cnbc--2020-06-22--A prominent health record in a pandemic: Why NM Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham could be Biden's VP pick

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is under more pressure than ever to choose a Black woman as his running mate , but several other names are still floating around .
New Mexico Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham , the first Democratic Latina in the U.S. to be elected as a state 's top executive , continues to rank on the shortlist to become Biden 's vice presidential pick , according to pundits .
Lujan Grisham 's government experience , and her deep background in health and aging , could bring authority to the Biden campaign as it presents an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the coronavirus pandemic .
And as a Latina , Lujan Grisham could help shore up crucial voting blocs to turn out in November .
`` The governor has been in conversation with the Biden campaign about how she can best support the campaign , boost turnout , and ensure a Democratic victory , '' a spokeswoman for Lujan Grisham told CNBC .
`` Those conversations are ongoing . ''
Health care has long been a core issue for Lujan Grisham .
Her own family 's medical battles exposed her to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and instilled in her a zealous commitment to improving health care in her state .
Lujan Grisham 's sister , Kimberly , died at 21 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 2 years old .
Her parents reportedly spent decades paying off the debt accumulated from her care .
In 1997 , Lujan Grisham made headlines when , as head of the New Mexico State Agency on Aging , she went undercover in a state-run nursing home after hearing complaints about the facilities .
She reportedly faked a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where she was neglected for hours on end and had items stolen .
She later touted the sting operation in her congressional and gubernatorial campaigns .
Lujan Grisham 's husband died in 2004 from a brain aneurysm , just a few weeks before she started as New Mexico 's secretary of Health .
Lujan Grisham , a mother of two , filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her husband 's physician that was later dropped .
She stayed in the role until 2007 .
Near the start of her first term in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another family health crisis when her mother fell ill. Lujan Grisham tended to her mother , forcing the new congresswoman to balance her legislative work with her duties as a primary caregiver .
Her expertise in health care and seniors ' issues carried over to her three terms in Congress .
Nearly a quarter of the bills she sponsored focused on health , according to a GovTrack analysis .
`` This is a place where you have to be really tenacious .
You have to know what 's at stake , '' Lujan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But I 'm tenacious , especially when I know people 's lives are at stake . ''
Lujan Grisham 's years of health-care experience were put to the test during the Covid-19 crisis , and she 's earned plaudits from Democrats for her strong response .
New Mexico 's status as one of the poorest states in the country with among the fewest hospital beds per capita put it at high risk .
But that danger has so far been averted : As of Monday , New Mexico 's cases were on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of states report increases in the number of infections .
University of New Mexico disease specialist Helen Wearing told The New York Times that `` hundreds of lives were saved because of what the state did early on , and that 's using conservative estimates . ''
That praise could give Lujan Grisham , 60 , an upper hand in a possible debate against Vice President Mike Pence , who leads the White House coronavirus task force .
Most Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump 's handling of the pandemic , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At least 10,565 Covid-19 cases and 134 deaths have been confirmed in New Mexico .
Lujan Grisham herself said in a recent Rolling Stone interview that she drew on the lessons she learned as secretary of Health when confronting the coronavirus .
`` I 'm no stranger to the significance of any infectious disease , and I know the danger in a pandemic .
You take an abundance of caution , even if you do n't know everything that you need to know .
If there is no vaccine and no real treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being in contact , '' she said .
`` I made quick and very broad , decisive actions , telling people to stay at home , closing schools , and narrowing essential businesses .
We quarantined people coming across borders for 14 days .
We were working on taking the temperatures of truckers coming in and out of the state and doing questionnaires about whether they were symptomatic .
We really were aggressive on the front end , and I believe , unequivocally , it has paid off in where the state is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reputation as a dogged fighter for her passion projects — even the politically volatile ones .
She came into the governor 's office after a resounding electoral victory in 2018 — beating Republican Steve Pearce by nearly 15 percentage points .
But by mid-2019 , her approval rating had fallen after she took progressive stances on gun control and abortion .
On guns , she signed a law expanding background checks for nearly all firearms sales .
Politicians in more than two dozen counties out of 33 total pushed back on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' declarations in protest .
The following year , she signed a red-flag gun bill into law , warning sheriffs that if they do n't intend to enforce it , `` they should resign as a law enforcement officer and leader in that community . ''
She also gained attention in her final year in the House , when as chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus , she crashed a bipartisan meeting at the White House with Trump on immigration .
`` There are a couple of things in New Mexico we do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Lonna Atkeson , a political science professor at the University of New Mexico .
`` Occasionally someone brings it up , and it 's usually not good for them . ''
Lujan Grisham , who has a law degree from the University of New Mexico , also pushed to repeal a decades-old anti-abortion law , but the effort failed in the state Senate , with eight members of her party voting against the repeal .
But Lujan Grisham has n't given up , reportedly telling a Planned Parenthood event earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` gone '' as soon as she can muster up the votes .
`` She has a very national Democratic outlook , '' Atkeson said .
`` She 's willing to take on things .
She 's strong and aggressive , but she also has this ideological side .
... She represents sort of the rising side of the Democratic Party . ''

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) speaking at The Center for American Progress CAP 2019 Ideas Conference. Michael Brochstein | SOP Images | Getty Images
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is under more pressure than ever to choose a Black woman as his running mate, but several other names are still floating around. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the first Democratic Latina in the U.S. to be elected as a state's top executive, continues to rank on the shortlist to become Biden's vice presidential pick, according to pundits. Lujan Grisham's government experience, and her deep background in health and aging, could bring authority to the Biden campaign as it presents an alternative vision to the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic. And as a Latina, Lujan Grisham could help shore up crucial voting blocs to turn out in November. "The governor has been in conversation with the Biden campaign about how she can best support the campaign, boost turnout, and ensure a Democratic victory," a spokeswoman for Lujan Grisham told CNBC. "Those conversations are ongoing."
A longtime focus on health
Health care has long been a core issue for Lujan Grisham. Her own family's medical battles exposed her to the crippling costs that long-term care can take, and instilled in her a zealous commitment to improving health care in her state. Lujan Grisham's sister, Kimberly, died at 21 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 2 years old. Her parents reportedly spent decades paying off the debt accumulated from her care. In 1997, Lujan Grisham made headlines when, as head of the New Mexico State Agency on Aging, she went undercover in a state-run nursing home after hearing complaints about the facilities. She reportedly faked a stroke and checked herself into a center, where she was neglected for hours on end and had items stolen. She later touted the sting operation in her congressional and gubernatorial campaigns. Lujan Grisham's husband died in 2004 from a brain aneurysm, just a few weeks before she started as New Mexico's secretary of Health. Lujan Grisham, a mother of two, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her husband's physician that was later dropped. She stayed in the role until 2007. Near the start of her first term in Congress in 2013, Lujan Grisham faced another family health crisis when her mother fell ill. Lujan Grisham tended to her mother, forcing the new congresswoman to balance her legislative work with her duties as a primary caregiver. Her expertise in health care and seniors' issues carried over to her three terms in Congress. Nearly a quarter of the bills she sponsored focused on health, according to a GovTrack analysis. "This is a place where you have to be really tenacious. You have to know what's at stake," Lujan Grisham told Politico in 2013. "But I'm tenacious, especially when I know people's lives are at stake."
Responding to a crisis
Lujan Grisham's years of health-care experience were put to the test during the Covid-19 crisis, and she's earned plaudits from Democrats for her strong response. New Mexico's status as one of the poorest states in the country with among the fewest hospital beds per capita put it at high risk. But that danger has so far been averted: As of Monday, New Mexico's cases were on the decline, even as a growing number of states report increases in the number of infections. University of New Mexico disease specialist Helen Wearing told The New York Times that "hundreds of lives were saved because of what the state did early on, and that's using conservative estimates." That praise could give Lujan Grisham, 60, an upper hand in a possible debate against Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the White House coronavirus task force. Most Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of the pandemic, according to an ABC News/Ipsos poll released Sunday. At least 10,565 Covid-19 cases and 134 deaths have been confirmed in New Mexico. Lujan Grisham herself said in a recent Rolling Stone interview that she drew on the lessons she learned as secretary of Health when confronting the coronavirus. "I'm no stranger to the significance of any infectious disease, and I know the danger in a pandemic. You take an abundance of caution, even if you don't know everything that you need to know. If there is no vaccine and no real treatment, then you better keep people from being in contact," she said. "I made quick and very broad, decisive actions, telling people to stay at home, closing schools, and narrowing essential businesses. We quarantined people coming across borders for 14 days. We were working on taking the temperatures of truckers coming in and out of the state and doing questionnaires about whether they were symptomatic. We really were aggressive on the front end, and I believe, unequivocally, it has paid off in where the state is today."
A national outlook
Lujan Grisham has gained a reputation as a dogged fighter for her passion projects — even the politically volatile ones. She came into the governor's office after a resounding electoral victory in 2018 — beating Republican Steve Pearce by nearly 15 percentage points. But by mid-2019, her approval rating had fallen after she took progressive stances on gun control and abortion. On guns, she signed a law expanding background checks for nearly all firearms sales. Politicians in more than two dozen counties out of 33 total pushed back on the law, signing "Second Amendment sanctuary" declarations in protest. The following year, she signed a red-flag gun bill into law, warning sheriffs that if they don't intend to enforce it, "they should resign as a law enforcement officer and leader in that community." She also gained attention in her final year in the House, when as chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, she crashed a bipartisan meeting at the White House with Trump on immigration. "There are a couple of things in New Mexico we don't talk about: abortion and immigration," said Lonna Atkeson, a political science professor at the University of New Mexico. "Occasionally someone brings it up, and it's usually not good for them." Lujan Grisham, who has a law degree from the University of New Mexico, also pushed to repeal a decades-old anti-abortion law, but the effort failed in the state Senate, with eight members of her party voting against the repeal. But Lujan Grisham hasn't given up, reportedly telling a Planned Parenthood event earlier this year that the bill will be "gone" as soon as she can muster up the votes. "She has a very national Democratic outlook," Atkeson said. "She's willing to take on things. She's strong and aggressive, but she also has this ideological side. ... She represents sort of the rising side of the Democratic Party."
What Lujan Grisham brings


cnbc--2020-06-22--U.S. Supreme Court sets limits on SEC's power to recover ill-gotten gains

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday placed limits on the Securities and Exchange Commission 's practice of forcing defendants to surrender profits obtained through fraud as part of its enforcement of investor-protection laws in federal courts , but stopped short of disallowing such action .
The court reaffirmed the agency 's authority to seek disgorgement , a part of its civil enforcement arsenal aimed at passing on funds acquired in fraudulent schemes to the original investors .
But , in an 8-1 vote ruling authored by liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor , the court limited the scope of what can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not exceed the net profits of the conduct at issue .
The court also said that disgorgement generally must go to the `` wronged investors . ''
Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas was the sole dissenter , saying that disgorgement was not an authorized remedy .
The decision was issued in an appeal by a California couple , Charles Liu and Xin Wang , of a 2016 civil action brought against them by the SEC in federal court .
The court sent the case back to lower courts for other unresolved legal issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been ordered to disgorge almost $ 27 million , the amount they raised from foreign investors for a cancer treatment center that was never built .
The SEC has said that in the most recent full fiscal year it collected $ 1.5 billion in disgorgements and penalties and paid $ 1.2 billion to harmed investors .
Liu and Wang argued that Congress never gave the SEC authority to seek disgorgement , and that it is a form of punishment that courts can not impose for the SEC .

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday placed limits on the Securities and Exchange Commission's practice of forcing defendants to surrender profits obtained through fraud as part of its enforcement of investor-protection laws in federal courts, but stopped short of disallowing such action.
The court reaffirmed the agency's authority to seek disgorgement, a part of its civil enforcement arsenal aimed at passing on funds acquired in fraudulent schemes to the original investors.
But, in an 8-1 vote ruling authored by liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the court limited the scope of what can be sought via disgorgement by saying that it cannot exceed the net profits of the conduct at issue. The court also said that disgorgement generally must go to the "wronged investors."
Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas was the sole dissenter, saying that disgorgement was not an authorized remedy.
The decision was issued in an appeal by a California couple, Charles Liu and Xin Wang, of a 2016 civil action brought against them by the SEC in federal court. The court sent the case back to lower courts for other unresolved legal issues to be considered.
The couple had been ordered to disgorge almost $27 million, the amount they raised from foreign investors for a cancer treatment center that was never built.
The SEC has said that in the most recent full fiscal year it collected $1.5 billion in disgorgements and penalties and paid $1.2 billion to harmed investors. Liu and Wang argued that Congress never gave the SEC authority to seek disgorgement, and that it is a form of punishment that courts cannot impose for the SEC.


cnbc--2020-06-22--Kamala Harris would bring anti-Trump energy to a Joe Biden ticket, but her law enforcement record po

Kamala Harris would bring anti-Trump energy to a Joe Biden ticket, but her law enforcement record poses risks

By all accounts , Sen. Kamala Harris stands near the top of Joe Biden 's list of potential 2020 running mates .
Harris would bring a lot to the presumptive Democratic nominee 's ticket as he tries to beat President Donald Trump in November .
Even so , the California Democrat and former prosecutor could exacerbate one of Biden 's key liabilities as a candidate : criticism that he reinforced racist failings in the criminal justice system .
At 55 years old with several statewide election wins to her name in California , Harris has a combination of vigor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's short list .
Key allies have urged the former vice president , a 77-year-old white man , to choose a woman of color as his running mate .
Harris , a daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants and one of three Black U.S. senators , would bring a vital perspective to the ticket during a national reckoning over systemic racism .
But critics have contended the senator took some regressive stances during her time as district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general of California — charges sharpened during her bid for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris has defended her record and been a champion for anti-lynching and police reform legislation in recent weeks , some observers of her career say she could alienate parts of the Democratic Party , particularly younger Black voters .
`` Kamala Harris I think would undermine the hostility that Black Americans have toward Donald Trump , '' said James Lance Taylor , a professor of politics at the University of San Francisco .
Even so , it is unclear how much of an effect Harris — or any other Biden running mate — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a referendum on Trump 's first term in office .
The list of potential choices got shorter Thursday , when Sen. Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , said she would take herself out of the running and urged Biden to pick a woman of color .
Harris enjoyed a steady rise through the legal ranks in California .
After she graduated from historically Black Howard University and the University of California , Hastings College of Law , she became the deputy district attorney for northern California 's Alameda County .
Harris held the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then joined the San Francisco District Attorney 's Office .
In 2003 , Harris defeated incumbent Terence Hallinan to become the city 's top legal official .
She served as San Francisco 's district attorney from 2004 to 2010 .
Harris was elected California attorney general in 2010 , narrowly defeating Republican Steve Cooley .
After her 2014 reelection , she ran for Senate in 2016 .
She easily defeated former Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer , garnering more than 60 % of the vote .
Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but failed to make it as far as the Iowa caucuses .
She briefly vaulted higher in polls in July after she targeted Biden for opposing busing policy during the integration of public schools and for comments about working with segregationists in the Senate .
But Harris failed to gain much more traction and dropped out of the race in December .
Even at the heights of her campaign , Black poll respondents overwhelmingly preferred Biden over other Democrats , partly driven by a feeling that he had the best shot to deny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disagreements during the primary have not appeared to hurt Biden and Harris ' relationship .
At a fundraiser earlier this month where she helped Biden 's campaign raise $ 3.5 million , she praised the former vice president as someone who `` always has a sense of how people are experiencing this world , '' highlighting the `` many contrasts '' between him and the president .
Biden called Harris a `` fighter and a principled leader . ''
He also said he `` wo n't forget '' when he saw the senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden said Harris told him , `` I love you , and I loved Beau . ''
During her time in the Senate , Harris ' prosecutorial grilling of Trump administration officials and nominees , from Attorney General William Barr to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh , has earned her plaudits from Democrats .
She has aimed to take a leading role in holding the Trump White House accountable for abuses of power — a helpful practice if she eventually has to debate Vice President Mike Pence or target the president on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in which Barr declined to answer Harris ' questions about whether the White House asked him to open investigations into anyone , the senator called on him to resign .
She said `` this attorney general lacks all credibility and has , I think , compromised the American public 's ability to believe he is a purveyor of justice . ''
Harris has since brought her oversight push to the federal coronavirus response .
She has sought better disclosure of how the Trump administration has used money meant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health-care providers .
The senator has supported a range of benefits for essential employees during the pandemic , from raises to paid leave and better protections in the workplace .
Harris also co-sponsored one of the most ambitious proposals to sustain Americans ' income during the coronavirus shutdowns .
The bill introduced in May would give individuals $ 2,000 a month during the crisis .
The plan marked at least the second time she joined Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , in backing a sweeping social safety net proposal .
In April 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for All '' legislation .
The senator later muddied her health-care position during the presidential primary as she faced questions about whether her plan would abolish private insurance .
A running mate 's policy preferences may not prove all that important `` because the presidential candidate is going to set the agenda , '' said Robert Shrum , a veteran political consultant and professor of the practice of political science at the University of Southern California .
He noted one possible exception in Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, a vice presidential contender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropped out of the primary earlier this year .
As the only Black woman in the Senate , Harris has been a leading congressional voice in the policy discussions around systemic racism sparked by repeated police killings of Black men and women .
She has helped to lead the charge for an anti-lynching bill that Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky. , blocked from passing the Senate earlier this month .
When she joined House leaders in introducing a sweeping police reform bill a few days later , she tied the inability to pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in securing justice for Black Americans .
`` We 're here because Black Americans want to stop being killed .
...
Yes , as a country , we 've seen great progress .
But just last week in the year of our Lord 2020 , we could not get an anti-lynching bill passed in the United States Senate , '' she said .
The bill Harris co-sponsored did not embrace activists ' calls to either slash police budgets or defund departments entirely .
But she has said she supports Los Angeles Mayor Eric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 150 million from the city 's police budget and put it toward a $ 250 million investment in health care and jobs programs .
`` We 've got to re-examine what we 're doing with American taxpayer dollars and ask the question : Are we getting the right return on our investment ?
Are we actually creating healthy and safe communities ? ''
she asked earlier this month .
Of course , pushes for reform bring questions about Harris ' own role in the criminal justice system .
Taylor at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not do much to solidify support for Biden — whom Black voters already overwhelmingly supported during the primary — while risking dampening the zeal of the activists pushing for an overhaul of the justice system .
`` They are coming for Trump , '' he said of people protesting racial injustice .
`` If Biden were to select Kamala Harris , it would have a wet blanket effect on that enthusiasm . ''
Harris has faced criticism on issues including an anti-truancy program and instances where she did not dismiss cases against convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also saw backlash in California for what critics saw as her being slow to embrace liberal positions on the death penalty , marijuana legalization and police and criminal justice reform .
During her presidential campaign , Harris described herself as a `` progressive prosecutor . ''
She has previously defended her ambitions as a legal officer by saying she wanted to `` reform systems '' from `` the inside . ''
Supporters have pointed to programs Harris previously backed such as one that aided people in looking for work rather than putting them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Harris pushed to legalize marijuana , ban private prisons and issue a moratorium on the death penalty at the federal level .
She also called for sentencing reform and more emphasis on rehabilitation rather than incarceration .
A spokeswoman for Harris did not immediately respond to a request to comment on this story .
Shrum said many voters may judge Harris by where she stands on criminal justice issues now rather than her record as a prosecutor .
He noted that Black voters pushed Biden through the Democratic primary despite his role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say helped to fuel mass incarceration of people of color .
Biden appeared to address concerns about the legislation earlier this year when he said , `` I have n't always been right '' but `` I 've always tried . ''
Shrum noted that Harris would not help Biden on one specific front : giving a boost in a swing state .
Other potential choices such as Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. Val Demings of Florida could potentially aid Biden in critical Electoral College states .
However , Shrum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kerry-Edwards and Gore-Lieberman campaigns , said a vice president has not appeared to give a significant geographic boost since Lyndon B. Johnson helped John F. Kennedy win Johnson 's home state of Texas in 1960 .
Correction : This story has been updated to reflect that Kamala Harris worked for the San Francisco District Attorney 's Office and was elected in 2003 to serve as San Francisco 's district attorney .

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden is greeted by U.S. Senator Kamala Harris during a campaign stop in Detroit, Michigan, March 9, 2020. Brendan McDermid | Reuters
UPDATE: Since this story was first published, Joe Biden selected Kamala Harris to be his running mate. By all accounts, Sen. Kamala Harris stands near the top of Joe Biden's list of potential 2020 running mates. Harris would bring a lot to the presumptive Democratic nominee's ticket as he tries to beat President Donald Trump in November. Even so, the California Democrat and former prosecutor could exacerbate one of Biden's key liabilities as a candidate: criticism that he reinforced racist failings in the criminal justice system. At 55 years old with several statewide election wins to her name in California, Harris has a combination of vigor and experience matched by few others on Biden's short list. Key allies have urged the former vice president, a 77-year-old white man, to choose a woman of color as his running mate. Harris, a daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants and one of three Black U.S. senators, would bring a vital perspective to the ticket during a national reckoning over systemic racism. But critics have contended the senator took some regressive stances during her time as district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general of California — charges sharpened during her bid for the Democratic nomination last year. While Harris has defended her record and been a champion for anti-lynching and police reform legislation in recent weeks, some observers of her career say she could alienate parts of the Democratic Party, particularly younger Black voters. "Kamala Harris I think would undermine the hostility that Black Americans have toward Donald Trump," said James Lance Taylor, a professor of politics at the University of San Francisco. Even so, it is unclear how much of an effect Harris — or any other Biden running mate — will have on an election increasingly looking like a referendum on Trump's first term in office. The list of potential choices got shorter Thursday, when Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said she would take herself out of the running and urged Biden to pick a woman of color.
Kamala Harris' resume
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) joins fellow Democrats from the House and Senate to introduce new legislation to end excessive use of force by police and make it easier to identify, track, and prosecute police misconduct at the U.S. Capitol June 08, 2020 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
Harris enjoyed a steady rise through the legal ranks in California. After she graduated from historically Black Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of Law, she became the deputy district attorney for northern California's Alameda County. Harris held the job from 1990 to 1998. She then joined the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. In 2003, Harris defeated incumbent Terence Hallinan to become the city's top legal official. She served as San Francisco's district attorney from 2004 to 2010. Harris was elected California attorney general in 2010, narrowly defeating Republican Steve Cooley. After her 2014 reelection, she ran for Senate in 2016. She easily defeated former Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, garnering more than 60% of the vote.
watch now
Harris ran in the 2020 Democratic primary, but failed to make it as far as the Iowa caucuses. She briefly vaulted higher in polls in July after she targeted Biden for opposing busing policy during the integration of public schools and for comments about working with segregationists in the Senate. But Harris failed to gain much more traction and dropped out of the race in December. Even at the heights of her campaign, Black poll respondents overwhelmingly preferred Biden over other Democrats, partly driven by a feeling that he had the best shot to deny Trump a second term. The public disagreements during the primary have not appeared to hurt Biden and Harris' relationship. At a fundraiser earlier this month where she helped Biden's campaign raise $3.5 million, she praised the former vice president as someone who "always has a sense of how people are experiencing this world," highlighting the "many contrasts" between him and the president. Biden called Harris a "fighter and a principled leader." He also said he "won't forget" when he saw the senator after the death of his son Beau. Biden said Harris told him, "I love you, and I loved Beau."
Work in the Senate
During her time in the Senate, Harris' prosecutorial grilling of Trump administration officials and nominees, from Attorney General William Barr to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, has earned her plaudits from Democrats. She has aimed to take a leading role in holding the Trump White House accountable for abuses of power — a helpful practice if she eventually has to debate Vice President Mike Pence or target the president on the campaign trail. After a May 2019 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in which Barr declined to answer Harris' questions about whether the White House asked him to open investigations into anyone, the senator called on him to resign. She said "this attorney general lacks all credibility and has, I think, compromised the American public's ability to believe he is a purveyor of justice."
watch now
Harris has since brought her oversight push to the federal coronavirus response. She has sought better disclosure of how the Trump administration has used money meant to go to struggling small businesses and health-care providers. The senator has supported a range of benefits for essential employees during the pandemic, from raises to paid leave and better protections in the workplace. Harris also co-sponsored one of the most ambitious proposals to sustain Americans' income during the coronavirus shutdowns. The bill introduced in May would give individuals $2,000 a month during the crisis. The plan marked at least the second time she joined Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in backing a sweeping social safety net proposal. In April 2019, Harris signed on to "Medicare for All" legislation. The senator later muddied her health-care position during the presidential primary as she faced questions about whether her plan would abolish private insurance. A running mate's policy preferences may not prove all that important "because the presidential candidate is going to set the agenda," said Robert Shrum, a veteran political consultant and professor of the practice of political science at the University of Southern California. He noted one possible exception in Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a vice presidential contender whose bankruptcy plan Biden adopted after she dropped out of the primary earlier this year.
The push for reform
watch now
As the only Black woman in the Senate, Harris has been a leading congressional voice in the policy discussions around systemic racism sparked by repeated police killings of Black men and women. She has helped to lead the charge for an anti-lynching bill that Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., blocked from passing the Senate earlier this month. When she joined House leaders in introducing a sweeping police reform bill a few days later, she tied the inability to pass the anti-lynching legislation to the broader challenges in securing justice for Black Americans. "We're here because Black Americans want to stop being killed. ... Yes, as a country, we've seen great progress. But just last week in the year of our Lord 2020, we could not get an anti-lynching bill passed in the United States Senate," she said. The bill Harris co-sponsored did not embrace activists' calls to either slash police budgets or defund departments entirely. But she has said she supports Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's proposal to cut up to $150 million from the city's police budget and put it toward a $250 million investment in health care and jobs programs. "We've got to re-examine what we're doing with American taxpayer dollars and ask the question: Are we getting the right return on our investment? Are we actually creating healthy and safe communities?" she asked earlier this month. Of course, pushes for reform bring questions about Harris' own role in the criminal justice system. Taylor at the University of San Francisco said the senator may not do much to solidify support for Biden — whom Black voters already overwhelmingly supported during the primary — while risking dampening the zeal of the activists pushing for an overhaul of the justice system. "They are coming for Trump," he said of people protesting racial injustice. "If Biden were to select Kamala Harris, it would have a wet blanket effect on that enthusiasm." Harris has faced criticism on issues including an anti-truancy program and instances where she did not dismiss cases against convicted defendants after new evidence emerged. She also saw backlash in California for what critics saw as her being slow to embrace liberal positions on the death penalty, marijuana legalization and police and criminal justice reform. During her presidential campaign, Harris described herself as a "progressive prosecutor." She has previously defended her ambitions as a legal officer by saying she wanted to "reform systems" from "the inside." Supporters have pointed to programs Harris previously backed such as one that aided people in looking for work rather than putting them in jail. As a presidential candidate, Harris pushed to legalize marijuana, ban private prisons and issue a moratorium on the death penalty at the federal level. She also called for sentencing reform and more emphasis on rehabilitation rather than incarceration. A spokeswoman for Harris did not immediately respond to a request to comment on this story. Shrum said many voters may judge Harris by where she stands on criminal justice issues now rather than her record as a prosecutor. He noted that Black voters pushed Biden through the Democratic primary despite his role in the 1994 crime bill that critics say helped to fuel mass incarceration of people of color. Biden appeared to address concerns about the legislation earlier this year when he said, "I haven't always been right" but "I've always tried." Shrum noted that Harris would not help Biden on one specific front: giving a boost in a swing state. Other potential choices such as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. Val Demings of Florida could potentially aid Biden in critical Electoral College states. However, Shrum, who served as an advisor to the Kerry-Edwards and Gore-Lieberman campaigns, said a vice president has not appeared to give a significant geographic boost since Lyndon B. Johnson helped John F. Kennedy win Johnson's home state of Texas in 1960. Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Kamala Harris worked for the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and was elected in 2003 to serve as San Francisco's district attorney. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.


cnbc--2020-06-23--Race to face Mitch McConnell and challenges to House Democrats Engel, AOC headline Kentucky, New Yor

Race to face Mitch McConnell and challenges to House Democrats Engel, AOC headline Kentucky, New York primaries

A slate of primary elections Tuesday will decide who faces the top Senate Republican in November and whether two notable House Democrats can win another term in office .
In Kentucky , state Rep. Charles Booker and Marine veteran Amy McGrath lead the field of Democrats hoping to challenge Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
Booker , a Black man running on a sweeping liberal platform , has earned endorsements from the likes of Sens .
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren during a national reckoning over systemic racism .
McGrath , a White woman backed by Senate Democrats ' campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelming favorite to win the primary as she ran on more centrist policies and anti-McConnell sentiment among Democrats fueled a fundraising bonanza .
In New York , Democratic House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Eliot Engel will try to hold off a strong primary challenge from middle school teacher Jamaal Bowman .
The longtime representative has faced backlash for an extended absence from his district , which includes parts of the Bronx and Westchester County , when the coronavirus pandemic was ravaging the area .
Bowman , a Black man supported by leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Engel 's views on a range of policies as backward .
Next door , Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will aim to beat back a primary challenge of her own — though the threat of her losing her seat by all accounts appears less serious than the one Engel faces .
Two years after the democratic socialist shocked longtime Rep. Joe Crowley to win the Bronx and Queens district , Ocasio-Cortez will face former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera , who has leveraged support within parts of the New York business community .
Those races @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help to assess Democrats ' appetite for reimagining institutions as the pandemic and police brutality put a spotlight on racial inequities in areas including health care , housing and the justice system .
Generally , Democrats with more progressive platforms fare better in primaries in blue areas such as New York City than they do in red-leaning states like Kentucky .
The Kentucky and New York elections will be the latest to go forward after delays due to the coronavirus .
Results will likely come in slowly as the states process more mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take on McConnell The killing of Breonna Taylor , a 26-year-old Black woman shot dead by Louisville police officers in March , reshaped the election between Booker and McGrath .
Taylor 's death is among the killings that sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and a push to ban `` no-knock '' search warrants .
( One of the three officers involved in the shooting has been fired . )
Booker , who has spoken at anti-racism rallies as he gains traction in the election , has criticized McGrath for not appearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this month why she did not attend protests , McGrath in part cited the ongoing pandemic .
Booker , who at 35 is the youngest Black state lawmaker in Kentucky , represents a Louisville-area district .
McGrath , 45 , previously challenged Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr in 2018 , losing by about 3 percentage points .
At a policy level , the two Democratic Senate contenders represent differing visions for the party .
For instance , Booker backs a `` Medicare for All '' single-payer health-care proposal and the Green New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs proposal .
McGrath has called for bipartisan plans to fix the Affordable Care Act and more modest investments in clean energy .
McGrath took a commanding position in the race early as she enjoyed more fundraising success than any other Senate candidate this election cycle .
She has raised more than $ 40 million in all , and had $ 19.3 million in the bank as of June 3 .
Booker raised just under $ 800,000 by the same date and had about $ 285,000 on hand .
But he has raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his profile increased , according to reports .
The Louisville Courier-Journal reported that a Civiqs poll commissioned by progressive think tank Data for Progress found Booker leading McGrath by a 44 % to 36 % margin .
For either candidate , unseating the Senate majority leader will prove a tougher task than winning the primary .
McConnell 's campaign has raised nearly $ 33 million and had more than $ 15 million in the bank as of June 3 .
He last won election in 2014 by more than 15 percentage points .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , leading Booker and McGrath by 14 and 20 percentage points , respectively .
Engel , who has served in the House for more than 30 years , faces a fight to hold his New York 16th District seat .
Both the pandemic and police brutality protests have put him on the defensive as Bowman looks to pull an upset .
The 73-year-old congressman , who represents the city of New Rochelle , an early coronavirus hotspot , spent the worst of the pandemic in quarantine in Maryland .
He has defended his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in Washington doing his job .
As he faced criticism for a lack of appearances in his district , Engel returned early this month following the start of widespread protests against racism in policing .
As Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. questioned whether all the officials at an event would have time to speak , Engel was heard on a hot mic saying , `` If I did n't have a primary , I would n't care . ''
The representative explained the comment by saying he wanted constituents to hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection push .
Bowman has used the comment to portray Engel as out of touch with the district .
Bowman , who is also endorsed by Sanders , Warren and Ocasio-Cortez , supports Medicare for All and the Green New Deal .
He has backed efforts to defund the police , or slash at least some law enforcement funding and redirect it to social services .
While Engel signed on to a House Democratic police reform bill that does not cut funding , he has said he would be open to repurposing some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pull off a stunning upset for a New York House seat , Ocasio-Cortez , runs in her first election to defend her 14th District seat on Tuesday .
Caruso-Cabrera has run as a centrist , pro-business candidate , criticizing the 30-year-old incumbent in particular for fighting Amazon 's plans to open a headquarters in Queens .
Ocasio-Cortez has argued Amazon , which has some of the highest annual revenues of any American company , did not need the grants and tax breaks the state planned to give it .
Amazon scrapped its headquarters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presence in New York .
Ocasio-Cortez has criticized parts of the federal response to the pandemic , arguing the U.S. should have provided more relief to workers through largely guaranteed paychecks and rent moratoriums , among other measures .
Caruso-Cabrera , 53 , has raised more than $ 2 million during the primary — a healthy haul for a challenger — and had more than $ 1 million on hand as of June 3 .
Her donors include Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman , hedge fund managers John Paulson and Cliff Asness , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Still , Ocasio-Cortez had $ 4.6 million in the bank on June 3 .
House races elsewhere in New York on Tuesday hold big stakes .
Also in the Bronx , a primary will determine who succeeds retiring Democratic Rep. Jose Serrano in a safe blue district .
In a crowded race for New York 's 15th District , Democrats worry City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. ( the Bronx borough president 's father ) will win .
Diaz , 77 , has a history of making homophobic comments and opposes abortion rights .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold a special election to replace Republican Chris Collins , who earlier this year was sentenced to 26 months in prison for insider trading .
Republican state Rep. Christopher Jacobs , 53 , faces Democrat Nate McMurray , 45 , who narrowly lost to Collins in 2018 .

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) arrives as Senate Republicans hold their weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 16, 2020. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
A slate of primary elections Tuesday will decide who faces the top Senate Republican in November and whether two notable House Democrats can win another term in office. In Kentucky, state Rep. Charles Booker and Marine veteran Amy McGrath lead the field of Democrats hoping to challenge Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Booker, a Black man running on a sweeping liberal platform, has earned endorsements from the likes of Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren during a national reckoning over systemic racism. McGrath, a White woman backed by Senate Democrats' campaign arm, was once seen as an overwhelming favorite to win the primary as she ran on more centrist policies and anti-McConnell sentiment among Democrats fueled a fundraising bonanza. In New York, Democratic House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Eliot Engel will try to hold off a strong primary challenge from middle school teacher Jamaal Bowman. The longtime representative has faced backlash for an extended absence from his district, which includes parts of the Bronx and Westchester County, when the coronavirus pandemic was ravaging the area. Bowman, a Black man supported by leading national and local progressives, has cast Engel's views on a range of policies as backward. Next door, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will aim to beat back a primary challenge of her own — though the threat of her losing her seat by all accounts appears less serious than the one Engel faces. Two years after the democratic socialist shocked longtime Rep. Joe Crowley to win the Bronx and Queens district, Ocasio-Cortez will face former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, who has leveraged support within parts of the New York business community. Those races, along with others Tuesday, will help to assess Democrats' appetite for reimagining institutions as the pandemic and police brutality put a spotlight on racial inequities in areas including health care, housing and the justice system. Generally, Democrats with more progressive platforms fare better in primaries in blue areas such as New York City than they do in red-leaning states like Kentucky. The Kentucky and New York elections will be the latest to go forward after delays due to the coronavirus. Results will likely come in slowly as the states process more mail-in ballots during the outbreak.
The race to take on McConnell
The killing of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman shot dead by Louisville police officers in March, reshaped the election between Booker and McGrath. Taylor's death is among the killings that sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and a push to ban "no-knock" search warrants. (One of the three officers involved in the shooting has been fired.) Booker, who has spoken at anti-racism rallies as he gains traction in the election, has criticized McGrath for not appearing at demonstrations. Asked at a debate earlier this month why she did not attend protests, McGrath in part cited the ongoing pandemic. Booker, who at 35 is the youngest Black state lawmaker in Kentucky, represents a Louisville-area district. McGrath, 45, previously challenged Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr in 2018, losing by about 3 percentage points. At a policy level, the two Democratic Senate contenders represent differing visions for the party. For instance, Booker backs a "Medicare for All" single-payer health-care proposal and the Green New Deal, a sprawling climate change and jobs proposal. McGrath has called for bipartisan plans to fix the Affordable Care Act and more modest investments in clean energy. McGrath took a commanding position in the race early as she enjoyed more fundraising success than any other Senate candidate this election cycle. She has raised more than $40 million in all, and had $19.3 million in the bank as of June 3. Booker raised just under $800,000 by the same date and had about $285,000 on hand. But he has raised roughly $3 million this month as his profile increased, according to reports. The Louisville Courier-Journal reported that a Civiqs poll commissioned by progressive think tank Data for Progress found Booker leading McGrath by a 44% to 36% margin. For either candidate, unseating the Senate majority leader will prove a tougher task than winning the primary. McConnell's campaign has raised nearly $33 million and had more than $15 million in the bank as of June 3. He last won election in 2014 by more than 15 percentage points. The Civiqs surveyed showed McConnell, 78, leading Booker and McGrath by 14 and 20 percentage points, respectively.
New York House races in focus


cnbc--2020-06-23--White House considers shakeup at CDC over botched Covid-19 response, report says

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) headquarters in Atlanta , Georgia .
The White House is considering a massive overhaul at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the Trump administration tries to pin the blame on the agency for the bungled U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic , according to a report .
The CDC would undergo a performance review , multiple senior administration officials told Politico .
The audit would likely highlight several failures , such as the inability to deploy working tests in the early months of the pandemic .
White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission or adding political appointees , Politico said .
The goal , one official said , would be to make the agency more `` nimble '' and `` responsive , '' according to Politico .
Over the last few months , President Donald Trump has been trying to deflect criticism of his response to the outbreak and could be looking for an entity beyond China to blame .
Since the outbreak began , Trump 's relationship with the CDC has been contentious .
He initially dismissed alarms from agency officials .
In May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC on how to safely reopen businesses .
Top politicians including former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee , have been critical of Trump 's handling of the crisis .
The White House declined to comment on the Politico report , and the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately return CNBC requests for comment .
The CDC has long been regarded as a top-tier health agency around the world , but the pandemic has intensified scrutiny of its operations .
The outbreak has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 9.1 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 472,541 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The U.S. has had at least 2.3 million cases and 120,402 deaths , according to the latest tallies .
Read the full report from Politico here .

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
The White House is considering a massive overhaul at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the Trump administration tries to pin the blame on the agency for the bungled U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report.
The CDC would undergo a performance review, multiple senior administration officials told Politico. The audit would likely highlight several failures, such as the inability to deploy working tests in the early months of the pandemic.
White House staffers have discussed narrowing the CDC's mission or adding political appointees, Politico said.
The goal, one official said, would be to make the agency more "nimble" and "responsive," according to Politico.
Over the last few months, President Donald Trump has been trying to deflect criticism of his response to the outbreak and could be looking for an entity beyond China to blame.
Since the outbreak began, Trump's relationship with the CDC has been contentious. He initially dismissed alarms from agency officials.


cnbc--2020-06-23--Sen. Bob Menendez calls for State Department inspector general to investigate federal media CEO Mich

Sen. Bob Menendez calls for State Department inspector general to investigate federal media CEO Michael Pack

U.S .
Senator Bob Menendez , a Democrat from New Jersey , speaks to members of the media as he walks through the Senate Subway on Capitol Hill in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Tuesday , May 19 , 2020 .
Sen. Bob Menendez is ratcheting up the pressure on newly installed U.S. Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack to explain his recent purge of executives and its board members .
In a letter on Tuesday , Menendez , the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , called on the State Department 's acting inspector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether Pack 's termination of many longtime agency officials broke a rule that was established by the Broadcasting Board of Governors .
The board had previously enacted a new regulation , which , through what they call a `` firewall , '' disallows anyone from outside the independent news organizations under USAGM to make such changes .
Menendez notes that Pack , as the new chief executive , needed to give some form of a justification to fire the executives and board leadership .
`` While the rule states that the 'firewall does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from undertaking the same type of direction and oversight that those in equivalent leadership positions in an organization overseeing other reputable news organizations may provide , in a manner consistent with the highest standards of professional journalism , ' that exception does not appear to apply to Mr .
Pack 's actions on June 17 , as he presented no cause for firing the network leaders , dissolving their boards , and reassigning the standards editors , '' Menendez says .
Pack was confirmed by the Senate earlier this month .
President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been critical of Voice of America , one of the USAGM media entities .
Since Pack pushed out the heads of media organizations under the USAGM , including leaders of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty , Radio Free Asia , the Office of Cuba Broadcasting , and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks , along with numerous executive board members , Democrats and some Republicans have started pushing back .
Along with Menendez , Reps. Eliot Engel and Nita Lowey , chairs of the House Appropriations and Foreign Affairs committees , have called on him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to terminate and then replace various career officials at the agency .
Sen. Marco Rubio recently said in a statement to CNBC that he was `` deeply concerned about the recent actions by CEO Michael Pack , '' and that he will be closely monitoring the situation .
Menendez has repeatedly clashed with Pack both before and after he was confirmed .
After Pack made his changes at the agency , the New Jersey lawmaker criticized the moves .
While Menendez 's committee was reviewing Pack 's nomination , he warned the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to former chief strategist Steve Bannon , may have been involved with unlawful activity between his production company , Manifold Productions , and his non-profit known as the Public Media Lab .
The USAGM CEO was a conservative filmmaker before he was confirmed in June to lead the agency .
Pack 's nonprofit has been under investigation by the Washington , D.C. , attorney general for potential self-dealing .
Menendez 's move to call on the State Department 's inspector general to investigate Pack comes as both he and Engel are investigating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Linick , who was fired in May .
Prior to his removal , Linick was reportedly investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife 's alleged use of government use of government resources .

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, speaks to members of the media as he walks through the Senate Subway on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, May 19, 2020.
Sen. Bob Menendez is ratcheting up the pressure on newly installed U.S. Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack to explain his recent purge of executives and its board members.
In a letter on Tuesday, Menendez, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on the State Department's acting inspector general, Stephen Akard, to investigate whether Pack's termination of many longtime agency officials broke a rule that was established by the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
The board had previously enacted a new regulation, which, through what they call a "firewall," prohibits anyone from outside the independent news organizations under USAGM from making such changes. Menendez notes that Pack, as the new chief executive, needed to give some form of a justification to fire the executives and board leadership.
"While the rule states that the 'firewall does not prevent a USAGM CEO or Board from undertaking the same type of direction and oversight that those in equivalent leadership positions in an organization overseeing other reputable news organizations may provide, in a manner consistent with the highest standards of professional journalism,' that exception does not appear to apply to Mr. Pack's actions on June 17, as he presented no cause for firing the network leaders, dissolving their boards, and reassigning the standards editors," Menendez says.
Pack was confirmed by the Senate earlier this month. President Donald Trump, who nominated Pack, has been critical of Voice of America, one of the USAGM media entities.
Since Pack pushed out the heads of media organizations under the USAGM, including leaders of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, along with numerous executive board members, Democrats and some Republicans have started pushing back.
Along with Menendez, Reps. Eliot Engel and Nita Lowey, both D-N.Y., chairs of the House Appropriations and Foreign Affairs committees, have called on Pack to provide documents explaining why he chose to terminate and then replace various career officials at the agency. Sen. Marco Rubio recently said in a statement to CNBC that he was "deeply concerned about the recent actions by CEO Michael Pack" and that he will be closely monitoring the situation.
Menendez has repeatedly clashed with Pack both before and after he was confirmed.
After Pack made his changes at the agency, the New Jersey lawmaker criticized the moves. While Menendez's committee was reviewing Pack's nomination, he warned the White House that Pack, who has ties to former chief strategist Steve Bannon, may have been involved with unlawful activity between his production company, Manifold Productions, and his nonprofit known as the Public Media Lab. The USAGM CEO was a conservative filmmaker before he was confirmed in June to lead the agency.
Pack's nonprofit has been under investigation by the Washington, D.C., attorney general for potential self-dealing.
Menendez's move to call on the State Department's inspector general to investigate Pack comes as both he and Engel are investigating the firing in May of the department IG, Steve Linick.
Prior to his removal, Linick was reportedly investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife's alleged use of government resources.


cnbc--2020-06-23--BET founder Robert Johnson urges Black Lives Matter to form its own independent political party

Robert Johnson , founder of Black Entertainment Television , told CNBC on Tuesday that Black Americans should form their own political party to concentrate their electoral influence .
`` I 've been convinced for a long time that 40 millions African Americans who tend to vote as a bloc in one of the two parties limit their leverage in getting action form both parties , '' the 74-year-old Johnson said on `` Squawk on the Street . ''
Johnson , who has previously called on the U.S. government to provide reparations for slavery , said the independent political party would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interests '' of Black Americans .
Last week , Johnson sent a letter to `` Black Lives Matter Leaders and Supporters , '' suggesting that `` Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) consider establishing a formal independent political party .
The party could be founded on the principle articulated by the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971 . ''
He described the Congressional Black Caucus ' founding principle as Blacks having `` no permanent friends , no permanent enemies ... just permanent interests . '
'' Johnson 's idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and police brutality continue in cities across the U.S. following the killing last month of George Floyd , an unarmed Black man , by a White Minneapolis police officer , who has since been fired .
`` Had African American interests been embraced by one or two of the dominant parties , we would n't have the tremendous social , economic , racial issues that we have now , '' Johnson said .
He said forming a new party would send a message that Democrats should not take the African American vote for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues important to Black people .
Johnson , founder and chairman of investment firm The RLJ Cos. , said he does not believe the new party would be formed and field candidates in time for the November election , but he hopes conversations around its establishment would begin this year .
Black Americans already possess clear political influence , Johnson said , citing their lower turnout in the 2016 presidential election compared with elections in 2008 and 2012 as one reason why Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump .
Still , Clinton received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump received 8 % , according to CNN exit polls .
Johnson also referred to the overwhelming support from Black voters for Joe Biden in his victory in the South Carolina 's Democratic primary , which reignited his stumbling campaign and help make him the presumptive nominee .
But Biden 's suggestion in May that `` you ai n't Black '' if you vote for Trump instead of him demonstrates that Black voters are too often taken for granted , Johnson said .
Biden later apologized for the remark , saying `` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` That someone could be so presumptuousness , that you have to vote for a Democrat or otherwise you 're not identified as Black , that is the principal reason why we need a Black party , independent , to change that kind of behavior , '' said Johnson , who became the first Black billionaire in the U.S. when he sold BET to Viacom in 2001 .
He 's no longer on the Forbes billionaires list .
Johnson has been a large Democratic donor over the years but also has spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. economy .
He said in 2016 that he turned down a position in Trump 's Cabinet , not over politics but because he said he could not deal with government red tape .
On Tuesday , Johnson also commented on his call earlier this month on CNBC for $ 14 trillion of reparations for slavery .
He said on `` Squawk on the Street '' that the question Americans should be asking about reparations is : `` Why should n't we do this ? ''
`` As a business person , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from reparations is a payback from the wealth that came from slavery , '' Johnson said , contending that the wealth created by slave labor has multiplied over generations without the people who generated it ever receiving compensation .
`` Reparations is simply a way of transferring back to African Americans what was stolen from them from slavery through Jim Crow , segregation and racism . ''
Here 's a copy of the letter Johnson sent to Black Lives Matter on June 17 : TO : Black Lives Matter Leaders and Supporters FROM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Entertainment Television ( BET ) and The RLJ Companies DATE : June 17 , 2020 RE : The Formation of An Independent Black Political Party I am writing to you with a suggestion that Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) consider establishing a formal independent political party .
The party could be founded on the principle articulated by the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971 .
That formative principle stated , `` Black people have no permanent friends , no permanent enemies.…just permanent interests . ''
The effort to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address Black issues , is not a new idea among Black people .
There are many people , both Black and white who believe that independent parties can make a significant contribution to the current political system as to how this nation of 300 million diverse citizens can be governed in the best interest of all Americans .
Many pundits will try to convince you that it is impossible for independent parties to exist in this country .
They will argue that the American people seem to be satisfied with just two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe a politically astute and structured Black independent party , committed and engaged in the electoral process , can prove them wrong .
I am confident in this assertion because BLM has , in a manner not seen since the civil rights movement , effectively mobilized and passionately motivated people , Black and white , to join in and support your righteous fight against racial and economic injustice , particularly on the matter of unjustified police killing of Black people .
Your cause has triggered a determined reaction calling for change , heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world .
Black Lives Matter , by establishing an independent political party can become a force dedicated to advancing the permanent interests of 40 million Black Americans in this country .
BLM is endowed with the hope and confidence of youth , fortified with the knowledge of what is wrong and what must be made right , and has the courage to challenge power , no matter what the risk .
The purpose of this memo is to encourage you to harness these forces and think about what you have ignited and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political process , cause America to truly live up to its belief in American exceptionalism and its promise of the American Dream for all .

Robert Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, told CNBC on Tuesday that Black Americans should form their own political party to concentrate their electoral influence.
"I've been convinced for a long time that 40 millions African Americans who tend to vote as a bloc in one of the two parties limit their leverage in getting action form both parties," the 74-year-old Johnson said on "Squawk on the Street."
Johnson, who has previously called on the U.S. government to provide reparations for slavery, said the independent political party would stand for things "principally focused on the interests" of Black Americans.
Last week, Johnson sent a letter to "Black Lives Matter Leaders and Supporters," suggesting that "Black Lives Matter (BLM) consider establishing a formal independent political party. The party could be founded on the principle articulated by the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971." He described the Congressional Black Caucus' founding principle as Blacks having "no permanent friends, no permanent enemies ... just permanent interests.'"
Johnson's idea comes as waves of protests against racism and police brutality continue in cities across the U.S. following the killing last month of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by a White Minneapolis police officer, who has since been fired.
"Had African American interests been embraced by one or two of the dominant parties, we wouldn't have the tremendous social, economic, racial issues that we have now," Johnson said. He said forming a new party would send a message that Democrats should not take the African American vote for granted and that Republicans should not ignore issues important to Black people.
Johnson, founder and chairman of investment firm The RLJ Cos., said he does not believe the new party would be formed and field candidates in time for the November election, but he hopes conversations around its establishment would begin this year.
Black Americans already possess clear political influence, Johnson said, citing their lower turnout in the 2016 presidential election compared with elections in 2008 and 2012 as one reason why Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump. Still, Clinton received 89% of the Black vote while Trump received 8%, according to CNN exit polls.
Johnson also referred to the overwhelming support from Black voters for Joe Biden in his victory in the South Carolina's Democratic primary, which reignited his stumbling campaign and help make him the presumptive nominee.
But Biden's suggestion in May that "you ain't Black" if you vote for Trump instead of him demonstrates that Black voters are too often taken for granted, Johnson said. Biden later apologized for the remark, saying "I shouldn't have been so cavalier."
"That someone could be so presumptuousness, that you have to vote for a Democrat or otherwise you're not identified as Black, that is the principal reason why we need a Black party, independent, to change that kind of behavior," said Johnson, who became the first Black billionaire in the U.S. when he sold BET to Viacom in 2001. He's no longer on the Forbes billionaires list.
Johnson has been a large Democratic donor over the years but also has spoken positively about Trump's work on the U.S. economy. He said in 2016 that he turned down a position in Trump's Cabinet, not over politics but because he said he could not deal with government red tape.
On Tuesday, Johnson also commented on his call earlier this month on CNBC for $14 trillion of reparations for slavery. He said on "Squawk on the Street" that the question Americans should be asking about reparations is: "Why shouldn't we do this?"
"As a business person, I understand how wealth flows. The wealth from reparations is a payback from the wealth that came from slavery," Johnson said, contending that the wealth created by slave labor has multiplied over generations without the people who generated it ever receiving compensation. "Reparations is simply a way of transferring back to African Americans what was stolen from them from slavery through Jim Crow, segregation and racism."
Here's a copy of the letter Johnson sent to Black Lives Matter on June 17:
TO: Black Lives Matter Leaders and Supporters
FROM: Bob Johnson, Founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and The RLJ Companies
DATE: June 17, 2020
RE: The Formation of An Independent Black Political Party
I am writing to you with a suggestion that Black Lives Matter (BLM) consider establishing a formal independent political party. The party could be founded on the principle articulated by the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971. That formative principle stated, "Black people have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies.…just permanent interests." The effort to create an independent Black party, created specifically to address Black issues, is not a new idea among Black people. There are many people, both Black and white who believe that independent parties can make a significant contribution to the current political system as to how this nation of 300 million diverse citizens can be governed in the best interest of all Americans. Many pundits will try to convince you that it is impossible for independent parties to exist in this country. They will argue that the American people seem to be satisfied with just two choices. To the contrary, I believe a politically astute and structured Black independent party, committed and engaged in the electoral process, can prove them wrong.
I am confident in this assertion because BLM has, in a manner not seen since the civil rights movement, effectively mobilized and passionately motivated people, Black and white, to join in and support your righteous fight against racial and economic injustice, particularly on the matter of unjustified police killing of Black people. Your cause has triggered a determined reaction calling for change, heard not only in America, but around the world.
Black Lives Matter, by establishing an independent political party can become a force dedicated to advancing the permanent interests of 40 million Black Americans in this country. BLM is endowed with the hope and confidence of youth, fortified with the knowledge of what is wrong and what must be made right, and has the courage to challenge power, no matter what the risk. The purpose of this memo is to encourage you to harness these forces and think about what you have ignited and how it can and should, through the political process, cause America to truly live up to its belief in American exceptionalism and its promise of the American Dream for all.


cnbc--2020-06-23--GOP senator says federal government must provide schools extra funding to reopen this fall

Sen. Lamar Alexander told CNBC on Tuesday the federal government should provide additional funding to schools and colleges to help them reopen for in-person class this fall .
`` The surest step back to normalcy in our country is when 70-75 million college and high school and elementary school students go back to school , '' the Tennessee Republican said on `` Squawk Box . ''
`` If we need more money for that , I 'm for that . ''
Alexander 's comments come as lawmakers debate the need for additional relief packages to offset the impact of Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed in March provided $ 13.5 billion in grants for K-12 schools in an Education Stabilization Fund .
Funding also was made available to colleges and universities .
Schools need funding to help cover services such as expanding busing , as well as personal protective equipment and coronavirus testing , Alexander said .
`` We should spend that money for schools and for colleges . ''
Education administrators at all levels are developing plans for fall classes , after the coronavirus pandemic prompted many schools to switch to remote instruction beginning in mid-March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning for in-person classes this fall , according to the Chronicle of Higher Education , which is tracking the decisions of more than 1,000 schools .
Colleges are taking various approaches , such as moving up the semester 's start date in order to finish classes before Thanksgiving break , citing concerns of a second wave of Covid-19 cases .
Many universities also say they are reducing class sizes to allow for social distancing and instituting strict policies on face masks .
Adaptations are taking place at the primary and secondary education levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District , for example , has proposed turning cafeterias and auditoriums into classrooms while instituting daily screenings for Covid-19 symptoms .
At a time of dramatic upheaval in how they teach students , many districts also are facing cuts in state funding as states grapple with a steep decline in tax revenue brought about by the pandemic .
There has been a back-and-forth in Washington about whether to provide additional funding to states .
An already-passed Democratic relief bill in the House does so , but the broader piece of legislation has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Sen. Lamar Alexander told CNBC on Tuesday the federal government should provide additional funding to schools and colleges to help them reopen for in-person class this fall.
"The surest step back to normalcy in our country is when 70-75 million college and high school and elementary school students go back to school," the Tennessee Republican said on "Squawk Box." "If we need more money for that, I'm for that."
Alexander's comments come as lawmakers debate the need for additional relief packages to offset the impact of Covid-19. The $2.2 trillion CARES Act passed in March provided $13.5 billion in grants for K-12 schools in an Education Stabilization Fund. Funding also was made available to colleges and universities.
Schools need funding to help cover services such as expanding busing, as well as personal protective equipment and coronavirus testing, Alexander said. "We should spend that money for schools and for colleges."
Education administrators at all levels are developing plans for fall classes, after the coronavirus pandemic prompted many schools to switch to remote instruction beginning in mid-March.
Nearly 65% of colleges are planning for in-person classes this fall, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, which is tracking the decisions of more than 1,000 schools.
Colleges are taking various approaches, such as moving up the semester's start date in order to finish classes before Thanksgiving break, citing concerns of a second wave of Covid-19 cases. Many universities also say they are reducing class sizes to allow for social distancing and instituting strict policies on face masks.
Adaptations are taking place at the primary and secondary education levels, too. Detroit Public Schools Community District, for example, has proposed turning cafeterias and auditoriums into classrooms while instituting daily screenings for Covid-19 symptoms.
At a time of dramatic upheaval in how they teach students, many districts also are facing cuts in state funding as states grapple with a steep decline in tax revenue brought about by the pandemic. There has been a back-and-forth in Washington about whether to provide additional funding to states. An already-passed Democratic relief bill in the House does so, but the broader piece of legislation has been a nonstarter for the Republican-controlled Senate.


cnbc--2020-06-23--Trump family asks court to block tell-all book by president's niece Mary

President Trump has said that Mary Trump , 55 , signed a nondisclosure agreement when she settled a court fight related to the estate .
That is the same court that handled the estate of the president 's late real estate developer father , Fred Trump Sr. Mary is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr. , the president 's late older brother .
The New York Times , citing a person familiar with the matter , first reported Tuesday afternoon that Trump 's brother , Robert Trump , sought a restraining order against Mary Trump and the publisher Simon & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York .
Mary 's book , `` Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man , '' is scheduled to be published on July 28 .
Despite no physical copies being available for sale yet , the book is No .
5 on the Amazon.com bestseller list as a result of pre-publication sales .
The Daily Beast earlier reported the existence of the nondisclosure agreement , and the expectation that Mary Trump would out herself in the book as having been the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series about President Trump 's finances .
The Times stories relied on tax returns by the president 's father , Fred Trump Sr. , and other private family financial records .
Simon & Schuster on its website says Mary Trump 's book is a `` revelatory , authoritative portrait of Donald J. Trump and the toxic family that made him . ''
Robert Trump told The Times in a statement Tuesday that he was `` deeply disappointed '' in his niece 's decision .
`` Her attempt to sensationalize and mischaracterize our family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her own financial gain is both a travesty and injustice to the memory of my late brother , Fred , and our beloved parents , '' Robert Trump said .
Mary Trump 's lawyer , Theodore Boutrous , in a statement provided to CNBC , said , `` President Trump and his siblings seek to suppress a book that will discuss matters of utmost public importance . ''
`` They are pursuing this unlawful prior restraint because they do not want the public to know the truth .
The courts will not tolerate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Boutrous said .
Simon & Schuster in a statement said , `` As the plaintiff and his attorney well know , the courts take a dim view of prior restraint , and this attempt to block publication will meet the same fate as those that have gone before . ''
`` In Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man , Mary Trump has written a compelling personal story of worldwide significance , and we look forward to helping her tell her story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several days ago lost a court battle to try to stop publication of a memoir by his former national security advisor John Bolton .
Simon & Schuster is also the publisher of Bolton 's book , entitled , `` The Room Where it Happened . ''
That book , which went on sale this week , is No .
1 on the Amazon bestseller list .

President Trump has said that Mary Trump, 55, signed a nondisclosure agreement when she settled a court fight related to the estate.
That is the same court that handled the estate of the president's late real estate developer father, Fred Trump Sr. Mary is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr., the president's late older brother.
The New York Times, citing a person familiar with the matter, first reported Tuesday afternoon that Trump's brother, Robert Trump, sought a restraining order against Mary Trump and the publisher Simon & Schuster in Queens County Surrogate's Court in New York.
Mary's book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man," is scheduled to be published on July 28. Despite no physical copies being available for sale yet, the book is No. 5 on the Amazon.com bestseller list as a result of pre-publication sales.
The Daily Beast earlier reported the existence of the nondisclosure agreement, and the expectation that Mary Trump would out herself in the book as having been the primary source for the Times' Pulitzer Prize-winning series about President Trump's finances.
The Times stories relied on tax returns by the president's father, Fred Trump Sr., and other private family financial records.
Simon & Schuster on its website says Mary Trump's book is a "revelatory, authoritative portrait of Donald J. Trump and the toxic family that made him."
Robert Trump told The Times in a statement Tuesday that he was "deeply disappointed" in his niece's decision.
"Her attempt to sensationalize and mischaracterize our family relationship after all of these years for her own financial gain is both a travesty and injustice to the memory of my late brother, Fred, and our beloved parents," Robert Trump said.
Mary Trump's lawyer, Theodore Boutrous, in a statement provided to CNBC, said, "President Trump and his siblings seek to suppress a book that will discuss matters of utmost public importance."
"They are pursuing this unlawful prior restraint because they do not want the public to know the truth. The courts will not tolerate this brazen violation of the First Amendment," Boutrous said.
Simon & Schuster in a statement said, "As the plaintiff and his attorney well know, the courts take a dim view of prior restraint, and this attempt to block publication will meet the same fate as those that have gone before."
"In Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man, Mary Trump has written a compelling personal story of worldwide significance, and we look forward to helping her tell her story," the publisher said.
Trump several days ago lost a court battle to try to stop publication of a memoir by his former national security advisor John Bolton.
Simon & Schuster is also the publisher of Bolton's book, entitled, "The Room Where it Happened."
That book, which went on sale this week, is No. 1 on the Amazon bestseller list.


cnbc--2020-06-23--Ex-Knight Capital CEO resigns from police board over Twitter posts on Muslim profiling, Pelosi and s

Ex-Knight Capital CEO resigns from police board over Twitter posts on Muslim profiling, Pelosi and sexual harassment

Thomas Joyce , former CEO of high-speed trading firm Knight Capital Group , resigned from the police commission of his Connecticut hometown after a complaint to town leaders about Twitter posts that included calling for law-enforcement `` profiling '' of Muslims .
Joyce , who now heads the life sciences firm Nanobeak Biotech , also had written in tweets , which were cited by the complaint , about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in sexist terms , and said that Hollywood figures who dressed in black during an awards event to protest sexual harassment were themselves `` dressed like sex objects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A young Muslim man trying to kill people .
Where have I heard that before ? ''
Joyce wrote in a September 2016 tweet .
`` Time for profiling , not for PC . ''
PC is an acronym for political correctness .
In August 2018 , four years after the Republican was first appointed to the Darien Police Commission , Joyce in a Twitter post seemed to criticize New York City police for arresting a man who had groped a woman .
`` A guy in NYC was arrested and made to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman 's behind , '' he wrote in that tweet .
`` Arrested !
!
Simply ridiculous .
The system has gone haywire , '' he wrote in the tweet , which like the others is now unavailable online because his Twitter account has been deactivated .
Joyce 's resignation from Darien 's police oversight board last Thursday came weeks after the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd , an unarmed Black man , by Minneapolis police sparked protests nationwide and calls for reform of abusive law-enforcement practices .
Joyce , who served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equities earlier in his career , resigned as CEO of Knight Capital in July 2013 , shortly after the firm was taken over by another high-speed trading company , Getco .
That takeover came nearly a year after a software glitch caused Knight to buy unwanted positions in nearly 150 stocks , leading to a whopping $ 440 million loss .
In the past year , Joyce became chairman and then interim CEO of Nanobeak Biotech , which specializes in mobile noninvasive disease detection .
Nanobeak currently has a reimbursable Space Act Agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the federal space agency NASA , according to government records .
The value of that agreement was not immediately available , a NASA spokesman for the agency 's Ames Research Center told CNBC .
In April , Nanobeak announced that it had terminated its founder and then-chief science officer and board member Jeremy Barbera for undisclosed reasons .
A press release about the move noted that Joyce , among his roles at the biotech firm , also is `` currently on the Board of Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending fund , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affiliate . ''
Last week , a Darien resident named Reed Barthold wrote to the town Board of Selectmen about Joyce .
Barthold earlier in June wrote an opinion article in a local newspaper titled , `` Darien has the opportunity to right previous wrongs and take action , '' which criticized bigotry and racism .
`` Shrouded in wealth and opportunity , the town of Darien has continuously failed to fulfill basic ideals in human equality despite our resources , '' Barthold wrote in his op-ed .
Barthold , in his letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Joyce 's resignation , wrote he and `` many other residents '' believed Joyce had made objectionable comments `` repeatedly , and finds himself an actor in the degradation of this town and country 's very ideals . ''
`` Calling for profiling , sexualizing & objectifying women , and defending assault are unbecoming of any public official , but especially a police commissioner whose function it is to set and enforce the proper standard for socially responsible police behavior , consistent with public safety , '' Barthold wrote in the letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The letter included images of a number of Joyce 's Twitter posts .

Thomas Joyce, former CEO of high-speed trading firm Knight Capital Group, resigned from the police commission of his Connecticut hometown after a complaint to town leaders about Twitter posts that included calling for law-enforcement "profiling" of Muslims.
Joyce, who now heads the life sciences firm Nanobeak Biotech, also had written in tweets, which were cited by the complaint, about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in sexist terms, and said that Hollywood figures who dressed in black during an awards event to protest sexual harassment were themselves "dressed like sex objects."
"Gee, shocking ... A young Muslim man trying to kill people. Where have I heard that before?" Joyce wrote in a September 2016 tweet. "Time for profiling, not for PC."
PC is an acronym for political correctness.
In August 2018, four years after the Republican was first appointed to the Darien Police Commission, Joyce in a Twitter post seemed to criticize New York City police for arresting a man who had groped a woman.
"A guy in NYC was arrested and made to take the perp walk for grabbing a woman's behind," he wrote in that tweet.
"Arrested!! Simply ridiculous. The system has gone haywire," he wrote in the tweet, which like the others is now unavailable online because his Twitter account has been deactivated.
Joyce's resignation from Darien's police oversight board last Thursday came weeks after the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by Minneapolis police sparked protests nationwide and calls for reform of abusive law-enforcement practices.
Joyce, who served as Merrill Lynch's head of U.S. equities earlier in his career, resigned as CEO of Knight Capital in July 2013, shortly after the firm was taken over by another high-speed trading company, Getco.
That takeover came nearly a year after a software glitch caused Knight to buy unwanted positions in nearly 150 stocks, leading to a whopping $440 million loss.
In the past year, Joyce became chairman and then interim CEO of Nanobeak Biotech, which specializes in mobile noninvasive disease detection.
Nanobeak currently has a reimbursable Space Act Agreement for the development of gas sensor technology with the federal space agency NASA, according to government records. The value of that agreement was not immediately available, a NASA spokesman for the agency's Ames Research Center told CNBC.
In April, Nanobeak announced that it had terminated its founder and then-chief science officer and board member Jeremy Barbera for undisclosed reasons.
A press release about the move noted that Joyce, among his roles at the biotech firm, also is "currently on the Board of Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending fund, a business development company managed by a Blackstone affiliate."
Last week, a Darien resident named Reed Barthold wrote to the town Board of Selectmen about Joyce. Barthold earlier in June wrote an opinion article in a local newspaper titled, "Darien has the opportunity to right previous wrongs and take action," which criticized bigotry and racism.
"Shrouded in wealth and opportunity, the town of Darien has continuously failed to fulfill basic ideals in human equality despite our resources," Barthold wrote in his op-ed.
Barthold, in his letter to the Board of Selectmen that called for Joyce's resignation, wrote he and "many other residents" believed Joyce had made objectionable comments "repeatedly, and finds himself an actor in the degradation of this town and country's very ideals."
"Calling for profiling, sexualizing & objectifying women, and defending assault are unbecoming of any public official, but especially a police commissioner whose function it is to set and enforce the proper standard for socially responsible police behavior, consistent with public safety," Barthold wrote in the letter, which he shared with CNBC.
The letter included images of a number of Joyce's Twitter posts.


cnbc--2020-06-23--White House to host Polish president in first foreign delegation visit since coronavirus pandemic

President Donald Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington , DC , on September 18 , 2018 .
WASHINGTON — The White House will host Poland 's President Andrzej Duda this week in what will be the first visit by a foreign leader since the start of the coronavirus pandemic .
Duda 's Wednesday meeting with President Donald Trump , which was unexpectedly announced last week , comes four days ahead of Poland 's presidential election on June 28 .
Senior administration officials told reporters on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Polish delegations will be tested for the coronavirus ahead of the White House discussions .
`` The White House is continuing to implement very high health and safety procedures for all visitors .
All members of both the Polish and US delegation are going to be tested for their protection , as well as for the protection of both presidents Trump and Duda , '' said one administration official , who spoke on the condition of anonymity .
The person would not elaborate when asked by CNBC if either president or their aides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
White House officials touted Warsaw 's financial commitments to NATO as well as the approximately $ 16 billion in foreign military sales , which includes the U.S. ' most expensive weapons system , the F-35 Lightning II fighter .

President Donald Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 18, 2018.
WASHINGTON — The White House will host Poland's President Andrzej Duda this week in what will be the first visit by a foreign leader since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Duda's Wednesday meeting with President Donald Trump, which was unexpectedly announced last week, comes four days ahead of Poland's presidential election on June 28.
Senior administration officials told reporters on a Tuesday call that both U.S. and Polish delegations will be tested for the coronavirus ahead of the White House discussions.
"The White House is continuing to implement very high health and safety procedures for all visitors. All members of both the Polish and US delegation are going to be tested for their protection, as well as for the protection of both presidents Trump and Duda," said one administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The person would not elaborate when asked by CNBC if either president or their aides would be wearing masks during the meetings.
White House officials touted Warsaw's financial commitments to NATO as well as the approximately $16 billion in foreign military sales, which includes the U.S.' most expensive weapons system, the F-35 Lightning II fighter.