cnbc--2020-11-17--Pelosi and Schumer ask McConnell to restart coronavirus stimulus talks as cases surge

US Speaker of the House , Nancy Pelosi ( R ) , Democrat of California , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , Democrat of New York hold a press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington , DC , on November 6 , 2020 .
In a letter to McConnell on Tuesday , Schumer , D-N.Y. , and Pelosi , D-Calif. , asked the Kentucky Republican to `` join us at the negotiating table this week so that we can work towards a bipartisan , bicameral COVID-19 relief agreement to crush the virus and save American lives . ''
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small businesses , state and local governments and unemployment insurance , the Democrats wrote that the `` pandemic and economic recession will not end without our help . ''
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have not spoken with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell about another relief bill since the Nov. 3 election , congressional leaders said this week .
They appear stuck in their pre-election stances , when Democrats pushed for a package that costs at least $ 2.2 trillion and Republicans sought a roughly $ 500 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid in months during the health and economic crisis .
As the virus again overwhelms hospitals and forces state and local officials to restrict economic activity , Republicans and Democrats have not budged from their positions on stimulus .
Congress appeared nowhere close to passing another coronavirus relief bill Tuesday as infections surge across the country and new public health restrictions threaten businesses and jobs .
Asked whether any discussions would take place this week , a McConnell spokesman directed CNBC to comments the senator made earlier Tuesday .
The Republican said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem to support `` $ 2.5 trillion or nothing '' in a relief bill .
McConnell said he is open to a bill valued at about $ 500 billion , `` narrowly targeted at schools , at healthcare providers , at PPP , and of course liability reform . ''
Both McConnell and Pelosi have signaled they want to pass legislation this year , before Biden takes office .
But neither leader has showed willingness to yield ground , making it unclear what could get through the GOP-controlled Senate and Democratic-held House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his energy in the last two weeks to fighting the 2020 election results than governing during a once-in-a-century crisis .
McConnell has insisted in recent days that the pace of economic recovery means Congress needs only to pass a targeted , narrow plan to get the country through the next few months .
On Tuesday , he said Republicans `` want to pass more coronavirus relief '' but blamed Democrats for blocking bills the GOP tried to approve in recent weeks .
The Republican legislation would include a $ 300-per-week enhanced unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for small businesses and liability protections for companies .
It would not send a second direct payment to most Americans .
Pelosi , a California Democrat , has continued to push for a sweeping package after House Democrats passed a $ 2.2 trillion bill last month .
She contended Biden 's election gives Democrats more leverage in legislative talks .
Biden on Monday called on Congress to pass a bill similar to the Democrats ' HEROES Act before he takes office .
The House-passed bill would reinstate the $ 600-per-week supplemental jobless benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another $ 1,200 stimulus check to individuals , send more than $ 400 billion to state and local governments , and authorize more small business loans , among other provisions .
Congress has failed to break its stalemate as the U.S. loses control of its Covid-19 outbreak .
The country recorded a seven-day average of more than 150,000 cases a day on Monday .
The virus has now killed more than 247,000 Americans .
State and local governments have started to reinstate shutdowns to slow infections .
Even so , some policymakers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials would like as they try to balance concerns about businesses failing and workers falling into poverty in the absence of federal help .
A measure allowing Americans to qualify for unemployment insurance for a longer period of time during the pandemic expires at the end of the year .
So do a Trump administration order meant to curb evictions and relief for federal student loan borrowers .
Promising vaccine trial data has raised hopes for the world emerging from the pandemic 's shadow sooner than later .
Even so , it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2021 for most Americans to get vaccinated .
Getting people inoculated against Covid-19 will take more federal help , as well .
GOP Sen .
Rob Portman of Ohio , who like his party has called for a more narrow relief bill than Democrats want , urged Congress to pass legislation now in part to prepare vaccine distribution .
`` That 's expensive and it 's important to make sure the resources are there for that , '' he told CNBC on Tuesday .

US Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (R), Democrat of California, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York hold a press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on November 6, 2020.
Lawmakers have not passed new aid in months during the health and economic crisis. As the virus again overwhelms hospitals and forces state and local officials to restrict economic activity, Republicans and Democrats have not budged from their positions on stimulus.
Congress appeared nowhere close to passing another coronavirus relief bill Tuesday as infections surge across the country and new public health restrictions threaten businesses and jobs.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have not spoken with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell about another relief bill since the Nov. 3 election, congressional leaders said this week. They appear stuck in their pre-election stances, when Democrats pushed for a package that costs at least $2.2 trillion and Republicans sought a roughly $500 billion bill.
In a letter to McConnell on Tuesday, Schumer, D-N.Y., and Pelosi, D-Calif., asked the Kentucky Republican to "join us at the negotiating table this week so that we can work towards a bipartisan, bicameral COVID-19 relief agreement to crush the virus and save American lives." As they called for money for schools, small businesses, state and local governments and unemployment insurance, the Democrats wrote that the "pandemic and economic recession will not end without our help."
Asked whether any discussions would take place this week, a McConnell spokesman directed CNBC to comments the senator made earlier Tuesday. The Republican said the Democratic congressional leaders and President-elect Joe Biden seem to support "$2.5 trillion or nothing" in a relief bill. McConnell said he is open to a bill valued at about $500 billion, "narrowly targeted at schools, at healthcare providers, at PPP, and of course liability reform."
Both McConnell and Pelosi have signaled they want to pass legislation this year, before Biden takes office. But neither leader has showed willingness to yield ground, making it unclear what could get through the GOP-controlled Senate and Democratic-held House.
President Donald Trump has also devoted more of his energy in the last two weeks to fighting the 2020 election results than governing during a once-in-a-century crisis.
McConnell has insisted in recent days that the pace of economic recovery means Congress needs only to pass a targeted, narrow plan to get the country through the next few months. On Tuesday, he said Republicans "want to pass more coronavirus relief" but blamed Democrats for blocking bills the GOP tried to approve in recent weeks.
The Republican legislation would include a $300-per-week enhanced unemployment benefit, more Paycheck Protection Program loans for small businesses and liability protections for companies. It would not send a second direct payment to most Americans.
Pelosi, a California Democrat, has continued to push for a sweeping package after House Democrats passed a $2.2 trillion bill last month. She contended Biden's election gives Democrats more leverage in legislative talks. Biden on Monday called on Congress to pass a bill similar to the Democrats' HEROES Act before he takes office.


cnbc--2020-11-17--Newsmax CEO knocks down Trump TV speculation, says valuation higher than $200 million

Newsmax founder and CEO Christopher Ruddy on Tuesday sought to quell speculation that the conservative television news channel and website would become a Trump-branded network after President Donald Trump departs the White House , telling CNBC that too much was being made of their personal relationship .
The Wall Street Journal on Sunday reported that people close to Trump have been considering ways to establish a rival to Fox News , which dominates the conservative cable landscape .
The Journal reported that a private equity firm with a connection to the Republican National Committee , Hicks Equity Partners , had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Newsmax .
`` The Hicks family [ is ] very respected , but we had no deal with them , '' Ruddy said on `` Squawk Box . ''
`` I think it was pretty clear in the Journal article a lot of people are trying to see a tie with the president .
I 've been friends with him a long time .
The Hicks family has been friends with him for a long time , but I think they 're reading into it a little too much . ''
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he told Variety this week that he would be open to giving Trump a weekly show on the TV network , which is now available on every major cable system in the U.S. and free on over-the-top services such as Roku and YouTube Live .
He said viewership soared before and after the election .
The Journal reported that Hicks Equity Partners was looking to raise $ 200 million for its conservative media ambitions .
The private equity firm is under the umbrella of the family office of Thomas Hicks , whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-chair of the RNC .
Ruddy said Newsmax 's valuation is higher than $ 200 million .
He added : `` Through the years , we 've had a lot of people approach us to buy Newsmax , invest in Newsmax .
These are often times very informal discussions .
They 're not formal . ''
Last week , Axios co-founder Mike Allen reported in his morning newsletter that Trump was considering launching a digital media company after his presidency , with the intention of rivaling Fox News .
While Trump has leaned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , Allen said that Trump has become increasingly upset with the network , evidenced by a spate of recent tweets and retweets pitching alternatives to Fox News such as Newsmax .
Trump has refused to concede the Nov. 3 presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden , who was projected the winner by NBC News and other media outlets more than a week ago .
The president on Sunday acknowledged publicly for the first time that Biden won the election .
Trump 's comments , made in a seemingly offhand post on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge the results of the election in court and as his administration holds up formal transition processes .
However , in subsequent tweets , Trump wrote that he would not concede , and falsely claimed the election was rigged .

Newsmax founder and CEO Christopher Ruddy on Tuesday sought to quell speculation that the conservative television news channel and website would become a Trump-branded network after President Donald Trump departs the White House, telling CNBC that too much was being made of their personal relationship.
The Wall Street Journal on Sunday reported that people close to Trump have been considering ways to establish a rival to Fox News, which dominates the conservative cable landscape. The Journal reported that a private equity firm with a connection to the Republican National Committee, Hicks Equity Partners, had discussed the possibility of acquiring and investing in Newsmax.
"The Hicks family [is] very respected, but we had no deal with them," Ruddy said on "Squawk Box." "I think it was pretty clear in the Journal article a lot of people are trying to see a tie with the president. I've been friends with him a long time. The Hicks family has been friends with him for a long time, but I think they're reading into it a little too much."
While Ruddy said Newsmax is not for sale, he told Variety this week that he would be open to giving Trump a weekly show on the TV network, which is now available on every major cable system in the U.S. and free on over-the-top services such as Roku and YouTube Live. He said viewership soared before and after the election.
The Journal reported that Hicks Equity Partners was looking to raise $200 million for its conservative media ambitions. The private equity firm is under the umbrella of the family office of Thomas Hicks, whose son, Tommy Hicks Jr., is co-chair of the RNC.
Ruddy said Newsmax's valuation is higher than $200 million. He added: "Through the years, we've had a lot of people approach us to buy Newsmax, invest in Newsmax. These are often times very informal discussions. They're not formal."
Last week, Axios co-founder Mike Allen reported in his morning newsletter that Trump was considering launching a digital media company after his presidency, with the intention of rivaling Fox News. While Trump has leaned on the conservative-friendly cable channel to reach voters, Allen said that Trump has become increasingly upset with the network, evidenced by a spate of recent tweets and retweets pitching alternatives to Fox News such as Newsmax.
Trump has refused to concede the Nov. 3 presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden, who was projected the winner by NBC News and other media outlets more than a week ago.
The president on Sunday acknowledged publicly for the first time that Biden won the election. Trump's comments, made in a seemingly offhand post on Twitter, come as his campaign continues to challenge the results of the election in court and as his administration holds up formal transition processes.
However, in subsequent tweets, Trump wrote that he would not concede, and falsely claimed the election was rigged.


cnbc--2020-11-17--GOP Sen. Rob Portman: I joined J&J's Covid vaccine trial to encourage people to get vaccinated

Sen .
Rob Portman told CNBC on Tuesday that he 's participating in Johnson & Johnson 's Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial , hoping to underscore the importance of vaccines in ending the pandemic .
`` The most important thing we can do right now is get these vaccines out and on the market , and we 've got to ensure people are actually going to get vaccinated , '' the Ohio Republican said on `` Squawk Box , '' while also stressing the need to wear a mask and maintain social distancing as U.S. coronavirus cases spike to record highs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his interview from Capitol Hill .
`` It 's one thing to have the vaccines , which I think will be ready by the end of this year , so really in just a month and a half , but we 've got to be sure that people are willing to be vaccinated , '' Portman added .
`` So the reason I participated in this trial was because I think the vaccines are so important . ''
Portman said he enrolled in the trial 12 days ago , before the positive efficacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week and Monday 's announcement from Moderna .
Data from both the Pfizer and Moderna late-stage trials indicated that vaccines were more than 90 % effective in preventing Covid-19 .
The senator expressed concern about the public opinion polling that showed significant numbers of Americans were skeptical of coronavirus vaccines and therefore may be hesitant to receive them should the Food and Drug Administration clear the vaccine candidates for public distribution .
`` These are FDA professionals .
These are scientists that are taking extraordinary measures to be sure that it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So , I want to encourage everyone to participate in the trials , if you 're comfortable doing that , but certainly to get the vaccine when it 's available . ''
Portman said that he feels `` great '' so far after enrolling in the trial , although he noted he is not sure whether he received the vaccine or a placebo .
A key attribute of double-blind clinical trials is that participants remain unaware of which group they are in , so they do not change their behavior .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday now I report back as to whether I have symptoms .
It 's easy to go through , and again , I encourage people to do it because the more people that participate in the trials , the sooner they can get to the FDA for emergency use authorization and the quicker we can get it out to the American people , '' he added .

Sen. Rob Portman told CNBC on Tuesday that he's participating in Johnson & Johnson 's Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial, hoping to underscore the importance of vaccines in ending the pandemic.
"The most important thing we can do right now is get these vaccines out and on the market, and we've got to ensure people are actually going to get vaccinated," the Ohio Republican said on "Squawk Box," while also stressing the need to wear a mask and maintain social distancing as U.S. coronavirus cases spike to record highs. He was wearing a mask during his interview from Capitol Hill.
"It's one thing to have the vaccines, which I think will be ready by the end of this year, so really in just a month and a half, but we've got to be sure that people are willing to be vaccinated," Portman added. "So the reason I participated in this trial was because I think the vaccines are so important."
Portman said he enrolled in the trial 12 days ago, before the positive efficacy news from Pfizer and German partner BioNTech last week and Monday's announcement from Moderna . Data from both the Pfizer and Moderna late-stage trials indicated that vaccines were more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19.
The senator expressed concern about the public opinion polling that showed significant numbers of Americans were skeptical of coronavirus vaccines and therefore may be hesitant to receive them should the Food and Drug Administration clear the vaccine candidates for public distribution.
"These are FDA professionals. These are scientists that are taking extraordinary measures to be sure that it's safe," Portman said. "So, I want to encourage everyone to participate in the trials, if you're comfortable doing that, but certainly to get the vaccine when it's available."
Portman said that he feels "great" so far after enrolling in the trial, although he noted he is not sure whether he received the vaccine or a placebo. A key attribute of double-blind clinical trials is that participants remain unaware of which group they are in, so they do not change their behavior.
"I keep a diary. Every Monday and Thursday now I report back as to whether I have symptoms. It's easy to go through, and again, I encourage people to do it because the more people that participate in the trials, the sooner they can get to the FDA for emergency use authorization and the quicker we can get it out to the American people," he added.


cnbc--2020-11-18--Top Biden advisor could face ethics pressure as his brother lobbies for pharma firms

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden delivers remarks about the U.S. economy during a press briefing at the Queen Theater on November 16 , 2020 in Wilmington , Delaware .
One of President-elect Joe Biden 's closest advisors could face pressure to recuse himself from working on some of the incoming administration 's key initiatives as his brother lobbies for at least two pharmaceutical companies .
Steve Ricchetti , who on Tuesday was named counselor to the president in Biden 's eventual administration , has a brother , Jeff , who was hired to lobby for pharmaceutical firms while Biden was running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ricchetti was Biden 's campaign chairman and previously his chief of staff .
Biden 's campaign ran , in part , on the idea of reducing drug prices .
Some of these companies have been known to have high drug costs .
If Biden moves ahead with polices aiming to lower prescription prices , ethics experts say Ricchetti may have to recuse himself because his brother could reap a financial benefit from the same industry the administration as a whole is trying to regulate .
`` The option for Steve Ricchetti is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy matters that directly and substantially impact the finances of his brother , '' Paul Ryan , vice president of policy and litigation at ethics watchdog Common Cause , told CNBC on Tuesday .
`` I think it 's fair to expect public officials to recuse themselves from government decision-making that could financially benefit their immediate family members . ''
Steve and Jeff Ricchetti co-founded their self-named lobbying shop over a decade ago .
While Steve Ricchetti has n't lobbied since before Biden became vice president , Jeff Ricchetti is still a registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline in September .
A month earlier , he started work for Horizon Therapeutics , which has its corporate headquarters in Ireland and was once known as Horizon Pharma .
The firm made at least $ 270,000 in the third quarter , records show .
That 's on top of the $ 365,000 that it made from lobbying during the first two quarters of the year , according to data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics .
The two companies have a history of raising drug prices .
Jeff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behalf of GSK regarding `` drug pricing and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement , '' his third-quarter filing says .
Horizon 's lobbying registration form says Ricchetti will focus on issues related to Medicaid rebates and drug pricing .
GSK told CNBC that it did not hire Ricchetti for his family ties , but hinted it could ask him to lobby the incoming Biden administration .
`` Actions pertaining to drug pricing , Medicare and Medicaid on Capitol Hill and in the White House can , and do , dramatically impact how we conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future , '' Lyndsay Meyer , a spokeswoman for the company , told CNBC when asked whether it plans to have Ricchetti lobby the White House .
She later noted it hired Ricchetti Inc. to work with congressional Democrats .
`` Additionally , the opportunity to communicate the realities of actions coming from lawmakers and the Administration , gives voice to the patients affected by actions that impact the ways we deliver innovation today and pursue treatments and cures in the future , '' she added .
Meyer noted the company hired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long history of working with centrist Democrats on many health policy issues . ''
Horizon did not rule out having Ricchetti lobby the incoming administration .
`` As is common in the industry , we work with experts who have knowledge of and involvement in U.S. healthcare policy and can assist in navigating the Administration , '' Geoff Curtis , a spokesman for the company , told CNBC .
`` To that end , Horizon is committed to working across party lines to advance research , promote patient access as well as encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Neurocrine Biosciences , a biopharmaceutical company , also brought on Ricchetti to lobby for it in the latter stages of the election .
The registration form says Ricchetti will lobby for Neurocrine on issues pertaining to `` drug discovery and development , pricing and access , reimbursement . ''
Richard Painter , chief White House ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration , told CNBC that Steve Ricchetti might have to recuse himself from drug pricing matters or make it clear to his brother not to lobby the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep the brothers , the sisters and grown children out of the house , so to speak , '' Painter said in describing what Ricchetti should do when handling his brother 's potential lobbying efforts .
`` I do n't see anything that 's a red light , but I do see a yellow light in some situations , '' Painter said in describing Ricchetti 's possible ethics dilemma .
It is unclear whether Jeff Ricchetti plans to lobby the White House or the agencies within the incoming administration now that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in Biden 's White House .
It is also unknown whether Steve Ricchetti is going to be involved in any policy matters in the administration .
Neither the Biden transition nor the Ricchetti brothers returned a request for comment .
Jeff Ricchetti lobbied the White House and other federal agencies when Biden was vice president , records show .
When Steve Ricchetti became Biden 's chief of staff , Jeff Ricchetti did not lobby the vice president 's office .
During Biden 's second term as vice president , Jeff Ricchetti had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals .
During the campaign , Steve Ricchetti privately met with some of Wall Street 's top donors in an attempt to rally them around the former vice president , as CNBC first reported in January .
Progressives are upset that the former lobbyist is getting a key advisory role within Biden 's administration .
`` Steve Ricchetti is a former pharma lobbyist and has represented groups vociferously opposed to Medicare for All and the public manufacturing of prescription drugs , '' Alexandra Rojas , executive director of the progressive Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` In this post-Covid era , Biden has a chance to make major reforms to our cruel health care system but it will require standing up to private power . ''
Horizon Therapeutics and GSK have raised prices on certain drugs .
Reuters , citing research done by 3 Axis Advisors , reported in late 2019 that GSK was among several drug companies set to increase their prices going into the new year .
GSK said at the time that it was raising prices on more than 30 drugs .
The company , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the respiratory treatments it delivers through its Ellipta inhaler , its cancer drug Zejula and on products in its HIV-focused ViiV joint venture .
Price hikes reportedly ranged between 1 % and 5 % .
GSK defended its track record on drug pricing in comments to CNBC .
`` GSK has a strong track record of pricing medicines to reflect the value they deliver to patients and we are actively involved in creating solutions that allow patients to have access to new scientific breakthroughs , '' said Meyer , the company spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commitment to patients and responsible pricing though our actions and track record over time . ''
A year before it changed its name to Horizon Therapeutics , Horizon Pharma was the focus of a 2018 CNN story on how one of the company 's drugs cost nearly $ 3,000 .
The painkiller known as Vimovo , is still listed under Horizon 's portfolio .

For now, it's an open question if President-elect Joe Biden has interest in testing his presidential power to try to forgive student debt.
One of President-elect Joe Biden's closest advisors could face pressure to recuse himself from working on some of the incoming administration's key initiatives as his brother lobbies for at least two pharmaceutical companies.
Steve Ricchetti, who on Tuesday was named counselor to the president in Biden's eventual administration, has a brother, Jeff, who was hired to lobby for pharmaceutical firms while Biden was running for president, according to disclosure reports. Ricchetti was Biden's campaign chairman and previously his chief of staff.
Biden's campaign ran, in part, on the idea of reducing drug prices. Some of these companies have been known to have high drug costs. If Biden moves ahead with polices aiming to lower prescription prices, ethics experts say Ricchetti may have to recuse himself because his brother could reap a financial benefit from the same industry the administration as a whole is trying to regulate.
"The option for Steve Ricchetti is to recuse from involvement in White House policy matters that directly and substantially impact the finances of his brother," Paul Ryan, vice president of policy and litigation at ethics watchdog Common Cause, told CNBC on Tuesday. "I think it's fair to expect public officials to recuse themselves from government decision-making that could financially benefit their immediate family members."
Steve and Jeff Ricchetti co-founded their self-named lobbying shop over a decade ago. While Steve Ricchetti hasn't lobbied since before Biden became vice president, Jeff Ricchetti is still a registered lobbyist.
Jeff Ricchetti started lobbying for British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline in September. A month earlier, he started work for Horizon Therapeutics, which has its corporate headquarters in Ireland and was once known as Horizon Pharma.
The firm made at least $270,000 in the third quarter, records show. That's on top of the $365,000 that it made from lobbying during the first two quarters of the year, according to data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
The two companies have a history of raising drug prices. Jeff Ricchetti has started to lobby Congress on behalf of GSK regarding "drug pricing and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement," his third-quarter filing says. Horizon's lobbying registration form says Ricchetti will focus on issues related to Medicaid rebates and drug pricing.
GSK told CNBC that it did not hire Ricchetti for his family ties, but hinted it could ask him to lobby the incoming Biden administration.
"Actions pertaining to drug pricing, Medicare and Medicaid on Capitol Hill and in the White House can, and do, dramatically impact how we conduct our business and invest in innovation for the future," Lyndsay Meyer, a spokeswoman for the company, told CNBC when asked whether it plans to have Ricchetti lobby the White House. She later noted it hired Ricchetti Inc. to work with congressional Democrats.
"Additionally, the opportunity to communicate the realities of actions coming from lawmakers and the Administration, gives voice to the patients affected by actions that impact the ways we deliver innovation today and pursue treatments and cures in the future," she added. Meyer noted the company hired Ricchetti because of the firm's "long history of working with centrist Democrats on many health policy issues."
Horizon did not rule out having Ricchetti lobby the incoming administration.
"As is common in the industry, we work with experts who have knowledge of and involvement in U.S. healthcare policy and can assist in navigating the Administration," Geoff Curtis, a spokesman for the company, told CNBC. "To that end, Horizon is committed to working across party lines to advance research, promote patient access as well as encourage healthcare policies that support innovative breakthrough medicines."
Neurocrine Biosciences, a biopharmaceutical company, also brought on Ricchetti to lobby for it in the latter stages of the election. The registration form says Ricchetti will lobby for Neurocrine on issues pertaining to "drug discovery and development, pricing and access, reimbursement."
Richard Painter, chief White House ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration, told CNBC that Steve Ricchetti might have to recuse himself from drug pricing matters or make it clear to his brother not to lobby the White House.
"It's everybody's job to keep the brothers, the sisters and grown children out of the house, so to speak," Painter said in describing what Ricchetti should do when handling his brother's potential lobbying efforts. "I don't see anything that's a red light, but I do see a yellow light in some situations," Painter said in describing Ricchetti's possible ethics dilemma.
It is unclear whether Jeff Ricchetti plans to lobby the White House or the agencies within the incoming administration now that his brother is lined up for a key role in Biden's White House. It is also unknown whether Steve Ricchetti is going to be involved in any policy matters in the administration.
Neither the Biden transition nor the Ricchetti brothers returned a request for comment.
Jeff Ricchetti lobbied the White House and other federal agencies when Biden was vice president, records show. When Steve Ricchetti became Biden's chief of staff, Jeff Ricchetti did not lobby the vice president's office. During Biden's second term as vice president, Jeff Ricchetti had clients such as Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals.
During the campaign, Steve Ricchetti privately met with some of Wall Street's top donors in an attempt to rally them around the former vice president, as CNBC first reported in January.
Progressives are upset that the former lobbyist is getting a key advisory role within Biden's administration.
"Steve Ricchetti is a former pharma lobbyist and has represented groups vociferously opposed to Medicare for All and the public manufacturing of prescription drugs," Alexandra Rojas, executive director of the progressive Justice Democrats, said in a statement. "In this post-Covid era, Biden has a chance to make major reforms to our cruel health care system but it will require standing up to private power."
Horizon Therapeutics and GSK have raised prices on certain drugs.
Reuters, citing research done by 3 Axis Advisors, reported in late 2019 that GSK was among several drug companies set to increase their prices going into the new year.
GSK said at the time that it was raising prices on more than 30 drugs. The company, according to the report, increased prices on the respiratory treatments it delivers through its Ellipta inhaler, its cancer drug Zejula and on products in its HIV-focused ViiV joint venture. Price hikes reportedly ranged between 1% and 5%.
GSK defended its track record on drug pricing in comments to CNBC.
"GSK has a strong track record of pricing medicines to reflect the value they deliver to patients and we are actively involved in creating solutions that allow patients to have access to new scientific breakthroughs," said Meyer, the company spokeswoman. "We continue to demonstrate our commitment to patients and responsible pricing though our actions and track record over time."
A year before it changed its name to Horizon Therapeutics, Horizon Pharma was the focus of a 2018 CNN story on how one of the company's drugs cost nearly $3,000. The painkiller known as Vimovo, is still listed under Horizon's portfolio.


cnbc--2020-11-18--Ex-Obama Treasury chief: Trump's ‘unpatriotic’ transition delay poses Covid, U.S. security risks

President Donald Trump 's decision to delay the transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden is `` fundamentally irresponsible '' and will complicate the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic , former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew told CNBC .
Lew , who served alongside then-Vice President Biden in the Obama administration , specifically pointed to the complicated task of distributing a Covid-19 vaccine or vaccines to millions of Americans should one or more get Food and Drug Administration clearance .
Pfizer said Wednesday it plans to apply for emergency use authorization `` within days '' after final trial data of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Two days ago , Moderna said preliminary late-stage trial data found that its vaccine was 94.5 % effective .
Both inoculation candidates are based on a new approach to vaccines , using genetic material to provoke an immune response .
Making vaccines available to the general public at mass-scale is an `` enormous undertaking , '' Lew said on `` Squawk Box . ''
`` I 'm not saying it 's impossible , but you do n't want to lose a day , not a day , in terms of the smooth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irresponsible , which is why I think it does put at risk people getting sick and dying . ''
White House spokesman Judd Deere pushed back on Lew 's comments about vaccine distribution , calling them `` irresponsible and not based on fact . ''
`` At the direction of the President , we have been working non-stop for months with states , territories , tribes , local public health programs and their partners on distribution plans , '' Deere wrote in an email to CNBC .
He also said that a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perna , and his deputy `` confirmed preparedness to ship vaccine doses to every zip code in America within 24 hours of the issuance of an EUA by the FDA . ''
Trump has refused to concede the election to Biden , despite the major media organizations including NBC News calling the race more than a week ago .
Trump 's campaign has instead launched election-related lawsuits in battleground states in hopes of reversing Biden 's win .
Many of those legal challenges have been rejected , even as Trump continued to tweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired a top federal cybersecurity official who had repeatedly defended the election 's integrity .
`` It 's absolutely clear what the outcome of the election is , and they 're just delaying the orderly transition that we know is going to happen , '' said Lew , who led the Treasury Department from 2013 to 2017 .
`` I think this administration is setting a new low in terms of how to handle transition from the point of view of national security , and , frankly , it 's unpatriotic , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received classified intelligence briefings from the U.S. government because the General Services Administration has not yet made an official `` ascertainment '' that Biden won the Nov. 3 election .
Numerous Republicans in Washington have expressed concern about the impact on national security .
Sen. James Lankford , R-Okla. , said earlier on `` Squawk Box '' that Trump and Biden should be receiving intelligence briefings right now .
`` Let 's not make the same mistake we did in the 2000 election , '' Lankford said .
He referenced the 9/11 Commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition in 2000 for then-President-elect George W. Bush , due to the Florida recount fight , hampered the country 's national security apparatus in the months prior to the deadly Sept. 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks .
Lew , who also worked in the State Department during the Obama-Biden administration , agreed with Lankford .
`` The world does n't stop and our adversaries look for weak spot , '' Lew said .
`` Intelligence is not a one-moment event .
You pick up points of information and they come together to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you start , the better your understanding and the clearer your judgment . ''

President Donald Trump's decision to delay the transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden is "fundamentally irresponsible" and will complicate the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic, former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew told CNBC.
Lew, who served alongside then-Vice President Biden in the Obama administration, specifically pointed to the complicated task of distributing a Covid-19 vaccine or vaccines to millions of Americans should one or more get Food and Drug Administration clearance.
Pfizer said Wednesday it plans to apply for emergency use authorization "within days" after final trial data of its Covid-19 vaccine showed 95% efficacy. Two days ago, Moderna said preliminary late-stage trial data found that its vaccine was 94.5% effective. Both inoculation candidates are based on a new approach to vaccines, using genetic material to provoke an immune response.
Making vaccines available to the general public at mass-scale is an "enormous undertaking," Lew said on "Squawk Box." "I'm not saying it's impossible, but you don't want to lose a day, not a day, in terms of the smooth transition, and delaying that is fundamentally irresponsible, which is why I think it does put at risk people getting sick and dying."
White House spokesman Judd Deere pushed back on Lew's comments about vaccine distribution, calling them "irresponsible and not based on fact."
"At the direction of the President, we have been working non-stop for months with states, territories, tribes, local public health programs and their partners on distribution plans," Deere wrote in an email to CNBC. He also said that a key Operation Warp Speed official, Gen. Gustave Perna, and his deputy "confirmed preparedness to ship vaccine doses to every zip code in America within 24 hours of the issuance of an EUA by the FDA."
Trump has refused to concede the election to Biden, despite the major media organizations including NBC News calling the race more than a week ago. Trump's campaign has instead launched election-related lawsuits in battleground states in hopes of reversing Biden's win. Many of those legal challenges have been rejected, even as Trump continued to tweet falsehoods about the election and after he fired a top federal cybersecurity official who had repeatedly defended the election's integrity.
"It's absolutely clear what the outcome of the election is, and they're just delaying the orderly transition that we know is going to happen," said Lew, who led the Treasury Department from 2013 to 2017. "I think this administration is setting a new low in terms of how to handle transition from the point of view of national security, and, frankly, it's unpatriotic," he added.
Biden has not yet received classified intelligence briefings from the U.S. government because the General Services Administration has not yet made an official "ascertainment" that Biden won the Nov. 3 election. Numerous Republicans in Washington have expressed concern about the impact on national security.
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said earlier on "Squawk Box" that Trump and Biden should be receiving intelligence briefings right now. "Let's not make the same mistake we did in the 2000 election," Lankford said. He referenced the 9/11 Commission Report, which explained how a delayed transition in 2000 for then-President-elect George W. Bush, due to the Florida recount fight, hampered the country's national security apparatus in the months prior to the deadly Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Lew, who also worked in the State Department during the Obama-Biden administration, agreed with Lankford. "The world doesn't stop and our adversaries look for weak spot," Lew said. "Intelligence is not a one-moment event. You pick up points of information and they come together to form a picture, and the earlier you start, the better your understanding and the clearer your judgment."


cnbc--2020-11-19--Trump campaign requests partial Wisconsin recount, deposits $3 million to challenge Biden victory

The Wisconsin Elections Commission received verified vote results from all 72 of the state 's counties on Tuesday .
The deadline for requesting a recount was 5 p.m. Wednesday .
The recount needs to be completed before the chair of the state 's elections commission certifies the results on Dec. 1 .
`` Election officials worked extremely hard under unprecedented circumstances to ensure all votes were counted quickly and accurately , and the recount demanded and paid for by the Trump campaign will once again confirm Joe Biden 's victory , '' spokesman Nate Evans said .
A Biden campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the official canvass results `` reaffirmed Joe Biden 's clear and resounding win '' in the state , adding , `` A cherry-picked and selective recounting of Milwaukee and Dane County will not change these results . ''
The campaign claimed `` illegal '' voting activity was carried out by Wisconsin election officials , without providing evidence of any widespread problems that could upend Biden 's more than 20,000-vote lead .
Trump 's campaign said in a statement that it is requesting recounts in two heavily Democratic counties : Milwaukee , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dane , which contains the state 's capital of Madison .
The campaign wired $ 3 million to Wisconsin election officials to cover the cost of the recount request , which officials are expected to approve and order Thursday .
President Donald Trump 's reelection campaign on Wednesday filed for a partial recount in Wisconsin to challenge President-elect Joe Biden 's victory in the state .
In a statement Wednesday afternoon , Wisconsin 's top elections official , Meagan Wolfe , said the recount request had been filed in person and `` appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of the requirements in pairing with the payment that was received late yesterday . ''
`` We understand the eyes of the world will be on these Wisconsin counties over the next few weeks , '' Wolfe said .
`` We remain committed to providing information about the process and assisting our county clerks by providing facts on the mechanics of a recount and status updates . ''
The Wisconsin Elections Commission will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. to discuss the partial recount .
The chair of the agency will issue the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13-day window to complete it .
Biden won 49.5 % of the ballots cast in Wisconsin , compared with 48.8 % for Trump .
The Republican incumbent had won the state in 2016 by less than 1 percentage point over Hillary Clinton .
Milwaukee and Dane are the two most populous counties in Wisconsin .
Biden is ahead of Trump by about 180,000 votes in Milwaukee , and by approximately the same number of ballots in Dane .
In Milwaukee , Biden won 75.5 % of the ballots cast , and in Dane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots .
Both counties have larger minority populations than the state overall , according to U.S. Census data from 2019 .
More than 27 % of Milwaukee County 's population is Black , compared with less than 7 % statewide .
By requesting recounts solely in those two counties , the Trump campaign avoids paying an estimated $ 7.9 million that would have been required for a statewide recount .
Trump also avoids recounting in the more than 60 counties in Wisconsin that he won , possibly reducing his ballot tally overall .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` these two counties were selected because they are the locations of the worst irregularities . ''
Absentee ballots were `` illegally altered '' and `` illegally issued '' by elections officials , who also allegedly offered `` illegal advice '' to voters , the campaign 's statement said .
`` The people of Wisconsin deserve to know whether their election processes worked in a legal and transparent way .
Regrettably , the integrity of the election results can not be trusted without a recount in these two counties and uniform enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not know the true results of the election until only the legal ballots cast are counted , '' said Jim Troupis , counsel to the campaign .
`` We will not stop fighting for transparency and integrity in our electoral process to ensure that all Americans can trust the results of a free and fair election in Wisconsin and across the country , '' Troupis said .
The Trump campaign has filed numerous lawsuits in the key states that propelled Biden to victory , including Pennsylvania , Michigan and Nevada .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four states , including Wisconsin , dropped their lawsuits challenging ballots seen as giving Biden his margin of victory in those locales .
The dismissals of the cases all involved plaintiffs represented by lawyer James Bopp and the conservative group True the Vote .
In addition to Wisconsin , the other states were Georgia , Michigan and Pennsylvania .
So far , those court efforts have failed to overturn the results , and legal analysts say Trump has little if any hope of doing so , both because of the number of states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in , and because of the number of ballots that would need to be invalidated .
Biden 's campaign and elections officials have said there was not widespread illegal voting , much less levels of such improper voting that made a difference in any single state .
Brian Rothgery , a spokesman with Milwaukee County , told NBC that the county is `` very well prepared '' for this recount .
Milwaukee County will begin counting Friday if the official recount order is submitted from the Wisconsin Elections Commission by Thursday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete within one day , with the city of Milwaukee taking no longer than six days to complete its count .
A Biden campaign official noted to NBC that Trump had complained in 2016 after then-Green Party nominee Jill Stein pushed for a recount in Wisconsin .
`` The people have spoken and the election is over , '' Trump said at that time .
In the wake of that recount , Trump gained just 131 additional votes from the initial total .
In the 2020 contest , even Trump 's Republican allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance of overturning Biden 's lead in Wisconsin .
Scott Walker , the state 's former governor , tweeted on Nov. 4 that closing a 20,000-vote gap through a recount is a `` high hurdle . ''

The Wisconsin Elections Commission received verified vote results from all 72 of the state's counties on Tuesday. The deadline for requesting a recount was 5 p.m. Wednesday. The recount needs to be completed before the chair of the state's elections commission certifies the results on Dec. 1.
"Election officials worked extremely hard under unprecedented circumstances to ensure all votes were counted quickly and accurately, and the recount demanded and paid for by the Trump campaign will once again confirm Joe Biden's victory," spokesman Nate Evans said.
A Biden campaign spokesman for Wisconsin said in a statement that the official canvass results "reaffirmed Joe Biden's clear and resounding win" in the state, adding, "A cherry-picked and selective recounting of Milwaukee and Dane County will not change these results."
The campaign claimed "illegal" voting activity was carried out by Wisconsin election officials, without providing evidence of any widespread problems that could upend Biden's more than 20,000-vote lead.
Trump's campaign said in a statement that it is requesting recounts in two heavily Democratic counties: Milwaukee, which includes the city of Milwaukee, and Dane, which contains the state's capital of Madison.
The campaign wired $3 million to Wisconsin election officials to cover the cost of the recount request, which officials are expected to approve and order Thursday.
President Donald Trump 's reelection campaign on Wednesday filed for a partial recount in Wisconsin to challenge President-elect Joe Biden 's victory in the state.
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Wisconsin's top elections official, Meagan Wolfe, said the recount request had been filed in person and "appears, upon facial review, to meet all of the requirements in pairing with the payment that was received late yesterday."
"We understand the eyes of the world will be on these Wisconsin counties over the next few weeks," Wolfe said. "We remain committed to providing information about the process and assisting our county clerks by providing facts on the mechanics of a recount and status updates."
The Wisconsin Elections Commission will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. to discuss the partial recount. The chair of the agency will issue the recount order on Thursday, starting a 13-day window to complete it.
Biden won 49.5% of the ballots cast in Wisconsin, compared with 48.8% for Trump. The Republican incumbent had won the state in 2016 by less than 1 percentage point over Hillary Clinton.
Milwaukee and Dane are the two most populous counties in Wisconsin. Biden is ahead of Trump by about 180,000 votes in Milwaukee, and by approximately the same number of ballots in Dane. In Milwaukee, Biden won 75.5% of the ballots cast, and in Dane won more than 69% of the ballots.
Both counties have larger minority populations than the state overall, according to U.S. Census data from 2019. More than 27% of Milwaukee County's population is Black, compared with less than 7% statewide.
By requesting recounts solely in those two counties, the Trump campaign avoids paying an estimated $7.9 million that would have been required for a statewide recount. Trump also avoids recounting in the more than 60 counties in Wisconsin that he won, possibly reducing his ballot tally overall.
The campaign claimed in its statement Wednesday that "these two counties were selected because they are the locations of the worst irregularities."
Absentee ballots were "illegally altered" and "illegally issued" by elections officials, who also allegedly offered "illegal advice" to voters, the campaign's statement said.
"The people of Wisconsin deserve to know whether their election processes worked in a legal and transparent way. Regrettably, the integrity of the election results cannot be trusted without a recount in these two counties and uniform enforcement of Wisconsin absentee ballot requirements. We will not know the true results of the election until only the legal ballots cast are counted," said Jim Troupis, counsel to the campaign.
"We will not stop fighting for transparency and integrity in our electoral process to ensure that all Americans can trust the results of a free and fair election in Wisconsin and across the country," Troupis said.
The Trump campaign has filed numerous lawsuits in the key states that propelled Biden to victory, including Pennsylvania, Michigan and Nevada.
On Monday, plaintiffs aligned with Trump in four states, including Wisconsin, dropped their lawsuits challenging ballots seen as giving Biden his margin of victory in those locales.
The dismissals of the cases all involved plaintiffs represented by lawyer James Bopp and the conservative group True the Vote. In addition to Wisconsin, the other states were Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
So far, those court efforts have failed to overturn the results, and legal analysts say Trump has little if any hope of doing so, both because of the number of states he would need to reverse the results in, and because of the number of ballots that would need to be invalidated.
Biden's campaign and elections officials have said there was not widespread illegal voting, much less levels of such improper voting that made a difference in any single state.
Brian Rothgery, a spokesman with Milwaukee County, told NBC that the county is "very well prepared" for this recount.
Milwaukee County will begin counting Friday if the official recount order is submitted from the Wisconsin Elections Commission by Thursday.
The county estimates that some municipalities will be complete within one day, with the city of Milwaukee taking no longer than six days to complete its count.
A Biden campaign official noted to NBC that Trump had complained in 2016 after then-Green Party nominee Jill Stein pushed for a recount in Wisconsin.
"The people have spoken and the election is over," Trump said at that time.
In the wake of that recount, Trump gained just 131 additional votes from the initial total.
In the 2020 contest, even Trump's Republican allies have said that the campaign has little chance of overturning Biden's lead in Wisconsin.
Scott Walker, the state's former governor, tweeted on Nov. 4 that closing a 20,000-vote gap through a recount is a "high hurdle."


cnbc--2020-11-18--Trump fires DHS cybersecurity chief Chris Krebs

On Election Day , Krebs called on Americans to be patient and `` to treat all sensational and unverified claims with skepticism . ''
Krebs , who heads the Department of Homeland Security 's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , is responsible for leading the effort to protect U.S. elections .
He has previously said that there is no evidence the elections were compromised by foreign interference .
Trump , who has not yet conceded to president-elect Joe Biden , alleged that the election was riddled with `` massive improprieties and fraud . ''
Twitter labeled the president 's tweets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election fraud is disputed .
In a pair of tweets , Trump said that Krebs gave a `` highly inaccurate '' statement about the security of the 2020 presidential election .
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday on Twitter that he has `` terminated '' top U.S. cybersecurity official Christopher Krebs .
U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ( CISA ) Director Christopher Krebs speaks to reporters at CISA ’ s Election Day Operation Center on Super Tuesday in Arlington , Virginia , U.S. , March 3 , 2020 .
`` Regardless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a common bond that is stronger than political affiliation and that is that we are all Americans , '' Krebs said during a Nov. 3 press conference , adding , `` keep calm and vote on , and after today , keep calm and let them count on . ''
Read more : No signs of hacks on computers used to record and tally votes , says top U.S. election protection official Earlier on Tuesday , Krebs tweeted from his government account , `` On allegations that election systems were manipulated , 59 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every case of which we are aware , these claims either have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent . ''
Less than an hour after Trump tweeted about his firing , Krebs tweeted from his personal Twitter account : `` Honored to serve .
We did it right . ''
He is the latest Trump administration official to depart on the heels of the election .
`` I 'm proud of the work we did at CISA , '' Krebs told NBC News on Tuesday night after the firing .
`` I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CISA .
We did it right . ''
A source with knowledge of the firing told NBC News Krebs found out the news via Twitter and that it was upsetting for him because he took the work seriously .
Several sources close to Krebs told NBC News in recent days that it was a matter of `` when , not if '' Krebs would be fired .
They expected him to continue to push back on the president 's misinformation about the election to the end and not `` lay low . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said a person close to Krebs .
`` Chris Krebs is an extraordinary public servant and exactly the person Americans want protecting the security of our elections , '' Mark Warner ( D-Va. ) , vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence , said in a statement .
`` It speaks volumes that the president chose to fire him simply for telling the truth . ''
Last week , Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper via Twitter and replaced him with Christopher Miller , director of the National Counterterrorism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's removal , a Trump administration official told CNBC 's Eamon Javers that `` I assume FBI and CIA are next , '' referring to FBI Director Christopher Wray and CIA Director Gina Haspel .
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The latest revelation comes as Trump has rejected the results of the U.S. presidential election .
Other top administration officials , such as Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , have publicly insisted that the election is not over @

On Election Day, Krebs called on Americans to be patient and "to treat all sensational and unverified claims with skepticism."
Krebs, who heads the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, is responsible for leading the effort to protect U.S. elections. He has previously said that there is no evidence the elections were compromised by foreign interference .
Trump, who has not yet conceded to president-elect Joe Biden, alleged that the election was riddled with "massive improprieties and fraud." Twitter labeled the president's tweets with a warning citing the claim about election fraud is disputed.
In a pair of tweets, Trump said that Krebs gave a "highly inaccurate" statement about the security of the 2020 presidential election.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday on Twitter that he has "terminated" top U.S. cybersecurity official Christopher Krebs.
U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Christopher Krebs speaks to reporters at CISA’s Election Day Operation Center on Super Tuesday in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., March 3, 2020.
"Regardless of the outcome here, there is a common bond that is stronger than political affiliation and that is that we are all Americans," Krebs said during a Nov. 3 press conference, adding, "keep calm and vote on, and after today, keep calm and let them count on."
Read more: No signs of hacks on computers used to record and tally votes, says top U.S. election protection official
Earlier on Tuesday, Krebs tweeted from his government account, "On allegations that election systems were manipulated, 59 election security experts all agree, in every case of which we are aware, these claims either have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent."
Less than an hour after Trump tweeted about his firing, Krebs tweeted from his personal Twitter account: "Honored to serve. We did it right."
He is the latest Trump administration official to depart on the heels of the election.
"I'm proud of the work we did at CISA," Krebs told NBC News on Tuesday night after the firing. "I'm proud of the teammates I had at CISA. We did it right."
A source with knowledge of the firing told NBC News Krebs found out the news via Twitter and that it was upsetting for him because he took the work seriously.
Several sources close to Krebs told NBC News in recent days that it was a matter of "when, not if" Krebs would be fired. They expected him to continue to push back on the president's misinformation about the election to the end and not "lay low."
"He's been on death watch," said a person close to Krebs.
"Chris Krebs is an extraordinary public servant and exactly the person Americans want protecting the security of our elections," Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said in a statement. "It speaks volumes that the president chose to fire him simply for telling the truth."
Last week, Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper via Twitter and replaced him with Christopher Miller, director of the National Counterterrorism Center.
On the heels of Esper's removal, a Trump administration official told CNBC's Eamon Javers that "I assume FBI and CIA are next," referring to FBI Director Christopher Wray and CIA Director Gina Haspel.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The latest revelation comes as Trump has rejected the results of the U.S. presidential election. Other top administration officials, such as Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have publicly insisted that the election is not over.
—NBC News contributed to this report


cnbc--2020-11-18--'Disgraceful!' — Lawyer blasts Trump attorney Giuliani for seeking to toss Pa. votes to reverse Bide

'Disgraceful!' — Lawyer blasts Trump attorney Giuliani for seeking to toss Pa. votes to reverse Biden win

President Donald Trump 's personal lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , on Tuesday argued to a federal judge in Pennsylvania that there had been `` widespread national voter fraud '' in the presidential election that led to Joe Biden 's projected victory .
But a lawyer for several Pennsylvania county election boards called Giuliani 's effort to have a judge invalidate up to 700,000 mail-in ballots cast in the state baseless and `` disgraceful ! ''
Giuliani 's claims , which echoed those made by Trump , came at a hearing in Williamsport , where state lawyers argued to U.S. District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump campaign 's lawsuit seeking to stop Pennsylvania from certifying its election results .
During the hearing , the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected the Trump campaign 's argument that its election observers were improperly denied access to closely watch the counting of ballots in Philadelphia .
The Supreme Court ruled , in what could be a crippling blow to the federal case , that county election officials had the right to determine how far away to keep observers from ballot counting areas , as long as those observers were allowed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being conducted .
Brann and some attorneys , including Giuliani , appeared in the courtroom in person , but others , including Aronchick , appeared remotely .
And reporters were barred from the physical courtroom because of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic .
Two phone lines opened so that the media and members of the public could follow the proceedings at one point or the other failed , denying up to 8,000 people who had called in access to the hearing .
The phone lines later were restored .
Giuliani earlier in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The New York Times that he had asked Trump 's campaign to pay him a whopping $ 20,000 per day for his legal work .
`` I never asked for $ 20,000 , '' Giuliani told The Times , saying that Trump offered to `` work ... out '' any payment to him at the end of the legal process .
The Wall Street Journal later matched The Times story about Giuliani 's request , which the newspaper noted was `` an unusually high fee . ''
The Journal reported that the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request , but noted that it could not be determined whether the campaign will pay Giuliani at all .
Giuliani , who was not originally directly involved in the case , made a last-minute request Tuesday to have Brann admit him as a member of the campaign 's legal team .
That move came after two sets of other lawyers for Trump 's reelection campaign quit the case over the past week .
It also came after Brann denied a request by another new attorney for the campaign to postpone the hearing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's case in Pennsylvania was underscored by Giuliani 's statement to Brann on Tuesday that a claim made in the originally filed lawsuit , which alleged a violation of due process , was mistakenly removed from an amended lawsuit .
A former New York City mayor and federal prosecutor , Giuliani is not admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania federal court , so he needed permission from Brann to appear in the case .
Giuliani 's application said that he is `` currently a member in good standing '' of a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the District of Columbia Bar .
However , a check of the DC Bar 's registry shows that Giuliani 's admission there is administratively suspended because of nonpayment of fees .
That suspension likely would have no affect on his admission to the Pennsylvania case .
On the same day that Biden was projected as winner of the election , Giuliani led a widely derided news conference about the vote-counting process outside of Four Seasons Total Landscaping , a small business in Philadelphia located between a crematorium and a sex shop .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held at the `` Four Seasons , '' the name of an upscale hotel , before pointing out the actual location in a subsequent tweet .
Speaking at a lectern set up in the rear parking lot of the landscaping business , Giuliani assailed the city of Philadelphia for having a `` sad history '' of voter fraud , and scoffed at journalists when they told him that news outlets had called the race for Biden .
Trump last week said that New York-based Giuliani would lead his campaign 's efforts in multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's victory .
Next Monday is the deadline for Pennsylvania county boards of elections to file their returns with the secretary of state .
During an interview Tuesday on Fox Business , Giuliani claimed that the Pennsylvania case hinges on 700,000 ballots that he alleged `` were counted surreptitiously . ''
`` Frankly , that is a case that we would like to see get to the Supreme Court , '' he said .
Giuliani also said `` we 're probably going to sue in at least eight or nine '' states where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observing the vote-tallying process .
`` The only remedy the court has is to just cancel out those votes , '' he said .
`` I believe we have amassed more than enough evidence in Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin , and Georgia , '' he said when asked if there are enough questionable ballots to overturn Biden 's victory .
`` I believe we 're very close in Nevada . ''
But another new attorney for Trump 's campaign in the Pennsylvania lawsuit , Marc Scaringi , who is also a talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show on Nov. 7 before joining the team that attempts to reverse Biden 's projected electoral victory `` will not work . ''
That was the same day that NBC News and other media outlets called the national election for Biden , after they projected he would win Pennsylvania 's 20 Electoral College votes .
The lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania alleges that a number of counties evaluated mail-in ballots on an `` entirely parallel track to those ballots cast in person . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat-heavy counties illegally reviewed mail-in ballots earlier than they should have , which gave voters there extra time to `` cure '' problems with their ballots .
On Sunday , the Trump campaign amended its complaint , abandoning a claim that election officials in certain counties had blocked some observers from watching ballots being counted .
Less than a week before Tuesday 's hearing , lawyers on the Trump campaign 's team from Porter Wright Morris & Arthur had withdrawn from the case .
`` Plaintiffs and Porter Wright have reached a mutual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Porter Wright withdraws , '' those lawyers said in a court filing .
On Monday , three more lawyers asked the judge to let them leave the case .
The judge , Brann , granted the request for two of them — John Scott and Douglas Hughes , both of whom are based in Texas .
But the judge was silent on the request to withdraw by Linda Kerns , a Philadelphia-based attorney whose practice previously specialized in family law matters .
Scaringi , the attorney who also has a radio show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal team .
Hours later , Scaringi asked Brann to reschedule Tuesday 's oral arguments , as well as an evidentiary hearing set for Thursday .
`` Having only been retained today , Plaintiffs ' new counsel need additional time to adequately prepare this case for the upcoming oral argument and evidentiary hearing , '' Scaringi wrote in a court filing .
`` Furthermore , this is a case of significant complexity and importance to the people of the United States of America , '' Scaringi wrote .
`` Counsel for the parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and questioning , '' the judge wrote in an order Monday night .

Attorney for the President, Rudy Giuliani speaks to the media at a press conference held in the back parking lot of landscaping company on November 7, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Chris McGrath | Getty Images
President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, on Tuesday argued to a federal judge in Pennsylvania that there had been "widespread national voter fraud" in the presidential election that led to Joe Biden's projected victory. But a lawyer for several Pennsylvania county election boards called Giuliani's effort to have a judge invalidate up to 700,000 mail-in ballots cast in the state baseless and "disgraceful!" Giuliani's claims, which echoed those made by Trump, came at a hearing in Williamsport, where state lawyers argued to U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann for the dismissal of the Trump campaign's lawsuit seeking to stop Pennsylvania from certifying its election results.
watch now
watch now
"Dismiss this case," Aronchick urged the judge. During the hearing, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected the Trump campaign's argument that its election observers were improperly denied access to closely watch the counting of ballots in Philadelphia. The Supreme Court ruled, in what could be a crippling blow to the federal case, that county election officials had the right to determine how far away to keep observers from ballot counting areas, as long as those observers were allowed to be in the room where the counting was being conducted. Brann and some attorneys, including Giuliani, appeared in the courtroom in person, but others, including Aronchick, appeared remotely. And reporters were barred from the physical courtroom because of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. Two phone lines opened so that the media and members of the public could follow the proceedings at one point or the other failed, denying up to 8,000 people who had called in access to the hearing. The phone lines later were restored. Giuliani earlier in the day adamantly denied a report in The New York Times that he had asked Trump's campaign to pay him a whopping $20,000 per day for his legal work. "I never asked for $20,000," Giuliani told The Times, saying that Trump offered to "work ... out" any payment to him at the end of the legal process. The Wall Street Journal later matched The Times story about Giuliani's request, which the newspaper noted was "an unusually high fee." The Journal reported that the Trump campaign did not agree to Giuliani's request, but noted that it could not be determined whether the campaign will pay Giuliani at all. Giuliani, who was not originally directly involved in the case, made a last-minute request Tuesday to have Brann admit him as a member of the campaign's legal team. That move came after two sets of other lawyers for Trump's reelection campaign quit the case over the past week. It also came after Brann denied a request by another new attorney for the campaign to postpone the hearing. The slapdash nature of the Trump campaign's case in Pennsylvania was underscored by Giuliani's statement to Brann on Tuesday that a claim made in the originally filed lawsuit, which alleged a violation of due process, was mistakenly removed from an amended lawsuit. A former New York City mayor and federal prosecutor, Giuliani is not admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania federal court, so he needed permission from Brann to appear in the case. Giuliani's application said that he is "currently a member in good standing" of a number of state and federal courts, and of the District of Columbia Bar. However, a check of the DC Bar's registry shows that Giuliani's admission there is administratively suspended because of nonpayment of fees. That suspension likely would have no affect on his admission to the Pennsylvania case. On the same day that Biden was projected as winner of the election, Giuliani led a widely derided news conference about the vote-counting process outside of Four Seasons Total Landscaping, a small business in Philadelphia located between a crematorium and a sex shop.
watch now
Trump originally announced that the presser would be held at the "Four Seasons," the name of an upscale hotel, before pointing out the actual location in a subsequent tweet. Speaking at a lectern set up in the rear parking lot of the landscaping business, Giuliani assailed the city of Philadelphia for having a "sad history" of voter fraud, and scoffed at journalists when they told him that news outlets had called the race for Biden. Trump last week said that New York-based Giuliani would lead his campaign's efforts in multiple states to challenge ballots and reverse Biden's victory. Next Monday is the deadline for Pennsylvania county boards of elections to file their returns with the secretary of state. During an interview Tuesday on Fox Business, Giuliani claimed that the Pennsylvania case hinges on 700,000 ballots that he alleged "were counted surreptitiously." "Frankly, that is a case that we would like to see get to the Supreme Court," he said. Giuliani also said "we're probably going to sue in at least eight or nine" states where Republican ballot watchers allegedly were blocked from observing the vote-tallying process. "The only remedy the court has is to just cancel out those votes," he said. "I believe we have amassed more than enough evidence in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, and Georgia," he said when asked if there are enough questionable ballots to overturn Biden's victory. "I believe we're very close in Nevada."
Poll worker Angela Steele mans the check-in desk near rows of empty ballot boxes at the Allegheny County Election Warehouse after the election in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 6, 2020. John Altdorfer | Reuters


cnbc--2020-11-18--Democrats tell Supreme Court they might drop fight for Mueller documents because Trump lost the elec

Democrats tell Supreme Court they might drop fight for Mueller documents because Trump lost the election

U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Monday , June 15 , 2020 .
Democrats told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that they may drop their fight for secretive grand jury materials produced in connection with former special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation of President Donald Trump 's 2016 campaign .
Lawyers for the House Judiciary Committee said in a filing with the justices that the congressional panel will need to reconsider after President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated and a new Congress is sworn in whether they will still seek the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancel arguments in the case that were scheduled for Dec. 2 .
Arguments could still take place at a later date .
The request comes in the wake of Biden 's victory over Trump in this month 's presidential election .
The committee had justified its request for the normally closely guarded grand jury materials on the basis that the records might help with an investigation into whether to impeach the president for a second time .
The law allows for grand jury materials to be released for a `` judicial proceeding , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case was whether an impeachment investigation qualified .
But with Trump leaving office , that question may no longer be relevant .

U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, June 15, 2020.
Democrats told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that they may drop their fight for secretive grand jury materials produced in connection with former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.
Lawyers for the House Judiciary Committee said in a filing with the justices that the congressional panel will need to reconsider after President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated and a new Congress is sworn in whether they will still seek the records.
They asked the court to cancel arguments in the case that were scheduled for Dec. 2. Arguments could still take place at a later date.
The request comes in the wake of Biden's victory over Trump in this month's presidential election.
The committee had justified its request for the normally closely guarded grand jury materials on the basis that the records might help with an investigation into whether to impeach the president for a second time.
The law allows for grand jury materials to be released for a "judicial proceeding," and the legal question in the case was whether an impeachment investigation qualified. But with Trump leaving office, that question may no longer be relevant.


cnbc--2020-11-18--Pelosi and Schumer ask McConnell to restart coronavirus stimulus talks as cases surge

US Speaker of the House , Nancy Pelosi ( R ) , Democrat of California , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , Democrat of New York hold a press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington , DC , on November 6 , 2020 .
Lawmakers have not passed new aid in months during the health and economic crisis .
As the virus again overwhelms hospitals and forces state and local officials to restrict economic activity , Republicans and Democrats have not budged from their positions on stimulus .
Congress appeared nowhere close to passing another coronavirus relief bill Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new public health restrictions threaten businesses and jobs .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have not spoken with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell about another relief bill since the Nov. 3 election , congressional leaders said this week .
They appear stuck in their pre-election stances , when Democrats pushed for a package that costs at least $ 2.2 trillion and Republicans sought a roughly $ 500 billion bill .
In a letter to McConnell on Tuesday , Schumer , D-N.Y. , and Pelosi , D-Calif. , asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the negotiating table this week so that we can work towards a bipartisan , bicameral COVID-19 relief agreement to crush the virus and save American lives . ''
As they called for money for schools , small businesses , state and local governments and unemployment insurance , the Democrats wrote that the `` pandemic and economic recession will not end without our help . ''
Asked whether any discussions would take place this week , a McConnell spokesman directed CNBC to comments the senator made earlier Tuesday .
The Republican said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem to support `` $ 2.5 trillion or nothing '' in a relief bill .
McConnell said he is open to a bill valued at about $ 500 billion , `` narrowly targeted at schools , at healthcare providers , at PPP , and of course liability reform . ''
Both McConnell and Pelosi have signaled they want to pass legislation this year , before Biden takes office .
But neither leader has showed willingness to yield ground , making it unclear what could get through the GOP-controlled Senate and Democratic-held House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his energy in the last two weeks to fighting the 2020 election results than governing during a once-in-a-century crisis .
McConnell has insisted in recent days that the pace of economic recovery means Congress needs only to pass a targeted , narrow plan to get the country through the next few months .
On Tuesday , he said Republicans `` want to pass more coronavirus relief '' but blamed Democrats for blocking bills the GOP tried to approve in recent weeks .
The Republican legislation would include a $ 300-per-week enhanced unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for small businesses and liability protections for companies .
It would not send a second direct payment to most Americans .
Pelosi , a California Democrat , has continued to push for a sweeping package after House Democrats passed a $ 2.2 trillion bill last month .
She contended Biden 's election gives Democrats more leverage in legislative talks .
Biden on Monday called on Congress to pass a bill similar to the Democrats ' HEROES Act before he takes office .


cnbc--2020-11-20--Biden team belittles 'spectacle' of sweaty Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani pushing vote fraud conspiracy

Biden team belittles 'spectacle' of sweaty Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani pushing vote fraud conspiracy claims

`` Yet another Rudy Giuliani spectacle exposes , as his appearances always do , the absurdity of Donald Trump 's thoroughly discredited claims of voter fraud , '' said Gwin .
The former New York City mayor , who long ago was a widely respected top federal prosecutor , also cited the Joe Pesci legal-comedy film `` My Cousin Vinny '' during a nearly hour-long stemwinder before anyone else on the self-described `` elite strike force team '' of Trump lawyers managed to get a word in edgewise .
`` What I 'm describing to you is a massive fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is n't a little teeny one . ''
Biden 's campaign spokesman blasted the president 's lawyer Rudy Giuliani for a bizarre press conference where he made far-fetched claims of a `` communist '' plot to rig voting machines , berated reporters and sweated so profusely that hair dye dripped down both his cheeks .
President-elect Joe Biden 's campaign on Thursday belittled President Donald Trump 's legal team for promoting `` thoroughly discredited claims of voter fraud , '' allegations that have failed to convince judges , elections officials or much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , election officials from both parties , and even officials within Trump 's own administration , have all reaffirmed that claims of widespread voter fraud are categorically false , '' Gwin said .
`` In fact , lawyers for Trump have admitted that in papers filed in court and under direct questioning from judges , '' he said .
`` No matter how hard Trump and the flailing Giuliani try , they can not overturn the will of the American people , who resoundingly picked Joe Biden to be the next President of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whom Trump fired via Twitter on Tuesday as head of Department of Homeland Security 's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , in his own tweet Thursday said , `` That press conference was the most dangerous 1hr 45 minutes of television in American history . ''
`` And possibly the craziest .
If you do n't know what I 'm talking about , you 're lucky , '' Krebs tweeted .
Krebs on Election Day had said on Twitter from his government account that `` allegations that election systems were manipulated ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Krebs ' comments angered Trump , who claimed there had been `` massive improprieties and fraud . ''
Those claims that have not been substantiated .
Hours before his press conference , the Trump campaign withdrew its federal lawsuit challenging ballots in Wayne County , Michigan .
Earlier in the week , Trump allies in multiple battleground states , including Michigan , withdrew their own lawsuits that were geared toward reversing Biden 's victories in those states .
And despite the claims of widespread voter fraud by Giuliani , other lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the U.S. Justice Department — the executive branch agency that would be empowered to prosecute any multi-state conspiracy to rig a federal election — has taken no action to suggest any of those claims are based in fact .
That has left the Trump campaign relying on recounts and lawsuits in a handful of states for its effort to overturn Biden 's victory .
Legal analysts and political experts give Trump little chance of doing so .
Biden , the former Democratic vice president , is projected to win 306 Electoral College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
That is 36 more electoral votes than a candidate needs to win the presidency .
Since the national popular vote was called for Biden , Trump has , uncharacteristically for him , largely stayed out of the public eye as he refuses to concede the election .
The presumptive lame duck also has been firing off broadsides in tweets on which Twitter routinely slaps warning labels saying : `` This claim about election fraud is disputed . ''

"Yet another Rudy Giuliani spectacle exposes, as his appearances always do, the absurdity of Donald Trump's thoroughly discredited claims of voter fraud," said Gwin.
The former New York City mayor, who long ago was a widely respected top federal prosecutor, also cited the Joe Pesci legal-comedy film "My Cousin Vinny" during a nearly hour-long stemwinder before anyone else on the self-described "elite strike force team" of Trump lawyers managed to get a word in edgewise.
"What I'm describing to you is a massive fraud," Giuliani said. "It isn't a little teeny one."
Biden's campaign spokesman blasted the president's lawyer Rudy Giuliani for a bizarre press conference where he made far-fetched claims of a "communist" plot to rig voting machines, berated reporters and sweated so profusely that hair dye dripped down both his cheeks.
President-elect Joe Biden 's campaign on Thursday belittled President Donald Trump 's legal team for promoting "thoroughly discredited claims of voter fraud," allegations that have failed to convince judges, elections officials or much of the American public.
"Numerous courts, election officials from both parties, and even officials within Trump's own administration, have all reaffirmed that claims of widespread voter fraud are categorically false," Gwin said.
"In fact, lawyers for Trump have admitted that in papers filed in court and under direct questioning from judges," he said. "No matter how hard Trump and the flailing Giuliani try, they cannot overturn the will of the American people, who resoundingly picked Joe Biden to be the next President of the United States."
Chris Krebs, whom Trump fired via Twitter on Tuesday as head of Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in his own tweet Thursday said, "That press conference was the most dangerous 1hr 45 minutes of television in American history."
"And possibly the craziest. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you're lucky," Krebs tweeted.
Krebs on Election Day had said on Twitter from his government account that "allegations that election systems were manipulated ... have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent."
Krebs' comments angered Trump, who claimed there had been "massive improprieties and fraud." Those claims that have not been substantiated.
Hours before his press conference, the Trump campaign withdrew its federal lawsuit challenging ballots in Wayne County, Michigan.
Earlier in the week, Trump allies in multiple battleground states, including Michigan, withdrew their own lawsuits that were geared toward reversing Biden's victories in those states.
And despite the claims of widespread voter fraud by Giuliani, other lawyers for the president, and Trump himself, the U.S. Justice Department — the executive branch agency that would be empowered to prosecute any multi-state conspiracy to rig a federal election — has taken no action to suggest any of those claims are based in fact.
That has left the Trump campaign relying on recounts and lawsuits in a handful of states for its effort to overturn Biden's victory. Legal analysts and political experts give Trump little chance of doing so.
Biden, the former Democratic vice president, is projected to win 306 Electoral College votes when those votes are cast next month.
That is 36 more electoral votes than a candidate needs to win the presidency.
Since the national popular vote was called for Biden, Trump has, uncharacteristically for him, largely stayed out of the public eye as he refuses to concede the election.
The presumptive lame duck also has been firing off broadsides in tweets on which Twitter routinely slaps warning labels saying: "This claim about election fraud is disputed."


cnbc--2020-11-19--Joe Biden made his pick for Treasury secretary, says he will announce choice soon

WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden said Thursday that he has decided whom he will nominate for Treasury secretary , and that he will make the announcement in the coming weeks .
`` You 'll soon hear my choice for Treasury , either just before or just after Thanksgiving , '' Biden told reporters in Wilmington , Delaware .
`` It 's someone who will be accepted by all elements of the Democratic Party , from the progressive to the moderate coalitions , '' he added .
Going into Thursday , Biden 's team had signalled to allies in the business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list of options for Treasury secretary to at least three names , according to people briefed on the matter .
The top contenders include economist Lael Brainard , a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors ; Roger Ferguson , the CEO of TIAA ; and Janet Yellen , former chair of the Federal Reserve .
Yellen appears to have approval from both sides of the party .
Ferguson , who announced he intends to retire from TIAA in March , wants to return to the federal government .
He has experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Governors of the Federal Reserve .
Either Brainard or Yellen would be the first female Treasury secretary .
Ferguson would be the first Black person to hold the office .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren , a progressive who had been mentioned as a possible Treasury contender , appears to be out of the running .
Biden also appeared to give a positive appraisal of current Fed Chair Jerome Powell 's performance .
`` The way the federal reserve has been approaching dealing with the dollar , I think has been in a positive direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates are as low as they have been in modern history , and I think that is a positive thing .
It lends credence to the possibility of us being able to expend money , to deficit spend , in order for us to be able to generate economic growth right off the bat .
And so I think it 's been positive so far . ''
Powell 's four-year term as Fed chair expires in February of 2022 , a year into Biden 's first term .
Biden could choose to renominate @ @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden said Thursday that he has decided whom he will nominate for Treasury secretary, and that he will make the announcement in the coming weeks.
"You'll soon hear my choice for Treasury, either just before or just after Thanksgiving," Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware.
"It's someone who will be accepted by all elements of the Democratic Party, from the progressive to the moderate coalitions," he added.
Going into Thursday, Biden's team had signalled to allies in the business community that he had whittled down his list of options for Treasury secretary to at least three names, according to people briefed on the matter.
The top contenders include economist Lael Brainard, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors; Roger Ferguson, the CEO of TIAA; and Janet Yellen, former chair of the Federal Reserve.
Yellen appears to have approval from both sides of the party. Ferguson, who announced he intends to retire from TIAA in March, wants to return to the federal government. He has experience as vice chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.
Either Brainard or Yellen would be the first female Treasury secretary. Ferguson would be the first Black person to hold the office.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a progressive who had been mentioned as a possible Treasury contender, appears to be out of the running.
Biden also appeared to give a positive appraisal of current Fed Chair Jerome Powell's performance.
"The way the federal reserve has been approaching dealing with the dollar, I think has been in a positive direction," said Biden.
"Interest rates are as low as they have been in modern history, and I think that is a positive thing. It lends credence to the possibility of us being able to expend money, to deficit spend, in order for us to be able to generate economic growth right off the bat. And so I think it's been positive so far."
Powell's four-year term as Fed chair expires in February of 2022, a year into Biden's first term. Biden could choose to renominate him for the position.


cnbc--2020-11-20--Trump International Hotel Washington DC sale put on indefinite hold

The Trump Organization 's efforts to sell the Trump International Hotel Washington , D.C. , have been put on indefinite hold , casting doubts on the future of one of the president 's biggest financial bets , according to industry executives .
The Trump Organization hired Jones Lang LaSalle to shop the hotel to potential buyers last fall hoping for a price of about $ 500 million .
People familiar with the deal talks said none of the bids came close to the asking price , and several were for less than $ 250 million .
Jones Lang LaSalle confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotel are on `` indefinite hold . ''
The hotel , which became the glittering social hub of President Donald Trump 's Washington and a crown jewel of Trump 's business empire , now faces the added pressures of the coronavirus pandemic and the president 's post-election future .
Faced with a $ 100 million loan from Deutsche Bank on the property and continued losses , the Trump Organization may end up either having to subsidize the business for years to come , or default on the loan and hand back the property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At this point , they could either just turn over the keys , or keep it and make it part of whatever media company the President decides to create , '' said Brian Friedman of Friedman Capital , which bid on the hotel and owns several hotels and properties in the DC area .
`` I just do n't think they 're going to get the price they expected . ''
A spokesperson for the Trump Organization said , `` There are absolutely no plans to default on the loan , nor have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As for the stalled sales effort , the spokesperson said , `` We have had offers north of $ 350M which would have been the most expensive price ever paid for a hotel in Washington D.C. and we have rejected those offers in full .
Trump International Hotel , Washington D.C. is one of the finest hotels in the country as rated by Conde Nast and so many others . ''

The Trump Organization's efforts to sell the Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C., have been put on indefinite hold, casting doubts on the future of one of the president's biggest financial bets, according to industry executives.
The Trump Organization hired Jones Lang LaSalle to shop the hotel to potential buyers last fall hoping for a price of about $500 million. People familiar with the deal talks said none of the bids came close to the asking price, and several were for less than $250 million. Jones Lang LaSalle confirmed to CNBC that efforts to sell the hotel are on "indefinite hold."
The hotel, which became the glittering social hub of President Donald Trump's Washington and a crown jewel of Trump's business empire, now faces the added pressures of the coronavirus pandemic and the president's post-election future.
Faced with a $100 million loan from Deutsche Bank on the property and continued losses, the Trump Organization may end up either having to subsidize the business for years to come, or default on the loan and hand back the property, according to industry executives.
"At this point, they could either just turn over the keys, or keep it and make it part of whatever media company the President decides to create," said Brian Friedman of Friedman Capital, which bid on the hotel and owns several hotels and properties in the DC area. "I just don't think they're going to get the price they expected."
A spokesperson for the Trump Organization said, "There are absolutely no plans to default on the loan, nor have we ever missed a payment." As for the stalled sales effort, the spokesperson said, "We have had offers north of $350M which would have been the most expensive price ever paid for a hotel in Washington D.C. and we have rejected those offers in full. Trump International Hotel, Washington D.C. is one of the finest hotels in the country as rated by Conde Nast and so many others."