cnbc--2020-04-29--Bipartisan lawmakers call on FCC to reverse Ligado 5G decision, citing GPS interference

Sen. James Inhofe ( R-OK ) , House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry ( R-TX ) , House Armed Services Committee ranking member Rep. Adam Smith ( D-WA ) and Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Sen. Jack Reed ( D-RI ) talk to journalists in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on July 11 , 2018 in Washington , DC .
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers is threatening to block the Federal Communications Commission 's recent decision regarding the deployment of a 5G network that may interfere with commercial and military GPS signals .
Last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ligado Networks to deploy a low-power nationwide 5G network despite objections from federal agencies , including the Departments of Defense , Commerce and Justice , as well as major U.S. airlines .
The 5G network will use an L-band spectrum that has the potential to disrupt commercial and military GPS signals , therefore raising concerns that the technology will impact U.S. national security .
The chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees , representing both parties , called on the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its unanimous decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's clear the FCC commissioners made the wrong decision regarding Ligado 's plan , which will set a disastrous precedent while impeding ongoing work on spectrum sharing .
The vulnerabilities to our national and economic security are not worth the risk , particularly for a band of spectrum that is n't necessary to secure a robust 5G network , '' wrote Sens .
Jim Inhofe , R-Okla. and Jack Reed , D-R.I. , and Reps. Adam Smith , D-Wash. , and Mac Thornberry , R-Texas .
`` Unless President Trump intervenes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be up to Congress to clean up this mess . ''
Ligado , the wireless satellite venture previously known as LightSquared Inc. , emerged from bankruptcy in 2015 and has since been working on a proposal to develop a network reliant on the L-band spectrum that will help telecom companies deploy 5G networks .
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai hailed the April 20 vote as `` another step forward for American leadership in 5G . ''
And while the Trump administration is sprinting to develop 5G networks , Secretary of Defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised by the bipartisan lawmakers .
`` I applaud the congressional defense leaders for their efforts to protect national security , ensure economic prosperity , promote technological leadership , & preserve Americans ' way of life , '' Esper wrote .

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX), House Armed Services Committee ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) and Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) talk to journalists in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on July 11, 2018 in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers is threatening to block the Federal Communications Commission's recent decision regarding the deployment of a 5G network that may interfere with commercial and military GPS signals.
Last week, the five-member FCC voted unanimously to allow Ligado Networks to deploy a low-power nationwide 5G network despite objections from federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Commerce and Justice, as well as major U.S. airlines.
The 5G network will use an L-band spectrum that has the potential to disrupt commercial and military GPS signals, therefore raising concerns that the technology will impact U.S. national security.
The chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees, representing both parties, called on the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its unanimous decision in an April 22 op-ed.
"It's clear the FCC commissioners made the wrong decision regarding Ligado's plan, which will set a disastrous precedent while impeding ongoing work on spectrum sharing. The vulnerabilities to our national and economic security are not worth the risk, particularly for a band of spectrum that isn't necessary to secure a robust 5G network," wrote Sens. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. and Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Reps. Adam Smith, D-Wash., and Mac Thornberry, R-Texas.
"Unless President Trump intervenes to stop this from moving forward, it will be up to Congress to clean up this mess."
Ligado, the wireless satellite venture previously known as LightSquared Inc., emerged from bankruptcy in 2015 and has since been working on a proposal to develop a network reliant on the L-band spectrum that will help telecom companies deploy 5G networks.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai hailed the April 20 vote as "another step forward for American leadership in 5G."
And while the Trump administration is sprinting to develop 5G networks, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper expressed on Twitter similar concerns raised by the bipartisan lawmakers.
"I applaud the congressional defense leaders for their efforts to protect national security, ensure economic prosperity, promote technological leadership, & preserve Americans' way of life," Esper wrote.
Reuters contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-04-29--Critics warn ex-GOP Rep. Justin Amash: A third-party White House bid helps Trump in 2020

Rep. Justin Amash , I-Mich. , is seen on the House steps of the Capitol before the House passed a $ 2 trillion coronavirus aid package by voice vote on Friday , March 27 , 2020 .
Michigan Rep. Justin Amash may be an outspoken conservative from a Republican-leaning district , but the launch of his exploratory committee seeking a presidential run was met with swift backlash from supporters of apparent Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
Critics say a third-party bid by Amash , an independent who endeared himself to many Democrats by quitting the Republican Party and voting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ siphon votes away from Biden in the 2020 election .
`` I like Justin .
I love democracy .
But I do think a 3rd party run increases the chances of Trump 's re-election , '' tweeted Andrew Yang , a former Democratic presidential primary candidate who has endorsed Biden .
`` I think Amash would make a wonderful candidate , '' Trump said in a derisive tweet Wednesday , `` especially since he is way behind in his district and has no chance of maintaining his Congressional seat . ''
`` He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dems anyway .
I like him even more than Jill Stein ! ''
Trump added , referring to the former Green Party nominee who won about 1 % of the popular vote in the 2016 election , mainly from liberal states .
Amash , who would run on the Libertarian Party ticket , denied that his entree in the race would necessarily take votes away from Biden .
`` We do n't know who people will vote for .
It 's impossible to say whether more people will vote for Biden or Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not in the race , '' Amash said Wednesday morning on MSNBC .
`` So I think there 's a big factual issue there . ''
Amash also pushed back on the notion that Americans have to vote in lockstep with their political parties .
`` The way we got Donald Trump is because every Republican who did n't like Donald Trump was told ... you have to vote for the Republican .
Similarly , people are being told today on the Democratic side , you have to vote for Joe Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote for Donald Trump again , '' Amash said .
`` That 's not the way the system is supposed to work . ''
But even some of Amash 's self-professed fans call his move `` perplexing . ''
Joe Walsh , a former Illinois congressman who had mounted a now-defunct Republican primary challenge against Trump , wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that Amash running for president on a Libertarian ticket is `` a terrible idea . ''
`` Amash ca n't win .
But he can siphon enough votes from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand the election to Trump , '' Walsh wrote .
George Conway , a conservative Trump critic and husband of White House advisor Kellyanne Conway , tweeted : `` Needless to say , my views align more closely with Amash 's than Biden 's .
But the only real effect Amash could have in this campaign is to enhance Trump 's chances .
This is a terrible idea . ''
Amash tweeted later Wednesday that `` the visceral outrage '' that followed his announcement `` speaks volumes about the ugly , hyperpartisan nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consultant Saul Anuzis told CNBC that Trump 's opponents may be more hostile to Amash because of the type of campaign Biden is mounting .
`` If you 're running an anti-Trump campaign , you 're trying to rally all the forces , '' making it problematic when a potentially viable protest vote emerges , Anuzis said .
`` When the Republican who walks into the polls says , ' I really do n't like Trump , but I hate to see what Biden would do instead , ' they can still cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anuzis said .
`` That 's why Democrats are more fearful . ''
The 40-year-old congressman , now on his fifth term in the House — and his first since leaving the GOP in July 2019 — has voted with Trump more than 63 % of the time , according to stat blog FiveThirtyEight .
His votes against key Democratic bills such as the Affordable Care Act , and his more recent opposition to funding packages providing economic relief amid the coronavirus crisis , have won him few liberal fans .
But Amash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praise from Democrats last year , when he forcefully argued that former special counsel Robert Mueller 's report on Russian election meddling showed that Trump had `` engaged in impeachable conduct . ''
Amash was still a Republican at the time .
The special counsel had investigated Russian election interference , as well as possible coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin and possible obstruction of justice by Trump .
Mueller said his probe did not uncover evidence of coordination between Russia and the campaign but highlighted multiple instances of possible obstruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Amash voted to impeach Trump on articles of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power , related to the president 's efforts to have Ukraine announce investigations into his Democratic rivals , including Biden .
`` President Donald J. Trump has abused and violated the public trust by using his high office to solicit the aid of a foreign power , not for the benefit of the United States of America but instead for his personal and political gain , '' Amash said before casting his vote .
The Democrat-led House passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines .
The GOP-majority Senate voted to acquit Trump on both charges .
Amash is facing a tough reelection fight in his Michigan district , which in 2016 had voted for Trump over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by nearly 10 percentage points .
His new political affiliation and his frequent attacks against Trump have soured his reputation among establishment Republicans and the groups that typically back GOP candidates .
Organizations such as the conservative Club for Growth , one of Amash 's largest backers in past elections , have said they would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reason that he believed he would win his House race , but `` I just think this is too important . ''
He faces both Republican and Democratic challengers in the 3rd District 's primary but he has a fundraising advantage despite losing some backers .
Even so , Anuzis told CNBC that the congressional race `` absolutely '' played a role in Amash 's decision to explore a White House bid .
`` He has a very good chance of losing '' in the district , Anuzis said .
`` If he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might as well go down running for president . ''

Rep. Justin Amash, I-Mich., is seen on the House steps of the Capitol before the House passed a $2 trillion coronavirus aid package by voice vote on Friday, March 27, 2020.
Michigan Rep. Justin Amash may be an outspoken conservative from a Republican-leaning district, but the launch of his exploratory committee seeking a presidential run was met with swift backlash from supporters of apparent Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Critics say a third-party bid by Amash, an independent who endeared himself to many Democrats by quitting the Republican Party and voting to impeach President Donald Trump, would likely siphon votes away from Biden in the 2020 election.
"I like Justin. I love democracy. But I do think a 3rd party run increases the chances of Trump's re-election," tweeted Andrew Yang, a former Democratic presidential primary candidate who has endorsed Biden.
YANG TWEET
Trump appeared to agree.
"I think Amash would make a wonderful candidate," Trump said in a derisive tweet Wednesday, "especially since he is way behind in his district and has no chance of maintaining his Congressional seat."
"He almost always votes for the Do Nothing Dems anyway. I like him even more than Jill Stein!" Trump added, referring to the former Green Party nominee who won about 1% of the popular vote in the 2016 election, mainly from liberal states.
Trump TWEET
Amash, who would run on the Libertarian Party ticket, denied that his entree in the race would necessarily take votes away from Biden.
"We don't know who people will vote for. It's impossible to say whether more people will vote for Biden or Trump if I'm in the race or not in the race," Amash said Wednesday morning on MSNBC. "So I think there's a big factual issue there."
Amash also pushed back on the notion that Americans have to vote in lockstep with their political parties.
"The way we got Donald Trump is because every Republican who didn't like Donald Trump was told ... you have to vote for the Republican. Similarly, people are being told today on the Democratic side, you have to vote for Joe Biden and Republicans are being told you have to vote for Donald Trump again," Amash said. "That's not the way the system is supposed to work."
Amash TWEET
But even some of Amash's self-professed fans call his move "perplexing."
Joe Walsh, a former Illinois congressman who had mounted a now-defunct Republican primary challenge against Trump, wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that Amash running for president on a Libertarian ticket is "a terrible idea."
"Amash can't win. But he can siphon enough votes from the Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, to hand the election to Trump," Walsh wrote.
George Conway, a conservative Trump critic and husband of White House advisor Kellyanne Conway, tweeted: "Needless to say, my views align more closely with Amash's than Biden's. But the only real effect Amash could have in this campaign is to enhance Trump's chances. This is a terrible idea."
George Conway TWEET
Amash tweeted later Wednesday that "the visceral outrage" that followed his announcement "speaks volumes about the ugly, hyperpartisan nature of politics today."
AMASH TWEET
Michigan-based GOP consultant Saul Anuzis told CNBC that Trump's opponents may be more hostile to Amash because of the type of campaign Biden is mounting.
"If you're running an anti-Trump campaign, you're trying to rally all the forces," making it problematic when a potentially viable protest vote emerges, Anuzis said.
"When the Republican who walks into the polls says, 'I really don't like Trump, but I hate to see what Biden would do instead,' they can still cast their protest vote for Amash," Anuzis said. "That's why Democrats are more fearful."
The 40-year-old congressman, now on his fifth term in the House — and his first since leaving the GOP in July 2019 — has voted with Trump more than 63% of the time, according to stat blog FiveThirtyEight.
His votes against key Democratic bills such as the Affordable Care Act, and his more recent opposition to funding packages providing economic relief amid the coronavirus crisis, have won him few liberal fans.
But Amash drew national media attention and waves of praise from Democrats last year, when he forcefully argued that former special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian election meddling showed that Trump had "engaged in impeachable conduct."
Amash was still a Republican at the time.
The special counsel had investigated Russian election interference, as well as possible coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin and possible obstruction of justice by Trump. Mueller said his probe did not uncover evidence of coordination between Russia and the campaign but highlighted multiple instances of possible obstruction of justice by Trump.
In December, Amash voted to impeach Trump on articles of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power, related to the president's efforts to have Ukraine announce investigations into his Democratic rivals, including Biden.
"President Donald J. Trump has abused and violated the public trust by using his high office to solicit the aid of a foreign power, not for the benefit of the United States of America but instead for his personal and political gain," Amash said before casting his vote.
The Democrat-led House passed those articles of impeachment along nearly partisan lines. The GOP-majority Senate voted to acquit Trump on both charges.
Amash is facing a tough reelection fight in his Michigan district, which in 2016 had voted for Trump over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by nearly 10 percentage points.
His new political affiliation and his frequent attacks against Trump have soured his reputation among establishment Republicans and the groups that typically back GOP candidates. Organizations such as the conservative Club for Growth, one of Amash's largest backers in past elections, have said they would not support his reelection bid.
Amash told Reason that he believed he would win his House race, but "I just think this is too important."
He faces both Republican and Democratic challengers in the 3rd District's primary but he has a fundraising advantage despite losing some backers.
Even so, Anuzis told CNBC that the congressional race "absolutely" played a role in Amash's decision to explore a White House bid.
"He has a very good chance of losing" in the district, Anuzis said. "If he's going to go down, he might as well go down running for president."


cnbc--2020-04-29--Trump to meet with executives from Waffle House, Wynn, Toyota, others to discuss reopening economy

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with supply chain distributors in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington , U.S. , March 29 , 2020 .
Executives from Wynn Resorts , Hilton , Toyota North America and Waffle House are among those meeting with President Donald Trump on Wednesday to discuss reopening the U.S. , according to people familiar with the matter .
The people , who requested anonymity because the list of attendees is not yet public , said other executives will be in attendance as well .
Trump has been soliciting feedback from a wide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen businesses that have shuttered their doors amid the coronavirus pandemic .
A spokesman for Toyota confirmed the company 's attendance at the meeting Wednesday .
`` Toyota announced its intention to ramp up its North American manufacturing operations in May .
As a result , Toyota was invited to the White House to be part of a discussion highlighting a group of companies that are ramping up their operations , '' the spokesman said .
`` While we are eager to restart our manufacturing operations , we will do so in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and local and state ordinances where our facilities are located .
The health and safety of our employees and stakeholders remain a top priority and we have implemented new protocols at all of our North American manufacturing plants to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 . ''
A spokesman for Hilton said he could `` confirm that Hilton representatives are planning to be at the White House today . ''
He directed CNBC to a release earlier this week outlining the chain 's plans for an `` industry-defining standard of cleanliness and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
A spokesperson for Waffle House did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The restaurant chain is based in Georgia .
It has already begun to reopen hundreds of restaurants in its home state , where GOP Gov .
Brian Kemp has called on businesses to restart operations .
`` The role we 're trying to play right now is to help the country and help ourselves figure out how to deal with the virus being with us for some time and how to get our businesses prepared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Waffle House CEO Walt Ehmer told CNBC on Tuesday .
A spokesperson for Wynn also did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The chain earlier told the Las Vegas Review-Journal it is `` accepting reservations beginning Memorial Day weekend , '' by which point the casino-hotel company `` can have all of our protective guest and employee measures in place . ''
Restaurants and hotels have been among the industries hardest hit by the shutdown and will be on the front lines of any plans to reopen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies have been forced to stop production in order to protect workers .
Earlier this month , the Trump administration laid out guidelines and timelines for the country to allow employees to start returning to work – but the decision will ultimately be made by state governors .
Vice President Mike Pence said this past Thursday that 16 states had unveiled `` formal reopening plans '' to lift coronavirus restrictions .
Georgia is among the states that has already begun to open up business , starting with salons , gyms and tattoo parlors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday .
-- CNBC 's Mike Wayland and Amelia Lucas contributed to this report .

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with supply chain distributors in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 29, 2020.
Executives from Wynn Resorts , Hilton , Toyota North America and Waffle House are among those meeting with President Donald Trump on Wednesday to discuss reopening the U.S., according to people familiar with the matter.
The people, who requested anonymity because the list of attendees is not yet public, said other executives will be in attendance as well.
Trump has been soliciting feedback from a wide range of executives on when and how to reopen businesses that have shuttered their doors amid the coronavirus pandemic.
A spokesman for Toyota confirmed the company's attendance at the meeting Wednesday.
"Toyota announced its intention to ramp up its North American manufacturing operations in May. As a result, Toyota was invited to the White House to be part of a discussion highlighting a group of companies that are ramping up their operations," the spokesman said.
"While we are eager to restart our manufacturing operations, we will do so in compliance with federal health and safety guidelines, and local and state ordinances where our facilities are located. The health and safety of our employees and stakeholders remain a top priority and we have implemented new protocols at all of our North American manufacturing plants to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19."
A spokesman for Hilton said he could "confirm that Hilton representatives are planning to be at the White House today." He directed CNBC to a release earlier this week outlining the chain's plans for an "industry-defining standard of cleanliness and disinfection in Hilton properties around the world."
A spokesperson for Waffle House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The restaurant chain is based in Georgia. It has already begun to reopen hundreds of restaurants in its home state, where GOP Gov. Brian Kemp has called on businesses to restart operations.
"The role we're trying to play right now is to help the country and help ourselves figure out how to deal with the virus being with us for some time and how to get our businesses prepared to provide jobs and opportunities for our people," Waffle House CEO Walt Ehmer told CNBC on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Wynn also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The chain earlier told the Las Vegas Review-Journal it is "accepting reservations beginning Memorial Day weekend," by which point the casino-hotel company "can have all of our protective guest and employee measures in place."
Restaurants and hotels have been among the industries hardest hit by the shutdown and will be on the front lines of any plans to reopen. The auto industry has been battered as companies have been forced to stop production in order to protect workers.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration laid out guidelines and timelines for the country to allow employees to start returning to work – but the decision will ultimately be made by state governors.
Vice President Mike Pence said this past Thursday that 16 states had unveiled "formal reopening plans" to lift coronavirus restrictions.
Georgia is among the states that has already begun to open up business, starting with salons, gyms and tattoo parlors and followed by restaurants and movie theaters on Monday.
-- CNBC's Mike Wayland and Amelia Lucas contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-04-29--Key Democratic women rally behind Joe Biden as he faces sexual assault allegation

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

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


cnbc--2020-04-29--Navy's top civilian calls for deeper investigation into coronavirus outbreak on aircraft carrier

Captain Brett Crozier addresses the crew for the first time as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt during a change of command ceremony on the ship 's flight deck in San Diego , California , U.S. November 1 , 2019 .
WASHINGTON — The Navy 's top civilian is calling for another investigation into events surrounding the coronavirus outbreak on an aircraft carrier , which led to the dismissal of its captain , who had pleaded for help , and the resignation of the former acting secretary of the Navy .
Upon reviewing the findings of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Capt .
Brett Crozier , the newly tapped acting secretary of the Navy said he had `` unanswered questions '' and would , therefore , need `` a deeper review . ''
`` This investigation will build on the good work of the initial inquiry to provide a more fulsome understanding of the sequence of events , actions , and decisions of the chain of command surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt , '' acting Secretary of the Navy James McPherson wrote in a statement .
The latest twist comes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week that Crozier , who sounded the alarm about a growing coronavirus outbreak aboard the carrier , should be reinstated to his command .
At the time , the decision to reinstate Crozier 's command of the Roosevelt sat with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper .
The Pentagon boss , who was briefed on the recommendations following the Navy investigation , requested more time to review the findings .
The secondary investigation is the latest development in a messy string of events that resulted in the resignation of acting Secretary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of duty by Modly after the captain 's letter pleading for help to mitigate the spread of the virus aboard the aircraft carrier was leaked to the media .
Modly then took a 35-hour trip , which cost taxpayers $ 243,000 , to address the crew of the Roosevelt .
In the address , delivered via the ship 's loudspeaker , Modly doubled down on his decision to relieve Crozier and called the former vessel 's captain `` naive '' and `` stupid . ''
Hours later Modly issued an apology to the @ @

Captain Brett Crozier addresses the crew for the first time as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt during a change of command ceremony on the ship's flight deck in San Diego, California, U.S. November 1, 2019.
WASHINGTON — The Navy's top civilian is calling for another investigation into events surrounding the coronavirus outbreak on an aircraft carrier, which led to the dismissal of its captain, who had pleaded for help, and the resignation of the former acting secretary of the Navy.
Upon reviewing the findings of the investigation into the USS Theodore Roosevelt and Capt. Brett Crozier, the newly tapped acting secretary of the Navy said he had "unanswered questions" and would, therefore, need "a deeper review."
"This investigation will build on the good work of the initial inquiry to provide a more fulsome understanding of the sequence of events, actions, and decisions of the chain of command surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt," acting Secretary of the Navy James McPherson wrote in a statement.
The latest twist comes on the heels of the Navy's recommendation last week that Crozier, who sounded the alarm about a growing coronavirus outbreak aboard the carrier, should be reinstated to his command.
At the time, the decision to reinstate Crozier's command of the Roosevelt sat with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. The Pentagon boss, who was briefed on the recommendations following the Navy investigation, requested more time to review the findings.
The secondary investigation is the latest development in a messy string of events that resulted in the resignation of acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly.
Crozier was relieved of duty by Modly after the captain's letter pleading for help to mitigate the spread of the virus aboard the aircraft carrier was leaked to the media. Modly then took a 35-hour trip, which cost taxpayers $243,000, to address the crew of the Roosevelt.
In the address, delivered via the ship's loudspeaker, Modly doubled down on his decision to relieve Crozier and called the former vessel's captain "naive" and "stupid." Hours later Modly issued an apology to the Navy.


cnbc--2020-04-29--Coronavirus testing chief says 'no way on Earth' US can test 5 million a day, despite what Trump say

Coronavirus testing chief says 'no way on Earth' US can test 5 million a day, despite what Trump says

Assistant Secretary for Health admiral Brett Giroir speaks as US President Donald Trump listens during a news conference on the novel coronavirus , COVID-19 , in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington , DC on April 27 , 2020 .
There 's `` no way on Earth '' the U.S. can test 5 million people a day for the coronavirus , the government 's top testing official said in an interview , just hours before President Donald Trump vowed that the country would be able to test that many people daily `` very soon . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on this planet or any other planet , that we can do 20 million tests a day , or even five million tests a day , '' Adm. Brett Giroir , assistant secretary of health who is in charge of the government 's testing response , told TIME in an interview he gave Tuesday morning that was published later in the evening .
The interview took place before Trump 's eye-popping pledge about testing .
Speaking to reporters the following day , Trump denied having said there would be 5 million tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he does believe there will , in fact , be 5 million tests per day at some point .
`` Somebody came out with a study of 5 million people .
Do I think we will ?
I think we will , but I never said it , '' Trump claimed during an event at the White House .
`` Somebody started throwing around 5 million .
I did n't say 5 million , '' the president insisted , adding , `` Well , we will be there .
But I did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it . ''
The U.S. will be able to test 8 million per month by May , Giroir told Time .
Giroir was responding to a new study 's findings .
Harvard University published a report last week that said the U.S. would need to ramp up testing capacity to at least 5 million tests a day by early June , and 20 million per day by late July , in order to reopen the economy .
Giroir told TIME that the assessment is `` an Ivory Tower , unreasonable benchmark , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on current modelling .
Trump , when asked at a news briefing about the 5 million figure later Tuesday , said , `` We 're going to be there very soon . ''

Assistant Secretary for Health admiral Brett Giroir speaks as US President Donald Trump listens during a news conference on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC on April 27, 2020.
There's "no way on Earth" the U.S. can test 5 million people a day for the coronavirus, the government's top testing official said in an interview, just hours before President Donald Trump vowed that the country would be able to test that many people daily "very soon."
"There is absolutely no way on Earth, on this planet or any other planet, that we can do 20 million tests a day, or even five million tests a day," Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of health who is in charge of the government's testing response, told TIME in an interview he gave Tuesday morning that was published later in the evening. The interview took place before Trump's eye-popping pledge about testing.
Speaking to reporters the following day, Trump denied having said there would be 5 million tests per day, but he added that he does believe there will, in fact, be 5 million tests per day at some point.
"Somebody came out with a study of 5 million people. Do I think we will? I think we will, but I never said it," Trump claimed during an event at the White House. "Somebody started throwing around 5 million. I didn't say 5 million," the president insisted, adding, "Well, we will be there. But I didn't say it. I didn't say it."
The U.S. will be able to test 8 million per month by May, Giroir told Time.
Giroir was responding to a new study's findings. Harvard University published a report last week that said the U.S. would need to ramp up testing capacity to at least 5 million tests a day by early June, and 20 million per day by late July, in order to reopen the economy. Giroir told TIME that the assessment is "an Ivory Tower, unreasonable benchmark," adding that it's not needed based on current modelling.
Trump, when asked at a news briefing about the 5 million figure later Tuesday, said, "We're going to be there very soon."


cnbc--2020-04-29--Food banks are closing and losing their workforce because of the coronavirus

Food banks are shuttering as they struggle to contend with the coronavirus and provide food relief to millions of people .
Volunteer help has dwindled because of social distancing and a fear of contracting and spreading the disease .
To deal with the challenges brought on by the outbreak , food banks have put in place new protocols for handling and delivering food and maintaining a steady supply .
But these challenges have shifted much of the burden onto food banks themselves , leading to skyrocketing operating costs and uncertainty about how long they 'll be able to respond .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said philanthropist Jean Shafiroff , a board member of the New York City Mission Society , which serves children and families living at or below the poverty level .
Hunger , a persistent problem in the United States , affected more than 37 million people in 2018 , according to a report from the Department of Agriculture .
Households with children are more likely to experience food insecurity , according to Feeding America , the country 's largest network of food banks .
Often , food-insecure households rely on local food banks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But front-line workers are preparing for more dire circumstances , as the government continues to push shelter-in-place warnings and as unemployment rates continue to rise .
Several food banks told CNBC they anticipate an increase in the coming months in the number of people seeking sufficient food supply for themselves and their families .
The outbreak has spread to dozens of countries globally , with more than 3 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 211,522 deaths , according to data from Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday .
The U.S. has had at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 56,000 deaths .
This story is based on conversations with six food banks in New York , New Jersey , California , Texas , and Washington , D.C. , five areas that have seen some of the highest numbers of confirmed cases in the country .
Nearly a third of food pantries nationally have closed in recent weeks , according to the New York City Mission Society .
Small food banks in New York City , which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak , have closed down because `` they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't have the volunteers to man them , '' Shafiroff told CNBC .
She added that many volunteers who have stopped their service are in their 60s and 70s , making them high-risk candidates to contract the most severe form of the virus .
As small food banks shut down , people seek out help from larger organizations , like Food Bank for New York City , which gives out about 58 million meals a year .
But even with its larger network of resources , the organization is still struggling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pantries have closed , '' Shafiroff said .
Around the country , other food banks have also reported closing pantries , which often help larger banks distribute food directly to communities in need .
Food banks in California , New Jersey , Texas , and Washington , D.C. , told CNBC they 've witnessed the closure of food pantries or other distribution agencies and nonprofits they partner with to deliver food .
Some food banks are seeing a decrease in the amount of food donated .
The Capital Area Food Bank in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food supply , CEO Radha Muthiah told CNBC .
`` It was just over the course of a week or so that we started to see these changes , '' Muthiah said .
`` There was n't enough time to plan and anticipate this dramatic fall . ''
Additionally , the D.C. food bank is going longer periods of time without receiving food .
`` What typically would take us eight to 12 days once we placed an order for a truckload of food can take up to eight weeks for our food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Shelf-stable products that can be stored at room temperature like canned tuna , canned chicken and peanut butter can take the longest to arrive .
Demand has never been higher Despite closures and shortages in staff and supply , the demand for food has never been higher , forcing food banks to quickly learn how to ramp up their efforts with fewer resources on hand than normal .
`` Our agencies have reported increases that range anywhere between 40 and 100 % increase in individuals accessing emergency food service , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Central California Food Bank , which serves about 70,000 families a month .
`` We are really pushing our operations to the max right now .
Every truck is going out full , essentially overweight , '' Caples said .
The Central Texas Food Bank served about 50,000 people a week before social distancing guidelines were encouraged .
As the virus gained traction in the United States in late winter , the food bank began serving an additional 22,000 new individuals .
`` And we 're starting to see those numbers increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' CEO Derrick Chubbs told CNBC .
`` What we normally see is a large number of the working poor — individuals who would be working in restaurants , bars , hotels , service workers — who depend on us to help them get through the last week of the month when they 're typically trying to decide whether to pay for medicine for their kids , pay for utilities , or purchase food , '' Chubbs said .
`` Today , the likelihood of unemployment is higher .
Those people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us every week . ''
Food donations are down , which means food banks have to find alternate ways to procure the same stream of supply .
They 've turned to purchasing food themselves using larger portions of their budgets to make it happen .
The Community Food Bank of New Jersey , the state 's largest , lost about 800,000 pounds of donated food in March and April , CEO Carlos Rodriguez told CNBC .
To make up the difference , the New Jersey food bank started buying food , spending an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Monetary donations are on the rise .
Multiple food banks told CNBC that financial donations from corporate supporters and foundations have been more generous lately , and individual monetary donations have not stopped despite an nationwide economic slowdown .
`` I think it 's a testament to the generosity of the community , '' Rodriguez said .
`` Those that can donate clearly are . ''
Some food banks have found other revenue streams and opportunities that help make ends meet .
The Capital Area Food Bank has formed partnerships with Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donating $ 500,000 to help with the organization 's efforts to provide food to the `` newly food-insecure , '' Muthiah said .
The Central California Food Bank has partnered with a local tech company to facilitate delivery for home-bound individuals like seniors and people with disabilities , according to Caples .
Customers who can pick up their food are also on the receiving end of major changes .
To minimize contact with food , volunteers and staff members at food banks across the United States have begun boxing produce and shelf-stable items @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Before the pandemic , pantries and banks often distributed their food following what is called the `` client choice model , '' in which an individual can select from a wide variety of products .
Typically , `` it 's set up like a farmers market , '' Muthiah said .
`` People would walk through , pick up what they like , linger a little bit , ask for a recipe card .
All of that has come to an end to minimize exposures . ''
Other food banks now follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Food Bank has staff and remaining volunteers build emergency food boxes that hold about 28 pounds of food .
Families and individuals drive down to a distribution site and open their car trunks , allowing a worker to place one of the boxes with food in it while avoiding all unnecessary contact .
This unusual demand will persist even when the coronavirus dies down , representatives from multiple food banks said .
Food banks are foreseeing people struggling financially for a long time and hope to be able to continue to respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 're now moving into what we call a new normal , '' Muthiah said .
`` Even if there 's a vaccine and the corona effects will start to tail off , the economic effects are here for some time to come .
So we 're looking at this as a situation we have to contend with , respond to in the next year . ''
So in recent weeks , food banks have had to balance double duty : rapidly adjust to new food distribution protocols to prioritize safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time create a sustainable operation that lasts well beyond the coronavirus .
In the near future , some larger food banks will likely not host or be a part of large fundraising events , said Shafiroff , a board member of seven nonprofit organizations in New York .
`` It 's just too chancey , '' she said .
Aside from raising money , there are lingering concerns on where the food will come from in the near future .
Chubbs is worried about `` what this is going to look like 45 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are all — not just the retail grocers but all 200 food banks in the country — trying to procure food from the same vendors . ''
If those vendors cease to exist , this would add another yet another major hurdle .

People pick up food the Food Bank at the New York City mobile food pantry on the Barclays Center plaza on April 24, 2020 in the Brooklyn, New York. Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images
Food banks are shuttering as they struggle to contend with the coronavirus and provide food relief to millions of people. Volunteer help has dwindled because of social distancing and a fear of contracting and spreading the disease. To deal with the challenges brought on by the outbreak, food banks have put in place new protocols for handling and delivering food and maintaining a steady supply. But these challenges have shifted much of the burden onto food banks themselves, leading to skyrocketing operating costs and uncertainty about how long they'll be able to respond. "There's never enough money," said philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, a board member of the New York City Mission Society, which serves children and families living at or below the poverty level. Hunger, a persistent problem in the United States, affected more than 37 million people in 2018, according to a report from the Department of Agriculture. Households with children are more likely to experience food insecurity, according to Feeding America, the country's largest network of food banks. Often, food-insecure households rely on local food banks and other hunger relief organizations for support. But front-line workers are preparing for more dire circumstances, as the government continues to push shelter-in-place warnings and as unemployment rates continue to rise. Several food banks told CNBC they anticipate an increase in the coming months in the number of people seeking sufficient food supply for themselves and their families. The outbreak has spread to dozens of countries globally, with more than 3 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 211,522 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday. The U.S. has had at least 988,000 cases, including more than 56,000 deaths. This story is based on conversations with six food banks in New York, New Jersey, California, Texas, and Washington, D.C., five areas that have seen some of the highest numbers of confirmed cases in the country.
Unexpected challenges
Nearly a third of food pantries nationally have closed in recent weeks, according to the New York City Mission Society. Small food banks in New York City, which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, have closed down because "they haven't gotten food to distribute or they don't have the volunteers to man them," Shafiroff told CNBC. She added that many volunteers who have stopped their service are in their 60s and 70s, making them high-risk candidates to contract the most severe form of the virus. As small food banks shut down, people seek out help from larger organizations, like Food Bank for New York City, which gives out about 58 million meals a year. But even with its larger network of resources, the organization is still struggling, and "a number of its food pantries have closed," Shafiroff said. Around the country, other food banks have also reported closing pantries, which often help larger banks distribute food directly to communities in need. Food banks in California, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington, D.C., told CNBC they've witnessed the closure of food pantries or other distribution agencies and nonprofits they partner with to deliver food. Some food banks are seeing a decrease in the amount of food donated. The Capital Area Food Bank in Washington saw a 75% dip in donated food supply, CEO Radha Muthiah told CNBC. "It was just over the course of a week or so that we started to see these changes," Muthiah said. "There wasn't enough time to plan and anticipate this dramatic fall." Additionally, the D.C. food bank is going longer periods of time without receiving food. "What typically would take us eight to 12 days once we placed an order for a truckload of food can take up to eight weeks for our food supply to arrive," Muthiah said. Shelf-stable products that can be stored at room temperature like canned tuna, canned chicken and peanut butter can take the longest to arrive.
Demand has never been higher
Despite closures and shortages in staff and supply, the demand for food has never been higher, forcing food banks to quickly learn how to ramp up their efforts with fewer resources on hand than normal. "Our agencies have reported increases that range anywhere between 40 and 100% increase in individuals accessing emergency food service," said Natalie Caples, chief operations officer at the Central California Food Bank, which serves about 70,000 families a month. "We are really pushing our operations to the max right now. Every truck is going out full, essentially overweight," Caples said. The Central Texas Food Bank served about 50,000 people a week before social distancing guidelines were encouraged. As the virus gained traction in the United States in late winter, the food bank began serving an additional 22,000 new individuals. "And we're starting to see those numbers increase during the first few weeks of April," CEO Derrick Chubbs told CNBC. "What we normally see is a large number of the working poor — individuals who would be working in restaurants, bars, hotels, service workers — who depend on us to help them get through the last week of the month when they're typically trying to decide whether to pay for medicine for their kids, pay for utilities, or purchase food," Chubbs said. "Today, the likelihood of unemployment is higher. Those people who needed us once a month now need us every week."
Getting by
Food donations are down, which means food banks have to find alternate ways to procure the same stream of supply. They've turned to purchasing food themselves using larger portions of their budgets to make it happen. The Community Food Bank of New Jersey, the state's largest, lost about 800,000 pounds of donated food in March and April, CEO Carlos Rodriguez told CNBC. To make up the difference, the New Jersey food bank started buying food, spending an additional $945,000 a month since March. Monetary donations are on the rise. Multiple food banks told CNBC that financial donations from corporate supporters and foundations have been more generous lately, and individual monetary donations have not stopped despite an nationwide economic slowdown. "I think it's a testament to the generosity of the community," Rodriguez said. "Those that can donate clearly are." Some food banks have found other revenue streams and opportunities that help make ends meet. The Capital Area Food Bank has formed partnerships with Bank of America and Mars Foundation, each donating $500,000 to help with the organization's efforts to provide food to the "newly food-insecure," Muthiah said. The Central California Food Bank has partnered with a local tech company to facilitate delivery for home-bound individuals like seniors and people with disabilities, according to Caples. Customers who can pick up their food are also on the receiving end of major changes. To minimize contact with food, volunteers and staff members at food banks across the United States have begun boxing produce and shelf-stable items like pasta, rice and canned foods. Before the pandemic, pantries and banks often distributed their food following what is called the "client choice model," in which an individual can select from a wide variety of products. Typically, "it's set up like a farmers market," Muthiah said. "People would walk through, pick up what they like, linger a little bit, ask for a recipe card. All of that has come to an end to minimize exposures." Other food banks now follow a similar model. The Central Texas Food Bank has staff and remaining volunteers build emergency food boxes that hold about 28 pounds of food. Families and individuals drive down to a distribution site and open their car trunks, allowing a worker to place one of the boxes with food in it while avoiding all unnecessary contact.
Looking ahead


cnbc--2020-04-30--Trump says he would 'certainly consider' bringing convicted felon Michael Flynn back into administra

Trump says he would 'certainly consider' bringing convicted felon Michael Flynn back into administration

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would `` certainly consider '' bringing Michael Flynn , a convicted felon who served as Trump 's first national security advisor , back into his administration .
`` I think he 's a fine man .
I think it 's terrible what they did to him , '' Trump told a reporter at the White House who asked if he might bring Flynn back into the fold .
`` It 's something that nobody 's asked me , but you 're asking me for the first time , I would certainly consider it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said .
`` They did everything possible to destroy him , and he 's still breathing very strongly . ''
Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador before Trump 's inauguration .
Flynn replaced his legal team last year and is now trying to withdraw his guilty plea , arguing he is the victim of misconduct by prosecutors .
Flynn 's sentencing is on hold as a federal judge in Washington , D.C. , district court reviews his case .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked what position Flynn might hold if he was brought back into the administration .
Trump said last month that he was `` strongly considering '' giving Flynn `` a full pardon . ''
When asked Thursday if he planned to pardon Flynn , Trump suggested that he would n't need to because he expected Flynn would be exonerated .
`` I 'm not the judge , but I have a different type of power , '' Trump said at an event about protecting U.S. seniors during the coronavirus crisis .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use that power .
I think he 's exonerated , I 've never seen anything like it … I guess we 'll get to that , maybe some day or maybe not , hopefully we wo n't have to get there . ''
Trump had spoken out about Flynn repeatedly earlier in the day : He tweeted and retweeted more than a dozen posts Thursday morning defending Flynn and slamming the FBI and its former director James Comey .
Trump fired Comey in May 2017 and later told NBC 's Lester Holt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind when he decided to terminate Comey .
As a result , then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
Many of Trump 's posts referenced new documents that were unsealed in Flynn 's case overnight .
The documents include copies of emails from veteran FBI agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page , whom Trump has singled out repeatedly in his attacks against the agency .

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would "certainly consider" bringing Michael Flynn, a convicted felon who served as Trump's first national security advisor, back into his administration.
"I think he's a fine man. I think it's terrible what they did to him," Trump told a reporter at the White House who asked if he might bring Flynn back into the fold.
"It's something that nobody's asked me, but you're asking me for the first time, I would certainly consider it, yeah, I would," Trump said. "They did everything possible to destroy him, and he's still breathing very strongly."
Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador before Trump's inauguration. Flynn replaced his legal team last year and is now trying to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing he is the victim of misconduct by prosecutors.
Flynn's sentencing is on hold as a federal judge in Washington, D.C., district court reviews his case.
"We'd look," Trump said when asked what position Flynn might hold if he was brought back into the administration.
Trump said last month that he was "strongly considering" giving Flynn "a full pardon."
When asked Thursday if he planned to pardon Flynn, Trump suggested that he wouldn't need to because he expected Flynn would be exonerated.
"I'm not the judge, but I have a different type of power," Trump said at an event about protecting U.S. seniors during the coronavirus crisis. "I don't know that anybody would have to use that power. I think he's exonerated, I've never seen anything like it … I guess we'll get to that, maybe some day or maybe not, hopefully we won't have to get there."
Trump had spoken out about Flynn repeatedly earlier in the day: He tweeted and retweeted more than a dozen posts Thursday morning defending Flynn and slamming the FBI and its former director James Comey.
TWEET 1
TWEET 2
Trump fired Comey in May 2017 and later told NBC's Lester Holt that the Russia probe was on his mind when he decided to terminate Comey. As a result, then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Many of Trump's posts referenced new documents that were unsealed in Flynn's case overnight.
The documents include copies of emails from veteran FBI agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page, whom Trump has singled out repeatedly in his attacks against the agency.


cnbc--2020-04-30--Big money donors are pressuring Joe Biden against picking Elizabeth Warren for VP: 'He would lose th

Big money donors are pressuring Joe Biden against picking Elizabeth Warren for VP: 'He would lose the election'

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) react during a break at the Democratic Presidential Debate at Otterbein University on October 15 , 2019 in Westerville , Ohio .
A record 12 presidential hopefuls are participating in the debate hosted by CNN and The New York Times .
Big money donors are pressuring Joe Biden to not choose Sen. Elizabeth Warren as his running mate , even while the centrist former vice president tries to appeal to progressive voters .
Biden and his team , according to people familiar with the matter , have heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about who they think would be best to be chosen as his vice presidential nominee .
Those conversations have recently included attempts to push the campaign away from picking Warren and encouraging the choice of other candidates purportedly on his list , such as Sens .
Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar , and Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .
Many Biden contributors spoke on the condition of anonymity as these conversations , both with Biden and among his associates , were in private .
`` I think a lot of the donor base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prefer almost anyone but Elizabeth .
I do n't see him choosing her for veep '' said a longtime fundraiser for Biden who is regularly in touch with him .
`` She would be horrible .
He would lose the election , '' said a Wall Street executive who was once backing others running in the Democratic primary and later joined Biden 's donor ranks .
Biden has started the vetting process of selecting a vice presidential candidate while he practices social distance in his Delaware home .
His campaign has gone entirely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , it announced the creation of a VP vetting committee , which includes former U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti .
Dodd was the longtime CEO of the Hollywood lobbying organization the Motion Picture Association of America .
Donors concerned about a Biden-Warren ticket are worried about a range of issues , from Democrats potentially losing her seat in the Senate to Warren being possibly too divisive on the campaign trail against President Donald Trump .
Other financiers have privately encouraged Biden to hold back on choosing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Americans ' struggles with the coronavirus , which has infected more than a million in the U.S. and cost the economy more than 30 million jobs .
Warren endorsed Biden for president earlier this month after running against him in the Democratic primary .
She has since been advocating in subsequent media appearances for her supporters to donate to his campaign .
When she ran for president , her campaign funded on small dollar donors and she refused to take part in any private big money events .
Her campaign finished raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Election Commission records show .
Warren had her run-ins with many on Wall Street donors during her campaign .
Several said in private that they planned to sit out or back Trump instead if she went on to capture the party 's nomination .
There are some signs , however , that Biden is shrugging off anyone vocalizing discontent with Warren .
He is plowing ahead with appeasing progressives who backed her campaign while possibly looking to bring her into the fold .
The Washington Post reported that Biden 's team hired two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the Massachusetts senator 's progressive views at a virtual donor event last week .
`` Look , you know Wall Street is – they 're good folks .
But guess what they did n't build America .
Ordinary Americans , middle class built America , '' Biden said , while noting that he believes the pandemic has shown `` the institutional racism , the institutional difficulties that are set out there for ordinary people . ''
Another move that suggests Biden is trying to appeal to Warren and fellow progressive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of longtime advisor Ted Kaufman to help put together a presidential transition team .
During his short stint in the Senate , Kaufman introduced an amendment to the 2010 Dodd Frank reform bill that could have cut down the size of a few of the big banks .
It failed to pass in the Senate .
Still , some progressive activists are happy that Kaufman , a Wall Street critic , is assisting in crafting a group of advisors for Biden .
`` The Ted Kaufman news is encouraging .
Kaufman has an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wall Street banksters and financial fraudsters more generally from his two years in the Senate , '' Jeff Hauser , an executive director at the liberal Revolving Door Project , tweeted in reaction to the developments .
Other Biden donors are worried that Massachusetts ' GOP governor , Charlie Baker , may appoint a Republican to the vacant seat if Warren were to jump into the election as Biden 's running mate .
Currently , the GOP enjoys a 53-47 edge in the Senate , although it is defending more seats than Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another concern is that Warren could too polarizing to be on the ticket , namely that her often liberal beliefs could alienate moderate voters in swing states , particularly those in the Midwest such as Michigan and Wisconsin .
A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Biden ahead of Trump in these states , along with Pennsylvania , by about six points .
Warren has often called for raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans .
Her latest effort is a bill co-sponsored by progressive firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y , which would halt mergers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
`` There are two Elizabeth Warrens .
The one I had in my home when she was a U.S. senator and consumer champion .
She was awesome , '' Florida businessman John Morgan , who is fundraising for Biden , told CNBC in discussing her as a possible VP pick .
`` Then came Warren the socialist trying to out-Bernie Bernie .
That is her dilemma . ''
During the campaign , Warren sought to distinguish herself from Sanders , a self-proclaimed democratic socialist , by saying she is a capitalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren during her campaigns for Senate .
Warren led the way in conceiving of and setting up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau during President Barack Obama 's first term in office .
Biden 's business allies have also been suggesting to him that he should n't be even moving ahead with choosing a VP at all in the current political climate .
Instead , they argue , he should be putting all of his efforts into showing voters how he would be the better alternative to Trump in such a crisis .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he does n't have to make that choice now .
Go out and speak to the people who are voting for you , '' Bernard Schwartz , a longtime Democratic financier who has given to the campaign and super PACs backing his candidacy .
`` The vice president is not the important choice for you , '' he added , and pointed to the struggling economy as a place Biden could focus his message .
Representatives for Biden and Warren did not return requests for comment .

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) react during a break at the Democratic Presidential Debate at Otterbein University on October 15, 2019 in Westerville, Ohio. A record 12 presidential hopefuls are participating in the debate hosted by CNN and The New York Times.
Big money donors are pressuring Joe Biden to not choose Sen. Elizabeth Warren as his running mate, even while the centrist former vice president tries to appeal to progressive voters.
Biden and his team, according to people familiar with the matter, have heard from many donors in the business community about who they think would be best to be chosen as his vice presidential nominee.
Those conversations have recently included attempts to push the campaign away from picking Warren and encouraging the choice of other candidates purportedly on his list, such as Sens. Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Many Biden contributors spoke on the condition of anonymity as these conversations, both with Biden and among his associates, were in private.
"I think a lot of the donor base, on board and coming, would prefer almost anyone but Elizabeth. I don't see him choosing her for veep" said a longtime fundraiser for Biden who is regularly in touch with him.
"She would be horrible. He would lose the election," said a Wall Street executive who was once backing others running in the Democratic primary and later joined Biden's donor ranks.
Biden has started the vetting process of selecting a vice presidential candidate while he practices social distance in his Delaware home. His campaign has gone entirely virtual during the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, it announced the creation of a VP vetting committee, which includes former U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Dodd was the longtime CEO of the Hollywood lobbying organization the Motion Picture Association of America.
Donors concerned about a Biden-Warren ticket are worried about a range of issues, from Democrats potentially losing her seat in the Senate to Warren being possibly too divisive on the campaign trail against President Donald Trump.
Other financiers have privately encouraged Biden to hold back on choosing a running mate and focus on issues connected to Americans' struggles with the coronavirus, which has infected more than a million in the U.S. and cost the economy more than 30 million jobs.
Warren endorsed Biden for president earlier this month after running against him in the Democratic primary. She has since been advocating in subsequent media appearances for her supporters to donate to his campaign. When she ran for president, her campaign funded on small dollar donors and she refused to take part in any private big money events.
Her campaign finished raising well over $100 million, Federal Election Commission records show. Warren had her run-ins with many on Wall Street donors during her campaign. Several said in private that they planned to sit out or back Trump instead if she went on to capture the party's nomination.
There are some signs, however, that Biden is shrugging off anyone vocalizing discontent with Warren. He is plowing ahead with appeasing progressives who backed her campaign while possibly looking to bring her into the fold. The Washington Post reported that Biden's team hired two of Warren's fundraising advisors and channeled some of the Massachusetts senator's progressive views at a virtual donor event last week.
"Look, you know Wall Street is – they're good folks. But guess what they didn't build America. Ordinary Americans, middle class built America," Biden said, while noting that he believes the pandemic has shown "the institutional racism, the institutional difficulties that are set out there for ordinary people."
Another move that suggests Biden is trying to appeal to Warren and fellow progressive, Sen. Bernie Sanders, is his appointment of longtime advisor Ted Kaufman to help put together a presidential transition team. During his short stint in the Senate, Kaufman introduced an amendment to the 2010 Dodd Frank reform bill that could have cut down the size of a few of the big banks. It failed to pass in the Senate. Still, some progressive activists are happy that Kaufman, a Wall Street critic, is assisting in crafting a group of advisors for Biden.
"The Ted Kaufman news is encouraging. Kaufman has an excellent reputation as a committed opponent of Wall Street banksters and financial fraudsters more generally from his two years in the Senate," Jeff Hauser, an executive director at the liberal Revolving Door Project, tweeted in reaction to the developments.
Other Biden donors are worried that Massachusetts' GOP governor, Charlie Baker, may appoint a Republican to the vacant seat if Warren were to jump into the election as Biden's running mate. Currently, the GOP enjoys a 53-47 edge in the Senate, although it is defending more seats than Democrats are during this year's elections.
Another concern is that Warren could be too polarizing to be on the ticket, namely that her often liberal beliefs could alienate moderate voters in swing states, particularly those in the Midwest such as Michigan and Wisconsin. A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Biden ahead of Trump in these states, along with Pennsylvania, by about six points.
Warren has often called for raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Her latest effort is a bill co-sponsored by progressive firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y, which would halt mergers and acquisitions in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
"There are two Elizabeth Warrens. The one I had in my home when she was a U.S. senator and consumer champion. She was awesome," Florida businessman John Morgan, who is fundraising for Biden, told CNBC in discussing her as a possible VP pick. "Then came Warren the socialist trying to out-Bernie Bernie. That is her dilemma." During the campaign, Warren sought to distinguish herself from Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, by saying she is a capitalist.
Morgan previously hosted fundraising events for Warren during her campaigns for Senate. Warren led the way in conceiving of and setting up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau during President Barack Obama's first term in office.
Biden's business allies have also been suggesting to him that he shouldn't be even moving ahead with choosing a VP at all in the current political climate. Instead, they argue, he should be putting all of his efforts into showing voters how he would be the better alternative to Trump in such a crisis.
"My private advice to him is that he doesn't have to make that choice now. Go out and speak to the people who are voting for you," Bernard Schwartz, a longtime Democratic financier who has given to the campaign and super PACs backing his candidacy.
"The vice president is not the important choice for you," he added, and pointed to the struggling economy as a place Biden could focus his message.
Representatives for Biden and Warren did not return requests for comment.


cnbc--2020-04-30--Trump suspects coronavirus outbreak came from China lab, doesn't cite evidence

President Donald Trump on Thursday said — without offering any evidence — that he has a high degree of confidence that the coronavirus outbreak originated from a laboratory in China .
`` I ca n't tell you that .
I 'm not allowed to tell you that , '' Trump said at a White House event when asked what evidence he has seen to make him believe that the virus emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China .
That lab is in the region that saw the first big outbreak of what is now a world-wide pandemic that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump 's comments went much further than a statement from the top US intelligence agency on Thursday , which said , for the first time , that it , `` Concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified . ''
But the Office of Director of National Intelligence added that the American intelligence community `` will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before Trump spoke Thursday , The New York Times reported that senior Trump administration officials `` have pushed American spy agencies to hunt for evidence to support an unsubstantiated theory '' that the Wuhan laboratory was the point of oring for the outbreak .
`` The effort comes as President Trump escalates a public campaign to blame China for the pandemic , '' The Times noted .
Trump initially was asked by a reporter at the White House on Thursday about the origins of the virus , and answered , `` You have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four different concepts as to how it came out . ''
`` We should have the answer to that in the not-so-distant future and that will determine a lot how I feel about China , '' the president said .

President Donald Trump on Thursday said — without offering any evidence — that he has a high degree of confidence that the coronavirus outbreak originated from a laboratory in China.
"I can't tell you that. I'm not allowed to tell you that," Trump said at a White House event when asked what evidence he has seen to make him believe that the virus emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.
That lab is in the region that saw the first big outbreak of what is now a world-wide pandemic that has infected more than 3.2 million people.
Trump's comments went much further than a statement from the top US intelligence agency on Thursday, which said, for the first time, that it, "Concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified."
But the Office of Director of National Intelligence added that the American intelligence community "will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan."
Before Trump spoke Thursday, The New York Times reported that senior Trump administration officials "have pushed American spy agencies to hunt for evidence to support an unsubstantiated theory" that the Wuhan laboratory was the point of oring for the outbreak.
"The effort comes as President Trump escalates a public campaign to blame China for the pandemic," The Times noted.
Trump initially was asked by a reporter at the White House on Thursday about the origins of the virus, and answered, "You have heard all different things. Three or four different concepts as to how it came out."
"We should have the answer to that in the not-so-distant future and that will determine a lot how I feel about China," the president said.


cnbc--2020-04-30--Vice President Mike Pence wears coronavirus mask at General Motors plant after criticism for Mayo Cl

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

But at a roundtable discussion later during the visit , Pence removed his mask , as did other attendees , including Chao .
Pence was accompanied during the visit to the GM facility in Kokomo , Indiana , by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao , Indiana Gov .
Eric Holcomb , GM CEO Mary Barra and White House Trade advisor Peter Navarro — all of whom were also wearing masks .
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and CEO of General Motors Mary Barra visit the General Motors Components Holding Plant that is manufacturing ventilators for use during the coronavirus disease ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indiana , U.S. April 30 , 2020 .
Pence , who once served as governor of Indiana , is leading the White House 's coronavirus task force .
His tour of the recently reopened plant came two weeks after it began producing ventilators with Ventech Life Systems to deal with a shortage of the medical breathing assistance devices in the face of the coronavirus pandemic .
Brian Rothenberg , a spokesman for the United Auto Workers union , said that General Motors requires workers at the plant to wear surgical masks there except @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has previously said that he does not need to wear a mask to prevent spreading an infection — despite federal health guidance to the contrary — because he is tested regularly for coronavirus , and has been shown to be negative for it .
Health experts have disputed that idea , saying the tests are not always accurate and that there is a risk that Pence could contract the coronavirus between tests and pass it on unwittingly to others .
The Mayo Clinic has said it told Pence 's staff before he visited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all visitors , staff and patients at its Rochester , Minnesota , facility because of the coronavirus outbreak .
But Pence 's wife , Karen , on Thursday said during a Fox News interview that he only learned of the mask policy after he left the clinic Tuesday .
`` As our medical experts have told us wearing a mask prevents you from spreading the disease and knowing that he does n't have COVID-19 , he did n't wear one , '' Karen Pence said on `` Fox & Friends . ''
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention , in guidance issued in early April , says , `` You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick . ''

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


cnbc--2020-04-30--House Democrats aim to put more than $80 billion into broadband expansion during coronavirus

House Democrats released a plan Thursday to invest more than $ 80 billion in boosting broadband internet access as the coronavirus forces Americans to work , learn and seek medical treatment from home .
The proposal by 12 lawmakers resembles bills Democrats have released before to bolster a core piece of U.S. infrastructure .
The issue has taken on more urgency , though , as efforts to slow the outbreak 's spread have forced governments to close businesses and schools , leaving millions at home without reliable internet .
`` This broadband deployment is very , very necessary , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told reporters earlier Thursday in previewing the plan .
He said ensuring more households have internet was `` made even more necessary by this current pandemic that we 're trying to respond to . ''
Democrats and President Donald Trump have pushed for a sprawling infrastructure package — which could cost up to $ 2 trillion — to refresh roads , bridges , tunnels and water systems while increasing internet access .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Thursday that Democrats could narrow their scope for infrastructure goals during the next phase of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems .
The plan unveiled Thursday would inject $ 80 billion over five years into expansion of broadband infrastructure into neglected rural , suburban and urban areas , with an emphasis on communities with high levels of poverty .
It includes measures to promote rapid building of internet systems , such as low-interest financing for infrastructure projects .
It also has provisions designed to increase competition and reduce costs , such as requiring providers who use federal funds to offer an affordable plan and guaranteeing local governments and public-private partnerships can provide broadband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mobile hotspots and sets aside money for Wi-Fi on school buses .
Clyburn said the investment is necessary for remote doctor 's visits , which many Americans have resorted to during the pandemic .
The representative noted that schools around the country remain closed , and the prospect of another wave of infections in the fall could hamper students who do not have reliable internet access even more .
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to comment on whether the Kentucky Republican would support putting a broadband provision in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi said Thursday that the House would not convene again until the week of May 11 at the earliest , as leaders worry about risking lawmakers ' health .
When Congress returns , the California Democrat aims to pass a sprawling rescue measure that includes more than $ 500 billion in relief for state and local governments and expands pieces of the $ 2 trillion stimulus package passed last month .
The Senate will return to Washington next week .

House Democrats released a plan Thursday to invest more than $80 billion into boosting broadband internet access as the coronavirus forces Americans to work, learn and seek medical treatment from home.
The proposal by 12 lawmakers resembles bills Democrats have released before to bolster a core piece of U.S. infrastructure. The issue has taken on more urgency, though, as efforts to slow the outbreak's spread have forced governments to close businesses and schools, leaving millions at home without reliable internet service.
"This broadband deployment is very, very necessary," House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., told reporters earlier Thursday in previewing the plan. He said ensuring more households have the internet was "made even more necessary by this current pandemic that we're trying to respond to."
Democrats and President Donald Trump have pushed for a sprawling infrastructure package — which could cost up to $2 trillion — to refresh roads, bridges, tunnels and water systems while increasing internet access. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Thursday that Democrats could narrow their scope for infrastructure goals during the next phase of the coronavirus response to broadband and water systems.
The plan unveiled Thursday would inject $80 billion over five years into expansion of broadband infrastructure into neglected rural, suburban and urban areas, with an emphasis on communities with high levels of poverty. It includes measures to promote rapid building of internet systems, such as low-interest financing for infrastructure projects.
It also has provisions designed to increase competition and reduce costs, such as requiring providers who use federal funds to offer an affordable plan and guaranteeing local governments and public-private partnerships can provide broadband service. It also promotes the creation of mobile hotspots and sets aside money for Wi-Fi on school buses.
Clyburn said the investment is necessary for remote doctor's visits, which many Americans have resorted to during the pandemic. The representative noted that schools around the country remain closed, and the prospect of another wave of infections in the fall could hamper students who do not have reliable internet access even more.
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to comment on whether the Kentucky Republican would support putting a broadband provision in the next relief bill Congress considers.
Pelosi said Thursday that the House would not convene again until the week of May 11 at the earliest, as leaders worry about risking lawmakers' health. When Congress returns, the California Democrat aims to pass a sprawling rescue measure that includes more than $500 billion in relief for state and local governments and expands pieces of the $2 trillion stimulus package passed last month.
The Senate will return to Washington next week.
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cnbc--2020-04-30--Top US spy agency says coronavirus was 'not manmade or genetically modified'

In this picture taken on April 29 , 2020 , an engineer shows an experimental vaccine for the COVID-19 coronavirus that was tested at the Quality Control Laboratory at the Sinovac Biotech facilities in Beijing .
WASHINGTON — The top U.S. spy agency said for the first time on Thursday that the nation 's collective intelligence community does not believe that the coronavirus was manmade or genetically modified .
`` The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified , '' the Office of Director of National Intelligence said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan , '' it added .
The statement from the Office of Director of National Intelligence contradicts reports suggesting that the new coronavirus had been developed by Chinese scientists in a government biological weapons laboratory .
The U.S. intelligence community was tasked with examining whether the virus that caused the global pandemic emerged accidentally from a Chinese research lab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told NBC News .
The virus has infected more than 3.2 million worldwide , and though many have recovered more than 227,971 have died .
In the U.S. more than 1 million cases have been reported so far , with nearly 61,000 deaths , the most of any nation , according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
Earlier this month , the nation 's highest-ranking military officer told reporters at the Pentagon that U.S. intelligence agencies were taking `` a hard look '' at whether the coronavirus originated in a Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for certain , '' Chairman of the Joint Chiefs U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley said on April 14 .
When asked about the intelligence , Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said , `` This is something we 've been watching closely now for some time , '' adding that the results of the investigation are thus far `` inconclusive . ''

An engineer shows an experimental Covid-19 vaccine being tested at the Quality Control Laboratory at the Sinovac Biotech facilities in Beijing, April 29, 2020.
WASHINGTON — The top U.S. spy agency said for the first time on Thursday that the nation's collective intelligence community does not believe that the coronavirus was manmade or genetically modified.
"The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified," the Office of Director of National Intelligence said in a rare statement.
"The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan," it added.
The statement from the Office of Director of National Intelligence contradicts reports suggesting that the new coronavirus had been developed by Chinese scientists in a government biological weapons laboratory.
The U.S. intelligence community was tasked with examining whether the virus that caused the global pandemic emerged accidentally from a Chinese research lab, current and former U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News.
The virus has infected more than 3.2 million worldwide, and though many have recovered more than 227,971 have died. In the U.S. more than 1 million cases have been reported so far, with nearly 61,000 deaths, the most of any nation, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Earlier this month, the nation's highest-ranking military officer told reporters at the Pentagon that U.S. intelligence agencies were taking "a hard look" at whether the coronavirus originated in a Wuhan lab.
"We don't know for certain," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley said on April 14.
When asked about the intelligence on the Today Show on April 16, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said, "This is something we've been watching closely now for some time," adding that the results of the investigation are thus far "inconclusive."