cnbc--2020-06-29--Top CEOs see business impact from coronavirus lingering until at least the end of 2021

The chief executives of the nation 's biggest companies expect the business impact from the coronavirus to linger until at least the end of 2021 .
Nearly a third of them fear it could persist beyond then .
In a second-quarter report from the Business Roundtable released Monday , the corporate trade group said that a survey of its members − which include General Motors , Apple and Johnson & Johnson , among other major companies – showed that a majority expect most expect business conditions to recover by the end of 2021 .
But significant doubt remains : 27 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next year .
That sizable percentage − and disagreement among the country 's most powerful executives − represents how uncertain the economic climate remains as the U.S. battles a health disaster with little modern precedence .
There had been hopes that the U.S. was on its way to recovery after fears and lockdown orders jolted the economy this spring .
But cases of the coronavirus are back on the rise , and states like Texas have had to delay their reopening plans .
On Friday alone , 45,255 additional cases were reported , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 41 % higher than the prior week .
The Business Roundtable report referred to the growing infection rate , saying the new cases `` suggest the need for broader adoption of safety measures and for public officials to examine their reopening plans to ensure widespread use of masks , continued limitations on gathering size , and measures to keep vulnerable populations safe . ''
In some cases , CEOs have acted before local governments , with companies such as Apple closing stores in hot-spot states before being mandated to do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far from over , and our top priority remains the health and safety of our employees , customers and communities we serve , '' said Walmart CEO and Business Roundtable Chairman Doug McMillon .
`` We urge lawmakers at the federal , state and local levels to coordinate as much as possible to control further spread of this virus . ''
The Business Roundtable 's CEO Economic Outlook Survey − a composite index of chief executive plans for capital spending and hiring over the next six months − fell to 34.3 , its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2009 , as the U.S. was struggling to recover from the global financial meltdown of the previous year .
The record low , which the index hit during the first quarter of 2009 , is negative 5 .
The second quarter survey was conducted between June 1 and 22 .
The U.S. officially entered the coronavirus recession in February of this year .
The BRT report comes as the U.S. government is still crafting its economic response to the pandemic .
Lawmakers have yet to act on a follow-up piece of major legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed into law in late March .
While informal talks have already begun , they are expected to begin in more earnest in mid-July .
On Monday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , the top Democrats in Congress , urged the Republican-led Senate leadership to act quickly on legislation .
They warned `` the nation has seen a dramatic surge in both cases and deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic '' and `` our economy is facing one of its greatest challenges since the Great Depression .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus infection rate continues to rise , and the market shows signs of fear , they expect that Congress will need to shift its focus from initiatives aimed at broader recovery efforts to plugging economic holes , as it did with the CARES Act .
The Business Roundtable is among the corporate lobbying groups that have already made clear some of their priorities in that next legislative package .
In a letter to House and Senate leadership in May , the group urged a `` Back to Work bonus '' that matches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the CARES Act , which some lawmakers have said disincentivizes unemployed workers from returning to work .
The group is among those urging liability protections to reduce `` costly non-meritorious litigation . ''
`` We appreciate the actions taken by the Administration and Congress so far to help American workers , small businesses and communities , but there is much more to do , '' said Joshua Bolten , president and CEO of Business Roundtable , in a statement .
`` We encourage policymakers to work together on additional measures that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health crisis and encourage economic recovery efforts as business operations resume .
CEOs remain committed to promoting adherence to COVID-19 safety measures so that states can safely remain open for business . ''

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General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra on April 1, 2020 tours one of the company's facilities in Warren, Michigan that will produce Level 1 face masks. GM
The chief executives of the nation's biggest companies expect the business impact from the coronavirus to linger until at least the end of 2021. Nearly a third of them fear it could persist beyond then. In a second-quarter report from the Business Roundtable released Monday, the corporate trade group said that a survey of its members − which include General Motors , Apple and Johnson & Johnson , among other major companies – showed that a majority expect most expect business conditions to recover by the end of 2021. But significant doubt remains: 27% expect the recovery to stretch beyond next year. That sizable percentage − and disagreement among the country's most powerful executives − represents how uncertain the economic climate remains as the U.S. battles a health disaster with little modern precedence. There had been hopes that the U.S. was on its way to recovery after fears and lockdown orders jolted the economy this spring. But cases of the coronavirus are back on the rise, and states like Texas have had to delay their reopening plans. On Friday alone, 45,255 additional cases were reported, bringing the country's seven-day average to more than 41% higher than the prior week.
A staff member checks a customer's temperature at an Apple Store entrance during phase one of reopening after lockdown from the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City, New York, U.S. June 17, 2020. Brendan McDermid | Reuters
The Business Roundtable report referred to the growing infection rate, saying the new cases "suggest the need for broader adoption of safety measures and for public officials to examine their reopening plans to ensure widespread use of masks, continued limitations on gathering size, and measures to keep vulnerable populations safe." In some cases, CEOs have acted before local governments, with companies such as Apple closing stores in hot-spot states before being mandated to do so. "Our battle against COVID-19 is far from over, and our top priority remains the health and safety of our employees, customers and communities we serve," said Walmart CEO and Business Roundtable Chairman Doug McMillon. "We urge lawmakers at the federal, state and local levels to coordinate as much as possible to control further spread of this virus."
Americans lined up to buy goods at supermarkets like Costco Wholesale and Walmart as fears over COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey, United States on April 18, 2020. Tayfun Coskun | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
The Business Roundtable's CEO Economic Outlook Survey − a composite index of chief executive plans for capital spending and hiring over the next six months − fell to 34.3, its lowest reading since the second quarter of 2009, as the U.S. was struggling to recover from the global financial meltdown of the previous year. The record low, which the index hit during the first quarter of 2009, is negative 5. The second quarter survey was conducted between June 1 and 22. The U.S. officially entered the coronavirus recession in February of this year. The BRT report comes as the U.S. government is still crafting its economic response to the pandemic. Lawmakers have yet to act on a follow-up piece of major legislation to the $2 trillion CARES Act signed into law in late March. While informal talks have already begun, they are expected to begin in more earnest in mid-July. On Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the top Democrats in Congress, urged the Republican-led Senate leadership to act quickly on legislation. They warned "the nation has seen a dramatic surge in both cases and deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic" and "our economy is facing one of its greatest challenges since the Great Depression."
US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (L) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (R) hold a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, May 22, 2019, following a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images


cnbc--2020-06-29--Pelosi and Schumer urge McConnell to start bipartisan talks on more coronavirus relief as cases surg

Pelosi and Schumer urge McConnell to start bipartisan talks on more coronavirus relief as cases surge

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) adjusts her scarf as she is followed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) inside the U.S. Capitol after it was announced U.S. congressional leaders and the White House agreed on nearly $ 500 billion more in coronavirus relief for the U.S. economy , bringing to nearly $ 3 trillion the amount allocated to deal with the crisis , in Washington , April 21 , 2020 .
The top congressional Democrats urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to immediately start talks on another coronavirus relief bill Monday as the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a letter to the Kentucky Republican , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it `` unacceptable '' to allow the Senate to leave for a two-week July 4 recess without passing more legislation to respond to the outbreak .
They cited the need for Americans to cover costs of living , and the struggle for state and local governments to fund essential services including reopening schools in the fall .
`` Now is the time for action , not continued delays and political posturing , '' wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and New York , respectively .
Congress has approved more than $ 2.5 billion in aid to try to mitigate the damage the outbreak has caused to the health-care system and economy .
While Congress and the Federal Reserve have tried to sustain individuals ' incomes and help businesses keep employees on the payroll as states restart their economies , the U.S. unemployment rate was still above 13 % in May .
Congress is heading toward a critical deadline at the end of July , when an extra $ 600 per week federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans facing an income cliff .
At least 12 states saw their seven-day average of daily new cases rise to record highs last week , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Case spikes in Texas and Florida raised new concerns , forcing their governors to roll back reopening plans .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Sunday ordered bars to close in seven counties including Los Angeles as cases rose sharply in that state .
Last month , the House passed a $ 3 trillion coronavirus relief package that included relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay for essential workers , rent and mortgage assistance , and another round of direct payments to individuals .
The Senate has not moved to approve more aid since , as GOP leaders say they want to see how reopening affects the economy before they put together another bill .
On Friday , McConnell indicated the Senate would not consider more legislation until it returns from its recess in mid-July .
`` Sometime in July we 'll take a snapshot of where the country stands , see how the jobs are coming back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and if there is a final rescue package that 's when it will develop and it will start , once again , in my office , '' he said .
The Senate GOP leader said the House bill approved in May was not a `` serious effort . ''
President Donald Trump had showed interest in passing another relief measure , but the appetite for a bill in the White House appeared to wane after the better-than-expected May jobs report .
Trump 's advisors have floated stimulus proposals including a payroll tax cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending .
Pelosi and Schumer cited the new surge in cases in their argument to pass more relief .
As infections continue to rise , the U.S. has reported more than 2.5 million coronavirus cases and at least 125,000 deaths .
The Democrats wrote that `` Americans need and deserve bold action now . ''
`` On behalf of the millions of American families who desperately need Congressional action , we demand you change your mind and decide to work with us for the good of the country , '' they wrote to @ @

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) adjusts her scarf as she is followed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) inside the U.S. Capitol after it was announced U.S. congressional leaders and the White House agreed on nearly $500 billion more in coronavirus relief for the U.S. economy, bringing to nearly $3 trillion the amount allocated to deal with the crisis, in Washington, April 21, 2020.
The top congressional Democrats urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to immediately start talks on another coronavirus relief bill Monday as the pandemic continues to hammer the United States.
In a letter to the Kentucky Republican, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it "unacceptable" to allow the Senate to leave for a two-week July 4 recess without passing more legislation to respond to the outbreak. They cited the need for Americans to cover costs of living, and the struggle for state and local governments to fund essential services including reopening schools in the fall.
"Now is the time for action, not continued delays and political posturing," wrote Pelosi and Schumer, Democrats from California and New York, respectively.
Congress has approved more than $2.5 billion in aid to try to mitigate the damage the outbreak has caused to the health-care system and economy. While Congress and the Federal Reserve have tried to sustain individuals' incomes and help businesses keep employees on the payroll as states restart their economies, the U.S. unemployment rate was still above 13% in May.
Congress is heading toward a critical deadline at the end of July, when an extra $600 per week federal unemployment benefit expires and leaves millions of Americans facing an income cliff.
At least 12 states saw their seven-day average of daily new cases rise to record highs last week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Case spikes in Texas and Florida raised new concerns, forcing their governors to roll back reopening plans. California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday ordered bars to close in seven counties including Los Angeles as cases rose sharply in that state.
Last month, the House passed a $3 trillion coronavirus relief package that included relief for state and local governments, hazard pay for essential workers, rent and mortgage assistance, and another round of direct payments to individuals. The Senate has not moved to approve more aid since, as GOP leaders say they want to see how reopening affects the economy before they put together another bill.
On Friday, McConnell indicated the Senate would not consider more legislation until it returns from its recess in mid-July.
"Sometime in July we'll take a snapshot of where the country stands, see how the jobs are coming back, see where we think we are and if there is a final rescue package that's when it will develop and it will start, once again, in my office," he said. The Senate GOP leader said the House bill approved in May was not a "serious effort."
President Donald Trump had showed interest in passing another relief measure, but the appetite for a bill in the White House appeared to wane after the better-than-expected May jobs report. Trump's advisors have floated stimulus proposals including a payroll tax cut and incentives to encourage restaurant and entertainment spending.
Pelosi and Schumer cited the new surge in cases in their argument to pass more relief. As infections continue to rise, the U.S. has reported more than 2.5 million coronavirus cases and at least 125,000 deaths.
The Democrats wrote that "Americans need and deserve bold action now."
"On behalf of the millions of American families who desperately need Congressional action, we demand you change your mind and decide to work with us for the good of the country," they wrote to McConnell.
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cnbc--2020-06-29--Pelosi, Schumer call for Trump administration to brief Congress on Russia bounty claim

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to U.S. troops , with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani standing behind him , during an unannounced visit to Bagram Air Base , Afghanistan , November 28 , 2019 .
Congressional Democratic leaders demanded Monday that the Trump administration brief all members of the House and Senate on reports that Russia offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan .
`` The questions that arise are : was the President briefed , and if not , why not , and why was Congress not briefed , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and CIA chief Gina Haspel .
President Donald Trump has denied being briefed on the U.S. intelligence findings , reported first by The New York Times and later confirmed by other outlets , that a Russian military intelligence unit covertly offered Afghan militants rewards for killing coalition forces .
But one American official told the Times that the intelligence assessment had percolated to the highest levels of the White House , and another told the paper that it had been added to Trump 's daily brief .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Pelosi said in the letter .
`` I therefore request an interagency brief for all House Members immediately .
Congress needs to know what the intelligence community knows about this significant threat to American troops and our allies and what options are available to hold Russia accountable . ''
`` The Administration 's disturbing silence and inaction endanger the lives of our troops and our coalition partners , '' she added .
`` The President 's refusal to stand up to the Russians also jeopardizes lives in the region , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are engaged in critical peace negotiations with the Taliban . ''
Later Monday , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , called on Ratcliffe and Haspel to `` immediately brief all 100 senators '' on the reports .
`` We need to know whether or not President Trump was told this information , and if so , when , '' Schumer said in a statement , NBC News reported .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany in a Fox News interview Monday morning pushed back on the Times ' reporting , maintaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported intelligence and that the president has been `` very tough '' on Russia .
At a White House briefing later Monday , McEnany said chief of staff Mark Meadows had reached out Sunday night to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , D-Md.
, saying he would brief eight lawmakers from `` the committees of jurisdiction '' on the matter .
That meeting was ongoing shortly before the White House presser began , McEnany said .
A White House official told CNBC that only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that an additional briefing for House Democrats could be held by Monday evening or Tuesday morning .
The GOP attendees at the afternoon briefing were Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming , Mac Thornberry and Michael McCaul of Texas , Utah 's Chris Stewart , Jim Banks of Indiana , Elise Stefanik of New York , Arizona 's Andy Biggs and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois , the official said .
When asked at the press briefing if Trump had a message for Russia , McEnany said the president did not `` because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Trump tweeted Sunday that no one had informed him , Vice President Mike Pence or Meadows about the reported intelligence .
`` Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us , '' Trump said in the tweets , adding , `` Nobody 's been tougher on Russia than the Trump Administration . ''
Late Sunday night , Trump tweeted , `` Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible , and therefore did not report it to me '' or Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , speculated in that tweet that the story may have been a fabrication to `` make Republicans look bad . ''
Democrats , including presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden , have been quick to criticize the Trump administration for failing to hold Russia accountable in light of the intelligence , which had reportedly been flagged by U.S. intelligence officers as early as January .
The Times and The Wall Street Journal reported that the intelligence had been circulating inside the Trump administration since at least early spring .
The Washington Post reported Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are believed to have resulted in the deaths of multiple U.S. service members , citing intelligence gained from U.S. military interrogations of captured militants .
NBC News , citing three people briefed on the matter , also reported on the existence of U.S. intelligence that Russia offered to pay bounties to Taliban-linked fighters .
But one senior defense official told NBC there was no evidence any bounty was actually paid .
A Taliban spokesman denied making any deals with Russian intelligence , the Times reported .

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to U.S. troops, with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani standing behind him, during an unannounced visit to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, November 28, 2019.
Congressional Democratic leaders demanded Monday that the Trump administration brief all members of the House and Senate on reports that Russia offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
"The questions that arise are: was the President briefed, and if not, why not, and why was Congress not briefed," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a letter to Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and CIA chief Gina Haspel.
President Donald Trump has denied being briefed on the U.S. intelligence findings, reported first by The New York Times and later confirmed by other outlets, that a Russian military intelligence unit covertly offered Afghan militants rewards for killing coalition forces. But one American official told the Times that the intelligence assessment had percolated to the highest levels of the White House, and another told the paper that it had been added to Trump's daily brief.
"Congress and the country need answers now," Pelosi said in the letter. "I therefore request an interagency brief for all House Members immediately. Congress needs to know what the intelligence community knows about this significant threat to American troops and our allies and what options are available to hold Russia accountable."
"The Administration's disturbing silence and inaction endanger the lives of our troops and our coalition partners," she added. "The President's refusal to stand up to the Russians also jeopardizes lives in the region, as the Afghan government and the United States are engaged in critical peace negotiations with the Taliban."
Later Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on Ratcliffe and Haspel to "immediately brief all 100 senators" on the reports.
"We need to know whether or not President Trump was told this information, and if so, when," Schumer said in a statement, NBC News reported.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany in a Fox News interview Monday morning pushed back on the Times' reporting, maintaining that Trump was never briefed on the reported intelligence and that the president has been "very tough" on Russia.
At a White House briefing later Monday, McEnany said chief of staff Mark Meadows had reached out Sunday night to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., saying he would brief eight lawmakers from "the committees of jurisdiction" on the matter. That meeting was ongoing shortly before the White House presser began, McEnany said.
A White House official told CNBC that only House Republicans were briefed Monday afternoon, and that an additional briefing for House Democrats could be held by Monday evening or Tuesday morning.
The GOP attendees at the afternoon briefing were Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Mac Thornberry and Michael McCaul of Texas, Utah's Chris Stewart, Jim Banks of Indiana, Elise Stefanik of New York, Arizona's Andy Biggs and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, the official said.
When asked at the press briefing if Trump had a message for Russia, McEnany said the president did not "because he has not been briefed on the matter."
Trump tweeted Sunday that no one had informed him, Vice President Mike Pence or Meadows about the reported intelligence.
"Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us," Trump said in the tweets, adding, "Nobody's been tougher on Russia than the Trump Administration."
TWEETS
Late Sunday night, Trump tweeted, "Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me" or Pence. The president, without providing evidence, speculated in that tweet that the story may have been a fabrication to "make Republicans look bad."
Democrats, including presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden, have been quick to criticize the Trump administration for failing to hold Russia accountable in light of the intelligence, which had reportedly been flagged by U.S. intelligence officers as early as January.
The Times and The Wall Street Journal reported that the intelligence had been circulating inside the Trump administration since at least early spring.
The Washington Post reported Sunday that Russia's bounties to Taliban-linked forces are believed to have resulted in the deaths of multiple U.S. service members, citing intelligence gained from U.S. military interrogations of captured militants.
NBC News, citing three people briefed on the matter, also reported on the existence of U.S. intelligence that Russia offered to pay bounties to Taliban-linked fighters. But one senior defense official told NBC there was no evidence any bounty was actually paid.
A Taliban spokesman denied making any deals with Russian intelligence, the Times reported.


cnbc--2020-06-29--Supreme Court rejects death row inmates' appeal to stop federal executions

People wait in line to attend the opening day of the new term of the Supreme Court in Washington , October 1 , 2018 .
The Supreme Court said on Monday that it will not hear an appeal brought by four death row inmates seeking to block a lower court order allowing the Trump administration to move forward with their executions .
The decision was announced in an unsigned order .
Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor said they would have heard the appeal .
Attorney General William Barr announced last year that the government would carry out federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two decades .
The inmates challenged the execution protocol on the basis that the executions are required to be carried out `` in the manner provided by state law . ''
A federal district court ruled for the inmates , but a three-judge panel of the D.C. federal appeals court reversed that decision in April by a vote of 2-1 .
Three of the executions are scheduled to be carried out next month .
A fourth is scheduled for August .
The inmates , Danny Lee , Wesley Ira Purkey , Dustin Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all been convicted of murdering children , among other crimes .
The case is Alfred Bourgeois v. Attorney General William Barr , No .
19-1348 .

People wait in line to attend the opening day of the new term of the Supreme Court in Washington, October 1, 2018.
The Supreme Court said on Monday that it will not hear an appeal brought by four death row inmates seeking to block a lower court order allowing the Trump administration to move forward with their executions.
The decision was announced in an unsigned order. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor said they would have heard the appeal.
Attorney General William Barr announced last year that the government would carry out federal executions for the first time in nearly two decades.
The inmates challenged the execution protocol on the basis that the executions are required to be carried out "in the manner provided by state law."
A federal district court ruled for the inmates, but a three-judge panel of the D.C. federal appeals court reversed that decision in April by a vote of 2-1.
Three of the executions are scheduled to be carried out next month. A fourth is scheduled for August. The inmates, Danny Lee, Wesley Ira Purkey, Dustin Lee Honken and Keith Dwayne Nelson, have all been convicted of murdering children, among other crimes.
The case is Alfred Bourgeois v. Attorney General William Barr, No. 19-1348.


cnbc--2020-06-29--House GOP leader suggests without evidence that protests are driving up coronavirus cases

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Monday partly blamed spikes in the number of coronavirus cases nationwide on demonstrations in support of Black Lives Matter .
Dozens of states have reported increases in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases after reopening some businesses , with at least 12 states pushing their seven-day average of daily new cases to a record high last week , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
`` We phased in the openings and we knew something like this could happen but maybe not to this extent , '' McCarthy , a Republican , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Box .
California , which McCarthy represents , is among the states that has seen a substantial increase in the number of coronavirus cases in recent weeks .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Sunday ordered the closure of bars in Los Angeles and neighboring counties due to the spike .
The governors of Texas and Florida also ordered bars to be closed following dramatic upticks in their states .
`` The bars but also compounded on that , the protests , '' McCarthy said without citing any specific evidence linking protests to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I looked at that drone view of [ Los Angeles ] , where it was almost a mile-long shoulder-to-shoulder of people and they 're expressing , they 're vocal ... and now we 're finding that 's the easiest way to transmit to one another , the long periods of time next to one another . ''

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Monday partly blamed spikes in the number of coronavirus cases nationwide on demonstrations in support of Black Lives Matter.
Dozens of states have reported increases in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases after reopening some businesses, with at least 12 states pushing their seven-day average of daily new cases to a record high last week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
"We phased in the openings and we knew something like this could happen but maybe not to this extent," McCarthy, a Republican, said in an interview on CNBC's Squawk Box.
California, which McCarthy represents, is among the states that has seen a substantial increase in the number of coronavirus cases in recent weeks. California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday ordered the closure of bars in Los Angeles and neighboring counties due to the spike. The governors of Texas and Florida also ordered bars to be closed following dramatic upticks in their states.
"The bars but also compounded on that, the protests," McCarthy said without citing any specific evidence linking protests to a rise in cases. "When I looked at that drone view of [Los Angeles], where it was almost a mile-long shoulder-to-shoulder of people and they're expressing, they're vocal ... and now we're finding that's the easiest way to transmit to one another, the long periods of time next to one another."


cnbc--2020-06-29--Iran issues arrest warrant for Trump over killing of top commander Qasem Soleimani

People gather to protest the US air strike in Iraq that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani , who headed Iran 's Revolutionary Guards ' elite Quds force in Sanaa , Yemen on January 6 , 2020 .
Iran 's government has issued an arrest warrant for U.S. President Donald Trump over the killing of its top commander , Gen. Qasem Soleimani , in January , the country 's semiofficial Fars news agency reported Monday .
Tehran is also reportedly asking Interpol for help , according to Fars .
Ali Alghasi-Mehr , the attorney general of Tehran , named Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Soleimani 's death as facing `` murder and terrorism charges , '' and was quoted as saying he had asked Interpol to issue `` red notices '' for them — the highest level notice Interpol can issue on an individual to pursue their arrest .
Trump , however , is in no danger of arrest and it 's highly unlikely Interpol would honor Iran 's request , as the international agency 's guidelines forbid it from `` undertaking any intervention or activities of a political '' nature .
Red notices enable local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behalf of the requesting country , though they can not force the country to arrest or extradite suspects .
The Trump administration has so far not responded to Iran 's announcement .
Interpol did not immediately reply to a request for comment from CNBC .
Soleimani led Iran 's Quds Force , the foreign operations wing of the elite paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps .
The Trump administration labeled him a terrorist , and Washington deemed him responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. troops in Iraq .
The 62-year-old Soleimani was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump in early January while in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad , in a move that sent regional tensions and oil prices soaring and triggered a retaliatory attack by Iran and its proxies on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops .
In emphasizing Soleimani 's significance , one defense analyst called the strike `` the equivalent of Iran killing the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and then taking credit for it . ''

People gather to protest the US air strike in Iraq that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, who headed Iran's Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds force in Sanaa, Yemen on January 6, 2020.
Iran's government has issued an arrest warrant for U.S. President Donald Trump over the killing of its top commander, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, in January, the country's semiofficial Fars news agency reported Monday.
Tehran is also reportedly asking Interpol for help, according to Fars. Ali Alghasi-Mehr, the attorney general of Tehran, named Trump and 35 others Iran has accused of involvement in Soleimani's death as facing "murder and terrorism charges," and was quoted as saying he had asked Interpol to issue "red notices" for them — the highest level notice Interpol can issue on an individual to pursue their arrest.
Trump, however, is in no danger of arrest and it's highly unlikely Interpol would honor Iran's request, as the international agency's guidelines forbid it from "undertaking any intervention or activities of a political" nature. Red notices enable local law enforcement authorities to arrest individuals on behalf of the requesting country, though they cannot force the country to arrest or extradite suspects.
The Trump administration has so far not responded to Iran's announcement. Interpol did not immediately reply to a request for comment from CNBC.
Soleimani led Iran's Quds Force, the foreign operations wing of the elite paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Trump administration labeled him a terrorist, and Washington deemed him responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. troops in Iraq.
The 62-year-old Soleimani was killed in a drone strike directed by Trump in early January while in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, in a move that sent regional tensions and oil prices soaring and triggered a retaliatory attack by Iran and its proxies on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops.
In emphasizing Soleimani's significance, one defense analyst called the strike "the equivalent of Iran killing the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and then taking credit for it."


cnbc--2020-06-27--Op-Ed: Who China's Xi Jinping really wants to win the 2020 U.S. election

China is creating new facts on the ground , expanding its influence across the world – from the Balkans to the South China Sea – as the United States wrestles with the myriad distractions of coronavirus , recession , racial upheavals and presidential elections .
China also this week created a new fact in the Pacific Ocean .
Voters in the Republic of Kiribati , who gained their independence from the United Kingdom in 1979 , solidly returned President Taneti Maamau to power .
That rewarded his campaign built on embracing Beijing and discarding diplomatic relations with Taiwan .
Captain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kiribati 's Christmas Island on Christmas Eve of 1777 , would be rolling in his watery grave .
The atoll he claimed for the British could some day host port facilities for Chinese tourists or , more to the point , warships .
Seen in isolation , it 's easy to understand why this exotic story got so little attention this week .
However , Kiribati has a deeper meaning , and it 's not only for its geographic setting 1,300 miles south of Honolulu , as the only country in the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hemispheres and across 1.3 million square miles .
The election was one more of many signs ( see my column of May 2nd ) that China sees the current global situation , accelerated by COVID-19 's outsized blow to the United States , as a unique moment to gain global influence at Washington 's expense .
Kiribati helps that effort in two respects : narrowing the number of countries in the world recognizing Taiwan to just 15 and expanding its presence in waters dominated by U.S. Pacific Command .
And that brings me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether President Xi Jinping , the most dominant Chinese leader since Mao Tse Tung , wants President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden to win November 's presidential elections .
And might tilt everything from trade decisions to intelligence operations to extract his preferred outcome .
The reality is that President Xi has already decided who he prefers to be the victor in our 2020 elections – and that would be China .
We 're in the systemic struggle of our age , and the U.S. democratic system is facing one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history without any certainty about the outcome .
The situation is bound to get messier through the elections and , perhaps , far beyond .
The United States won its global role on the attractiveness of its values and the effectiveness of its institutions , charms that were tarnished even before the country 's worst-in-class performance in the face of coronavirus .
Deaths this week in the U.S. hit a world record 124,468 , and new covid-19 cases passed the 40,000 mark for the first time , leaving allies around the world bewildered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are telling their global partners this confirms further that the United States is a declining leader with a faltering model .
Beijing underscores the value of their brand of leadership , which focuses more on being at the center of global influence that on being atop the heap .
Over time , the United States may well self-correct , as it has done so often in history .
It 's also true that China continues to hurt its global cause through overreach , unfair trade practices and diplomatic bullying .
This week also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warier of the Chinese embrace .
`` We continue to have an unbalanced trade and investment relationship , '' said Ursula von der Leyen , European Commission president , after a summit with Chinese leaders .
She pressed Beijing to deliver on last year 's commitments on market access and to close negotiations on an investment agreement .
At the same time , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo surprised on Thursday his European partners by accepting their proposal , which he had seemed cool on earlier , to launch a new U.S.-EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU 's de facto foreign minister , raised the idea earlier in the week but soft-pedaled it when it initially seemed the U.S. lacked interest .
The U.S. also recently stepped up military reassurance efforts on behalf of its Asian allies .
This month , three U.S. carriers navigated the Philippine Sea and farther east , bringing with them a flock of fighter jets .
Congress is working on a Pacific Deterrence Initiative , a special budget that would spend nearly $ 7 billion over two years aimed , among other outcomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western Pacific .
Even with all that activity , China remains even busier , seizing opportunities wherever it senses a global leadership vacuum worth filling .
In the face of COVID-19 , it has demonstrated a remarkable ability to multi-task .
The evidence of that would fill volumes , but here are some fronts worth watching .
Beijing is accelerating its work toward creating a digital currency , planning for the moment that it may be able to shift its creditors to repayment in yuan .
Over time , it would hope to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global transactions and to sanction and print money .
Kristine Lee in Politico Magazine reports on how , with the Trump administration 's reduced interest in multilateral institutions , `` Beijing has systematically positioned Chinese nationals at the head of a wide range of U.N .
agencies . ''
That reflects `` Beijing 's savvy diplomatic maneuvering as a rising power , and its position as the world 's second largest-economy , '' she writes .
China also continues to expand its military capabilities in its region , defining 80 new geographic features @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own , some 55 submerged features , and moving toward the declaration of an Air Defense Identification Zone to tighten its air domain .
Perhaps most crucial to watch is Taiwan .
Chinese rhetoric is growing more aggressive , and its military activity in Taiwan 's air defense space is growing more frequent .
Beijing has sailed a new aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait , and it launched new destroyers last year .
Chinese military leaders have said they 'd like to make Taiwan their own by the time of the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of next year .
It will take a far more focused and consistent Washington , acting with greater cohesion alongside its global allies , to deter any such birthday aspirations .
Frederick Kempe is a best-selling author , prize-winning journalist and president & CEO of the Atlantic Council , one of the United States ' most influential think tanks on global affairs .
He worked at The Wall Street Journal for more than 25 years as a foreign correspondent , assistant managing editor and as the longest-serving editor of the paper 's European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Berlin 1961 : Kennedy , Khrushchev , and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth '' – was a New York Times best-seller and has been published in more than a dozen languages .
Follow him on Twitter @ FredKempe and subscribe here to Inflection Points , his look each Saturday at the past week 's top stories and trends .
For more insight from CNBC contributors , follow @ CNBCopinion on Twitter .

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a commercial street in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 22, 2020. Ju Peng | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images
China is creating new facts on the ground, expanding its influence across the world – from the Balkans to the South China Sea – as the United States wrestles with the myriad distractions of coronavirus, recession, racial upheavals and presidential elections. China also this week created a new fact in the Pacific Ocean. Voters in the Republic of Kiribati, who gained their independence from the United Kingdom in 1979, solidly returned President Taneti Maamau to power. That rewarded his campaign built on embracing Beijing and discarding diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Captain James Cook, who "discovered" Kiribati's Christmas Island on Christmas Eve of 1777, would be rolling in his watery grave. The atoll he claimed for the British could some day host port facilities for Chinese tourists or, more to the point, warships. Seen in isolation, it's easy to understand why this exotic story got so little attention this week. However, Kiribati has a deeper meaning, and it's not only for its geographic setting 1,300 miles south of Honolulu, as the only country in the world whose pieces are scattered in all four hemispheres and across 1.3 million square miles. The election was one more of many signs (see my column of May 2nd) that China sees the current global situation, accelerated by COVID-19's outsized blow to the United States, as a unique moment to gain global influence at Washington's expense. Kiribati helps that effort in two respects: narrowing the number of countries in the world recognizing Taiwan to just 15 and expanding its presence in waters dominated by U.S. Pacific Command. And that brings me to the stale debate in Washington over whether President Xi Jinping, the most dominant Chinese leader since Mao Tse Tung, wants President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden to win November's presidential elections. And might tilt everything from trade decisions to intelligence operations to extract his preferred outcome.
Xi's power preference
The reality is that President Xi has already decided who he prefers to be the victor in our 2020 elections – and that would be China. We're in the systemic struggle of our age, and the U.S. democratic system is facing one of the great stress tests of its history without any certainty about the outcome. The situation is bound to get messier through the elections and, perhaps, far beyond. The United States won its global role on the attractiveness of its values and the effectiveness of its institutions, charms that were tarnished even before the country's worst-in-class performance in the face of coronavirus. Deaths this week in the U.S. hit a world record 124,468, and new covid-19 cases passed the 40,000 mark for the first time, leaving allies around the world bewildered about their favorite superpower. Chinese leaders are telling their global partners this confirms further that the United States is a declining leader with a faltering model. Beijing underscores the value of their brand of leadership, which focuses more on being at the center of global influence that on being atop the heap. Over time, the United States may well self-correct, as it has done so often in history. It's also true that China continues to hurt its global cause through overreach, unfair trade practices and diplomatic bullying. This week also produced new signs that Europe has grown warier of the Chinese embrace. "We continue to have an unbalanced trade and investment relationship," said Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, after a summit with Chinese leaders. She pressed Beijing to deliver on last year's commitments on market access and to close negotiations on an investment agreement. At the same time, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo surprised on Thursday his European partners by accepting their proposal, which he had seemed cool on earlier, to launch a new U.S.-EU dialogue on China. Josep Borrell, the EU's de facto foreign minister, raised the idea earlier in the week but soft-pedaled it when it initially seemed the U.S. lacked interest. The U.S. also recently stepped up military reassurance efforts on behalf of its Asian allies. This month, three U.S. carriers navigated the Philippine Sea and farther east, bringing with them a flock of fighter jets. Congress is working on a Pacific Deterrence Initiative, a special budget that would spend nearly $7 billion over two years aimed, among other outcomes, at bolstering naval forces in the Western Pacific.
Seizing opportunities


cnbc--2020-06-28--Nancy Pelosi calls for CDC to mandate Americans wear masks amid surge in coronavirus cases

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday said that a federal mandate on wearing masks is `` long overdue , '' as state governors call for a consistent national message on the issue amid a surge in coronavirus cases across the nation .
Pelosi said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the use of masks to reduce the spread of the virus but never mandated it as to `` not offend '' President Donald Trump .
The president has repeatedly flouted public health guidelines by refusing to wear a mask in public since the start of the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example .
Real men wear masks , be an example to the country , wear a mask , '' Pelosi said in an interview on ABC 's `` This Week . ''
`` It 's not about protecting yourself , it 's about protecting others . ''
Mask wearing has become a point of contention across the U.S. , despite research showing that face coverings prevent coronavirus transmission .
U.S. coronavirus cases surged by more than 45,000 in one day on Friday , a record breaking spike that brought the nation 's total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday deflected a question about a federal mandate requiring Americans to wear masks , and said people should listen to what state and local officials are saying about wearing masks in public .
The vice president said in an interview on CBS ' `` Face the Nation '' that `` every state has a unique situation '' and `` we believe people should wear masks wherever social distancing is not possible . ''
Asked if the president and the vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an example on the wearing of masks , Arkansas Gov .
Asa Hutchinson , a Republican , said Sunday that there should be a `` consistent national message '' to wear masks .
`` You can have two messages at the same time .
Your message is , let 's grow our economy , but let 's also have the message of social distancing , protecting ourself and others from the virus , '' Hutchinson said in an interview on ABC 's `` This Week . ''
Arkansas , like a dozen other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in new coronavirus cases in recent days , with the seven-day average increasing 36 % .
Democratic nominee Joe Biden has said that if elected he would require the use of masks in public .
The CDC currently recommends that people wear face coverings in public where social distancing is hard to maintain , and some states and local communities require masks .
Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee on Sunday criticized the president for his `` damaging '' tweets and failure to provide a `` message of health '' to Americans to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeting the other day about the importance of masks , he tweeted about the monuments , '' Inslee said in an interview on CBS ' `` Face the Nation . ''
`` Now we need a president who will care more about living Americans and less about dead Confederates .
This has an enormous impact . ''
`` And if we can get everybody wearing a MAGA hat to wear a mask , we 're going to tame this virus , because this masking is very , very effective , '' Inslee added @

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday said that a federal mandate on wearing masks is "long overdue," as state governors call for a consistent national message on the issue amid a surge in coronavirus cases across the nation.
Pelosi said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the use of masks to reduce the spread of the virus but never mandated it as to "not offend" President Donald Trump.
The president has repeatedly flouted public health guidelines by refusing to wear a mask in public since the start of the outbreak.
"The president should be an example. Real men wear masks, be an example to the country, wear a mask," Pelosi said in an interview on ABC's "This Week." "It's not about protecting yourself, it's about protecting others."
Mask wearing has become a point of contention across the U.S., despite research showing that face coverings prevent coronavirus transmission.
U.S. coronavirus cases surged by more than 45,000 in one day on Friday, a record breaking spike that brought the nation's total to more than 2.5 million cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday deflected a question about a federal mandate requiring Americans to wear masks, and said people should listen to what state and local officials are saying about wearing masks in public.
The vice president said in an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation" that "every state has a unique situation" and "we believe people should wear masks wherever social distancing is not possible."
Asked if the president and the vice president should be doing more to set an example on the wearing of masks, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, said Sunday that there should be a "consistent national message" to wear masks.
"You can have two messages at the same time. Your message is, let's grow our economy, but let's also have the message of social distancing, protecting ourself and others from the virus," Hutchinson said in an interview on ABC's "This Week."
Arkansas, like a dozen other states, has seen a significant increase in new coronavirus cases in recent days, with the seven-day average increasing 36%.
Democratic nominee Joe Biden has said that if elected he would require the use of masks in public. The CDC currently recommends that people wear face coverings in public where social distancing is hard to maintain, and some states and local communities require masks.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Sunday criticized the president for his "damaging" tweets and failure to provide a "message of health" to Americans to help control the pandemic.
"Instead of tweeting the other day about the importance of masks, he tweeted about the monuments," Inslee said in an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation." "Now we need a president who will care more about living Americans and less about dead Confederates. This has an enormous impact."
"And if we can get everybody wearing a MAGA hat to wear a mask, we're going to tame this virus, because this masking is very, very effective," Inslee added.


cnbc--2020-07-02--House passes extension of coronavirus small business loan deadline

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , conducts a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center on Thursday , June 18 , 2020 .
The House passed a bill Wednesday to extend the deadline to apply for forgivable small business aid through a key coronavirus relief program .
The legislation , which the Senate already approved , extends the deadline to request Paycheck Protection Program loans to Aug. 8 from June 30 .
The measure , passed in a unanimous vote , heads to President Donald Trump for his signature .
Congress created the program as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed in March .
It aims to help small businesses keep employees on payroll during closures designed to slow the outbreak .
The Trump administration still has not doled out $ 130 billion in loan funds set aside for the program .
Congress first put $ 349 billion into the PPP , but the money quickly evaporated .
It then injected another $ 310 billion into the program , with $ 60 billion set aside for small lenders in response to concerns that companies with no existing banking relationship had trouble getting loans @

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., conducts a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center on Thursday, June 18, 2020.
The House passed a bill Wednesday to extend the deadline to apply for forgivable small business aid through a key coronavirus relief program.
The legislation, which the Senate already approved, extends the deadline to request Paycheck Protection Program loans to Aug. 8 from June 30. The measure, passed in a unanimous vote, heads to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Congress created the program as part of the $2 trillion pandemic rescue package passed in March. It aims to help small businesses keep employees on payroll during closures designed to slow the outbreak.
The Trump administration still has not doled out $130 billion in loan funds set aside for the program.
Congress first put $349 billion into the PPP, but the money quickly evaporated. It then injected another $310 billion into the program, with $60 billion set aside for small lenders in response to concerns that companies with no existing banking relationship had trouble getting loans.


cnbc--2020-07-01--Trump says 'masks are good,' but doubts national mandate is needed as coronavirus cases rise

President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign rally in Battle Creek , Michigan .
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he 's `` all for masks , '' but does n't think the U.S. needs a national mandate for people to wear them during the coronavirus pandemic .
`` I do n't know if you need mandatory , '' Trump said when asked in a Fox Business Network interview if he would support a national order for people to wear masks in public .
`` You have many places in the country where people stay very long distance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm all for masks , I think masks are good , '' the president said , adding that he has been seen wearing one in situations where he was in a group of people .
`` Usually I 'm not in that position , '' said Trump , who noted that `` everyone gets tested [ for Covid-19 ] before they see me . ''
But `` I 'd have no problem , '' Trump said .
`` I had a mask on , I sort of liked the way i looked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives by helping prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease , according to numerous health experts .
It might also have a financial benefit , according to a Goldman Sachs analyst who found that a mask mandate would substitute for national lockdowns that would otherwise subtract 5 % of GDP .
Trump told Fox Business that the U.S. economy is already heading for a `` V-shaped '' recovery – a sharp decline followed by a sharp gain – touting recent figures such as the month-to-month percentage gains in retail sales .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very good with the coronavirus , '' Trump said .
`` I think that at some point that 's going to sort of just disappear , I hope . ''
But the virus is not disappearing – In fact , cases are surging in numerous parts of the country .
Trump 's own White House health advisor , Dr. Anthony Fauci , warned Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak is `` going to be very disturbing '' if it continues on its current trajectory .
`` I think we 're going to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump added in the interview .
This is breaking news .
Please check back for updates .

President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign rally in Battle Creek, Michigan.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he's "all for masks," but doesn't think the U.S. needs a national mandate for people to wear them during the coronavirus pandemic.
"I don't know if you need mandatory," Trump said when asked in a Fox Business Network interview if he would support a national order for people to wear masks in public.
"You have many places in the country where people stay very long distance," Trump said.
"But I'm all for masks, I think masks are good," the president said, adding that he has been seen wearing one in situations where he was in a group of people.
"Usually I'm not in that position," said Trump, who noted that "everyone gets tested [for Covid-19] before they see me."
But "I'd have no problem," Trump said. "I had a mask on, I sort of liked the way i looked."
A national mask mandate could save lives by helping prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease, according to numerous health experts.
It might also have a financial benefit, according to a Goldman Sachs analyst who found that a mask mandate would substitute for national lockdowns that would otherwise subtract 5% of GDP.
Trump told Fox Business that the U.S. economy is already heading for a "V-shaped" recovery – a sharp decline followed by a sharp gain – touting recent figures such as the month-to-month percentage gains in retail sales.
"I think we're going to be very good with the coronavirus," Trump said. "I think that at some point that's going to sort of just disappear, I hope."
But the virus is not disappearing – In fact, cases are surging in numerous parts of the country. Trump's own White House health advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak is "going to be very disturbing" if it continues on its current trajectory.
"I think we're going to have a vaccine very soon, too," Trump added in the interview.


cnbc--2020-07-01--Top U.S. Air Force officer praises Boeing CEO for fixes to aerial tanker

WASHINGTON — The nation 's highest-ranking Air Force officer praised Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun for quickly working with the Department of Defense to fix the KC-46 aerial refueling tanker , which the defense contractor promised would be the backbone of U.S. airpower .
`` I 'm far more confident today in the performance and the behavior of Boeing on the KC-46 than I ever been in my entire time here and I give the new CEO , a lot of credit for being a man of his word , '' Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who ascended to the top spot at Boeing in January , committed to the four-star general that he would rectify the issues lumbering over the new tanker program .
`` Three days after the new CEO Dave Calhoun got in place , I wrote him a letter , he came to see me .
We had a very frank conversation and I asked him for a couple of things , '' Goldfein said .
He said he told Calhoun : `` Listen , I 'm not seeing the resources being placed against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I 'm no longer interested in half measures when it comes to remote visual system , and quite frankly I 'm not seeing the talent from the company on this program that I should be seeing . ''
Last January , after a two-year delay , the Air Force received its first two Boeing aerial refueling tankers .
And while the Air Force plans to buy 179 tankers , the program has been plagued with a litany of problems , including foreign object debris and issues with the camera system used during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major milestone for the program which was more than $ 3 billion over budget .

WASHINGTON — The nation's highest-ranking Air Force officer praised Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun for quickly working with the Department of Defense to fix the KC-46 aerial refueling tanker, which the defense contractor promised would be the backbone of U.S. airpower.
"I'm far more confident today in the performance and the behavior of Boeing on the KC-46 than I ever been in my entire time here and I give the new CEO, a lot of credit for being a man of his word," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said in a teleconference hosted by Brookings.
Calhoun, who ascended to the top spot at Boeing in January, committed to the four-star general that he would rectify the issues lumbering over the new tanker program.
"Three days after the new CEO Dave Calhoun got in place, I wrote him a letter, he came to see me. We had a very frank conversation and I asked him for a couple of things," Goldfein said.
He said he told Calhoun: "Listen, I'm not seeing the resources being placed against this program that need to be placed. I'm no longer interested in half measures when it comes to remote visual system, and quite frankly I'm not seeing the talent from the company on this program that I should be seeing."
Last January, after a two-year delay, the Air Force received its first two Boeing aerial refueling tankers. And while the Air Force plans to buy 179 tankers, the program has been plagued with a litany of problems, including foreign object debris and issues with the camera system used during the refueling process.
The delivery marked a major milestone for the program which was more than $3 billion over budget.


cnbc--2020-07-02--Trump says he supports 'larger' payments to Americans than Democrats in next coronavirus relief bill

Trump said last month that the U.S. will be doing a `` very generous '' additional stimulus package .
The president did not , however , seem keen on continuing enhanced unemployment benefits .
`` I do , I support it , but it has to be done properly , '' Trump said when asked during a Fox Business Network interview at the White House whether he was in favor of sending another round of stimulus checks to blunt the impact of the coronavirus pandemic .
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he supports another round of direct payments to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give out more money than Democrats have already proposed .
But it 's unclear at this point what form another round of relief will look like , as Capitol Hill remains locked in debate over what should be included in a so-called Phase 4 stimulus package .
House Democrats in May passed their vision for additional relief , dubbed the HEROES Act .
The bill includes a second round of $ 1,200 direct payments to individuals , allowing for up to $ 6,000 per household , and would extend the $ 600 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That level of unemployment insurance is currently set to expire at the end of this month .
`` We had something where they wanted where it gave you a disincentive to work last time , '' Trump said in the Fox Business interview .
`` We want to create a very great incentive to work . ''
`` So we 're working on that , and I 'm sure it 'll all come together . ''
When asked to clarify if he wanted larger direct payments or larger unemployment benefits , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting to people to be larger so they can spend it .
I want the money to get there quickly and in a non-complicated fashion . ''
Senate Democrats , led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden of Oregon , outlined a plan Wednesday to keep up the enhanced unemployment benefits until a state 's unemployment rate falls .
Republicans opposed extending the hiked-up unemployment insurance , arguing it deters employees from returning to work .
`` They wanted to make it too complicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Democrats .
`` Also it was an incentive not to go to work .
You 'd make more money if you do n't go to work .
That 's not what the country 's all about , '' Trump said .
`` We want to create a tremendous incentive for people to want to go back to work . ''
This is breaking news .
Please check back for updates .

Trump said last month that the U.S. will be doing a "very generous" additional stimulus package.
The president did not, however, seem keen on continuing enhanced unemployment benefits.
"I do, I support it, but it has to be done properly," Trump said when asked during a Fox Business Network interview at the White House whether he was in favor of sending another round of stimulus checks to blunt the impact of the coronavirus pandemic .
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he supports another round of direct payments to Americans – and claimed he wants to give out more money than Democrats have already proposed.
But it's unclear at this point what form another round of relief will look like, as Capitol Hill remains locked in debate over what should be included in a so-called Phase 4 stimulus package.
House Democrats in May passed their vision for additional relief, dubbed the HEROES Act. The bill includes a second round of $1,200 direct payments to individuals, allowing for up to $6,000 per household, and would extend the $600 per week federal unemployment insurance benefit through January. That level of unemployment insurance is currently set to expire at the end of this month.
"We had something where they wanted where it gave you a disincentive to work last time," Trump said in the Fox Business interview. "We want to create a very great incentive to work."
"So we're working on that, and I'm sure it'll all come together."
When asked to clarify if he wanted larger direct payments or larger unemployment benefits, Trump replied: "I want the money getting to people to be larger so they can spend it. I want the money to get there quickly and in a non-complicated fashion."
Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden of Oregon, outlined a plan Wednesday to keep up the enhanced unemployment benefits until a state's unemployment rate falls. Republicans opposed extending the hiked-up unemployment insurance, arguing it deters employees from returning to work.
"They wanted to make it too complicated," Trump said, apparently referring to Democrats.
"Also it was an incentive not to go to work. You'd make more money if you don't go to work. That's not what the country's all about," Trump said. "We want to create a tremendous incentive for people to want to go back to work."
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.


cnbc--2020-07-01--Trump campaign backs off in-person events as coronavirus cases pick up

US President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the BOK Center on June 20 , 2020 in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
With coronavirus cases on the rise , the Trump campaign is backing off its plans to resume an aggressive schedule of in-person rallies and meetups .
The next planned event on the horizon , a rally in Alabama that was never formally announced but expected to take place this month , has been scrapped , officials familiar with the matter told NBC News on Wednesday .
The Trump campaign had been exploring venues for a gathering in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
That potential rally , first reported by CNN , was planned to take place on the eve of the Republican Senate primary election between former football coach Tommy Tuberville , whom President Donald Trump endorsed , and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions , a frequent target of Trump 's ire .
The decision to scrap plans for the event was partially due to concerns over the rise in Covid-19 cases , according to NBC .
Several states , mostly in the American South and West , are experiencing a surge in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their plans to reopen their economies .
The Trump campaign has been widely criticized for its decision to forge ahead with a handful of recent public events despite the jump in infections .
`` No rally has been announced and we never comment on rally planning , '' Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh told CNBC when asked about the reported Alabama event .
`` The campaign is constantly gathering information and investigating rally dates and locations . ''
The Tuberville campaign did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ packed arenas of enthusiastic supporters were the trademark feature of his successful 2016 campaign .
He continued to hold them throughout much of his first term in office .
But the coronavirus pandemic forced the Trump campaign in March to stop holding rallies for more than three months , depriving Trump of one of the most-used weapons in his campaign arsenal .
During that interlude , former Vice President Joe Biden emerged from the Democratic primary fight to become the party 's presumptive nominee .
Biden , who has rarely held in-person campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's attention , now holds a commanding lead over Trump in the polls .
Trump has been eager to see the country reopen and to return to the campaign trail .
Ahead of his Tulsa , Oklahoma , rally late last month — his first such event since early March — Trump tweeted , `` My campaign has n't started yet .
It starts on Saturday night in Oklahoma ! ''

US President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the BOK Center on June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
With coronavirus cases on the rise, the Trump campaign is backing off its plans to resume an aggressive schedule of in-person rallies and meetups.
The next planned event on the horizon, a rally in Alabama that was never formally announced but expected to take place this month, has been scrapped, officials familiar with the matter told NBC News on Wednesday. The Trump campaign had been exploring venues for a gathering in Alabama in the coming weeks, NBC reported.
That potential rally, first reported by CNN, was planned to take place on the eve of the Republican Senate primary election between former football coach Tommy Tuberville, whom President Donald Trump endorsed, and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a frequent target of Trump's ire.
The decision to scrap plans for the event was partially due to concerns over the rise in Covid-19 cases, according to NBC.
Several states, mostly in the American South and West, are experiencing a surge in cases, and many governors are halting their plans to reopen their economies. The Trump campaign has been widely criticized for its decision to forge ahead with a handful of recent public events despite the jump in infections.
"No rally has been announced and we never comment on rally planning," Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh told CNBC when asked about the reported Alabama event. "The campaign is constantly gathering information and investigating rally dates and locations."
The Tuberville campaign did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
Trump's lengthy, freewheeling speeches to packed arenas of enthusiastic supporters were the trademark feature of his successful 2016 campaign. He continued to hold them throughout much of his first term in office. But the coronavirus pandemic forced the Trump campaign in March to stop holding rallies for more than three months, depriving Trump of one of the most-used weapons in his campaign arsenal.
During that interlude, former Vice President Joe Biden emerged from the Democratic primary fight to become the party's presumptive nominee. Biden, who has rarely held in-person campaign events since the pandemic gripped the nation's attention, now holds a commanding lead over Trump in the polls.
Trump has been eager to see the country reopen and to return to the campaign trail. Ahead of his Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally late last month — his first such event since early March — Trump tweeted, "My campaign hasn't started yet. It starts on Saturday night in Oklahoma!"


cnbc--2020-07-01--Senators to review federal media agency funding after CEO Michael Pack purges staff

Senators from both parties are planning to review the funding of a federal media agency after its CEO purged the heads of the organization .
The senators co-authored a letter to Michael Pack , the CEO , on Tuesday , voicing their concerns about his recent move to fire or demote longtime leaders of the entities under the U.S .
Global Agency for Media , including those who ran Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty , the Middle East Broadcasting Network and the Open Technology Fund .
The letter was signed by GOP Sens .
Marco Rubio , Lindsey Graham , Susan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Democratic Sens .
Richard Durbin , Patrick Leahy and Chris Van Hollen .
`` These actions , which came without any consultation with congress , let along notification , raise serious questions about the future of the U.S. Agency for Global Media ( USAGM ) under your leadership , '' the letter said .
Beyond voicing their dismay to the decision to sweep out career officials , they also said they plan to review the agency 's funding in the wake of his decision .
`` Given the bipartisan and bicameral concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do a thorough review of USAGM 's funding , '' the letter explained .
This is the first sign of Democrats and Republicans coming together to potentially reign in Pack 's methods of running USAGM .
Rubio has a connection to the former head of the Radio Free Europe .
Jamie Fly , the former president of the network , was once an aide to the Florida Republican .
Pack has been under scrutiny by congressional leaders ever since he was confirmed in June .
President Donald Trump , who nominated him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor of Pack 's nomination , while blasting Voice of America , another entity under USAGM .
Sen. Bob Menendez and Rep. Eliot Engel have often led the charge against Pack for Democrats , with the New York congressman calling for Pack to attend a hearing this month .
Pack has moved ahead with installing interim heads of the USAGM media groups , including Jeffrey Shapiro , who was reportedly an ally of former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and now leads the Office of Cuba Broadcasting .

Senators from both parties are planning to review the funding of a federal media agency after its CEO purged the heads of the organization.
The senators co-authored a letter to Michael Pack, the CEO, on Tuesday, voicing their concerns about his recent move to fire or demote longtime leaders of the entities under the U.S. Global Agency for Media, including those who ran Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Network and the Open Technology Fund.
The letter was signed by GOP Sens. Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins and Jerry Moran, as well as Democratic Sens. Richard Durbin, Patrick Leahy and Chris Van Hollen.
"These actions, which came without any consultation with congress, let along notification, raise serious questions about the future of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) under your leadership," the letter said.
Beyond voicing their dismay to the decision to sweep out career officials, they also said they plan to review the agency's funding in the wake of his decision.
"Given the bipartisan and bicameral concern with recent events, we intend to do a thorough review of USAGM's funding," the letter explained.
This is the first sign of Democrats and Republicans coming together to potentially reign in Pack's methods of running USAGM.
Rubio has a connection to the former head of the Radio Free Europe. Jamie Fly, the former president of the network, was once an aide to the Florida Republican.
Pack has been under scrutiny by congressional leaders ever since he was confirmed in June. President Donald Trump, who nominated him, publicly pushed Republican lawmakers to vote in favor of Pack's nomination, while blasting Voice of America, another entity under USAGM.
Sen. Bob Menendez and Rep. Eliot Engel have often led the charge against Pack for Democrats, with the New York congressman calling for Pack to attend a hearing this month.
Pack has moved ahead with installing interim heads of the USAGM media groups, including Jeffrey Shapiro, who was reportedly an ally of former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and now leads the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.


cnbc--2020-07-01--Supreme Court strikes down Louisiana law that would have limited state to one abortion clinic

A placard saying , Abortion is a Human Right , is seen during the `` Stop The Bans Day of Action for Abortion Rights '' rally in front of the Supreme Court in Washington , DC .
The Supreme Court on Monday voted 5-4 to strike down a restrictive Louisiana abortion measure in a major win for reproductive rights activists , with Chief Justice John Roberts siding with the court 's four liberals .
Justice Stephen Breyer , who authored an opinion joined by his fellow Democratic appointees , wrote that the law placed an undue burden on women seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his thinking was based on the court 's 2016 decision to strike down a similar law in Texas .
The case involved a Louisiana abortion law requiring doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their clinic .
Challengers of the law alleged the restriction would limit the state to just one abortion provider at a single clinic .
Breyer wrote that the law posed a `` substantial obstacle '' on women and provided `` no significant health-related benefits , '' and therefore was unconstitutional .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be argued before President Donald Trump 's two appointees , Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh .
Nancy Northup , president of the Center for Reproductive Rights , which challenged the Louisiana abortion law at the top court , said in a statement that `` we 're relieved that the Louisiana law has been blocked today but we 're concerned about tomorrow . ''
`` With this win , the clinics in Louisiana can stay open to serve the one million women of reproductive age in the state .
But the Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more restrictive laws when clarity is needed if abortion rights are to be protected , '' Northup said .
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry , a Republican said in a statement that the top court had `` continued its heartbreaking line of decisions that places 'access ' to abortion above the health and safety of women and girls . ''
`` It is deeply disappointing that the Chief Justice continues a pattern of inconsistent and groundless decisions , '' Landry said .
`` In his misguided effort to convince the public that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Roberts shows how political it actually is . ''
Gov .
John Bel Edwards , a Democrat who voted in favor of the abortion law while in the Louisiana House of Representatives , said in a statement that he was `` disappointed '' with the Supreme Court 's ruling but that he respected the decision `` and trust that Louisiana and our nation will continue to move forward . ''
Marjorie Dannenfelser , the president of the Susan B. Anthony List , called the ruling a `` bitter disappointment . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court to allow the American people to protect the well-being of women from the tentacles of a brutal and profit-seeking abortion industry , '' Dannenfelser said .
Dannenfelser said the Supreme Court decision `` reinforces just how important Supreme Court judges are to advancing the pro-life cause '' and called it `` imperative that we re-elect President Trump and our pro-life majority in the U.S. Senate so we can further restore the judiciary , most especially the Supreme Court . ''
The case is the third in a string of major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have come in the midst of an election battle between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
Earlier this month , Roberts joined the court 's four Democratic appointees rebuffing the Trump administration 's effort to terminate the Obama-era immigration program known as DACA .
Also in June , Roberts and Gorsuch sided with the four liberals in a decision that held that gay and transgender workers ca n't be fired on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity .
Trump campaigned on nominating justices who would `` automatically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ v. Wade , and the Department of Justice supported Louisiana in the case .
`` States have legitimate interests in regulating any medical procedure — including abortions — to protect patient safety , '' McEnany said in a statement .
`` Instead of valuing fundamental democratic principles , unelected Justices have intruded on the sovereign prerogatives of State governments by imposing their own policy preference in favor of abortion to override legitimate abortion safety regulations '' A federal judge declared the Louisiana law unconstitutional in 2017 , but that decision was reversed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Circuit Court of Appeals .
The Supreme Court put the appeals court ruling on hold last year while it considered the case .

A placard saying, Abortion is a Human Right, is seen during the "Stop The Bans Day of Action for Abortion Rights" rally in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, DC.
The Supreme Court on Monday voted 5-4 to strike down a restrictive Louisiana abortion measure in a major win for reproductive rights activists, with Chief Justice John Roberts siding with the court's four liberals.
Justice Stephen Breyer, who authored an opinion joined by his fellow Democratic appointees, wrote that the law placed an undue burden on women seeking abortions. Roberts wrote separately to say his thinking was based on the court's 2016 decision to strike down a similar law in Texas.
The case involved a Louisiana abortion law requiring doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their clinic. Challengers of the law alleged the restriction would limit the state to just one abortion provider at a single clinic.
Breyer wrote that the law posed a "substantial obstacle" on women and provided "no significant health-related benefits," and therefore was unconstitutional.
The dispute was the first over abortion to be argued before President Donald Trump's two appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which challenged the Louisiana abortion law at the top court, said in a statement that "we're relieved that the Louisiana law has been blocked today but we're concerned about tomorrow."
"With this win, the clinics in Louisiana can stay open to serve the one million women of reproductive age in the state. But the Court's decision could embolden states to pass even more restrictive laws when clarity is needed if abortion rights are to be protected," Northup said.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican said in a statement that the top court had "continued its heartbreaking line of decisions that places 'access' to abortion above the health and safety of women and girls."
"It is deeply disappointing that the Chief Justice continues a pattern of inconsistent and groundless decisions," Landry said. "In his misguided effort to convince the public that the Supreme Court is not political, Justice Roberts shows how political it actually is."
Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who voted in favor of the abortion law while in the Louisiana House of Representatives, said in a statement that he was "disappointed" with the Supreme Court's ruling but that he respected the decision "and trust that Louisiana and our nation will continue to move forward."
Anti-abortion groups immediately criticized the decision.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, called the ruling a "bitter disappointment."
"It demonstrates once again the failure of the Supreme Court to allow the American people to protect the well-being of women from the tentacles of a brutal and profit-seeking abortion industry," Dannenfelser said.
Dannenfelser said the Supreme Court decision "reinforces just how important Supreme Court judges are to advancing the pro-life cause" and called it "imperative that we re-elect President Trump and our pro-life majority in the U.S. Senate so we can further restore the judiciary, most especially the Supreme Court."
The case is the third in a string of major victories for liberals at the high court that have come in the midst of an election battle between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Earlier this month, Roberts joined the court's four Democratic appointees rebuffing the Trump administration's effort to terminate the Obama-era immigration program known as DACA.
Also in June, Roberts and Gorsuch sided with the four liberals in a decision that held that gay and transgender workers can't be fired on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Trump campaigned on nominating justices who would "automatically" overturn the landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade, and the Department of Justice supported Louisiana in the case.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany called the ruling "unfortunate."
"States have legitimate interests in regulating any medical procedure — including abortions — to protect patient safety," McEnany said in a statement. "Instead of valuing fundamental democratic principles, unelected Justices have intruded on the sovereign prerogatives of State governments by imposing their own policy preference in favor of abortion to override legitimate abortion safety regulations"
A federal judge declared the Louisiana law unconstitutional in 2017, but that decision was reversed by a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court put the appeals court ruling on hold last year while it considered the case.


cnbc--2020-07-02--Accused Jeffrey Epstein sex crimes accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell arrested at $1 million New Hampshire

Accused Jeffrey Epstein sex crimes accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell arrested at $1 million New Hampshire home

Ghislaine Maxwell , the accused procurer for dead convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein , was arrested Thursday at a New Hampshire home purchased in an all-cash transaction for $ 1 million last December by a `` legal entity . ''
That entity , a limited liability corporation , was created after the homeowner 's real estate agent balked at selling to an anonymous buyer , the agent told CNBC .
`` I assumed it was a famous actress '' who bought the secluded property , the seller 's agent said in a phone interview .
The agent spoke within hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that British socialite Maxwell was busted by the FBI at the 156-acre property in Bradford , New Hampshire , at around 8:30 a.m .
ET .
A large boulder on the property is carved with the words `` Tuckedaway . ''
`` Never met her , never saw her , '' said the agent , who requested anonymity because she did not want her name associated with Maxwell and the Epstein case .
Authorities said Thursday that Maxwell was caught at a 156-acre property in that town , where land records list just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East Washington Road .
`` The defendant appears to have been hiding on a 156-acre property acquired in an all-cash purchase in December 2019 ( through a carefully anonymized LLC ) in Bradford , New Hampshire , an area to which she has no other known connections , '' said a court filing by Manhattan federal prosecutors .
An LLC is a limited liability corporation .
Other records show the buyer was Granite Reality LLC , whose listed manager is a Boston lawyer named Jeffrey Roberts .
Roberts did not immediately respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site of his firm , Nutter McClennen & Fish , says that Roberts `` chairs Nutter 's Private Client Department and serves as a member of the firm 's Executive Committee . ''
`` His broad-based practice consists of estate planning for high net worth individuals , '' among other areas , according to the web site .
Nutter , whose spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment , is located at the same Boston address as the mailing address of the LLC that bought the property .
William Sweeney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in charge of the New York Field Office , said of Maxwell , `` She slithered away to a gorgeous property in New Hampshire , continuing to live a life of privilege while her victims continue to live with the trauma inflicted on them years earlier . ''
Maxwell 's criminal defense lawyer , Lawrence Vogelman , declined to comment when CNBC when asked if she was the actual buyer of the property .
The property was featured by WMUR-9 in May 2019 in an article titled `` Mansion Monday : Peace , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' which says : `` this custom-built timber frame home in Bradford is one where you can truly get away from it all . ''
The main residence has `` four bedrooms , three full bathrooms and one half-bath , '' according to WMUR , which called the home `` an amazing retreat for the nature lover who also wants total privacy . ''
`` From every room , there are views of the Mt .
Sunapee foothills to the west , '' the article said .
Maxwell , 58 , appeared in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest to begin facing charges of conspiring with the now-dead Epstein in the mid-1990s to sexually abuse underage girls , as well as on two counts of perjury .
The daughter of crooked media mogul Robert Maxwell is accused of helping Epstein recruit and groom girls as young as 14 to satisfy his sexual obsessions , and of participating in the alleged abuse at times herself .
The charges were filed in Manhattan federal court by the same prosecutors ' office that had Epstein arrested last July on child sex trafficking charges related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At Thursday 's hearing in New Hampshire , a magistrate judge granted Maxwell her request to be sent to Manhattan , in the custody of U.S. marshals , for a detention hearing that will decide whether she can be released on bail .
Epstein , a wealthy investor who was a former friend of Prince Andrew and of Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton hanged himself in a Manhattan federal jail last August after being denied bail .
Until last December , the property where Maxwell was arrested was owned by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agent said the property features an `` absolutely gorgeous home .
It had a main house and a guest house . ''
When it went on sale , the agent was contacted by representatives of a would-be buyer , who wanted to purchase the residence and land without disclosing their identity .
`` At first they did n't want to tell me their names , '' the agent said of the buyer 's representatives , who wanted to use a `` totally fictitious name '' for the purchaser on sales records .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anonymous person , a legal entity was created by the buyer , the agent said .
`` We checked out that it was a legal entity , '' said the agent , adding that it is not uncommon for purchases to be either trusts or limited liability corporations created for that purpose .
The agent also noted that the buyer `` wanted a quick closing . ''
At the closing of the sale , the buyer did not appear , but had a representative handle the transaction , according to the agent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Aerial view of the home of Ghislaine Maxwell in Bradford, New Hampshire. NBC News
Ghislaine Maxwell, the accused procurer for dead convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested Thursday at a New Hampshire home purchased in an all-cash transaction for $1 million last December by a "legal entity." That entity, a limited liability corporation, was created after the homeowner's real estate agent balked at selling to an anonymous buyer, the agent told CNBC. "I assumed it was a famous actress" who bought the secluded property, the seller's agent said in a phone interview. The agent spoke within hours of learning from another real estate agent that British socialite Maxwell was busted by the FBI at the 156-acre property in Bradford, New Hampshire, at around 8:30 a.m. ET. A large boulder on the property is carved with the words "Tuckedaway." "Never met her, never saw her," said the agent, who requested anonymity because she did not want her name associated with Maxwell and the Epstein case.
Ghislaine Maxwell attends VIP Evening of Conversation for Women's Brain Health Initiative, Moderated by Tina Brown at Spring Studios on October 18, 2016 in New York City. Sylvain Gaboury | Patrick McMullan | Getty Images
Authorities said Thursday that Maxwell was caught at a 156-acre property in that town, where land records list just one lot of that size, on East Washington Road. "The defendant appears to have been hiding on a 156-acre property acquired in an all-cash purchase in December 2019 (through a carefully anonymized LLC) in Bradford, New Hampshire, an area to which she has no other known connections," said a court filing by Manhattan federal prosecutors. An LLC is a limited liability corporation. Other records show the buyer was Granite Reality LLC, whose listed manager is a Boston lawyer named Jeffrey Roberts. Roberts did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The web site of his firm, Nutter McClennen & Fish, says that Roberts "chairs Nutter's Private Client Department and serves as a member of the firm's Executive Committee." "His broad-based practice consists of estate planning for high net worth individuals," among other areas, according to the web site. Nutter, whose spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment, is located at the same Boston address as the mailing address of the LLC that bought the property. William Sweeney, the assistant director of the FBI in charge of the New York Field Office, said of Maxwell, "She slithered away to a gorgeous property in New Hampshire, continuing to live a life of privilege while her victims continue to live with the trauma inflicted on them years earlier." Maxwell's criminal defense lawyer, Lawrence Vogelman, declined to comment when CNBC when asked if she was the actual buyer of the property. The property was featured by WMUR-9 in May 2019 in an article titled "Mansion Monday: Peace, quiet and breathtaking views in Bradford," which says: "this custom-built timber frame home in Bradford is one where you can truly get away from it all."
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The main residence has "four bedrooms, three full bathrooms and one half-bath," according to WMUR, which called the home "an amazing retreat for the nature lover who also wants total privacy." "From every room, there are views of the Mt. Sunapee foothills to the west," the article said. Maxwell, 58, appeared in New Hampshire federal court hours after her arrest to begin facing charges of conspiring with the now-dead Epstein in the mid-1990s to sexually abuse underage girls, as well as on two counts of perjury. The daughter of crooked media mogul Robert Maxwell is accused of helping Epstein recruit and groom girls as young as 14 to satisfy his sexual obsessions, and of participating in the alleged abuse at times herself. The charges were filed in Manhattan federal court by the same prosecutors' office that had Epstein arrested last July on child sex trafficking charges related to alleged conduct from 2002 through 2005. At Thursday's hearing in New Hampshire, a magistrate judge granted Maxwell her request to be sent to Manhattan, in the custody of U.S. marshals, for a detention hearing that will decide whether she can be released on bail. Epstein, a wealthy investor who was a former friend of Prince Andrew and of Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton hanged himself in a Manhattan federal jail last August after being denied bail. Until last December, the property where Maxwell was arrested was owned by a lawyer. The lawyer's real estate agent said the property features an "absolutely gorgeous home. It had a main house and a guest house."
The words "Tucked Away" sit at the end of a driveway to the property where Ghislaine Maxwell may have been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Bradford, New Hampshire, U.S., July 2, 2020. Brian Snyder | Reuters
When it went on sale, the agent was contacted by representatives of a would-be buyer, who wanted to purchase the residence and land without disclosing their identity. "At first they didn't want to tell me their names," the agent said of the buyer's representatives, who wanted to use a "totally fictitious name" for the purchaser on sales records. When the agent objected to selling to an anonymous person, a legal entity was created by the buyer, the agent said. "We checked out that it was a legal entity," said the agent, adding that it is not uncommon for purchases to be either trusts or limited liability corporations created for that purpose. The agent also noted that the buyer "wanted a quick closing." At the closing of the sale, the buyer did not appear, but had a representative handle the transaction, according to the agent, who assumed that representative was a lawyer.
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