cnbc--2020-01-10--Pete Buttigieg unveils $1 trillion infrastructure plan

South Bend , IN Mayor and U.S. presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg speaks to a crowd of over 850 people during his sixth visit to the Monadnock region in Keene , NH on Jan. 2 , 2020 .
Democratic presidential contender Pete Buttigieg unveiled $ 1 trillion infrastructure plan on Friday , pledging to direct federal funds to state and local governments to revitalize the nation 's transport networks , clean the water supply and expand the broadband internet .
`` Under my administration , local governments will finally have a partner in Washington , '' Buttigieg wrote in the plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know that priority-based budgets made locally are better than budget-based priorities set in Washington . ''
Buttigieg was the mayor of South Bend , Indiana , for eight years until his second term expired this month .
He is polling in fourth place in national surveys of Democratic voters .
His campaign said the plan will be paid for by reforming the capital gains tax and repealing the 2017 GOP tax overhaul , reforms that had been previously disclosed .
The campaign will also raise the estate tax , with a top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The plan will create 6 million jobs , the campaign said .
`` The bulk of the expense in the plan is already covered in our climate resiliency plan that was previously released , '' spokeswoman Tess Whittlesey said in an email .
The infrastructure plan includes the following : • $ 100 billion to establish a fund to address lead in water , paint and soil • $ 150 billion to improve public transportation , including $ 100 billion for states and cities to repair existing systems and expand their rail and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for rural public transit • $ 80 billion to a school repair program , allocating grants and loans to states based on poverty levels • $ 80 billion to expand internet access to unserved and underserved communities • $ 165 billion into the Highway Trust Fund to ensure its solvency through 2029 President Donald Trump has made infrastructure a key priority , though his efforts have failed to gain traction .
A bipartisan infrastructure deal he championed last year fizzled as conservatives balked at the price tag .
As a first-time candidate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over a decade for fixing the nation 's aging infrastructure .
Buttigieg wrote in the plan that the Trump administration `` has been incapable of keeping its promise to pass major infrastructure legislation , and critical projects around the country are stalled because of it . ''
`` Meanwhile , our roads and bridges crumble , our schools fall into disrepair , water systems poison our children , and our flood protection systems fail as climate change accelerates , '' he wrote .

South Bend, IN Mayor and U.S. presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg speaks to a crowd of over 850 people during his sixth visit to the Monadnock region in Keene, NH on Jan. 2, 2020.
Democratic presidential contender Pete Buttigieg unveiled $1 trillion infrastructure plan on Friday, pledging to direct federal funds to state and local governments to revitalize the nation's transport networks, clean the water supply and expand the broadband internet.
"Under my administration, local governments will finally have a partner in Washington," Buttigieg wrote in the plan. "As a former mayor, I know that priority-based budgets made locally are better than budget-based priorities set in Washington."
Buttigieg was the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, for eight years until his second term expired this month. He is polling in fourth place in national surveys of Democratic voters.
His campaign said the plan will be paid for by reforming the capital gains tax and repealing the 2017 GOP tax overhaul, reforms that had been previously disclosed. The campaign will also raise the estate tax, with a top rate of 65% for billionaires. The plan will create 6 million jobs, the campaign said.
"The bulk of the expense in the plan is already covered in our climate resiliency plan that was previously released," spokeswoman Tess Whittlesey said in an email.
The infrastructure plan includes the following:
$100 billion to establish a fund to address lead in water, paint and soil
$150 billion to improve public transportation, including $100 billion for states and cities to repair existing systems and expand their rail and bus services, and $12 billion for rural public transit
$80 billion to a school repair program, allocating grants and loans to states based on poverty levels
$80 billion to expand internet access to unserved and underserved communities
$165 billion into the Highway Trust Fund to ensure its solvency through 2029
President Donald Trump has made infrastructure a key priority, though his efforts have failed to gain traction.
A bipartisan infrastructure deal he championed last year fizzled as conservatives balked at the price tag. As a first-time candidate, Trump campaigned on spending $1 trillion over a decade for fixing the nation's aging infrastructure.
Buttigieg wrote in the plan that the Trump administration "has been incapable of keeping its promise to pass major infrastructure legislation, and critical projects around the country are stalled because of it."
"Meanwhile, our roads and bridges crumble, our schools fall into disrepair, water systems poison our children, and our flood protection systems fail as climate change accelerates," he wrote.


cnbc--2020-01-10--Trump has 'more or less prevailed' this week — but Iran tension isn't over, ex-US ambassador says

US President Donald Trump arrives for a `` Keep America Great '' campaign rally at Huntington Center in Toledo , Ohio , on January 9 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump scored a `` modest win '' this week in the way he handled escalating tensions with Iran , according to a former American ambassador to Singapore .
`` It 's not over yet , but I think Trump has more or less prevailed this past week , '' said Frank Lavin , who is currently the CEO and founder of business consultancy Export Now .
`` I think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Iran 's not going away , '' he told CNBC 's `` Capital Connection '' Friday .
`` Iran 's been in this business of … mischief and wars and terrorism for 40 years now , so they 're going to have another time , another go at this as well . ''
Simon Baptist , global chief economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit , agreed with the sentiment .
`` Iran is still pushing toward a nuclear bomb in the same way as North Korea , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's going to be tough to stop them in a confrontational way . ''
`` Without negotiations , I see that conflict simmering for now , but probably boiling over in the future , '' he added .

US President Donald Trump arrives for a "Keep America Great" campaign rally at Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio, on January 9, 2020.
President Donald Trump scored a "modest win" this week in the way he handled escalating tensions with Iran, according to a former American ambassador to Singapore.
"It's not over yet, but I think Trump has more or less prevailed this past week," said Frank Lavin, who is currently the CEO and founder of business consultancy Export Now.
"I think it is a modest win, but look, Iran's not going away," he told CNBC's "Capital Connection" Friday. "Iran's been in this business of … mischief and wars and terrorism for 40 years now, so they're going to have another time, another go at this as well."
Simon Baptist, global chief economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit, agreed with the sentiment. "Iran is still pushing toward a nuclear bomb in the same way as North Korea," he said. "They can get there, and it's going to be tough to stop them in a confrontational way."
"Without negotiations, I see that conflict simmering for now, but probably boiling over in the future," he added.


cnbc--2020-01-10--New Sen. Kelly Loeffler will help oversee agency that regulates her husband's company

Sen. Kelly Loeffler , R-Ga. , arrives for a re-enactment of her swearing-in , Monday Jan. 6 , 2020 , on Capitol Hill in Washington .
After becoming a U.S. senator this week , Kelly Loeffler won assignment to a committee that oversees the agency in charge of regulating her husband 's business , setting the grounds for a potential conflict of interest .
Loeffler 's husband , Jeffrey Sprecher , is CEO of Intercontinental Exchange , which is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission , and which owns the New York Stock Exchange .
The Senate Agriculture Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmation , oversees the CFTC .
ICE 's annual report notes that the company is `` subject to extensive regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission . ''
Loeffler , R-Ga. , and Sprecher married in 2004 , before the company went public in 2005 .
She had worked at ICE , leading the company 's investor relations and communications programs for 15 years before slipping into Bakkt , a crypto trading platform created by ICE , as CEO in 2018 .
Loeffler 's office did not respond to a request for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of interest .
But the Republican senator told The Wall Street Journal that `` I will recuse myself if needed on a case by case basis . ''
`` I have worked hard to comply with both the letter and the spirit of the Senate 's ethics rules and will continue to do so every day , '' she said .
The committee did not respond to a request for comment from CNBC .
But Chairman Pat Roberts , R-Kan. , called Loeffler `` a welcome addition to the Committee , '' according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in as a senator on Monday , succeeding Sen. Johnny Isakson , who retired on Dec 31 .
She was appointed by Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp in December in defiance of President Donald Trump , who had pressed Kemp to appoint Rep. Doug Collins to the seat .
Collins , the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee , was a full-throated defender of the president during the House impeachment process led by Democrats .
His appointment to the Senate could have aided Trump when proceedings move to that chamber .
Loeffler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special election is held in November 2020 when she will have to win the vote .
Collins has not ruled out the possibility of running for the seat at that time .

Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., arrives for a re-enactment of her swearing-in, Monday Jan. 6, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
After becoming a U.S. senator this week, Kelly Loeffler won assignment to a committee that oversees the agency in charge of regulating her husband's business, setting the grounds for a potential conflict of interest.
Loeffler's husband, Jeffrey Sprecher, is CEO of Intercontinental Exchange , which is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and which owns the New York Stock Exchange. The Senate Agriculture Committee, which Loeffler joined following her Senate confirmation, oversees the CFTC.
ICE's annual report notes that the company is "subject to extensive regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission."
Loeffler, R-Ga., and Sprecher married in 2004, before the company went public in 2005. She had worked at ICE, leading the company's investor relations and communications programs for 15 years before slipping into Bakkt, a crypto trading platform created by ICE, as CEO in 2018.
Loeffler's office did not respond to a request for comment from CNBC asking about a potential conflict of interest. But the Republican senator told The Wall Street Journal that "I will recuse myself if needed on a case by case basis."
"I have worked hard to comply with both the letter and the spirit of the Senate's ethics rules and will continue to do so every day," she said.
The committee did not respond to a request for comment from CNBC. But Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., called Loeffler "a welcome addition to the Committee," according to the Journal.
Loeffler was sworn in as a senator on Monday, succeeding Sen. Johnny Isakson, who retired on Dec 31. She was appointed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in December in defiance of President Donald Trump, who had pressed Kemp to appoint Rep. Doug Collins to the seat.
Collins, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, was a full-throated defender of the president during the House impeachment process led by Democrats. His appointment to the Senate could have aided Trump when proceedings move to that chamber.
Loeffler will serve in the role until a special election is held in November 2020 when she will have to win the vote. Collins has not ruled out the possibility of running for the seat at that time.


cnbc--2020-01-12--Trump tells Iranian protesters he stands with them and warns Tehran: 'The world is watching'

President Donald Trump expressed solidarity with Iranian protesters as they took to the streets of Tehran over the weekend , after the Islamic Republic admitted it accidentally shot down a Ukraine-bound airliner , killing all 176 people on board the Boeing aircraft .
Trump , in Twitter messages written in both Farsi and English Saturday , called on Tehran to allow human rights groups to report facts from the ground and warned the government that the `` world is watching . ''
The president warned Iran 's leaders on Sunday not to kill protesters and to let reporters move freely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November led to a crackdown that resulted in hundreds of deaths , according to human rights groups .
Hundreds of protesters in Tehran chanted anti-government slogans against the Islamic Republic 's leaders on Saturday , according to Iran 's semi-official Fars news agency .
The protesters , who numbered between 700 to 1,000 , tore up pictures of Gen. Qasem Soleimani , who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq last week .
Video clips posted on Twitter showed protesters chanting `` Death to the dictator '' in reference to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Reuters .
The protests come after Iran 's military admitted that Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down by Iranian missiles due to `` human error . ''
Iran 's government previously said it was not responsible for the crash , dismissing allegations that its missiles had downed the plane as `` a big lie . ''
Tehran reversed its position as international pressure mounted .
According to the Iranian military , the Revolutionary Guard Corps was on high alert amid tensions with the U.S. over the killing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes after Iran 's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said ballistic missile attacks on two U.S. bases in Iraq had ended , according to flight tracking data .

President Donald Trump expressed solidarity with Iranian protesters as they took to the streets of Tehran over the weekend, after the Islamic Republic admitted it accidentally shot down a Ukraine-bound airliner, killing all 176 people on board the Boeing aircraft.
Trump, in Twitter messages written in both Farsi and English Saturday, called on Tehran to allow human rights groups to report facts from the ground and warned the government that the "world is watching."
The president warned Iran's leaders on Sunday not to kill protesters and to let reporters move freely. Protests against the Iranian government in November led to a crackdown that resulted in hundreds of deaths, according to human rights groups.
Hundreds of protesters in Tehran chanted anti-government slogans against the Islamic Republic's leaders on Saturday, according to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency. The protesters, who numbered between 700 to 1,000, tore up pictures of Gen. Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq last week.
Video clips posted on Twitter showed protesters chanting "Death to the dictator" in reference to the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Reuters.
The protests come after Iran's military admitted that Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down by Iranian missiles due to "human error." Iran's government previously said it was not responsible for the crash, dismissing allegations that its missiles had downed the plane as "a big lie."
Tehran reversed its position as international pressure mounted. According to the Iranian military, the Revolutionary Guard Corps was on high alert amid tensions with the U.S. over the killing of Soleimani. The airline took off just minutes after Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said ballistic missile attacks on two U.S. bases in Iraq had ended, according to flight tracking data.


cnbc--2020-01-12--Defense Secretary Esper 'didn't see' specific evidence of Trump claim that Iran planned embassy atta

Defense Secretary Esper 'didn't see' specific evidence of Trump claim that Iran planned embassy attacks

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper holds an end of year press conference at the Pentagon on December 20 , 2019 in Arlington , Virginia .
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday that he did not see tangible evidence showing that Iran planned to strike four U.S. embassies , despite President Trump 's claims that an attack at multiple embassies was `` imminent . ''
The president 's comments came just a week after he ordered the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani , which sparked retaliatory Iranian strikes on bases in Iraq that housed American troops and nearly brought the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration has avoided giving specific details about the intelligence that prompted the drone strike that killed Soleimani at the Baghdad airport .
Esper , who was pressed on Trump 's assertions in several morning television interviews , said he did not see evidence of a specific tangible threat from Iran , but said he agreed with the president that Iran `` probably '' had a plan to strike .
`` The president did n't cite a specific piece of evidence .
What he said was he believed , '' Esper said on CBS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I did n't see one , with regard to four embassies . ''
`` What I 'm saying is that I shared the president 's view that probably — my expectation was they were going to go after our embassies , '' he added .
`` The embassy is the most prominent display of American presence in a country . ''
Trump told Laura Ingraham in a Fox News interview on Friday that he did not believe Americans had a right to more specifics on the intelligence that prompted the drone strike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be the American Embassy in Baghdad .
Many members of Congress have argued that there was incomplete information in White House briefings about Soleimani 's killing , and questioned whether an attack was imminent as the administration continues to defend the decision for the drone strike .
In a separate interview on CNN 's `` State of the Union , '' Esper was pressed again about whether there was a threat to four embassies , to which he responded that Trump `` did n't cite intelligence '' and rather said `` there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` There was intelligence that there was an intent to target the U.S. embassy in Baghdad , '' Esper said .
`` What the president said with regard to the four embassies is what I believe as well .
He said that he believed that they probably , they could have been targeting the embassies in the region . ''

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday that he did not see tangible evidence showing that Iran planned to strike four U.S. embassies, despite President Trump's claims that an attack at multiple embassies was "imminent."
The president's comments came just a week after he ordered the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, which sparked retaliatory Iranian strikes on bases in Iraq that housed American troops and nearly brought the two countries to war. The Trump administration has avoided giving specific details about the intelligence that prompted the drone strike that killed Soleimani at the Baghdad airport.
Esper, who was pressed on Trump's assertions in several morning television interviews, said he did not see evidence of a specific tangible threat from Iran, but said he agreed with the president that Iran "probably" had a plan to strike.
"The president didn't cite a specific piece of evidence. What he said was he believed," Esper said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "I didn't see one, with regard to four embassies."
"What I'm saying is that I shared the president's view that probably — my expectation was they were going to go after our embassies," he added. "The embassy is the most prominent display of American presence in a country."
Trump told Laura Ingraham in a Fox News interview on Friday that he did not believe Americans had a right to more specifics on the intelligence that prompted the drone strike, but added that he thought it would be the American Embassy in Baghdad.
Many members of Congress have argued that there was incomplete information in White House briefings about Soleimani's killing, and questioned whether an attack was imminent as the administration continues to defend the decision for the drone strike.
In a separate interview on CNN's "State of the Union," Esper was pressed again about whether there was a threat to four embassies, to which he responded that Trump "didn't cite intelligence" and rather said "there probably could have been" a threat.
"There was intelligence that there was an intent to target the U.S. embassy in Baghdad," Esper said. "What the president said with regard to the four embassies is what I believe as well. He said that he believed that they probably, they could have been targeting the embassies in the region."


cnbc--2020-01-14--Here's who's going to Davos this year

Here's who's going to Davos this year

Business leaders and politicians from around the world are gearing up to attend another session of the World Economic Forum ( WEF ) , in Davos , Switzerland next week .
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the event in the Swiss Alps and its theme is `` Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World . ''
The annual economic gathering will run from January 21 until January 24 .
CNBC takes a look at some of the most prominent names attending this year 's event .
At 34 , Sanna Marin is the world 's youngest serving prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ female leader .
She heads a four-party coalition government , whose leaders are all women too .
At the time of her appointment , in December , she said she never thought about her age or gender .
`` I think of the reasons I got into politics , and those things for which we have won the trust of the electorate , '' she said .
The former German minister for defense became the head of the EU 's executive arm in December .
The new president of the European Commission has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including gathering support for her new climate change package .
The European Green Deal , a proposal launched in December , aims to make all the EU countries climate neutral by 2050 .
The newly-appointed head of the European Central Bank is a well-known figure at WEF .
Lagarde , the first female president of the ECB , used to visit the event in her role as managing director of the International Monetary Fund .
This time around her words in Davos will be even more closely monitored , as investors look for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategic review .
Lagarde made headlines in late 2019 when stating she wanted the ECB to make climate change a priority .
The 17-year old Swedish climate activist is due to return to Davos this year .
Time 's `` Person of the Year '' in 2019 has a clear message to lawmakers and business leaders : commit to divest from fossil fuels now .
`` We demand that at this year 's forum , participants from all companies , banks , institutions and governments immediately halt all investments in fossil fuel exploration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuel subsidies and immediately and completely divest from fossil fuels .
We do n't want these things done by 2050 , 2030 or even 2021 , we want this done now — as in right now , '' Greta wrote in The Guardian newspaper .
Technology has always been a key point of discussion at Davos and this year wo n't be any exception , with 5G technology being a crucial part of the debate .
Huawei has led the 5G race across the world , but at the same time it sparked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the United States and the European Union .
U.S. authorities have raised concerns about Huawei 's connections to the Chinese government , which it denies , and took steps to bar the company from selling its technology in the U.S. market .
Meanwhile , the European Union is still forming its collective answer to the issues , but the German government announced it does not want to outright block the Chinese firm .
She is an internationally-acclaimed actress and mental health ambassador .
Padukone will be awarded with one of the WEF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pictured standing silently behind students protesting against the Indian government .
The Bollywood star surprised many , given that members of the movie industry tend to avoid politics .
Deepika has been named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world .

Workers listen during a briefing inside the Congress Center, the venue for the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos, Switzerland, on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. Stefan Wermuth | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Business leaders and politicians from around the world are gearing up to attend another session of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos, Switzerland this week. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the event in the Swiss Alps and its theme is "Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World." The annual economic gathering will run from January 21 until January 24. CNBC takes a look at some of the most prominent names attending this year's event.
Sanna Marin, prime minister of Finland
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin listens during a press conference with her Estonian counterpart as part of her visit to the Etonian capital Tallinn on January 10, 2020. RAIGO PAJULA
At 34, Sanna Marin is the world's youngest serving prime minister as well as Finland's third female leader. She heads a four-party coalition government, whose leaders are all women too. At the time of her appointment, in December, she said she never thought about her age or gender. "I think of the reasons I got into politics, and those things for which we have won the trust of the electorate," she said.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission
Thierry Monasse | picture alliance | Getty Images
The former German minister for defense became the head of the EU's executive arm in December. The new president of the European Commission has many pressing subjects to deal with, including gathering support for her new climate change package. The European Green Deal, a proposal launched in December, aims to make all the EU countries climate neutral by 2050.
Christine Lagarde, ECB president
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), addresses the media during a news conference following the meeting of the governing council of the ECB in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on December 12, 2019. Daniel Roland | AFP | Getty Images
The newly-appointed head of the European Central Bank is a well-known figure at WEF. Lagarde, the first female president of the ECB, used to visit the event in her role as managing director of the International Monetary Fund. This time around her words in Davos will be even more closely monitored, as investors look for further clues about the central bank's strategic review. Lagarde made headlines in late 2019 when stating she wanted the ECB to make climate change a priority.
Greta Thunberg, climate activist
Greta Thunberg speaks at an event with other climate activists on April 22, 2019 in London, England. Chris J Ratcliffe | Getty Images News | Getty Images
The 17-year old Swedish climate activist is due to return to Davos this year. Time's "Person of the Year" in 2019 has a clear message to lawmakers and business leaders: commit to divest from fossil fuels now. "We demand that at this year's forum, participants from all companies, banks, institutions and governments immediately halt all investments in fossil fuel exploration and extraction, immediately end all fossil fuel subsidies and immediately and completely divest from fossil fuels. We don't want these things done by 2050, 2030 or even 2021, we want this done now — as in right now," Greta wrote in The Guardian newspaper.
Ren Zhengfei, Huawei Technologies founder
Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei speaking with CNBC at Huawei headquaters in Shenzhen, China. Justin Solomon | CNBC
Technology has always been a key point of discussion at Davos and this year won't be any exception, with 5G technology being a crucial part of the debate. Huawei has led the 5G race across the world, but at the same time it sparked some division between traditional allies, such as the United States and the European Union. U.S. authorities have raised concerns about Huawei's connections to the Chinese government, which it denies, and took steps to bar the company from selling its technology in the U.S. market. Meanwhile, the European Union is still forming its collective answer to the issues, but the German government announced it does not want to outright block the Chinese firm.
Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva delivers her curtain raiser speech previewing the key issues to be addressed in the Annual Meetings in Washington, DC, on October 8, 2019. NICHOLAS KAMM | AFP | Getty Images
The Bulgarian national was appointed head of the International Monetary Fund in the fall of 2019. She will be presenting the IMF's latest economic assessment in Davos, joined by Gita Gopinath, the institution's chief economist.
Deepika Padukone, Bollywood star
Indian actress Deepika Padukone arrives for a trailer launch of her upcoming Bollywood movie 'Chhapaak' in Mumbai, India on 10 December 2019. NurPhoto
She is an internationally-acclaimed actress and mental health ambassador. Padukone will be awarded with one of the WEF's Crystal Awards. She was recently pictured standing silently behind students protesting against the Indian government. The Bollywood star surprised many, given that members of the movie industry tend to avoid politics. Deepika has been named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Steven Mnuchin, US Treasury Secretary
Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, gestures as he attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland January 25, 2018. Denis Balibouse | Reuters
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin led the discussion in Davos in 2017, having said at a news conference that a weaker dollar was good for the United States. His comments represented a shift in U.S. policy and sparked a dollar sell-off.
George Soros, chairman of Soros Fund Management
Billionaire investor George Soros. Sean Gallup | Getty Images
The billionaire investor George Soros is a familiar face in the Swiss Alps. In the last edition, Soros expressed his concerns over President Donald Trump's foreign and economic policy. "An effective policy towards China can't be reduced to a slogan. It needs to be far more sophisticated, detailed and practical; and it must include an American economic response to the Belt and Road Initiative," he said.
Donald Trump, US president
US President Donald Trump speaks during a "Keep America Great" campaign rally at Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio, on January 9, 2020. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images


cnbc--2020-01-14--House prepares to vote Wednesday to transmit Trump impeachment articles to the Senate

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives is preparing for a Wednesday vote to transmit articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate , members told reporters Tuesday .
`` The Speaker indicated that the articles of impeachment ... will be transmitted to the Senate at some point tomorrow , '' House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries , N.Y. , said at a news conference following a closed Democratic caucus meeting .
Wednesday 's House resolution is expected to have three functions : To transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate , name the House members who will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and fund the trial itself .
Pelosi has yet to announce who she has selected to serve as impeachment managers , the House members who will effectively act as prosecutors in the president 's trial .
On Tuesday , Jeffries said Pelosi would release the names of the managers sometime before Wednesday 's vote .
But the list is likely to include House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , and Rep. Jerrold Nadler , Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee .
Schiff led the formal House impeachment inquiry against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee which drafted and approved the two articles of impeachment against the president that were passed in December .
Pelosi , D-Calif. , faces mounting pressure not only from Republicans , but increasingly from fellow Democrats , to deliver the articles , which would then permit the Senate to begin preparations for a trial .
Pelosi delayed sending the articles as part of a strategy aimed at forcing concessions out of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , chief among them , the ability to call witnesses .
McConnell has so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelved until partway into the trial itself , as was the case in the 1998 impeachment of President Bill Clinton .
Absent a last minute change of heart by McConnell , Wednesday 's delivery of the articles by the House to the Senate will represent a political defeat for Pelosi , the de facto architect of the impeachment process so far .
The House voted on Dec.18 to impeach Trump on two articles stemming from his monthslong campaign to pressure Ukraine into launching investigations into Joe Biden and other domestic political opponents .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved military aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia .
Trump was impeached on charges that he abused the power of the presidency and obstructed Congress by prohibiting top administration officials from testifying about the Ukraine scheme .

The list is likely to include House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Schiff led the formal House impeachment inquiry against Trump last year. Nadler leads the committee that drafted and approved the two articles of impeachment against the president.
House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday that Pelosi would release the names of the managers, who will effectively act as prosecutors in the president's trial, sometime before Wednesday's vote.
Wednesday's House resolution is expected to have three functions: To transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate, name the House members who will serve as managers of the impeachment trial, and fund the trial itself.
WASHINGTON — The House will vote Wednesday to send two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.
Wednesday's vote will trigger a series of carefully choreographed procedural steps between the House and Senate, culminating in a walk across the Capitol by the House impeachment managers, who will be carrying the actual articles of impeachment in their hands.
The managers will then physically deliver the articles to Secretary of the Senate Julie Adams, a career public servant and former member of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's staff.
The actual delivery of the articles is likely to occur Wednesday afternoon, although House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Wednesday that the ceremonial walk could potentially be pushed back to Thursday morning.
The handover will mark the end of a nearly month-long delay in transmitting the documents, which Pelosi orchestrated in an attempt to force concessions out of McConnell, R-Ky.
Chief among them has been the ability to call witnesses, which Democrats have long demanded as part of any trial they would consider to be a "fair" one.
But McConnell has said the question of witnesses should be shelved until partway into the trial itself, as was the case in the 1998 impeachment of President Bill Clinton.
Absent a last-minute change of heart by McConnell, Wednesday's vote will represent a political defeat for Pelosi.
The House voted on Dec.18 to impeach Trump on two articles stemming from his monthslong campaign to pressure Ukraine into launching investigations into Joe Biden and other domestic political opponents. The pressure tactics allegedly included withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Trump was impeached on charges that he abused the power of the presidency and obstructed Congress by prohibiting top administration officials from testifying about the Ukraine scheme.


cnbc--2020-01-14--Elizabeth Warren says her plan to eliminate student loan debt can bypass Congress

Presidential contender Sen. Elizabeth Warren said on Tuesday that she would begin to forgive student loan debt on the first day of her administration , using legal tools that would allow her to bypass Congress .
The announcement , which comes just weeks before voting begins in the first primary and caucus states , adds urgency to legislation she introduced over the summer to cancel the bulk of the nation 's outstanding student loan debt .
That bill , introduced with Rep. James Clyburn , D-S.C. , would forgive up to $ 50,000 in student debt for individuals with household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote in her plan on Tuesday that the U.S. Education Department already has authority to cancel student debt , `` and we ca n't afford to wait for Congress to act . ''
`` I will start to use existing laws on day one of my presidency to implement my student loan debt cancellation plan that offers relief to 42 million Americans — in addition to using all available tools to address racial disparities in higher education , crack down on for-profit institutions , and eliminate predatory lending , '' she wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a splash in the Iowa and New Hampshire contests early next month .
The Massachusetts progressive has slipped in state polls in recent weeks , and is now behind former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , in both states .
She also trails Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , in Iowa .
Americans hold more than $ 1.5 trillion in student debt , and the problem is particularly acute in Iowa and New Hampshire .
More than 60 % of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those in New Hampshire have outstanding student debt , according to The Institute for College Access & Success .
And recent graduates in those states also carry higher balances than the national average of around $ 30,000 .
Warren 's plan to eliminate student debt goes further than the proposals put forth by Biden or Buttigieg but stops short of Sanders 's call to erase student debt entirely .
Alongside the new plan , Warren released a letter written to her by three legal experts who vouched for the legality of a president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The experts , based at the Project on Predatory Student Lending at Harvard Law School , described such a move as `` lawful and permissible . ''

Democratic presidential contender Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Tuesday that she would begin to forgive student loan debt on the first day of her administration, using legal tools that would allow her to bypass Congress.
The announcement, which comes just weeks before voting begins in the first primary and caucus states, adds urgency to legislation she introduced over the summer to cancel the bulk of the nation's outstanding student loan debt.
That bill, introduced with Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., would forgive up to $50,000 in student debt for individuals with household incomes under $100,000. But Warren wrote in her plan on Tuesday that the U.S. Education Department already has authority to cancel student debt, "and we can't afford to wait for Congress to act."
Read more: Elizabeth Warren calls for investigation into whether Trump Mar-a-Lago guests traded on advance knowledge of Soleimani killing
"I will start to use existing laws on day one of my presidency to implement my student loan debt cancellation plan that offers relief to 42 million Americans — in addition to using all available tools to address racial disparities in higher education, crack down on for-profit institutions, and eliminate predatory lending," she wrote in the plan.
Warren is fighting to make a splash in the Iowa and New Hampshire contests early next month. The Massachusetts progressive has slipped in state polls in recent weeks, and is now behind former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in both states. She also trails Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, in Iowa.
Americans hold more than $1.5 trillion in student debt, and the problem is particularly acute in Iowa and New Hampshire. More than 60% of new graduates in Iowa and 76% of those in New Hampshire have outstanding student debt, according to The Institute for College Access & Success. And recent graduates in those states also carry higher balances than the national average of around $30,000.
Warren tweet
Warren's plan to eliminate student debt goes further than the proposals put forth by Biden or Buttigieg but stops short of Sanders' call to erase student debt entirely.
Alongside the new plan, Warren released a letter written to her by three legal experts who vouched for the legality of a president canceling student debt through executive action. The experts, based at the Project on Predatory Student Lending at Harvard Law School, described such a move as "lawful and permissible."


cnbc--2020-01-14--OpEd: Bloomberg is wasting millions of dollars on a doomed campaign

Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg gives the thumbs up as he embarks on his bus after speaking to supporters at the Viva Villa restaurant in San Antonio , Texas on January 11 , 2020 .
When he officially entered the race , it was too late for Bloomberg to file and run in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary .
But there was plenty of time to file for the Nevada caucus , and his campaign did n't get the papers filed by the January 1 deadline .
It 's possible Bloomberg is bypassing Nevada on purpose .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it 's hard to think of a plausible reason why .
But even if you think Bloomberg 's milquetoast campaign ads are n't a problem , then what can anyone say in defense of his campaign 's apparent incompetence in other areas ?
We 've also just learned that Bloomberg will be spending $ 10 million for an ad on the ultimate media stage : The Super Bowl .
But it could be a very tough platform for the softer spoken Bloomberg in a sea of the most aggressive commercials playing during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men bashing each other 's heads in .
Let 's start with where most of that money has gone : TV ads .
I know I 've seen at least a dozen of Bloomberg 's TV ads so far , but do n't ask me to tell you what they say exactly .
It 's amazing that someone who follows campaign messages as closely as I have for years ca n't really remember any key details of any of these expensive ads .
I think I remember a nurse talking in one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There have been no memorable slogans , no real energy .
They 're like wallpaper .
Somebody call the cops , I want to report a robbery .
Because whoever is taking Bloomberg 's money is committing the heist of the century .
Of course , no one needs to shed any tears for the money Bloomberg is losing .
With a net worth of $ 57 billion , he could spend $ 1 million a day on his campaign every day for the next 156 years before he runs out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy , it does n't seem to be working .
You may have seen some reports of Bloomberg climbing a bit in the polls , but it 's all relative to his starting point of zero .
More importantly , a new report citing internal polling from opposing Democratic campaigns says Bloomberg is still not on a pace to pick up even one delegate from the 15 states set to hold primaries on March 3 .
That could change of course , but we know Bloomberg wo n't be getting any momentum from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 3 where he is n't even running .
The positive coverage the winners of those early contests receive is simply more valuable than flooding the airwaves with ads , especially ads that may not be effective or memorable .
Now there 's a prevailing theory we 've heard from some circles that Bloomberg really does n't want to win the nomination .
This theory explains that by running and using his own money he can promote an anti-Trump message without following the strict campaign finance laws he 'd have to adhere to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That theory seems pretty far-fetched on its face .
But even if it 's true , is there really a need for more anti-Trump messaging on the airwaves ?
More than 93 % of the TV news coverage is already anti-Trump , according to the conservative Media Research Center , the entertainment media provides more of the same , and there are still more than ten Democrats and even two other Republicans running for president providing a steady stream of anti-Trump rhetoric .
There are just 24 hours in each day ; how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public consume ?
Of course , no one needs to shed any tears for the money Bloomberg is losing .
With a net worth of $ 57 billion , he could spend $ 1 million a day on his campaign every day for the next 156 years before he runs out of money .
But that does n't excuse the people like Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey .
Sheekey has been working for Mike Bloomberg in various lobbying and government affairs roles since 1997 .
Prior to that he worked for the late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign manager for Moynihan 's final successful re-election bid in 1994 .
With that kind of experience , Sheekey should know better and be doing better .
So should the Bloomberg campaign 's chief communication 's officer Jason Schechter .
He has many years of experience directing top corporate ad campaigns , and before that he was an assistant press secretary in the Clinton administration .
Given what we know so far , it 's extremely hard not to write the Bloomberg campaign off as a vanity project -- perhaps the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- but a vanity project all the same .
One has to wonder if Bloomberg is spending so much money so ineffectively now , what kind of president would he make anyway ?
Jake Novak is a political and economic analyst at Jake Novak News and former CNBC TV producer .
You can follow him on Twitter @ jakejakeny .

Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg gives the thumbs up as he embarks on his bus after speaking to supporters at the Viva Villa restaurant in San Antonio, Texas on January 11, 2020.
When he officially entered the race, it was too late for Bloomberg to file and run in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. But there was plenty of time to file for the Nevada caucus, and his campaign didn't get the papers filed by the January 1 deadline. It's possible Bloomberg is bypassing Nevada on purpose. But with money not being an object, it's hard to think of a plausible reason why.
But even if you think Bloomberg's milquetoast campaign ads aren't a problem, then what can anyone say in defense of his campaign's apparent incompetence in other areas?
We've also just learned that Bloomberg will be spending $10 million for an ad on the ultimate media stage: The Super Bowl. But it could be a very tough platform for the softer spoken Bloomberg in a sea of the most aggressive commercials playing during a game that celebrates brash and aggressive men bashing each other's heads in.
Let's start with where most of that money has gone: TV ads. I know I've seen at least a dozen of Bloomberg's TV ads so far, but don't ask me to tell you what they say exactly. It's amazing that someone who follows campaign messages as closely as I have for years can't really remember any key details of any of these expensive ads. I think I remember a nurse talking in one of them, but that's about it. There have been no memorable slogans, no real energy. They're like wallpaper.
Somebody call the cops, I want to report a robbery. Because whoever is taking Bloomberg's money is committing the heist of the century.
Of course, no one needs to shed any tears for the money Bloomberg is losing. With a net worth of $57 billion, he could spend $1 million a day on his campaign every day for the next 156 years before he runs out of money.
If this is a plausible strategy, it doesn't seem to be working. You may have seen some reports of Bloomberg climbing a bit in the polls, but it's all relative to his starting point of zero. More importantly, a new report citing internal polling from opposing Democratic campaigns says Bloomberg is still not on a pace to pick up even one delegate from the 15 states set to hold primaries on March 3.
That could change of course, but we know Bloomberg won't be getting any momentum from the states holding primaries and caucuses before March 3 where he isn't even running. The positive coverage the winners of those early contests receive is simply more valuable than flooding the airwaves with ads, especially ads that may not be effective or memorable.
Now there's a prevailing theory we've heard from some circles that Bloomberg really doesn't want to win the nomination. This theory explains that by running and using his own money he can promote an anti-Trump message without following the strict campaign finance laws he'd have to adhere to if he were funding another candidate.
That theory seems pretty far-fetched on its face. But even if it's true, is there really a need for more anti-Trump messaging on the airwaves?
More than 93% of the TV news coverage is already anti-Trump, according to the conservative Media Research Center, the entertainment media provides more of the same, and there are still more than ten Democrats and even two other Republicans running for president providing a steady stream of anti-Trump rhetoric. There are just 24 hours in each day; how much more anti-Trump messaging can the American public consume?
Of course, no one needs to shed any tears for the money Bloomberg is losing. With a net worth of $57 billion, he could spend $1 million a day on his campaign every day for the next 156 years before he runs out of money.
But that doesn't excuse the people like Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey. Sheekey has been working for Mike Bloomberg in various lobbying and government affairs roles since 1997. Prior to that he worked for the late Democrat Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and was the campaign manager for Moynihan's final successful re-election bid in 1994. With that kind of experience, Sheekey should know better and be doing better.
So should the Bloomberg campaign's chief communication's officer Jason Schechter. He has many years of experience directing top corporate ad campaigns, and before that he was an assistant press secretary in the Clinton administration.
Given what we know so far, it's extremely hard not to write the Bloomberg campaign off as a vanity project -- perhaps the most extreme political vanity project in American history -- but a vanity project all the same. One has to wonder if Bloomberg is spending so much money so ineffectively now, what kind of president would he make anyway?
Jake Novak is a political and economic analyst at Jake Novak News and former CNBC TV producer. You can follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny.


cnbc--2020-01-14--Citigroup executive Ray McGuire, a political moderate, considers running for mayor of New York

Ray McGuire , vice chairman of Citigroup Inc. , speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills , California , April 29 , 2019 .
Ray McGuire , a longtime Citigroup executive , is being encouraged by allies in the business community to run for mayor of New York .
McGuire , Vice Chairman of Citigroup and Chairman of Banking , Capital Markets and Advisory , has been asked by other Wall Street and corporate executives to aim for the mayor 's office in the 2021 race as Bill de Blasio 's second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to people with direct knowledge of the matter .
While McGuire has not ruled out running , he is currently dedicated to Citi and has no immediate plans to start preparing for a candidacy , according to the people , who declined to be named since these conversations were deemed private .
Danielle Romero-Apsilos , a spokeswoman for Citi , did not deny that McGuire has privately talked about running for mayor .
`` Mr. McGuire is solely focused on his role at Citi ; talk about him considering a run for mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she told CNBC .
De Blasio 's term ends in January 2022 .
He recently said he has `` no interest '' in a third term as mayor .
Law permits people to hold the office for two consecutive terms .
Prior to de Blasio 's tenure , however , billionaire mogul Mike Bloomberg served three consecutive terms due to a temporary change in the law .
Discussions about a potential McGuire bid come as the city is in the midst of a crossroads as it contends with an unpopular lame-duck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new bail-reform measure .
De Blasio has been back on the job full time since he struggled to gain traction as a Democratic presidential candidate .
His approval ratings suffered .
A poll taken just before he withdrew from the race in September , taken by Siena College said 58 % of New York City voters ranked him as unfavorable while only 27 % saw him in a favorable light .
New York state 's new bail reform law appears to be hurting the mayor 's office , as well .
The law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , eliminates , in some cases , money bail and pretrial detention requirements .
However , after recent stories of some suspects being set free only to later commit a crime , there 's been outcry from conservative lawmakers and law enforcement authorities .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and de Blasio have since called for changes to the law .
McGuire could be a moderate voice the New York business community since the progressive de Blasio began his tenure .
Fellow businessman Bloomberg , who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then an independent prior to de Blasio 's election .
Beyond his work at Citi , McGuire had stints at Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch , after starting his career at New York-based First Boston Corp. , which was eventually acquired by Credit Suisse .
McGuire , who was raised in Dayton , Ohio , is credited with being a lead advisor on numerous deals that are estimated to be worth over $ 600 billion combined .
McGuire has also dedicated himself to a wide range of political issues in between his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 27 black leaders who condemned a mob that poured water on New York police officers last year .
`` As African-American leaders who are proud to call New York City home and/or where we work , we were appalled at the recent verbal attacks on and water dousing of police officers in Harlem and Brooklyn who appeared to be lawfully executing their responsibilities to keep our communities safe and orderly , '' they said in a letter to the editor of The New York Times .
At a Yahoo Finance event in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come together on a wide range of issues including health and wellness , climate change and income inequality .
A New York magazine , City & State , listed McGuire as the 63rd most powerful black leader in the Big Apple .
De Blasio reappointed McGuire in 2015 to the Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission , which promotes `` affordable housing and workspaces so that NYC can remain a viable home for emerging artists . ''
McGuire has become a player in Democratic donor circles , including being a key financier for those running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sen. Kamala Harris ' finance committee and recently took part in a meeting featuring former Vice President Joe Biden 's campaign chairman , along with other Wall Street leaders .
It was there where McGuire told Biden advisor Steve Ricchetti and the rest of the group that he would like to see the former vice president stay connected to two constituencies , according to those familiar with his remarks .
One group consists of voters in the middle of Ohio , and the other consists of African American women .

Ray McGuire, vice chairman of Citigroup Inc., speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, April 29, 2019.
Ray McGuire, a longtime Citigroup executive, is being encouraged by allies in the business community to run for mayor of New York.
McGuire, Vice Chairman of Citigroup and Chairman of Banking, Capital Markets and Advisory, has been asked by other Wall Street and corporate executives to aim for the mayor's office in the 2021 race as Bill de Blasio's second term heads toward its end, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter.
While McGuire has not ruled out running, he is currently dedicated to Citi and has no immediate plans to start preparing for a candidacy, according to the people, who declined to be named since these conversations were deemed private.
Danielle Romero-Apsilos, a spokeswoman for Citi, did not deny that McGuire has privately talked about running for mayor.
"Mr. McGuire is solely focused on his role at Citi; talk about him considering a run for mayor of New York City is pure speculation," she told CNBC.
De Blasio's term ends in January 2022. He recently said he has "no interest" in a third term as mayor. Law permits people to hold the office for two consecutive terms. Prior to de Blasio's tenure, however, billionaire mogul Mike Bloomberg served three consecutive terms due to a temporary change in the law.
Discussions about a potential McGuire bid come as the city is in the midst of a crossroads as it contends with an unpopular lame-duck mayor and a heated battle over a new bail-reform measure.
De Blasio has been back on the job full time since he struggled to gain traction as a Democratic presidential candidate. His approval ratings suffered. A poll taken just before he withdrew from the race in September, taken by Siena College said 58% of New York City voters ranked him as unfavorable while only 27% saw him in a favorable light.
New York state's new bail reform law appears to be hurting the mayor's office, as well. The law, which went into effect this month, eliminates, in some cases, money bail and pretrial detention requirements. However, after recent stories of some suspects being set free only to later commit a crime, there's been outcry from conservative lawmakers and law enforcement authorities. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and de Blasio have since called for changes to the law.
McGuire could be a moderate voice the New York business community since the progressive de Blasio began his tenure. Fellow businessman Bloomberg, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, served as mayor as a moderate Republican and then an independent prior to de Blasio's election.
Beyond his work at Citi, McGuire had stints at Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch, after starting his career at New York-based First Boston Corp., which was eventually acquired by Credit Suisse. McGuire, who was raised in Dayton, Ohio, is credited with being a lead advisor on numerous deals that are estimated to be worth over $600 billion combined.
McGuire has also dedicated himself to a wide range of political issues in between his duties at Citi. McGuire was one of 27 black leaders who condemned a mob that poured water on New York police officers last year.
"As African-American leaders who are proud to call New York City home and/or where we work, we were appalled at the recent verbal attacks on and water dousing of police officers in Harlem and Brooklyn who appeared to be lawfully executing their responsibilities to keep our communities safe and orderly," they said in a letter to the editor of The New York Times.
At a Yahoo Finance event in October, McGuire called on Americans to come together on a wide range of issues including health and wellness, climate change and income inequality.
A New York magazine, City & State, listed McGuire as the 63rd most powerful black leader in the Big Apple. De Blasio reappointed McGuire in 2015 to the Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission, which promotes "affordable housing and workspaces so that NYC can remain a viable home for emerging artists."
McGuire has become a player in Democratic donor circles, including being a key financier for those running for president. He was a member of Sen. Kamala Harris' finance committee and recently took part in a meeting featuring former Vice President Joe Biden's campaign chairman, along with other Wall Street leaders.
It was there where McGuire told Biden advisor Steve Ricchetti and the rest of the group that he would like to see the former vice president stay connected to two constituencies, according to those familiar with his remarks. One group consists of voters in the middle of Ohio, and the other consists of African American women.


cnbc--2020-01-13--Giuliani associate Lev Parnas turns over thousands of new documents to Congress

WASHINGTON — As the Senate prepares to try President Donald Trump in an impeachment trial over his attempts to pressure Ukraine into helping his reelection campaign , Ukrainian American businessman Lev Parnas , a key player in that effort , is sharing new documents with the House Intelligence Committee .
The trove of new records includes the contents of several devices that were seized by authorities in October , when Parnas was arrested on campaign finance charges .
More than 700 pages of documents authorities removed from Parnas ' home have also been turned over .
On Sunday , Parnas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he had traveled to Washington over the weekend to deliver the contents of a cell phone directly to the Intelligence Committee , which oversaw the impeachment investigation into Trump .
On Monday , the federal judge presiding over Parnas ' trial on campaign finance charges in New York agreed to a request from Bondy that Parnas be permitted to share the contents of additional devices with the House committee : an Apple iPhone , a Samsung phone and an Apple iPad .
It was the second such request in recent weeks — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Jan. 3 .
The documents pertain to Parnas ' role in a multiyear effort led by Trump 's personal attorney , Rudy Giuliani , to dig up dirt in Ukraine on Trump 's political opponents , including former Vice President Joe Biden .
Parnas and Giuliani were business associates , and Parnas served as Giuliani 's translator , advisor and fixer in Ukraine .
As the Senate prepares to conduct a trial of the president later this month , Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , has vowed to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward strengthening the case House Democrats plan to mount against Trump in the Senate .
Bondy declined to reveal to CNBC what was in the new Parnas documents , but if it is compelling enough , then it could potentially be incorporated into evidence presented at Trump 's Senate trial .
On Sunday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also left the door open to potential additional articles of impeachment against the president .
`` Well , let 's just see what the Senate does , '' Pelosi , a California Democrat , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's George Stephanopoulos about whether the House might file additional charges against Trump .
Pelosi added , `` The ball will be in their court soon . ''
Pelosi has so far held off on transmitting the articles of impeachment to the Senate , but told her colleagues Friday that she had instructed the House to move forward with the delivery of articles this week .
The Parnas documents are the latest in a series of new materials about the Trump administration 's policy towards Ukraine that have come to light since mid-December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two articles of impeachment against Trump .
These include emails that show that U.S. military aid to Ukraine was halted on July 25 , the same day Trump spoke to Ukraine 's president and asked for help investigating Trump 's political rivals .
The records are also part of an ongoing effort by Parnas , who has pleaded not guilty in the campaign finance case , to respond to a subpoena he received from the Intelligence Committee last fall .
Parnas initially refused to comply with the subpoena on the advice of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later dismissed .
Dowd , a former attorney for the president , still represents Parnas ' business partner , Igor Fruman .
Current and former national security officials who testified last year described Parnas as a ubiquitous figure in the shadow foreign policy that Trump allegedly instructed Giuliani to carry out in Ukraine on his behalf .
In the Intelligence Committee 's final report of its findings , released in December , Parnas ' name appeared more than 80 times .
Trump was impeached on two articles stemming from his monthslong campaign to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the frontrunner for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination , and other domestic political opponents .
The pressure tactics allegedly included withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia-backed separatists .
The first article of impeachment charges that Trump abused the power of the presidency , and the second alleges that he obstructed Congress by prohibiting top administration officials from testifying about the Ukraine scheme .

WASHINGTON — As the Senate prepares to try President Donald Trump in an impeachment trial over his attempts to pressure Ukraine into helping his reelection campaign, Ukrainian American businessman Lev Parnas, a key player in that effort, is sharing new documents with the House Intelligence Committee.
The trove of new records includes the contents of several devices that were seized by authorities in October, when Parnas was arrested on campaign finance charges. More than 700 pages of documents authorities removed from Parnas' home have also been turned over.
On Sunday, Parnas' lawyer, Joseph Bondy, tweeted that he had traveled to Washington over the weekend to deliver the contents of a cell phone directly to the Intelligence Committee, which oversaw the impeachment investigation into Trump.
BONDY TWEET
On Monday, the federal judge presiding over Parnas' trial on campaign finance charges in New York agreed to a request from Bondy that Parnas be permitted to share the contents of additional devices with the House committee: an Apple iPhone, a Samsung phone and an Apple iPad. It was the second such request in recent weeks — the first was approved by the judge on Jan. 3.
The documents pertain to Parnas' role in a multiyear effort led by Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, to dig up dirt in Ukraine on Trump's political opponents, including former Vice President Joe Biden. Parnas and Giuliani were business associates, and Parnas served as Giuliani's translator, advisor and fixer in Ukraine.
As the Senate prepares to conduct a trial of the president later this month, Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has vowed to continue investigating new leads, with an eye toward strengthening the case House Democrats plan to mount against Trump in the Senate.
Bondy declined to reveal to CNBC what was in the new Parnas documents, but if it is compelling enough, then it could potentially be incorporated into evidence presented at Trump's Senate trial.
On Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also left the door open to potential additional articles of impeachment against the president.
"Well, let's just see what the Senate does," Pelosi, a California Democrat, said in response to a question from ABC's George Stephanopoulos about whether the House might file additional charges against Trump.
Pelosi added, "The ball will be in their court soon."
Pelosi has so far held off on transmitting the articles of impeachment to the Senate, but told her colleagues Friday that she had instructed the House to move forward with the delivery of articles this week.
The Parnas documents are the latest in a series of new materials about the Trump administration's policy towards Ukraine that have come to light since mid-December, when the House voted to approve two articles of impeachment against Trump.
These include emails that show that U.S. military aid to Ukraine was halted on July 25, the same day Trump spoke to Ukraine's president and asked for help investigating Trump's political rivals.
The records are also part of an ongoing effort by Parnas, who has pleaded not guilty in the campaign finance case, to respond to a subpoena he received from the Intelligence Committee last fall. Parnas initially refused to comply with the subpoena on the advice of his then-lawyer, John Dowd, whom he later dismissed. Dowd, a former attorney for the president, still represents Parnas' business partner, Igor Fruman.
Current and former national security officials who testified last year described Parnas as a ubiquitous figure in the shadow foreign policy that Trump allegedly instructed Giuliani to carry out in Ukraine on his behalf. In the Intelligence Committee's final report of its findings, released in December, Parnas' name appeared more than 80 times.
Trump was impeached on two articles stemming from his monthslong campaign to pressure Ukraine into launching investigations into Biden, the frontrunner for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and other domestic political opponents. The pressure tactics allegedly included withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia-backed separatists.
The first article of impeachment charges that Trump abused the power of the presidency, and the second alleges that he obstructed Congress by prohibiting top administration officials from testifying about the Ukraine scheme.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing.


cnbc--2020-01-14--Chuck Schumer, in a letter to Trump, says a weak trade deal could hurt the US for years to come

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , speaks during a press conference after the Senate Policy luncheons in the Capitol on Tuesday Dec. 10 , 2019 .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Tuesday expressing concern that a weak trade deal that fails to address `` structural inequities '' in the U.S.-China relationship could harm American workers and businesses for years to come .
Trump and Chinese officials are due to sign a partial trade deal on Wednesday after years of intense bilateral negotiations .
Both sides reached an agreement last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some new tariffs and reduce rates of other duties in exchange for China purchasing more American agricultural products and addressing U.S. concerns on areas of technology and financial services .
Schumer , one of the Democrats most supportive of Trump 's crackdown on China , previously accused the president of caving to Beijing with the phase one trade deal .
In his letter , Schumer wrote that without firm commitments from Beijing that it will curtail its unfair practices , including forced technology transfers from foreign companies to local players , U.S. innovators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars . ''
American firms will struggle to gain fair access to the Chinese market and millions of U.S. jobs will be at risk , he said .
`` By giving away leverage with a temporary deal of some reduced tariff in exchange for American goods and vague promises of reform , as China has made time and time again , these structural issues will only become more challenging to address in future negotiations , '' Schumer wrote .
`` China pledging to make short-term purchases of American goods will not address the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity , prosperity , and security , '' he added .
On paper , the phase one deal includes `` commitments from China to import various U.S. goods and services over the next two years '' worth at least $ 200 billion , according to a U.S. Trade Representative document .
Beijing is said to have also agreed to end its `` long-standing practice '' of forced technology transfer .
Schumer asked Trump to elucidate on six specific questions about the kind of commitments he had received from Beijing as part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any , address the Chinese government 's subsidy programs that continue to harm U.S. industry and workers ?
• What commitments , if any , has China made on substantive state-owned enterprise reform as part of the `` phase one '' agreement ?
• What commitments , if any , will curtail the dumping of Chinese products , which puts American firms out of business and threatens U.S. jobs ?
• What commitments , if any , will hold China accountable for unauthorized intrusions into U.S. commercial computer networks and cyber-enabled theft of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • To what extent will this `` phase one '' agreement regain lost market share for U.S. farmers ?
• Should farmers expect that additional rounds of program funding will address these inequities ?
While experts have said the agreement is a step in the right direction , many are still unsure of exactly what the two countries are agreeing to and how they will enforce their deal .
During the trade war , the U.S. slapped tariffs on more than $ 500 billion in Chinese goods , while Beijing retaliated by putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in American imports .

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks during a press conference after the Senate Policy luncheons in the Capitol on Tuesday Dec. 10, 2019.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Tuesday expressing concern that a weak trade deal that fails to address "structural inequities" in the U.S.-China relationship could harm American workers and businesses for years to come.
Trump and Chinese officials are due to sign a partial trade deal on Wednesday after years of intense bilateral negotiations. Both sides reached an agreement last month, in which Washington agreed to cancel some new tariffs and reduce rates of other duties in exchange for China purchasing more American agricultural products and addressing U.S. concerns on areas of technology and financial services.
Schumer, one of the Democrats most supportive of Trump's crackdown on China, previously accused the president of caving to Beijing with the phase one trade deal.
In his letter, Schumer wrote that without firm commitments from Beijing that it will curtail its unfair practices, including forced technology transfers from foreign companies to local players, U.S. innovators will "continue to lose billions of dollars." American firms will struggle to gain fair access to the Chinese market and millions of U.S. jobs will be at risk, he said.
"By giving away leverage with a temporary deal of some reduced tariff in exchange for American goods and vague promises of reform, as China has made time and time again, these structural issues will only become more challenging to address in future negotiations," Schumer wrote.
"China pledging to make short-term purchases of American goods will not address the fundamental problems that undermine long-term U.S. economic opportunity, prosperity, and security," he added.
On paper, the phase one deal includes "commitments from China to import various U.S. goods and services over the next two years" worth at least $200 billion, according to a U.S. Trade Representative document. Beijing is said to have also agreed to end its "long-standing practice" of forced technology transfer.
Schumer asked Trump to elucidate on six specific questions about the kind of commitments he had received from Beijing as part of the deal:
What commitments, if any, address the Chinese government's subsidy programs that continue to harm U.S. industry and workers? What commitments, if any, has China made on substantive state-owned enterprise reform as part of the "phase one" agreement? What commitments, if any, will curtail the dumping of Chinese products, which puts American firms out of business and threatens U.S. jobs? What commitments, if any, will hold China accountable for unauthorized intrusions into U.S. commercial computer networks and cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property and sensitive commercial information? To what extent will this "phase one" agreement regain lost market share for U.S. farmers? Should farmers expect that additional rounds of program funding will address these inequities?
While experts have said the agreement is a step in the right direction, many are still unsure of exactly what the two countries are agreeing to and how they will enforce their deal.
During the trade war, the U.S. slapped tariffs on more than $500 billion in Chinese goods, while Beijing retaliated by putting duties on more than $100 billion in American imports.
— CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-01-13--Joe Biden's campaign chairman rallies Wall Street donors for a big fundraising push ahead of primari

Joe Biden's campaign chairman rallies Wall Street donors for a big fundraising push ahead of primaries

Democratic presidential candidate , former Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Trump administration 's recent actions in Iraq at Current , Chelsea Piers in New York City .
Joe Biden 's campaign chairman privately met with some of Wall Street 's top donors last week in an attempt to rally them around the former vice president 's push for the Democratic nomination .
Steve Ricchetti , the campaign chairman and one of Biden 's closest advisors , gathered with about 90 financiers Wednesday at investment banking firm Evercore in New York , according to people with direct knowledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sway several of the big-money donors , as well , these people said .
Attendees included Evercore founder Roger Altman , longtime investor Blair Effron , Blackstone Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Gray , Citigroup executive Ray McGuire , Centerbridge Partners co-founder Mark Gallogly , and former U.S .
Ambassador to France Jane Hartley , said the people , who declined to be named since the meeting was deemed private .
Ricchetti told the donors that he believes now is the time for them and their donor networks to get behind Biden as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season are set to kick off in three weeks , according to people familiar with the matter .
Polling averages show that Biden has maintained his spot as the national Democratic front-runner with six months to go until the Democratic convention .
Yet he is in extremely tight races with Sens .
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren , as well as former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg , for the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary early in February .
Biden is looking to continue to ramp up his fundraising since his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The meeting did not just include staunch supporters of Biden , such as Effron , who , along with businessman Marc Lasry , has decided to back Biden after first backing Sen. Kamala Harris .
The group was described by one attendee as donors who were either `` Biden-warm or Biden-not-so-warm . ''
McGuire , for instance , was another Harris backer and a member of her national finance committee .
Gallogly , as CNBC first reported , had supported former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke but has since decided to support Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ race last year .
After the meeting , many of the donors appeared ready to join Biden 's cause , the people said .
Gray , for instance , has yet to publicly dedicate his resources toward one candidate , having written checks to a variety of contenders , including Biden .
But he told attendees at the meeting that they should rally behind Biden .
Now the former vice president 's campaign is expecting to hold a slew of fundraising events that could bring in millions of dollars at this critical time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign declined to comment .
The donors mentioned in this story did not return a request for comment Since he entered the race , Biden has been searching for a way to overtake his primary opponents in the fundraising game .
Progressive candidates Warren and Sanders , who leads the Democratic field in fundraising , have built their campaigns off of largely small-dollar donors .
Buttigieg , on the other hand , has been working to be a moderate alternative for donors who are looking for a fresh face to be the nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , shows that Biden , who is the most established moderate in the race , is looking to gobble up as many business leaders as possible for a potential showdown with President Donald Trump .
Biden , Sanders , Warren and Buttigieg combined to raise more than $ 100 million in the fourth quarter .
Trump and the Republican National Committee have nearly $ 200 million on hand .

Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Trump administration's recent actions in Iraq at Current, Chelsea Piers in New York City.
Joe Biden's campaign chairman privately met with some of Wall Street's top donors last week in an attempt to rally them around the former vice president's push for the Democratic nomination.
Steve Ricchetti, the campaign chairman and one of Biden's closest advisors, gathered with about 90 financiers Wednesday at investment banking firm Evercore in New York, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. His pitch appeared to sway several of the big-money donors, as well, these people said.
Attendees included Evercore founder Roger Altman, longtime investor Blair Effron, Blackstone Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Gray, Citigroup executive Ray McGuire, Centerbridge Partners co-founder Mark Gallogly, and former U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley, said the people, who declined to be named since the meeting was deemed private.
Ricchetti told the donors that he believes now is the time for them and their donor networks to get behind Biden as the first contests of the 2020 primary season are set to kick off in three weeks, according to people familiar with the matter.
Polling averages show that Biden has maintained his spot as the national Democratic front-runner with six months to go until the Democratic convention. Yet he is in extremely tight races with Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, for the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary early in February.
Biden is looking to continue to ramp up his fundraising since his fourth-quarter haul of $22.7 million.
The meeting did not just include staunch supporters of Biden, such as Effron, who, along with businessman Marc Lasry, has decided to back Biden after first backing Sen. Kamala Harris. The group was described by one attendee as donors who were either "Biden-warm or Biden-not-so-warm." McGuire, for instance, was another Harris backer and a member of her national finance committee. Gallogly, as CNBC first reported, had supported former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke but has since decided to support Biden. Harris and O'Rourke dropped out of the race last year.
After the meeting, many of the donors appeared ready to join Biden's cause, the people said.
Gray, for instance, has yet to publicly dedicate his resources toward one candidate, having written checks to a variety of contenders, including Biden. But he told attendees at the meeting that they should rally behind Biden.
Now the former vice president's campaign is expecting to hold a slew of fundraising events that could bring in millions of dollars at this critical time, the people added.
The Biden campaign declined to comment. The donors mentioned in this story did not return a request for comment
Since he entered the race, Biden has been searching for a way to overtake his primary opponents in the fundraising game.
Progressive candidates Warren and Sanders, who leads the Democratic field in fundraising, have built their campaigns off of largely small-dollar donors. Buttigieg, on the other hand, has been working to be a moderate alternative for donors who are looking for a fresh face to be the nominee. The meeting last week, however, shows that Biden, who is the most established moderate in the race, is looking to gobble up as many business leaders as possible for a potential showdown with President Donald Trump.
Biden, Sanders, Warren and Buttigieg combined to raise more than $100 million in the fourth quarter.
Trump and the Republican National Committee have nearly $200 million on hand.


cnbc--2020-01-14--Mueller probe witness George Nader pleads guilty to child sex, porn charges

This 1998 frame from video provided by C-SPAN shows George Nader , president and editor of Middle East Insight .
As an adviser to Abu Dhabi 's crown prince , Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan , Nader worked throughout 2017 with Elliott Broidy , a fundraiser for President Donald Trump , in a secretive lobbying effort to alter U.S. policy in the Middle East .
George Nader , a key witness in former special counsel Robert Mueller 's probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election , pleaded guilty Monday to charges of shipping an underage boy to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nader , 60 , faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a possible maximum of 50 years behind bars , the U.S. Attorney 's Office for the Eastern District said in a press release Monday .
Judges usually issue sentences below the maximum .
Federal prosecutors agreed to recommend the mandatory minimum sentence — 10 years in prison — for Nader as part of his plea agreement in U.S. District Court in Eastern Virginia , a spokesman for federal prosecutors told CNBC .
An attorney for Nader did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment .
Nader , who is currently being held without bail , is scheduled to be sentenced April 10 .
Last week , prosecutors filed a charging document known as an information , accusing Nader of two criminal counts .
An information is typically filed in advance of a defendant entering a guilty plea .
Nader was accused in the first count of possession of visual depictions of minors `` engaging in sexually explicit conduct '' in late 2012 .
He was accused in the second count of transporting a 14-year-old boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2000 `` with the intent that the boy engage in prostitution , or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense , or attempted to do so . ''
The press release Monday said that Nader `` met the boy in Prague , Czech Republic , and later brought him to his residence in Washington , D.C. '' '' Nader also admitted that , in September 2012 , he possessed or accessed with intent to view video images of child sexual abuse while he was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismiss a much more recent indictment against Nader on similar charges that was returned in July 2019 .
Nader , a citizen of Lebanon and a wealthy Middle East power broker , had acted as a middle-man between U.S. and Russia-connected figures after President Donald Trump 's election .
Nader helped arrange a January 2017 meeting in the Seychelles between Erik Prince and Kirill Dmitriev , the head of Russia 's sovereign wealth fund , who reported directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin , according to Mueller 's report on his investigation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ company originally known as Blackwater , is the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos .
Nader had already been convicted for transporting child porn in the same court back in 1991 , according to the U.S. Attorney 's press release .
Nader faces additional charges in federal court in Washington , D.C. , for allegedly funneling millions in illegal campaign contributions to support Hillary Clinton 's 2016 presidential campaign .
Those charges are unrelated to Nader 's child sex charges in Virginia .

This 1998 frame from video provided by C-SPAN shows George Nader, president and editor of Middle East Insight. As an adviser to Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Nader worked throughout 2017 with Elliott Broidy, a fundraiser for President Donald Trump, in a secretive lobbying effort to alter U.S. policy in the Middle East.
George Nader, a key witness in former special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election, pleaded guilty Monday to charges of shipping an underage boy to the U.S. for sex and possessing child pornography.
Nader, 60, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a possible maximum of 50 years behind bars, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District said in a press release Monday. Judges usually issue sentences below the maximum.
Federal prosecutors agreed to recommend the mandatory minimum sentence — 10 years in prison — for Nader as part of his plea agreement in U.S. District Court in Eastern Virginia, a spokesman for federal prosecutors told CNBC.
An attorney for Nader did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Nader, who is currently being held without bail, is scheduled to be sentenced April 10.
Last week, prosecutors filed a charging document known as an information, accusing Nader of two criminal counts. An information is typically filed in advance of a defendant entering a guilty plea.
Nader was accused in the first count of possession of visual depictions of minors "engaging in sexually explicit conduct" in late 2012.
He was accused in the second count of transporting a 14-year-old boy from Europe to the U.S. in February 2000 "with the intent that the boy engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempted to do so."
The press release Monday said that Nader "met the boy in Prague, Czech Republic, and later brought him to his residence in Washington, D.C."
"Nader also admitted that, in September 2012, he possessed or accessed with intent to view video images of child sexual abuse while he was in New York."
Federal prosecutors agreed dismiss a much more recent indictment against Nader on similar charges that was returned in July 2019.
Nader, a citizen of Lebanon and a wealthy Middle East power broker, had acted as a middle-man between U.S. and Russia-connected figures after President Donald Trump's election. Nader helped arrange a January 2017 meeting in the Seychelles between Erik Prince and Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, who reported directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Mueller's report on his investigation.
Prince, founder of the private security company originally known as Blackwater, is the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
Nader had already been convicted for transporting child porn in the same court back in 1991, according to the U.S. Attorney's press release.
Nader faces additional charges in federal court in Washington, D.C., for allegedly funneling millions in illegal campaign contributions to support Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. Those charges are unrelated to Nader's child sex charges in Virginia.
-- CNBC's Dan Mangan contributed to this report.