Black people have done to try to get us closer to freedom , '' Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors said .
`` This moment is a watershed moment .
I think this moment calls for structural change and transformative change in ways that we have n't seen in a very long time .
We see this opportunity to push for the BREATHE Act as a part of what we 're calling the modern-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes , first shared with the Associated Press , are sweeping and likely to receive robust pushback from lawmakers who perceive the legislation as too radical .
University of Michigan professor and criminal justice expert Heather Ann Thompson acknowledged the uphill battle , but noted that the legislation is being introduced at a highly opportune time .
`` I think those programs that they 're suggesting eliminating only look radical if we really ignore the fact that there has been tremendous pressure to meaningfully reform this criminal justice system , '' said Thompson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Water : The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy . ''
`` Every radical piece of legislation that we 've ever passed in this country , it has passed on the heels of the kinds of grassroots protests that we saw on the streets .
The will of the people indicates that if they just keep putting a Band-Aid on it , these protests are not going to go away . ''
No members of Congress have yet said they plan to introduce the bill , but it has won early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers , including Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib , who participated in Tuesday 's news conference .
The bill is broken into four sections , the first of which specifically would divest federal resources from incarceration and policing .
It is largely aimed at federal reforms because Congress can more easily regulate federal institutions and policy , as opposed to state institutions or private prisons .
The other sections lay out a detailed plan to achieve an equitable future , calling for sweeping changes that would eliminate federal programs and agencies `` used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal-legal system .
The elimination would target agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement , which has come under fire in recent years for its aggressive deportation efforts , and lesser-known programs such as Department of Defense 1033 , which allows local law enforcement agencies to obtain excess military equipment .
The act , which also seeks to reduce the Department of Defense budget , would institute changes to the policing , pretrial detention , sentencing , and prosecution practices that Cullors said have long disproportionately criminalized Black and brown communities , LGBTQIA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with disabilities .
It would establish the Neighborhood Demilitarization Program , which would collect and destroy all equipment like military-grade armored vehicles and weapons in the hands of local , state , and federal law enforcement agencies by 2022 .
Federal law enforcement also would be unable to use facial-recognition technology , which many communities across the nation already have banned , along with drones and forms of electronic surveillance such as ankle-monitoring .
The bill would end life sentences , abolish all mandatory minimum sentencing laws , and create a `` time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisons and immigration detention centers .
Recent polling from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows a dramatic shift has occurred in the nation 's opinions on policing and race , with more Americans today than five years ago believing police brutality is a very serious problem that too often goes undisciplined and unequally targets Black Americans .
The polling found that the majority of Americans say the criminal justice system needs major changes , including many saying it needs a complete overhaul .
Cullors said she is hopeful the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change the movement has produced since it first began seven years ago .
`` We are calling for the federal government to be creative in identifying new approaches to dealing with harm and violence in our communities as well as developing investments into building healthy , sustainable , and equitable communities , '' she said .
The bill would direct Congress to establish a Community Public Safety Office that would conduct research on nonpunitive , public safety-focused interventions that would be funded through new grants , and programs like a `` Free Them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % federal match for projected savings when states and communities close detention facilities , local jails , and state or youth prisons .
According to the document , it also would bring about numerous changes for parents and children , such as removing police , school resource officers , and other armed security and metal detectors from schools .
The coalition first began releasing policy recommendations in 2016 and is in the midst of relaunching its Vision for Black Lives 2020 , which will be rolled out and expanded over the coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Convention in August of 2020 .
`` We are a generation that wants to make sure that the needs of all Black people are met , '' Cullors said .
`` We believe the BREATHE Act is that legislation .
It 's an act that is pushing us to look at the future of this country , an act that is is mandating and demanding a new future and policies that are courageous and visionary . ''

Proposed federal legislation that would radically transform the nation’s criminal justice system through such changes as eliminating agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration and the use of surveillance technology was unveiled Tuesday by the Movement for Black Lives.
Dubbed the BREATHE Act, the legislation is the culmination of a project led by the policy table of the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of more than 150 organizations. It comes at an unprecedented moment of national reckoning around police brutality and systemic racism that has spurred global protests and cries for change after several high-profile killings of Black Americans, including George Floyd.
“We stand on the shoulders of giants and there has been 400 years of work that Black people have done to try to get us closer to freedom,” Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors said.
“This moment is a watershed moment. I think this moment calls for structural change and transformative change in ways that we haven’t seen in a very long time. We see this opportunity to push for the BREATHE Act as a part of what we’re calling the modern-day civil rights act.”
The proposed changes, first shared with the Associated Press, are sweeping and likely to receive robust pushback from lawmakers who perceive the legislation as too radical.
University of Michigan professor and criminal justice expert Heather Ann Thompson acknowledged the uphill battle, but noted that the legislation is being introduced at a highly opportune time.
“I think those programs that they’re suggesting eliminating only look radical if we really ignore the fact that there has been tremendous pressure to meaningfully reform this criminal justice system,” said Thompson, author of “Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy.” “Every radical piece of legislation that we’ve ever passed in this country, it has passed on the heels of the kinds of grassroots protests that we saw on the streets. The will of the people indicates that if they just keep putting a Band-Aid on it, these protests are not going to go away.”
No members of Congress have yet said they plan to introduce the bill, but it has won early support among some of the more progressive lawmakers, including Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib, who participated in Tuesday’s news conference.
The bill is broken into four sections, the first of which specifically would divest federal resources from incarceration and policing. It is largely aimed at federal reforms because Congress can more easily regulate federal institutions and policy, as opposed to state institutions or private prisons.
The other sections lay out a detailed plan to achieve an equitable future, calling for sweeping changes that would eliminate federal programs and agencies “used to finance and expand” the U.S. criminal-legal system.
The elimination would target agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has come under fire in recent years for its aggressive deportation efforts, and lesser-known programs such as Department of Defense 1033, which allows local law enforcement agencies to obtain excess military equipment.
The act, which also seeks to reduce the Department of Defense budget, would institute changes to the policing, pretrial detention, sentencing, and prosecution practices that Cullors said have long disproportionately criminalized Black and brown communities, LGBTQIA people, Indigenous people, and individuals with disabilities.
It would establish the Neighborhood Demilitarization Program, which would collect and destroy all equipment like military-grade armored vehicles and weapons in the hands of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies by 2022.
Federal law enforcement also would be unable to use facial-recognition technology, which many communities across the nation already have banned, along with drones and forms of electronic surveillance such as ankle-monitoring.
The bill would end life sentences, abolish all mandatory minimum sentencing laws, and create a “time bound plan” to close all federal prisons and immigration detention centers.
Recent polling from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows a dramatic shift has occurred in the nation’s opinions on policing and race, with more Americans today than five years ago believing police brutality is a very serious problem that too often goes undisciplined and unequally targets Black Americans. The polling found that the majority of Americans say the criminal justice system needs major changes, including many saying it needs a complete overhaul.
Cullors said she is hopeful the bill will gain support and build upon the change the movement has produced since it first began seven years ago.
“We are calling for the federal government to be creative in identifying new approaches to dealing with harm and violence in our communities as well as developing investments into building healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities,” she said.
The bill would direct Congress to establish a Community Public Safety Office that would conduct research on nonpunitive, public safety-focused interventions that would be funded through new grants, and programs like a “Free Them All” matching grant program offering a 50% federal match for projected savings when states and communities close detention facilities, local jails, and state or youth prisons.
According to the document, it also would bring about numerous changes for parents and children, such as removing police, school resource officers, and other armed security and metal detectors from schools.
The coalition first began releasing policy recommendations in 2016 and is in the midst of relaunching its Vision for Black Lives 2020, which will be rolled out and expanded over the coming months leading up to a planned National Black Convention in August of 2020.
“We are a generation that wants to make sure that the needs of all Black people are met,” Cullors said. “We believe the BREATHE Act is that legislation. It’s an act that is pushing us to look at the future of this country, an act that is is mandating and demanding a new future and policies that are courageous and visionary.”


shareblue--2020-07-08--Tucker Carlson attacks war vet Tammy Duckworth for second night in a row

Fox News ' Tucker Carlson continued his attacks on Sen. Tammy Duckworth ( D-IL ) for a second night , delivering yet another monologue where he not only questioned her patriotism but also her status as a war hero .
Carlson 's monologue was filled with racism and vitriol , as he called Duckworth a `` moron '' and questioned why she would n't come debate him on his show after he first questioned her patriotism on his Monday night program .
`` Tammy Duckworth is not a child , at least not technically , she is a sitting United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a 'hero . '
Yet Duckworth is too afraid to defend her own statements on a cable TV show .
What a coward , '' Carlson said , going on to call Duckworth a `` fraud . ''
Duckworth is a Purple Heart recipient who lost both of her legs when a Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting in Iraq was shot out of the sky by rocket fire .
Duckworth responded to Carlson 's charge that she hates America , tweeting back at him after his Monday comments , `` Does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America ? ''
Yet Carlson continued to attack Duckworth on Tuesday , apparently enraged by Duckworth 's past comments saying she is open to having a discussion on monuments to American figures who were slave owners — a conversation renewed by racial justice protests in the wake of multiple Black Americans being killed at the hands of white police officers .
Fox News did not return a request for comment to CNN over whether they thought it was appropriate for Carlson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's show has seen advertisers flee in recent weeks , following his racist comments about the racial justice protests sweeping the country .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Fox News’ Tucker Carlson continued his attacks on Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) for a second night, delivering yet another monologue where he not only questioned her patriotism but also her status as a war hero.
Carlson’s monologue was filled with racism and vitriol, as he called Duckworth a “moron” and questioned why she wouldn’t come debate him on his show after he first questioned her patriotism on his Monday night program.
“Tammy Duckworth is not a child, at least not technically, she is a sitting United States Senator, who is often described as a ‘hero.’ Yet Duckworth is too afraid to defend her own statements on a cable TV show. What a coward,” Carlson said, going on to call Duckworth a “fraud.”
Duckworth is a Purple Heart recipient who lost both of her legs when a Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting in Iraq was shot out of the sky by rocket fire.
Duckworth responded to Carlson’s charge that she hates America, tweeting back at him after his Monday comments, “Does @TuckerCarlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America?”
Yet Carlson continued to attack Duckworth on Tuesday, apparently enraged by Duckworth’s past comments saying she is open to having a discussion on monuments to American figures who were slave owners — a conversation renewed by racial justice protests in the wake of multiple Black Americans being killed at the hands of white police officers.
Fox News did not return a request for comment to CNN over whether they thought it was appropriate for Carlson to attack Duckworth’s patriotism.
Carlson’s show has seen advertisers flee in recent weeks, following his racist comments about the racial justice protests sweeping the country.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-09--McEnany: Trump's Supreme Court losses are actually victories

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday said that two Supreme Court rulings that paved the way for investigators to obtain Donald Trump 's financial records were actually wins for Trump .
`` The justices did not rule against him , '' McEnany said , hours after the court handed down two 7-2 rulings rejecting Trump 's claim that he is immune from being investigated while he holds office .
In the first case , Trump v. Vance , the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. , who is seeking Trump 's tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal investigation into his business dealings and hush-money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign .
`` Two hundred years ago , a great jurist of our court established that no citizen , not even the president , is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in a criminal proceeding .
We reaffirm that principle today and hold that the president is neither absolutely immune from state criminal subpoenas seeking his private papers nor entitled to a heightened standard of need , '' Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the liberal justices .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh , joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch , submitted a concurring opinion .
Only Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito filed dissenting opinions .
In the second case , Trump v. Mazars , the Supreme Court considered whether Congress has a right to subpoena financial records from Trump , as it has been seeking to do for over a year .
While the court did n't immediately grant Congress the right to demand the documents , Roberts wrote for the majority that Trump 's argument that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents to Congress did not hold .
`` The standards proposed by the President and the Solicitor General — if applied outside the context of privileged information — would risk seriously impeding Congress in carrying out its responsibilities , '' Roberts wrote in the majority opinion .
Although Trump had hoped that the court would block any access to his financial records , both cases were returned to lower courts .
Vance , along with congressional Democrats , called the decisions a victory .
`` This is a tremendous victory for our nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ principle that no one — not even a president — is above the law , '' Vance said in a statement .
`` A careful reading of the Supreme Court rulings related to the President 's financial records is not good news for President Trump , '' Pelosi tweeted .
`` The Court has reaffirmed the Congress 's authority to conduct oversight on behalf of the people , as it asks for further information from the Congress . ''
McEnany is n't the only Republican claiming Trump actually won the cases .
Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jodey Arrington of Texas and Rep. James Comer of Kentucky , said the decisions were a loss for Democrats .
Trump himself reacted to the decisions with complaints .
Trump tweeted that he is the victim of a `` political prosecution '' and that it 's `` not fair '' to him .
`` Courts in the past have given 'broad deference . '
BUT NOT ME ! ''
he wrote .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday said that two Supreme Court rulings that paved the way for investigators to obtain Donald Trump’s financial records were actually wins for Trump.
“The justices did not rule against him,” McEnany said, hours after the court handed down two 7-2 rulings rejecting Trump’s claim that he is immune from being investigated while he holds office.
In the first case, Trump v. Vance, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr., who is seeking Trump’s tax and business records as part of a criminal investigation into his business dealings and hush-money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign.
“Two hundred years ago, a great jurist of our court established that no citizen, not even the president, is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in a criminal proceeding. We reaffirm that principle today and hold that the president is neither absolutely immune from state criminal subpoenas seeking his private papers nor entitled to a heightened standard of need,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion, which was joined by the liberal justices. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, submitted a concurring opinion. Only Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito filed dissenting opinions.
In the second case, Trump v. Mazars, the Supreme Court considered whether Congress has a right to subpoena financial records from Trump, as it has been seeking to do for over a year.
While the court didn’t immediately grant Congress the right to demand the documents, Roberts wrote for the majority that Trump’s argument that he never had to turn over any documents to Congress did not hold.
“The standards proposed by the President and the Solicitor General — if applied outside the context of privileged information — would risk seriously impeding Congress in carrying out its responsibilities,” Roberts wrote in the majority opinion.
Although Trump had hoped that the court would block any access to his financial records, both cases were returned to lower courts.
Vance, along with congressional Democrats, called the decisions a victory.
“This is a tremendous victory for our nation’s system of justice and its founding principle that no one — not even a president — is above the law,” Vance said in a statement.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also celebrated the decisions.
“A careful reading of the Supreme Court rulings related to the President’s financial records is not good news for President Trump,” Pelosi tweeted. “The Court has reaffirmed the Congress’s authority to conduct oversight on behalf of the people, as it asks for further information from the Congress.”
McEnany isn’t the only Republican claiming Trump actually won the cases. Republican members of Congress, such as Rep. Jodey Arrington of Texas and Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said the decisions were a loss for Democrats.
Trump himself reacted to the decisions with complaints.
Trump tweeted that he is the victim of a “political prosecution” and that it’s “not fair” to him.
“Courts in the past have given ‘broad deference.’ BUT NOT ME!” he wrote.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-09--McEnany: Making Mexico pay for Trump's wall 'didn't come up' with Mexican president

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Thursday that having Mexico pay for the wall on the U.S. southern border `` did n't come up '' in any discussions she `` was a part of '' while Donald Trump met with the president of Mexico .
Trump ran for president in 2016 on the promise of building a border wall , repeatedly insisting that `` Mexico will pay for it . ''
Soon after Trump took office , the Mexican government flatly rejected the proposal , and since then Trump has moved forward with the project at U.S. taxpayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were supposed to go to the military .
The vast majority of wall construction under Trump has been refurbishing existing barriers , not building a new wall .
So far , Mexico has not been tapped to pay for any of it .
REPORTER : Can you tell us if President Trump discussed the issue of funding for the wall with the president , and if not , is that now a dead issue for the president ?
KAYLEIGH McENANY : Um , it did n't come up in the discussions that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm grateful that you bring up the wall , which is being built at accelerated pace , you know , more than 500 miles by the end of the year , and we really appreciate the help of the Mexican government in securing the border with the troops that they 've provided .
REPORTER : Does the president contend that the Mexican government will still contribute , like , directly to fund – McENANY : Again , I 'm not aware of their other discussions they may have had , but what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States-Mexico-Canada Agreement ] , that Mexico is a big part in making happen , is bringing tons and tons and tons of money and revenue into the United States , and we 're very grateful for that .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Thursday that having Mexico pay for the wall on the U.S. southern border “didn’t come up” in any discussions she “was a part of” while Donald Trump met with the president of Mexico.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador visited the White House on Wednesday.
Trump ran for president in 2016 on the promise of building a border wall, repeatedly insisting that “Mexico will pay for it.”
Soon after Trump took office, the Mexican government flatly rejected the proposal, and since then Trump has moved forward with the project at U.S. taxpayer expense, primarily by using funds that were supposed to go to the military.
The vast majority of wall construction under Trump has been refurbishing existing barriers, not building a new wall.
So far, Mexico has not been tapped to pay for any of it.
From a July 8 White House briefing:
REPORTER: Can you tell us if President Trump discussed the issue of funding for the wall with the president, and if not, is that now a dead issue for the president? KAYLEIGH McENANY: Um, it didn’t come up in the discussions that I was a part of, but I’m grateful that you bring up the wall, which is being built at accelerated pace, you know, more than 500 miles by the end of the year, and we really appreciate the help of the Mexican government in securing the border with the troops that they’ve provided. REPORTER: Does the president contend that the Mexican government will still contribute, like, directly to fund – McENANY: Again, I’m not aware of their other discussions they may have had, but what I would note is the USMCA [United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement], that Mexico is a big part in making happen, is bringing tons and tons and tons of money and revenue into the United States, and we’re very grateful for that.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-09--Prosecutor who investigated Trump allies says Barr forced him out and lied about it

A former top prosecutor testified under oath on Thursday that Attorney General William Barr lied about the events surrounding his departure from his job last month .
Barr had announced on June 19 that Geoffrey Berman would be resigning from his role as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York .
Berman testified in a closed-door hearing of the House Judiciary Committee that Barr had pushed him out of his job in order to install the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission , Jay Clayton , in the position .
Berman 's testimony that Barr lied about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuel to Democrats ' argument that Barr has acted inappropriately in his role as the top law enforcement officer in the country .
The events surrounding Berman 's removal have remained unclear for weeks since he was dismissed on June 20 .
At the time , Berman was investigating Trump 's close political ally Rudy Giuliani .
He had already prosecuted Trump 's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen .
The day before Barr pushed Berman out , Berman had refused to sign a letter written by Trump administration officials condemning New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic .
In his opening statement before the House Judiciary Committee , obtained by Politico , Berman said Barr 's claim on June 19 that Berman had voluntarily resigned was a lie .
Berman issued a statement on June 19 saying he had not resigned and had no intention of stepping down , which he had told Barr .
Barr then ordered Berman 's firing , he said .
Barr initially claimed that Trump had fired Berman .
While Trump denied any involvement , the White House said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Berman went on to testify that Barr had offered him other positions , in the Department of Justice 's Civil Division and as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission , but that he had turned them down .
He also said Barr had made threats about what would happen if he did n't voluntarily step aside .
`` The Attorney General said that if I did not resign from my position I would be fired , '' Berman wrote in his opening statement .
`` He added that getting fired from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my resume or future job prospects .
I told him that while I did not want to get fired , I would not resign . ''
House Democrats were already investigating Barr for intervening in criminal cases at the behest of Trump .
`` The whole thing smacks of corruption and incompetence , which is what we have come to expect from this President and his Attorney General , '' House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler ( D-NY ) said in a statement immediately after Berman 's firing .
Published with permission of The @ @ @ @

A former top prosecutor testified under oath on Thursday that Attorney General William Barr lied about the events surrounding his departure from his job last month.
Barr had announced on June 19 that Geoffrey Berman would be resigning from his role as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Berman testified in a closed-door hearing of the House Judiciary Committee that Barr had pushed him out of his job in order to install the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Jay Clayton, in the position.
Berman’s testimony that Barr lied about the events surrounding his departure adds more fuel to Democrats’ argument that Barr has acted inappropriately in his role as the top law enforcement officer in the country.
The events surrounding Berman’s removal have remained unclear for weeks since he was dismissed on June 20.
At the time, Berman was investigating Trump’s close political ally Rudy Giuliani. He had already prosecuted Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen.
The day before Barr pushed Berman out, Berman had refused to sign a letter written by Trump administration officials condemning New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for restricting religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his opening statement before the House Judiciary Committee, obtained by Politico, Berman said Barr’s claim on June 19 that Berman had voluntarily resigned was a lie.
Berman issued a statement on June 19 saying he had not resigned and had no intention of stepping down, which he had told Barr. Barr then ordered Berman’s firing, he said. Barr initially claimed that Trump had fired Berman. While Trump denied any involvement, the White House said he was involved in the “sign-off.”
Berman went on to testify that Barr had offered him other positions, in the Department of Justice’s Civil Division and as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, but that he had turned them down. He also said Barr had made threats about what would happen if he didn’t voluntarily step aside.
“The Attorney General said that if I did not resign from my position I would be fired,” Berman wrote in his opening statement. “He added that getting fired from my job would not be good for my resume or future job prospects. I told him that while I did not want to get fired, I would not resign.”
House Democrats were already investigating Barr for intervening in criminal cases at the behest of Trump.
“The whole thing smacks of corruption and incompetence, which is what we have come to expect from this President and his Attorney General,” House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-NY) said in a statement immediately after Berman’s firing.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-09--CDC forced to correct Mike Pence on school reopening guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was forced to contradict Vice President Mike Pence Thursday morning , saying it would not revise its safety guidelines for reopening schools this fall .
`` Our guidelines are our guidelines , '' Director Robert Redfield told CNN .
He added that the agency would `` provide additional reference documents '' to help schools , reiterating that the documents are `` not a revision of the guidelines '' but rather `` additional information to help schools be able to use the guidance we put forward . ''
Current CDC guidance states that virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and teachers .
Reopening schools with `` full sized , in-person classes '' puts students , teachers , and staff at the highest risk .
If schools do choose to reopen , the guidance calls for face masks to be worn `` as feasible '' and recommends classrooms , common areas , and buses be cleaned and disinfected `` at least daily . ''
Redfield 's comments contradict Pence , who said Wednesday that the CDC would issue new guidance for reopening schools amid backlash over the Trump administration ’ s decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Well , the president said today , we just don ’ t want the guidance to be too tough , '' Pence said at a White House coronavirus task force press conference .
Pence said the CDC would `` be issuing a new set of tools '' next week , indicating the tools were in response to Donald Trump ’ s criticism .
Earlier on Wednesday , Trump had attacked the guidelines as `` very tough & expensive '' as well as `` impractical . ''
Trump also threatened to withhold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Other Trump administration officials have demanded that schools reopen in the Fall even as coronavirus cases surge in many parts of the country .
`` School must reopen , they must be fully operational , '' Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told governors on Tuesday , according to the audio of the phone call obtained by the Associated Press .
`` Ultimately , it 's not a matter of if schools need to open , it 's a matter of how . ''
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar himself downplayed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
`` Our CDC guidance is guidance .
When it comes to reopening our schools , nobody should hide behind CDC 's guidance to not reopen schools , '' he said during a White House event about school reopenings .
The United States saw a new single-day record of confirmed coronavirus cases — more than 60,000 — on Tuesday .
In April and May , Trump and many Republicans pushed for states to reopen businesses in order to spur economic activity , against the advice of health professionals .
`` There 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you pull back mitigation , you ’ re going to start seeing cases crop up here and there , '' Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease expert , told CNN on April 30 .
`` If you 're not able to handle them , you 're going to see another peak , a spike . ''
After Fauci gave a similar warning during a May 12 Senate hearing , Trump attacked him , insisting that businesses would continue to reopen .
`` We 're opening our country , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gon na be open , '' Trump said on May 13 .
Fauci , he claimed , `` wants to play all sides of the equation . ''
After huge spikes in coronavirus cases in Texas , Arizona , and Florida — three of states that rushed to reopen their economies — governors were forced to backtrack , closing some businesses that had previously been reopened .
On Thursday morning , the United States had more than 3 million confirmed coronavirus cases .
At least 132,237 people have died .
Published with permission @ @ @ @ @ @

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was forced to contradict Vice President Mike Pence Thursday morning, saying it would not revise its safety guidelines for reopening schools this fall.
“Our guidelines are our guidelines,” Director Robert Redfield told CNN. He added that the agency would “provide additional reference documents” to help schools, reiterating that the documents are “not a revision of the guidelines” but rather “additional information to help schools be able to use the guidance we put forward.”
Current CDC guidance states that virtual classes present the lowest risk for students and teachers. Reopening schools with “full sized, in-person classes” puts students, teachers, and staff at the highest risk.
If schools do choose to reopen, the guidance calls for face masks to be worn “as feasible” and recommends classrooms, common areas, and buses be cleaned and disinfected “at least daily.”
Redfield’s comments contradict Pence, who said Wednesday that the CDC would issue new guidance for reopening schools amid backlash over the Trump administration’s decision to force them to do so too early.
“Well, the president said today, we just don’t want the guidance to be too tough,” Pence said at a White House coronavirus task force press conference. Pence said the CDC would “be issuing a new set of tools” next week, indicating the tools were in response to Donald Trump’s criticism.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump had attacked the guidelines as “very tough & expensive” as well as “impractical.” Trump also threatened to withhold funding from schools that did not reopen.
Other Trump administration officials have demanded that schools reopen in the Fall even as coronavirus cases surge in many parts of the country.
“School must reopen, they must be fully operational,” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told governors on Tuesday, according to the audio of the phone call obtained by the Associated Press. “Ultimately, it’s not a matter of if schools need to open, it’s a matter of how.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar himself downplayed the importance of the CDC guidelines elsewhere on Tuesday.
“Our CDC guidance is guidance. When it comes to reopening our schools, nobody should hide behind CDC’s guidance to not reopen schools,” he said during a White House event about school reopenings.
The United States saw a new single-day record of confirmed coronavirus cases — more than 60,000 — on Tuesday.
In April and May, Trump and many Republicans pushed for states to reopen businesses in order to spur economic activity, against the advice of health professionals.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that when you pull back mitigation, you’re going to start seeing cases crop up here and there,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, told CNN on April 30. “If you’re not able to handle them, you’re going to see another peak, a spike.”
After Fauci gave a similar warning during a May 12 Senate hearing, Trump attacked him, insisting that businesses would continue to reopen.
“We’re opening our country, people want it open, the schools are gonna be open,” Trump said on May 13. Fauci, he claimed, “wants to play all sides of the equation.”
After huge spikes in coronavirus cases in Texas, Arizona, and Florida — three of states that rushed to reopen their economies — governors were forced to backtrack, closing some businesses that had previously been reopened.
On Thursday morning, the United States had more than 3 million confirmed coronavirus cases. At least 132,237 people have died.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-09--Medical group gave over $150k to GOP lawmakers who dismiss virus science

The American Medical Association 's political action committee has given more than $ 150,000 over the past decade to lawmakers who have pushed recently for a premature end to pandemic safety measures .
The group , which calls itself `` the nation 's largest physician organization , '' released a statement in April from its president , Dr. Patrice A. Harris , urging states to `` use science '' and `` data '' in determinations about when and how to reopen their economies .
`` The American Medical Association ( AMA ) believes decisions about public health should be made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Scientists and public health experts continue to urge physical distancing as the most effective way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 until we have a vaccine or an effective treatment , '' Harris wrote .
`` Reducing or eliminating physical distancing policies prematurely — and without robust monitoring and testing in place — would likely result in a resurgence of COVID-19 that would inflict widespread illness and still more death . ''
She added that Americans `` should be confident that decisions are being made with public health as the top consideration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implicitly or explicitly prioritized the economy over public health .
Some of the most vocal advocates for speedy reopening , regardless of the the AMA 's warnings and a new surge in coronavirus cases across the country , have previously received contributions from AMPAC — the group 's political action committee .
The PAC 's stated mission is to back those who make `` physicians and patients a top priority '' and have `` proven to be [ friends ] of medicine . ''
AMPAC officials did not immediately respond to a request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2010 campaign cycle , AMPAC has given a total of at least $ 157,200 to nine lawmakers who have been especially vocal against stay-at-home rules and other safety measures .
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has received at least $ 35,000 from AMPAC .
He has been a leading opponent of efforts to temporarily allow members of Congress to work remotely during the pandemic , arguing that if emergency personnel and food service workers can show up for work , lawmakers should not need to work from home .
Last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business closures to curb the latest coronavirus spikes .
`` We 've learned from this , '' he told CNBC .
`` I do not believe a shutdown complete of the economy is a smart thing to happen overall for our health or other . ''
This week , he demanded that schools and childcare centers reopen , urging `` liability protections '' from `` COVID-19 related lawsuits '' against them .
McCarthy 's office did not respond to a request for comment for this story .
Rep. Kevin Brady ( R-TX ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AMPAC over the years .
In May , he praised his state 's rushed reopening , telling Fox News Radio that its governor had `` opened a big can of common sense on how you reopen these businesses . ''
Brady argued this week against any new closures , telling CNBC that wearing masks and social distancing — rather than closing the economy again — were the best ways to combat the resulting spikes in coronavirus infections .
In that interview he suggested misleadingly that `` re-opening states '' were actually safer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under all this is , 'Did states reopen too quickly ?
Should they go back to locking down their economies ? '
'' he said .
`` My answer is , 'No they did n't . '
We expected , I think everyone did , these flare ups . ''
California has seen new cases roughly double compared to a month ago and an 88 % increase in hospitalizations .
Brady 's office did not respond to a request for comment for this story .
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise has received at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April , he has pushed for a quick reopening despite the pandemic , telling Fox Business , `` We got ta get the economy open again . ''
`` America needs to safely get back to work ! ''
Scalise ( R-LA ) said at a May briefing , dismissing those who have said `` we must remain closed or be prepared to close again , as if it were some tradeoff between health and jobs . ''
`` Our health depends on it , '' he said at the time .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fix the streets , to pay police , firefighters , teachers , ambulance drivers — depends on America getting back open again .
Our upward mobility — and the promise that no matter where you begin , you can achieve your dreams in America — depends on America reopening that opportunity to all who seek it . ''
He added , `` Our personal relationships , with family , friends , with God , depend on us getting back to a free and mobile life . ''
In recent days , Louisiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case spike since April .
Gov .
John Bel Edwards said Wednesday that the state has seen three weeks of `` going in the wrong direction . ''
Scalise 's office did not respond to a request for comment for this story .
Rep. Devin Nunes ( R-CA ) has received at least $ 17,000 from AMPAC .
In early April , he demanded the economy reopen within 14 days , despite the ongoing risks .
`` I will tell you this : If we do n't start to get people back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week to two weeks , I do n't believe we can wait until , you know , the end of April , '' he told Fox News .
`` I just think , I just do n't know of any economy that 's ever survived where you unplug the entire economy and expect things to go back and be normal . ''
In the same interview , he complained that California had shut down schools , calling the cancellation of the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year `` way overkill . ''
Nunes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go to pubs during the early days of the pandemic in March .
He later claimed he had only been referring to `` drive-thru '' pubs .
Nunes ' office did not respond to a request for comment for this story .
Sen. Pat Toomey ( R-PA ) has received at least $ 15,000 from AMPAC .
`` Now is the time to begin the discussion on how we slowly , gradually reopen our economy , because we are doing enormous damage every week that goes by where people are not allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local TV station in April .
`` I do n't think we can afford to wait and keep the economy closed until we have a massive scale of antibody testing capability . ''
Pennsylvania too has seen a recent COVID-19 spike , fueled by near-record numbers of new cases in the Pittsburgh area .
Toomey 's office did not respond to a request for comment for this story .
Sen. John Cornyn ( R-TX ) has received at least $ 10,200 from AMPAC .
In March , he tweeted out a photo of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what appeared to be a bar or restaurant , along with the words , `` Be smart ; do n't panic .
We will get us through this . ''
On April 2 , Cornyn urged against a national stay-at-home order .
`` Locking down the country more than necessary to defeat the virus to me seems like an overreaction , '' he told reporters .
`` Not every place is the same , '' he said .
`` We 've had the same conversation in Texas , but some places we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus loves the crowd , loves congestion , and that 's why you see places like New York and Dallas , for example , which is having its own struggles . ''
Texas , which pushed to reopen early , set a state record on Tuesday with more than 10,000 new cases .
Cornyn 's office did not respond to an inquiry for this story .
Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) has received at least $ 10,000 from AMPAC .
`` We 've got to deal with the economic devastation of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'll tell you it is time for Texans to go back to work , '' Cruz said in April .
`` I 'm very glad that both the president and the governor are laying out a specific time frame , a specific plan to get Texans back to work . ''
He added that the `` very vulnerable , those who are elderly , those who have serious health conditions , you should stay home if that describes you , '' but said that `` for people who are young and healthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get people back to work sooner rather than later . ''
In May , Cruz also cheered on a Texas salon owner who defied both a stay-at-home order and court instructions not to reopen her business .
`` This is NUTS , '' he tweeted after a judge sentenced the owner to seven days in jail .
`` And government officials do n't get to order citizens to apologize to them for daring to earn a living . ''
Cruz 's office did not respond to a request for comment for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) has received at least $ 3,000 from AMPAC over the years .
In a Washington Examiner op-ed back in April , Buck and Rep. Andy Biggs ( R-AZ ) wrote that it was `` time to open the country and protect the most vulnerable in a more targeted way . ''
`` The longer government-imposed lockdowns go on , the more people will lose their jobs — millions more .
Thousands of businesses will close their doors .
The physical and emotional toll from this self-imposed economic destruction will be worse than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
`` You 're dealing with a lot of hype about fatalities , '' Buck told Politico at the time .
`` I do n't know anybody that wants to be the person who says , '33,000 deaths is okay , but 100,000 is not acceptable . '
But that 's what officials are elected to do . ''
While Colorado has not seen as big of a surge as other places , new cases have been increasing in recent weeks .
Public health officials point to decreased social distancing as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to a request for comment for this story .
Rep. Dan Crenshaw ( R-TX ) has received at least $ 3,000 from AMPAC .
In March , he demanded Americans be given a specific end date for stay-at-home rules .
`` We MUST do everything in our power to provide a reasonable , health-informed , date for when Americans can safely return to regular economic activity in their communities , '' he wrote .
In April , he decried a mandatory face mask policy as `` unjust government tyranny . ''
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defending the salon owner who defied a court order to reopen her business , tweeting , `` Small-minded 'leaders ' across the country have become drunk with power .
This must end . ''
That same month , Crenshaw wrote in the Wall Street Journal that it was `` time to reopen America in a smart and deliberate fashion and stop calling people murderers because they want to get back to work . ''
`` The American people are responsible enough to live free and confront risk , '' he wrote .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day later , he cheered on Texas ' reopening , telling critics there was `` no apocalypse coming . ''
Crenshaw 's office did not respond to a request for comment for this story .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The American Medical Association’s political action committee has given more than $150,000 over the past decade to lawmakers who have pushed recently for a premature end to pandemic safety measures.
The group, which calls itself “the nation’s largest physician organization,” released a statement in April from its president, Dr. Patrice A. Harris, urging states to “use science” and “data” in determinations about when and how to reopen their economies.
“The American Medical Association (AMA) believes decisions about public health should be made based on science, evidence and data. Scientists and public health experts continue to urge physical distancing as the most effective way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 until we have a vaccine or an effective treatment,” Harris wrote. “Reducing or eliminating physical distancing policies prematurely — and without robust monitoring and testing in place — would likely result in a resurgence of COVID-19 that would inflict widespread illness and still more death.”
She added that Americans “should be confident that decisions are being made with public health as the top consideration.”
But many Republican lawmakers have implicitly or explicitly prioritized the economy over public health.
Some of the most vocal advocates for speedy reopening, regardless of the the AMA’s warnings and a new surge in coronavirus cases across the country, have previously received contributions from AMPAC — the group’s political action committee. The PAC’s stated mission is to back those who make “physicians and patients a top priority” and have “proven to be [friends] of medicine.”
AMPAC officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.
Since the 2010 campaign cycle, AMPAC has given a total of at least $157,200 to nine lawmakers who have been especially vocal against stay-at-home rules and other safety measures.
Here’s who’s on that list.
Kevin McCarthy
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has received at least $35,000 from AMPAC.
He has been a leading opponent of efforts to temporarily allow members of Congress to work remotely during the pandemic, arguing that if emergency personnel and food service workers can show up for work, lawmakers should not need to work from home.
Last month, McCarthy (R-CA) also argued against business closures to curb the latest coronavirus spikes. “We’ve learned from this,” he told CNBC. “I do not believe a shutdown complete of the economy is a smart thing to happen overall for our health or other.”
This week, he demanded that schools and childcare centers reopen, urging “liability protections” from “COVID-19 related lawsuits” against them.
McCarthy’s office did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Kevin Brady
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) has received at least $34,000 from AMPAC over the years.
In May, he praised his state’s rushed reopening, telling Fox News Radio that its governor had “opened a big can of common sense on how you reopen these businesses.”
Brady argued this week against any new closures, telling CNBC that wearing masks and social distancing — rather than closing the economy again — were the best ways to combat the resulting spikes in coronavirus infections.
In that interview he suggested misleadingly that “re-opening states” were actually safer than “lockdown states.”
“Interwoven under all this is, ‘Did states reopen too quickly? Should they go back to locking down their economies?'” he said. “My answer is, ‘No they didn’t.’ We expected, I think everyone did, these flare ups.”
California has seen new cases roughly double compared to a month ago and an 88% increase in hospitalizations.
Brady’s office did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Steve Scalise
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise has received at least $30,000 from AMPAC.
Since April, he has pushed for a quick reopening despite the pandemic, telling Fox Business, “We gotta get the economy open again.”
“America needs to safely get back to work!” Scalise (R-LA) said at a May briefing, dismissing those who have said “we must remain closed or be prepared to close again, as if it were some tradeoff between health and jobs.”
“Our health depends on it,” he said at the time. “The ability of mayors to govern — to fix the streets, to pay police, firefighters, teachers, ambulance drivers — depends on America getting back open again. Our upward mobility — and the promise that no matter where you begin, you can achieve your dreams in America — depends on America reopening that opportunity to all who seek it.”
He added, “Our personal relationships, with family, friends, with God, depend on us getting back to a free and mobile life.”
In recent days, Louisiana has seen an its largest daily new case spike since April. Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday that the state has seen three weeks of “going in the wrong direction.”
Scalise’s office did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Devin Nunes
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) has received at least $17,000 from AMPAC.
In early April, he demanded the economy reopen within 14 days, despite the ongoing risks.
“I will tell you this: If we don’t start to get people back to work in this country over the next week to two weeks, I don’t believe we can wait until, you know, the end of April,” he told Fox News. “I just think, I just don’t know of any economy that’s ever survived where you unplug the entire economy and expect things to go back and be normal.”
In the same interview, he complained that California had shut down schools, calling the cancellation of the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year “way overkill.”
Nunes also drew national attention for urging people to go to pubs during the early days of the pandemic in March. He later claimed he had only been referring to “drive-thru” pubs.
Nunes’ office did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Pat Toomey
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) has received at least $15,000 from AMPAC.
“Now is the time to begin the discussion on how we slowly, gradually reopen our economy, because we are doing enormous damage every week that goes by where people are not allowed to work,” he told a local TV station in April. “I don’t think we can afford to wait and keep the economy closed until we have a massive scale of antibody testing capability.”
Pennsylvania too has seen a recent COVID-19 spike, fueled by near-record numbers of new cases in the Pittsburgh area.
Toomey’s office did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
John Cornyn
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has received at least $10,200 from AMPAC.
In March, he tweeted out a photo of a Corona beer bottle while sitting in what appeared to be a bar or restaurant, along with the words, “Be smart; don’t panic. We will get us through this.”
On April 2, Cornyn urged against a national stay-at-home order. “Locking down the country more than necessary to defeat the virus to me seems like an overreaction,” he told reporters.
“Not every place is the same,” he said. “We’ve had the same conversation in Texas, but some places we have more cows than people, and the virus loves the crowd, loves congestion, and that’s why you see places like New York and Dallas, for example, which is having its own struggles.”
Texas, which pushed to reopen early, set a state record on Tuesday with more than 10,000 new cases.
Cornyn’s office did not respond to an inquiry for this story.
Ted Cruz
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has received at least $10,000 from AMPAC.
“We’ve got to deal with the economic devastation of all of the people who are hurting and I’ll tell you it is time for Texans to go back to work,” Cruz said in April. “I’m very glad that both the president and the governor are laying out a specific time frame, a specific plan to get Texans back to work.”
He added that the “very vulnerable, those who are elderly, those who have serious health conditions, you should stay home if that describes you,” but said that “for people who are young and healthy and able to work, we need to get people back to work sooner rather than later.”
In May, Cruz also cheered on a Texas salon owner who defied both a stay-at-home order and court instructions not to reopen her business. “This is NUTS,” he tweeted after a judge sentenced the owner to seven days in jail. “And government officials don’t get to order citizens to apologize to them for daring to earn a living.”
Cruz’s office did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Ken Buck
Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) has received at least $3,000 from AMPAC over the years.
In a Washington Examiner op-ed back in April, Buck and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) wrote that it was “time to open the country and protect the most vulnerable in a more targeted way.”
“The longer government-imposed lockdowns go on, the more people will lose their jobs — millions more. Thousands of businesses will close their doors. The physical and emotional toll from this self-imposed economic destruction will be worse than the doomsday prophets projected,” they wrote.
“You’re dealing with a lot of hype about fatalities,” Buck told Politico at the time. “I don’t know anybody that wants to be the person who says, ‘33,000 deaths is okay, but 100,000 is not acceptable.’ But that’s what officials are elected to do.”
While Colorado has not seen as big of a surge as other places, new cases have been increasing in recent weeks. Public health officials point to decreased social distancing as the cause.
Buck’s office did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Dan Crenshaw
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) has received at least $3,000 from AMPAC.
In March, he demanded Americans be given a specific end date for stay-at-home rules. “We MUST do everything in our power to provide a reasonable, health-informed, date for when Americans can safely return to regular economic activity in their communities,” he wrote.
In April, he decried a mandatory face mask policy as “unjust government tyranny.”
And in May, he joined Cruz in defending the salon owner who defied a court order to reopen her business, tweeting, “Small-minded ‘leaders’ across the country have become drunk with power. This must end.”
That same month, Crenshaw wrote in the Wall Street Journal that it was “time to reopen America in a smart and deliberate fashion and stop calling people murderers because they want to get back to work.”
“The American people are responsible enough to live free and confront risk,” he wrote. “Let them do so.”
A day later, he cheered on Texas’ reopening, telling critics there was “no apocalypse coming.”
Crenshaw’s office did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-09--Trump earns support from former KKK leader David Duke a second time

Former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke formally backed Donald Trump 's 2020 reelection on Wednesday .
He also demanded that Fox News host Tucker Carlson replace Vice President Mike Pence on the ticket .
`` President Trump !
You have one last chance to turn the tables , win this election and save America -- and yourself !
Nominate Tucker Carlson for Vice President .
This would energize your campaign beyond belief .
You can replace Zio NeoCon warmonger Pompeo with Pence as Sec .
of State ! ''
he tweeted .
`` Trump & Tucker is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
It is the only path to beat them !
# TrumpTucker2020 , '' he added minutes later .
The White House did not immediately respond to an inquiry about Duke 's tweets .
In February 2016 , Duke , a white nationalist , told his supporters that voting against Donald Trump was `` really treason to your heritage . ''
`` I 'm not saying I endorse everything about Trump , '' he explained .
`` In fact , I have n't formally endorsed him .
But I do support his candidacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a strategic action .
I hope he does everything we hope he will do . ''
Trump disavowed the endorsement initially , but when asked about the endorsement in a CNN interview that week , Trump refused to condemn him .
`` I do n't know anything about David Duke .
I do n't know what you 're even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacist .
I do n't know . ''
Trump said he would not condemn `` a group that I know nothing about . ''
But Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after deciding not to proceed with a presidential bid on the Reform Party ticket , he expressly blamed Duke and others for his decision not to run .
`` As you know , the Reform Party has got some pretty big problems , '' he told a news outlet at the time .
`` Not the least of which is Pat Buchanan , David Duke , [ Lenora ] Fulani , and it 's a problem . ''
Several days after he denied knowledge of Duke to CNN in 2016 , Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bad person , who I disavowed on numerous occasions over the years ...
I disavowed him .
I disavowed the KKK .
Do you want me to do it again for the 12th time ?
I disavowed him in the past , I disavow him now . ''
Since that time , Trump has frequently supported white nationalist priorities .
In 2017 , he defended white supremacists after a deadly clash with counter-protesters in Charlottesville , Virginia .
`` You also had people that were very fine people on both sides , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Right rally .
In 2018 , he called a caravan of migrants seeking asylum in America `` an invasion . ''
In recent weeks , Trump has defended Confederate memorials , refused to change the names of military bases named for Confederate generals , denounced Black Lives Matter as a `` symbol of hate , '' and criticized NASCAR for banning the Confederate flag from its events .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke formally backed Donald Trump’s 2020 reelection on Wednesday. He also demanded that Fox News host Tucker Carlson replace Vice President Mike Pence on the ticket.
“President Trump! You have one last chance to turn the tables, win this election and save America — and yourself ! Nominate Tucker Carlson for Vice President. This would energize your campaign beyond belief. You can replace Zio NeoCon warmonger Pompeo with Pence as Sec. of State!” he tweeted.
“Trump & Tucker is the only way to stop the commie Bolsheviks! It is the only path to beat them! #TrumpTucker2020,” he added minutes later.
The White House did not immediately respond to an inquiry about Duke’s tweets.
In February 2016, Duke, a white nationalist, told his supporters that voting against Donald Trump was “really treason to your heritage.”
“I’m not saying I endorse everything about Trump,” he explained. “In fact, I haven’t formally endorsed him. But I do support his candidacy, and I support voting for him as a strategic action. I hope he does everything we hope he will do.”
Trump disavowed the endorsement initially, but when asked about the endorsement in a CNN interview that week, Trump refused to condemn him. “I don’t know anything about David Duke. I don’t know what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacist. I don’t know.”
Trump said he would not condemn “a group that I know nothing about.”
But Trump was feigning ignorance. In 2000, after deciding not to proceed with a presidential bid on the Reform Party ticket, he expressly blamed Duke and others for his decision not to run.
“As you know, the Reform Party has got some pretty big problems,” he told a news outlet at the time. “Not the least of which is Pat Buchanan, David Duke, [Lenora] Fulani, and it’s a problem.”
Several days after he denied knowledge of Duke to CNN in 2016, Trump said on MSNBC: “David Duke is a bad person, who I disavowed on numerous occasions over the years… I disavowed him. I disavowed the KKK. Do you want me to do it again for the 12th time? I disavowed him in the past, I disavow him now.”
Since that time, Trump has frequently supported white nationalist priorities.
In 2017, he defended white supremacists after a deadly clash with counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia. “You also had people that were very fine people on both sides,” he said of the Unite the Right rally.
In 2018, he called a caravan of migrants seeking asylum in America “an invasion.”
In recent weeks, Trump has defended Confederate memorials, refused to change the names of military bases named for Confederate generals, denounced Black Lives Matter as a “symbol of hate,” and criticized NASCAR for banning the Confederate flag from its events.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-09--DeVos does damage control after Trump threatens to defund schools

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos appeared to partially walk back Donald Trump 's threat to pull federal funding to schools that do not open this fall due to the coronavirus , suggesting instead that the administration may send the funding directly to parents .
`` American investment in education is a promise to our students and families .
And if schools are n't going to reopen , we 're not suggesting pulling funding from education , but instead allowing families , let the families take that money and figure out where their kids can get educated if their schools are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Thursday morning in an interview on Fox News .
Education Department officials did not immediately return a request for clarity regarding DeVos ' comments .
At the very least , DeVos seemed to be suggesting Thursday that she wanted to take federal funding from closed public schools and give it to parents to use at other educational institutions that are open , such as private schools .
Of course , federal funding makes up only a fraction of school budgets — and those funds would n't be nearly enough to provide for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States .
DeVos has long pushed for education funding to be diverted from public schools and given to parents to use to send their children to private and religious schools .
And she has continued that push during the COVID-19 pandemic , which forced school closures across the country .
Four states are currently suing DeVos , saying she directed states to give federal coronavirus relief funds Congress appropriated for public schools to private institutions .
Ultimately , schools across the country are struggling with how to reopen in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Deborah Birx , a member of Trump 's coronavirus task force , said Wednesday that in virus `` red zones , '' all indoor gatherings should be canceled .
Schools would seemingly fall in that category , as students are taught indoors .
Additionally , the measures public health experts suggest to slow the spread of the virus in indoor areas like schools — such as cutting classroom capacity , utilizing testing , and doing extra deep cleaning — are all very expensive .
Cutting classroom sizes would require more teachers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already struggling with paying their staff .
Trump alluded to this on Wednesday , saying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 's school safety regulations were too expensive and would be tinkered with to make it easier for schools to comply with .
The CDC said Thursday , however , that it would n't be changing its guidance .
Nevertheless , Trump and DeVos are demanding schools open at full capacity at all costs — even as experts warn that doing so could put students and staff in danger .
`` Schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen , '' DeVos said Thursday .
`` Kids need to be in the classroom , they need to be with their peers , they need to be with their teachers , and they need to continue learning . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos appeared to partially walk back Donald Trump’s threat to pull federal funding to schools that do not open this fall due to the coronavirus, suggesting instead that the administration may send the funding directly to parents.
“American investment in education is a promise to our students and families. And if schools aren’t going to reopen, we’re not suggesting pulling funding from education, but instead allowing families, let the families take that money and figure out where their kids can get educated if their schools are going to refuse to open,” DeVos said Thursday morning in an interview on Fox News.
Education Department officials did not immediately return a request for clarity regarding DeVos’ comments.
At the very least, DeVos seemed to be suggesting Thursday that she wanted to take federal funding from closed public schools and give it to parents to use at other educational institutions that are open, such as private schools.
Of course, federal funding makes up only a fraction of school budgets — and those funds wouldn’t be nearly enough to provide for full private school tuition for every student in the United States.
DeVos has long pushed for education funding to be diverted from public schools and given to parents to use to send their children to private and religious schools.
And she has continued that push during the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced school closures across the country.
Four states are currently suing DeVos, saying she directed states to give federal coronavirus relief funds Congress appropriated for public schools to private institutions.
Ultimately, schools across the country are struggling with how to reopen in the fall, as coronavirus cases surge.
Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of Trump’s coronavirus task force, said Wednesday that in virus “red zones,” all indoor gatherings should be canceled. Schools would seemingly fall in that category, as students are taught indoors.
Additionally, the measures public health experts suggest to slow the spread of the virus in indoor areas like schools — such as cutting classroom capacity, utilizing testing, and doing extra deep cleaning — are all very expensive. Cutting classroom sizes would require more teachers, at a time when school districts are already struggling with paying their staff.
Trump alluded to this on Wednesday, saying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s school safety regulations were too expensive and would be tinkered with to make it easier for schools to comply with.
The CDC said Thursday, however, that it wouldn’t be changing its guidance.
Nevertheless, Trump and DeVos are demanding schools open at full capacity at all costs — even as experts warn that doing so could put students and staff in danger.
“Schools can reopen safely, and they must reopen,” DeVos said Thursday. “Kids need to be in the classroom, they need to be with their peers, they need to be with their teachers, and they need to continue learning.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-09--Supreme Court rejects Trump's argument that he's immune from investigation

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Manhattan district attorney 's demand for Donald Trump 's tax returns , but kept a hold on Trump 's financial records that Congress has been seeking for more than a year .
The outcome in the two cases is at least a short-term victory for Trump , who has strenuously sought to keep his financial records private .
But the justices rejected arguments by Trump 's lawyers and the Justice Department that the president is immune from investigation while he holds office or that a prosecutor must show a greater need than normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returns are being sought as part of a grand jury investigation .
Because the grand jury process is confidential , the rulings make it likely that none of Trump 's financial records will become public soon .
Trump 's two high court appointees , Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , joined the majority in both cases along with Chief Justice John Roberts and the four liberal justices .
Roberts wrote both opinions .
`` Congressional subpoenas for information from the President , however , implicate special concerns regarding the separation of powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adequate account of those concerns , '' Roberts wrote in the congressional case .
The ruling returns the case to lower courts , with no clear prospect for when the case might ultimately be resolved .
The tax returns case also is headed back to a lower court .
The case was argued by telephone in May because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The fight over the congressional subpoenas has significant implications regarding a president 's power to refuse a formal request from Congress .
In a separate fight at the federal appeals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a congressional demand for the testimony of former White House counsel Don McGahn , the administration is making broad arguments that the president 's close advisers are `` absolutely immune '' from having to appear .
In two earlier cases over presidential power , the Supreme Court acted unanimously in requiring Richard Nixon to turn over White House tapes to the Watergate special prosecutor and in allowing a sexual harassment lawsuit against Bill Clinton to go forward .
In those cases , three Nixon appointees and two Clinton appointees , respectively , voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the high court .
A fourth Nixon appointee , William Rehnquist , sat out the tapes case because he had worked closely as a Justice Department official with some of the Watergate conspirators whose upcoming trial spurred the subpoena for the Oval Office recordings .
The subpoenas are not directed at Trump himself .
Instead , House committees want records from Deutsche Bank , Capital One , and the Mazars USA accounting firm .
Mazars also is the recipient of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance 's subpoena .
Appellate courts in Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president 's arguments in decisions that focused on the fact that the subpoenas were addressed to third parties asking for records of Trump 's business and financial dealings as a private citizen , not as president .
Two congressional committees subpoenaed the bank documents as part of their investigations into Trump and his businesses .
Deutsche Bank has been one of the few banks willing to lend to Trump after a series of corporate bankruptcies and defaults starting in the early 1990s .
Vance and the House Oversight and Reform Committee sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses based on payments that Trump 's former personal lawyer , Michael Cohen , arranged to keep two women from airing their claims of decade-old extramarital affairs with Trump during the 2016 presidential race .

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Manhattan district attorney’s demand for Donald Trump’s tax returns, but kept a hold on Trump’s financial records that Congress has been seeking for more than a year.
The outcome in the two cases is at least a short-term victory for Trump, who has strenuously sought to keep his financial records private.
But the justices rejected arguments by Trump’s lawyers and the Justice Department that the president is immune from investigation while he holds office or that a prosecutor must show a greater need than normal to obtain the records. The tax returns are being sought as part of a grand jury investigation.
Because the grand jury process is confidential, the rulings make it likely that none of Trump’s financial records will become public soon.
Trump’s two high court appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, joined the majority in both cases along with Chief Justice John Roberts and the four liberal justices. Roberts wrote both opinions.
“Congressional subpoenas for information from the President, however, implicate special concerns regarding the separation of powers. The courts below did not take adequate account of those concerns,” Roberts wrote in the congressional case.
The ruling returns the case to lower courts, with no clear prospect for when the case might ultimately be resolved. The tax returns case also is headed back to a lower court.
The case was argued by telephone in May because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The fight over the congressional subpoenas has significant implications regarding a president’s power to refuse a formal request from Congress. In a separate fight at the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., over a congressional demand for the testimony of former White House counsel Don McGahn, the administration is making broad arguments that the president’s close advisers are “absolutely immune” from having to appear.
In two earlier cases over presidential power, the Supreme Court acted unanimously in requiring Richard Nixon to turn over White House tapes to the Watergate special prosecutor and in allowing a sexual harassment lawsuit against Bill Clinton to go forward.
In those cases, three Nixon appointees and two Clinton appointees, respectively, voted against the president who chose them for the high court. A fourth Nixon appointee, William Rehnquist, sat out the tapes case because he had worked closely as a Justice Department official with some of the Watergate conspirators whose upcoming trial spurred the subpoena for the Oval Office recordings.
The subpoenas are not directed at Trump himself. Instead, House committees want records from Deutsche Bank, Capital One, and the Mazars USA accounting firm. Mazars also is the recipient of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance’s subpoena.
Appellate courts in Washington, D.C., and New York brushed aside the president’s arguments in decisions that focused on the fact that the subpoenas were addressed to third parties asking for records of Trump’s business and financial dealings as a private citizen, not as president.
Two congressional committees subpoenaed the bank documents as part of their investigations into Trump and his businesses. Deutsche Bank has been one of the few banks willing to lend to Trump after a series of corporate bankruptcies and defaults starting in the early 1990s.
Vance and the House Oversight and Reform Committee sought records from Mazars concerning Trump and his businesses based on payments that Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, arranged to keep two women from airing their claims of decade-old extramarital affairs with Trump during the 2016 presidential race.


shareblue--2020-07-09--Pentagon leaders face grilling over use of military against protesters

The Pentagon 's top leaders are going before Congress for the first time in months to face a long list of controversies , including their differences with Donald Trump over the handling of protests near the White House last month during unrest triggered by the killing of George Floyd in police custody .
The House hearing Thursday will provide the first congressional testimony by Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , since March 4 , when they appeared to discuss the administration 's defense policy proposal .
That was before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became apparent and before nationwide civil unrest threw the Pentagon 's relations with Trump into crisis .
Trump 's push for an aggressive response to the civil unrest led to an extraordinary clash with Esper and Milley , who on June 1 accompanied the president when he walked from the White House to St. John 's Church on Lafayette Square , where he held up a Bible for photographers .
That day , a National Guard helicopter was flown at extremely low altitude to help disperse protesters from the capital 's streets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a proper use of military resources .
Esper drew Trump 's ire for telling a Pentagon news conference that he opposed invoking the Insurrection Act to permit the president to use the armed forces to put down domestic civil unrest .
Esper said he saw no need for such an extreme measure , a clear counterpoint to Trump 's threat to use force .
Esper also made known his regret at having accompanied Trump to the presidential photo opportunity in front of St. John 's on the day of the Lafayette Square @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he also had been part of the scene with Trump .
He said he had been wrong to stride in uniform with Trump after protesters had been cleared from Lafayette Square .
Milley said his presence `` created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics . ''
`` I should not have been there , '' he told a National Defense University commencement ceremony .
Esper and Milley also are likely to be grilled by members of the House Armed Services Committee on a simmering debate over removing the names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bases and banning other Confederate symbols .
That also puts them potentially at odds with Trump , who has said he opposes removing the Confederate names from bases like Fort Bragg in North Carolina .
The House and Senate versions of the 2021 defense policy bill require name changes at those 10 Army bases .
Trump has said he will veto the bill if it reaches his desk with that provision intact .
Neither Esper nor Milley has spoken publicly about two other controversies likely to be raised at the House hearing — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bounty money to the Taliban in exchange for killing American and coalition troops in Afghanistan , and reported White House resistance to permitting the Army to promote Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman to the rank of colonel .
Vindman , who played a central role in the impeachment case against Trump , announced Wednesday that he will retire .
A statement by his lawyer accused Trump of engaging in a `` campaign of bullying , intimidation , and retaliation '' that meant Vindman 's future in the Army would `` forever be limited .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ promotion list sent to Esper earlier this year , according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter .
But that list was delayed for weeks because the White House asked for an investigation of Vindman , one of the officials said .
The Pentagon did a review and found that any suggestion of misconduct was unfounded .
One official said the list was resent to Esper about a month ago , but again was delayed .
A senior defense official said the list was held up by a routine personnel review not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final promotion list on Monday and approved it , with Vindman 's name included , and it was expected to be sent to the White House in the next day or two , the defense official said .
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an internal personnel matter .

The Pentagon’s top leaders are going before Congress for the first time in months to face a long list of controversies, including their differences with Donald Trump over the handling of protests near the White House last month during unrest triggered by the killing of George Floyd in police custody.
The House hearing Thursday will provide the first congressional testimony by Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, since March 4, when they appeared to discuss the administration’s defense policy proposal. That was before the full impact of the coronavirus pandemic became apparent and before nationwide civil unrest threw the Pentagon’s relations with Trump into crisis.
Trump’s push for an aggressive response to the civil unrest led to an extraordinary clash with Esper and Milley, who on June 1 accompanied the president when he walked from the White House to St. John’s Church on Lafayette Square, where he held up a Bible for photographers. That day, a National Guard helicopter was flown at extremely low altitude to help disperse protesters from the capital’s streets, prompting a Pentagon investigation into whether that was a proper use of military resources.
Esper drew Trump’s ire for telling a Pentagon news conference that he opposed invoking the Insurrection Act to permit the president to use the armed forces to put down domestic civil unrest. Esper said he saw no need for such an extreme measure, a clear counterpoint to Trump’s threat to use force.
Esper also made known his regret at having accompanied Trump to the presidential photo opportunity in front of St. John’s on the day of the Lafayette Square confrontations.
Milley later expressed public regret that he also had been part of the scene with Trump. He said he had been wrong to stride in uniform with Trump after protesters had been cleared from Lafayette Square. Milley said his presence “created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics.”
“I should not have been there,” he told a National Defense University commencement ceremony.
Esper and Milley also are likely to be grilled by members of the House Armed Services Committee on a simmering debate over removing the names of Confederate Army officers from U.S. Army bases and banning other Confederate symbols. That also puts them potentially at odds with Trump, who has said he opposes removing the Confederate names from bases like Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
The House and Senate versions of the 2021 defense policy bill require name changes at those 10 Army bases. Trump has said he will veto the bill if it reaches his desk with that provision intact.
Neither Esper nor Milley has spoken publicly about two other controversies likely to be raised at the House hearing — intelligence reports that Russia may have offered bounty money to the Taliban in exchange for killing American and coalition troops in Afghanistan, and reported White House resistance to permitting the Army to promote Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman to the rank of colonel.
Vindman, who played a central role in the impeachment case against Trump, announced Wednesday that he will retire. A statement by his lawyer accused Trump of engaging in a “campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation” that meant Vindman’s future in the Army would “forever be limited.”
Vindman’s name was on a promotion list sent to Esper earlier this year, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter. But that list was delayed for weeks because the White House asked for an investigation of Vindman, one of the officials said. The Pentagon did a review and found that any suggestion of misconduct was unfounded. One official said the list was resent to Esper about a month ago, but again was delayed.
A senior defense official said the list was held up by a routine personnel review not related to Vindman. Esper received the final promotion list on Monday and approved it, with Vindman’s name included, and it was expected to be sent to the White House in the next day or two, the defense official said.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an internal personnel matter.