cnbc--2020-04-30--Trump ally Roger Stone appeals criminal conviction and sentence as pardon speculation grows

Former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump , Roger Stone , arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse , on February 20 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
Roger Stone , a longtime Republican operative and friend of President Donald Trump , appealed his criminal conviction and his 40-month prison sentence on Thursday .
The notice of appeal , which was expected , came as speculation grew that Trump would issue a pardon to Stone , a Florida resident who remains free on bail two weeks after the judge in his case rejected his request for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial in U.S. District Court in Washington , D.C. , last fall of seven felony counts related to lying to Congress and witness tampering .
Stone lied to a House committee about his discussions with members of Trump 's 2016 presidential campaign .
The two-page notice of appeal filed in federal district court on Thursday , the deadline for doing so , does not identify the grounds for Stone 's challenge to his conviction and punishment .
Full arguments for overturning the verdict and his sentence are expected to be filed eventually with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District of Columbia .
Stone last week added Paul Kamenar , a Washington lawyer who specializes in appeals , to his legal team , according to a court filing .
It is not clear if Stone will have to report to prison while his appeal is pending .
He could be allowed to remain free pending the outcome of his appeal .
If not , federal prison officials might delay his surrender because of the coronavirus pandemic .
A U.S. Bureau of Prisons spokesman declined to comment on the question whether the BOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surrender.The spokesman said that under agency policy `` the BOP does not provide information on the date or location that an individual who is not in our custody may enter the BOP 's custody . ''
Trump has been critical of the case against Stone , which was originally lodged by then-special counsel Robert Mueller as part of a sprawling investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and into Trump 's campaign .
Shortly before the appeal became public Thursday morning Trump posted a Twitter message casting doubt on the fairness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe that Roger Stone , a man whose house was raided early in the morning by 29 gun toting FBI Agents ( with Fake News @ CNN closely in toe ) , was treated fairly , '' Trump wrote .
`` How about the jury forewoman with her unannounced hatred & bias . ''
Stone last week said `` I am praying for a pardon '' in an interview with New York radio host Frank Morano .
However , Stone said he has neither asked Trump for a pardon nor been promised one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do , and nobody tells him what not to do , '' Stone told Morano .
`` He will make his own judgment in his own time .
His public comments have certainly been encouraging . ''
Stone also said he feared possible death from Covid-19 if he had to go to prison now .
`` I 'm 67 years old .
I had very , very severe asthma as a child .
If you look at the profile of those who are most at risk , I think I fit that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Judge Amy Berman Jackson earlier this month denied Stone 's bid for a new trial .
His lawyers had argued that the verdict against him was tainted by juror misconduct .
Jackson rejected the claim jury that forewoman Tomeka Hart lied during jury selection and had exhibited such a bias against Trump on social media that she should have been barred from sitting on the panel during Stone 's trial .

Former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, Roger Stone, arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse, on February 20, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Roger Stone, a longtime Republican operative and friend of President Donald Trump, appealed his criminal conviction and his 40-month prison sentence on Thursday.
The notice of appeal, which was expected, came as speculation grew that Trump would issue a pardon to Stone, a Florida resident who remains free on bail two weeks after the judge in his case rejected his request for a new trial.
Stone was convicted at trial in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., last fall of seven felony counts related to lying to Congress and witness tampering. Stone lied to a House committee about his discussions with members of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
The two-page notice of appeal filed in federal district court on Thursday, the deadline for doing so, does not identify the grounds for Stone's challenge to his conviction and punishment.
Full arguments for overturning the verdict and his sentence are expected to be filed eventually with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
Stone's lawyer, Seth Ginsberg, declined to comment Thursday.
Stone last week added Paul Kamenar, a Washington lawyer who specializes in appeals, to his legal team, according to a court filing.
It is not clear if Stone will have to report to prison while his appeal is pending. He could be allowed to remain free pending the outcome of his appeal. If not, federal prison officials might delay his surrender because of the coronavirus pandemic.
A U.S. Bureau of Prisons spokesman declined to comment on the question whether the BOP had set a date for Stone's surrender.The spokesman said that under agency policy "the BOP does not provide information on the date or location that an individual who is not in our custody may enter the BOP's custody."
Trump has been critical of the case against Stone, which was originally lodged by then-special counsel Robert Mueller as part of a sprawling investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and into Trump's campaign.
Shortly before the appeal became public Thursday morning Trump posted a Twitter message casting doubt on the fairness of his trial.
"Does anybody really believe that Roger Stone, a man whose house was raided early in the morning by 29 gun toting FBI Agents (with Fake News @CNN closely in toe), was treated fairly," Trump wrote. "How about the jury forewoman with her unannounced hatred & bias."
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Stone last week said "I am praying for a pardon" in an interview with New York radio host Frank Morano.
However, Stone said he has neither asked Trump for a pardon nor been promised one.
"Nobody tells Donald Trump what to do, and nobody tells him what not to do," Stone told Morano. "He will make his own judgment in his own time. His public comments have certainly been encouraging."
Stone also said he feared possible death from Covid-19 if he had to go to prison now.
"I'm 67 years old. I had very, very severe asthma as a child. If you look at the profile of those who are most at risk, I think I fit that," he said in the interview.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson earlier this month denied Stone's bid for a new trial. His lawyers had argued that the verdict against him was tainted by juror misconduct.
Jackson rejected the claim jury that forewoman Tomeka Hart lied during jury selection and had exhibited such a bias against Trump on social media that she should have been barred from sitting on the panel during Stone's trial.


cnbc--2020-04-30--Trump rants about 'dirty cops' in Michael Flynn case during meeting on coronavirus with NJ governor

President Donald Trump said Thursday that Michael Flynn , his former national security advisor and a convicted felon , had been `` tormented '' by `` dirty cops '' at the FBI .
Trump 's remarks , made during a meeting about the coronavirus at the White House , came after he sent more than a dozen tweets and retweets supporting Flynn and decrying the FBI 's handling of his criminal case .
`` They were trying to force him to lie , '' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office , appearing to reference new documents that were revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` General Flynn is a fine man , '' Trump said .
`` You do n't get to where he is by being bad ... he 's in the process of being exonerated . ''
Before his meeting on the Covid-19 crisis with New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy , Trump engaged in a Twitter blitz about Flynn , the FBI and its former director James Comey .
`` What happened to General Michael Flynn , a war hero , should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DIRTY COP JAMES COMEY GOT CAUGHT ! ''
Trump said in another post .
Trump fired Comey in May 2017 and later told NBC 's Lester Holt that the Russia probe was on his mind when he decided to terminate Comey .
As a result , then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election .

President Donald Trump said Thursday that Michael Flynn, his former national security advisor and a convicted felon, had been "tormented" by "dirty cops" at the FBI.
Trump's remarks, made during a meeting about the coronavirus at the White House, came after he sent more than a dozen tweets and retweets supporting Flynn and decrying the FBI's handling of his criminal case.
"They were trying to force him to lie," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, appearing to reference new documents that were revealed in Flynn's case Wednesday night.
"General Flynn is a fine man," Trump said. "You don't get to where he is by being bad ... he's in the process of being exonerated."
Before his meeting on the Covid-19 crisis with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Trump engaged in a Twitter blitz about Flynn, the FBI and its former director James Comey.
"What happened to General Michael Flynn, a war hero, should never be allowed to happen to a citizen of the United States again!" Trump tweeted.
"DIRTY COP JAMES COMEY GOT CAUGHT!" Trump said in another post.
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Trump fired Comey in May 2017 and later told NBC's Lester Holt that the Russia probe was on his mind when he decided to terminate Comey. As a result, then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.


cnbc--2020-04-30--Key Democratic women rally behind Joe Biden as he faces sexual assault allegation

Former House Democratic Leader and Democratic nominee for Governor Stacey Abrams meets with Georgia voters in Metter , Monday November 5 , 2018 .
Multiple female politicians are throwing their support behind former Vice President and apparent Democratic nominee Joe Biden as he responds to a sexual assault allegation from 27 years ago .
Biden got votes of confidence from prominent Democratic women on Tuesday , including from New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand , one of the first to call for former Minnesota Sen. Al Franken 's resignation after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him .
Former Georgia gubernatorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitched herself as a vice presidential pick , said in an interview with CNN Tuesday night that she believes Biden over Tara Reade , the woman who filed a complaint with D.C. police saying that Biden sexually assaulted her while he served in the Senate in 1993 .
`` I believe that women deserve to be heard and I believe that they need to be listened to , but I also believe that those allegations have to be investigated by credible sources , '' Abrams said .
`` The New York Times did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the accusation was not credible .
I believe Joe Biden , '' she said , adding that he 's `` a person who 's demonstrated that his love of family , his love of our community , has been made perfectly clear through his work as a congressional leader and as an American leader .
I know Joe Biden , and I think that he is telling the truth and that this did not happen . ''
CNBC has reached out to Abrams ' voting rights group , Fair Fight Action , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden 's campaign has repeatedly denied the allegation , telling NBC News that it `` absolutely did not happen . ''
Deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield told NBC in a statement , `` He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard — and heard respectfully . ''
`` Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press .
What is clear about this claim : it is untrue , '' Bedingfield said .
Biden 's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman as his running mate and Abrams has been vocal about her interest .
In 2018 , Abrams tweeted her support for Christine Blasey Ford , the woman who accused Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault .
`` I believe women , and I believe survivors of violence always deserve to be supported and to have their voices heard , '' Abrams wrote .
Gillibrand said in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday that she believes the former vice president , who she said `` has devoted his life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has come forward , she has spoken , and they have done an investigation in several outlets .
Those investigations , Vice President Biden has called for himself .
Vice President Biden has vehemently denied these allegations , and I support Vice President Biden , '' the New York senator said .
Gillibrand , who at one point competed against Biden in the 2020 race , endorsed him last month .
On the debate stage in July , she grilled Biden for writing in an op-ed while he was a senator that women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` deterioration of a family '' and were `` avoiding responsibility . ''
Gillibrand was the first Democrat in the Senate to call on Franken to step down amid allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women .
More than two dozen Senate Democrats followed suit , and Franken quickly vacated his seat while denying most of the allegations against him .
Some in the party later resented Gillibrand 's outspoken condemnation of her colleague .
Her office did not immediately return a request for comment .
Hillary Clinton , the 2016 Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , adding to his level of support from top female Democrats .

Former House Democratic Leader and Democratic nominee for Governor Stacey Abrams meets with Georgia voters in Metter, Monday November 5, 2018.
Multiple female politicians are throwing their support behind former Vice President and apparent Democratic nominee Joe Biden as he responds to a sexual assault allegation from 27 years ago.
Biden got votes of confidence from prominent Democratic women on Tuesday, including from New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, one of the first to call for former Minnesota Sen. Al Franken's resignation after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him.
Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who has openly pitched herself as a vice presidential pick, said in an interview with CNN Tuesday night that she believes Biden over Tara Reade, the woman who filed a complaint with D.C. police saying that Biden sexually assaulted her while he served in the Senate in 1993.
"I believe that women deserve to be heard and I believe that they need to be listened to, but I also believe that those allegations have to be investigated by credible sources," Abrams said.
"The New York Times did a deep investigation and they found that the accusation was not credible. I believe Joe Biden," she said, adding that he's "a person who's demonstrated that his love of family, his love of our community, has been made perfectly clear through his work as a congressional leader and as an American leader. I know Joe Biden, and I think that he is telling the truth and that this did not happen."
CNBC has reached out to Abrams' voting rights group, Fair Fight Action, for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Biden's campaign has repeatedly denied the allegation, telling NBC News that it "absolutely did not happen."
Deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield told NBC in a statement, "He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard — and heard respectfully."
"Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press. What is clear about this claim: it is untrue," Bedingfield said.
Biden's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
Biden promised in March to select a woman as his running mate and Abrams has been vocal about her interest.
In 2018, Abrams tweeted her support for Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. "I believe women, and I believe survivors of violence always deserve to be supported and to have their voices heard," Abrams wrote.
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Gillibrand said in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday that she believes the former vice president, who she said "has devoted his life to supporting women."
Reade "has come forward, she has spoken, and they have done an investigation in several outlets. Those investigations, Vice President Biden has called for himself. Vice President Biden has vehemently denied these allegations, and I support Vice President Biden," the New York senator said.
Gillibrand, who at one point competed against Biden in the 2020 race, endorsed him last month. On the debate stage in July, she grilled Biden for writing in an op-ed while he was a senator that women working outside the home would cause the "deterioration of a family" and were "avoiding responsibility."
Gillibrand was the first Democrat in the Senate to call on Franken to step down amid allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women. More than two dozen Senate Democrats followed suit, and Franken quickly vacated his seat while denying most of the allegations against him. Some in the party later resented Gillibrand's outspoken condemnation of her colleague.
Her office did not immediately return a request for comment.
Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, endorsed Biden for president on Tuesday, adding to his level of support from top female Democrats.


cnbc--2020-05-01--Joe Biden responds to Tara Reade sexual assault allegations: 'They aren't true. This never happened'

Joe Biden will break his silence on a sexual assault allegation threatening to disrupt his presidential campaign during a Friday morning interview on MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe . ''
The interview will be the first in which the former vice president and lawmaker addresses the sexual assault allegation against him made by Tara Reade , a former Senate aide who claims that Biden assaulted her in 1993 when she worked in his office .
Biden 's campaign has unequivocally denied the allegation , but pressure has been mounting for the candidate to address the claim himself .
Reade shook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when she claimed on a podcast that Biden pinned her to a wall and used his fingers to penetrate her in an office building on Capitol Hill .
Reade 's brother and a former neighbor have said that Reade discussed details of the alleged assault with them in the 1990s .
Reade has said she filed a written complaint at the time , though it has not yet been located .
Many of the records from Biden 's senate office remain under seal at the University of Delaware until Biden retires from public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the issue , a number of his potential running mates , including Sens .
Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar , as well as Stacey Abrams , the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia , have expressed support for him .
Conservatives have accused Democrats of a double standard when it comes to assault allegations , pointing to the different reaction allegations against Justice Brett Kavanaugh received when the Trump appointee was accused of sexual assault during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings in 2018 .
Kavanaugh denied those allegations .
President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault by a number of women , told reporters on Thursday that Biden should address Reade 's claim , but noted that `` it could be false accusations .
I know all about false accusations . ''
Trump has been caught on tape bragging about grabbing women between their legs .
The Morning Joe interview is expected to begin around 8 a.m .
ET .

Joe Biden on Friday categorically denied the sexual assault allegation threatening to disrupt his presidential campaign, breaking weeks of silence on the issue.
"I'm saying unequivocally that it never, never happened," Biden said in an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
Tara Reade, a former Senate aide, claims that Biden assaulted her in 1993 when she worked in his office.
Biden's campaign had previously denied the allegation, but pressure had been mounting for the candidate to address the claim himself. In a statement released just before the interview, Biden cited "the full and growing record of inconsistencies" in the accusations and said: "They aren't true. This never happened."
Reade shook up Biden's presidential campaign in March when she claimed on a podcast that Biden pinned her to a wall and used his fingers to penetrate her in an office building on Capitol Hill when he was a senator from Delaware.
Reade's brother and a former neighbor have said that Reade discussed details of the alleged assault with them in the 1990s. Several individuals who worked in the Senate office at the time have said that Reade's allegations do not square with their experience working for Biden.
Reade, who did not respond to requests for comment Friday, has said she filed a written complaint at the time, though it has not been located. Many of the records from Biden's senate office remain under seal at the University of Delaware until Biden retires from public life. In his Friday statement, Biden said the archive does not contain personnel files.
MSNBC tweet
"There is only one place a complaint of this kind could be — the National Archives. The National Archives is where the records are kept at what was then called the Office of Fair Employment Practices," the statement said.
Biden said he had requested that the "Secretary of the Senate ask the Archives to identify any record of the complaint she alleges she filed and make available to the press any such document. If there was ever any such complaint, the record will be there."
MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski pressed Biden on whether he would approve a search for Reade's name in the University of Delaware records. Biden did not agree to do so.
"There is nothing. They wouldn't — they're not there. I don't understand the point that you're trying to make," Biden said, growing exasperated. "Look, who does that search?" he added.
The allegation has roiled Biden's campaign even as it struggles to connect with voters while Biden is stuck at home as a health precaution in the face of the spreading coronavirus.
Biden addressed Covid-19 in the MSNBC interview, calling on Trump to name a "supply officer" to oversee materials like personal protective equipment and criticizing his handling of the crisis as too slow.
Amid Biden's silence on the sexual assault allegation, a number of his potential running mates, including Sens. Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar, as well as Stacey Abrams, the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia, have expressed support for him.
Conservatives have accused Democrats of a double standard when it comes to assault allegations, pointing to the different reaction allegations against Justice Brett Kavanaugh received when the Trump appointee was accused of sexual assault during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings in 2018. Kavanaugh denied those allegations.
At the time, Biden said that womens' allegations should be presumed to be essentially true. He said, "for a woman to come forward in the glaring lights of focus, nationally, you've got to start off with the presumption that at least the essence of what she's talking about is real, whether or not she forgets facts, whether or not it's been made worse or better over time."
Asked about those comments on Friday, Biden said that "from the very beginning I've said that believing women means taking the woman's claims seriously when she steps forward, then vet it, look into it."
"In this case, the truth is, the claims are false," he said.
President Donald Trump, who has been accused of sexual assault by a number of women, told reporters on Thursday that Biden should address Reade's claim, but noted that "it could be false accusations. I know all about false accusations."
Trump has been caught on tape bragging about grabbing women between their legs.
Biden has faced scrutiny over his interactions with women throughout his campaign.
In April 2019, just before he officially launched his bid, Biden released a two-minute video pledging to be "more mindful and respectful of people's personal space" after several women said he touched them in ways that made them uncomfortable.
Reade was among those women — her first accusation against Biden, of harassment, was published by a California newspaper that month. Her assault allegations, however, were not made public until March. Reade has said she felt discouraged from discussing the assault in the initial interview.
The full statement from Biden is below.


cnbc--2020-04-30--Trump suspects coronavirus outbreak came from China lab, offers no evidence

Trump suspects coronavirus outbreak came from China lab , offers no evidence President Donald Trump on Thursday said , without @ @ @ @ @ he has reason to believe that the coronavirus outbreak originated from a laboratory in China @

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Trump suspects coronavirus outbreak came from China lab, offers no evidence
President Donald Trump on Thursday said, without offering any evidence, that he has reason to believe that the coronavirus outbreak originated from a laboratory in China.


cnbc--2020-05-01--Vice President Mike Pence wears coronavirus mask at General Motors plant after criticism for Mayo Cl

Vice President Mike Pence wears coronavirus mask at General Motors plant after criticism for Mayo Clinic visit

But at a roundtable discussion later during the visit , Pence removed his mask , as did other attendees , including Chao .
Pence was accompanied during the visit to the GM facility in Kokomo , Indiana , by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao , Indiana Gov .
Eric Holcomb , GM CEO Mary Barra and White House Trade advisor Peter Navarro — all of whom were also wearing masks .
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and CEO of General Motors Mary Barra visit the General Motors Components Holding Plant that is manufacturing ventilators for use during the coronavirus disease ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indiana , U.S. April 30 , 2020 .
Pence , who once served as governor of Indiana , is leading the White House 's coronavirus task force .
His tour of the recently reopened plant came two weeks after it began producing ventilators with Ventech Life Systems to deal with a shortage of the medical breathing assistance devices in the face of the coronavirus pandemic .
Brian Rothenberg , a spokesman for the United Auto Workers union , said that General Motors requires workers at the plant to wear surgical masks there except @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has previously said that he does not need to wear a mask to prevent spreading an infection — despite federal health guidance to the contrary — because he is tested regularly for coronavirus , and has been shown to be negative for it .
Health experts have disputed that idea , saying the tests are not always accurate and that there is a risk that Pence could contract the coronavirus between tests and pass it on unwittingly to others .
The Mayo Clinic has said it told Pence 's staff before he visited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all visitors , staff and patients at its Rochester , Minnesota , facility because of the coronavirus outbreak .
But Pence 's wife , Karen , on Thursday said during a Fox News interview that he only learned of the mask policy after he left the clinic Tuesday .
`` As our medical experts have told us wearing a mask prevents you from spreading the disease and knowing that he does n't have COVID-19 , he did n't wear one , '' Karen Pence said on `` Fox & Friends . ''
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in response to another journalist 's tweet about Karen Pence 's comment , tweeted Thursday that he and everyone else who had gone on the trip with Pence to Minnesota on Tuesday were `` notified by the office of @ VP the day before the trip that wearing of masks was required by the @ MayoClinic and to prepare accordingly . ''
Herman 's tweet was echoed by Wall Street Journal reporter , Gordon Lubold , who tweeted : `` ... everyone in the entire Mayo Clinic had a mask on , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day before we had to wear a mask if we entered the clinic . ''
The Washington Post reported Thursday evening that Herman , the White House bureau chief of government-funded VOA , had been told by Pence 's staff that he had violated the off-the-record conditions of a planning memo that was sent to journalists before the trip to the Mayo Clinic .
The Post article said that the White House Correspondents ' Association had told Herman that Pence 's office had banned him from further travel with the vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said a spokesman in Pence 's office later told VOA managers that `` any punishment was still under discussion , pending an apology from Herman or VOA . ''
A spokeswoman for Pence did not immediately respond Thursday night to CNBC when asked about Herman .
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , in guidance issued in early April urging Americans to wear masks , says , `` You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick . ''

But at a roundtable discussion later during the visit, Pence removed his mask, as did other attendees, including Chao.
Pence was accompanied during the visit to the GM facility in Kokomo, Indiana, by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, GM CEO Mary Barra and White House Trade advisor Peter Navarro — all of whom were also wearing masks.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and CEO of General Motors Mary Barra visit the General Motors Components Holding Plant that is manufacturing ventilators for use during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kokomo, Indiana.
Pence, who once served as governor of Indiana, is leading the White House's coronavirus task force.
His tour of the recently reopened plant came two weeks after it began producing ventilators with Ventech Life Systems to deal with a shortage of the medical breathing assistance devices in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Brian Rothenberg, a spokesman for the United Auto Workers union, said that General Motors requires workers at the plant to wear surgical masks there except when they are eating lunch.
Pence has previously said that he does not need to wear a mask to prevent spreading an infection — despite federal health guidance to the contrary — because he is tested regularly for coronavirus, and has been shown to be negative for it.
Health experts have disputed that idea, saying the tests are not always accurate and that there is a risk that Pence could contract the coronavirus between tests and pass it on unwittingly to others.
The Mayo Clinic has said it told Pence's staff before he visited there Tuesday that masks were required for all visitors, staff and patients at its Rochester, Minnesota, facility because of the coronavirus outbreak.
But Pence's wife, Karen, on Thursday said during a Fox News interview that he only learned of the mask policy after he left the clinic Tuesday.
"As our medical experts have told us wearing a mask prevents you from spreading the disease and knowing that he doesn't have COVID-19, he didn't wear one," Karen Pence said on "Fox & Friends."
However, Voice of America reporter Steve Herman, in response to another journalist's tweet about Karen Pence's comment, tweeted Thursday that he and everyone else who had gone on the trip with Pence to Minnesota on Tuesday were "notified by the office of @VP the day before the trip that wearing of masks was required by the @MayoClinic and to prepare accordingly."
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Herman's tweet was echoed by Wall Street Journal reporter, Gordon Lubold, who tweeted: "... everyone in the entire Mayo Clinic had a mask on, everyone, and we were all told the day before we had to wear a mask if we entered the clinic."
The Washington Post reported Thursday evening that Herman, the White House bureau chief of government-funded VOA, had been told by Pence's staff that he had violated the off-the-record conditions of a planning memo that was sent to journalists before the trip to the Mayo Clinic.
The Post article said that the White House Correspondents' Association had told Herman that Pence's office had banned him from further travel with the vice president on Air Force Two. The Post said a spokesman in Pence's office later told VOA managers that "any punishment was still under discussion, pending an apology from Herman or VOA."
A spokeswoman for Pence did not immediately respond Thursday night to CNBC when asked about Herman.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in guidance issued in early April urging Americans to wear masks, says, "You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick."


cnbc--2020-05-01--Trump's tendency to deny his past statements has become more glaring during coronavirus

It 's a well-documented move : President Donald Trump says one thing , and then later on — sometimes after a few hours , sometimes after years — he denies he ever said it or suggests that his original quote is not what it appears to be .
But as he has seized more and more of the spotlight during the country 's response to the coronavirus , Trump 's malleable approach to his own record could carry more serious consequences .
Two recent examples came within the past week .
At a White House press briefing on the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ingesting disinfectants could work as a treatment for Covid-19 .
`` I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute .
One minute , '' Trump said .
`` Is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside , or almost a cleaning ?
Because you see it gets inside the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs , so it would be interesting to check that . ''
The president 's comments sparked fierce pushback from health experts and prompted the maker of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning people not to consume or inject disinfectants .
The following day , Trump tried to walk back his remarks , saying he was just being sarcastic .
`` I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen , '' Trump said Friday .
He added that it was a `` very sarcastic question to the reporters in the room about disinfectant on the inside . ''
When he made the original remarks , however , there was no indication he was being sarcastic .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that day that he had `` repeatedly said '' Americans should consult their doctors about coronavirus treatment .
That statement accused journalists of taking the president 's comments out of context .
When the reporter followed up to clarify that Trump was confident the U.S. can soon surpass 5 million tests daily , Trump again said that he was : `` We 're going to be there very soon .
If you look at the numbers , it could be that we 're getting very close . ''
The U.S. is nowhere close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Adm. Brett Giroir , the assistant secretary of health who is in charge of the government 's testing response , said as much in a Time interview published Tuesday evening .
`` There is absolutely no way on Earth , on this planet or any other planet , that we can do 20 million tests a day , or even 5 million tests a day , '' Giroir said in the interview , which was actually conducted before Trump 's remarks that day .
On Wednesday , Trump denied saying there will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but then added that he believes the U.S. will reach that figure .
`` Somebody came out with a study of 5 million people .
Do I think we will ?
I think we will , but I never said it , '' Trump claimed during an event at the White House on Wednesday .
`` Somebody started throwing around 5 million .
I did n't say 5 million , '' the president said , adding , `` We will be there .
But I did n't say it .
I did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not use the words `` 5 million '' on Tuesday , he did , in fact , say that the U.S. would surpass that number of tests `` in the very near future . ''
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany did not comment at the time on whether the U.S. would soon be able to run 5 million tests a day , but noted in a statement that `` the United States has done double the number of tests of any country in the world . ''
The White House did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment about the president 's remarks .
These are not the only examples of the president denying his own remarks during the coronavirus crisis , as other outlets have reported : Before leaving the White House for Camp David on Friday afternoon , Trump offered yet another denial – this time about his past remarks about Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp of Georgia .
Trump said at least three times at a coronavirus briefing last Thursday that `` I was n't happy with '' Kemp after the governor announced he would reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House guidelines recommend .
But when asked about those remarks Friday , Trump said , `` I did n't say that . ''
The president instead claimed he `` did n't like the particular places – a spa , a tattoo parlor , '' but said states opening up is `` wonderful '' and that he wants states to open `` safely . ''
Trump added that he was n't `` thrilled '' about spas and tattoo parlors reopening but had said `` nothing about Georgia other than that . ''
With the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topping 63,000 , protests against social distancing rules gaining steam and investors searching eagerly for light at the end of the tunnel , Trump 's words may hold more weight now than at any other time in his presidency .
Trump , in turn , has positioned himself as the leader of the response to the crisis .
While he declined to issue any nationwide lockdown measures , he has insisted that states follow his administration 's guidelines for dealing with the outbreak .
But his role as lead messenger on coronavirus health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his political concerns , which are increasing as the 2020 election nears .
Trump 's rhetoric has always stood apart from his contemporaries and continues to do so amid the pandemic .
But in moments of crisis , it 's `` exceptionally atypical to have any president continue to draw this much attention to themselves , '' said Vanessa Beasley , a presidential rhetoric expert and associate professor of communications studies at Vanderbilt University .
`` I do think the stakes are higher , because both the economy and people 's health are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your own life , '' Beasley said .
`` There is an emotional component to the way the economy works , and we 're not hearing a message that we would always have heard in the past . ''
Trump regularly touts the progress his administration is making as it combats the crisis — and as some of the nation 's Covid-19 hot spots start to see measures of the crisis on the decline , markets have regained some of their strength .
More states are starting to `` reopen '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of strict social distancing efforts , fueling Trump to emphasize that a reinvigorated economy and a return to normalcy are on the horizon .
But his rhetorical inconsistencies may be undercutting his message .
`` Trump has to be careful now not to say things that contradict the evidence of ordinary people 's experiences , what 's right in front of them every day , '' said William Galston , a senior fellow in governance at the Brookings Institution , in a March interview with CNBC .
`` When tens of millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain , you ca n't tell them the sky is blue when it 's green , '' he said .
In late March , for instance , Trump said he has `` always known '' that Covid-19 `` is a pandemic , '' claiming he felt that way `` long before it was called a pandemic '' by others .
`` I always viewed it as very serious , '' Trump said .
But Trump never described the outbreak as a pandemic prior to the World Health Organization declaring it as such on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ check by the Associated Press .
And when CNBC 's Joe Kernen asked him on Jan. 22 if was worried about a pandemic , Trump said , `` No .
Not at all .
And — we 're — we have it totally under control .
It 's one person coming in from China , and we have it under control .
It 's going to be just fine . ''
When Trump contradicted his own words in the past , any consequences he suffered mostly took the form of critical headlines and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 20 , during the House impeachment inquiry , Trump stood before reporters outside the White House and read then-EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland 's testimony about a call in which Trump told him : `` Tell [ Ukraine President Volodymyr ] Zelenskiy to do the right thing . ''
Trump called Sondland 's description of Trump 's words on the phone call `` the final word from the president of the United States . ''
Later that day , he said , `` I did n't say that , '' when asked later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right thing . ''
• In the final days of his 2016 presidential campaign , Trump acknowledged and apologized for making lewd sexual comments about women in the now-infamous `` Access Hollywood '' tape .
But in late 2017 , Trump reportedly began casting doubt in conversations that it was his voice on the tape .
• The Trump campaign told The Washington Post in March 2016 that it had multiple ways to `` compel Mexico '' to pay for a proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border , including having the country `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion '' to keep the U.S. from cutting off the flow of money it sends to Mexico annually .
But in January of this year , Trump said he never meant Mexico would pay for the wall directly : `` I did n't mean , 'Please write me a check . '
I mean very simply , they 're paying for it in the trade deal . ''
• In early 2016 , then-candidate Trump said at a campaign rally that he would pay the legal fees of his supporters who attacked certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somebody getting ready to throw a tomato , knock the crap out of them , would you ?
Seriously .
Just knock the hell — I promise you , I will pay for the legal fees .
I promise .
I promise . ''
The next month , Trump denied that he had made the suggestion : `` I do n't condone violence ...
I never said I was going to pay for fees . ''
• At a campaign rally in fall 2015 , Trump appeared to physically mimic disabled New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arms in the air as he said `` you got ta see this guy '' to the crowd .
He later denied mocking the reporter after a pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC aired an ad slamming him for it .
`` I would NEVER mock disabled .
Shame ! ''
Trump tweeted after the ad was released .
• Trump told NBC News ' Lester Holt in May 2017 that he made the decision to fire former FBI Director James Comey because of Russia : `` When I decided to just do it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know , this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story . ''
A year later , Trump tweeted , `` Not that it matters but I never fired James Comey because of Russia ! ''
Compared with those of other modern presidents , Trump 's approval ratings have remained relatively steady throughout his first term in office .
But with the election against the apparent Democratic nominee , former Vice President Joe Biden , about six months away , his support among key demographics has begun to erode @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Trump campaign 's internal polling indicates that the president 's decline has been related to his performance at the White House coronavirus task force briefings , the Journal reported , citing a person familiar with the results .
Those briefings , which could run more than two hours and often featured lengthy , combative exchanges between Trump and reporters , appear to have been scrapped in the last week .
But Trump has still held press events nearly every day since .
`` This is a different kind of political crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature but also in terms of the widespread implications for the economy , for people 's families , '' Vanderbilt 's Beasley said .
`` It definitely hits people where they live . ''
In this new environment , Trump 's old strategy of asserting he alone can fix the nation 's problems may further undermine him .
`` The more he does that , the more the contradiction ... between people who said before , 'Oh , I wanted him to be the one to fix it , ' and then we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fixing , we just see the him , '' Beasley said .

President Donald Trump answers questions at the daily coronavirus task force briefing flanked by Vice President Mike Pence at the White House in Washington, April 17, 2020. Leah Millis | Reuters
It's a well-documented move: President Donald Trump says one thing, and then later on — sometimes after a few hours, sometimes after years — he denies he ever said it or suggests that his original quote is not what it appears to be. But as he has seized more and more of the spotlight during the country's response to the coronavirus, Trump's malleable approach to his own record could carry more serious consequences. Two recent examples came within the past week. At a White House press briefing on the virus April 23, Trump speculated about whether ingesting disinfectants could work as a treatment for Covid-19. "I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute. One minute," Trump said. "Is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets inside the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that." The president's comments sparked fierce pushback from health experts and prompted the maker of household cleaner Lysol to issue a statement warning people not to consume or inject disinfectants. The following day, Trump tried to walk back his remarks, saying he was just being sarcastic. "I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen," Trump said Friday. He added that it was a "very sarcastic question to the reporters in the room about disinfectant on the inside." When he made the original remarks, however, there was no indication he was being sarcastic. The White House said in a statement earlier that day that he had "repeatedly said" Americans should consult their doctors about coronavirus treatment. That statement accused journalists of taking the president's comments out of context.
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On Tuesday, Trump made a bold new claim about the government's ongoing efforts to ramp up coronavirus testing — a key component of White House economic reopening guidelines. Asked by a reporter whether the U.S. can reach a benchmark of 5 million tests per day, as some health experts recommend — leaps and bounds above the current testing rate — Trump responded, "We'll increase it, and it'll increase it by much more than that in the very near future."
"When tens of millions of families are having difficulty and experiencing personal pain, you can't tell them the sky is blue when it's green." William Galston Senior fellow in governance at the Brookings Institution
When the reporter followed up to clarify that Trump was confident the U.S. can soon surpass 5 million tests daily, Trump again said that he was: "We're going to be there very soon. If you look at the numbers, it could be that we're getting very close." The U.S. is nowhere close to testing that many people each day. Adm. Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary of health who is in charge of the government's testing response, said as much in a Time interview published Tuesday evening. "There is absolutely no way on Earth, on this planet or any other planet, that we can do 20 million tests a day, or even 5 million tests a day," Giroir said in the interview, which was actually conducted before Trump's remarks that day. On Wednesday, Trump denied saying there will be 5 million tests a day — but then added that he believes the U.S. will reach that figure. "Somebody came out with a study of 5 million people. Do I think we will? I think we will, but I never said it," Trump claimed during an event at the White House on Wednesday. "Somebody started throwing around 5 million. I didn't say 5 million," the president said, adding, "We will be there. But I didn't say it. I didn't say it." While Trump himself did not use the words "5 million" on Tuesday, he did, in fact, say that the U.S. would surpass that number of tests "in the very near future." White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany did not comment at the time on whether the U.S. would soon be able to run 5 million tests a day, but noted in a statement that "the United States has done double the number of tests of any country in the world."
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cnbc--2020-05-02--White House blocks Fauci from testifying at House coronavirus hearing

Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , right , speaks during a Coronavirus Task Force news conference in the briefing room of the White House in Washington , D.C. , on Saturday , March 21 , 2020 .
The White House has blocked key Trump administration health official Dr. Anthony Fauci from testifying at a House hearing on the U.S. coronavirus response next week .
The House Appropriations Committee 's subcommittee on the Departments of Labor , Health and Human Services , Education and Related Agencies wanted Fauci , who has emerged as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , to appear at a Wednesday morning hearing on how the government has handled the pandemic .
The panel was `` informed by an administration official that the White House has blocked Dr. Fauci from testifying , '' committee spokesman Evan Hollander said in a statement .
White House spokesman Judd Deere also confirmed the White House stopped the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from appearing before the House .
He said that while the administration tries to combat the pandemic that has now killed more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counter-productive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at congressional hearings . ''
`` We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time , '' Deere said in a statement .
As the White House faces backlash for its early efforts to slow the outbreak 's spread and ramp up production of coronavirus tests and medical supplies , it has chafed at most efforts to oversee its actions .
On top of regular committee hearings in the House , Democrats also set up a select @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unprecedented series of rescue packages that contains more than $ 2.5 trillion in federal spending .

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, right, speaks during a Coronavirus Task Force news conference in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, March 21, 2020.
The White House says it blocked key Trump administration health official Dr. Anthony Fauci from testifying at a House hearing on the U.S. coronavirus response next week.
The House Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies wanted Fauci, who has emerged as one of the most trusted voices on the virus, to appear at a Wednesday morning hearing on how the government has handled the pandemic. The panel was "informed by an administration official that the White House has blocked Dr. Fauci from testifying," committee spokesman Evan Hollander said in a statement.
White House spokesman Judd Deere also confirmed the White House stopped the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from appearing before the House. He said that while the administration tries to combat the pandemic that has now killed more than 60,000 Americans, "it is counter-productive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at congressional hearings."
"We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time," Deere said in a statement.
But the White House late Friday gave the health official the green light to testify before the Senate Health Committee on May 12, NBC News reported.
A spokesperson for committee Chairman Lamar Alexander said he "looks forward to hearing from Dr. Fauci and other administration officials."
The Senate, unlike the House, maintains a GOP majority.
As the White House faces backlash for its early efforts to slow the outbreak's spread and ramp up production of coronavirus tests and medical supplies, it has chafed at most efforts to oversee its actions. On top of regular committee hearings in the House, Democrats also set up a select committee to monitor how the administration implements an unprecedented series of rescue packages that contains more than $2.5 trillion in federal spending.


cnbc--2020-05-01--Joe Biden denies Tara Reade sexual assault allegations: 'They aren't true. This never happened'

Joe Biden on Friday categorically denied the sexual assault allegation threatening to disrupt his presidential campaign , breaking weeks of silence on the issue .
`` I 'm saying unequivocally that it never , never happened , '' Biden said in an interview on MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe . ''
Tara Reade , a former Senate aide , claims that Biden assaulted her in 1993 when she worked in his office .
Biden 's campaign had previously denied the allegation , but pressure had been mounting for the candidate to address the claim himself .
In a statement released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the full and growing record of inconsistencies '' in the accusations and said : `` They are n't true .
This never happened . ''
Reade shook up Biden 's presidential campaign in March when she claimed on a podcast that Biden pinned her to a wall and used his fingers to penetrate her in an office building on Capitol Hill when he was a senator from Delaware .
Reade 's brother and a former neighbor have said that Reade discussed details of the alleged assault with them in the 1990s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ office at the time have said that Reade 's allegations do not square with their experience working for Biden .
Reade , who did not respond to requests for comment Friday , has said she filed a written complaint at the time , though it has not been located .
Many of the records from Biden 's senate office remain under seal at the University of Delaware until Biden retires from public life .
In his Friday statement , Biden said the archive does not contain personnel files .
`` There is only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be — the National Archives .
The National Archives is where the records are kept at what was then called the Office of Fair Employment Practices , '' the statement said .
Biden said he had requested that the `` Secretary of the Senate ask the Archives to identify any record of the complaint she alleges she filed and make available to the press any such document .
If there was ever any such complaint , the record will be there . ''
MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski pressed Biden on whether he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name in the University of Delaware records .
Biden did not agree to do so .
`` There is nothing .
They would n't — they 're not there .
I do n't understand the point that you 're trying to make , '' Biden said , growing exasperated .
`` Look , who does that search ? ''
he added .
The allegation has roiled Biden 's campaign even as it struggles to connect with voters while Biden is stuck at home as a health precaution in the face of the spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MSNBC interview , calling on Trump to name a `` supply officer '' to oversee materials like personal protective equipment and criticizing his handling of the crisis as too slow .
Amid Biden 's silence on the sexual assault allegation , a number of his potential running mates , including Sens .
Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar , as well as Stacey Abrams , the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia , have expressed support for him .
Conservatives have accused Democrats of a double standard when it comes to assault allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Justice Brett Kavanaugh received when the Trump appointee was accused of sexual assault during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings in 2018 .
Kavanaugh denied those allegations .
At the time , Biden said that womens ' allegations should be presumed to be essentially true .
He said , `` for a woman to come forward in the glaring lights of focus , nationally , you 've got to start off with the presumption that at least the essence of what she 's talking about is real , whether or not she forgets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been made worse or better over time . ''
Asked about those comments on Friday , Biden said that `` from the very beginning I 've said that believing women means taking the woman 's claims seriously when she steps forward , then vet it , look into it . ''
`` In this case , the truth is , the claims are false , '' he said .
President Donald Trump , who has been accused of sexual assault by a number of women , told reporters on Thursday that Biden should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` it could be false accusations .
I know all about false accusations . ''
Trump has been caught on tape bragging about grabbing women between their legs .
Biden has faced scrutiny over his interactions with women throughout his campaign .
In April 2019 , just before he officially launched his bid , Biden released a two-minute video pledging to be `` more mindful and respectful of people 's personal space '' after several women said he touched them in ways that made them uncomfortable .
Reade was among those women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of harassment , was published by a California newspaper that month .
Her assault allegations , however , were not made public until March .
Reade has said she felt discouraged from discussing the assault in the initial interview .
The full statement from Biden is below .
April was Sexual Assault Awareness Month .
Every year , at this time , we talk about awareness , prevention , and the importance of women feeling they can step forward , say something , and be heard .
That belief – that women should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a law I wrote over 25 years ago .
To this day , I am most proud of the Violence Against Women Act .
So , each April we are reminded not only of how far we have come in dealing with sexual assault in this country – but how far we still have to go .
When I wrote the bill , few wanted to talk about the issue .
It was considered a private matter , a personal matter , a family matter .
I did n't see it that way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , harm , and violence for women was a legal right , a civil right , and a human right .
And I knew we had to change not only the law , but the culture .
So , we held hours of hearings and heard from the most incredibly brave women – and we opened the eyes of the Senate and the nation – and passed the law .
In the years that followed , I fought to continually strengthen the law .
So , when we took office and President Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told him I wanted oversight of the critical appointments in the Office on Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice and I wanted a senior White House Advisor appointing directly to me on the issue .
Both of those things happened .
As Vice President , we started the `` It 's on Us '' campaign on college campuses to send the message loud and clear that dating violence is violence – and against the law .
We had to get men involved .
They had to be part of the solution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point of telling young men this was their problem too – they could n't turn a blind eye to what was happening around them – they had a responsibility to speak out .
Silence is complicity .
In the 26 years since the law passed , the culture and perceptions have changed but we 're not done yet .
It 's on us , and it 's on me as someone who wants to lead this country .
I recognize my responsibility to be a voice , an advocate , and a leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begun but is nowhere near finished .
So I want to address allegations by a former staffer that I engaged in misconduct 27 years ago .
They are n't true .
This never happened .
While the details of these allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault are complicated , two things are not complicated .
One is that women deserve to be treated with dignity and respect , and when they step forward they should be heard , not silenced .
The second is that their stories should be subject to appropriate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should examine and evaluate the full and growing record of inconsistencies in her story , which has changed repeatedly in both small and big ways .
But this much bears emphasizing .
She has said she raised some of these issues with her supervisor and senior staffers from my office at the time .
They – both men and a woman – have said , unequivocally , that she never came to them and complained or raised issues .
News organizations that have talked with literally dozens of former staffers have not found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her allegations in any way .
Indeed , many of them spoke to the culture of an office that would not have tolerated harassment in any way – as indeed I would not have .
There is a clear , critical part of this story that can be verified .
The former staffer has said she filed a complaint back in 1993 .
But she does not have a record of this alleged complaint .
The papers from my Senate years that I donated to the University of Delaware do not contain personnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senators to establish a library of personal papers that document their public record : speeches , policy proposals , positions taken , and the writing of bills .
There is only one place a complaint of this kind could be – the National Archives .
The National Archives is where the records are kept at what was then called the Office of Fair Employment Practices .
I am requesting that the Secretary of the Senate ask the Archives to identify any record of the complaint she alleges she filed and make available to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was ever any such complaint , the record will be there .
As a Presidential candidate , I 'm accountable to the American people .
We have lived long enough with a President who does n't think he is accountable to anyone , and takes responsibility for nothing .
That 's not me .
I believe being accountable means having the difficult conversations , even when they are uncomfortable .
People need to hear the truth .
I have spent my career learning from women the ways in which we as individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to make their hard jobs easier , with equal pay , equal opportunity , and workplaces and homes free from violence and harassment .
I know how critical women 's health issues and basic women 's rights are .
That has been a constant through my career , and as President , that work will continue .
And I will continue to learn from women , to listen to women , to support women , and yes , to make sure women 's voices are heard .
We have a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harassment , abuse , and stalking , to ending the rape kit backlog , to addressing the deadly combination of guns and domestic violence .
We need to protect and empower the most marginalized communities , including immigrant and indigenous women , trans women , and women of color .
We need to make putting an end to gender-based violence in both the United States and around the world a top priority .
I started my work over 25 years ago with the passage of the Violence Against Women Act .
As president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job .


cnbc--2020-05-01--Trump push to keep meatpacking plants open comes as pork producers profit from China trade deal

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump 's executive order this week requiring American meatpacking plants to stay open during the coronavirus pandemic is raising new questions about massive U.S. meat exports , particularly the export of pork to China .
Trump 's order was meant to prevent what meat processors have claimed is an imminent breakdown in the nation 's food supply chain , resulting from the closure of several major meat processing plants that had become hotbeds for coronavirus infections .
The president invoked the Defense Production Act , a law intended for wartime usage , to designate the meatpacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` critical infrastructure . ''
Since it was signed late Tuesday , the order has drawn outcry from workers rights activists and effusive praise from the meat industry .
Unions said it gave plant owners a green light to ignore worker safety if it interferes with a plant 's ability to stay open and avoid liability if workers get sick or die .
`` These are essential workers , they 're not sacrificial lambs , '' said Stuart Appelbaum , president of the Retail , Wholesale and Department Store Union , which represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South and Midwest .
He said states are now stripped of the power to close a plant for deep cleaning , a move that helps stop the spread and keeps workers safe .
`` People should know when they are going to work , they are working in a safe environment .
You have to prioritize the American people , not the product , '' he said .
The order has highlighted a debate inside the White House over whether to limit exports of pork to China , and what the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. exports .
Previous DPA orders during the coronavirus crisis have required that makers of essential equipment in short supply to limit exports for the duration of the national emergency .
3M , which makes masks , is the most visible example .
When it comes to the meatpackers , there are no such limitations .
Through February , pork and pork variety meat exports accounted for 31 % of all U.S. production , according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation .
Just over one-third of those exports went to China .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with major meat industry CEOs , where he was asked about the prospect of export limits on meat , given that an imminent shortage for U.S. consumers was the justification for the executive order .
The president responded that he is not interested in restricting exports at this time , according to current and former White House officials who requested anonymity to describe a private call .
Still , there are some in the White House who are pushing for tighter export restrictions on meat , a former administration official told CNBC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Anthony Rapa , a partner in the Washington office of Kirkland & Ellis , where he works on trade and national security issues .
`` Do we drive towards maintaining full capacity and keep everything as it is , with the U.S. having a healthy export market ? ''
he said .
`` Or do we try to strike a different balance because of an emergency , and we only do what 's necessary for us domestically ? ''
A decision to restrict meatpackers to serving only the U.S. domestic market during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that best protects workers , advocates say .
The Trump administration 's internal debate over meat exports comes at an especially difficult time for the U.S.-China relationship , as the two countries trade accusations over who is responsible for the severity of America 's coronavirus epidemic .
Trump has recently tried to shift the blame for his administration 's slow response to the pandemic onto China , where the novel coronavirus was first identified in December .
On Thursday , The Washington Post reported that White House aides are debating various ways to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus 's spread through the city of Wuhan .
But when it comes to restricting meat exports , Trump faces pressure from an industry that does n't want its revenue streams restricted .
He must also weigh the potential damage an export restriction could do the U.S.-China trade deal Trump signed in January .
Paving the way for more American pork exports to China was a key component of the landmark deal , which remains the crown jewel of Trump 's trade-focused foreign policy agenda during his first term .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing agreed to buy $ 12.5 billion in agricultural goods this year from the United States , and another $ 19.5 billion in 2021 .
But the correlation between how much U.S. pork is exported to China , and how much is left for American consumers , is not as clear cut as it seems .
Some U.S. pork processing facilities make a product specifically for Chinese consumption , while others export whole hogs , effectively skipping much of the actual processing that goes into producing muscle cuts for grocery stores .
Export @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the 2018 swine flu epidemic devastated China 's domestic pork supply .
And a Chinese company owns one of the largest U.S. pork producers , Smithfield Foods , which it acquired through a $ 4.7 billion deal in 2013 .
Maintaining America 's capacity to process meat for export to China and other countries also has ripple effects all the way down the supply chain .
In recent weeks , many of the nation 's meat farmers have been forced to euthanize animals after the meatpacking plant closures left them with nowhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals are being born all the time .
Moreover , restricting pork exports to China for the duration of the pandemic would likely be deeply unpopular with both the U.S. meat industry and the Chinese .
But if the president does nothing , and continues to permit roughly one-tenth all U.S. pork to be sent to China every month , there could be other pitfalls .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative did n't respond to requests for comment .
Friday morning , Trump retweeted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the order .
He also boasted of his efforts on behalf of American farmers .
How real is the shortage ?
Trump 's executive order came just days after billionaire John Tyson , chairman of the nation 's largest meat processor Tyson Foods , took out a full-page ad in several of the nation 's most-read newspapers , warning ominously that `` the food supply chain is breaking . ''
`` There will be limited supply of our products available in grocery stores until we are able to reopen our facilities that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ad was widely picked up by news outlets that echoed Tyson 's alarm , despite monthly reports from the Agriculture Department that showed no real danger to the nation 's meat supply .
The first time Trump mentioned the issue was on Tuesday , when the president answered a reporter 's question by saying , `` We 're working with Tyson , '' and adding that he would be signing an executive order that would `` solve any liability problems , where they had certain liability problems , and we 'll be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working with Tyson , which is one of the big companies in that world . ''
Tyson temporarily closed five of its plants because of coronavirus infections .
A Washington Post investigation found that a number of counties with the highest per capita infection rates in the nation are home to Tyson plants .
On Friday , the company said it would reopen its Logansport , Indiana , plant with limited production next week , adding that it is taking `` additional precautions to reassure team members that they are returning to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman Gary Mickelson said the company has taken a range of safety measures to prevent the virus 's spread .
He said it is screening employees ' temperatures , installing walk-through thermal body scanners and asking some workers to be social distancing monitors .
He said the company has put up tents outside of some facilities to provide more space during breaks .
And he said Tyson has worked hard to find and provide surgical masks for workers , even chartering a plane to China to get them .
On Thursday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at some plants with a health-care provider , Matrix Medical Network .
The clinics will be able to do testing for Covid-19 and help do health screenings and answer questions for employees .
With plant closures , he said there `` may be some products that become less available , but the government 's decision to invoke the DPA will certainly help mitigate that risk . ''
Smithfield , the Chinese-owned pork producer , indefinitely shut down one of its U.S. plants in South Dakota in mid-April .
The Sioux Falls facility is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country and represents 4 % to 5 % of U.S. pork production , according to the company .
The 3,700-worker facility was closed after two workers died and 783 others tested positive for the coronavirus .
Around the same time , Smithfield also shut down a plant in Wisconsin for two weeks and another in Missouri indefinitely .
The Wisconsin plant processes dry sausage and bacon , and the Missouri plant produces spiral and smoked hams .
The company said in a statement that the plants are near urban areas with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had employees who have tested positive .
It said the Missouri facility ca n't run without raw materials from the Sioux Falls plant that 's closed .
On Friday , Smithfield said it was suspending operations at an Illinois plant after workers tested positive .
The company said the Monmouth , Illinois , plant represents about 3 % of the U.S. fresh pork supply .
But it remains unclear how widespread a potential meat shortage is , or will be .
Grocers said they have n't seen signs of a shortage , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some have taken proactive steps by limiting customers ' purchases , working with processing plants to divert what would have gone to restaurants and forgoing certain meat items that require more processing , such as marinated or thinly cut meats .
Kroger , the nation 's largest supermarket chain , added purchase limits on ground beef and fresh pork , but a company spokeswoman said `` there is plenty of protein in the supply chain . ''
`` We feel good about our ability to maintain a broad assortment of meat and seafood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a diverse network of suppliers , '' company spokeswoman Kristal Howard said .
This week , Texas grocer H-E-B added new limits for customers ' meat purchases to prevent stockpiling .
Company spokeswoman Mabrie Jackson told CNBC that the grocer was more concerned that panic-buying , rather than supply chain challenges , might lead to shortages .
Target has n't seen an impact on its supply of meat , spokeswoman Angie Thompson said .
`` We are in close , daily contact with all of our vendors to understand what is happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have any concerns about material supply issues , '' she said .
At Stew Leonard , a small supermarket chain in the Northeast , meat aisles remain well stocked .
CEO Stew Leonard Jr. told CNBC that he does believe there may be some shortages , since meatpacking plants that have cut capacity as they space workers out on the assembly line or have some sick workers .
He said the grocery chain buys direct from a lot of smaller meat producers rather than large ones , such as Tyson , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He urged shoppers not to worry .
`` Do n't panic , '' he said .
`` There 's going to be plenty of food . ''
But while meatpackers like Tyson and Smithfield applauded Trump 's executive order , critics said it runs roughshod over workers rights .
`` Sending employees back to work with no mandatory protections in place to protect them from being exposed to Covid-19 and no recourse to address unsafe work environments threatens the lives of meat processing plant workers , as well as the long-term viability of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Alma Adams , D-N.C. , chairwoman of the House subcommittee in charge of worker protections .
`` Our workforce deserves better : mandatory life-saving PPE to protect against COVID-19 , and unprecedented protections for workers .
Otherwise , these conditions are n't safe for American workers or consumers , '' Adams said in a statement Wednesday to CNBC .
Labor unions said the government must strengthen safety measures for workers whose health is critical to the supply chain .
The United Food and Commercial Workers union represents about 250,000 food processing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including many at Smithfield 's plants .
In an interview with CNBC , UFCW president Marc Perrone said meatpacking workers need high-quality protective gear , such as N95 respirator masks , and plants must be reconfigured to allow 6 feet of social distance in addition to any plexiglass barriers .
He said workers must have expanded access to both diagnostic and antibody testing , too .
He said the facilities are like `` stationary cruise ships , '' with workers standing elbow to elbow , lining up in hallways and eating lunch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be easily replaced because their roles require training and many plants are in rural areas , he added .
Without stepped-up safety measures , Perrone said , workers will keep getting sick and the executive order wo n't be enough to keep them open .
`` If 20 % of the workforce is sick , you ca n't run the plant , '' he said .

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that compels slaughterhouses to remain open, setting up a showdown between the giant companies that produce America's meat and the unions and activists who want to protect workers in a pandemic. Stefani Reynolds | Bloomberg | Getty Images
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's executive order this week requiring American meatpacking plants to stay open during the coronavirus pandemic is raising new questions about massive U.S. meat exports, particularly the export of pork to China. Trump's order was meant to prevent what meat processors have claimed is an imminent breakdown in the nation's food supply chain, resulting from the closure of several major meat processing plants that had become hotbeds for coronavirus infections. The president invoked the Defense Production Act, a law intended for wartime usage, to designate the meatpacking industry as part of the nation's "critical infrastructure." Since it was signed late Tuesday, the order has drawn outcry from workers rights activists and effusive praise from the meat industry. Unions said it gave plant owners a green light to ignore worker safety if it interferes with a plant's ability to stay open and avoid liability if workers get sick or die.
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"These are essential workers, they're not sacrificial lambs," said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents between 10,000 to 15,000 poultry workers in the South and Midwest. He said states are now stripped of the power to close a plant for deep cleaning, a move that helps stop the spread and keeps workers safe. "People should know when they are going to work, they are working in a safe environment. You have to prioritize the American people, not the product," he said. The order has highlighted a debate inside the White House over whether to limit exports of pork to China, and what the president decides could have major implications for other U.S. exports. Previous DPA orders during the coronavirus crisis have required that makers of essential equipment in short supply to limit exports for the duration of the national emergency. 3M , which makes masks, is the most visible example. When it comes to the meatpackers, there are no such limitations. Through February, pork and pork variety meat exports accounted for 31% of all U.S. production, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Just over one-third of those exports went to China. On Wednesday, Trump held a private call with major meat industry CEOs, where he was asked about the prospect of export limits on meat, given that an imminent shortage for U.S. consumers was the justification for the executive order. The president responded that he is not interested in restricting exports at this time, according to current and former White House officials who requested anonymity to describe a private call. Still, there are some in the White House who are pushing for tighter export restrictions on meat, a former administration official told CNBC. The question comes down to priorities, said Anthony Rapa, a partner in the Washington office of Kirkland & Ellis, where he works on trade and national security issues.
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"Do we drive towards maintaining full capacity and keep everything as it is, with the U.S. having a healthy export market?" he said. "Or do we try to strike a different balance because of an emergency, and we only do what's necessary for us domestically?" A decision to restrict meatpackers to serving only the U.S. domestic market during the pandemic could also be the one that best protects workers, advocates say.
Pork politics
The Trump administration's internal debate over meat exports comes at an especially difficult time for the U.S.-China relationship, as the two countries trade accusations over who is responsible for the severity of America's coronavirus epidemic. Trump has recently tried to shift the blame for his administration's slow response to the pandemic onto China, where the novel coronavirus was first identified in December. On Thursday, The Washington Post reported that White House aides are debating various ways to punish China for allegedly withholding early reports of the virus's spread through the city of Wuhan. But when it comes to restricting meat exports, Trump faces pressure from an industry that doesn't want its revenue streams restricted. He must also weigh the potential damage an export restriction could do the U.S.-China trade deal Trump signed in January.
A farmer checks on young female pigs at a hog farm in Smithville, Ohio on Thursday, April 30, 2020. Dane Rhys | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Paving the way for more American pork exports to China was a key component of the landmark deal, which remains the crown jewel of Trump's trade-focused foreign policy agenda during his first term. As part of the U.S.-China trade agreement, Beijing agreed to buy $12.5 billion in agricultural goods this year from the United States, and another $19.5 billion in 2021. But the correlation between how much U.S. pork is exported to China, and how much is left for American consumers, is not as clear cut as it seems. Some U.S. pork processing facilities make a product specifically for Chinese consumption, while others export whole hogs, effectively skipping much of the actual processing that goes into producing muscle cuts for grocery stores. Export of U.S. pork to China has soared since the 2018 swine flu epidemic devastated China's domestic pork supply. And a Chinese company owns one of the largest U.S. pork producers, Smithfield Foods, which it acquired through a $4.7 billion deal in 2013. Maintaining America's capacity to process meat for export to China and other countries also has ripple effects all the way down the supply chain. In recent weeks, many of the nation's meat farmers have been forced to euthanize animals after the meatpacking plant closures left them with nowhere to ship their mature livestock. New animals are being born all the time.
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Moreover, restricting pork exports to China for the duration of the pandemic would likely be deeply unpopular with both the U.S. meat industry and the Chinese. But if the president does nothing, and continues to permit roughly one-tenth all U.S. pork to be sent to China every month, there could be other pitfalls. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative didn't respond to requests for comment. Friday morning, Trump retweeted a White House tweet from Thursday that touts the order. He also boasted of his efforts on behalf of American farmers. TWEET TWEET 2
How real is the shortage?
Trump's executive order came just days after billionaire John Tyson, chairman of the nation's largest meat processor Tyson Foods , took out a full-page ad in several of the nation's most-read newspapers, warning ominously that "the food supply chain is breaking." "There will be limited supply of our products available in grocery stores until we are able to reopen our facilities that are currently closed," Tyson wrote. The ad was widely picked up by news outlets that echoed Tyson's alarm, despite monthly reports from the Agriculture Department that showed no real danger to the nation's meat supply. The first time Trump mentioned the issue was on Tuesday, when the president answered a reporter's question by saying, "We're working with Tyson," and adding that he would be signing an executive order that would "solve any liability problems, where they had certain liability problems, and we'll be in very good shape. We're working with Tyson, which is one of the big companies in that world." Tyson temporarily closed five of its plants because of coronavirus infections. A Washington Post investigation found that a number of counties with the highest per capita infection rates in the nation are home to Tyson plants. On Friday, the company said it would reopen its Logansport, Indiana, plant with limited production next week, adding that it is taking "additional precautions to reassure team members that they are returning to a safe work environment."
A Tyson Foods pork processing plant, temporarily closed due to an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is seen in Waterloo, Iowa, U.S., April 29, 2020. Brenna Norman | Reuters
Tyson Foods spokesman Gary Mickelson said the company has taken a range of safety measures to prevent the virus's spread. He said it is screening employees' temperatures, installing walk-through thermal body scanners and asking some workers to be social distancing monitors. He said the company has put up tents outside of some facilities to provide more space during breaks. And he said Tyson has worked hard to find and provide surgical masks for workers, even chartering a plane to China to get them. On Thursday, the company said it will open on-site clinics at some plants with a health-care provider, Matrix Medical Network. The clinics will be able to do testing for Covid-19 and help do health screenings and answer questions for employees. With plant closures, he said there "may be some products that become less available, but the government's decision to invoke the DPA will certainly help mitigate that risk." Smithfield, the Chinese-owned pork producer, indefinitely shut down one of its U.S. plants in South Dakota in mid-April. The Sioux Falls facility is one of the largest pork processing facilities in the country and represents 4% to 5% of U.S. pork production, according to the company. The 3,700-worker facility was closed after two workers died and 783 others tested positive for the coronavirus. Around the same time, Smithfield also shut down a plant in Wisconsin for two weeks and another in Missouri indefinitely. The Wisconsin plant processes dry sausage and bacon, and the Missouri plant produces spiral and smoked hams. The company said in a statement that the plants are near urban areas with community spread of Covid-19 and they've had employees who have tested positive. It said the Missouri facility can't run without raw materials from the Sioux Falls plant that's closed. On Friday, Smithfield said it was suspending operations at an Illinois plant after workers tested positive. The company said the Monmouth, Illinois, plant represents about 3% of the U.S. fresh pork supply. But it remains unclear how widespread a potential meat shortage is, or will be. Grocers said they haven't seen signs of a shortage, although they're monitoring the situation closely. Some have taken proactive steps by limiting customers' purchases, working with processing plants to divert what would have gone to restaurants and forgoing certain meat items that require more processing, such as marinated or thinly cut meats. Kroger , the nation's largest supermarket chain, added purchase limits on ground beef and fresh pork, but a company spokeswoman said "there is plenty of protein in the supply chain." "We feel good about our ability to maintain a broad assortment of meat and seafood for our customers because we purchase protein from a diverse network of suppliers," company spokeswoman Kristal Howard said. This week, Texas grocer H-E-B added new limits for customers' meat purchases to prevent stockpiling. Company spokeswoman Mabrie Jackson told CNBC that the grocer was more concerned that panic-buying, rather than supply chain challenges, might lead to shortages. Target hasn't seen an impact on its supply of meat, spokeswoman Angie Thompson said. "We are in close, daily contact with all of our vendors to understand what is happening with their operations and currently do not have any concerns about material supply issues," she said. At Stew Leonard, a small supermarket chain in the Northeast, meat aisles remain well stocked. CEO Stew Leonard Jr. told CNBC that he does believe there may be some shortages, since meatpacking plants that have cut capacity as they space workers out on the assembly line or have some sick workers.
A woman shops in the chicken and meat section at a grocery store, April 28, 2020 Washington, DC. Drew Angerer | Getty Images


cnbc--2020-05-01--New White House press secretary breaks with Trump tradition by holding a traditional briefing

WASHINGTON – Newly minted White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany gave the first formal daily press briefing in more than a year on Friday , fielding questions on a range of subjects from China to vaccines for coronavirus .
McEnany , a 32-year-old Harvard Law School graduate and former Trump campaign spokeswoman , then shifted promptly into taking a wide range of questions from the press .
This was also a nod to pre-Trump era traditional White House briefings , when reporters were welcome to ask about any topic in the news .
McEnany declined to answer a question about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House officials are prohibited by law from using their official platform to engage in political campaigning .
Yet there were definite moments when her most recent position , as a Trump campaign spokeswoman , shone through .
`` I 'll never lie to you , '' said McEnany , whose first day on the job was April 7 .
`` You have my word on that . ''
The last time a Trump press secretary answered reporters questions live on camera was on March 11 , 2019 , while Sarah Huckabee Sanders was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successor , Stephanie Grisham did not hold a single on-camera briefing in her nine months as press secretary .
On Friday , McEnany said the administration planned to do more daily briefings .
`` I will announce timing of that forthcoming , '' she said , `` but we do plan to continue these . ''
The briefing marked the end of more than a year during which Trump has served as the only de facto spokesperson for his entire administration .
The coronavirus pandemic has only served to highlight the president 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House .
Since mid-March , Trump has held near daily live , on-camera briefings about the pandemic , often using the time to spar with reporters and defend his administration against perceived criticism .
By contrast , Friday 's briefing with McEnany felt more like a press briefing from the pre-Trump era , before the president of the United States had ever labeled the press the `` enemy of the people . ''
The half hour Q & A contained none of the bitterness that had come to characterize White House briefings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that of her predecessor , Sean Spicer , Trump 's first press secretary .
McEnany began Friday 's briefing with the sort of announcement that traditionally starts off daily briefings – important enough to sound newsy , but not so newsworthy that the president himself should be the one announcing it .
In this case , the announcement was about hospital funding related to the coronavirus pandemic .
Asked about the victorious tone adopted by some administration officials this week regarding the coronavirus pandemic , which continues to kill more than 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tone was entirely appropriate .
`` We 're going to give confidence to the American people that you have a federal government under President Donald Trump that 's going to step up and give the greatest mobilization of the private sector since World War II , '' she said .
McEnany also played video footage from a White House event earlier in the week , showing an employee from a company that received congressional funding profusely thanking Trump for the help .
Yet even as McEnany pledged not to lie , moments later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developments in the federal case against former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn .
Flynn was fired in early 2017 after lying to the vice president and the FBI about his contacts with foreign ambassadors .
He later pleaded to guilty to lying to the FBI .
Newly released FBI documents reveal an internal discussion in early 2017 about how to interview Flynn .
McEnany on Friday said the documents contained , `` a handwritten FBI note that says 'We need to get Flynn to lie , ' and get him fired .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ note said .
The note was part of a series of questions about what the aim of an FBI interview of Flynn should be .
McEnany said Flynn 's prosecution was `` a case of injustice , '' but she dodged follow-up questions about why the president fired Flynn , and why Flynn pleaded guilty .

WASHINGTON – Newly minted White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany gave the first formal White House daily press briefing in more than a year on Friday.
McEnany, a 32-year-old Harvard Law School graduate and former Trump campaign spokeswoman, fielded questions on a range of subjects from oil reserves to vaccines for coronavirus.
Breaking with the combative model of press briefings adopted by her predecessors in the Trump administration, McEnany maintained a calm and friendly tone with reporters. She answered the questions she could, and she did not denigrate individual news outlets or journalists.
She was also quick to distance herself from previous Trump press secretaries, who were widely criticized for lying to reporters. "I'll never lie to you," said McEnany, whose first day on the job was April 7. "You have my word on that."
At one point, McEnany declined to answer a question about Trump's campaign travel plans, clearly aware that White House officials are prohibited by law from using their official platforms to engage in political campaigning.
Nonetheless, there were several moments in the briefing when McEnany's most recent experience as a Trump campaign spokeswoman shone through.
The last time a Trump press secretary answered reporters questions live on camera was on March 11, 2019, while Sarah Huckabee Sanders was still in the job. Sanders' successor, Stephanie Grisham did not hold a single on-camera briefing in her nine months as press secretary.
On Friday, McEnany said the administration planned to do more daily briefings. "I will announce timing of that forthcoming," she said, "but we do plan to continue these."
The briefing marked the end of more than a year during which Trump has served as the only de facto spokesperson for his entire administration.
The coronavirus pandemic has only served to highlight the president's role as the chief communicator for the White House. Since mid-March, Trump has held near daily live, on-camera briefings about the pandemic, often using the time to spar with reporters and defend his administration against perceived criticism.
By contrast, Friday's briefing with McEnany felt more like a press briefing from the pre-Trump era, before the president had ever labeled the press the "enemy of the people."
The half hour Q&A contained none of the bitterness that had come to characterize White House briefings towards the end of both Sanders tenure and that of her predecessor, Sean Spicer, Trump's first press secretary.
McEnany began Friday's briefing with the sort of announcement that traditionally starts off daily briefings – important enough to sound newsy, but not so newsworthy that the president himself should be the one announcing it. In this case, the announcement was about hospital funding related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Where her training as a Trump campaign spokesperson was most apparent Friday was in McEnany's effusive praise of the president.
One question concerned the victorious tone that was recently adopted by some administration officials when speaking about the coronavirus pandemic, and whether it was appropriate when the virus continues to kill more than 1,000 Americans a day. McEnany didn't just defend the congratulatory style of her White House colleagues, she adopted it.
When senior adviser Jared Kushner "talked about his success story, he was talking about the story of this administration, which is a story of mobilization for the American people, the greatest mobilization of American industry since World War II," she said. "The fact that this president can look the American people in the eye and say, 'I am producing 100,000 ventilators this year alongside the private sector...I'd consider that a great success on behalf of the American people."
In another nod to campaign style messaging, McEnany had two large screens set up to play a video clip from a White House event earlier in the week, one that had been covered by many of the same reporters when it happened. The clip was of an employee from a company that received congressional funding profusely thanking Trump for the help.
And despite McEnany's pledge not to lie, near the end of the briefing she gave a misleading assessment of new developments in the federal case against former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Flynn was fired in early 2017, after lying to the vice president and the FBI about his contacts with foreign ambassadors. He later pleaded to guilty to lying to the FBI and cooperated at length with the Mueller investigation
. Newly released FBI documents reveal an internal discussion in early 2017 about how to interview Flynn. McEnany on Friday said the documents contained, "a handwritten FBI note that says 'We need to get Flynn to lie,' and get him fired."
But that's not what the note said. The note was part of a series of questions about what the aim of Flynn's FBI interview should be.
McEnany called Flynn's prosecution "a case of injustice." But she dodged follow-up questions about why the president fired Flynn, and why Flynn pleaded guilty.