cnbc--2020-09-21--Trump administration sanctions Iranian Defense Ministry, Venezuela's Maduro for aiding Iran's weapon

Trump administration sanctions Iranian Defense Ministry, Venezuela's Maduro for aiding Iran's weapons programs

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Monday announced a slew of fresh sanctions and additional measures in support of Washington 's maximum pressure campaign against Iran .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , flanked by Defense Secretary Mark Esper , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross , said the administration would sanction Iran 's Ministry of Defense and Venezuela 's Nicolas Maduro for his role in aiding Tehran 's weapons programs .
`` No matter who you are , if you violate the U.N. arms embargo on Iran , you risk sanctions , '' Pompeo said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that should be heard worldwide , '' he added .
Mnuchin and Ross announced sanctions on six individuals and three entities associated with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and three individuals and four entities associated with Iran 's liquid propellant ballistic missile organization , the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group .
`` The efforts today are to continue to reduce that risk that they [ the Iranian regime ] will have the wealth and resources to foment terror throughout the region and indeed throughout the world , '' Pompeo said .
Esper said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to respond to future Iranian aggression '' and called on Tehran to `` act like a normal country . ''
`` We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies and partners to counter Iran 's destabilizing behavior .
In doing so , we will protect our people and our interests and maintain the security of like-minded nations across the region , '' Esper added .
On Saturday , the United States unilaterally reimposed U.N. sanctions on Tehran through a snapback process , which other U.N. Security Council members have previously said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ execute .
`` If U.N. member states fail to fulfill their obligations to implement these sanctions , the United States is prepared to use our domestic authorities to impose consequences for those failures and ensure that Iran does not reap the benefits of U.N.-prohibited activity , '' Pompeo said in a Saturday evening statement .
`` Our maximum pressure campaign on the Iranian regime will continue until Iran reaches a comprehensive agreement with us to rein in its proliferation threats and stops spreading chaos , violence , and bloodshed , '' Pompeo said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration `` will announce a range of additional measures to strengthen the implementation of U.N. sanctions and hold violators accountable . ''
The U.S. special envoy for Venezuela and Iran , Elliott Abrams , told reporters last week that it `` remains to be seen '' whether U.N. member states will enforce the reimposed sanctions .
`` We will have some announcements over the weekend and more announcements on Monday , and then subsequent days next week as to exactly how we are planning to enforce these returned U.N. sanctions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pompeo addressed the 15 member nations of the U.N. Security Council and reiterated that the Trump administration will continue its maximum pressure campaign in order to rein in Tehran 's missile and nuclear programs .
He asserted on Aug. 20 that the U.S. would enforce sweeping sanctions on Iran , even though the United Nations Security Council voted to not extend a crucial arms embargo on the rogue regime .
`` I have not had a single world leader or one of my counterparts tell me that they think it makes any sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to purchase and sell high-end weapons systems , which is what will happen on Oct. 18 of this year , absent the actions that we took at the United Nations yesterday , '' Pompeo told CNBC a day later .
`` We 're not going to let them have a nuclear weapon , we 're not going to let them have hundreds of billions of dollars in wealth from selling weapons systems .
Every leader around the world knows it 's a bad idea , '' he said , calling Iran `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terror . ''
In a televised speech on Sunday , Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that `` America is approaching a certain defeat in its sanctions move '' and that Washington has `` faced defeat and negative response from the international community . ''
`` We will never yield to U.S. pressure and Iran will give a crushing response to America 's bullying , '' he added .
The Trump administration has previously pushed members of the Security Council to extend a U.N.-imposed arms embargo on Iran .
The embargo is currently set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear deal brokered , in part , by the Obama administration .
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have mounted after Trump 's withdrawal from the landmark Iran nuclear agreement in 2018 , calling it `` the worst deal ever . ''
The 2015 accord lifted sanctions on Iran that crippled its economy and cut its oil exports roughly in half .
In exchange for sanctions relief , Iran accepted limits on its nuclear program until the terms expire in 2025 .
Trump has previously said that the U.S. wants to reach a broader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its nuclear and ballistic missile work and suppresses the regime 's role in regional proxy wars .
Tehran has refused to negotiate while U.S. sanctions remain in place .
Following Washington 's exit from the nuclear deal , other signatories of the pact — France , Germany , the U.K. , Russia and China — tried to keep the agreement alive .
Earlier this year , a U.S. strike that killed Iran 's top military commander triggered the regime to further scale back compliance with the international nuclear pact .
In January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit its uranium enrichment capacity or nuclear research .

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WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Monday announced a slew of fresh sanctions and additional measures in support of Washington's maximum pressure campaign against Iran. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, flanked by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, said the administration would sanction Iran's Ministry of Defense and Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro for his role in aiding Tehran's weapons programs. "No matter who you are, if you violate the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, you risk sanctions," Pompeo said. "Our actions today are a warning that should be heard worldwide," he added. Mnuchin and Ross announced sanctions on six individuals and three entities associated with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and three individuals and four entities associated with Iran's liquid propellant ballistic missile organization, the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group. "The efforts today are to continue to reduce that risk that they [the Iranian regime] will have the wealth and resources to foment terror throughout the region and indeed throughout the world," Pompeo said. Esper said the Department of Defense was "ready to respond to future Iranian aggression" and called on Tehran to "act like a normal country." "We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies and partners to counter Iran's destabilizing behavior. In doing so, we will protect our people and our interests and maintain the security of like-minded nations across the region," Esper added.
Hassan Rouhani, Iran's president, pauses whilst speaking during a news conference in Tehran, Iran, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. Bloomberg | Getty Images
On Saturday, the United States unilaterally reimposed U.N. sanctions on Tehran through a snapback process, which other U.N. Security Council members have previously said Washington does not have the authority to execute. "If U.N. member states fail to fulfill their obligations to implement these sanctions, the United States is prepared to use our domestic authorities to impose consequences for those failures and ensure that Iran does not reap the benefits of U.N.-prohibited activity," Pompeo said in a Saturday evening statement. "Our maximum pressure campaign on the Iranian regime will continue until Iran reaches a comprehensive agreement with us to rein in its proliferation threats and stops spreading chaos, violence, and bloodshed," Pompeo said, adding that in the coming days the Trump administration "will announce a range of additional measures to strengthen the implementation of U.N. sanctions and hold violators accountable." The U.S. special envoy for Venezuela and Iran, Elliott Abrams, told reporters last week that it "remains to be seen" whether U.N. member states will enforce the reimposed sanctions. "We will have some announcements over the weekend and more announcements on Monday, and then subsequent days next week as to exactly how we are planning to enforce these returned U.N. sanctions," Abrams said. Last month, Pompeo addressed the 15 member nations of the U.N. Security Council and reiterated that the Trump administration will continue its maximum pressure campaign in order to rein in Tehran's missile and nuclear programs. He asserted on Aug. 20 that the U.S. would enforce sweeping sanctions on Iran, even though the United Nations Security Council voted to not extend a crucial arms embargo on the rogue regime. "I have not had a single world leader or one of my counterparts tell me that they think it makes any sense at all for the Iranians to be able to purchase and sell high-end weapons systems, which is what will happen on Oct. 18 of this year, absent the actions that we took at the United Nations yesterday," Pompeo told CNBC a day later. "We're not going to let them have a nuclear weapon, we're not going to let them have hundreds of billions of dollars in wealth from selling weapons systems. Every leader around the world knows it's a bad idea," he said, calling Iran "the world's largest state sponsor of terror."
watch now
In a televised speech on Sunday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that "America is approaching a certain defeat in its sanctions move" and that Washington has "faced defeat and negative response from the international community." "We will never yield to U.S. pressure and Iran will give a crushing response to America's bullying," he added. The Trump administration has previously pushed members of the Security Council to extend a U.N.-imposed arms embargo on Iran. The embargo is currently set to end in October under the 2015 nuclear deal brokered, in part, by the Obama administration. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have mounted after Trump's withdrawal from the landmark Iran nuclear agreement in 2018, calling it "the worst deal ever." The 2015 accord lifted sanctions on Iran that crippled its economy and cut its oil exports roughly in half. In exchange for sanctions relief, Iran accepted limits on its nuclear program until the terms expire in 2025. Trump has previously said that the U.S. wants to reach a broader deal with Iran that puts stricter limits on its nuclear and ballistic missile work and suppresses the regime's role in regional proxy wars. Tehran has refused to negotiate while U.S. sanctions remain in place. Following Washington's exit from the nuclear deal, other signatories of the pact — France, Germany, the U.K., Russia and China — tried to keep the agreement alive. Earlier this year, a U.S. strike that killed Iran's top military commander triggered the regime to further scale back compliance with the international nuclear pact. In January, Iran said it would no longer limit its uranium enrichment capacity or nuclear research.


cnbc--2020-09-20--Murkowski becomes 2nd GOP senator to oppose a vote on Trump Supreme Court nominee before election

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said on Sunday that she will not support President Donald Trump 's nomination of a replacement to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before Election Day .
The announcement makes Murkowski the second Republican in the Senate , after Susan Collins of Maine , to announce her opposition to filling Ginsburg 's seat before Nov. 3 .
Murkowski 's position narrows the path for Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to place Ginsburg 's successor before voters decide whether Trump will hold the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , I have stated that I would not support taking up a potential Supreme Court vacancy this close to the election .
Sadly , what was then a hypothetical is now our reality , but my position has not changed , '' Murkowski said in a statement .
Read more : Ginsburg vacancy could tilt Supreme Court to Trump in potential Bush v. Gore repeat '' I did not support taking up a nomination eight months before the 2016 election to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Justice Scalia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now even closer to the 2020 election – less than two months out – and I believe the same standard must apply . ''
The GOP has a 53-seat majority in Congress 's upper chamber , meaning the party will not be able to confirm a justice if more than three senators defect , assuming every Democrat votes against the nominee .
Ginsburg died on Friday at 87-years-old after suffering from pancreatic cancer .
The liberal justice 's death ignited a partisan firestorm in Washington , with just over six weeks to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to nominate a new justice without delay , and McConnell has said that the person will receive a vote on the Senate floor .
In a letter to his fellow Republicans on Friday evening , McConnell told them to be cautious about publicly staking out a position on the vote .
`` Over the coming days , we are all going to come under tremendous pressure from the press to announce how we will handle the coming nomination , `` he wrote in the letter , which was obtained by NBC News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsure how to answer , or for those inclined to oppose giving a nominee a vote , I urge you all to keep your powder dry .
On Saturday , Collins said that she believed the winner of the November election should decide who replaces Ginsburg .
`` In fairness to the American people , who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one , the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd , '' Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection battle of her own , facing off against Democrat Sara Gideon for a chance at a fifth term , and has been dogged by her support for Trump 's second nominee , Justice Neil Gorsuch .
Murkowski voted against Kavanaugh and will not face a reelection vote until 2022 .
The attention is likely to turn now to Sen. Mitt Romney , the 2012 Republican nominee for president , who has split with Trump in the past and is considered a moderate .
Romney was the only Republican in the Senate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this year .
Romney , who was not in office when Kavanaugh was confirmed but said he would have voted in favor of his nomination , has not indicated whether he supports a new Trump nomination before Election Day .
The push-and-pull over a potential vote has been shaped by charges that McConnell 's eagerness to seat a new justice is hypocritical .
McConnell refused to even hold a hearing on former President Barack Obama 's nominee to fill the seat vacated by the late Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016 , citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the distinction between 2016 and 2020 is that the same party holds both the Senate and the White House this cycle .
In a year that already featured unusual amounts of partisan rancor , the fight over the Supreme Court has only turned up the heat .

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said on Sunday that she will not support President Donald Trump's nomination of a replacement to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before Election Day.
The announcement makes Murkowski the second Republican in the Senate, after Susan Collins of Maine, to announce her opposition to filling Ginsburg's seat before Nov. 3.
Murkowski's position narrows the path for Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to place Ginsburg's successor before voters decide whether Trump will hold the White House for a second term.
"For weeks, I have stated that I would not support taking up a potential Supreme Court vacancy this close to the election. Sadly, what was then a hypothetical is now our reality, but my position has not changed," Murkowski said in a statement.
Read more: Ginsburg vacancy could tilt Supreme Court to Trump in potential Bush v. Gore repeat
"I did not support taking up a nomination eight months before the 2016 election to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Justice Scalia," she added. "We are now even closer to the 2020 election – less than two months out – and I believe the same standard must apply."
The GOP has a 53-seat majority in Congress's upper chamber, meaning the party will not be able to confirm a justice if more than three senators defect, assuming every Democrat votes against the nominee.
Ginsburg died on Friday at 87-years-old after suffering from pancreatic cancer. The liberal justice's death ignited a partisan firestorm in Washington, with just over six weeks to go until Election Day.
Trump has pledged to nominate a new justice without delay, and McConnell has said that the person will receive a vote on the Senate floor. In a letter to his fellow Republicans on Friday evening, McConnell told them to be cautious about publicly staking out a position on the vote.
"Over the coming days, we are all going to come under tremendous pressure from the press to announce how we will handle the coming nomination, " he wrote in the letter, which was obtained by NBC News. "For those of you who are unsure how to answer, or for those inclined to oppose giving a nominee a vote, I urge you all to keep your powder dry.
On Saturday, Collins said that she believed the winner of the November election should decide who replaces Ginsburg.
"In fairness to the American people, who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one, the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd," Collins said.
Collins is mounting a tough reelection battle of her own, facing off against Democrat Sara Gideon for a chance at a fifth term, and has been dogged by her support for Trump's second nominee, Justice Neil Gorsuch. Murkowski voted against Kavanaugh and will not face a reelection vote until 2022.
The attention is likely to turn now to Sen. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee for president, who has split with Trump in the past and is considered a moderate. Romney was the only Republican in the Senate to vote in favor of Trump's impeachment earlier this year.
Romney, who was not in office when Kavanaugh was confirmed but said he would have voted in favor of his nomination, has not indicated whether he supports a new Trump nomination before Election Day.
The push-and-pull over a potential vote has been shaped by charges that McConnell's eagerness to seat a new justice is hypocritical.
McConnell refused to even hold a hearing on former President Barack Obama's nominee to fill the seat vacated by the late Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, citing the election calendar.
He has since said that the distinction between 2016 and 2020 is that the same party holds both the Senate and the White House this cycle.
In a year that already featured unusual amounts of partisan rancor, the fight over the Supreme Court has only turned up the heat.


cnbc--2020-09-20--Pelosi on possible second Trump impeachment in lame duck session — ‘We have our options’

US Speaker of the House , Nancy Pelosi , Democrat of California , holds her weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington , DC , on September 18 , 2020 .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday did not rule out impeaching President Donald Trump or Attorney General William Barr if the Senate tries to push through a Supreme Court nomination during a lame-duck session if Joe Biden wins the November election .
`` We have our options .
We have arrows in our quiver that I 'm not about to discuss right now , but the fact is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
This president has threatened to not even accept the results of the election , '' Pelosi said Sunday on ABC 's `` This Week with George Stephanopoulos . ''
`` So , right now , our main goal and I think Ruth Bader Ginsburg would want that to be , would be to protect the integrity of the election as we protect the American people from the coronavirus , and that 's — I have faith in the American people on this Sunday morning , '' she said .
Only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death , Trump vowed on Saturday he would pick his nominee in the upcoming week , likely a woman , and said that his administration wants to move ahead with the nomination before the election .
There are several leading contenders on Trump 's short list .
Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has emerged as a front-runner , sources tell NBC News .
As Republicans move ahead in efforts to push a nominee through the Senate Judiciary Committee and to a Senate vote before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fight the nomination by convincing four Republicans to defect .
So far , two Senate Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — have opposed a vote on the nominee before the election .
When pressed by Stephanopoulos that she 's `` not ruling anything out '' regarding an impeachment inquiry , Pelosi responded that the Constitution requires Congress `` to use every arrow in our quiver . ''
`` We have a responsibility , '' Pelosi said .
`` We take an oath to protect and defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have a responsibility to meet the needs of the American people . ''
Pelosi also emphasized that Democrats would not shut down the government as leverage to slow the impending nomination .
`` None of us has any interest in shutting down government , that has such a harmful and shameful impact on so many people in our country , '' Pelosi said .
`` We 're not going to be shutting down government .
I do hope , though , that the focus on health care and what it means in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion be of such magnitude that the Republicans will finally , finally address the coronavirus crisis . ''

US Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, holds her weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on September 18, 2020.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday did not rule out impeaching President Donald Trump or Attorney General William Barr if the Senate tries to push through a Supreme Court nomination during a lame-duck session if Joe Biden wins the November election.
"We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that I'm not about to discuss right now, but the fact is we have a big challenge in our country. This president has threatened to not even accept the results of the election," Pelosi said Sunday on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."
"So, right now, our main goal and I think Ruth Bader Ginsburg would want that to be, would be to protect the integrity of the election as we protect the American people from the coronavirus, and that's — I have faith in the American people on this Sunday morning," she said.
Only a day after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, Trump vowed on Saturday he would pick his nominee in the upcoming week, likely a woman, and said that his administration wants to move ahead with the nomination before the election.
There are several leading contenders on Trump's short list. Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has emerged as a front-runner, sources tell NBC News.
As Republicans move ahead in efforts to push a nominee through the Senate Judiciary Committee and to a Senate vote before the year's end, Democrats have pledged to fight the nomination by convincing four Republicans to defect. So far, two Senate Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — have opposed a vote on the nominee before the election.
When pressed by Stephanopoulos that she's "not ruling anything out" regarding an impeachment inquiry, Pelosi responded that the Constitution requires Congress "to use every arrow in our quiver."
"We have a responsibility," Pelosi said. "We take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. We have a responsibility to meet the needs of the American people."
Pelosi also emphasized that Democrats would not shut down the government as leverage to slow the impending nomination.
"None of us has any interest in shutting down government, that has such a harmful and shameful impact on so many people in our country," Pelosi said. "We're not going to be shutting down government. I do hope, though, that the focus on health care and what it means in terms of the courts will have public opinion be of such magnitude that the Republicans will finally, finally address the coronavirus crisis."


cnbc--2020-09-21--Ginsburg vacancy could tilt Supreme Court to Trump in potential Bush v. Gore repeat

An interior view of the Supreme Court shows the bench draped with black bunting in honor of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Washington , U.S. , in this handout photo released to Reuters on September 20 , 2020 .
The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday seemingly shifted everything about the 2020 race between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden overnight , turning the focus of the race from Covid-19 to the future of health care , reproductive rights and the nation 's gun laws .
Ginsburg 's death has the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct way , too .
According to election law experts , this year 's presidential election already posed a uniquely high risk of ending up at the Supreme Court , thanks to a tsunami of litigation over state efforts to adjust voting to the global pandemic .
With Ginsburg 's death , the liberal minority on the panel has shrunk to just three members .
If an emergency case between Trump and Biden splits the court along partisan lines this fall , Trump is almost certain to emerge the victor .
Even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swing justice , joins the liberals , that would mean a 4-4 tie , leaving in place whatever ruling was issued by the lower court .
`` Under those scenarios which were resolved by Chief Justice Roberts joining with the four liberals in a case about the election , those scenarios do n't end the same way , '' said Nathaniel Persily a democracy scholar at Stanford Law School and co-founder of the Stanford-MIT Project on a Healthy Election .
`` The loss of Justice Ginsburg moves the median vote on the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8-member court raises the chances of a split verdict on a blockbuster election case , a possibility that would seem to fit in during a year that has already showcased a worldwide health crisis and a once-in-a-generation impeachment battle .
The possibility also dramatically increases the importance of which court hears the case before the Supreme Court does , given that a tie among the justices would leave that court 's ruling standing .
Election lawyers are already gaming out the dizzying possibilities .
For instance , Persily noted , a case stemming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theoretically be heard either by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court or the 3rd U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals , based in Philadelphia .
Democrats hold a majority on the state court ; on the federal appeals court , Republicans do .
Already , more than 300 elections cases stemming from Covid-19 have been filed around the country , according to a Stanford-MIT tracker .
Those cases are disproportionately being waged in states like Pennsylvania , whose voters are likeliest to decide the election outcome .
Matthew Hall , a law and political science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has studied Supreme Court decision making , said that it is possible that Ginsburg 's empty seat could alter the strategic thinking of potential swing justices .
`` For example , Chief Justice Roberts may be more inclined to vote with the other four conservatives rather than joining the three remaining liberals and creating an evenly divided vote , '' Hall wrote in an email .
Hall added that the prospect of an evenly divided bench could make the justices more reluctant to hear an election challenge in the first place .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of four justices to hear a case .

An interior view of the Supreme Court shows the bench draped with black bunting in honor of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Washington, U.S., in this handout photo released to Reuters on September 20, 2020.
The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday seemingly shifted everything about the 2020 race between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden overnight, turning the focus of the race from Covid-19 to the future of health care, reproductive rights and the nation's gun laws.
Ginsburg's death has the potential to affect the race in a more direct way, too.
According to election law experts, this year's presidential election already posed a uniquely high risk of ending up at the Supreme Court, thanks to a tsunami of litigation over state efforts to adjust voting to the global pandemic.
With Ginsburg's death, the liberal minority on the panel has shrunk to just three members. If an emergency case between Trump and Biden splits the court along partisan lines this fall, Trump is almost certain to emerge the victor. Even if Chief Justice John Roberts, an occasional swing justice, joins the liberals, that would mean a 4-4 tie, leaving in place whatever ruling was issued by the lower court.
"Under those scenarios which were resolved by Chief Justice Roberts joining with the four liberals in a case about the election, those scenarios don't end the same way," said Nathaniel Persily a democracy scholar at Stanford Law School and co-founder of the Stanford-MIT Project on a Healthy Election. "The loss of Justice Ginsburg moves the median vote on the Supreme Court to the right."
The 8-member court raises the chances of a split verdict on a blockbuster election case, a possibility that would seem to fit in during a year that has already showcased a worldwide health crisis and a once-in-a-generation impeachment battle.
The possibility also dramatically increases the importance of which court hears the case before the Supreme Court does, given that a tie among the justices would leave that court's ruling standing.
Election lawyers are already gaming out the dizzying possibilities. For instance, Persily noted, a case stemming in the crucial battleground of Pennsylvania could theoretically be heard either by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court or the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Philadelphia. Democrats hold a majority on the state court; on the federal appeals court, Republicans do.
Already, more than 300 elections cases stemming from Covid-19 have been filed around the country, according to a Stanford-MIT tracker. Those cases are disproportionately being waged in states like Pennsylvania, whose voters are likeliest to decide the election outcome.
Matthew Hall, a law and political science professor at the University of Notre Dame who has studied Supreme Court decision making, said that it is possible that Ginsburg's empty seat could alter the strategic thinking of potential swing justices.
"For example, Chief Justice Roberts may be more inclined to vote with the other four conservatives rather than joining the three remaining liberals and creating an evenly divided vote," Hall wrote in an email.
Hall added that the prospect of an evenly divided bench could make the justices more reluctant to hear an election challenge in the first place. In most situations it requires the votes of four justices to hear a case.


cnbc--2020-09-21--Outside groups gear up for expensive battle over Ruth Bader Ginsburg Supreme Court seat

A cardboard cutout of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is held up after her death , in front of the Supreme Court in Washington , U.S. , September 20 , 2020 .
Outside organizations are gearing up for a battle in the Senate over the Supreme Court seat once held by Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Many of those leading the effort say the various campaigns will spend millions to sway lawmakers after President Donald Trump chooses Ginsburg 's replacement , who died on Friday after serving on the court for over 20 years .
The tactics of these groups from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from TV and digital ads , to producing opposition research on Trump 's shortlist of potential candidates .
The moves come as Democrats and Republicans , from Trump to Democratic nominee Joe Biden to congressional lawmakers on Capitol Hill , are already at odds over whether a Supreme Court nominee should be brought up for a vote with just under 50 days until Election Day .
Beyond the political issue based groups that will be involved with this bitter battle , super PACs backing both Biden and Trump are preparing for the upcoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over to the presidential campaign .
Max Steele , a spokesman for the pro-Biden super PAC American Bridge , says they already have been distributing opposition research on potential Supreme Court nominees .
`` We 're focused less on jurisprudence and more on traditional oppo ( ethics , finances , controversial statements , etc , ) '' Steele said on Saturday .
Josh Schwerin , the spokesman for Priorities USA Action , another pro-Biden super PAC , told CNBC that they 're bracing for the Supreme Court fight to seep into the presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always has been to win the presidential election and that 's where our focus will remain .
We fully expect this fight over the Supreme Court to be part of that debate alongside the raging pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans while Trump fails to deal with it , '' Schwerin said .
NBC News reported Saturday that deaths had passed 200,000 , though the fatality count from Johns Hopkins University had not yet crossed the somber milestone .
Priorities , Schwerin says , did their recent own polling of `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
About 65 % of those surveyed said a reason to be enthusiastic about Biden 's candidacy is because , they say , he could appoint Supreme Court judges who `` protect a woman 's right to choose , keep environmental protections , and protect civil rights and voting rights , '' Schwerin says .
Pro-Trump America First Action say they are gearing up to get involved with the upcoming fight in the Senate .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky , blocked President Barack Obama 's Supreme Court nominee Merrick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his second term as commander in chief .
McConnell said at the time that he believed the next president should be the one to decide who gets to fill the late Antonin Scalia 's seat .
McConnell now says that he intends to call for a vote on Trump 's next nominee to the Supreme Court .
The president tweeted on Saturday that he wants Republicans to move ahead `` without delay '' to replace Ginsburg .
Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has emerged as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to NBC News .
The Judicial Crisis Network , a dark money conservative group which committed to spend $ 10 million in support of now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh , is prepared to invest that amount , if not more , on this next campaign , with some funds expected to go toward TV and digital spots , along with print and mailer advertisements .
Carrie Severino , the president of the group , told CNBC on Saturday that they are set to `` match '' and `` surpass '' the spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who announced they would invest $ 10 million into the fight over Ginsburg 's seat .
Demand Justice is a liberal dark money group that has fought Trump and Republican efforts to confirm judicial nominees .
They announced on Friday they would spend the massive total `` to fight to ensure no justice is confirmed before the January inauguration . ''
The Judicial Crisis Network plans to message , at least in part , that McConnell , Republican senators and Trump have the historical and political precedent on their side when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When one party has control over the Senate and White House they can then push ahead with a Supreme Court nomination , regardless of the timing of the seat becoming vacant , Severino said after being asked about their messaging campaign .
`` We are going to have a state of the art campaign using whatever we need to win this fight , '' she noted .
An outside group known as Fix Our Senate already published their first ad in the wake of Ginsburg 's death .
After highlighting McConnell saying he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , the group then calls on viewers to reach out to their Senators to take a similar stance when it comes to Ginsburg 's seat .
The Article III Project , a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) organization founded by Mike Davis , a former advisor to Sen. Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa.
, when he led the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee , told CNBC they are gearing up for a battle over the eventual nominee .
`` This news just broke , but the Article III Project will be fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's nominee and ensure they receive a Senate floor vote , '' Davis said in a statement .
He added they have n't decided the budget for the nomination process but they `` will certainly be directing significant resources to this critical fight . ''
The political advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood , who are staunch advocates of reproductive rights , are also plotting their latest Supreme Court campaign .
They 're planning to activate their own volunteer network and team up with their partners in an effort to remind senators how some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be confirmed this close to an election , and how the next justice could decide the future of health care , according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter .
There will be a new ad component to the larger campaign , this person added .
This person declined to be named because their campaign is still in the planning stages .
The Republican lawmakers they 're looking to target , this person explained , include Sens .
Susan Collins , R-Maine , Cory Gardner , R-Colo. , Thom Tillis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Collins proved to be a pivotal vote in confirming Kavanaugh and is currently up for reelection in a race deemed a toss-up by the Cook Political Report .
Gardner and Tillis are also in toss-up races .
`` Senators who stand with Trump now and allow him to fill this seat with an extreme nominee in the waning days of his term will be held accountable in November and they are going to be out of a job come January , '' Jenny Lawson , executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parenthood Votes is mobilizing supporters in every state across the country to ensure our rights , freedoms , and health care are protected . ''
The Supreme Court will consider the future of the Affordable Care Act just a week after the presidential election .
A political advocacy organization backed by billionaire Charles Koch is preparing to get involved , provided the nominee is in line with their priorities , Tim Phillips , the president of Americans for Prosperity ( AFP ) , told CNBC .
They advocated for Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time of Kavanaugh 's confirmation they were committing seven figures to support his nomination .
That campaign included paid advertising .
Phillips is convinced Trump will select a Supreme Court nominee that will match the network 's priorities , with particular focus on less government overreach .
With that in mind , he said their organization will likely be engaged this time around .
`` A Supreme Court confirmation is an absolute priority for us .
It was for Kavanaugh .
It was on Gorsuch .
It will be and is @ @ @ @

A cardboard cutout of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is held up after her death, in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., September 20, 2020.
Outside organizations are gearing up for a battle in the Senate over the Supreme Court seat once held by Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Many of those leading the effort say the various campaigns will spend millions to sway lawmakers after President Donald Trump chooses Ginsburg's replacement, who died on Friday after serving on the court for over 20 years.
The tactics of these groups from both sides of the political spectrum range from TV and digital ads, to producing opposition research on Trump's shortlist of potential candidates. The moves come as Democrats and Republicans, from Trump to Democratic nominee Joe Biden to congressional lawmakers on Capitol Hill, are already at odds over whether a Supreme Court nominee should be brought up for a vote with just under 50 days until Election Day.
Beyond the political issue based groups that will be involved with this bitter battle, super PACs backing both Biden and Trump are preparing for the upcoming Supreme Court debate in Congress to filter over to the presidential campaign.
Max Steele, a spokesman for the pro-Biden super PAC American Bridge, says they already have been distributing opposition research on potential Supreme Court nominees. "We're focused less on jurisprudence and more on traditional oppo (ethics, finances, controversial statements, etc,)" Steele said on Saturday.
Josh Schwerin, the spokesman for Priorities USA Action, another pro-Biden super PAC, told CNBC that they're bracing for the Supreme Court fight to seep into the presidential campaign.
"Our goal is and always has been to win the presidential election and that's where our focus will remain. We fully expect this fight over the Supreme Court to be part of that debate alongside the raging pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans while Trump fails to deal with it," Schwerin said. NBC News reported Saturday that deaths had passed 200,000, though the fatality count from Johns Hopkins University had not yet crossed the somber milestone.
Priorities, Schwerin says, did their recent own polling of "low propensity Democratic voters" in battleground states. About 65% of those surveyed said a reason to be enthusiastic about Biden's candidacy is because, they say, he could appoint Supreme Court judges who "protect a woman's right to choose, keep environmental protections, and protect civil rights and voting rights," Schwerin says.
Pro-Trump America First Action say they are gearing up to get involved with the upcoming fight in the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, blocked President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland in 2016, at the end of his second term as commander in chief. McConnell said at the time that he believed the next president should be the one to decide who gets to fill the late Antonin Scalia's seat. McConnell now says that he intends to call for a vote on Trump's next nominee to the Supreme Court. The president tweeted on Saturday that he wants Republicans to move ahead "without delay" to replace Ginsburg.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has emerged as a front-runner to fill the seat, according to NBC News.
The Judicial Crisis Network, a dark money conservative group which committed to spend $10 million in support of now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, is prepared to invest that amount, if not more, on this next campaign, with some funds expected to go toward TV and digital spots, along with print and mailer advertisements.
Carrie Severino, the president of the group, told CNBC on Saturday that they are set to "match" and "surpass" the spending of their progressive rivals, Demand Justice, who announced they would invest $10 million into the fight over Ginsburg's seat. Demand Justice is a liberal dark money group that has fought Trump and Republican efforts to confirm judicial nominees. They announced on Friday they would spend the massive total "to fight to ensure no justice is confirmed before the January inauguration."
The Judicial Crisis Network plans to message, at least in part, that McConnell, Republican senators and Trump have the historical and political precedent on their side when it comes to confirming Supreme Court judges. When one party has control over the Senate and White House they can then push ahead with a Supreme Court nomination, regardless of the timing of the seat becoming vacant, Severino said after being asked about their messaging campaign.
"We are going to have a state of the art campaign using whatever we need to win this fight," she noted.
An outside group known as Fix Our Senate already published their first ad in the wake of Ginsburg's death. After highlighting McConnell saying he won't confirm Garland when Obama was president, the group then calls on viewers to reach out to their Senators to take a similar stance when it comes to Ginsburg's seat.
The Article III Project, a 501(c)(4) organization founded by Mike Davis, a former advisor to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa., when he led the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, told CNBC they are gearing up for a battle over the eventual nominee.
"This news just broke, but the Article III Project will be fully engaged to support and defend President Trump's nominee and ensure they receive a Senate floor vote," Davis said in a statement. He added they haven't decided the budget for the nomination process but they "will certainly be directing significant resources to this critical fight."
The political advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood, who are staunch advocates of reproductive rights, are also plotting their latest Supreme Court campaign. They're planning to activate their own volunteer network and team up with their partners in an effort to remind senators how some have previously said a nominee should not be confirmed this close to an election, and how the next justice could decide the future of health care, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. There will be a new ad component to the larger campaign, this person added.
This person declined to be named because their campaign is still in the planning stages. The Republican lawmakers they're looking to target, this person explained, include Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Collins proved to be a pivotal vote in confirming Kavanaugh and is currently up for reelection in a race deemed a toss-up by the Cook Political Report. Gardner and Tillis are also in toss-up races.
"Senators who stand with Trump now and allow him to fill this seat with an extreme nominee in the waning days of his term will be held accountable in November and they are going to be out of a job come January," Jenny Lawson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes, said in a statement. "Planned Parenthood Votes is mobilizing supporters in every state across the country to ensure our rights, freedoms, and health care are protected."
The Supreme Court will consider the future of the Affordable Care Act just a week after the presidential election.
A political advocacy organization backed by billionaire Charles Koch is preparing to get involved, provided the nominee is in line with their priorities, Tim Phillips, the president of Americans for Prosperity (AFP), told CNBC. They advocated for Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch when they were nominated. AFP announced at the time of Kavanaugh's confirmation they were committing seven figures to support his nomination. That campaign included paid advertising.
Phillips is convinced Trump will select a Supreme Court nominee that will match the network's priorities, with particular focus on less government overreach. With that in mind, he said their organization will likely be engaged this time around.
"A Supreme Court confirmation is an absolute priority for us. It was for Kavanaugh. It was on Gorsuch. It will be and is a priority."


cnbc--2020-09-20--Trump to pick nominee to fill Ginsburg Supreme Court seat this week and the candidate will be a woma

Trump to pick nominee to fill Ginsburg Supreme Court seat this week and the candidate will be a woman

U.S. President Donald Trump listens to a question before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Saturday , Sept. 19 , 2020 .
Allison Rushing , 38 , of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals based in Virginia is also being considered for the nomination , NBC News reported .
Two other judges are under serious consideration as well , according to NBC News , including Barbara Lagoa , 52 , of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Georgia , and Amul Thapar , 51 , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cincinnati .
There are several leading contenders on Trump 's short list , all of whom are young and would likely have a decades-long career on the Supreme Court , potentially tipping the balance of power on the judicial body decisively in a conservative direction for a generation .
Judge Amy Coney Barrett , 48 , of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has emerged as a front-runner to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Ginsburg , three sources told NBC News on Saturday .
`` If someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would say that a woman would be in first place , yes , '' Trump said .
`` The choice of a woman I would say would certainly be appropriate . ''
`` I think the process could go very , very fast , '' Trump said before departing for a rally in North Carolina .
`` I 'll be making my choice soon and when my choice is made I 'll be sending it over to Mitch in the Senate and they will do what they have to do .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whoever it may be but we 'll be sending over to the Senate . ''
President Donald Trump on Saturday said he would pick his nominee in the coming week to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's Supreme Court seat and the candidate would probably be a woman , making good on his promise to move `` without delay '' to appoint a conservative to the nation 's highest court .
Trump , speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn , said he would like to see a vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no firm decision has been made yet on the timing .
Barrett who was appointed by Trump and has served on the federal appeals court in Chicago since 2017 , was on a list of potential nominees Trump updated earlier this month .
She was also among those considered to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy when he retired in 2018 .
To fill Kennedy 's spot , Trump ultimately picked Brett Kavanaugh instead , an establishment Republican figure who angered some on the religious right for not being conservative enough even as he set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Axios ' Jonathan Swan reported in 2019 that Trump said he was `` saving [ Barrett ] for Ginsburg . ''
Though any confirmation fight in the midst of a presidential election will be hard fought , the battle is expected to be amplified if Barrett is picked because of her track record .
In particular , critics of Barrett have zeroed in on her prolific academic writings , in which she raised questions about the importance of respecting precedent and referred to `` unborn victims '' of abortion .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alumni magazine , Barrett is paraphrased as saying the landmark abortion ruling Roe v. Wade , the decision which legalized abortion nationwide , created `` through judicial fiat a framework of abortion on demand . ''
Barrett said in a 2013 speech at Notre Dame , however , that it is `` very unlikely at this point that the court is going to overturn Roe [ v .
Wade ] . ''
`` The controversy right now is about funding , '' she said , according to Notre Dame 's student newspaper .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortions will be publicly or privately funded . ''
During the 2016 hearings for her nomination to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals , Democrats , including Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California , pressed Barrett on whether her Catholic faith would cloud her legal judgment .
Feinstein 's line of questioning raised controversy about whether she was implying that Barrett was too religious for the bench .
`` The dogma lives loudly within you , and that 's a concern , '' Feinstein said during the hearing .
Barrett responded : `` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impose that judge 's personal convictions , whether they arise from faith or anywhere else , on the law . ''
Barrett was ultimately confirmed in a 55-43 vote by the Senate in 2017 .
The fact that she was already vetted and previously confirmed by the Senate could help her case in the Republicans ' effort to quickly confirm a nominee .
At the time of her 2017 confirmation , three Democratic senators supported her nomination : Joe Donnelly , who was voted out in 2018 , Tim Kaine , D-Va. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Senate at the time voted to confirm Barrett in 2017 .
Barrett 's views on abortion , in particular , stand in stark contrast to the late Ginsburg , who died on Friday surrounded by her family at her home in Washington , D.C. , due to complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer , the court said .
The vacancy allows Trump to nominate his third justice to the court , allowing him to swing the bench further to the right .
He previously nominated Justices Neil Gorsuch and Kavanaugh .
Only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ginsburg 's death , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Friday pledged he will hold a vote on Trump 's eventual nominee to fill the vacancy .
McConnell said last year he would seek to confirm a Trump nominee if a vacancy opened , despite vowing during President Barack Obama 's presidency to refuse any appointments during an election year .
The Supreme Court had a 5-4 majority of Republican appointed justices , and a 6-3 GOP majority could transform the shape of the law and maintain a conservative majority for years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ women 's rights , was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 and vowed to remain as long as her health allowed .
Ginsburg told her granddaughter before she died that her `` most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed . ''
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , who has served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , said on Friday night that the vacancy should not be filled until after the November election and noted that Senate Republicans did n't consider the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama presidency .
`` There is no doubt — let me be clear — that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider , '' Biden told reporters in Wilmington , Delaware .
`` This was the position the Republican Senate took in 2016 when there were almost 10 months to go before the election .
That 's the position the United States Senate must take today . ''
—CNBC 's Brian Schwartz , Tucker Higgins and Emma Newburger contributed to this report @

U.S. President Donald Trump listens to a question before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020.
Allison Rushing, 38, of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals based in Virginia is also being considered for the nomination, NBC News reported . Two other judges are under serious consideration as well, according to NBC News, including Barbara Lagoa, 52, of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Georgia, and Amul Thapar, 51, of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.
There are several leading contenders on Trump's short list, all of whom are young and would likely have a decades-long career on the Supreme Court, potentially tipping the balance of power on the judicial body decisively in a conservative direction for a generation. Judge Amy Coney Barrett, 48, of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has emerged as a front-runner to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Ginsburg, three sources told NBC News on Saturday.
"If someone were to ask me now, I would say that a woman would be in first place, yes," Trump said. "The choice of a woman I would say would certainly be appropriate."
"I think the process could go very, very fast," Trump said before departing for a rally in North Carolina. "I'll be making my choice soon and when my choice is made I'll be sending it over to Mitch in the Senate and they will do what they have to do. I think we'll have a very popular choice whoever it may be but we'll be sending over to the Senate."
President Donald Trump on Saturday said he would pick his nominee in the coming week to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court seat and the candidate would probably be a woman, making good on his promise to move "without delay" to appoint a conservative to the nation's highest court. Trump, speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn, said he would like to see a vote before the November presidential election, though no firm decision has been made yet on the timing.
Barrett who was appointed by Trump and has served on the federal appeals court in Chicago since 2017, was on a list of potential nominees Trump updated earlier this month. She was also among those considered to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy when he retired in 2018.
To fill Kennedy's spot, Trump ultimately picked Brett Kavanaugh instead, an establishment Republican figure who angered some on the religious right for not being conservative enough even as he set off storms of panic on the left. Axios' Jonathan Swan reported in 2019 that Trump said he was "saving [Barrett] for Ginsburg."
Though any confirmation fight in the midst of a presidential election will be hard fought, the battle is expected to be amplified if Barrett is picked because of her track record. In particular, critics of Barrett have zeroed in on her prolific academic writings, in which she raised questions about the importance of respecting precedent and referred to "unborn victims" of abortion.
In a 2013 article in Notre Dame's quarterly alumni magazine, Barrett is paraphrased as saying the landmark abortion ruling Roe v. Wade, the decision which legalized abortion nationwide, created "through judicial fiat a framework of abortion on demand."
Barrett said in a 2013 speech at Notre Dame, however, that it is "very unlikely at this point that the court is going to overturn Roe [v. Wade]."
"The controversy right now is about funding," she said, according to Notre Dame's student newspaper. "It's a question of whether abortions will be publicly or privately funded."
During the 2016 hearings for her nomination to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Democrats, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, pressed Barrett on whether her Catholic faith would cloud her legal judgment. Feinstein's line of questioning raised controversy about whether she was implying that Barrett was too religious for the bench.
"The dogma lives loudly within you, and that's a concern," Feinstein said during the hearing.
Barrett responded: "It's never appropriate for a judge to impose that judge's personal convictions, whether they arise from faith or anywhere else, on the law."
Barrett was ultimately confirmed in a 55-43 vote by the Senate in 2017. The fact that she was already vetted and previously confirmed by the Senate could help her case in the Republicans' effort to quickly confirm a nominee.
At the time of her 2017 confirmation, three Democratic senators supported her nomination: Joe Donnelly, who was voted out in 2018, Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
Every Republican in the Senate at the time voted to confirm Barrett in 2017.
Barrett's views on abortion, in particular, stand in stark contrast to the late Ginsburg, who died on Friday surrounded by her family at her home in Washington, D.C., due to complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer, the court said.
The vacancy allows Trump to nominate his third justice to the court, allowing him to swing the bench further to the right. He previously nominated Justices Neil Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.
Only an hour after the Supreme Court announced Ginsburg's death, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Friday pledged he will hold a vote on Trump's eventual nominee to fill the vacancy. McConnell said last year he would seek to confirm a Trump nominee if a vacancy opened, despite vowing during President Barack Obama's presidency to refuse any appointments during an election year.
The Supreme Court had a 5-4 majority of Republican appointed justices, and a 6-3 GOP majority could transform the shape of the law and maintain a conservative majority for years.
Ginsburg, a feminist icon who championed women's rights, was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 and vowed to remain as long as her health allowed. Ginsburg told her granddaughter before she died that her "most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed."
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who has served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said on Friday night that the vacancy should not be filled until after the November election and noted that Senate Republicans didn't consider the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland during the Obama presidency.
"There is no doubt — let me be clear — that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider," Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware. "This was the position the Republican Senate took in 2016 when there were almost 10 months to go before the election. That's the position the United States Senate must take today."
—CNBC's Brian Schwartz, Tucker Higgins and Emma Newburger contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-09-22--Most swing-state voters think Trump should not fill Supreme Court vacancy if he loses 2020 election,

Most swing-state voters think Trump should not fill Supreme Court vacancy if he loses 2020 election, new poll finds

Republicans aim to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's death before the end of President Donald Trump 's first term .
But most voters in six 2020 swing states want the winner of November 's presidential election to name the next member of the top U.S. court , according to a CNBC/Change Research poll released Tuesday .
In the pivotal states of Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , 43 % of likely voters said Trump should be able to fill the court seat even if he loses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A 52 % majority responded that the incumbent should not get to nominate a justice if he falls short against Democrat Joe Biden .
Only 37 % of voters nationally think Trump should be able to nominate a justice if he loses , while 57 % believe he should not .
The swing-state poll surveyed 3,018 likely voters from Friday to Sunday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8 percentage points .
The national poll surveyed 1,430 likely voters from Friday to Sunday and has a margin of error @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ginsburg , a liberal stalwart and the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court , died Friday at age 87 .
In an already fraught election year , the chance to fill a lifetime appointment on the top U.S. court has injected more venom into the process .
On Monday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the chamber would vote on a Trump nominee by the end of the year .
Democrats have cried foul as the GOP pushes to swiftly fill the vacancy , noting that Republicans refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's nominee Merrick Garland during the 2016 election .
At the time , the GOP said the next president should choose a justice .
The CNBC/Change polls suggest voters have reservations about Trump filling the seat if he does not win another term in office .
Respondents in the six swing states — three of which in Arizona , Michigan and North Carolina will decide whether to keep an incumbent senator in office this year — had broadly different views on whether Trump should be able to nominate a justice if he loses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he should , 53 % said he should not • Florida : 43 % should , 53 % should not • Michigan : 40 % should , 57 % should not • North Carolina : 47 % should , 48 % should not • Pennsylvania : 43 % should , 52 % should not • Wisconsin : 42 % should , 53 % should not Overall , 85 % of voters in swing states said the next Supreme Court justice is at least a somewhat important consideration in their votes .
But Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the judicial nomination than Republicans did .
About three-quarters of Democratic and Democratic-leaning respondents , 74 % , said the Supreme Court nominee was either the single most important factor or a very important consideration in their votes for president .
Sixty-three percent of Republican and GOP-leaning voters said the same .
By a narrow 51 % to 49 % margin , swing-state voters also said they believe Biden and Democrats would do a better job picking the next Supreme Court justice than Trump and Republicans .
Trump said Monday he could name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the coming weeks , senators could have to decide whether to move forward with the nomination .
Two Republicans out of 53 GOP senators — Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — have said they will oppose a Supreme Court nomination before the election .

Republicans aim to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death before the end of President Donald Trump's first term.
But most voters in six 2020 swing states want the winner of November's presidential election to name the next member of the top U.S. court, according to a CNBC/Change Research poll released Tuesday.
In the pivotal states of Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, 43% of likely voters said Trump should be able to fill the court seat even if he loses this year, the survey found. A 52% majority responded that the incumbent should not get to nominate a justice if he falls short against Democrat Joe Biden.
Only 37% of voters nationally think Trump should be able to nominate a justice if he loses, while 57% believe he should not.
The swing-state poll surveyed 3,018 likely voters from Friday to Sunday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8 percentage points. The national poll surveyed 1,430 likely voters from Friday to Sunday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
Trump announced Tuesday he will announce the nomination on Saturday.
Ginsburg, a liberal stalwart and the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, died Friday at age 87. In an already fraught election year, the chance to fill a lifetime appointment on the top U.S. court has injected more venom into the process.


cnbc--2020-09-22--Canadian woman charged with sending deadly poison ricin to Trump called him 'Ugly Tyrant Clown' in l

Canadian woman charged with sending deadly poison ricin to Trump called him 'Ugly Tyrant Clown' in letter

Pascale Ferrier appears in a jail booking photograph taken after her arrest by the Mission Police Department in Mission , Texas , March 13 , 2019 .
A Canadian woman criminally charged with mailing President Donald Trump the deadly poison ricin called him `` The Ugly Tyrant Clown '' in a letter containing the poison , according to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday .
The woman , Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier , was ordered held without bail after appearing Tuesday in federal court in Buffalo , New York , for the first time in the case on a charge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ferrier , 54 , was apprehended Sunday at the U.S. border in Buffalo , where she told American authorities that she was wanted by the FBI for sending `` the ricin letters '' to Trump and other people , the complaint said .
Ferrier , who lives in the city of Laval , just north of Montreal , also was allegedly carrying a loaded firearm and a knife when she was arrested .
In the letter Ferrier mailed to the White House from Canada , a note addressed to Trump said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you : 'The Ugly Tyrant Clown . '
I hope you like it , '' the complaint says .
`` You ruin USA and lead them to disaster .
I have US cousins , then [ sic ] I do n't want the next 4 years with you as president , '' the note said .
`` Give up and remove your application for this election .
So I made a 'Special Gift ' for you to make a decision .
This gift is in this letter .
If it does n't work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another poison , or I might use my gun when I 'll be able to come .
Enjoy .
FREE REBEL SPIRIT '' . ''
Trump never saw the letter , which was received at the White House 's mail sorting center last Friday .
According to the FBI , Ferrier on Sept. 9 posted messages on Twitter and Facebook that said `` # killTrump '' and used wording such as `` Ugly Clown Tyrant . ''
Ferrier also allegedly sent six other letters containing a powdery substance to people who work in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been incarcerated year , after being arrested in March 2019 on a weapons possession charge in Mission , Texas , according to the complaint .
Those letters , mailed from Canada and received last week at the facilities in Texas , were found to contain fingerprints that matched those of Ferrier .
Those letters , like the letter to Trump , contained the phrase `` if it does n't work I will find a better recipe , '' and the signature block that said 'FREE REBEL SPIRIT , '' the complaint says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , Ferrier asked a judge to appoint a lawyer for her , after saying she did not plan to hire a private attorney .
The court-appointed lawyer said that Ferrier wanted both an identity hearing , which will require prosecutors to prove she is the person identified in the criminal complaint , and a probable cause hearing , which will require them to show that there is sufficient evidence to justify the charges .
Those hearings will be held Monday .

Pascale Ferrier appears in a jail booking photograph taken after her arrest by the Mission Police Department in Mission, Texas, March 13, 2019.
A Canadian woman criminally charged with mailing President Donald Trump the deadly poison ricin called him "The Ugly Tyrant Clown" in a letter containing the poison, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday.
The woman, Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, was ordered held without bail after appearing Tuesday in federal court in Buffalo, New York, for the first time in the case on a charge of threatening the president of the United States.
Ferrier, 54, was apprehended Sunday at the U.S. border in Buffalo, where she told American authorities that she was wanted by the FBI for sending "the ricin letters" to Trump and other people, the complaint said.
Ferrier, who lives in the city of Laval, just north of Montreal, also was allegedly carrying a loaded firearm and a knife when she was arrested.
In the letter Ferrier mailed to the White House from Canada, a note addressed to Trump said, "I found a new name for you: 'The Ugly Tyrant Clown.' I hope you like it," the complaint says.
"You ruin USA and lead them to disaster. I have US cousins, then [sic] I don't want the next 4 years with you as president," the note said.
"Give up and remove your application for this election. So I made a 'Special Gift' for you to make a decision. This gift is in this letter. If it doesn't work, I'll find better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when I'll be able to come. Enjoy. FREE REBEL SPIRIT"."
Trump never saw the letter, which was received at the White House's mail sorting center last Friday.
According to the FBI, Ferrier on Sept. 9 posted messages on Twitter and Facebook that said "#killTrump" and used wording such as "Ugly Clown Tyrant."
Ferrier also allegedly sent six other letters containing a powdery substance to people who work in Texas jails and detention centers where she had been incarcerated after being arrested in March 2019 on a weapons possession charge in Mission, Texas, according to the complaint.
Those letters, mailed from Canada and received last week at the facilities in Texas, were found to contain fingerprints that matched those of Ferrier.
Those letters, like the letter to Trump, contained the phrase "if it doesn't work I will find a better recipe," and the signature block that said 'FREE REBEL SPIRIT," the complaint says.
During her appearance in court on Tuesday, Ferrier asked a judge to appoint a lawyer for her, after saying she did not plan to hire a private attorney.
The court-appointed lawyer said that Ferrier wanted both an identity hearing, which will require prosecutors to prove she is the person identified in the criminal complaint, and a probable cause hearing, which will require them to show that there is sufficient evidence to justify the charges.
Those hearings will be held Monday.


cnbc--2020-09-22--Trump and Biden to face questions on Covid-19, Supreme Court, economy in first presidential debate

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will be questioned on topics including the coronavirus pandemic and the Supreme Court when they face off next week in the first of three debates before the 2020 election .
The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Tuesday that the Sept. 29 debate in Cleveland , Ohio , will center around six topics , each of which will receive a 15-minute time slot .
The moderator , Fox News ' Chris Wallace , selected the categories , the commission said .
The first debate will be held at Case Western Reserve University and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start at 9 p.m .
ET and is expected to run about 90 minutes .
• Race and violence in our cities • The integrity of the election The debate commission said it revealed the topics in advance `` in order to encourage deep discussion of the leading issues facing the country . ''
But its announcement notes that the issues to be discussed are `` subject to possible changes because of news developments . ''
The Supreme Court , for instance , morphed from a perennial election issue into a central focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , 87 , on Friday evening .

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will be questioned on topics including the coronavirus pandemic and the Supreme Court when they face off next week in the first of three debates before the 2020 election.
The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Tuesday that the Sept. 29 debate in Cleveland, Ohio, will center around six topics, each of which will receive a 15-minute time slot. The moderator, Fox News' Chris Wallace, selected the categories, the commission said.
The first debate will be held at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic. It is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET and is expected to run about 90 minutes.
The topics are:
The Trump and Biden records
The Supreme Court
Covid-19
The economy
Race and violence in our cities
The integrity of the election
The debate commission said it revealed the topics in advance "in order to encourage deep discussion of the leading issues facing the country."
But its announcement notes that the issues to be discussed are "subject to possible changes because of news developments."
The Supreme Court, for instance, morphed from a perennial election issue into a central focus of the 2020 race following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 87, on Friday evening.


cnbc--2020-09-22--Economy doesn't need more stimulus for a V-shaped recovery, Trump advisor Kudlow says

Larry Kudlow , President Donald Trump 's top economic advisor , said Tuesday afternoon that the broad economic recovery from Covid-19 does n't necessarily require additional fiscal stimulus even if select industries or businesses could benefit from more aid .
`` I do n't think the V-shaped recovery depends on the package , but I do think a targeted package could be a great help , '' Kudlow said from the White House on CNBC 's `` The Exchange . ''
`` Even though I think the economy is improving nicely , it could use some help in some key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the National Economic Council , added that the White House has for weeks championed more funding for schools and the Paycheck Protection Program , a facility established by the Cares Act earlier this year that provides loans to small businesses so long as employers agree to use the funds to keep staff on payrolls .
He also acknowledged that while the overall U.S. economy appears to be in the middle of a comeback after a recession , there are still industries that are suffering as a result of the virus and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We also wanted to extend the assistance plan , the PPP plan , to small business .
I mean , we actually had money – it 's over $ 100 billion – that could be repurposed to go back in through that plan , '' Kudlow added .
`` I think that plan was very effective .
I think it did save , perhaps , 50 million jobs . ''
`` Unfortunately , we could n't reach agreement with the other side .
And that was before the judicial issues came up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we could break the stalemate . ''
Kudlow 's suggestion that the U.S. economy could continue in a sharp rebound without further aid appeared to mark a deviation from statements made by both Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin just hours earlier .
In testimony before the House Financial Services Committee , both Mnuchin and Powell suggested that additional stimulus may be needed — especially in certain industries — until Americans resume their everyday business per usual .

Larry Kudlow, President Donald Trump's top economic advisor, said Tuesday afternoon that the broad economic recovery from Covid-19 doesn't necessarily require additional fiscal stimulus even if select industries or businesses could benefit from more aid.
"I don't think the V-shaped recovery depends on the package, but I do think a targeted package could be a great help," Kudlow said from the White House on CNBC's "The Exchange." "Even though I think the economy is improving nicely, it could use some help in some key, targeted places."
Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, added that the White House has for weeks championed more funding for schools and the Paycheck Protection Program, a facility established by the Cares Act earlier this year that provides loans to small businesses so long as employers agree to use the funds to keep staff on payrolls.
He also acknowledged that while the overall U.S. economy appears to be in the middle of a comeback after a recession, there are still industries that are suffering as a result of the virus and efforts to contain its spread.
"We also wanted to extend the assistance plan, the PPP plan, to small business. I mean, we actually had money – it's over $100 billion – that could be repurposed to go back in through that plan," Kudlow added. "I think that plan was very effective. I think it did save, perhaps, 50 million jobs."
"Unfortunately, we couldn't reach agreement with the other side. And that was before the judicial issues came up," he added. "I wish we could break the stalemate."
Kudlow's suggestion that the U.S. economy could continue in a sharp rebound without further aid appeared to mark a deviation from statements made by both Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin just hours earlier.
In testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, both Mnuchin and Powell suggested that additional stimulus may be needed — especially in certain industries — until Americans resume their everyday business per usual.


cnbc--2020-09-22--Trump urges UN to hold China accountable for the coronavirus pandemic

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on world leaders at the United Nations to `` hold China accountable '' for the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump , a frequent critic of the U.N. , slammed the Chinese government and the World Health Organization for the deadly virus and the social and economic fallout from the health crisis .
`` The Chinese government and the World Health Organization , which is virtually controlled by China , falsely declared that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission .
Later , they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded speech from the White House .
The WHO is a United Nations agency .
`` The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions , '' he added .
The virus originated in China .
Trump also said that the U.S. had three potential coronavirus vaccines that were in the final stage of clinical trials and promised to distribute them globally .
The Trump administration has previously said it will not participate in the WHO-led coronavirus vaccine effort .
The Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility , or COVAX , initiative includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at `` working with vaccine manufacturers to provide countries worldwide equitable access to safe and effective vaccines . ''
The move falls in line with Trump 's aim to remove the United States from the World Health Organization .
Earlier this year , Trump said that he had suspended U.S. funding to the organization pending a review , citing what he called `` the World Health Organization 's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus . ''
In July , the Trump administration submitted to the U.N. secretary-general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by July 6 , 2021 .
The notice to the United Nations was the first step in a yearlong process that will rely on several factors outside of Trump 's control , including cooperation from Congress and the president 's own reelection in November , neither of which are assured .
Last month , WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he hopes the United States will reconsider its decision to leave the United Nations ' health organization , adding that the coronavirus ca n't be defeated `` in a divided world . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that he would have the U.S. rejoin the WHO on day one of his presidency , were he to defeat Trump this November .
Chinese President Xi Jinping , who also addressed the U.N. remotely , said that Beijing will `` continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation . ''
`` Facing the virus , we should enhance solidarity and get through this together , '' Xi said , adding that world leaders should follow `` the leading role of the World Health Organization . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or stigmatization must be rejected , '' Xi said .
The latest revelations come as Washington pressures the U.N. Security Council to enforce reimposed sanctions on Iran .
On Saturday , the United States unilaterally reimposed U.N. sanctions on Tehran through a snapback process , which other U.N. Security Council members have previously said Washington does not have the authority to execute .
`` No matter who you are , if you violate the U.N. arms embargo on Iran , you risk sanctions , '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday alongside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary Steven Mnuchin .
`` Our actions today are a warning that should be heard worldwide , '' Trump 's top diplomat said .

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on world leaders at the United Nations to "hold China accountable" for the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump, a frequent critic of the U.N., slammed the Chinese government and the World Health Organization for the deadly virus and the social and economic fallout from the health crisis.
"The Chinese government and the World Health Organization, which is virtually controlled by China, falsely declared that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Later, they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the disease," Trump said in a recorded speech from the White House. The WHO is a United Nations agency.
"The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions," he added. The virus originated in China.
Trump also said that the U.S. had three potential coronavirus vaccines that were in the final stage of clinical trials and promised to distribute them globally. The Trump administration has previously said it will not participate in the WHO-led coronavirus vaccine effort.
The Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility, or COVAX, initiative includes more than 170 nations and is aimed at "working with vaccine manufacturers to provide countries worldwide equitable access to safe and effective vaccines." The move falls in line with Trump's aim to remove the United States from the World Health Organization.
Earlier this year, Trump said that he had suspended U.S. funding to the organization pending a review, citing what he called "the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus."
In July, the Trump administration submitted to the U.N. secretary-general its notice to withdraw from the WHO by July 6, 2021. The notice to the United Nations was the first step in a yearlong process that will rely on several factors outside of Trump's control, including cooperation from Congress and the president's own reelection in November, neither of which are assured.
Last month, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he hopes the United States will reconsider its decision to leave the United Nations' health organization, adding that the coronavirus can't be defeated "in a divided world." Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has previously said that he would have the U.S. rejoin the WHO on day one of his presidency, were he to defeat Trump this November.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, who also addressed the U.N. remotely, said that Beijing will "continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation."
"Facing the virus, we should enhance solidarity and get through this together," Xi said, adding that world leaders should follow "the leading role of the World Health Organization."
"Any attempt of politicizing the issue or stigmatization must be rejected," Xi said.
The latest revelations come as Washington pressures the U.N. Security Council to enforce reimposed sanctions on Iran.
On Saturday, the United States unilaterally reimposed U.N. sanctions on Tehran through a snapback process, which other U.N. Security Council members have previously said Washington does not have the authority to execute.
"No matter who you are, if you violate the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, you risk sanctions," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday alongside Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
"Our actions today are a warning that should be heard worldwide," Trump's top diplomat said.


cnbc--2020-09-22--Philadelphia election official warns 'naked ballot' ruling could jeopardize 100,000 Pennsylvania vot

Philadelphia election official warns 'naked ballot' ruling could jeopardize 100,000 Pennsylvania votes

People wearing masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) wait to vote in the primary election in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , June 2 , 2020 .
The top elections official in Philadelphia is warning that a little-noticed aspect of a recent ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court could cause over 100,000 votes statewide to be voided , creating the conditions for a post-election legal battle `` the likes of which we have not seen since Florida in 2000 . ''
Lisa Deeley , the Democratic chairwoman of the city commissioners office , which oversees elections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that invalidated so-called `` naked ballots , '' or those that are submitted without secrecy envelopes that mask the identity of the voter , in a letter dated Monday and addressed to state lawmakers .
The ruling came as part of a broad opinion in a case between Democrats and Republicans in the state that for the most part was chalked up as a win for those on the left .
The court sided with Democrats in extending the state 's absentee ballot deadline and approving the use of mail-in ballot drop boxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country to ease voting rules amid the Covid-19 pandemic , given the perceived advantage for nominee Joe Biden in a high turnout race , particularly among those who vote by mail .
Pennsylvania is a significant prize as an electoral battleground that President Donald Trump won by a historically slim margin of about 44,000 votes in 2016 .
Read more : Ginsburg vacancy could tilt Supreme Court to Trump in potential Bush v. Gore repeat Deeley wrote that while `` everyone is talking about the significance of extending the mail ballot deadline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is going to cause chaos . ''
The ruling interpreted a law that specifies that those voting by mail must place their ballots inside envelopes that shield their name .
Those envelopes are then placed in a second envelope which has the address of the voter 's election board .
The state Democratic Party had argued that while the election code directed voters to use the secrecy envelope , it did not authorize officials to discard their ballots if they did not do so .
The state Republican Party , on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots would compromise the integrity of the secret ballot .
The state 's GOP Senate caucus added that such a move would be likely to lead to voter fraud , a contention rejected by the state 's Democratic secretary of state , Kathy Bookvar .
Justice Max Baer wrote that based on the text of the law it was clear that the state legislature intended that `` it should not be readily apparent who the elector is , with what party he or she affiliates , or for whom the elector has voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unmarked and sealed ensures that result , unless it is marked with identifying information , in which case that goal is compromised , '' he wrote .
`` Whatever the wisdom of the requirement , the command that the mail-in elector utilize the secrecy envelope and leave it unblemished by identifying information is neither ambiguous nor unreasonable . ''
The number of ballots that may be discarded as a result of the ruling is unclear .
In her letter , Deeley wrote that 6.4 % of absentee ballots in the state 's 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that based on those figures , it was possible that up to 40,000 ballots could be thrown out in Philadelphia , and over 100,000 across the state .
Given the Covid-19 pandemic , Deeley said that it was quite possible that the percentage of ballots submitted without secrecy envelopes could rise , as more voters who are unfamiliar with voting by mail do so for the first time .
Deeley urged Rep. Bryan Cutler , the leader of the state 's House of Representatives , and Senate president pro tempore Joe Scarnati , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ envelope altogether .
Doing so would allow officials to scan 32,000 ballots an hour , she wrote , so fast that `` there is no opportunity to stop , or even slow down , and identify how an individual voted . ''
`` Anyone who advocates doing nothing to address this situation , in hopes that more Democratic ballots are thrown out than Republican ballots , is not being an effective policy maker and is not doing their job to make sure that this election goes off well , '' she wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not seem likely to convince the Republican-led state legislature .
In an email , a spokesperson for Cutler rejected the notion that a controversy over naked ballots could lead to chaos .
Michael Straub , his communications director , said the supreme court was `` very clear in its ruling last week that the law requiring a proper secrecy envelope is clear and fair . ''
`` Previously , the department of state provided guidance telling counties to count 'naked ballots , ' however that guidance was rescinded after the court 's ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe this issue is settled for this election . ''
Kate Eckhart Flessner , the communications director for Scarnati , said in a statement that the senator `` continues to work with his Legislative colleagues to ensure the voting process in Pennsylvania complies with the law , and is fair , transparent and timely . ''
`` The letter will be reviewed , however it was only recently received , '' she said .

People wearing masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) wait to vote in the primary election in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 2, 2020.
The top elections official in Philadelphia is warning that a little-noticed aspect of a recent ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court could cause over 100,000 votes statewide to be voided, creating the conditions for a post-election legal battle "the likes of which we have not seen since Florida in 2000."
Lisa Deeley, the Democratic chairwoman of the city commissioners office, which oversees elections, cited the Thursday decision from the court that invalidated so-called "naked ballots," or those that are submitted without secrecy envelopes that mask the identity of the voter, in a letter dated Monday and addressed to state lawmakers.
The ruling came as part of a broad opinion in a case between Democrats and Republicans in the state that for the most part was chalked up as a win for those on the left. The court sided with Democrats in extending the state's absentee ballot deadline and approving the use of mail-in ballot drop boxes.
Democrats are fighting in courts around the country to ease voting rules amid the Covid-19 pandemic, given the perceived advantage for nominee Joe Biden in a high turnout race, particularly among those who vote by mail. Pennsylvania is a significant prize as an electoral battleground that President Donald Trump won by a historically slim margin of about 44,000 votes in 2016.
Read more: Ginsburg vacancy could tilt Supreme Court to Trump in potential Bush v. Gore repeat
Deeley wrote that while "everyone is talking about the significance of extending the mail ballot deadline, it is the naked ballot ruling that is going to cause chaos."
The ruling interpreted a law that specifies that those voting by mail must place their ballots inside envelopes that shield their name. Those envelopes are then placed in a second envelope which has the address of the voter's election board.
The state Democratic Party had argued that while the election code directed voters to use the secrecy envelope, it did not authorize officials to discard their ballots if they did not do so. The state Republican Party, on the other hand, argued that counting naked ballots would compromise the integrity of the secret ballot.
The state's GOP Senate caucus added that such a move would be likely to lead to voter fraud, a contention rejected by the state's Democratic secretary of state, Kathy Bookvar.
Justice Max Baer wrote that based on the text of the law it was clear that the state legislature intended that "it should not be readily apparent who the elector is, with what party he or she affiliates, or for whom the elector has voted."
"The secrecy envelope properly unmarked and sealed ensures that result, unless it is marked with identifying information, in which case that goal is compromised," he wrote. "Whatever the wisdom of the requirement, the command that the mail-in elector utilize the secrecy envelope and leave it unblemished by identifying information is neither ambiguous nor unreasonable."
The number of ballots that may be discarded as a result of the ruling is unclear. In her letter, Deeley wrote that 6.4% of absentee ballots in the state's 2019 general election were naked. She estimated that based on those figures, it was possible that up to 40,000 ballots could be thrown out in Philadelphia, and over 100,000 across the state.
Given the Covid-19 pandemic, Deeley said that it was quite possible that the percentage of ballots submitted without secrecy envelopes could rise, as more voters who are unfamiliar with voting by mail do so for the first time.
Deeley urged Rep. Bryan Cutler, the leader of the state's House of Representatives, and Senate president pro tempore Joe Scarnati, both Republicans, to eliminate the secrecy envelope altogether. Doing so would allow officials to scan 32,000 ballots an hour, she wrote, so fast that "there is no opportunity to stop, or even slow down, and identify how an individual voted."
"Anyone who advocates doing nothing to address this situation, in hopes that more Democratic ballots are thrown out than Republican ballots, is not being an effective policy maker and is not doing their job to make sure that this election goes off well," she wrote.
Deeley's plea, however, does not seem likely to convince the Republican-led state legislature.
In an email, a spokesperson for Cutler rejected the notion that a controversy over naked ballots could lead to chaos.
Michael Straub, his communications director, said the supreme court was "very clear in its ruling last week that the law requiring a proper secrecy envelope is clear and fair."
"Previously, the department of state provided guidance telling counties to count 'naked ballots,' however that guidance was rescinded after the court's ruling," Straub said. "We believe this issue is settled for this election."
Kate Eckhart Flessner, the communications director for Scarnati, said in a statement that the senator "continues to work with his Legislative colleagues to ensure the voting process in Pennsylvania complies with the law, and is fair, transparent and timely."
"The letter will be reviewed, however it was only recently received," she said.