cnbc--2020-01-22--Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sues Hillary Clinton for alleged 'Russian asset' smear in 2020 Democratic preside

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sues Hillary Clinton for alleged 'Russian asset' smear in 2020 Democratic presidential contest, claiming $50 million in damages

Democratic presidential hopeful US Representative for Hawaii 's 2nd congressional district Tulsi Gabbard ( L ) and former Secretary of State , Hillary Rodham Clinton .
Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sued former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday for allegedly defaming her by suggesting the Hawaii congresswoman is a `` Russian asset . ''
`` Clinton 's false assertions were made in a deliberate attempt to derail Tulsi 's campaign , '' said the lawsuit , filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan .
The suit claims that Gabbard has suffered `` actual damages '' of `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Clinton 's comments .
But the suit does not cite a specific amount of damages it is seeking .
Clinton , the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee who previously was a senator from New York , said in an October interview that an unnamed Democratic presidential candidate was `` the favorite of the Russians . ''
Clinton did not mention Gabbard , a four-term congresswoman , by name in that interview with the podcast `` Campaign HQ With David Plouffe . ''
But Clinton 's spokesman , Nick Merrill , said after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fits , '' when asked if she had been referring to Gabbard , who is also a major in the Army National Guard and a combat veteran of Iraq .
Merrill later said in a tweet that Clinton was referring to the Republican Party grooming Gabbard .
But it is Russians , not the GOP , who are known for making nesting , or Matryoshka dolls .
Clinton , wife of President Bill Clinton , lost the 2016 election to Republican nominee Donald Trump .
The report by special counsel Robert Mueller as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Intelligence Committee have both found that Russian agents tried to damage Clinton 's candidacy , and that they tried to promote the third-party candidacy of Green Party nominee Jill Stein in order to harm Clinton 's chances of winning the White House .

Democratic presidential hopeful US Representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district Tulsi Gabbard (L) and former Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sued former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday for allegedly defaming her by suggesting the Hawaii congresswoman is a "Russian asset."
"Clinton's false assertions were made in a deliberate attempt to derail Tulsi's campaign," said the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
The suit claims that Gabbard has suffered "actual damages" of "$50 million — and counting" from Clinton's comments. But the suit does not cite a specific amount of damages it is seeking.
Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee who previously was a senator from New York, said in an October interview that an unnamed Democratic presidential candidate was "the favorite of the Russians."
Clinton did not mention Gabbard, a four-term congresswoman, by name in that interview with the podcast "Campaign HQ With David Plouffe."
But Clinton's spokesman, Nick Merrill, said after the interview that "If the nesting doll fits," when asked if she had been referring to Gabbard, who is also a major in the Army National Guard and a combat veteran of Iraq.
Merrill later said in a tweet that Clinton was referring to the Republican Party grooming Gabbard. But it is Russians, not the GOP, who are known for making nesting, or Matryoshka dolls.
Clinton, wife of President Bill Clinton, lost the 2016 election to Republican nominee Donald Trump.
The report by special counsel Robert Mueller as well as a probe by the Senate Intelligence Committee have both found that Russian agents tried to damage Clinton's candidacy, and that they tried to promote the third-party candidacy of Green Party nominee Jill Stein in order to harm Clinton's chances of winning the White House.


cnbc--2020-01-22--UN calls for investigation into alleged Saudi crown prince involvement in Bezos phone hack

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates — U.N. experts on Wednesday called for an immediate investigation into the `` possible involvement '' of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the hacking of Amazon CEO and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos ' iPhone in 2018 .
`` The alleged hacking of Mr. Bezos 's phone , and those of others , demands immediate investigation by U.S. and other relevant authorities , including investigation of the continuous , multi-year , direct and personal involvement of the Crown Prince in efforts to target perceived opponents , '' U.N. experts said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggests the possible involvement of the Crown Prince in surveillance of Mr. Bezos , in an effort to influence , if not silence , The Washington Post 's reporting on Saudi Arabia . ''
The statement from the U.N. 's human rights body centers on forensic investigations into the claim by Bezos — one of the world 's wealthiest men — that the Saudi government orchestrated a cyberattack against him to extract large amounts of data from his phone , including nude photos sent to his mistress , Lauren Sanchez .
The full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business advisory firm FTI Consulting on behalf of the American billionaire , was published exclusively later on Wednesday by Vice 's Motherboard and can be viewed here .
Riyadh has consistently rejected the accusations , and the Saudi Embassy in Washington on Wednesday called the allegations `` absurd . ''
The U.N. special rapporteurs , who are appointed by the world body but operate independently , made the statement after reviewing the 2019 forensic analysis .
Their statements follow earlier investigations into the killing and dismemberment of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Bezos ' newspaper and was slain in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018 .
FTI consulting could not detail the specific spyware used in the attack but said its experts had `` medium to high confidence '' that Bezos ' iPhone was hacked by malware coming from a WhatsApp account used by the Saudi crown prince .
`` Based upon the results of a full forensic examination of the logical file system of Bezos 's phone , including network analysis , and an in-depth investigation conducted over several months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Bezos 's IPhone X was compromised via malware sent from a WhatsApp account used by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , '' the U.N. statement said .
Saudi Arabia 's foreign minister , Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud , called the hacking allegations `` absolutely illegitimate '' and based on `` no evidence . ''
`` It was purely conjecture , and if there is real evidence , we look forward to seeing it , '' he told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland .
Bezos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Becker , has flatly accused the Saudi government of wanting to do him harm .
De Becker alleged last March that the Saudis had `` access to Bezos 's phone , and gained private information '' and that the government was `` intent on harming Jeff Bezos since .
.
.
the Post began its relentless coverage '' of the brutal murder in October 2018 of Khashoggi .
Riyadh said the killing was the result of a `` rogue operation '' that did not involve the crown prince , contradicting the CIA 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crown prince .
The hack : How experts believe it happened According to the 2019 forensic analysis by FTI Consulting , Bezos ' phone was likely `` infiltrated on 1 May 2018 via an MP4 video file sent from a WhatsApp account utilized personally by Mohammed bin Salman . ''
Bezos and the crown prince had reportedly exchanged numbers the previous month .
Within hours of the video being sent from the crown prince 's account , `` massive and ( for Bezos ' phone ) unprecedented exfiltration of data from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data being transited to another location suddenly shot up by nearly 30,000 % to 126 MB .
`` Data spiking then continued undetected over some months and at rates as much as 106,032,045 % ( 4.6 GB ) higher than the pre-video data egress baseline for Mr. Bezos ' phone of 430KB , '' the report said .
The analysis suggested a spyware product previously identified in other cases of Saudi surveillance , saying the intrusion was `` likely undertaken '' by a product like the Pegasus-3 malware created by Israeli-based NSO Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having been purchased by Saudi officials including Saud al-Qahtani , Prince Mohammed 's former advisor who was implicated in the Khashoggi murder but ultimately not charged by the Saudi authorities .
`` This would be consistent with other information , '' the U.N. special rapporteurs wrote .
`` For instance , the use of WhatsApp as a platform to enable installation of Pegasus onto devices has been well-documented and is the subject of a lawsuit by Facebook/WhatsApp against NSO Group . ''
Still , FTI maintained that they could not decisively conclude what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Due to end-to-end encryption employed by Whatsapp , '' the analysts wrote , `` it is virtually impossible to decrypt the contents of the downloader to determine if it contained any malicious code in addition to the delivered video . ''
NSO responded in a statement posted to its website Wednesday , saying `` NSO is shocked and appalled by the story that has been published with respect to alleged hacking of the phone of Mr. Jeff Bezos , '' and calling for a `` full investigation '' if the story is true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these stories first surfaced months ago , we can say unequivocally that our technology was not used in this instance , '' the company said .
The U.N. statement noted that the alleged hacking of Bezos ' phone was `` consistent with the widely reported role of the crown prince in leading a campaign against dissidents and political opponents . ''
The accusations also carry echoes of a 2019 U.S. criminal case against two Twitter employees and a Saudi national who accessed private accounts of certain users critical of the Saudi royal family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's authorities .
While Prince Mohammed has spearheaded a sweeping social and economic reform agenda for the oil-rich kingdom , human rights groups criticize his simultaneous crackdown on activists and dissidents inside and outside Saudi Arabia , as evidenced by increased arrests and the reported overseas hacking campaigns .

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announces Blue Moon, a lunar landing vehicle for the Moon, during a Blue Origin event in Washington, DC, May 9, 2019. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.N. experts on Wednesday called for an immediate investigation into the "possible involvement" of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the hacking of Amazon CEO and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos' iPhone in 2018. "The alleged hacking of Mr. Bezos's phone, and those of others, demands immediate investigation by U.S. and other relevant authorities, including investigation of the continuous, multi-year, direct and personal involvement of the Crown Prince in efforts to target perceived opponents," U.N. experts said in a statement. "The information we have received suggests the possible involvement of the Crown Prince in surveillance of Mr. Bezos, in an effort to influence, if not silence, The Washington Post's reporting on Saudi Arabia." The statement from the U.N.'s human rights body centers on forensic investigations into the claim by Bezos — one of the world's wealthiest men — that the Saudi government orchestrated a cyberattack against him to extract large amounts of data from his phone, including nude photos sent to his mistress, Lauren Sanchez. The full analysis report, carried out by Washington-based business advisory firm FTI Consulting on behalf of the American billionaire, was published exclusively later on Wednesday by Vice's Motherboard and can be viewed here.
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Riyadh has consistently rejected the accusations, and the Saudi Embassy in Washington on Wednesday called the allegations "absurd." The U.N. special rapporteurs, who are appointed by the world body but operate independently, made the statement after reviewing the 2019 forensic analysis. Their statements follow earlier investigations into the killing and dismemberment of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who wrote critical commentaries of Saudi Arabia in Bezos' newspaper and was slain in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.
FTI consulting could not detail the specific spyware used in the attack but said its experts had "medium to high confidence" that Bezos' iPhone was hacked by malware coming from a WhatsApp account used by the Saudi crown prince. "Based upon the results of a full forensic examination of the logical file system of Bezos's phone, including network analysis, and an in-depth investigation conducted over several months, FTI reports with medium to high confidence that Bezos's IPhone X was compromised via malware sent from a WhatsApp account used by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman," the U.N. statement said. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, called the hacking allegations "absolutely illegitimate" and based on "no evidence." "It was purely conjecture, and if there is real evidence, we look forward to seeing it," he told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Tweet1 Bezos, through his security consultant Gavin de Becker, has flatly accused the Saudi government of wanting to do him harm. De Becker alleged last March that the Saudis had "access to Bezos's phone, and gained private information" and that the government was "intent on harming Jeff Bezos since . . . the Post began its relentless coverage" of the brutal murder in October 2018 of Khashoggi. Riyadh said the killing was the result of a "rogue operation" that did not involve the crown prince, contradicting the CIA's reported conclusion from late 2018 that implicated the crown prince.
The hack: How experts believe it happened
According to the 2019 forensic analysis by FTI Consulting, Bezos' phone was likely "infiltrated on 1 May 2018 via an MP4 video file sent from a WhatsApp account utilized personally by Mohammed bin Salman." Bezos and the crown prince had reportedly exchanged numbers the previous month. Within hours of the video being sent from the crown prince's account, "massive and (for Bezos' phone) unprecedented exfiltration of data from the phone began" — the volume of data being transited to another location suddenly shot up by nearly 30,000% to 126 MB. "Data spiking then continued undetected over some months and at rates as much as 106,032,045% (4.6 GB) higher than the pre-video data egress baseline for Mr. Bezos' phone of 430KB," the report said. The analysis suggested a spyware product previously identified in other cases of Saudi surveillance, saying the intrusion was "likely undertaken" by a product like the Pegasus-3 malware created by Israeli-based NSO Group. Pegasus has been widely reported as having been purchased by Saudi officials including Saud al-Qahtani, Prince Mohammed's former advisor who was implicated in the Khashoggi murder but ultimately not charged by the Saudi authorities.
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"This would be consistent with other information," the U.N. special rapporteurs wrote. "For instance, the use of WhatsApp as a platform to enable installation of Pegasus onto devices has been well-documented and is the subject of a lawsuit by Facebook/WhatsApp against NSO Group." Still, FTI maintained that they could not decisively conclude what kind of malware was used. "Due to end-to-end encryption employed by Whatsapp," the analysts wrote, "it is virtually impossible to decrypt the contents of the downloader to determine if it contained any malicious code in addition to the delivered video." NSO responded in a statement posted to its website Wednesday, saying "NSO is shocked and appalled by the story that has been published with respect to alleged hacking of the phone of Mr. Jeff Bezos," and calling for a "full investigation" if the story is true. "Just as we stated when these stories first surfaced months ago, we can say unequivocally that our technology was not used in this instance," the company said.
Saudi crackdown on dissent
The U.N. statement noted that the alleged hacking of Bezos' phone was "consistent with the widely reported role of the crown prince in leading a campaign against dissidents and political opponents." The accusations also carry echoes of a 2019 U.S. criminal case against two Twitter employees and a Saudi national who accessed private accounts of certain users critical of the Saudi royal family that they then shared with the kingdom's authorities. While Prince Mohammed has spearheaded a sweeping social and economic reform agenda for the oil-rich kingdom, human rights groups criticize his simultaneous crackdown on activists and dissidents inside and outside Saudi Arabia, as evidenced by increased arrests and the reported overseas hacking campaigns.
Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud and Jeff Bezos pose for a photo during his visit in in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 9, 2016. Bandar Algaloud | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
The FTI report in its first page names al-Qahtani, the former advisor, as a potential culprit, noting his role as president and chairman of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones during the time of the Bezos hack. Al-Qahtani is sanctioned by the U.S. for his suspected role in the murder of Khashoggi, and led a large-scale online campaign against Bezos and the Post via Twitter bot attacks and boycotts of Bezos companies. "The hacking of Mr. Bezos' phone occurred during a period, May-June 2018, in which the phones of two close associates of Jamal Khashoggi, Yahya Assiri and Omar Abdulaziz, were also hacked, allegedly using the Pegasus malware," the UN statement said.


cnbc--2020-01-22--Trump rips 'sleazebag' Nadler before House Democrats state their case in Senate impeachment

President Donald Trump called House impeachment manager Jerry Nadler `` a sleazebag '' on Wednesday , hours before he and fellow Democrats were to begin laying out their case in the Senate for Trump 's conviction and removal from office .
Capping a tension-filled day , Chief Justice John Roberts , who is presiding over the trial , interjected in the debate early Wednesday to admonish both sides for their harsh language .
But hours later at the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland , Trump unloaded on Nadler .
In response to a question about the New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , Trump said : `` I 've known him a long time .
He 's a sleazebag .
Everyone knows that . ''
The next stage in the trial is set to begin at 1 p.m .
ET .
In the early hours of Wednesday , the Republican-majority chamber voted along party lines to adopt a resolution from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , laying out the rules for the proceedings .
McConnell claimed that his guidelines mirrored the bipartisan rules that were followed in former President Bill Clinton 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managers and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , strenuously objected to key parts of the resolution — some of which departed from Clinton 's precedent — arguing that they would result in a rushed trial without proper assurances that salient evidence and witnesses will be heard .
McConnell did make concessions to his proposal from Monday evening , however .
As the resolution was read aloud on the Senate floor , it was revealed that the rules will permit each side to stretch out the 24 total hours they 've been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , instead of the original two .
The changes will also automatically admit into evidence the entire record of the House impeachment probe into Trump last fall .
The majority leader 's proposal passed the Senate in a 53-47 vote in the middle of the night , following more than 12 hours of at-times vicious debate on the Senate floor between House managers and Trump 's defense team over a series of amendments put forward by Schumer .
In remarks early Wednesday , Nadler addressed the Republican senators in the chamber directly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you with the entire record of the president 's misconduct ?
Or will you instead choose to be complicit in the president 's coverup ? ''
he asked .
`` So far , I 'm sad to say I see a lot of senators voting for a coverup , voting to deny witnesses , an absolutely indefensible vote , obviously a treacherous vote . ''
Trump lawyer Pat Cipollone responded : `` Mr. Nadler , you owe an apology to the president of the United States and his family , you owe an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all you owe an apology to the American people . ''
Shortly after that exchange , Roberts chimed in .
`` I think it is appropriate at this point for me to admonish both the House managers and the president 's counsel in equal terms to remember that they are addressing the world 's greatest deliberative body , '' Roberts said .
`` One reason it has earned that title is because its members avoid speaking in a manner and using language that is not conducive to civil discourse . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed subpoenas to be issued for documents from the State Department and the Office of Management and Budget .
They also would have led to subpoenas for testimony from key Trump administration officials such as former national security advisor John Bolton and White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney , who were not interviewed during the House impeachment inquiry .
But all of the amendments were essentially shot down , and nearly all of the votes fell along party lines in the Senate , 53-47 .
On only one vote did a Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ join the Democrats .
That vote would have allowed additional time to file responses to trial motions .
At one point , McConnell asked Schumer to stack the remaining amendments .
Schumer refused , saying the votes are `` extremely significant and important to the country , '' but suggested that some of the votes could be put off until the next day .
McConnell refused to delay the votes , leading the Democrats to continue debate with the president 's legal team over the amendments until nearly 2 a.m. Trump was impeached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
Both articles relate to his efforts to pressure Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy into announcing probes involving his political opponent , former Vice President Joe Biden , and then blocking attempts from Congress to investigate .
It is considered highly unlikely that two thirds of the GOP-majority Senate will vote to remove a Republican president .

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President Donald Trump called House impeachment manager Jerry Nadler "a sleazebag" on Wednesday, hours before he and fellow Democrats were to begin laying out their case in the Senate for Trump's conviction and removal from office. Capping a tension-filled day, Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial, interjected in the debate early Wednesday to admonish both sides for their harsh language. But hours later at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump unloaded on Nadler. In response to a question about the New York Democratic, who heads the House Judiciary Committee, Trump said: "I've known him a long time. He's a sleazebag. Everyone knows that." The next stage in the trial is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET. In the early hours of Wednesday, the Republican-majority chamber voted along party lines to adopt a resolution from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., laying out the rules for the proceedings.
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McConnell claimed that his guidelines mirrored the bipartisan rules that were followed in former President Bill Clinton's 1998 impeachment trial. But the House managers and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., strenuously objected to key parts of the resolution — some of which departed from Clinton's precedent — arguing that they would result in a rushed trial without proper assurances that salient evidence and witnesses will be heard. McConnell did make concessions to his proposal from Monday evening, however. As the resolution was read aloud on the Senate floor, it was revealed that the rules will permit each side to stretch out the 24 total hours they've been allotted for making arguments over three days, instead of the original two. The changes will also automatically admit into evidence the entire record of the House impeachment probe into Trump last fall. The majority leader's proposal passed the Senate in a 53-47 vote in the middle of the night, following more than 12 hours of at-times vicious debate on the Senate floor between House managers and Trump's defense team over a series of amendments put forward by Schumer. In remarks early Wednesday, Nadler addressed the Republican senators in the chamber directly. "Will you permit us to present you with the entire record of the president's misconduct? Or will you instead choose to be complicit in the president's coverup?" he asked. "So far, I'm sad to say I see a lot of senators voting for a coverup, voting to deny witnesses, an absolutely indefensible vote, obviously a treacherous vote." Trump lawyer Pat Cipollone responded: "Mr. Nadler, you owe an apology to the president of the United States and his family, you owe an apology to the Senate, but most of all you owe an apology to the American people." Shortly after that exchange, Roberts chimed in.
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cnbc--2020-01-22--Trump says GDP would be near 4% and the Dow could be 10,000 points higher if it weren't for the Fed

President Donald Trump told CNBC on Wednesday that U.S. economic growth would have been closer to 4 % if it were n't for the lingering effect of Federal Reserve rate hikes .
`` That was a big blip that should not have taken place .
It should not have happened .
But it 's one of those things .
But we had Boeing .
We had the big strike with General Motors .
We had things happen that are very unusual to happen , '' Trump told CNBC 's Joe Kernen in an interview from the World Economic Forum in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested that the stock market would be even higher than its already record-setting highs if the Fed had n't raised rates so quickly before cutting them three times during 2019 .
`` Now , with all of that , had we not done the big raise on interest , I think we would have been close to 4 % , '' Trump said of the U.S. gross domestic product .
`` And I – I could see 5,000 to 10,000 points more on the Dow .
But that was a killer when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big mistake . ''

President Donald Trump told CNBC on Wednesday that U.S. economic growth would have been closer to 4% if it weren't for the lingering effect of Federal Reserve rate hikes.
"That was a big blip that should not have taken place. It should not have happened. But it's one of those things. But we had Boeing . We had the big strike with General Motors . We had things happen that are very unusual to happen," Trump told CNBC's Joe Kernen in an interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The president also suggested that the stock market would be even higher than its already record-setting highs if the Fed hadn't raised rates so quickly before cutting them three times during 2019.
"Now, with all of that, had we not done the big raise on interest, I think we would have been close to 4%," Trump said of the U.S. gross domestic product. "And I – I could see 5,000 to 10,000 points more on the Dow. But that was a killer when they raised the rate. It was just a big mistake."


cnbc--2020-01-22--Trump: It 'wouldn't be too frightening' if Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg ran for president

President Donald Trump told CNBC on Wednesday he would n't be against Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg running for the White House .
`` I heard he was going to run for president .
That would n't be too frightening , I do n't think , '' Trump told `` Squawk Box '' co-host Joe Kernen in an interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland .
`` But he does have that monster behind him , '' Trump said , referring to Facebook , which is facing multiple antitrust probes from federal and state investigators .
Speculation swirled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the social network , was interested in making a bid for office after he hired Democratic pollster Joel Benenson for his philanthropic project .
Benenson advised former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in her 2016 presidential campaign .
Additionally , Zuckerberg embarked on a listening tour across the U.S. , and hired Charles Ommanney , a photographer for both the George W. Bush and Obama presidential campaigns .
Zuckerberg , however , has denied he wants to run for president .
Just months ahead of the 2020 presidential election , Facebook has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ads from political candidates even when the ads contain false information .
Facebook has argued that fact-checking political ads could interfere with free speech in politics , though other tech companies , such as Twitter and Spotify , have taken strict stances .
`` I 'd rather him just do whatever he 's going to do , '' Trump told CNBC on Wednesday .
`` He 's done a hell of a job , and he 's going to do what he has to do . ''
Facebook has been working to regain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Analytica data misuse scandal , which happened on the heels of the disclosure that Russian operatives used Facebook to try to influence the 2016 presidential election .
The company soon after began cracking down on `` coordinated inauthentic behavior , '' but some still fear the platform will be vulnerable to similar tactics in November .

President Donald Trump told CNBC on Wednesday he wouldn't be against Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg running for the White House.
"I heard he was going to run for president. That wouldn't be too frightening, I don't think," Trump told "Squawk Box" co-host Joe Kernen in an interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
"But he does have that monster behind him," Trump said, referring to Facebook, which is facing multiple antitrust probes from federal and state investigators.
Speculation swirled in 2017 that Zuckerberg, co-founder of the social network, was interested in making a bid for office after he hired Democratic pollster Joel Benenson for his philanthropic project. Benenson advised former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in her 2016 presidential campaign. Additionally, Zuckerberg embarked on a listening tour across the U.S., and hired Charles Ommanney, a photographer for both the George W. Bush and Obama presidential campaigns.
Zuckerberg, however, has denied he wants to run for president.
Just months ahead of the 2020 presidential election, Facebook has gotten flak refusing to remove or fact-check ads from political candidates even when the ads contain false information. Facebook has argued that fact-checking political ads could interfere with free speech in politics, though other tech companies, such as Twitter and Spotify , have taken strict stances.
"I'd rather him just do whatever he's going to do," Trump told CNBC on Wednesday. "He's done a hell of a job, and he's going to do what he has to do."
Facebook has been working to regain users' trust after the 2018 Cambridge Analytica data misuse scandal, which happened on the heels of the disclosure that Russian operatives used Facebook to try to influence the 2016 presidential election. The company soon after began cracking down on "coordinated inauthentic behavior," but some still fear the platform will be vulnerable to similar tactics in November.


cnbc--2020-01-22--Trump says he trusts China's Xi on coronavirus and the US has it 'totally under control'

President Donald Trump told CNBC on Wednesday he trusts the information coming out of China on the coronavirus , which @ @ @ @ @ sickened nearly 500 others in that country .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ case in the United States .
`` We have it totally under control , '' @ @ @ @ @ '' co-host Joe Kernen in an interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos , @ @ @ @ @ one person coming in from China .
We have it under control .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The CDC on Tuesday said a resident of Snohomish County , Washington , @ @ @ @ @ on Jan. 15 was diagnosed with the Wuhan coronavirus .

President Donald Trump told CNBC on Wednesday he trusts the information coming out of China on the coronavirus, which has killed nine people and sickened nearly 500 others in that country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed the first case in the United States.
"We have it totally under control," Trump told "Squawk Box" co-host Joe Kernen in an interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "It's one person coming in from China. We have it under control. It's going to be just fine."
The CDC on Tuesday said a resident of Snohomish County, Washington, who was returning from China on Jan. 15 was diagnosed with the Wuhan coronavirus.


cnbc--2020-01-23--George Soros warns Trump of potential economic doom before election

George Soros , billionaire and founder of Soros Fund Management LLC , pauses while speaking at an event on day three of the World Economic Forum ( WEF ) in Davos , Switzerland , on Thursday , Jan. 23 , 2020 .
Liberal billionaire George Soros said Thursday that the U.S. economy could be headed for calamity as a result of President Donald Trump 's efforts to juice American business and stock prices ahead of the 2020 election .
`` Trump 's economic team has managed to overheat an already buoyant economy , '' Soros warned his guests at an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Davos , Switzerland .
`` The stock market , already celebrating Trump 's military success , is breaking out to reach new heights , '' he said .
`` But an overheated economy ca n't be kept boiling for too long .
If all this had happened closer to the elections , it would have assured his reelection . ''
`` His problem is that the elections are still 10 months away , and in a revolutionary situation , that is a lifetime , '' Soros said .
Soros , an 89-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 8 billion , delivered the remarks at the dinner held during the forum , an annual conference set in the Swiss Alps and known for featuring elite business and political leaders .
The longtime investor 's comment came on the heels of fresh record highs in the U.S. stock market and amid the longest bull market in American history .
Many economists accredit the surge to the Trump administration 's policies including larger corporate profits due to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and renegotiated trade agreements .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate corporations pay in income taxes to 21 % , the White House has n't shirked away from approving big-ticket fiscal budgets or increases in military spending .
Meanwhile , improvements in U.S.-China trade relations provided a boost toward the end of last year .
Both sides agreed to a `` phase one '' trade deal in which China promised to increase its purchases of U.S. manufacturing , energy and agricultural goods and services by at least $ 200 billion over two years .
Such policies helped lead the S & P 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday after rallying more than 28 % in 2019 .
On Wall Street , Soros is perhaps best known for his trading prowess and $ 1 billion bet against sterling that saw him and then-Soros manager Stanley Druckenmiller `` break the Bank of England '' on Black Wednesday in 1992 .
A string of lucrative annual gains at his Soros Fund Management through the 1990s ended in 2000 , when the firm 's Quantum fund swooned , following a host of technology and biotech stocks downward .
Though the investor has for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Soros has been known to occasionally make active trading bets and helped his firm through the financial crisis .
He also took the opportunity Thursday to slam Trump and China .
Soros said Chinese President Xi Jinping is `` trying to exploit Trump 's weaknesses . ''
He also accused Xi of using `` artificial intelligence to have total control of his people . ''
He added that he thinks Trump `` is a con man and a narcissist , who wants the world to revolve around him . ''
`` When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality , '' that narcissism dialed up , Soros said .
`` This has turned his narcissism into a malignant disease . ''
— Brian Schwartz reported from Davos , Switzerland .
Thomas Franck reported from Englewood Cliffs , New Jersey .

George Soros, billionaire founder of Soros Fund Management LLC, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 23, 2020.
Liberal billionaire George Soros said Thursday that the U.S. economy could be headed for calamity as a result of President Donald Trump's efforts to juice American business and stock prices ahead of the 2020 election.
"Trump's economic team has managed to overheat an already buoyant economy," Soros warned his guests at an informal dinner at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
"The stock market, already celebrating Trump's military success, is breaking out to reach new heights," he said. "But an overheated economy can't be kept boiling for too long. If all this had happened closer to the elections, it would have assured his reelection."
"His problem is that the elections are still 10 months away, and in a revolutionary situation, that is a lifetime," Soros said.
Soros, an 89-year-old Democratic megadonor whose net worth peaks at more than $8 billion, delivered the remarks at the dinner held during the forum, an annual conference set in the Swiss Alps and known for featuring elite business and political leaders.


cnbc--2020-01-23--It's going to get a lot easier to export some firearms from the US due to a new Trump administration

It's going to get a lot easier to export some firearms from the US due to a new Trump administration rule

WASHINGTON — In a move aimed at boosting the sale of U.S. firearms and ammunition abroad , the Trump administration has eased regulations on some commercial firearms exports .
American manufacturers will have fewer registration requirements in order to obtain an export license , as the State Department moved jurisdiction of certain firearms sales to the Commerce Department .
The change , announced last week , was entered into the Federal Register on Thursday .
It will be effective March 9 .
The long-delayed rule change , which began under the Obama administration , is intended to lower costs for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corp. and Sturm , Ruger and Co. , while refocusing regulatory attention on weapons sales that could pose national security risks .
For example , under the Arms Export Control Act , the State Department must disclose any commercial arms sale worth $ 1 million or more to Congress for review .
The Commerce Department has no such requirement .
What 's more , the State Department requires an annual fee from companies in the industry , whereas Commerce does not require such a fee .
`` Exports of firearms and related items @ @ @ @ @ @ @ function or provide the United States with a critical military or intelligence advantage – including many articles that are widely available in U.S. retail outlets – will move to the Commerce Department 's export licensing controls , '' assistant secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper wrote in an emailed statement to CNBC .
The move to shift commercial gun export licenses to the Commerce Department was nearly complete under the Obama administration when a gunman opened fire and killed 26 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown , Connecticut , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unrelated to domestic gun control , the Obama administration dropped the change .
In May 2018 , Trump formally proposed streamlining the process for exporting American firearms .
Thursday 's transfer of oversight sparked concerns that the policy change will improve the bottom line of U.S. gun-makers while jeopardizing long-term global security .
`` The Trump administration 's decision to publish rules that functionally make it easier and faster to export semiautomatic assault-style weapons and select sniper rifles is out of step with the national and global conversation about guns , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Arms Control Association .
`` This move undermines global security and wiser U.S. arms trade policy , '' Abramson added .
Susan Waltz , a professor at the University of Michigan 's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy , called the change a `` terrible decision . ''
`` Over the span of a decade-long export reform initiative , this is the only instance where lethal weapons have been recategorized as commercial products , '' Waltz said in an emailed statement .
`` At the very time we should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new regulations aim to normalize them and boost sales , '' she added .
Cooper downplayed concerns last week on a call with reporters saying that the policy change will help refocus regulatory attention on weapons sales that could pose national security risks .
`` When we are talking about the easing of certain aspects of industry , it does free us up at State to focus on the larger significant systems and platforms that are inherently of a military function and do provide the United States a critical military edge or an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
`` Regardless of which department controls the export , all firearms will remain subject to U.S. government export authorization requirements , interagency review , and monitoring of commercial entities involved in export and sales , '' Rich Ashooh , the assistant secretary of Commerce for export administration , said on the same call with Cooper .

WASHINGTON — In a move aimed at boosting the sale of U.S. firearms and ammunition abroad, the Trump administration has eased regulations on some commercial firearms exports.
American manufacturers will have fewer registration requirements in order to obtain an export license, as the State Department moved jurisdiction of certain firearms sales to the Commerce Department. The change, announced last week, was entered into the Federal Register on Thursday. It will be effective March 9.
The long-delayed rule change, which began under the Obama administration, is intended to lower costs for U.S. gun-makers such as American Outdoor Brands Corp . and Sturm, Ruger and Co. , while refocusing regulatory attention on weapons sales that could pose national security risks.
For example, under the Arms Export Control Act, the State Department must disclose any commercial arms sale worth $1 million or more to Congress for review. The Commerce Department has no such requirement.
What's more, the State Department requires an annual fee from companies in the industry, whereas Commerce does not require such a fee.
"Exports of firearms and related items that do not perform an inherently military function or provide the United States with a critical military or intelligence advantage – including many articles that are widely available in U.S. retail outlets – will move to the Commerce Department's export licensing controls," assistant secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper wrote in an emailed statement to CNBC.
The move to shift commercial gun export licenses to the Commerce Department was nearly complete under the Obama administration when a gunman opened fire and killed 26 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in late 2012. While the proposal is unrelated to domestic gun control, the Obama administration dropped the change.
In May 2018, Trump formally proposed streamlining the process for exporting American firearms.
Thursday's transfer of oversight sparked concerns that the policy change will improve the bottom line of U.S. gun-makers while jeopardizing long-term global security.
"The Trump administration's decision to publish rules that functionally make it easier and faster to export semiautomatic assault-style weapons and select sniper rifles is out of step with the national and global conversation about guns," explained Jeff Abramson, a senior fellow at the Arms Control Association.
"This move undermines global security and wiser U.S. arms trade policy," Abramson added.
Susan Waltz, a professor at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, called the change a "terrible decision."
"Over the span of a decade-long export reform initiative, this is the only instance where lethal weapons have been recategorized as commercial products," Waltz said in an emailed statement.
"At the very time we should be restricting access to military-style firearms, the new regulations aim to normalize them and boost sales," she added.
Cooper downplayed concerns last week on a call with reporters saying that the policy change will help refocus regulatory attention on weapons sales that could pose national security risks.
"When we are talking about the easing of certain aspects of industry, it does free us up at State to focus on the larger significant systems and platforms that are inherently of a military function and do provide the United States a critical military edge or an intelligence advantage," Cooper said at the time.
"Regardless of which department controls the export, all firearms will remain subject to U.S. government export authorization requirements, interagency review, and monitoring of commercial entities involved in export and sales," Rich Ashooh, the assistant secretary of Commerce for export administration, said on the same call with Cooper.


cnbc--2020-01-23--Trump ally Roger Stone shouldn't go to prison, says comedian Randy Credico, who testified against Re

Trump ally Roger Stone shouldn't go to prison, says comedian Randy Credico, who testified against Republican trickster

Former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump , Roger Stone , leaves the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse after being found guilty of obstructing a congressional investigation into Russia ’ s interference in the 2016 election on November 15 , 2019 in Washington , DC .
No joke , Roger Stone engaged in `` lowbrow character attacks , '' spun `` conspiracy tales '' and threatened to kill a friend 's dog , but he does not deserve to go to prison — according to the comedian whose testimony led to the Republican operative 's conviction on federal criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York radio personality , asked for mercy for Stone in an emotional letter this week to the judge set to sentence the longtime friend and political advisor of President Donald Trump for his crimes next month in U.S. District Court in Washington , D.C. '' I am writing to respectfully yet fervently implore you not to sentence Roger Stone to prison , '' wrote Credico , a former associate of Stone 's , in his letter to Judge Amy Berman Jackson , which was placed on the court 's docket Thursday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone to prison , Credico wrote .
`` It is cruelty . ''
The letter cites Stone 's work with Credico in the early 2000s trying to reform New York state drug laws , and the emotional damage to Credico 's own family from his father having served a decade in prison before getting married and having kids .
`` I know the damage firsthand '' from people going to prison , wrote Credico .

Former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, Roger Stone, leaves the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse after being found guilty of obstructing a congressional investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election on November 15, 2019 in Washington, DC.
No joke, Roger Stone engaged in "lowbrow character attacks," spun "conspiracy tales" and threatened to kill a friend's dog, but he does not deserve to go to prison — according to the comedian whose testimony led to the Republican operative's conviction on federal criminal charges.
Randy Credico, a New York radio personality, asked for mercy for Stone in an emotional letter this week to the judge set to sentence the longtime friend and political advisor of President Donald Trump for his crimes next month in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
"I am writing to respectfully yet fervently implore you not to sentence Roger Stone to prison," wrote Credico, a former associate of Stone's, in his letter to Judge Amy Berman Jackson, which was placed on the court's docket Thursday.
"It is not justice" to send Stone to prison, Credico wrote. "It is cruelty."
The letter cites Stone's work with Credico in the early 2000s trying to reform New York state drug laws, and the emotional damage to Credico's own family from his father having served a decade in prison before getting married and having kids.
"I know the damage firsthand" from people going to prison, wrote Credico.


cnbc--2020-01-23--Greta Thunberg hits back after Mnuchin says she should study economics in college

DAVOS , Switzerland — Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg hit back at Steven Mnuchin on Thursday , after the Treasury Secretary suggested she needed to study economics in college before lecturing the U.S. on fossil fuel investments .
`` My gap year ends in August , but it does n't take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5° carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments do n't add up , '' the 17-year-old said via Twitter .
`` So either you tell us how to achieve this mitigation or explain to future generations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why we should abandon our climate commitments , '' she added .
Mnuchin had criticized Thunberg 's financial credentials at the World Economic Forum earlier in the day .
Speaking to reporters during a press briefing , Mnuchin was asked whether the world 's largest economy should completely and immediately divest from fossil fuels .
That 's because Thunberg , alongside 20 other young climate activists , had called on the world 's decision-makers and business leaders to stop all investments in fossil fuel exploration and extraction .
`` Is she the chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm confused , '' Mnuchin said , before adding this was `` a joke .
That was funny . ''
`` After she goes and studies economics in college she can come back and explain that to us , '' Mnuchin said .
An intensifying climate crisis is top of the agenda in Davos , Switzerland .
It follows a 12-month period that saw the hottest year on record for the world 's oceans , the second-hottest year for global average temperatures , and wildfires from the U.S. to the Amazon to Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report from 2018 as she delivered remarks to a packed audience .
The IPCC report states the remaining carbon budget would need to fall below 570 gigatons of carbon dioxide in the coming years if the world is to have a 67 % chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius .
`` With today 's emissions levels , the remaining budget is gone in less than eight years , '' Thunberg said Tuesday .
`` These are n't anyone 's views .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fame for skipping school every Friday to hold a weekly vigil outside the Swedish Parliament in 2018 .
It sparked an international wave of school strikes — also known as `` Fridays for Future '' — with millions of children taking part in rallies around the world .
When asked to address his comments about Thunberg on CNBC 's `` Squawk Box '' on Thursday , Mnuchin said , `` Let me just comment because obviously the climate issue is something that is being talked about this week . ''
`` And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental policies are misunderstood .
The president absolutely believes in clean air and clean water .
He supports a clean environment . ''
President Donald Trump has often expressed skepticism about the scale of the climate crisis and on Tuesday , he urged participants at the forum to reject the `` perennial prophets of doom . ''
The U.S. president did not name anyone directly during his speech , but he did encourage those in attendance to ignore environmental `` alarmists '' and their `` predictions of the apocalypse . ''
Since coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken steps to pull the U.S. — one of the world 's leading carbon emitters — out of the Paris Agreement and sought to roll back over 80 environmental regulations .
`` If you look at the real environmental issues right now , they are in China , they are in India .
If you look at what the U.S. has been doing on its own , without government intervention , industry has gotten a lot more efficient on carbon emissions , '' Mnuchin said .

watch now
DAVOS, Switzerland — Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg hit back at Steven Mnuchin on Thursday, after the Treasury Secretary suggested she needed to study economics in college before lecturing the U.S. on fossil fuel investments. "My gap year ends in August, but it doesn't take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5° carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments don't add up," the 17-year-old said via Twitter. "So either you tell us how to achieve this mitigation or explain to future generations and those already affected by the climate emergency why we should abandon our climate commitments," she added. Tweet 1 Mnuchin had criticized Thunberg's financial credentials at the World Economic Forum earlier in the day. Speaking to reporters during a press briefing, Mnuchin was asked whether the world's largest economy should completely and immediately divest from fossil fuels.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg attends a session at the Congres center during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, on January 21, 2020. FABRICE COFFRINI | AFP via Getty Images
That's because Thunberg, alongside 20 other young climate activists, had called on the world's decision-makers and business leaders to stop all investments in fossil fuel exploration and extraction. "Is she the chief economist or who is she? I'm confused," Mnuchin said, before adding this was "a joke. That was funny." "After she goes and studies economics in college she can come back and explain that to us," Mnuchin said.
Carbon budget
An intensifying climate crisis is top of the agenda in Davos, Switzerland. It follows a 12-month period that saw the hottest year on record for the world's oceans, the second-hottest year for global average temperatures, and wildfires from the U.S. to the Amazon to Australia.
watch now
Earlier in the week, Thunberg cited the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report from 2018 as she delivered remarks to a packed audience. The IPCC report states the remaining carbon budget would need to fall below 570 gigatons of carbon dioxide in the coming years if the world is to have a 67% chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. "With today's emissions levels, the remaining budget is gone in less than eight years," Thunberg said Tuesday. "These aren't anyone's views. This is the science." Thunberg was catapulted to fame for skipping school every Friday to hold a weekly vigil outside the Swedish Parliament in 2018. It sparked an international wave of school strikes — also known as "Fridays for Future" — with millions of children taking part in rallies around the world.
US environmental policies are 'misunderstood'
When asked to address his comments about Thunberg on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Thursday, Mnuchin said, "Let me just comment because obviously the climate issue is something that is being talked about this week." "And I think, quite frankly, our environmental policies are misunderstood. The president absolutely believes in clean air and clean water. He supports a clean environment." President Donald Trump has often expressed skepticism about the scale of the climate crisis and on Tuesday, he urged participants at the forum to reject the "perennial prophets of doom."
watch now


cnbc--2020-01-23--George Soros rips Trump and Xi, says the 'fate of the world' is at stake in 2020

George Soros , billionaire and founder of Soros Fund Management LLC , speaks at an event on day three of the World Economic Forum ( WEF ) in Davos , Switzerland , on Thursday , Jan. 23 , 2020 .
DAVOS , Switzerland — Liberal billionaire George Soros took aim at President Donald Trump and China on Thursday at his annual dinner amid the World Economic Forum .
Chinese President Xi Jinping is `` trying to exploit Trump 's weaknesses , '' Soros told the gathering .
He also accused Xi of using `` artificial intelligence to have total control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soros did not discuss the Democratic presidential primary , in which he has yet to make an endorsement , he said the 2020 election will not just determine the relationship between Trump and Xi , but the `` fate of the world . ''
Soros , the 89-year-old Democratic megadonor who has a net worth of just over $ 8 billion , made his comments at a private annual dinner set amid a conference known for featuring elite business and political leaders .
Soros ' fresh criticism of Trump and the Chinese government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed to a so-called phase one trade deal .
The agreement calls for China to increase its purchases of U.S. manufacturing , energy and agricultural goods and services by at least $ 200 billion over two years and includes provisions to root out intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers .
While Trump has said negotiations on a phase two agreement will begin soon , many business executives at the WEF have raised doubts that another agreement will be made over the next year .
He also leveled direct attacks at Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man and a narcissist , who wants the world to revolve around him . ''
`` When his fantasy of becoming president became a reality , '' that narcissism dialed up , Soros said .
`` This has turned his narcissism into a malignant disease . ''
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment .

George Soros, billionaire and founder of Soros Fund Management LLC, speaks at an event on day three of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020.
DAVOS, Switzerland — Liberal billionaire George Soros took aim at President Donald Trump and China on Thursday at his annual dinner amid the World Economic Forum.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is "trying to exploit Trump's weaknesses," Soros told the gathering. He also accused Xi of using "artificial intelligence to have total control of his people."
And while Soros did not discuss the Democratic presidential primary, in which he has yet to make an endorsement, he said the 2020 election will not just determine the relationship between Trump and Xi, but the "fate of the world."
Soros, the 89-year-old Democratic megadonor who has a net worth of just over $8 billion, made his comments at a private annual dinner set amid a conference known for featuring elite business and political leaders.
Soros' fresh criticism of Trump and the Chinese government under Xi came after the two nations agreed to a so-called phase one trade deal. The agreement calls for China to increase its purchases of U.S. manufacturing, energy and agricultural goods and services by at least $200 billion over two years and includes provisions to root out intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers.
While Trump has said negotiations on a phase two agreement will begin soon, many business executives at the WEF have raised doubts that another agreement will be made over the next year.
He also leveled direct attacks at Trump, saying the president "is a con man and a narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
"When his fantasy of becoming president became a reality," that narcissism dialed up, Soros said. "This has turned his narcissism into a malignant disease."
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.


cnbc--2020-01-23--CDC issues level 3 health warning for coronavirus, advises against nonessential travel to Wuhan, Chi

CDC issues level 3 health warning for coronavirus, advises against nonessential travel to Wuhan, China

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday escalated its health warning to a level 3 as the coronavirus continues to spread , recommending that people avoid all nonessential travel to Wuhan , China .
The State Department reiterated its level 2 travel advisory , which urges people to exercise caution if traveling to an affected area .
An initial State Department website post erroneously showed that it had raised its travel advisory to a level 3 , but the department later said in a statement to CNBC that it had made a mistake and that the travel advisory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today , we updated the China Travel Advisory to include additional information on the outbreak .
The Advisory remains a Level 2 : Exercise Increased Caution , '' a State Department spokesperson told CNBC .
`` Earlier today , the Travel.State.gov briefly displayed an inaccurate version of the Advisory due to a technical error – we apologize for any confusion .
Again , the Advisory level has not changed . ''
The total number of coronavirus cases in China rose to 634 on Thursday as local authorities quarantined at least two major cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Beijing , China state television reported .
Chinese authorities have suspended air and train travel in Wuhan , which is under quarantine .
The virus — which was first diagnosed less than a month ago — has already killed at least 17 people in China and infected roughly 650 people around the world , including firsts in Singapore and Saudi Arabia , according to multiple reports from international and local media .
Medical teams have been dispatched to affected cities , and hospitals are asking for donations of essential items including face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sanitizer .

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday escalated its health warning to a level 3 as the coronavirus continues to spread, recommending that people avoid all nonessential travel to Wuhan, China.
The State Department reiterated its level 2 travel advisory, which urges people to exercise caution if traveling to an affected area.
An initial State Department website post erroneously showed that it had raised its travel advisory to a level 3, but the department later said in a statement to CNBC that it had made a mistake and that the travel advisory remains at a level 2.
"Today, we updated the China Travel Advisory to include additional information on the outbreak. The Advisory remains a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution," a State Department spokesperson told CNBC. "Earlier today, the Travel.State.gov briefly displayed an inaccurate version of the Advisory due to a technical error – we apologize for any confusion. Again, the Advisory level has not changed."
The total number of coronavirus cases in China rose to 634 on Thursday as local authorities quarantined at least two major cities and canceled Lunar New Year's events in Beijing, China state television reported.
Chinese authorities have suspended air and train travel in Wuhan, which is under quarantine.
The virus — which was first diagnosed less than a month ago — has already killed at least 17 people in China and infected roughly 650 people around the world, including firsts in Singapore and Saudi Arabia, according to multiple reports from international and local media. Medical teams have been dispatched to affected cities, and hospitals are asking for donations of essential items including face masks, eye protectors, protective uniforms and sanitizer.


cnbc--2020-01-24--Trump thanks China's Xi Jinping for handling of coronavirus

An electrician sets up wiring while workers drive excavators at the construction site of a field hospital on January 24 , 2020 in Wuhan , Hubei Province , China .
President Donald Trump thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for his country 's handling of the coronavirus , shortly after American health officials confirmed a second case of the flu-like virus in the United States .
`` China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus , '' Trump wrote in a post on Twitter .
`` The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency .
It will all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf of the American People , I want to thank President Xi ! ''
Experts have said that the Chinese response to the outbreak of coronavirus , which was first diagnosed late last month , has been more robust and transparent than the country 's handling of the SARS outbreak , which it sought to conceal in late 2002 and 2003 .
The death toll escalated to dozens on Friday , authorities in the country said , with more than 800 known cases on the mainland .
As part of the response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete construction of a new 1,000-bed hospital in Wuhan , the city where the outbreak began .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first instance of the virus in the United States earlier this week .
There are 63 cases being monitored across 22 states , according to the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases .
The second patient diagnosed with the virus is a woman in her 60s who recently returned from Wuhan , health officials said Friday .
The first U.S. patient , whose diagnosis was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveled to Wuhan .
In an interview on Wednesday , Trump said that he believed the virus was under control .
He also said he had confidence in the Chinese government to be transparent .
`` We have it under control .
It 's going to be just fine , '' Trump told CNBC 's Joe Kernen .
The major stock market indexes declined on Friday amid fears that the virus could damage global growth .

An electrician sets up wiring while workers drive excavators at the construction site of a field hospital on January 24, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
President Donald Trump thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for his country's handling of the coronavirus, shortly after American health officials confirmed a second case of the flu-like virus in the United States.
"China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. "The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!"
Experts have said that the Chinese response to the outbreak of coronavirus, which was first diagnosed late last month, has been more robust and transparent than the country's handling of the SARS outbreak, which it sought to conceal in late 2002 and 2003.
The death toll escalated to dozens on Friday, authorities in the country said, with more than 800 known cases on the mainland. As part of the response, authorities were rushing on Friday to complete construction of a new 1,000-bed hospital in Wuhan, the city where the outbreak began.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first instance of the virus in the United States earlier this week. There are 63 cases being monitored across 22 states, according to the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
The second patient diagnosed with the virus is a woman in her 60s who recently returned from Wuhan, health officials said Friday. The first U.S. patient, whose diagnosis was confirmed on Tuesday, had also recently traveled to Wuhan.
In an interview on Wednesday, Trump said that he believed the virus was under control. He also said he had confidence in the Chinese government to be transparent.
"We have it under control. It's going to be just fine," Trump told CNBC's Joe Kernen.
The major stock market indexes declined on Friday amid fears that the virus could damage global growth.


cnbc--2020-01-24--Trump just revealed the logo for the Space Force, and it looks like the 'Star Trek' symbol

The official United States Space Force Logo ( L ) looks very similar to the StarFleet Command United Federation of Planets logo .
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump 's Space Force logo has boldly gone where `` Star Trek '' has gone before .
The commander-in-chief on Friday revealed the logo for the new service branch in a tweet .
And it looked a lot like the logo for the fictional Starfleet at the center of the iconic science fiction television and film franchise .
`` After consultation with our Great Military Leaders , designers , and others , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the United States Space Force , the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military , '' Trump wrote on Twitter .
The Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to CNBC 's query as to why the Space Force and `` Star Trek '' logos — both with blue globes , white stars , and swooshed rings around a sleek space ship — looked similar .
The Space Force logo also resembles the symbol for the Air Force Space Command .
Last week , the Pentagon unveiled , also via tweet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force members .
The working uniform is the same occupational camouflage worn by the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force .
The main difference between the uniforms are the colors of the name tapes .
The Space Force will don blue , Army sports black and the Air Force uses brown .
Trump first floated the Space Force idea as a part of his national security strategy on March 13 , 2018 .
At the time , the president described how he had originally coined the term as a joke , while discussing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space .
Trump then directed the Pentagon to immediately begin the creation of the new branch .
`` I am hereby directing the Department of Defense and Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the armed forces , '' Trump said in June 2018 before asking Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford , then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs , to see the directive through .
`` Our destiny beyond the Earth is not only a matter of national identity but a matter of national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August , Vice President Mike Pence announced the Pentagon 's detailed plan for Trump 's vision of a Space Force .
Currently , the U.S. Air Force manages the space domain through the Space Command .
Space Force would stand as a separate branch alongside the Army , Navy , Air Force and Marine Corps .
However , the newest branch is expected to be akin to the structure of the Marine Corps , which is a component of the U.S. Department of the Navy but has separate representation on the Joint Chiefs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ branch will be represented on the Joint Chiefs and overseen by an Air Force undersecretary for space .
George Takei , one of the stars of the original `` Star Trek '' series from the 1960s , retweeted Trump 's tweet and pointed out the similarities with a little dry humor .
Meanwhile , the newest `` Star Trek '' series , `` Picard , '' just premiered on the CBS All Access streaming service .

The official United States Space Force Logo (L) looks very similar to the StarFleet Command United Federation of Planets logo.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's Space Force logo has boldly gone where "Star Trek" has gone before.
The commander-in-chief on Friday revealed the logo for the new service branch in a tweet. And it looked a lot like the logo for the fictional Starfleet at the center of the iconic science fiction television and film franchise.
"After consultation with our Great Military Leaders, designers, and others, I am pleased to present the new logo for the United States Space Force, the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military," Trump wrote on Twitter.
TWEET
The Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's query as to why the Space Force and "Star Trek" logos — both with blue globes, white stars, and swooshed rings around a sleek space ship — looked similar. The Space Force logo also resembles the symbol for the Air Force Space Command.
Last week, the Pentagon unveiled, also via tweet, the uniforms to be worn by Space Force members. The working uniform is the same occupational camouflage worn by the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.
TWEET
The main difference between the uniforms are the colors of the name tapes. The Space Force will don blue, Army sports black and the Air Force uses brown.
Trump first floated the Space Force idea as a part of his national security strategy on March 13, 2018. At the time, the president described how he had originally coined the term as a joke, while discussing U.S. government spending and private investment in space. Trump then directed the Pentagon to immediately begin the creation of the new branch.
"I am hereby directing the Department of Defense and Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the armed forces," Trump said in June 2018 before asking Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs, to see the directive through.
"Our destiny beyond the Earth is not only a matter of national identity but a matter of national security," Trump said.
In August, Vice President Mike Pence announced the Pentagon's detailed plan for Trump's vision of a Space Force.
Currently, the U.S. Air Force manages the space domain through the Space Command. Space Force would stand as a separate branch alongside the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. However, the newest branch is expected to be akin to the structure of the Marine Corps, which is a component of the U.S. Department of the Navy but has separate representation on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The new sister service branch will be represented on the Joint Chiefs and overseen by an Air Force undersecretary for space.
George Takei, one of the stars of the original "Star Trek" series from the 1960s, retweeted Trump's tweet and pointed out the similarities with a little dry humor.
TWEET
Meanwhile, the newest "Star Trek" series, "Picard," just premiered on the CBS All Access streaming service.


cnbc--2020-01-24--Mike Pompeo cursed out NPR reporter for asking about removal of Ukraine ambassador, she says

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the U.S. State Department An aide to the Cabinet official asked Kelly to follow Pompeo to his living quarters at the State Department without a recording device , but did not specify that the ensuing exchange would be off the record , according to NPR .
NPR reported that `` immediately after the questions on Ukraine , the interview concluded .
Pompeo stood , leaned in and silently glared at Kelly for a period of several seconds before leaving the room . ''
But Pompeo declined to answer multiple questions from Kelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed to discuss the administration 's policies with regard to Iran .
Kelly disputed that those were the terms of the interview .
The reporter , `` All Things Considered '' co-host Mary Louise Kelly , interviewed Pompeo on Friday amid President Donald Trump 's impeachment trial in the Senate , which centers around the president 's dealings with Ukraine .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cursed out an NPR reporter after she pressed him to answer questions about the removal of former U.S. ambassador Marie Yovanovitch from her post in Ukraine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly accepts the award for best reporter/correspondent/host - non-commercial for `` All Things Considered '' on `` NPR News '' at the 43rd annual Gracie Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Tuesday , May 22 , 2018 , in Beverly Hills , Calif. '' Inside the room , Pompeo shouted his displeasure at being questioned about Ukraine , '' NPR reported .
`` He used repeated expletives , according to Kelly , and asked , 'Do you think Americans care about Ukraine ? '
'' On a radio program for NPR that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about her unrecorded exchange with Pompeo .
`` I was taken to the Secretary 's private living room , where he was waiting , and where he shouted at me for about the same amount of time as the interview itself had lasted , '' Kelly said .
`` He used the F word in that sentence , and many others .
He asked if I could find Ukraine on a map I said yes .
He called out for his aides to bring him a map of the world with no writing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` I pointed to Ukraine , '' she said .
`` He put the map away .
He said , 'People will hear about this , ' and then he turned and said he had things to do , and I thanked him again for his time and left . ''
Neither the White House nor the State Department immediately responded to CNBC 's requests for comment on NPR 's report .
Kelly did not immediately respond to a LinkedIn message asking for further details .
Pompeo on Friday tweeted his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's ouster has at times taken center stage in Trump 's impeachment proceedings .
The House voted to impeach Trump on Dec. 18 on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress , both related to his efforts to have Ukraine announce probes into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son , and a debunked conspiracy theory about the 2016 presidential election .
Trump 's lawyer Rudy Giuliani , with help from associates including Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman , had allegedly sought for Yovanovitch 's removal in order to clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probes that involved Trump 's political rivals .
Yovanovitch was removed from her post in Kyiv in the spring of 2019 .
She testified before the House in November as part of its impeachment inquiry that she felt threatened by Trump and his allies , who had disparaged her even after she was removed from her post .
Yovanovitch said that corrupt Ukrainian officials and Trump associates , including Giuliani , had orchestrated a `` smear campaign '' against her .
Earlier Friday , ABC News reported that a newly surfaced recording contains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 gathering with Fruman and Parnas , demanding that Yovanovitch be fired .
A transcript of the recorded portion of NPR 's interview with Pompeo shows Kelly first asking questions about the tense relations between the U.S. and Iran .
Pompeo defended Trump 's decision to pull the U.S. out of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement struck during the Obama administration .
Then Kelly changed the subject to Ukraine , asking if Pompeo owed Yovanovitch an apology .
Pompeo said , `` I agreed to come on your show today to talk about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do . ''
Kelly responded : `` I confirmed with your staff ... last night that I would talk about Iran and Ukraine . ''
The back-and-forth continued as Kelly pressed Pompeo on whether or not he should apologize to the former U.S. ambassador .
`` I 'll say only this .
I have defended every State Department official , '' Pompeo said .
But when asked where he has defended Yovanovitch in particular , Pompeo said , `` I 've said all I 'm going to say today . ''

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the U.S. State Department
An aide to the Cabinet official asked Kelly to follow Pompeo to his living quarters at the State Department without a recording device but did not specify that the ensuing exchange would be off the record, according to NPR.
NPR reported that "immediately after the questions on Ukraine, the interview concluded. Pompeo stood, leaned in and silently glared at Kelly for a period of several seconds before leaving the room."
But Pompeo declined to answer multiple questions from Kelly about Ukraine, saying he had only agreed to discuss the administration's policies with regard to Iran. Kelly disputed that those were the terms of the interview.
The reporter, "All Things Considered" co-host Mary Louise Kelly, interviewed Pompeo on Friday amid President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate, which centers around the president's dealings with Ukraine.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cursed out an NPR reporter after she pressed him to answer questions about the removal of former U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch from her post in Ukraine, the outlet reported Friday .
Mary Louise Kelly accepts the award for best reporter/correspondent/host - non-commercial for "All Things Considered" on "NPR News" at the 43rd annual Gracie Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
"Inside the room, Pompeo shouted his displeasure at being questioned about Ukraine," NPR reported. "He used repeated expletives, according to Kelly, and asked, 'Do you think Americans care about Ukraine?'"
On a radio program for NPR that aired Friday, Kelly provided more details about her unrecorded exchange with Pompeo.
"I was taken to the Secretary's private living room, where he was waiting, and where he shouted at me for about the same amount of time as the interview itself had lasted," Kelly said.
"He used the F word in that sentence, and many others. He asked if I could find Ukraine on a map. I said yes. He called out for his aides to bring him a map of the world with no writing, no countries marked," Kelly said.
"I pointed to Ukraine," she said. "He put the map away. He said, 'People will hear about this,' and then he turned and said he had things to do, and I thanked him again for his time and left."
Neither the White House nor the State Department immediately responded to CNBC's requests for comment on NPR's report.
Reached for comment, Kelly referred CNBC to NPR's story about the incident.
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Pompeo on Friday tweeted his plans to travel to Ukraine.
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Yovanovitch's ouster has at times taken center stage in Trump's impeachment proceedings.
The House voted to impeach Trump on Dec. 18 on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, both related to his efforts to have Ukraine announce probes into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son and a debunked conspiracy theory about the 2016 presidential election.
Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani, with help from associates including Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, had allegedly sought Yovanovitch's removal in order to clear the way for Ukraine to announce the probes that involved Trump's political rivals.
Yovanovitch was removed from her post in Kyiv in the spring of 2019. She testified before the House in November as part of its impeachment inquiry that she felt threatened by Trump and his allies, who had disparaged her even after she was removed from her post.
Yovanovitch said that corrupt Ukrainian officials and Trump associates, including Giuliani, had orchestrated a "smear campaign" against her.
Earlier Friday, ABC News reported that a newly surfaced recording contains audio of Trump, at an April 2018 gathering with Fruman and Parnas, demanding that Yovanovitch be fired.
A transcript of the recorded portion of NPR's interview with Pompeo shows Kelly first asking questions about the tense relations between the U.S. and Iran. Pompeo defended Trump's decision to pull the U.S. out of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement struck during the Obama administration.
Then Kelly changed the subject to Ukraine, asking if Pompeo owed Yovanovitch an apology.
Pompeo said, "I agreed to come on your show today to talk about Iran. That's what I intend to do."
Kelly responded: "I confirmed with your staff ... last night that I would talk about Iran and Ukraine."
The back-and-forth continued as Kelly pressed Pompeo on whether or not he should apologize to the former U.S. ambassador.
"I'll say only this. I have defended every State Department official," Pompeo said. But when asked where he has defended Yovanovitch in particular, Pompeo said, "I've said all I'm going to say today."
Read NPR's full report.


cnbc--2020-01-24--Lawyers will seek New Orleans Saints testimony on team's PR help to Catholic archdiocese about clerg

Lawyers will seek New Orleans Saints testimony on team's PR help to Catholic archdiocese about clergy sex abuse

New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson stands on the field during a NFL game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08 , 2019 in New Orleans , Louisiana .
Lawyers say they want the New Orleans Saints and its spokesman to testify about that football team 's public relations assistance to the Archdiocese of New Orleans regarding clergy sexual abuse cases , court documents reveal .
The lawyers represent a man who is suing the archdiocese on claims he was sexually abused as a boy by a Catholic lay minister .
The Saints said in a statement Friday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Catholic archdiocese after being asked for assistance by church officials .
And the team said it had urged the archdiocese to be `` open and fully transparent '' in dealing with allegations of sex abuse by priests and others .
The statement came hours after a bombshell report by the Associated Press that revealed the teams ' unusual assistance to the church .
The Associated Press is asking a judge in the pending civil lawsuit to approve the disclosure of email and other communications involving the Saints , whose owner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the archdiocese .
Benson also owns the New Orleans Pelicans , an NBA team .
The Saints are trying to keep those emails out of the public eye — at least for now — according to court records .
The archdiocese also wants the communications kept confidential .
Lawyers for the accuser said in a New Orleans court filing earlier this week reviewed by CNBC that it appears that the Saints ' executives and public relations teams were `` unofficially 'lent out ' ... to assist the Archdiocese in 'messaging ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ names of credibly accused priests in November 2018 . ''
`` Obviously , the Saints should not be in the business of assisting the Archdiocese , and the Saints public relations team is not in the business of managing the public relations of criminals engaged in pedophilia , '' the filing said .
`` The Saints realize that if the documents at issue are made public , this professional sports organization also will be smearing itself . ''
The filing notes that Saints personnel apparently used communications that carried the insignia of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarding the archdiocese .
Lawyers for the accuser , who filed his lawsuit using an alias , have sought to release what they said are `` 276 documents '' that have been `` designated as 'confidential ' by the Saints . ''
The accuser 's lawyers , in a footnote to their filing this week , also said they intend `` to take a corporate representative deposition of the Saints , as well as a fact deposition of [ redacted name ] and [ Saints spokesman Greg ] Bensel , to fully determine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extent of its assistance . ''
The NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC .
The Archdiocese of New Orleans declined to comment .
The Saints , in a prepared statement , said , `` The New Orleans Saints organization has always had a very strong relationship with the Archdiocese . ''
`` The Archdiocese reached out to a number of community and civic minded leaders seeking counsel on handling the pending media attention that would come with the release of the clergy names in November of 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greg Bensel , Senior Vice President of Communications for the New Orleans Saints , was contacted and offered input on how to work with the media . ''
The statement went on to say : '' The advice was simple and never wavering .
Be direct , open and fully transparent , while making sure that all law enforcement agencies were alerted .
The New Orleans Saints , Greg Bensel and Mrs. Gayle Benson were and remain offended , disappointed and repulsed by the actions of certain past clergy .
We remain steadfast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered and pray for their continued healing . ''
`` Further , the Saints have no interest in concealing information from the press or public .
At the current discovery stage in the case of Doe v. Archdiocese , the Saints , through their counsel , have merely requested the court to apply the normal rules of civil discovery to the documents that the Saints produced and delivered to Mr. Doe 's counsel .
Until the documents are admitted into evidence at a public trial or hearing in the context of relevant testimony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the events to which they pertain , the use of the documents should be limited to the parties to the case and their attorneys .
If admitted into evidence of the case , the documents and the testimony pertaining to them will become part of the public record of the trial of the case . ''

New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson stands on the field during a NFL game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Lawyers say they want the New Orleans Saints and its spokesman to testify about that football team's public relations assistance to the Archdiocese of New Orleans regarding clergy sexual abuse cases, court documents reveal.
The lawyers represent a man who is suing the archdiocese on claims he was sexually abused as a boy by a Catholic lay minister.
The Saints said in a statement Friday that the NFL team provided the PR help to the Catholic archdiocese after being asked for assistance by church officials.
And the team said it had urged the archdiocese to be "open and fully transparent" in dealing with allegations of sex abuse by priests and others.
Tweet
The statement came hours after a bombshell report by the Associated Press that revealed the teams' unusual assistance to the church.
Kevin Bourgeois of the local Survivor's Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) chapter called the team's involvement "an egregious personal foul."
The Saints "have chosen to protect an institution instead of protecting children," Bourgeois said in a statement to NBC News. "This is an embarrassing move from a team that has no business being involved in this situation in the first place. It is disappointing to me that my hometown team would rather protect secrets instead of protecting children. Shame. Shame. Shame."
The Associated Press is asking a judge in the pending civil lawsuit to approve the disclosure of email and other communications involving the Saints, whose owner, Gayle Benson, is a devout Catholic, and the archdiocese. Benson also owns the New Orleans Pelicans, an NBA team.
The Saints are trying to keep those emails out of the public eye — at least for now — according to court records. The archdiocese also wants the communications kept confidential.
Lawyers for the accuser said in a New Orleans court filing earlier this week reviewed by CNBC that it appears that the Saints' executives and public relations teams were "unofficially 'lent out' ... to assist the Archdiocese in 'messaging' and mitigating any fallout from releasing the names of credibly accused priests in November 2018."
"Obviously, the Saints should not be in the business of assisting the Archdiocese, and the Saints public relations team is not in the business of managing the public relations of criminals engaged in pedophilia," the filing said.
"The Saints realize that if the documents at issue are made public, this professional sports organization also will be smearing itself."
The filing notes that Saints personnel apparently used communications that carried the insignia of the NFL when they conducted outreach to reporters regarding the archdiocese.
Lawyers for the accuser, who filed his lawsuit using an alias, have sought to release what they said are "276 documents" that have been "designated as 'confidential' by the Saints."
The accuser's lawyers, in a footnote to their filing this week, also said they intend "to take a corporate representative deposition of the Saints, as well as a fact deposition of [redacted name] and [Saints spokesman Greg] Bensel, to fully determine the nature of the relationship and the extent of its assistance."
The NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans declined to comment.
The Saints, in a prepared statement, said, "The New Orleans Saints organization has always had a very strong relationship with the Archdiocese."
"The Archdiocese reached out to a number of community and civic minded leaders seeking counsel on handling the pending media attention that would come with the release of the clergy names in November of 2018," the team said.
"Greg Bensel, Senior Vice President of Communications for the New Orleans Saints, was contacted and offered input on how to work with the media."
The statement went on to say: