npr--2020-10-30--After Months Of Questions, Key Operation Warp Speed Adviser's Contract Emerges

The Department of Health and Human Services has released the contract of pharmaceutical industry veteran Moncef Slaoui , a key adviser to Operation Warp Speed , after questions from the press , members of Congress and advocacy groups .
Operation Warp Speed is the Trump administration 's multibillion-dollar push to develop and manufacture hundreds of millions of doses of coronavirus vaccine .
Slaoui has been instrumental in guiding the effort , but the terms of his employment raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest .
President Trump announced in May that Slaoui , former chairman for vaccines at GlaxoSmithKline , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him `` one of the most respected men in the world in the production and , really , on the formulation of vaccines . ''
But Slaoui was brought on as a consultant instead of as a federal employee .
Slaoui 's consultant status means that he did n't have to go through the standard Office of Government Ethics process for federal employees , which involves signing ethics agreements , disclosure of financial holdings and divestiture of anything that might pose a conflict of interest .
Importantly , this information is available to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slaoui defended his status and role in Operation Warp Speed , saying in an emailed statement to NPR : While the gist of much of Slaoui 's consulting agreement has emerged previously , the contract released to NPR lays things out in black and white .
The contract , dated effective May 18 , showed that Slaoui had a financial interest in vaccine makers GlaxoSmithKline and Moderna .
As a federal employee , he would have had to divest holdings such as those or recuse himself from decisions that pose a conflict .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ option of keeping them .
He also sat on the corporate boards of Artizan Biotechnology , Clasado Biosciences , Lonza , Moderna and ViceBio Limited , the contract documents show .
And he was an adviser to Brii Biosciences .
An HHS spokesperson said in an emailed statement that Slaoui resigned from his board seat at Moderna and divested his equity holdings in the company .
He `` committed to donate to cancer research all incremental value accrued from his Moderna shares between the evening of Thursday , May 14 , prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warp Speed and the time of sale . ''
Slaoui also `` left all advisory boards and boards of directors of companies with even the appearance of conflict , '' the statement said .
That includes the board of Lonza , a contract manufacturer helping Moderna make its vaccine , before Slaoui received any equity in the company , according to a Sept. 23 letter from HHS to Rep. James E. Clyburn , D-S.C. As for his GlaxoSmithKline shares , the contract says if they accrue more value than the average of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Operation Warp Speed , he will donate the difference to the National Institutes of Health .
Slaoui has said his stock in GlaxoSmithKline , his former employer , is his retirement and declined to give it up .
In late July , GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi received a contract worth up to $ 2.1 billion from Operation Warp Speed for their collaborative effort on a COVID-19 vaccine .
An HHS spokesperson said Slaoui 's expertise is `` invaluable to the Board of Directors ' decisions , but he does not commit the government to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's investment decisions are recommended to , and approved by , the Operation Warp Speed Board of Directors ( BoD ) on a weekly basis .
The BoD is composed of the Secretaries of HHS and DOD , in addition to White House COVID-19 Task Force personnel . ''
The conflict of interest section repeats protections first disclosed by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis , chaired by Clyburn , in late September when it got the information from HHS .
As for Slauoi 's compensation , the contract obtained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not $ 1 , as has been previously reported .
Additional covered expenses include reasonable food , lodging and `` coach economy class '' travel .
In response to a question about the discrepancy in pay , the HHS spokesperson said in a written statement : Despite the protections laid out in the contract and Slaoui 's actions to minimize potential conflicts , Democratic lawmakers have criticized them as inadequate .
`` Dr. Slaoui was hired as a contractor so that he could evade ethics laws and work on Operation Warp Speed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial conflicts , '' Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, said in an emailed statement to NPR .
`` His meager salary is the tell that reveals how valuable and important it is for him to use this bogus contracting scam as a way to maintain those conflicts . ''
HHS sent NPR the contract after a request for comment on a set of letters from members of Congress , who were seeking the contract from the department .
Warren , Sen. Richard Blumenthal , D-Conn. , and Reps. Pramila Jayapal , D-Wash. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote to Slaoui on Thursday about the `` unusual contractual arrangement , '' which they called `` a blatant attempt to skirt federal ethics law . ''
In it , they said HHS downplayed Slaoui 's role to justify his status as a contractor , citing a New York Times interview with Kara Swisher published on Oct. 5 .
When pressed about his role , Slaoui told Swisher , `` I 'm not a decision-maker .
But of course , there is significant influence . ''
`` This is a textbook case of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key decisions and damage OWS 's scientific integrity and the race for a vaccine more broadly , '' the legislators wrote .
In his statement to NPR , Slaoui said : Attorney Franklin Turner , a partner at McCarter & English who specializes in government contracts , said Slaoui 's terms do n't raise any red flags for him , though he noted that the statement of work section was quite short .
`` It 's not entirely atypical to see something like this , particularly with respect to an individual with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the field in light of the compressed time schedule , '' Turner said .
`` On its own , this agreement contains the standard sorts of protections , the standard type of language that consultants to federal contracts have , '' he said , adding that this contracting mechanism was likely quicker than hiring Slaoui and putting him through the Office of Government Ethics ' process .
Separately , Warren and Porter also wrote a letter to the inspector general for the General Services Administration , Carol Ochoa .
They asked her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and whether Slaoui and others contracted through outside firm Advanced Decision Vectors are `` acting consistent with federal law as a contractor , or whether they have been misclassified and should in fact be serving as federal employees . ''
Advanced Decision Vectors did not respond to NPR 's request for comment .
In an emailed statement , Michael Bars , a White House spokesman , called the legislators ' letters `` false , politically motivated attacks . ''
`` With four vaccine trials in phase three and additional trials nearing this critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slaoui 's invaluable contribution to ensure Americans have access to a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine and treatments as soon as possible . ''
You can contact NPR pharmaceuticals correspondent Sydney Lupkin at slupkin @ npr.org .

After Months Of Questions, A Key Operation Warp Speed Adviser's Contract Emerges
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The Department of Health and Human Services has released the contract of pharmaceutical industry veteran Moncef Slaoui, a key adviser to Operation Warp Speed, after questions from the press, members of Congress and advocacy groups.
Operation Warp Speed is the Trump administration's multibillion-dollar push to develop and manufacture hundreds of millions of doses of coronavirus vaccine. Slaoui has been instrumental in guiding the effort, but the terms of his employment raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
President Trump announced in May that Slaoui, former chairman for vaccines at GlaxoSmithKline, would be its chief scientist, calling him "one of the most respected men in the world in the production and, really, on the formulation of vaccines."
But Slaoui was brought on as a consultant instead of as a federal employee. Slaoui's consultant status means that he didn't have to go through the standard Office of Government Ethics process for federal employees, which involves signing ethics agreements, disclosure of financial holdings and divestiture of anything that might pose a conflict of interest. Importantly, this information is available to the public.
For his part, Slaoui defended his status and role in Operation Warp Speed, saying in an emailed statement to NPR:
"I accepted this role out of a commitment to public health and to helping our nation and the world control this deadly pandemic. Throughout my career I have always held myself to the highest ethical standards, and that has not changed upon my assumption of this role. HHS career ethics officers have determined my contractor status, divestitures and resignations have put me in compliance with the department's robust ethical standards."
While the gist of much of Slaoui's consulting agreement has emerged previously, the contract released to NPR lays things out in black and white.
The contract, dated effective May 18, showed that Slaoui had a financial interest in vaccine makers GlaxoSmithKline and Moderna. As a federal employee, he would have had to divest holdings such as those or recuse himself from decisions that pose a conflict. As a consultant, he had the option of keeping them.
He also sat on the corporate boards of Artizan Biotechnology, Clasado Biosciences, Lonza, Moderna and ViceBio Limited, the contract documents show. And he was an adviser to Brii Biosciences.
An HHS spokesperson said in an emailed statement that Slaoui resigned from his board seat at Moderna and divested his equity holdings in the company. He "committed to donate to cancer research all incremental value accrued from his Moderna shares between the evening of Thursday, May 14, prior to the announcement of his position on Operation Warp Speed and the time of sale."
Slaoui also "left all advisory boards and boards of directors of companies with even the appearance of conflict," the statement said. That includes the board of Lonza, a contract manufacturer helping Moderna make its vaccine, before Slaoui received any equity in the company, according to a Sept. 23 letter from HHS to Rep. James E. Clyburn, D-S.C.
As for his GlaxoSmithKline shares, the contract says if they accrue more value than the average of a pharmaceutical stock index during his time at Operation Warp Speed, he will donate the difference to the National Institutes of Health.
Slaoui has said his stock in GlaxoSmithKline, his former employer, is his retirement and declined to give it up. In late July, GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi received a contract worth up to $2.1 billion from Operation Warp Speed for their collaborative effort on a COVID-19 vaccine.
An HHS spokesperson said Slaoui's expertise is "invaluable to the Board of Directors' decisions, but he does not commit the government to any financial obligations. Operation Warp Speed's investment decisions are recommended to, and approved by, the Operation Warp Speed Board of Directors (BoD) on a weekly basis. The BoD is composed of the Secretaries of HHS and DOD, in addition to White House COVID-19 Task Force personnel."
The conflict of interest section repeats protections first disclosed by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, chaired by Clyburn, in late September when it got the information from HHS.
As for Slauoi's compensation, the contract obtained by NPR says he is paid $1,000, not $1, as has been previously reported. Additional covered expenses include reasonable food, lodging and "coach economy class" travel.
In response to a question about the discrepancy in pay, the HHS spokesperson said in a written statement:
"Although the agreement lists a lump sum of $1,000, Dr. Slaoui never intends to submit an invoice to [Advanced Decision Vectors, the outside firm administering his contract] for this lump sum. In the event that government contracting laws require ADV to deliver payment, Dr. Slaoui will donate the money to NIH for research, in accord with his previous statements of working for $1.00 salary. At this time, Dr. Slaoui has not received any payment in regards to this lump sum."
Despite the protections laid out in the contract and Slaoui's actions to minimize potential conflicts, Democratic lawmakers have criticized them as inadequate.
"Dr. Slaoui was hired as a contractor so that he could evade ethics laws and work on Operation Warp Speed without divesting from millions of dollars in financial conflicts," Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said in an emailed statement to NPR. "His meager salary is the tell that reveals how valuable and important it is for him to use this bogus contracting scam as a way to maintain those conflicts."
HHS sent NPR the contract after a request for comment on a set of letters from members of Congress, who were seeking the contract from the department.
Warren, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Reps. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Katie Porter, D-Calif., wrote to Slaoui on Thursday about the "unusual contractual arrangement," which they called " a blatant attempt to skirt federal ethics law."
In it, they said HHS downplayed Slaoui's role to justify his status as a contractor, citing a New York Times interview with Kara Swisher published on Oct. 5. When pressed about his role, Slaoui told Swisher, "I'm not a decision-maker. But of course, there is significant influence."
"This is a textbook case of a conflict of interest that could affect key decisions and damage OWS's scientific integrity and the race for a vaccine more broadly," the legislators wrote.
In his statement to NPR, Slaoui said:
"I have seen the letter from Senator Warren et al yesterday and appreciated the shared commitment to my being involved. I concur with the need to be transparent about potential conflicts of interests and I will provide information that addresses her questions. I have made the same commitment to Chairman Clyburn in our Tuesday, October 27th meeting."
Attorney Franklin Turner, a partner at McCarter & English who specializes in government contracts, said Slaoui's terms don't raise any red flags for him, though he noted that the statement of work section was quite short. "It's not entirely atypical to see something like this, particularly with respect to an individual with this man's level of expertise and knowledge in the field in light of the compressed time schedule," Turner said.
"On its own, this agreement contains the standard sorts of protections, the standard type of language that consultants to federal contracts have," he said, adding that this contracting mechanism was likely quicker than hiring Slaoui and putting him through the Office of Government Ethics' process.
Separately, Warren and Porter also wrote a letter to the inspector general for the General Services Administration, Carol Ochoa. They asked her office to investigate the contracting process, and whether Slaoui and others contracted through outside firm Advanced Decision Vectors are "acting consistent with federal law as a contractor, or whether they have been misclassified and should in fact be serving as federal employees."
Advanced Decision Vectors did not respond to NPR's request for comment.
In an emailed statement, Michael Bars, a White House spokesman, called the legislators' letters "false, politically motivated attacks." "With four vaccine trials in phase three and additional trials nearing this critical stage, we are grateful for Dr. Slaoui's invaluable contribution to ensure Americans have access to a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine and treatments as soon as possible."
You can contact NPR pharmaceuticals correspondent Sydney Lupkin at slupkin@npr.org.


npr--2020-10-30--Cruise Lines Can Sail Again From The U.S., But It's Not Clear How Soon

Cruise Lines Can Sail Again From The U.S. , But It 's Not Clear How Soon Cruise lines may begin sailing again from U.S. ports under rules released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The federal agency is allowing a `` No Sail '' order to expire at midnight Saturday .
In its place , the agency issued a 40-page document , signed by CDC Director Robert Redfield , a `` Framework for Conditional Sailing . ''
It requires cruise lines to build labs to test all crew members and passengers for the coronavirus .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew , the CDC will then give cruise lines permission to conduct `` simulated voyages '' to show they can minimize the risk of COVID-19 .
Only passengers 18 or older , with medical authorization showing they have no preexisting medical conditions that place them at risk , will be allowed to embark .
Ship crews will have to show they can safely embark and disembark passengers , conduct safe excursions and shipboard activities , and isolate passengers and crew who test positive .
Once individual ships are certified , the CDC said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return '' of voyages .
The CDC suspended cruises from U.S. ports in March after coronavirus outbreaks on a number of ships with at least 41 deaths .
In recent months , the industry , backed by elected officials in Washington , D.C. , and Florida , lobbied for the `` No Sail '' order to be lifted .
Under these guidelines , it 's not clear when cruises will resume .
The largest cruise line , Carnival , has sailings from Florida ports scheduled in December .
In Europe , where cruise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge in coronavirus cases there has led several to cancel departures and trim schedules .
In Australia , Princess Cruises has canceled all sailings until June because of uncertainty about restrictions on international travel .
After months of waiting for the `` No Sail '' order to be lifted , the response from the cruise industry was less than effusive .
The industry convened its own `` Healthy Sail Panel '' of medical experts who developed a lengthy set of guidelines for resuming cruises .
In a statement , Kelly Craighead , CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said companies look forward to reviewing the new CDC order `` in detail . ''
He said the industry is focused on protecting the public health , and `` with enhanced measures in place , and with the continued guidance of leading experts in health and science as well as the CDC , we are confident that a resumption of cruising in the U.S. is possible to support the economic recovery . ''

Cruise Lines Can Sail Again From The U.S., But It's Not Clear How Soon
Enlarge this image toggle caption Wilfredo Lee/AP Wilfredo Lee/AP
Cruise lines may begin sailing again from U.S. ports under rules released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The federal agency is allowing a "No Sail" order to expire at midnight Saturday.
In its place, the agency issued a 40-page document, signed by CDC Director Robert Redfield, a "Framework for Conditional Sailing." It requires cruise lines to build labs to test all crew members and passengers for the coronavirus. After taking other steps to safeguard passengers and crew, the CDC will then give cruise lines permission to conduct "simulated voyages" to show they can minimize the risk of COVID-19.
Only passengers 18 or older, with medical authorization showing they have no preexisting medical conditions that place them at risk, will be allowed to embark. Ship crews will have to show they can safely embark and disembark passengers, conduct safe excursions and shipboard activities, and isolate passengers and crew who test positive. Once individual ships are certified, the CDC said it will then allow a "phased return" of voyages.
The CDC suspended cruises from U.S. ports in March after coronavirus outbreaks on a number of ships with at least 41 deaths. In recent months, the industry, backed by elected officials in Washington, D.C., and Florida, lobbied for the "No Sail" order to be lifted.
Under these guidelines, it's not clear when cruises will resume. The largest cruise line, Carnival, has sailings from Florida ports scheduled in December.
In Europe, where cruise lines have resumed limited operations, the surge in coronavirus cases there has led several to cancel departures and trim schedules. In Australia, Princess Cruises has canceled all sailings until June because of uncertainty about restrictions on international travel.
After months of waiting for the "No Sail" order to be lifted, the response from the cruise industry was less than effusive. The industry convened its own "Healthy Sail Panel" of medical experts who developed a lengthy set of guidelines for resuming cruises.
In a statement, Kelly Craighead, CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association, said companies look forward to reviewing the new CDC order "in detail." He said the industry is focused on protecting the public health, and "with enhanced measures in place, and with the continued guidance of leading experts in health and science as well as the CDC, we are confident that a resumption of cruising in the U.S. is possible to support the economic recovery."


npr--2020-10-30--In Reversal, Walmart Puts Guns Back On Display

Walmart is returning guns and ammunition back to its shelves after removing them from display as a safety precaution , citing this week 's `` isolated civil unrest . ''
The retailer had instructed its stores Wednesday to take firearms out of view to a secure location in the back , to be sold upon request .
The move happened following unrest in Philadelphia after the police fatally shot a Black man on Monday .
Walmart earlier did not specify how long it would keep weapons off the sales floors , prompting widespread speculation the retailer was also heeding possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now the company says the action was prompted by damage this week to some of its stores , and that it 's ready to restore guns and ammunition to their displays .
`` As the current incidents have remained geographically isolated , we have made the decision to begin returning these products to the sales floor today , '' Walmart said in a statement Friday .
The company sells firearms in about half of its 4,700 stores in the United States .
It also temporarily took down firearm displays earlier this year when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide wave of civil unrest after George Floyd , another Black man , was killed by police in Minneapolis .

In Reversal, Walmart Puts Guns Back On Display
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sue Ogrocki/AP Sue Ogrocki/AP
Walmart is returning guns and ammunition back to its shelves after removing them from display as a safety precaution, citing this week's "isolated civil unrest."
The retailer had instructed its stores Wednesday to take firearms out of view to a secure location in the back, to be sold upon request. The move happened following unrest in Philadelphia after the police fatally shot a Black man on Monday.
Walmart earlier did not specify how long it would keep weapons off the sales floors, prompting widespread speculation the retailer was also heeding possible fallout from next week's election.
Now the company says the action was prompted by damage this week to some of its stores, and that it's ready to restore guns and ammunition to their displays.
"As the current incidents have remained geographically isolated, we have made the decision to begin returning these products to the sales floor today," Walmart said in a statement Friday.
The company sells firearms in about half of its 4,700 stores in the United States. It also temporarily took down firearm displays earlier this year when several Walmart stores were damaged during a nationwide wave of civil unrest after George Floyd, another Black man, was killed by police in Minneapolis.


npr--2020-10-30--How The Coronavirus Has Affected Individual Members Of Congress

How The Coronavirus Has Affected Individual Members Of Congress Updated on October 30 at 4:20 p.m .
ET The coronavirus pandemic continues to upend the daily work of Congress , which has seen a series of outbreaks .
Most recently , President Trump , First Lady Melania Trump and several others tested positive following a White House Rose Garden ceremony to announce his nominee , Judge Amy Coney Barrett , as Supreme Court justice .
At least nine Republican members of Congress attended , and several individuals tested positive for the coronavirus infection or were sidelined in quarantines in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sens .
Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina , who had attended Senate business the week after the ceremony , then tested positive .
Soon after , Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson , who was n't at the Rose Garden event , also tested positive .
Several more members tested negative , but entered quarantines after exposure at the event , including Sens .
Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Ted Cruz of Texas and Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson .
The new outbreak forced the Senate to recess for two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full chamber vote to allow Republicans to confirm Barrett .
The House was already slated to be away .
This is n't the first spread of the illness for Capitol Hill .
The pandemic sidelined Congress since its March beginnings , as House and Senate leaders delayed bringing back members for several weeks in light of public health guidelines recommending social distancing .
The Senate returned in May , but the much larger House still stayed mostly away as a result of advice from the attending physician to Congress .
That same month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing remote voting and hearings .
So far , the virus has infected about 20 lawmakers and forced dozens more to self-quarantine .
More than 100 members of their staffs and Capitol Hill workers have tested positive .
The initial rash of cases began March 8 , when two Republican lawmakers , Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona , were the first members of Congress to announce self-quarantines .
Both had attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor , Md.
, where an attendee at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , the first two members of Congress said they tested positive for the coronavirus .
Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah both said they developed symptoms after a March 14 vote on a coronavirus relief package .
By October , more than 120 Capitol workers reported a positive test or were presumed so , including more than 40 members of the U.S. Capitol Police .
Earlier this summer , Gary Tibbetts , a longtime staffer for Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida , died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers have taken antibody tests to see if they were previously ill .
Among them , Democratic Sens .
Tim Kaine of Virginia and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania both said they tested positive months after experiencing symptoms in the spring .
To stem the flow of new cases , both chambers issued new social distancing guidance .
Also , the U.S. Capitol remains closed to public tours and open only to members , staff , press and official business visitors .
In late July , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also issued a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-Texas , who has often rejected mask protocols , tested positive for the coronavirus .
Gohmert had attended several hearings a day before testing and returned to the Capitol following a White House screening that caught his infection .
Gohmert 's case triggered quarantines for five House members , including Arizona Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva .
Days later , Grijalva tested positive , but fully recovered symptom free .
Now , members can be forcibly removed by Capitol Police from House hearings and the floor if they are not wearing masks .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 .

Congress and COVID-19: members' cases and quarantines
Enlarge this image toggle caption Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Editor's note: This page is no longer updating as of Dec. 31, 2021.
A number of congressional lawmakers experienced breakthrough COVID-19 infections as coronavirus cases rose nationwide with the spread of the omicron variant.
Earlier in 2021, Congress went months with no coronavirus cases among its members. That came a halt amid a national surge driven by the delta variant, when Republican Reps. Vern Buchanan of Florida and Clay Higgins of Louisiana reported infections in July. Buchanan says he was fully vaccinated, but that was less clear for Higgins.
At least another dozen members followed throughout the fall with news they had also tested positive for coronavirus; many of those infections involving vaccinated Senate and House members.
Before these latest waves, Congress' nearly six-month case pause came after a majority of more than 500 lawmakers were fully vaccinated by January. The Capitol's attending physician then lifted much of the mask mandates that dominated the past year. However, a minority of House Republican members have refused to seek vaccination.
Lawmakers impact by the coronavirus
This new threat arrives after the coronavirus already exacted a large toll on the Capitol.
Last year, the pandemic upended daily work for months, sickening dozens of members and hundreds of workers. A sitting congressman, a member-elect and an aide died.
By February 2021, more than 60 lawmakers and 360 Capitol Hill workers had tested positive, or were presumed so, for the coronavirus, according to NPR's tracker and congressional aides.
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See a list of all members who tested positive or quarantined.
That same month, Rep. Ron Wright, R-Texas, became the first sitting member of Congress to die after a more than two-week battle with COVID-19. In December, Rep.-elect Luke Letlow of Louisiana died days before he was due to be sworn in for a seat that was later filled in April by his widow, Rep. Julia Letlow, following a special election.
And last summer, an aide to Buchanan died from COVID-19.
The rash of infections among members continued at a consistent pace since the pandemic began, with the longest stretch without any such cases lasting about three weeks during recess periods away from Washington, D.C.
But this past March, Capitol Hill began its first month-long stretch without any reported cases or quarantines among members. The most recent positive case before July was reported by Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., on Jan. 29, despite his having received his second dose of the vaccine days earlier.
Another member, House Oversight Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., reported that she quarantined on Feb. 1. It ended Feb. 8 without a report of a positive test.
January 6 insurrection caused spike in cases on Capitol Hill
Up until this summer, the most recent outbreak of cases on Capitol Hill for members was triggered by the Jan. 6 insurrection, which forced members to cluster together in rooms for several hours. Some House Republicans were seen refusing to wear masks during the ordeal.
Later, Monahan told Congress that at least one of these holding rooms for House members included a lawmaker who was already positive.
More than a half-dozen members quarantined as a result, and several tested positive, including Democratic Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey and Brad Schneider of Illinois.
In all, January proved to be one of members' worst month for the coronavirus, with at least 16 lawmakers testing positive. Before the insurrection, the House met to launch a new session before reinstating rules allowing proxy voting.
This, as congressional leaders and lawmakers received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which became available to members in December. The doses were provided to meet long-standing requirements for continuity of government operations, Monahan told members in a Dec. 17 note.
Pandemic impacted congressional operations
Ahead of the vaccinations, both chambers of Congress recessed multiple times last year as the Capitol went largely without a widespread testing program.
The Democratic-controlled House installed emergency proxy voting and remote hearings in May 2020, and Pelosi extended the covered period several times due to the pandemic. It remains in place until at least until mid-August.
In November, Pelosi triggered a broader coronavirus testing program for Congress following new requirement for travelers to the Washington, D.C., area.
Pelosi has previously said with about 75% of House members vaccinated, and several Republicans who refuse to do so, she's unclear when Congress will fully get back to normal.
"One of the most substantial steps that can be taken is that everybody should be vaccinated," Pelosi told reporters in March, later adding, "We need 100% of the members vaccinated, because it just takes one to endanger others."
The pandemic delayed other rituals, such as President Biden's first address before a joint session of Congress, which was held with only 200 socially distanced guests on April 28.
Last year remains a reminder of how quickly outbreaks spiraled out of control among lawmakers.
In December, at least nine House members, including six Republicans, tested positive for the coronavirus. And November proved to be another one of the worst months of the pandemic for Congress, when at least 15 lawmakers said they were infected, including two of the oldest, Republicans Rep. Don Young of Alaska and Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
A previous outbreak in September was tied to a White House Rose Garden ceremony to announce Amy Coney Barrett as then-President Donald Trump's Supreme Court justice nominee. Trump, then-first lady Melania Trump and dozens of others in attendance tested positive, including Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
It was one of several instances forcing leaders to change the congressional schedule.
Starting in the first month of the pandemic, in March 2020, House and Senate leaders delayed bringing back members in light of public health guidelines recommending social distancing.
The Senate returned in May 2020, but the much larger House remained mostly away under the advice of Monahan, the Capitol's attending physician. That same month, the House approved its historic rule changes to allow remote voting and hearings.
The first spate of cases began March 8, 2020, when two Republican lawmakers, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, were the first members of Congress to announce self-quarantines. Both attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., where another guest fell ill.
The following week, the first two members of Congress said they tested positive for the coronavirus. Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and then-Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah both said they developed symptoms after a March 14 floor vote on a coronavirus relief package.
By last summer, dozens of Capitol workers reported a positive test or were presumed so, and Gary Tibbetts, a longtime staffer for Buchanan died from COVID-19 on July 24.
Some lawmakers also took antibody tests to see if they were previously infected. They include Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, who both said they tested positive months after experiencing symptoms in the spring.
To stem the flow of new cases, both chambers early on issued new social distancing guidance. Also, the U.S. Capitol closed to public tours and remained open only to members, staff, the press and official business visitors, and aside from the Jan. 6 breach by pro-Trump extremists, it has remained so.
In late July 2020, Pelosi also issued a temporary, new mask mandate after Texas GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert, who often rejected such protocols, tested positive. Gohmert had attended several hearings a day earlier and returned to the Capitol following a White House screening that caught his infection.
Gohmert's case triggered quarantines for five House members, including Arizona Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva. Days later, Grijalva tested positive but fully recovered symptom free. Until recent changes lifting the mask mandates, members could be fined or be forcibly removed by Capitol Police if they are not wearing masks.


npr--2020-10-30--A Long Tradition Of Mail-In Voting For Service Members, With Few Problems

A Long Tradition Of Mail-In Voting For Service Members , With Few Problems In a year when millions of people are voting by mail , overseas troops were among the first to receive their ballots .
San Diego County is one of 11 counties in the United States that have more than 10,000 military and overseas absentee voters , according to a 2018 report by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission .
County Registrar of Voters Michael Vu said there has never been a hint of widespread fraud , though not every ballot comes back in time to be counted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have some method of returning votes electronically .
In California , these voters can fax the ballots to the county .
`` In many cases , we do n't know what the status of that military and overseas voters is , '' Vu said .
`` Could they be on a ship , which does n't have good transmission when it comes down to fax ? ''
Still , most overseas troops use the mail , which is why the law requires their ballots to go out early .
`` The reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them their ballot , '' Vu said .
`` And of course the other is giving them sufficient time to vote it and get it back through whatever postal system of where they are at . ''
Even with the extra measures , over the last two presidential elections , military personnel actually voted at a lower percentage than other absentee voters , both in San Diego County and nationally .
Roughly 26 % of eligible military voters cast a ballot in 2018 , while the number for the general population was 52 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assistance Program .
This election , polls show military voters may be more in play than in previous years .
A Military Times poll of active duty troops in August showed former Vice President Joe Biden holding a lead , with President Trump 's approval rating well below what it had been at the start of his term .
`` Military families are not unlike the rest of the electorate , and we 're seeing Joe Biden do better with older folks and with white folks and with men across the board , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter at Morning Consult , which also has been tracking military and veterans households .
Yokley said the group has typically been a reliable part of the Republican base , and in some ways it still is .
The polling group Morning Consult surveyed veterans and active duty households in early September , after an article in The Atlantic reported the president had called people who served `` suckers and losers . ''
Trump has denied the report and the poll found Trump 's support holding steady .
He still led among a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households .
`` I think we 've seen with white voters and with men , who are sort of the Trump base , not a lot has moved their views , across the board , over the last four years , '' Yokley said .
Back from Walter Reed Medical Center after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in October , Trump tweeted a video message to military voters , one of the groups he is still actively courting .
`` We got everybody pay increases .
Three of them .
There 's never seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the military , '' Trump said in the message recorded on the White House lawn .
For most candidates , it 's hard to target military voters directly .
Department of Defense regulations make it difficult to hold events on base .
Democrat Doug Applegate , a retired Marine , ran for Congress in 2016 and 2018 .
The district included the sprawling Camp Pendleton in Southern California , where more than 36,000 people live on base .
`` I would n't go on base , '' Applegate said .
`` I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought that regulation was well founded .
Because I do n't think the military needs to be sucked into politics . ''
Applegate , who did n't win a seat in Congress , said military voters tend to be conservative , but not always .
National security is important to them , and they tend to size-up which candidate will do the best job of being their commander in chief .
And even though they may be insulated from the job market , they still vote with their pocketbooks , Applegate said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy like everybody else , '' he said .
`` Because active duty military still buy homes .
They still live in the community where they 're stationed at . ''

A Long Tradition Of Mail-In Voting For Service Members, With Few Problems
Enlarge this image toggle caption George Frey/Getty Images George Frey/Getty Images
In a year when millions of people are voting by mail, overseas troops were among the first to receive their ballots. San Diego County is one of 11 counties in the United States that have more than 10,000 military and overseas absentee voters, according to a 2018 report by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
County Registrar of Voters Michael Vu said there has never been a hint of widespread fraud, though not every ballot comes back in time to be counted. Federal law requires military and overseas voters to have some method of returning votes electronically. In California, these voters can fax the ballots to the county.
"In many cases, we don't know what the status of that military and overseas voters is," Vu said. "Could they be on a ship, which doesn't have good transmission when it comes down to fax?"
Elections Trump's Remarks About Military Service Could Play A Role In Swing States Trump's Remarks About Military Service Could Play A Role In Swing States Listen · 3:51 3:51
Still, most overseas troops use the mail, which is why the law requires their ballots to go out early.
"The reason why is the transit time of getting them their ballot," Vu said. "And of course the other is giving them sufficient time to vote it and get it back through whatever postal system of where they are at."
Even with the extra measures, over the last two presidential elections, military personnel actually voted at a lower percentage than other absentee voters, both in San Diego County and nationally. Roughly 26% of eligible military voters cast a ballot in 2018, while the number for the general population was 52%, according to the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
This election, polls show military voters may be more in play than in previous years. A Military Times poll of active duty troops in August showed former Vice President Joe Biden holding a lead, with President Trump's approval rating well below what it had been at the start of his term.
toggle caption Mike Damron/KPBS
"Military families are not unlike the rest of the electorate, and we're seeing Joe Biden do better with older folks and with white folks and with men across the board," said Eli Yokley, a senior reporter at Morning Consult, which also has been tracking military and veterans households. Yokley said the group has typically been a reliable part of the Republican base, and in some ways it still is.
The polling group Morning Consult surveyed veterans and active duty households in early September, after an article in The Atlantic reported the president had called people who served "suckers and losers." Trump has denied the report and the poll found Trump's support holding steady. He still led among a sample that included both military and veteran households.
"I think we've seen with white voters and with men, who are sort of the Trump base, not a lot has moved their views, across the board, over the last four years," Yokley said.
Back from Walter Reed Medical Center after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in October, Trump tweeted a video message to military voters, one of the groups he is still actively courting.
"We got everybody pay increases. Three of them. There's never seen anything like what I've done for the military," Trump said in the message recorded on the White House lawn. For most candidates, it's hard to target military voters directly.
Department of Defense regulations make it difficult to hold events on base. Democrat Doug Applegate, a retired Marine, ran for Congress in 2016 and 2018. The district included the sprawling Camp Pendleton in Southern California, where more than 36,000 people live on base.
"I wouldn't go on base," Applegate said. "I was asked that on occasion. And I thought that regulation was well founded. Because I don't think the military needs to be sucked into politics."
Applegate, who didn't win a seat in Congress, said military voters tend to be conservative, but not always. National security is important to them, and they tend to size-up which candidate will do the best job of being their commander in chief.
And even though they may be insulated from the job market, they still vote with their pocketbooks, Applegate said.
"I think they look at the economy like everybody else," he said. "Because active duty military still buy homes. They still live in the community where they're stationed at."


npr--2020-10-30--Louisville Police Officer Files Lawsuit Against Boyfriend Of Breonna Taylor

The Louisville police officer who was shot during the botched narcotics raid on Breonna Taylor 's apartment has filed a countersuit against Taylor 's boyfriend , Kenneth Walker .
The lawsuit , filed by Sgt .
Jonathan Mattingly , says Walker committed battery , assault and intentional emotional distress .
Walker , a licensed gun owner , has said he believed intruders had entered the home .
But in the complaint , Mattingly 's attorney says that Walker `` willingly or maliciously '' fired at the officer , who was struck in the femoral artery in his upper thigh .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly killed by Kenneth Walker .
He 's entitled to , and should , use the legal process to seek a remedy for the injury that Walker has caused him , '' his attorney , Kent Wicker , said in a statement .
Last month , Walker filed a civil lawsuit against the city and the police department .
His attorneys argued that he is immune from being arrested and charged again because of Kentucky 's `` stand your ground '' law , as NPR member station WFPL reported .
Louisville police shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical technician , during the raid at her home in March .
Mattingly and the other two officers involved in the raid are not facing state charges directly over Taylor 's death .
As NPR 's Brakkton Booker has reported , Louisville officials have been under considerable pressure to overhaul policing tactics following Taylor 's death and protests that followed .
In June , the Louisville Metro Council voted unanimously to ban no-knock warrants .
In September , Louisville agreed to a $ 12 million settlement with Taylor 's family .
The settlement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be adopted by the Louisville Metro Police Department , including establishing a housing incentive program to encourage officers to live in low-income neighborhoods within the city .

Louisville Police Officer Files Lawsuit Against Boyfriend Of Breonna Taylor
Enlarge this image toggle caption Amy Harris/Invision/AP Amy Harris/Invision/AP
The Louisville police officer who was shot during the botched narcotics raid on Breonna Taylor's apartment has filed a countersuit against Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker.
The lawsuit, filed by Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, says Walker committed battery, assault and intentional emotional distress.
Walker, a licensed gun owner, has said he believed intruders had entered the home.
But in the complaint, Mattingly's attorney says that Walker "willingly or maliciously" fired at the officer, who was struck in the femoral artery in his upper thigh.
"Sgt. Mattingly was shot and nearly killed by Kenneth Walker. He's entitled to, and should, use the legal process to seek a remedy for the injury that Walker has caused him," his attorney, Kent Wicker, said in a statement.
Last month, Walker filed a civil lawsuit against the city and the police department. His attorneys argued that he is immune from being arrested and charged again because of Kentucky's "stand your ground" law, as NPR member station WFPL reported.
Louisville police shot and killed Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician, during the raid at her home in March.
Mattingly and the other two officers involved in the raid are not facing state charges directly over Taylor's death.
As NPR's Brakkton Booker has reported, Louisville officials have been under considerable pressure to overhaul policing tactics following Taylor's death and protests that followed. In June, the Louisville Metro Council voted unanimously to ban no-knock warrants.
In September, Louisville agreed to a $12 million settlement with Taylor's family. The settlement includes a series of police reforms to be adopted by the Louisville Metro Police Department, including establishing a housing incentive program to encourage officers to live in low-income neighborhoods within the city.


npr--2020-10-30--El Paso County Judge Orders Shutdown Of Nonessential Businesses

With new coronavirus cases soaring and hospitals at capacity , a Texas judge issued a shelter-in-place order that shuts down nonessential businesses for El Paso and its surrounding areas .
The order , which calls for hair salons , gyms and restaurant dine-in services to close , went into effect just before midnight Friday local time .
It is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 11 .
The state 's attorney general quickly denounced the order , who said the judge had no authority to enact such a measure .
El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has never seen this level of high infection rates of COVID-19 cases throughout our community . ''
`` Our hospitals are at capacity , our medical professionals are overwhelmed , and if we do n't respond , we will see unprecedented levels of death , '' Samaniego added .
`` I am hopeful that the Governor will work with us and recognize that this is a short-term remedy that is needed to contain the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in our community . ''
Essential sites , including child care facilities , polling sites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under his order .
Hours after the judge 's announcement , the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tweeted that `` all legal actions '' were being explored , setting up a potential legal battle over the legality of the measure .
`` El Paso County Judge Samaniego has no authority to shut down businesses in El Paso County , '' Paxton 's office tweeted .
`` This is a direct violation @ GovAbbott 's executive order .
My office is quickly exploring all legal actions . ''
Earlier this month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive order allowing county judges in areas that meet certain coronavirus benchmarks to allow bars and similar establishments to operate at 50 % capacity .
The governor 's order also allowed for increasing `` the occupancy levels for all business establishments other than bars to 75 % . ''
El Paso Mayor Dee Margo released a statement saying he was not consulted on the judge 's shutdown order , according to Mallory Falk , an El Paso-based reporter for member station KERA .
`` We must strike a balance of keeping our neighbors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to feed their families , '' he added in tweet .
Samaniego said over the weekend that he was `` left with no choice '' but to issue a mandatory two-week overnight curfew for residents of the El Paso area because of the spiking virus positivity rates .
At the time , El Paso County had seen a jump of 160 % increase in the positivity rate over the past three weeks and a 300 % increase in hospitalizations over that same period .
As of Friday , El Paso health officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .

El Paso County Judge Orders Shutdown Of Nonessential Businesses
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images
With new coronavirus cases soaring and hospitals at capacity, a Texas judge issued a shelter-in-place order that shuts down nonessential businesses for El Paso and its surrounding areas.
The order, which calls for hair salons, gyms and restaurant dine-in services to close, went into effect just before midnight Friday local time. It is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 11.
The state's attorney general quickly denounced the order, who said the judge had no authority to enact such a measure.
El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said in a statement Thursday that the county "has never seen this level of high infection rates of COVID-19 cases throughout our community."
"Our hospitals are at capacity, our medical professionals are overwhelmed, and if we don't respond, we will see unprecedented levels of death," Samaniego added. "I am hopeful that the Governor will work with us and recognize that this is a short-term remedy that is needed to contain the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in our community."
Essential sites, including child care facilities, polling sites and grocery stores, can remain open under his order.
Hours after the judge's announcement, the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tweeted that "all legal actions" were being explored, setting up a potential legal battle over the legality of the measure.
"El Paso County Judge Samaniego has no authority to shut down businesses in El Paso County," Paxton's office tweeted. "This is a direct violation @GovAbbott's executive order. My office is quickly exploring all legal actions."
Earlier this month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order allowing county judges in areas that meet certain coronavirus benchmarks to allow bars and similar establishments to operate at 50% capacity. The governor's order also allowed for increasing "the occupancy levels for all business establishments other than bars to 75%."
El Paso Mayor Dee Margo released a statement saying he was not consulted on the judge's shutdown order, according to Mallory Falk, an El Paso-based reporter for member station KERA.
"We must strike a balance of keeping our neighbors safe while not destroying people's abilities to feed their families," he added in tweet.
Samaniego said over the weekend that he was "left with no choice" but to issue a mandatory two-week overnight curfew for residents of the El Paso area because of the spiking virus positivity rates.
At the time, El Paso County had seen a jump of 160% increase in the positivity rate over the past three weeks and a 300% increase in hospitalizations over that same period.
As of Friday, El Paso health officials have reported 47,052 confirmed coronavirus cases and 595 deaths.


npr--2020-10-30--NBA Arenas Are Becoming Voting Centers. Will They Draw The Same Crowds?

NBA Arenas Are Becoming Voting Centers .
Will They Draw The Same Crowds ?
Throughout his eight-year career as the Washington Wizards ' starting shooting guard , Bradley Beal has scored more than 11,000 points .
He 's made two All Star teams and he 's hit over a thousand three-pointers .
One thing he has n't done in all that time : Vote .
`` I can selfishly say I was that person four years ago , and eight years ago , '' Beal said , as his home court , Capital One Arena , was being announced as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was someone who did n't take registration seriously , and I was someone who thought my vote did n't count . ''
In all , 20 NBA arenas , and dozens more sports facilities , are being repurposed to support voting this year .
That 's being driven by players like Beal speaking out louder about voting than they ever have before .
The LeBron James-founded organization More Than A Vote has coordinated much of those efforts .
It also has poured funding into efforts such as fighting misinformation and poll worker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with my parents , my grandparents ... just understanding what they went through in order to have that right to vote , in order to have that privilege for their voice to be heard , '' Beal said .
`` I clearly took that for granted for eight to 10 years , and so I definitely want to nip that in the bud . ''
The big sports arenas like the one in the center of downtown Washington , D.C. , are filling a real need for election officials , who have had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search for spaces — especially in densely populated cities — that also allow for social distancing during the pandemic .
`` We 're at a place in time where , the smaller facilities ?
They no longer work , '' said Alice Miller , the executive director of the D.C. Board of Elections .
Miller watched last week as dozens of her staff turned the concessions area of D.C. 's basketball and hockey arena into a `` super '' vote center , where any District resident , no matter their precinct or ward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ check-in tables are outfitted with plexiglass and workers measured the distance between voting booths with tape measures .
The arena 's size allowed for significantly more voting equipment while still accommodating voters and volunteers ' need to keep at least 6 feet apart .
`` We 're going to have 20 check-in clerks ; we normally would have three or four , '' Miller said .
`` Six ballot-on-demand machines , which print the ballots out ; we normally have two . ''
But one of the toughest aspects of planning an election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after all this prep , there 's still guesswork involved .
Will the new arrangements be enough ?
As of Friday morning , more than 2,000 people had voted early at the arena and the average wait time was less than five minutes .
But a week before , officials were flying blind when it came to predicting in-person turnout through Election Day .
The District mailed every registered voter a ballot this year , but officials still are unsure about how many people actually will end up using them and who might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote in person .
`` I have no idea , '' said Miller , when asked how many people she thought would vote at the arena .
`` I wish I did have a crystal ball and could predict that . ''
Another big question is whether arrangements like those being made this year for extraordinary circumstances might become more like the norm .
Even in a non-pandemic year , big sports arenas could offer centrally located massive spaces for voters .
They also make poll worker recruitment easier , as arena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and , in the case of Washington , D.C. , Capital One Arena is located above a number of regional rail transit lines .
But in a non-pandemic year , there would also be scheduling conflicts with the multiple sports teams that use the arenas and the big-name concerts they host .
Still : once voters experience a new voting option , it 's hard to take it back completely , says Arlin Budoo , the facility operations manager for the D.C. Board of Elections .
He watched , as staffers sanitized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give people , the more they expect , '' Budoo said , with a laugh .
`` So with us doing this for 2020 ; they may expect it .
But that 's above my pay grade . ''

NBA Arenas Are Becoming Voting Centers. Will They Draw The Same Crowds?
Enlarge this image toggle caption Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Throughout his eight-year career as the Washington Wizards' starting shooting guard, Bradley Beal has scored more than 11,000 points. He's made two All Star teams and he's hit over a thousand three-pointers.
One thing he hasn't done in all that time: Vote.
"I can selfishly say I was that person four years ago, and eight years ago," Beal said, as his home court, Capital One Arena, was being announced as a voting center this fall. "I was someone who didn't take registration seriously, and I was someone who thought my vote didn't count."
In all, 20 NBA arenas, and dozens more sports facilities, are being repurposed to support voting this year. That's being driven by players like Beal speaking out louder about voting than they ever have before.
toggle caption Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
The LeBron James-founded organization More Than A Vote has coordinated much of those efforts. It also has poured funding into efforts such as fighting misinformation and poll worker recruitment.
"I had a conversation with my parents, my grandparents ... just understanding what they went through in order to have that right to vote, in order to have that privilege for their voice to be heard," Beal said. "I clearly took that for granted for eight to 10 years, and so I definitely want to nip that in the bud."
Unusual arrangements, unusual year
The big sports arenas like the one in the center of downtown Washington, D.C., are filling a real need for election officials, who have had to consolidate precincts in many cases and search for spaces — especially in densely populated cities — that also allow for social distancing during the pandemic.
"We're at a place in time where, the smaller facilities? They no longer work," said Alice Miller, the executive director of the D.C. Board of Elections.
Miller watched last week as dozens of her staff turned the concessions area of D.C.'s basketball and hockey arena into a "super" vote center, where any District resident, no matter their precinct or ward, could cast a ballot.
The check-in tables are outfitted with plexiglass and workers measured the distance between voting booths with tape measures.
The arena's size allowed for significantly more voting equipment while still accommodating voters and volunteers' need to keep at least 6 feet apart.
toggle caption Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
"We're going to have 20 check-in clerks; we normally would have three or four," Miller said. "Six ballot-on-demand machines, which print the ballots out; we normally have two."
But one of the toughest aspects of planning an election in the COVID-19 era is that even after all this prep, there's still guesswork involved.
Will the new arrangements be enough?
As of Friday morning, more than 2,000 people had voted early at the arena and the average wait time was less than five minutes. But a week before, officials were flying blind when it came to predicting in-person turnout through Election Day.
The District mailed every registered voter a ballot this year, but officials still are unsure about how many people actually will end up using them and who might end up wanting, or needing, to vote in person.
"I have no idea," said Miller, when asked how many people she thought would vote at the arena. "I wish I did have a crystal ball and could predict that."
Another big question is whether arrangements like those being made this year for extraordinary circumstances might become more like the norm.
toggle caption Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR
Even in a non-pandemic year, big sports arenas could offer centrally located massive spaces for voters. They also make poll worker recruitment easier, as arena staff were able to volunteer to work, and, in the case of Washington, D.C., Capital One Arena is located above a number of regional rail transit lines.
But in a non-pandemic year, there would also be scheduling conflicts with the multiple sports teams that use the arenas and the big-name concerts they host.
Still: once voters experience a new voting option, it's hard to take it back completely, says Arlin Budoo, the facility operations manager for the D.C. Board of Elections. He watched, as staffers sanitized voting booths.
"The more you give people, the more they expect," Budoo said, with a laugh. "So with us doing this for 2020; they may expect it. But that's above my pay grade."


npr--2020-10-30--The Campaign To Wipe Out Polio Was Going Really Well ... Until It Wasn't

The Campaign To Wipe Out Polio Was Going Really Well ... Until It Wasn't The multibillion-dollar global effort to eradicate polio has n't just stalled .
It 's moving backward .
When the Global Polio Eradication Initiative began in 1988 , roughly 350,000 kids a year were paralyzed by the virus .
By 2016 that number had been driven down to 42 cases of any type of polio anywhere in the world .
But now cases are on the rise and expected to climb even further in the coming months .
So far this year officials have tallied more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600 cases of the vaccine-derived form of the disease .
Most of the vaccine-derived strains of polio are in Afghanistan and Pakistan , but now these rogue strains of polio are also turning up across much of sub-Saharan Africa , Yemen , Malaysia and the Philippines .
Vaccine-derived polio is caused by remnants of earlier versions of the live virus used in the oral polio vaccine .
The vaccine can be shed through feces .
In places with poor sanitation , the vaccine can be spread through wastewater .
Over time , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , regain strength and become just as virulent as the original virus against which it 's supposed to protect .
And worst of all most kids born after 2016 have no immunity to the most prominent vaccine-derived polio strain because that strain was thought to be on the verge of elimination and is no longer included in the primary oral vaccine they would have received .
What 's more , millions of children have not received vaccines because of conflict and lack of access in Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan plus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrible year and will continue to be a terrible year , '' says Michel Zaffran , head of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative at the World Health Organization in Geneva .
The pandemic is part of the problem .
In March , WHO ordered a pause to all polio eradication campaigns to make sure vaccinators going door to door were n't unwittingly contributing to the spread of COVID-19 .
That order was lifted over the summer , but `` as a result , 30 to 40 countries have not conducted mass immunization campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that period , up to 80 million children have been left unprotected against polio . ''
The fear is that with so many children now susceptible to polio , outbreaks could erupt , particularly in areas with poor sanitation where the virus can thrive .
And then there 's the role the Taliban have played in stymieing vaccination efforts .
`` For the last 28 months , there was a ban on polio activity in the southern provinces controlled by Taliban , '' says Mohammedi Mohammed , head of immunization for UNICEF in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's enormous , '' he says of the amount of time that vaccinators have been barred by the Taliban from doing door-to-door polio vaccination drives .
`` If we continue like this , soon we will have three years of children that were born but not vaccinated .
So we are building up the susceptibles for a mega-outbreak . ''
And there 's no sign that the Taliban are going to lift the ban .
Cases are rising so dramatically in Afghanistan and Pakistan that WHO has authorized the reintroduction of a trivalent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circulation — with a lot of fanfare — in 2016 .
The trivalent oral polio vaccine is also known as the `` Sabin vaccine , '' for its developer , Albert Sabin .
The Sabin vaccine contains live , weakened virus particles from the three strains of polio , Type 1 , Type 2 and Type 3 .
It 's easy to administer — just two drops in a child 's mouth .
It 's the original workhorse of the global polio eradication campaign and allowed health workers to wipe out the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second half of the 20th century .
But by 2016 the Sabin vaccine appeared to have outlived its usefulness .
Wild forms of Type 2 and Type 3 polio were no longer found in nature .
What 's more , the Type 2 portion of the vaccine is the source of most of the new `` vaccine-derived '' strains of the virus now causing more paralysis than the original wild forms of polio .
So in April 2016 the Sabin vaccine was set to be pulled out of circulation by every country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The elaborate process was called `` The Switch . ''
According to this new strategy , oral vaccines without Type 2 would still be administered in some countries – carrying out mass vaccination campaigns in which every kid has to get a shot is far more complicated than just putting two drops of the Sabin vaccine in a child 's mouth .
Overall , however , low-income countries would be encouraged to start immunizing children with the injectable form of the vaccine .
The injectable is known as the `` Salk vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is what 's used in the United States and other wealthy nations .
It protects against all three types of polio .
It does not contain live virus and thus does not pose a threat of creating vaccine-derived strains of disease .
But immediately after The Switch there was a global shortage of the injectable version .
Regardless of the type of vaccine being used , the primary impediment to making polio the second human disease ( after smallpox ) to be eradicated is that polio transmission has never been stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country in the world has managed to get down to zero cases , even if some of those countries continue to deal with occasional vaccine-derived flare-ups .
In Afghanistan the government , along with UNICEF and other aid agencies , is attempting to find new ways to gain access to Taliban areas .
They 're launching expanded health services at clinics in Helmand , Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces to vaccinate kids against not just polio but numerous other diseases .
`` People in these three provinces are really the most underserved people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Mohammed in Kabul .
`` There 's no water projects .
There 's no schools .
The nutrition is a disaster . ''
Polio is n't a priority for the Taliban or many local residents , he says .
`` The community starts to say , but why do you always offer the two [ polio ] drops ?
What about the rest ?
I mean , we are not dying of polio .
We are dying of measles .
We are dying of diarrhea .
We are dying of pneumonia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ In one of the last sanctuaries for wild polio in the world , Mohammed says the hope is that children will get vaccinated for polio — and measles and other preventable diseases — through these new basic health services campaigns .

The Campaign To Wipe Out Polio Was Going Really Well ... Until It Wasn't
The multibillion-dollar global effort to eradicate polio hasn't just stalled. It's moving backward.
When the Global Polio Eradication Initiative began in 1988, roughly 350,000 kids a year were paralyzed by the virus. By 2016 that number had been driven down to 42 cases of any type of polio anywhere in the world.
But now cases are on the rise and expected to climb even further in the coming months. So far this year officials have tallied more than 200 cases of wild polio and nearly 600 cases of the vaccine-derived form of the disease. Most of the vaccine-derived strains of polio are in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but now these rogue strains of polio are also turning up across much of sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, Malaysia and the Philippines.
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Vaccine-derived polio is caused by remnants of earlier versions of the live virus used in the oral polio vaccine. The vaccine can be shed through feces. In places with poor sanitation, the vaccine can be spread through wastewater. Over time, the virus from the oral vaccine can replicate, regain strength and become just as virulent as the original virus against which it's supposed to protect.
And worst of all most kids born after 2016 have no immunity to the most prominent vaccine-derived polio strain because that strain was thought to be on the verge of elimination and is no longer included in the primary oral vaccine they would have received.
What's more, millions of children have not received vaccines because of conflict and lack of access in Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan plus pandemic lockdowns.
"2020 has been a terrible year and will continue to be a terrible year," says Michel Zaffran, head of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative at the World Health Organization in Geneva.
The pandemic is part of the problem. In March, WHO ordered a pause to all polio eradication campaigns to make sure vaccinators going door to door weren't unwittingly contributing to the spread of COVID-19. That order was lifted over the summer, but "as a result, 30 to 40 countries have not conducted mass immunization campaigns," Zaffran says. "During that period, up to 80 million children have been left unprotected against polio."
The fear is that with so many children now susceptible to polio, outbreaks could erupt, particularly in areas with poor sanitation where the virus can thrive.
And then there's the role the Taliban have played in stymieing vaccination efforts. "For the last 28 months, there was a ban on polio activity in the southern provinces controlled by Taliban," says Mohammedi Mohammed, head of immunization for UNICEF in Afghanistan.
"Twenty-eight months! It's enormous," he says of the amount of time that vaccinators have been barred by the Taliban from doing door-to-door polio vaccination drives. "If we continue like this, soon we will have three years of children that were born but not vaccinated. So we are building up the susceptibles for a mega-outbreak." And there's no sign that the Taliban are going to lift the ban.
Cases are rising so dramatically in Afghanistan and Pakistan that WHO has authorized the reintroduction of a trivalent oral polio vaccine that was pulled from circulation — with a lot of fanfare — in 2016. The trivalent oral polio vaccine is also known as the "Sabin vaccine," for its developer, Albert Sabin.
The Sabin vaccine contains live, weakened virus particles from the three strains of polio, Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3. It's easy to administer — just two drops in a child's mouth. It's the original workhorse of the global polio eradication campaign and allowed health workers to wipe out the disease in many parts of the world in the second half of the 20th century.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Javed Tanveer/AFP via Getty Images Javed Tanveer/AFP via Getty Images
But by 2016 the Sabin vaccine appeared to have outlived its usefulness. Wild forms of Type 2 and Type 3 polio were no longer found in nature. What's more, the Type 2 portion of the vaccine is the source of most of the new "vaccine-derived" strains of the virus now causing more paralysis than the original wild forms of polio. So in April 2016 the Sabin vaccine was set to be pulled out of circulation by every country in the world at the same time. The elaborate process was called "The Switch."
According to this new strategy, oral vaccines without Type 2 would still be administered in some countries – carrying out mass vaccination campaigns in which every kid has to get a shot is far more complicated than just putting two drops of the Sabin vaccine in a child's mouth.
Overall, however, low-income countries would be encouraged to start immunizing children with the injectable form of the vaccine. The injectable is known as the "Salk vaccine" for its developer, Jonas Salk. This is what's used in the United States and other wealthy nations. It protects against all three types of polio. It does not contain live virus and thus does not pose a threat of creating vaccine-derived strains of disease.
But immediately after The Switch there was a global shortage of the injectable version.
Regardless of the type of vaccine being used, the primary impediment to making polio the second human disease (after smallpox) to be eradicated is that polio transmission has never been stopped in the Afghan-Pakistan region. Every other country in the world has managed to get down to zero cases, even if some of those countries continue to deal with occasional vaccine-derived flare-ups.
In Afghanistan the government, along with UNICEF and other aid agencies, is attempting to find new ways to gain access to Taliban areas. They're launching expanded health services at clinics in Helmand, Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces to vaccinate kids against not just polio but numerous other diseases.
"People in these three provinces are really the most underserved people of the entire country," says UNICEF's Mohammed in Kabul. "There's no water projects. There's no schools. The nutrition is a disaster."
Polio isn't a priority for the Taliban or many local residents, he says. "The community starts to say, but why do you always offer the two [polio] drops? What about the rest? I mean, we are not dying of polio. We are dying of measles. We are dying of diarrhea. We are dying of pneumonia. So please help us out."
In one of the last sanctuaries for wild polio in the world, Mohammed says the hope is that children will get vaccinated for polio — and measles and other preventable diseases — through these new basic health services campaigns.


npr--2020-10-30--Connecticut Won't Retry Kennedy Cousin In Martha Moxley Murder Case

Connecticut prosecutors are closing the door on the 45-year-old murder case involving Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel , who was previously accused of bludgeoning to death his 15-year-old neighbor Martha Moxley in Greenwich .
Chief State 's Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr. said Friday — exactly 45 years after Moxley 's death — that the state will not seek a second trial for Skakel .
During a hearing in Stamford Superior Court , Colangelo filed what is known as a `` nolle '' — a legal declaration allowing for the case in question to be dismissed after 13 months , his office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Colangelo 's review of the case found that of 51 potential prosecution witnesses , 17 have died , making it difficult to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt , his office said .
This decision effectively ends a case that has garnered wide public attention for decades , due in part to the Skakel family 's wealth and the grisly details of the brutal crime .
`` Today is a great day for justice , '' said Skakel 's criminal defense attorney Stephan Seeger after the hearing .
The state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the beginning . ''
Skakel was convicted of murder in 2002 and has been free on bail since 2013 , when a state judge vacated his conviction .
Superior Court Judge Thomas Bishop ruled at that time that the the trial defense presented by Skakel 's original lawyer was flawed and required a retrial .
One such gap in the defense was the failure to call an alibi witness for Skakel .
The Connecticut Supreme Court ordered a new trial in 2018 .
Seeger said his office was working to prepare for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing .
Seeger said Colangelo 's decision to not seek a second trial also comes from his effort to show the prosecutor the holes in the case against Skakel , which he said , includes questionable alibi witnesses , and evidence that could reasonably point to other potential suspects .
Moxley was found dead in the wealthy Connecticut suburb of Greenwich in 1975 .
She was beaten with a golf club , which was later found to belong to the Skakel family , and also stabbed with the broken metal shaft .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Skakel 's arrest in 2000 .
Skakel was also 15 at the time of the murder .
Skakel , now 60 , is a nephew of Robert F. Kennedy 's widow Ethel Kennedy .

Connecticut Won't Retry Kennedy Cousin In Martha Moxley Murder Case
Enlarge this image toggle caption Seth Wenig/AP Seth Wenig/AP
Updated at 4: 30 p.m. ET
Connecticut prosecutors are closing the door on the 45-year-old murder case involving Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel, who was previously accused of bludgeoning to death his 15-year-old neighbor Martha Moxley in Greenwich.
Chief State's Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr. said Friday — exactly 45 years after Moxley's death — that the state will not seek a second trial for Skakel.
During a hearing in Stamford Superior Court, Colangelo filed what is known as a "nolle" — a legal declaration allowing for the case in question to be dismissed after 13 months, his office confirmed to NPR.
The decision comes after Colangelo's review of the case found that of 51 potential prosecution witnesses, 17 have died, making it difficult to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, his office said.
This decision effectively ends a case that has garnered wide public attention for decades, due in part to the Skakel family's wealth and the grisly details of the brutal crime.
"Today is a great day for justice," said Skakel's criminal defense attorney Stephan Seeger after the hearing. The state's case against his client was "thin from the beginning."
Skakel was convicted of murder in 2002 and has been free on bail since 2013, when a state judge vacated his conviction. Superior Court Judge Thomas Bishop ruled at that time that the the trial defense presented by Skakel's original lawyer was flawed and required a retrial. One such gap in the defense was the failure to call an alibi witness for Skakel.
The Connecticut Supreme Court ordered a new trial in 2018. Seeger said his office was working to prepare for that trial leading up to Friday's hearing.
Seeger said Colangelo's decision to not seek a second trial also comes from his effort to show the prosecutor the holes in the case against Skakel, which he said, includes questionable alibi witnesses, and evidence that could reasonably point to other potential suspects.
Moxley was found dead in the wealthy Connecticut suburb of Greenwich in 1975. She was beaten with a golf club, which was later found to belong to the Skakel family, and also stabbed with the broken metal shaft.
The case was cold for 25 years until Skakel's arrest in 2000. Skakel was also 15 at the time of the murder.
Skakel, now 60, is a nephew of Robert F. Kennedy's widow Ethel Kennedy.


npr--2020-10-30--'Nasrin' Documentary Spotlights Life And Work Of Jailed Iranian Human Rights Lawyer

After a five-week hunger strike , Nasrin Sotoudeh , Iran 's best-known human rights lawyer , faces a grave health crisis in Qarchak prison , a notoriously harsh facility south of Tehran .
For more than two decades , Sotoudeh , 57 , fought for some of Iran 's most sensitive causes — the rights of women , children on death row , endangered minorities .
She has won international acclaim , but her defiance has come at a heavy personal price : She is serving a 38-year prison sentence for `` national security '' crimes , after defending women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` She is the closest thing that Iran has to Nelson Mandela , someone who has remained steadfastly committed to her principles at enormous sacrifice to herself , '' says Karim Sadjadpour , senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington , D.C. `` One of the reasons that the Islamic Republic fears her so much is the fact that she is truly irrepressible . ''
As her health deteriorates in prison and her family faces harassment , a new documentary , Nasrin , shows an intimate close-up of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmmakers Jeff Kaufman and Marcia Ross spent four years making the documentary — narrated by Olivia Colman — from afar , unable to get a visa to Iran .
They relied on Iranian videographers who remained anonymous because they risked arrest to do on-the-ground filming .
The camera follows Sotoudeh from home to office to court and finally to prison , where , when her family visits , she playfully pretends to tweak the nose of her young son from behind a plexiglass barrier .
The film highlights details of her work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prominent member of a Baha ' i family — a non-Muslim religious minority — because they believed he was an apostate , she represented the victim 's family .
In an emotional scene , Sotoudeh challenges the killers ' father , asking if he could imagine the Baha ' i family 's pain : `` Put yourself in their shoes for a minute . ''
The scenes are intimate and personal , says Kaufman .
`` Nasrin always felt that even thought she was putting herself at risk to do this film , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a voice as possible , '' he says .
Iran has arrested dissidents , demonstrators , activists and labor leaders — and in an escalating crackdown over the past two years , arrested their lawyers , too .
Sotoudeh 's arrest came in June 2018 , midway through the documentary 's filming , when Iranian security agents showed up at her home .
A year after , Sotoudeh was sentenced to prison and 148 lashes .
She was tried in absentia because she refused to appear in court after being denied the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's draconian sentence has provoked international condemnation .
State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus called for her release in a tweet last month in which she criticized `` the regime 's barbarous use of unjust imprisonment . ''
A social media campaign with the hashtag # FreeNasrin has attracted widespread support and politicians including Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have called for her release .
Sotoudeh 's sentence came as no surprise to Masih Alinejad , an Iranian journalist living in exile in New York City and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : My Fight for Freedom in Modern Iran .
`` It 's not just about a small piece of cloth , '' she says about the hijab , the mandatory head covering .
`` It 's one of the main pillars of the Islamic Republic . ''
And , she says , `` If women get the power to shake one of the main pillars , then they will win more battles . ''
During what were dubbed the `` Girls of Revolution Street '' protests in early 2018 , women dared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waved them at the end of a stick , in a flag of defiance .
The government crackdown on women protesting the hijab has been severe , with long sentences for rule-breakers .
In 2019 , three women who joined the headscarf protest were sentenced to a combined 55 years in prison .
In the documentary , Sotoudeh looks directly at the camera to explain why the fight to defend the women protesting Iran 's head-covering law is important : `` If you succeed in making us wear this half-meter of cloth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to do whatever you want to us . ''
Sotoudeh launched her hunger strike in August , as COVID-19 ravaged Iran 's prison population .
The government had temporarily released tens of thousands of prisoners , according to the U.N. , but prominent political prisoners like Sotoudeh were not among them .
Earlier this month a state-approved Iranian news site , noting Sotoudeh 's hunger strike , said that Iran was fulfilling its `` duties to fight corruption and national security crimes in the face of psychological warfare from enemy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after five weeks surviving on water , tea and salt , Sotoudeh was transferred to a hospital late last month .
Tests showed her heart had been damaged but authorities sent her back to prison without needed care , her husband Reza Khandan tells NPR from Tehran .
`` The main thing that worries me , '' he says , is `` what if all these things cause her to have a heart attack ? ''
Khandan has been a vocal campaigner for the release of his wife .
He has criticized Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After being sentenced to a six-year prison term for `` conspiracy against national security , '' he is now out on bail .
`` I 'm not a fighter , I am not the revolutionary in the family , '' he says .
`` But I have to seek justice for Nasrin . ''

'Nasrin' Documentary Spotlights Life And Work Of Jailed Iranian Human Rights Lawyer
Enlarge this image toggle caption Floating World Pictures Floating World Pictures
After a five-week hunger strike, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Iran's best-known human rights lawyer, faces a grave health crisis in Qarchak prison, a notoriously harsh facility south of Tehran.
For more than two decades, Sotoudeh, 57, fought for some of Iran's most sensitive causes — the rights of women, children on death row, endangered minorities. She has won international acclaim, but her defiance has come at a heavy personal price: She is serving a 38-year prison sentence for "national security" crimes, after defending women who protested Iran's compulsory head-covering law.
"She is the closest thing that Iran has to Nelson Mandela, someone who has remained steadfastly committed to her principles at enormous sacrifice to herself," says Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. "One of the reasons that the Islamic Republic fears her so much is the fact that she is truly irrepressible."
As her health deteriorates in prison and her family faces harassment, a new documentary, Nasrin, shows an intimate close-up of Sotoudeh's life and work. American filmmakers Jeff Kaufman and Marcia Ross spent four years making the documentary — narrated by Olivia Colman — from afar, unable to get a visa to Iran. They relied on Iranian videographers who remained anonymous because they risked arrest to do on-the-ground filming.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Francois Guillot/AFP via Getty Images Francois Guillot/AFP via Getty Images
The camera follows Sotoudeh from home to office to court and finally to prison, where, when her family visits, she playfully pretends to tweak the nose of her young son from behind a plexiglass barrier.
The film highlights details of her work. After two brothers confessed to murdering a prominent member of a Baha'i family — a non-Muslim religious minority — because they believed he was an apostate, she represented the victim's family.
In an emotional scene, Sotoudeh challenges the killers' father, asking if he could imagine the Baha'i family's pain: "Put yourself in their shoes for a minute."
The scenes are intimate and personal, says Kaufman. "Nasrin always felt that even thought she was putting herself at risk to do this film, it was important to have as loud a voice as possible," he says.
Iran has arrested dissidents, demonstrators, activists and labor leaders — and in an escalating crackdown over the past two years, arrested their lawyers, too. Sotoudeh's arrest came in June 2018, midway through the documentary's filming, when Iranian security agents showed up at her home.
A year after, Sotoudeh was sentenced to prison and 148 lashes. She was tried in absentia because she refused to appear in court after being denied the right to choose her own lawyer.
Sotoudeh's draconian sentence has provoked international condemnation. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus called for her release in a tweet last month in which she criticized "the regime's barbarous use of unjust imprisonment." A social media campaign with the hashtag #FreeNasrin has attracted widespread support and politicians including Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have called for her release.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Floating World Pictures Floating World Pictures
Sotoudeh's sentence came as no surprise to Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist living in exile in New York City and the author of The Wind in My Hair: My Fight for Freedom in Modern Iran.
"It's not just about a small piece of cloth," she says about the hijab, the mandatory head covering. "It's one of the main pillars of the Islamic Republic." And, she says, "If women get the power to shake one of the main pillars, then they will win more battles."
During what were dubbed the "Girls of Revolution Street" protests in early 2018, women dared to take off their headscarves in public and waved them at the end of a stick, in a flag of defiance. The government crackdown on women protesting the hijab has been severe, with long sentences for rule-breakers. In 2019, three women who joined the headscarf protest were sentenced to a combined 55 years in prison.
In the documentary, Sotoudeh looks directly at the camera to explain why the fight to defend the women protesting Iran's head-covering law is important: "If you succeed in making us wear this half-meter of cloth," she says, "you will be able to do whatever you want to us."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Pierrot Patrice/Avenir Pictures/Reuters Pierrot Patrice/Avenir Pictures/Reuters
Sotoudeh launched her hunger strike in August, as COVID-19 ravaged Iran's prison population. The government had temporarily released tens of thousands of prisoners, according to the U.N., but prominent political prisoners like Sotoudeh were not among them.
Earlier this month a state-approved Iranian news site, noting Sotoudeh's hunger strike, said that Iran was fulfilling its "duties to fight corruption and national security crimes in the face of psychological warfare from enemy," Voice of America reported.
Weakened after five weeks surviving on water, tea and salt, Sotoudeh was transferred to a hospital late last month. Tests showed her heart had been damaged but authorities sent her back to prison without needed care, her husband Reza Khandan tells NPR from Tehran.
"The main thing that worries me," he says, is "what if all these things cause her to have a heart attack?"
Khandan has been a vocal campaigner for the release of his wife. He has criticized Iran's human rights record on Facebook. After being sentenced to a six-year prison term for "conspiracy against national security," he is now out on bail.
"I'm not a fighter, I am not the revolutionary in the family," he says. "But I have to seek justice for Nasrin."