cnbc--2020-09-19--Trump wants to move 'without delay' to replace Ginsburg, setting up epic Supreme Court fight before

Trump wants to move 'without delay' to replace Ginsburg, setting up epic Supreme Court fight before election

President Donald Trump on Saturday said he wants to move `` without delay '' to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a conservative nominee , setting up an epic battle over the balance of power on the nation 's highest judicial body and the shape of American law for a generation to come as the country enters the final phase of the 2020 presidential campaign .
Trump , in a social media post , wrote that Republicans `` were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long been considered to be the selection of United States Supreme Court Justices .
We have this obligation , without delay ! ''
The president 's statement follows Ginsburg 's death on Friday evening .
Trump is expected to quickly name a conservative replacement .
Only an hour after the Supreme Court announced Ginsburg 's death , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Friday pledged he will hold a vote on Trump 's eventual nominee to fill the vacancy .
McConnell said last year he would seek to confirm a Trump nominee if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Barack Obama 's presidency to refuse any appointments during an election year .
Trump told reporters Saturday he will choose his nominee next week , and the candidate will likely be a woman .
Ginsburg 's death has set up a contentious political battle that could define the makeup of the nation 's highest judicial body for decades , providing Trump an opportunity to place a third member on the Court just weeks before the November election .
The Supreme Court had a 5-4 majority of Republican appointed justices , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the law and maintain a conservative majority for years .
The now vacant seat on the court also raises the stakes in an already chaotic presidential campaign between Trump and former Vice President Joseph Biden , which has been defined by the worst public health crisis in a century , the deepest economic recession since the Great Depression and widespread social unrest over racial inequality and policing in America .
Ginsburg , a feminist icon who championed women 's rights , was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 and vowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ginsburg told her granddaughter before she died that her `` most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed . ''
Trump has touted his previous nominees , Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , as major accomplishments of his first term as president .
The president last week issued a new list of 20 potential Supreme Court picks , a strategy he employed during his 2016 campaign .
Conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett , 48 , of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a front-runner to fill the seat , three sources told NBC News .
Barrett was under consideration in 2018 before Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh .
Allison Rushing , 38 , of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia is also being considered for the nomination , as well as Barbara Lagoa , 52 , of the 11th Circuit in Georgia and Amul Thapar , 51 , of the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati , NBC News reports .
The timing of a floor vote to pick a nominee is unclear .
It takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date of nomination to a confirmation vote , according to the Congressional Research Service .
Senate Republicans hold a 53-seat majority , so the party can only have three defections , assuming that all Senate Democrats vote against Trump 's eventual nominee .
Biden , who has served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , said on Friday night that the vacancy should not be filled until after the November election and noted that Senate Republicans did n't consider the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland during the Obama presidency .
`` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear — that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider , '' Biden told reporters in Wilmington , Delaware .
`` This was the position the Republican Senate took in 2016 when there were almost 10 months to go before the election .
That 's the position the United States Senate must take today . ''
Senator Dianne Feinstein of California , the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee , said that `` under no circumstances '' should the Senate fill the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also said that voters should have a say in selecting the next Supreme Court justice and the vacancy should n't be filled until there 's a new president .
`` Senator McConnell made his position clear in 2016 when he held Justice Scalia 's seat vacant for 10 months so he could deny President Obama an appointment – a goal he himself admitted , '' Feinstein said in a statement .
`` To jam through a lifetime appointment to the country 's highest court – particularly to replace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the height of hypocrisy . ''
Schumer laid out the stakes to Senate Democrats on a conference call Saturday , suggesting they could take controversial moves to end the filibuster and pack the court if Trump 's nominee is seated and they sweep the election .
`` Everything Americans value is at stake .
Health care , protections for pre-existing conditions , women 's rights , gay rights , workers ' rights , labor rights , voting rights , civil rights , climate change and so much else is at risk , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source on the call .
`` Let me be clear : if Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans move forward with this , then nothing is off the table for next year , '' Schumer said .
`` Nothing is off the table . ''
McConnell urged Senate Republicans on Friday night to `` be cautious and keep your powder dry , '' according to the letter obtained by NBC News .
`` Over the coming days , we are all going to come under tremendous pressure from the press to announce how we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those of you who are unsure how to answer , or for those inclined to oppose giving a nominee a vote , I urge you all to keep your powder dry , '' McConnell wrote .
`` This is not the time to prematurely lock yourselves into a position you may later regret . ''
Attention is now directed at some of the more moderate Senate Republicans who could potentially oppose a nomination .
Members who could possibly defect include Sens .
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska , Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she opposes voting on a new justice before the election .
`` In order for the American people to have faith in their elected officials , we must act fairly and consistently -- no matter which political party is in power , '' Collins said .
`` In fairness to the American people , who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one , the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd , '' she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special Senate race in Arizona between Democrat Mark Kelly and Republican Senator Martha McSally , since Kelly could potentially be sworn into office early enough to vote on the nominee , thus narrowing the GOP 's current 53-to-47 majority .
A recent poll by Monmouth University showed Kelly with a lead of 50-46 % among likely voters and a New York Times/Sienna College poll showed Kelly leading 50-42 % .

U.S. President Donald Trump waves prior to boarding Air Force One as he departs Washington for campaign travel to Minnesota at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, September 18, 2020. Tom Brenner | Reuters
President Donald Trump on Saturday said he wants to move "without delay" to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a conservative nominee, setting up an epic battle over the balance of power on the nation's highest judicial body and the shape of American law for a generation to come as the country enters the final phase of the 2020 presidential campaign. Trump, in a social media post, wrote that Republicans "were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us, the most important of which has long been considered to be the selection of United States Supreme Court Justices. We have this obligation, without delay!" The president's statement follows Ginsburg's death on Friday evening. Trump is expected to quickly name a conservative replacement. Only an hour after the Supreme Court announced Ginsburg's death, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Friday pledged he will hold a vote on Trump's eventual nominee to fill the vacancy. McConnell said last year he would seek to confirm a Trump nominee if a vacancy opened, despite vowing during President Barack Obama's presidency to refuse any appointments during an election year. Trump told reporters Saturday he will choose his nominee next week, and the candidate will likely be a woman. Ginsburg's death has set up a contentious political battle that could define the makeup of the nation's highest judicial body for decades, providing Trump an opportunity to place a third member on the Court just weeks before the November election. The Supreme Court had a 5-4 majority of Republican appointed justices, and a 6-3 GOP majority could transform the shape of the law and maintain a conservative majority for years.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, celebrating her 20th anniversary on the bench, is photographed in the West conference room at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Friday, August 30, 2013. Nikki Kahn | The Washington Post | Getty Images
The now vacant seat on the court also raises the stakes in an already chaotic presidential campaign between Trump and former Vice President Joseph Biden, which has been defined by the worst public health crisis in a century, the deepest economic recession since the Great Depression and widespread social unrest over racial inequality and policing in America. Ginsburg, a feminist icon who championed women's rights, was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 and vowed to remain as long as her health allowed. Ginsburg told her granddaughter before she died that her "most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed." Trump has touted his previous nominees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, as major accomplishments of his first term as president. The president last week issued a new list of 20 potential Supreme Court picks, a strategy he employed during his 2016 campaign. Conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett, 48, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago has emerged as a front-runner to fill the seat, three sources told NBC News. Barrett was under consideration in 2018 before Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh. Allison Rushing, 38, of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia is also being considered for the nomination, as well as Barbara Lagoa, 52, of the 11th Circuit in Georgia and Amul Thapar, 51, of the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, NBC News reports. The timing of a floor vote to pick a nominee is unclear. It takes on average roughly 70 days from the date of nomination to a confirmation vote, according to the Congressional Research Service. Senate Republicans hold a 53-seat majority, so the party can only have three defections, assuming that all Senate Democrats vote against Trump's eventual nominee.
A man raises his fist in the air as he brings a megaphone to a vigil on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court following the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in Washington, U.S., September 18, 2020. Al Drago | Reuters
Biden, who has served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said on Friday night that the vacancy should not be filled until after the November election and noted that Senate Republicans didn't consider the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland during the Obama presidency. "There is no doubt — let me be clear — that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider," Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware. "This was the position the Republican Senate took in 2016 when there were almost 10 months to go before the election. That's the position the United States Senate must take today." Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said that "under no circumstances" should the Senate fill the vacancy until after the presidential inauguration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also said that voters should have a say in selecting the next Supreme Court justice and the vacancy shouldn't be filled until there's a new president.
Democratic U.S. presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks about the death of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg shortly after arriving from campaign events in Minnesota at New Castle Airport in New Castle, Delaware, U.S., September 18, 2020. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters


cnbc--2020-09-19--Amy Coney Barrett emerges as a front-runner to fill Ginsburg Supreme Court seat

Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has emerged as a front-runner to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , three sources told NBC News on Saturday .
President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have vowed to nominate and vote on a replacement for Ginsburg with the presidential election less than two months away .
Allison Rushing , 38 , of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals based in Virginia is also being considered for the nomination , NBC News reported .
Two other judges are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to NBC News , including Barbara Lagoa , 52 , of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Georgia , and Amul Thapar , 51 , of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati .
Barrett , 48 , who was appointed by Trump and has served on the federal appeals court in Chicago since 2017 , was on a list of potential nominees Trump updated earlier this month .
She was also among those considered to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy when he retired in 2018 .
To fill Kennedy 's spot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an establishment Republican figure who angered some on the religious right for not being conservative enough even as he set off storms of panic on the left .
Axios ' Jonathan Swan reported in 2019 that Trump said he was `` saving [ Barrett ] for Ginsburg . ''
Though any confirmation fight in the midst of a presidential election will be hard fought , the battle is expected to be amplified if Barrett is picked , because of her track record .
In particular , critics of Barrett have zeroed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which she raised questions about the importance of respecting precedent and referred to `` unborn victims '' of abortion .
In a 2013 article in Notre Dame 's quarterly alumni magazine , Barrett is paraphrased as saying the landmark abortion ruling Roe v. Wade , the decision which legalized abortion nationwide , created `` through judicial fiat a framework of abortion on demand . ''
Barrett said in a 2013 speech at Notre Dame , however , that it is `` very unlikely at this point that the court is going to overturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` The controversy right now is about funding , '' she said , according to Notre Dame 's student newspaper .
`` It 's a question of whether abortions will be publicly or privately funded . ''
During the 2016 hearings for her nomination to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals , Democrats , including Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California , pressed Barrett on whether her Catholic faith would cloud her legal judgment .
`` The dogma lives loudly within you , and that 's a concern , '' Feinstein said during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's never appropriate for a judge to impose that judge 's personal convictions , whether they arise from faith or anywhere else , on the law . ''
Barrett was ultimately confirmed in a 55-43 vote by the Senate in 2017 .
The fact that she was already vetted and previously confirmed by the Senate could help her case in the Republicans ' effort to quickly confirm a nominee .
At the time of her 2017 confirmation , three Democratic senators supported her nomination : Joe Donnelly , who was voted out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Joe Manchin , D-W.Va. Every Republican in the Senate at the time voted to confirm Barrett in 2017 .
Barrett 's views on abortion , in particular , stand in stark contrast to the late Ginsburg , who died on Friday surrounded by her family at her home in Washington , D.C. , due to complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer , the court said .
The vacancy allows Trump to nominate his third justice to the court , allowing him to swing the bench further to the right .
He previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Only an hour after the Supreme Court announced Ginsburg 's death , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Friday pledged he will hold a vote on Trump 's eventual nominee to fill the vacancy .
McConnell said last year he would seek to confirm a Trump nominee if a vacancy opened , despite vowing during President Barack Obama 's presidency to refuse any appointments during an election year .
The Supreme Court had a 5-4 majority of Republican appointed justices , and a 6-3 GOP majority could transform the shape of the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ginsburg , a feminist icon who championed women 's rights , was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 and vowed to remain as long as her health allowed .
Ginsburg told her granddaughter before she died that her `` most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed . ''
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , who has served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , said on Friday night that the vacancy should not be filled until after the November election and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland during the Obama presidency .
`` There is no doubt — let me be clear — that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider , '' Biden told reporters in Wilmington , Delaware .
`` This was the position the Republican Senate took in 2016 when there were almost 10 months to go before the election .
That 's the position the United States Senate must take today . ''
—CNBC 's Brian Schwartz , Tucker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .

U.S. President Donald Trump listens to a question before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020.
Allison Rushing, 38, of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals based in Virginia is also being considered for the nomination, NBC News reported . Two other judges are under serious consideration as well, according to NBC News, including Barbara Lagoa, 52, of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Georgia, and Amul Thapar, 51, of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.
There are several leading contenders on Trump's short list, all of whom are young and would likely have a decades-long career on the Supreme Court, potentially tipping the balance of power on the judicial body decisively in a conservative direction for a generation. Judge Amy Coney Barrett, 48, of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has emerged as a front-runner to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Ginsburg, three sources told NBC News on Saturday.
"If someone were to ask me now, I would say that a woman would be in first place, yes," Trump said. "The choice of a woman I would say would certainly be appropriate."
"I think the process could go very, very fast," Trump said before departing for a rally in North Carolina. "I'll be making my choice soon and when my choice is made I'll be sending it over to Mitch in the Senate and they will do what they have to do. I think we'll have a very popular choice whoever it may be but we'll be sending over to the Senate."
President Donald Trump on Saturday said he would pick his nominee in the coming week to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court seat and the candidate would probably be a woman, making good on his promise to move "without delay" to appoint a conservative to the nation's highest court. Trump, speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn, said he would like to see a vote before the November presidential election, though no firm decision has been made yet on the timing.
Barrett who was appointed by Trump and has served on the federal appeals court in Chicago since 2017, was on a list of potential nominees Trump updated earlier this month. She was also among those considered to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy when he retired in 2018.
To fill Kennedy's spot, Trump ultimately picked Brett Kavanaugh instead, an establishment Republican figure who angered some on the religious right for not being conservative enough even as he set off storms of panic on the left. Axios' Jonathan Swan reported in 2019 that Trump said he was "saving [Barrett] for Ginsburg."
Though any confirmation fight in the midst of a presidential election will be hard fought, the battle is expected to be amplified if Barrett is picked because of her track record. In particular, critics of Barrett have zeroed in on her prolific academic writings, in which she raised questions about the importance of respecting precedent and referred to "unborn victims" of abortion.
In a 2013 article in Notre Dame's quarterly alumni magazine, Barrett is paraphrased as saying the landmark abortion ruling Roe v. Wade, the decision which legalized abortion nationwide, created "through judicial fiat a framework of abortion on demand."
Barrett said in a 2013 speech at Notre Dame, however, that it is "very unlikely at this point that the court is going to overturn Roe [v. Wade]."
"The controversy right now is about funding," she said, according to Notre Dame's student newspaper. "It's a question of whether abortions will be publicly or privately funded."
During the 2016 hearings for her nomination to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Democrats, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, pressed Barrett on whether her Catholic faith would cloud her legal judgment. Feinstein's line of questioning raised controversy about whether she was implying that Barrett was too religious for the bench.
"The dogma lives loudly within you, and that's a concern," Feinstein said during the hearing.
Barrett responded: "It's never appropriate for a judge to impose that judge's personal convictions, whether they arise from faith or anywhere else, on the law."
Barrett was ultimately confirmed in a 55-43 vote by the Senate in 2017. The fact that she was already vetted and previously confirmed by the Senate could help her case in the Republicans' effort to quickly confirm a nominee.
At the time of her 2017 confirmation, three Democratic senators supported her nomination: Joe Donnelly, who was voted out in 2018, Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
Every Republican in the Senate at the time voted to confirm Barrett in 2017.
Barrett's views on abortion, in particular, stand in stark contrast to the late Ginsburg, who died on Friday surrounded by her family at her home in Washington, D.C., due to complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer, the court said.
The vacancy allows Trump to nominate his third justice to the court, allowing him to swing the bench further to the right. He previously nominated Justices Neil Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.
Only an hour after the Supreme Court announced Ginsburg's death, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Friday pledged he will hold a vote on Trump's eventual nominee to fill the vacancy. McConnell said last year he would seek to confirm a Trump nominee if a vacancy opened, despite vowing during President Barack Obama's presidency to refuse any appointments during an election year.
The Supreme Court had a 5-4 majority of Republican appointed justices, and a 6-3 GOP majority could transform the shape of the law and maintain a conservative majority for years.
Ginsburg, a feminist icon who championed women's rights, was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 and vowed to remain as long as her health allowed. Ginsburg told her granddaughter before she died that her "most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed."
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who has served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said on Friday night that the vacancy should not be filled until after the November election and noted that Senate Republicans didn't consider the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland during the Obama presidency.
"There is no doubt — let me be clear — that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider," Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware. "This was the position the Republican Senate took in 2016 when there were almost 10 months to go before the election. That's the position the United States Senate must take today."
—CNBC's Brian Schwartz, Tucker Higgins and Emma Newburger contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-09-19--Outside groups gear up for expensive battle over Ruth Bader Ginsburg Supreme Court seat

A girl holds a candle in front of the Supreme Court buidling paying respect to Justice Ruth Bather Ginsburg after she died , in Washington , DC , on September 18 , 2020 .
Outside organizations are gearing up for a battle in the Senate over the Supreme Court seat once held by Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Many of those leading the effort say the various campaigns will spend millions to sway lawmakers after President Donald Trump chooses Ginsburg 's replacement , who died on Friday after serving on the court for over 20 years .
The tactics of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spectrum range from TV and digital ads , to producing opposition research on Trump 's shortlist of potential candidates .
The moves come as Democrats and Republicans , from Trump to Democratic nominee Joe Biden to congressional lawmakers on Capitol Hill , are already at odds over whether a Supreme Court nominee should be brought up for a vote with just under 50 days until Election Day .
Beyond the political issue based groups that will be involved with this bitter battle , super PACs backing both Biden and Trump are preparing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to filter over to the presidential campaign .
Max Steele , a spokesman for the pro-Biden super PAC American Bridge , says they already have been distributing opposition research on potential Supreme Court nominees .
`` We 're focused less on jurisprudence and more on traditional oppo ( ethics , finances , controversial statements , etc , ) '' Steele said on Saturday .
Josh Schwerin , the spokesman for Priorities USA Action , another pro-Biden super PAC , told CNBC that they 're bracing for the Supreme Court fight to seep into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is and always has been to win the presidential election and that 's where our focus will remain .
We fully expect this fight over the Supreme Court to be part of that debate alongside the raging pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans while Trump fails to deal with it , '' Schwerin said .
NBC News reported Saturday that deaths had passed 200,000 , though the fatality count from Johns Hopkins University had not yet crossed the somber milestone .
Priorities , Schwerin says , did their recent own polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in battleground states .
About 65 % of those surveyed said a reason to be enthusiastic about Biden 's candidacy is because , they say , he could appoint Supreme Court judges who `` protect a woman 's right to choose , keep environmental protections , and protect civil rights and voting rights , '' Schwerin says .
Pro-Trump America First Action say they are gearing up to get involved with the upcoming fight in the Senate .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky , blocked President Barack Obama 's Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of his second term as commander in chief .
McConnell said at the time that he believed the next president should be the one to decide who gets to fill the late Antonin Scalia 's seat .
McConnell now says that he intends to call for a vote on Trump 's next nominee to the Supreme Court .
The president tweeted on Saturday that he wants Republicans to move ahead `` without delay '' to replace Ginsburg .
Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has emerged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to NBC News .
The Judicial Crisis Network , a dark money conservative group which committed to spend $ 10 million in support of now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh , is prepared to invest that amount , if not more , on this next campaign , with some funds expected to go toward TV and digital spots , along with print and mailer advertisements .
Carrie Severino , the president of the group , told CNBC on Saturday that they are set to `` match '' and `` surpass '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Demand Justice , who announced they would invest $ 10 million into the fight over Ginsburg 's seat .
Demand Justice is a liberal dark money group that has fought Trump and Republican efforts to confirm judicial nominees .
They announced on Friday they would spend the massive total `` to fight to ensure no justice is confirmed before the January inauguration . ''
The Judicial Crisis Network plans to message , at least in part , that McConnell , Republican senators and Trump have the historical and political precedent on their side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judges .
When one party has control over the Senate and White House they can then push ahead with a Supreme Court nomination , regardless of the timing of the seat becoming vacant , Severino said after being asked about their messaging campaign .
`` We are going to have a state of the art campaign using whatever we need to win this fight , '' she noted .
An outside group known as Fix Our Senate already published their first ad in the wake of Ginsburg 's death .
After highlighting McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama was president , the group then calls on viewers to reach out to their Senators to take a similar stance when it comes to Ginsburg 's seat .
The Article III Project , a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) organization founded by Mike Davis , a former advisor to Sen. Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa.
, when he led the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee , told CNBC they are gearing up for a battle over the eventual nominee .
`` This news just broke , but the Article III Project will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump 's nominee and ensure they receive a Senate floor vote , '' Davis said in a statement .
He added they have n't decided the budget for the nomination process but they `` will certainly be directing significant resources to this critical fight . ''
The political advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood , who are staunch advocates of reproductive rights , are also plotting their latest Supreme Court campaign .
They 're planning to activate their own volunteer network and team up with their partners in an effort to remind senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not be confirmed this close to an election , and how the next justice could decide the future of health care , according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter .
There will be a new ad component to the larger campaign , this person added .
This person declined to be named because their campaign is still in the planning stages .
The Republican lawmakers they 're looking to target , this person explained , include Sens .
Susan Collins , R-Maine , Cory Gardner , R-Colo. , Thom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , R-Alaska .
Collins proved to be a pivotal vote in confirming Kavanaugh and is currently up for reelection in a race deemed a toss-up by the Cook Political Report .
Gardner and Tillis are also in toss-up races .
`` Senators who stand with Trump now and allow him to fill this seat with an extreme nominee in the waning days of his term will be held accountable in November and they are going to be out of a job come January , '' Jenny Lawson , executive director of Planned Parenthood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Planned Parenthood Votes is mobilizing supporters in every state across the country to ensure our rights , freedoms , and health care are protected . ''
The Supreme Court will consider the future of the Affordable Care Act just a week after the presidential election .
A political advocacy organization backed by billionaire Charles Koch is preparing to get involved , provided the nominee is in line with their priorities , Tim Phillips , the president of Americans for Prosperity ( AFP ) , told CNBC .
They advocated for Kavanaugh and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP announced at the time of Kavanaugh 's confirmation they were committing seven figures to support his nomination .
That campaign included paid advertising .
Phillips is convinced Trump will select a Supreme Court nominee that will match the network 's priorities , with particular focus on less government overreach .
With that in mind , he said their organization will likely be engaged this time around .
`` A Supreme Court confirmation is an absolute priority for us .
It was for Kavanaugh .
It was on Gorsuch .
It will be @ @ @ @ @ @

A cardboard cutout of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is held up after her death, in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., September 20, 2020.
Outside organizations are gearing up for a battle in the Senate over the Supreme Court seat once held by Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Many of those leading the effort say the various campaigns will spend millions to sway lawmakers after President Donald Trump chooses Ginsburg's replacement, who died on Friday after serving on the court for over 20 years.
The tactics of these groups from both sides of the political spectrum range from TV and digital ads, to producing opposition research on Trump's shortlist of potential candidates. The moves come as Democrats and Republicans, from Trump to Democratic nominee Joe Biden to congressional lawmakers on Capitol Hill, are already at odds over whether a Supreme Court nominee should be brought up for a vote with just under 50 days until Election Day.
Beyond the political issue based groups that will be involved with this bitter battle, super PACs backing both Biden and Trump are preparing for the upcoming Supreme Court debate in Congress to filter over to the presidential campaign.
Max Steele, a spokesman for the pro-Biden super PAC American Bridge, says they already have been distributing opposition research on potential Supreme Court nominees. "We're focused less on jurisprudence and more on traditional oppo (ethics, finances, controversial statements, etc,)" Steele said on Saturday.
Josh Schwerin, the spokesman for Priorities USA Action, another pro-Biden super PAC, told CNBC that they're bracing for the Supreme Court fight to seep into the presidential campaign.
"Our goal is and always has been to win the presidential election and that's where our focus will remain. We fully expect this fight over the Supreme Court to be part of that debate alongside the raging pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans while Trump fails to deal with it," Schwerin said. NBC News reported Saturday that deaths had passed 200,000, though the fatality count from Johns Hopkins University had not yet crossed the somber milestone.
Priorities, Schwerin says, did their recent own polling of "low propensity Democratic voters" in battleground states. About 65% of those surveyed said a reason to be enthusiastic about Biden's candidacy is because, they say, he could appoint Supreme Court judges who "protect a woman's right to choose, keep environmental protections, and protect civil rights and voting rights," Schwerin says.
Pro-Trump America First Action say they are gearing up to get involved with the upcoming fight in the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, blocked President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland in 2016, at the end of his second term as commander in chief. McConnell said at the time that he believed the next president should be the one to decide who gets to fill the late Antonin Scalia's seat. McConnell now says that he intends to call for a vote on Trump's next nominee to the Supreme Court. The president tweeted on Saturday that he wants Republicans to move ahead "without delay" to replace Ginsburg.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has emerged as a front-runner to fill the seat, according to NBC News.
The Judicial Crisis Network, a dark money conservative group which committed to spend $10 million in support of now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, is prepared to invest that amount, if not more, on this next campaign, with some funds expected to go toward TV and digital spots, along with print and mailer advertisements.
Carrie Severino, the president of the group, told CNBC on Saturday that they are set to "match" and "surpass" the spending of their progressive rivals, Demand Justice, who announced they would invest $10 million into the fight over Ginsburg's seat. Demand Justice is a liberal dark money group that has fought Trump and Republican efforts to confirm judicial nominees. They announced on Friday they would spend the massive total "to fight to ensure no justice is confirmed before the January inauguration."
The Judicial Crisis Network plans to message, at least in part, that McConnell, Republican senators and Trump have the historical and political precedent on their side when it comes to confirming Supreme Court judges. When one party has control over the Senate and White House they can then push ahead with a Supreme Court nomination, regardless of the timing of the seat becoming vacant, Severino said after being asked about their messaging campaign.
"We are going to have a state of the art campaign using whatever we need to win this fight," she noted.
An outside group known as Fix Our Senate already published their first ad in the wake of Ginsburg's death. After highlighting McConnell saying he won't confirm Garland when Obama was president, the group then calls on viewers to reach out to their Senators to take a similar stance when it comes to Ginsburg's seat.
The Article III Project, a 501(c)(4) organization founded by Mike Davis, a former advisor to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa., when he led the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, told CNBC they are gearing up for a battle over the eventual nominee.
"This news just broke, but the Article III Project will be fully engaged to support and defend President Trump's nominee and ensure they receive a Senate floor vote," Davis said in a statement. He added they haven't decided the budget for the nomination process but they "will certainly be directing significant resources to this critical fight."
The political advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood, who are staunch advocates of reproductive rights, are also plotting their latest Supreme Court campaign. They're planning to activate their own volunteer network and team up with their partners in an effort to remind senators how some have previously said a nominee should not be confirmed this close to an election, and how the next justice could decide the future of health care, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. There will be a new ad component to the larger campaign, this person added.
This person declined to be named because their campaign is still in the planning stages. The Republican lawmakers they're looking to target, this person explained, include Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Collins proved to be a pivotal vote in confirming Kavanaugh and is currently up for reelection in a race deemed a toss-up by the Cook Political Report. Gardner and Tillis are also in toss-up races.
"Senators who stand with Trump now and allow him to fill this seat with an extreme nominee in the waning days of his term will be held accountable in November and they are going to be out of a job come January," Jenny Lawson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes, said in a statement. "Planned Parenthood Votes is mobilizing supporters in every state across the country to ensure our rights, freedoms, and health care are protected."
The Supreme Court will consider the future of the Affordable Care Act just a week after the presidential election.
A political advocacy organization backed by billionaire Charles Koch is preparing to get involved, provided the nominee is in line with their priorities, Tim Phillips, the president of Americans for Prosperity (AFP), told CNBC. They advocated for Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch when they were nominated. AFP announced at the time of Kavanaugh's confirmation they were committing seven figures to support his nomination. That campaign included paid advertising.
Phillips is convinced Trump will select a Supreme Court nominee that will match the network's priorities, with particular focus on less government overreach. With that in mind, he said their organization will likely be engaged this time around.
"A Supreme Court confirmation is an absolute priority for us. It was for Kavanaugh. It was on Gorsuch. It will be and is a priority."


cnbc--2020-09-21--Senate has more than enough time to confirm Trump Supreme Court nominee, McConnell says

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) ( C ) wears a protective mask as he arrives to the U.S. Capitol on September 21 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Monday that the Senate has more than enough time to confirm President Donald Trump 's Supreme Court pick before the end of the year , or even before Election Day .
`` As of today there are 43 days before Nov. 3 and 104 days before the end of this Congress , '' the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to process a nomination .
History and precedent make that perfectly clear . ''
McConnell 's comments come just three days after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who died on Friday from complications due to pancreatic cancer .
Ginsburg sat on the Supreme Court for 27 years .
The fight over the nomination has consumed Washington with just over six weeks to go until Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden face off at the polls .
Recalling the bitter fight over Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 , McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' would be in store .
A confirmation could secure Trump his third justice on the nine-member panel , solidifying a 6-3 conservative majority , with dramatic implications on issues such as health care , guns , voting rights and the power of government regulators .
Democrats , still energized by McConnell 's refusal to hold a vote on former President Barack Obama 's nominee in 2016 , have likened the battle to an existential fight .
McConnell pledged within hours of the announcement of Ginsburg 's death to hold a vote on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to name the person by the end of the week .
Trump has repeatedly said his preference is for a confirmation vote before the election .
McConnell did not pledge to hold a vote before Election Day , though he said it could be done .
He did commit to hold a vote by the end of the year .
`` There was clear precedent behind the predictable outcome that came out of 2016 , '' he said , referring to his refusal to hold hearings for Obama 's nominee that year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more overwhelming precedent behind the fact that this Senate will vote on this nomination this year . ''
If Trump names his nominee on Friday or Saturday , as he said he would do on Monday morning , a confirmation vote by the end of the year is well within the typical time frame for Supreme Court confirmations .
But a confirmation before the election would be historically quick .
Going back to the 1970s , the average amount of time it takes between a nomination and a final confirmation vote is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congressional Research Service .
Ginsburg 's own confirmation was on the speedier end , at 42 days .
McConnell noted that Ginsburg could have been confirmed twice between Monday and the end of the year .
The 19-day confirmation process for Justice John Paul Stevens , who served between 1975 and 2010 , `` could have been played out twice between now and Nov. 3 , with time to spare , '' McConnell said .
McConnell , though , faces unique problems corralling a vote on a nominee before Election Day .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska , said over the weekend that they opposed such a plan .
With 53 seats in the Senate , McConnell can only afford one more defection .
Another element is that Ginsburg herself expressed her wish not to be replaced before the election in a dying statement .
`` My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed , '' Ginsburg told her granddaughter , according to NPR .
Democrats have seized on Ginsburg 's statement as they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote .
During an address in Philadelphia over the weekend , Biden called on Republicans in the Senate to `` heed her final call to us , not as a personal service to her , but as a service to the country , our country , at a crossroads . ''

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) wears a protective mask as he walks to his office at the U.S. Capitol on September 21, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Monday that the Senate has more than enough time to confirm President Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick before the end of the year, or even before Election Day.
"As of today there are 43 days before Nov. 3 and 104 days before the end of this Congress," the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor. "The Senate has more than sufficient time to process a nomination. History and precedent make that perfectly clear."
McConnell's comments come just three days after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday from complications due to pancreatic cancer. Ginsburg sat on the Supreme Court for 27 years.
The fight over the nomination has consumed Washington with just over six weeks to go until Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden face off at the polls. Recalling the bitter fight over Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, McConnell suggested an "even more appalling sequel" would be in store.
A confirmation could secure Trump his third justice on the nine-member panel, solidifying a 6-3 conservative majority, with dramatic implications on issues such as health care, guns, voting rights and the power of government regulators.
Democrats, still energized by McConnell's refusal to hold a vote on former President Barack Obama's nominee in 2016, have likened the battle to an existential fight.
McConnell pledged within hours of the announcement of Ginsburg's death to hold a vote on her successor, and Trump is expected to name the person by the end of the week. Trump has repeatedly said his preference is for a confirmation vote before the election.
McConnell did not pledge to hold a vote before Election Day, though he said it could be done. He did commit to hold a vote by the end of the year.
"There was clear precedent behind the predictable outcome that came out of 2016," he said, referring to his refusal to hold hearings for Obama's nominee that year, Merrick Garland. "And there's even more overwhelming precedent behind the fact that this Senate will vote on this nomination this year."
If Trump names his nominee on Friday or Saturday, as he said he would do on Monday morning, a confirmation vote by the end of the year is well within the typical time frame for Supreme Court confirmations. But a confirmation before the election would be historically quick.
Going back to the 1970s, the average amount of time it takes between a nomination and a final confirmation vote is about 70 days, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Ginsburg's own confirmation was on the speedier end, at 42 days. McConnell noted that Ginsburg could have been confirmed twice between Monday and the end of the year.
The 19-day confirmation process for Justice John Paul Stevens, who served between 1975 and 2010, "could have been played out twice between now and Nov. 3, with time to spare," McConnell said.
McConnell, though, faces unique problems corralling a vote on a nominee before Election Day. Two Republican senators, moderates Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said over the weekend that they opposed such a plan. With 53 seats in the Senate, McConnell can only afford one more defection.
Another element is that Ginsburg herself expressed her wish not to be replaced before the election in a dying statement.
"My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed," Ginsburg told her granddaughter, according to NPR.
Democrats have seized on Ginsburg's statement as they have pressed the case to delay a nomination vote.
During an address in Philadelphia over the weekend, Biden called on Republicans in the Senate to "heed her final call to us, not as a personal service to her, but as a service to the country, our country, at a crossroads."


cnbc--2020-09-21--Trump could be facing criminal tax probe, Manhattan DA suggests in new court filing

President Donald Trump and his business could be facing a criminal tax probe by the Manhattan District Attorney 's office , prosecutors suggested Monday in a court filing .
Prosecutors from Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. 's office raised that possibility as they said that a grand jury subpoena seeking eight years of Trump 's tax returns and other records from the president 's accountants should be allowed by a federal appeals court , which is set to hear arguments in this case this week .
While prosecutors last month suggested that they might be eyeing the Trump Organization for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's filing was the first time they had publicly said that their probe might encompass potential tax crimes .
Before last month , reports had suggested that Trump 's company was under investigation for how it accounted for hush money payments made to two women who said they had affairs with Trump , who has denied their claims .
Trump 's lawyers have argued that the subpoeana is `` overbroad '' and was issued `` in bad faith . ''
But Vance 's team said in Monday 's court filing that the subpoena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have raised the prospect that Trump and his company misstated the values of their business properties at different times .
The filings said that if misstatements about business properties were conveyed from the Trump Organization 's headquarters in New York to business partners , insurers , potential lenders or tax authorities , that could mean the breaking of state laws such as scheme to defraud , falsification of business records , insurance fraud and criminal tax fraud , the filing said .
Vance 's office also said in the filing that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when compared to the temporal scope of misconduct alleged in public reports . ''
`` The New York Times reported that Appellant engaged in 'dubious tax schemes during the 1990s , including instances of outright fraud ' and that he 'helped his parents dodge taxes ' by 'set [ ting ] up a sham corporation to disguise millions of dollars in gifts ' and undervaluing assets , '' the filing said .
Trump 's lawyer , Jay Sekulow , did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
A spokesman for Vance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruled this summer that Trump did not have an absolute right to avoid having his tax returns and other financial records subpoenaed by a state prosecutor while serving in the White House .
But the Supreme Court also allowed the president to continue to challenge the subpoena , which was issued at Vance 's behest , on other grounds , in lower federal court .
A federal judge in Manhattan last month rejected new arguments by Trump 's lawyers to block the subpoena .
Trump then appealed that ruling to the U.S. Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A hearing on the appeal is scheduled for Friday .

President Donald Trump and his business could be facing a criminal tax probe by the Manhattan District Attorney's office, prosecutors suggested Monday in a court filing.
Prosecutors from Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr.'s office raised that possibility as they said that a grand jury subpoena seeking eight years of Trump's tax returns and other records from the president's accountants should be allowed by a federal appeals court, which is set to hear arguments in this case this week.
While prosecutors last month suggested that they might be eyeing the Trump Organization for possible bank and insurance fraud, Monday's filing was the first time they had publicly said that their probe might encompass potential tax crimes.
Before last month, reports had suggested that Trump's company was under investigation for how it accounted for hush money payments made to two women who said they had affairs with Trump, who has denied their claims.
Trump's lawyers have argued that the subpoeana is "overbroad" and was issued "in bad faith."
But Vance's team said in Monday's court filing that the subpoena is more than justified by news reports that have raised the prospect that Trump and his company misstated the values of their business properties at different times.
The filings said that if misstatements about business properties were conveyed from the Trump Organization's headquarters in New York to business partners, insurers, potential lenders or tax authorities, that could mean the breaking of state laws such as scheme to defraud, falsification of business records, insurance fraud and criminal tax fraud, the filing said.
Vance's office also said in the filing that the scope "of the subpoena is moderate when compared to the temporal scope of misconduct alleged in public reports."
"The New York Times reported that Appellant engaged in 'dubious tax schemes during the 1990s, including instances of outright fraud' and that he 'helped his parents dodge taxes' by 'set[ting] up a sham corporation to disguise millions of dollars in gifts' and undervaluing assets," the filing said.
Trump's lawyer, Jay Sekulow, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for Vance declined to comment.


cnbc--2020-09-21--Ruth Bader Ginsburg to be first woman to lie in state at Capitol and will lie in repose at Supreme C

Ruth Bader Ginsburg to be first woman to lie in state at Capitol and will lie in repose at Supreme Court

People look at candles and placards placed to mourn the death of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court in Washington , September 20 , 2020 .
The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will become the first woman to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol and only the second Supreme Court justice to be honored that way .
Services for the justice , who died Friday at age 87 , will begin Wednesday morning with a private ceremony at the Supreme Court 's Great Hall for Ginsburg 's colleagues , family and close friends .
She will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Supreme Court 's front steps on Wednesday and Thursday .
The public is invited to pay its respects between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. on both days , the court said .
On Friday , Ginsburg will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Building , according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. Pelosi said a formal ceremony would take place on Friday morning .
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic , it will be limited to invited guests .
Following the services , an interment ceremony will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where her husband , Martin , was buried in 2010 .
The announcements about Ginsburg 's services came hours after President Donald Trump said that he has reduced his list of potential replacements to just five names , and intends to formalize a pick by the end of the week .
Trump said he wanted to wait until after Ginsburg 's services , out of respect .
The justice was a cultural icon and hero to liberals .
Ginsburg 's death has prompted national mourning , alongside a fierce partisan firestorm being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including presidential nominee Joe Biden , have urged the president to delay selecting a nominee until after Election Day , in line with the GOP 's stance in 2016 , when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked former President Barack Obama 's efforts to name Judge Merrick Garland to the top court in the final year of Obama 's presidency .
But Trump and McConnell have said they intend to move forward without delay this time .
Ginsburg , appointed by former President Bill Clinton , was the second woman ever to sit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor , and was the first female justice to pass away .
The only other justice to lie in state at the Capitol , according to a website maintained by the House of Representatives , was former Chief Justice William Howard Taft , who was also a U.S. president .

A person holds a sign reading "RBG HERO" as mourners gather during a vigil for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020.
The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will become the first woman to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol and only the second Supreme Court justice to be honored that way.
Services for the justice, who died Friday at age 87, will begin Wednesday morning with a private ceremony at the Supreme Court's Great Hall for Ginsburg's colleagues, family and close friends. She will then lie in repose at the top of the Supreme Court's front steps on Wednesday and Thursday.
Read more: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, towering Supreme Court Justice, dies at 87
The public is invited to pay its respects between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. on both days, the court said.
On Friday, Ginsburg will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Building, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Pelosi said a formal ceremony would take place on Friday morning. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it will be limited to invited guests.
Following the services, an interment ceremony will be held next week at Arlington National Cemetery, where her husband, Martin, was buried in 2010.
The announcements about Ginsburg's services came hours after President Donald Trump said that he has reduced his list of potential replacements to just five names, and intends to formalize a pick by the end of the week.
Trump said he wanted to wait until after Ginsburg's services, out of respect. The justice was a cultural icon and hero to liberals.
Ginsburg's death has prompted national mourning, alongside a fierce partisan firestorm being waged over her successor.
Democrats, including presidential nominee Joe Biden, have urged the president to delay selecting a nominee until after Election Day, in line with the GOP's stance in 2016, when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked former President Barack Obama's efforts to name Judge Merrick Garland to the top court in the final year of Obama's presidency. But Trump and McConnell have said they intend to move forward without delay this time.
Ginsburg, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, was the second woman ever to sit on the Supreme Court, after the retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and was the first female justice to pass away. The only other justice to lie in state at the Capitol, according to a website maintained by the House of Representatives, was former Chief Justice William Howard Taft, who was also a U.S. president. Taft was president from 1909–1913 and chief justice from 1921 until shortly before his death in 1930.


cnbc--2020-09-21--Federal judge allows extra week for counting Wisconsin absentee ballots

Hali Fisher , 24 , waits in line to vote at Riverside High School , 1615 E. Locust St. in Milwaukee on Tuesday , April 7 , 2020 .
The Wisconsin primary is moving forward in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic after Gov .
Tony Evers sought to shut down Tuesday 's election in a historic move Monday that was swiftly rejected by the conservative majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by the end of the day .
A federal judge in Wisconsin on Monday sided with Democrats in a wide ranging ruling that will allow an extra week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ruling will also extend the deadline for online and mail-in registration and ease the rules for hiring election workers .
District Judge William Conley wrote that the deadline extensions were necessary , given the Covid-19 pandemic , to protect the right of Wisconsin citizens to vote , and said that not doing so would lead to the `` near certainty of disenfranchising tens of thousands of voters relying on the state 's absentee ballot process . ''
Wisconsin is one of several states likely to be crucial to the outcome of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee Joe Biden that is seeing an onslaught of election related litigation tied to the global health crisis .
Conley 's ruling extends the deadline for absentee ballots to be received to Nov. 9 if they are postmarked by Nov. 3 , which is Election Day .
It moves the deadline for voter registration two weeks , from Oct. 14 to Oct. 21 , and temporarily scraps a state law requiring election officials to be registered voters in the county where they serve .
Conley paused his ruling from going into effect for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will be appealed , and said that `` NO voter can depend on any extension of deadlines for electronic and mail-in registration and for receipt of absentee ballots unless finally upheld on appeal . ''
The order came in connection with four consolidated lawsuits between a number of organizations , including the national Democratic and Republican parties .
Republicans urged the court to keep the existing absentee ballot deadline in place , while Democrats pushed for the extension .
A similar battle over absentee ballots played out ahead of Wisconsin 's elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Supreme Court , which sided with the GOP .

Hali Fisher, 24, waits in line to vote at Riverside High School, 1615 E. Locust St. in Milwaukee on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. The Wisconsin primary is moving forward in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic after Gov. Tony Evers sought to shut down Tuesday's election in a historic move Monday that was swiftly rejected by the conservative majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by the end of the day.
A federal judge in Wisconsin on Monday sided with Democrats in a wide-ranging ruling that will allow an extra week for absentee ballots to be counted. The ruling will also extend the deadline for online and mail-in registration and ease the rules for hiring election workers.
District Judge William Conley wrote that the deadline extensions were necessary, given the Covid-19 pandemic, to protect the right of Wisconsin citizens to vote, and said that not doing so would lead to the "near certainty of disenfranchising tens of thousands of voters relying on the state's absentee ballot process."
Wisconsin is one of several states likely to be crucial to the outcome of the race between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden that is seeing an onslaught of election-related litigation tied to the global health crisis.
Conley's ruling extends the deadline for absentee ballots to be received to Nov. 9 if they are postmarked by Nov. 3, which is Election Day. It moves the deadline for voter registration by a week, from Oct. 14 to Oct. 21, and temporarily scraps a state law requiring election officials to be registered voters in the county where they serve.
Conley paused his ruling from going into effect for one week, citing the likelihood that it will be appealed, and said that "NO voter can depend on any extension of deadlines for electronic and mail-in registration and for receipt of absentee ballots unless finally upheld on appeal."
The order came in connection with four consolidated lawsuits between a number of organizations, including the national Democratic and Republican parties. Republicans urged the court to keep the existing absentee ballot deadline in place, while Democrats pushed for the extension.
A similar battle over absentee ballots played out ahead of Wisconsin's elections in April, escalating all the way to the Supreme Court, which sided with the GOP.


cnbc--2020-09-21--New York City police officer spied on fellow Tibetans for China, prosecutors charge

The logo of the New York City Police Department ( NYPD ) is placed on a surveillance camera near Ground Zero during the 18th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11 , 2001 .
`` These are not the actions of an individual who fears torture or persecution at the hands of the PRC , thus showing that his U.S. citizenship was secured through false pretenses , '' the memo said .
The U.S. Attorney 's Office for the Eastern District of New York , in a detention memo filed Monday , said that despite Angwang 's claims , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveled back to the PRC on numerous occasion since his asylum application was granted . ''
But after overstaying a second visa he `` eventually sought asylum in the United States on the basis that he had allegedly been arrested and tortured in the [ People 's Republic of China ] due partly to this Tibetan ethnicity , '' the complaint said .
Authorities noted in a criminal complaint that Angwang , who currently works for the New York Police Department 's community affairs unit in the 111th precinct in Queens , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cultural exchange visa . ''
Prosecutors asked a judge Monday to detain Angwang without bond because he `` presents a serious risk of flight '' to avoid the criminal charges , which carry a maximum possible prison sentence of 55 years .
The 33-year-old cop , Baimadajie Angwang , who was born in the autonomous region of Tibet in China , allegedly reported to officials at the Chinese consulate in New York on the activities of other Tibetans in the New York area .
A New York City police officer who also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested Monday on federal charges that accuse him of spying on fellow ethnic Tibetans while acting as an illegal agent for China .
The criminal complaint said that beginning as early as 2014 , Angwan maintained a relationship with one Chinese official at the consulate , and then in 2018 developed a relationship with a second official there , who was his handler and whom he called `` Boss . ''
The second official is believed to have been assigned to a department responsible for neutralizing sources of potential opposition to the PRC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is seen as a threat to the stability of the communist regime because of calls for the region 's independence , particularly by Tibetans at home and overseas who consider the self-exiled Dalai Lama , a Buddhist leader , their spiritual guide .
The complaint says that Angwang texted or called the consulate officials more than 100 times since 2014 .
The complaint also contains transcripts of some of those calls , during which Angwang proposes his handler attend Tibetan events in Queens , and asked whether that official `` wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's soft power . '
`` Angwang , who lives in Nassau County , Long Island , is scheduled to make a virtual appearance in federal court on Monday afternoon .
According to court filings , Angwang `` currently holds the rank of Staff Sergeant '' in the Army Reserve , `` and is stationed at Fort Dix , New Jersey in an Airborne Civil Affairs battalion . ''
The criminal complaint said that Angwang , `` while acting at the direction and control of PRC officials , has , among other things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tibetans , and others , in the New York metropolitan area to the Consulate '' of China .
He also allegedly `` spotted and assessed potential ethnic Tibetan intelligence sources in the New York metropolitan area and beyond , '' the complaint said .
And Angwang `` used his official position in the NYPD to provide Consulate officials access to senior NYPD officials through invitations to official NYPD events , '' the complaint said .
Angwang is charged with acting as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false statements and obstruction of an official proceeding .
Angwang works as a civil affairs specialist for the Army Reserve .
As part of his job there , he holds `` Secret '' level security clearance .
Authorities said that Angwang 's father is a retired member of China 's army , and a member of the nation 's Communist Party , while his mother is both a Communist Party member and a retired Chinese government official .
His parents live in China , as does his brother , who is a reservist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the complaint , Angwang in 2016 wired a total of $ 150,000 to accounts in China controlled by his brother and another individual .
`` Angwang has also received multiple substantial wire transfers from the PRC , '' the complaint said .
`` State and local officials should be aware that they are not immune to the threat of Chinese espionage , '' said John Demers , the U.S. assistant attorney general for national security , in a prepared statement .
`` According to the allegations , the Chinese government recruited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our nation 's largest law enforcement department to further its intelligence gathering and repression of Chinese abroad . ''
New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea , in a statement said , `` As alleged in this federal complaint , Baimadajie Angwang violated every oath he took in this country . ''
`` One to the United States , another to the U.S. Army , and a third to this Police Department , '' said Shea .
`` From the earliest stages of this investigation , the NYPD 's Intelligence and Internal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Counterintelligence Division to make sure this individual would be brought to justice . ''
China 's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The Army had no immediate comment .
The New York Police Benevolent Association , the union that represents patrol officers such as Angwang , last November posted on Facebook a photo from a delegates meeting at which Angwang presented the American flag .
The post said that Angwang , while serving with the U.S. military , had served one tour in Iraq and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was removed by the PBA after Angwang 's arrest became public .
A PBA spokesman said the union is not representing Angwang in the criminal case .

The logo of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) is placed on a surveillance camera near Ground Zero during the 18th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
"These are not the actions of an individual who fears torture or persecution at the hands of the PRC, thus showing that his U.S. citizenship was secured through false pretenses," the memo said.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, in a detention memo, said that despite Angwang's claims, an investigation found that "Angwang has traveled back to the PRC on numerous occasion since his asylum application was granted."
But after overstaying a second visa he "eventually sought asylum in the United States on the basis that he had allegedly been arrested and tortured in the [People's Republic of China] due partly to this Tibetan ethnicity," the complaint said.
Authorities noted in a criminal complaint that Angwang, who currently works for the New York Police Department's community affairs unit in the 111th precinct in Queens, "initially traveled to the United States on a cultural exchange visa."
Angwang, after appearing remotely in federal court in New York via teleconference, was ordered by a judge to be detained without bond after prosecutors said he "presents a serious risk of flight" to avoid the criminal charges. Angwang's lawyer reserved his right to argue for bail at a later date.
The 33-year-old cop, Baimadajie Angwang, who was born in the region of Tibet in China, allegedly reported to officials at the Chinese consulate in New York on the activities of other Tibetans in the New York area.
A New York City police officer who also serves in the U.S. Army Reserve was arrested Monday on federal charges that accuse him of spying on fellow ethnic Tibetans while acting as an illegal agent for China.
The criminal complaint said that beginning as early as 2014, Angwan maintained a relationship with one Chinese official at the consulate, and then in 2018 developed a relationship with a second official there, who was his handler and whom he called "Boss."
The second official is believed to have been assigned to a department responsible for neutralizing sources of potential opposition to the PRC
Tibet, which China occupied in 1951, is seen as a threat to the stability of the communist regime because of calls for the region's independence, particularly by Tibetans at home and overseas who consider the self-exiled Dalai Lama, a Buddhist leader, their spiritual guide.
The complaint says that Angwang texted or called the consulate officials more than 100 times since 2014. The complaint also contains transcripts of some of those calls, during which Angwang proposes his handler attend Tibetan events in Queens, and asked whether that official "wanted to attend NYPD events 'to raise our country's soft power.' "
According to court filings, Angwang "currently holds the rank of Staff Sergeant" in the Army Reserve, "and is stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey in an Airborne Civil Affairs battalion."
He previously served on active duty in the U.S. Marines from 2009 to 2014, and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 through 2014, according to the Army, which did not comment on his arrest.
The criminal complaint said that Angwang, "while acting at the direction and control of PRC officials, has, among other things ... reported on the activities of ethnic Tibetans, and others, in the New York metropolitan area to the Consulate" of China.
He also allegedly "spotted and assessed potential ethnic Tibetan intelligence sources in the New York metropolitan area and beyond," the complaint said.
And Angwang "used his official position in the NYPD to provide Consulate officials access to senior NYPD officials through invitations to official NYPD events," the complaint said.
Angwang is charged with acting as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the U.S. attorney general, wire fraud, making false statements and obstruction of an official proceeding.
Angwang works as a civil affairs specialist for the Army Reserve. As part of his job there, he holds "Secret" level security clearance.
Authorities said that Angwang's father is a retired member of China's army, and a member of the nation's Communist Party, while his mother is both a Communist Party member and a retired Chinese government official. His parents live in China, as does his brother, who is a reservist in the People's Liberation Army.
According to the complaint, Angwang in 2016 wired a total of $150,000 to accounts in China controlled by his brother and another individual.
"Angwang has also received multiple substantial wire transfers from the PRC," the complaint said.
"State and local officials should be aware that they are not immune to the threat of Chinese espionage," said John Demers, the U.S. assistant attorney general for national security, in a prepared statement.
"According to the allegations, the Chinese government recruited and directed a U.S. citizen and member of our nation's largest law enforcement department to further its intelligence gathering and repression of Chinese abroad."
New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea, in a statement said, "As alleged in this federal complaint, Baimadajie Angwang violated every oath he took in this country."
"One to the United States, another to the U.S. Army, and a third to this Police Department," said Shea. "From the earliest stages of this investigation, the NYPD's Intelligence and Internal Affairs bureaus worked closely with the FBI's Counterintelligence Division to make sure this individual would be brought to justice."
A spokesman for China's foreign ministry on Tuesday called the accusations against Angwan "pure fabricaion."
"The [criminal complaint] is full of hedging terms such as 'seems' and 'possibly,' indicating the falsehood of the accusations," the spokesman said. "The U.S. won't succeed in its smears against Chinese consulates and personnel in the U.S."
The New York Police Benevolent Association, the union that represents patrol officers such as Angwang, last November posted on Facebook a photo from a delegates meeting at which Angwang presented the American flag.
The post said that Angwang, while serving with the U.S. military, had served one tour in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan. That claim conflicts with the Army's statement about Angwang's service, which says he only did the tour in Afghanistan.
The PBA's post was removed by the PBA after Angwang's arrest became public.
A PBA spokesman said the union is not representing Angwang in the criminal case.


cnbc--2020-09-21--New York attorney general readies lawsuit after Trump's DOJ labels NYC 'anarchist jurisdiction,' thr

New York attorney general readies lawsuit after Trump's DOJ labels NYC 'anarchist jurisdiction,' threatening federal funds

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks at a press conference held in LaGuardia Airport 's new Terminal B on June 10 , 2020 in New York City .
New York Attorney General Letitia James warned Monday she is preparing a lawsuit after President Donald Trump 's Justice Department labeled New York City an `` anarchist jurisdiction '' and threatened to withhold federal grant money .
Trump `` is trying to distract the American people from his failures as a leader and is using the last few months of his presidency to sow more chaos , more hatred , and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
`` The president should be prepared to defend this illegal order in court , which hypocritically lays the groundwork to defund New York and the very types of law enforcement President Trump pretends to care about . ''
Earlier Monday , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo also vowed to challenge the administration in court if it followed through on its threat to cut off funds to NYC .
`` The president is not above the law , '' Cuomo said during a teleconference with reporters .
`` If they actually do this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he will lose once again , because we 've seen this play before , '' Cuomo said , referring to the Trump administration 's efforts to crack down on so-called sanctuary cities .
The warnings came hours after the Department of Justice labeled New York City , along with Portland , Oregon , and Seattle , as jurisdictions that `` are Permitting Anarchy , Violence , and Destruction in American Cities . ''
Trump earlier this month asked Attorney General William Barr to compile a list of `` anarchist jurisdictions '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russell Vought , share guidance on blocking or disfavoring some federal grants from those areas .

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks at a press conference held in LaGuardia Airport's new Terminal B on June 10, 2020 in New York City.
New York Attorney General Letitia James warned Monday she is preparing a lawsuit after President Donald Trump's Justice Department labeled New York City an "anarchist jurisdiction" and threatened to withhold federal grant money.
Trump "is trying to distract the American people from his failures as a leader and is using the last few months of his presidency to sow more chaos, more hatred, and more fear," James said in a statement.
"The president should be prepared to defend this illegal order in court, which hypocritically lays the groundwork to defund New York and the very types of law enforcement President Trump pretends to care about."
Earlier Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo also vowed to challenge the administration in court if it followed through on its threat to cut off funds to NYC.
"The president is not above the law," Cuomo said during a teleconference with reporters.
"If they actually do this, we will challenge it legally, and he will lose once again, because we've seen this play before," Cuomo said, referring to the Trump administration's efforts to crack down on so-called sanctuary cities.
The warnings came hours after the Department of Justice labeled New York City, along with Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, as jurisdictions that "are Permitting Anarchy, Violence, and Destruction in American Cities."
Trump earlier this month asked Attorney General William Barr to compile a list of "anarchist jurisdictions" and have the government's budget chief, Russell Vought, share guidance on blocking or disfavoring some federal grants from those areas.


cnbc--2020-09-21--House Democrats unveil bill to avoid government shutdown, but McConnell slams lack of farm aid

House Democrats released a bill Monday to fund the government until Dec. 11 , but Senate Republicans quickly criticized it , leaving the path to a deal to prevent a shutdown unclear .
The plan , which would stop funding from lapsing after the Sept. 30 deadline , did not include a White House request for farm aid or additional school lunch assistance , a Democratic priority .
In a tweeted statement Monday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the proposal `` shamefully leaves out key relief and support that American farmers need . ''
Democrats hope to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
In a statement Monday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the plan would `` avert a catastrophic shutdown in the middle of the ongoing pandemic , '' and called for lawmakers to resume talks toward coronavirus aid legislation .
The party and the Trump administration previously announced a tentative agreement to temporarily extend government funding without adding unrelated or potentially toxic provisions .
The push to avoid a shutdown comes amid a protracted fight over how to structure a fifth pandemic relief package .
The parties aim to avoid letting funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , and Republicans ' move to try to quickly confirm her successor , has added even more tension in Congress in the weeks before the election .
Pelosi said Sunday that she would not try to leverage the shutdown deadline to slow a nomination to the country 's top court .
`` None of us has any interest in shutting down government , '' the California Democrat told the ABC program `` This Week . ''
Asked before the bill 's release about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration economic advisor Larry Kudlow said `` we do prefer additional farm aid '' in the proposal .
However , he did not say whether the White House would support or oppose the legislation .

House Democrats released a bill Monday to fund the government until Dec. 11, but Senate Republicans quickly criticized it, leaving the path to a deal to prevent a shutdown unclear.
The plan, which would stop funding from lapsing after the Sept. 30 deadline, did not include a White House request for farm aid or additional school lunch assistance, a Democratic priority. In a tweeted statement Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the proposal "shamefully leaves out key relief and support that American farmers need."
Democrats hope to vote on the bill as soon as this week. In a statement Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the plan would "avert a catastrophic shutdown in the middle of the ongoing pandemic," and called for lawmakers to resume talks toward coronavirus aid legislation.
The party and the Trump administration previously announced a tentative agreement to temporarily extend government funding without adding unrelated or potentially toxic provisions. The push to avoid a shutdown comes amid a protracted fight over how to structure a fifth pandemic relief package.
The parties aim to avoid letting funding lapse ahead of the November election. The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Republicans' move to try to quickly confirm her successor, has added even more tension in Congress in the weeks before the election.
Pelosi said Sunday that she would not try to leverage the shutdown deadline to slow a nomination to the country's top court.
"None of us has any interest in shutting down government," the California Democrat told the ABC program "This Week."
Asked before the bill's release about the White House stance on the plan, Trump administration economic advisor Larry Kudlow said "we do prefer additional farm aid" in the proposal. However, he did not say whether the White House would support or oppose the legislation.
Disclosure: Larry Kudlow is a former CNBC contributor.
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cnbc--2020-09-21--Robert Mueller — and special counsel's office — let the American people down on Trump probe, prosecu

Robert Mueller — and special counsel's office — let the American people down on Trump probe, prosecutor says

Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller testifies before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Capitol Hill on Wednesday July 24 , 2019 in Washington , DC .
`` There are a lot of things we did well , and a lot of things we could have done better , to be diplomatic about it , '' Weissmann said in the interview .
`` 'Absolutely , yep , '' Weissmann said , according to Packer , before quickly adding : `` I would n't phrase it as just Mueller .
I would say 'the office . '
'' George Packer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Weissmann , asked `` if Mueller had let the American people down . ''
Andrew Weissmann , a former top deputy to Mueller , in his forthcoming book `` Where Law Ends : Inside the Mueller Investigation , '' faulted the special counsel and the office for not doing enough to fully investigate potential criminality and to push back on Trump 's efforts to undermine the investigation .
Former special counsel Robert Mueller and his office let the American people down with their probe into President Donald Trump 's campaign and Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutor who served in the special counsel 's office said in a new interview .
When asked if the probe was a historic missed opportunity , Weissmann tersely replied , `` That 's fair , '' according to Packer .
`` There 's no question I was frustrated at the time , '' Weissmann told The Atlantic .
`` There was more that could be done that we did n't do . ''
One of the key things that Mueller did not do was seek to compel Trump , with a subpoena , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's team in person , while under oath .
`` In Where Law Ends , Weissmann reveals that the real reason for not compelling the president to be interviewed was Mueller 's aversion to having an explosive confrontation with the White House , '' Packer wrote .
Mueller 's investigation led to the successful prosecutions of multiple people in Trump 's orbit , including his onetime campaign chief Paul Manafort , top campaign aide Rick Gates and the president 's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen , as well as to indictments against Russians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Weissmann , echoing others before him , criticizes the probe that he worked on for not being aggressive enough at times to obtain evidence and for failing to state conclusively whether Trump obstructed justice by interfering in the investigation .
Mueller 's report , issued in April 2019 , said that the investigation `` does not conclude that the president committed a crime , '' referring to obstruction of justice , but also `` does not exonerate him . ''
Packer notes that `` Where Law Ends describes numerous instances , large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pursue an aggressive course for fear of the reaction at the White House . ''
`` For example , the special counsel shied away from subpoenaing Don Trump Jr. to testify about his notorious June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer offering dirt on Hillary Clinton .
Ivanka Trump , who did n't attend the meeting but talked with participants afterward in the lobby , and later discussed with her father how to conceal details from the press , was never even asked to speak with Mueller 's investigators , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Weissmann wrote that Mueller 's investigators `` feared that hauling her in for an interview would play badly to the already antagonistic right-wing press—Look how they 're roughing up the president 's daughter—and risk enraging Trump , provoking him to shut down the Special Counsel 's Office once and for all . ''
Elsewhere in the book , Weissmann wrote , `` Part of the reason the president and his enablers were able to spin the report was that we had left the playing field open for them to do so .
@

Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller testifies before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Capitol Hill on Wednesday July 24, 2019 in Washington, DC.
"There are a lot of things we did well, and a lot of things we could have done better, to be diplomatic about it," Weissmann said in the interview.
"'Absolutely, yep," Weissmann said, according to Packer, before quickly adding: "I wouldn't phrase it as just Mueller. I would say 'the office.'"
George Packer of The Atlantic, during an interview with Weissmann , asked "if Mueller had let the American people down."
Former special counsel Robert Mueller and his office let the American people down with their probe into President Donald Trump 's campaign and Russian interference in the 2016 election , a prosecutor who served in the special counsel's office said in a new interview.
When asked if the probe was a historic missed opportunity, Weissmann tersely replied, "That's fair," according to Packer.
"There's no question I was frustrated at the time," Weissmann told The Atlantic. "There was more that could be done that we didn't do."
One of the key things that Mueller did not do was seek to compel Trump, with a subpoena, to answer questions from the special counsel's team in person, while under oath.
"In Where Law Ends, Weissmann reveals that the real reason for not compelling the president to be interviewed was Mueller's aversion to having an explosive confrontation with the White House," Packer wrote.
Mueller's investigation led to the successful prosecutions of multiple people in Trump's orbit, including his onetime campaign chief Paul Manafort, top campaign aide Rick Gates and the president's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, as well as to indictments against Russians for interfering in the 2016 election.
But Weissmann, echoing others before him, criticizes the probe that he worked on for not being aggressive enough at times to obtain evidence and for failing to state conclusively whether Trump obstructed justice by interfering in the investigation.
Mueller's report, issued in April 2019, said that the investigation "does not conclude that the president committed a crime," referring to obstruction of justice, but also "does not exonerate him."
Packer notes that "Where Law Ends describes numerous instances, large and small, when Mueller declined to pursue an aggressive course for fear of the reaction at the White House."
"For example, the special counsel shied away from subpoenaing Don Trump Jr. to testify about his notorious June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer offering dirt on Hillary Clinton. Ivanka Trump, who didn't attend the meeting but talked with participants afterward in the lobby, and later discussed with her father how to conceal details from the press, was never even asked to speak with Mueller's investigators," Packer wrote.
In his book, Weissmann wrote that Mueller's investigators "feared that hauling her in for an interview would play badly to the already antagonistic right-wing press—Look how they're roughing up the president's daughter—and risk enraging Trump, provoking him to shut down the Special Counsel's Office once and for all."
Elsewhere in the book, Weissmann wrote, "Part of the reason the president and his enablers were able to spin the report was that we had left the playing field open for them to do so."


cnbc--2020-09-21--Trump says he will name Supreme Court nominee Friday or Saturday, list down to 5

U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he departs for campaign travel to Minnesota from the South Lawn at the White House in Washington , September 18 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump said he will name his pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday or Saturday .
During an interview by phone on `` Fox and Friends '' on Monday morning , the president said his list of potential nominees for the Supreme Court was down to five names .
`` I will announce it either Friday or Saturday and then the work begins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend said he planned to name a nominee some time this week .
He has said he will nominate a woman .
Kayleigh McEnany , the White House press secretary , said on CBS earlier in the day that it was likely Trump could name a nominee by Wednesday .
But Trump said that he wanted to allow for time for Ginsburg 's funeral services to take place first .
`` We want to pay respect , '' Trump said .
Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successor before Election Day , which is just 43 days away .
Democrats , including presidential nominee Joe Biden , have said that any new nominee must be named after the election .
Ginsburg passed on Friday at 87-years-old after suffering from pancreatic cancer .
She was the senior member of the court 's liberal wing .
Whether Republicans will be able to muster the votes necessary to confirm a nominee ahead of Nov. 3 remains to be seen .
Already over the weekend , cracks in the party 's unity began to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski , said they did not support a vote on a new nominee before voters decide whether Trump will hold office for a second term .
Democrats need just two more of the 53 GOP members in the Senate to peel off to stymie the effort .
On Monday , Trump repeated his call to have the vote before Election Day .
`` We have every right to do it , and we have plenty of time , '' Trump said .
`` Now if this took place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day or five days or 10 days ... .
that would start to look a little bit bad , '' he added .
Pressed on McConnell 's 2016 stonewalling of Merrick Garland , former President Barack Obama 's nominee to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia , Trump said `` there 's a difference . ''
`` When you have the Senate , when you have the votes , you can sort of do what you want as long as you have it , '' Trump said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates are Amy Coney Barrett , a favorite of social conservatives who sits on the Chicago-based 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals , and Barbara Lagoa , a recent addition to the 11th Circuit , which is located in Atlanta .
Lagoa , previously a justice on the Florida Supreme Court , is seen as potentially helpful for Trump politically in the crucial battleground state .
Trump said he tried not to make politics a part of the selection , but `` I think probably automatically it is . ''
`` Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , it becomes a little automatic , '' he said .

U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he departs for campaign travel to Minnesota from the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, September 18, 2020.
President Donald Trump said he will name his pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday or Saturday.
During an interview by phone on "Fox and Friends" on Monday morning, the president said his list of potential nominees for the Supreme Court was down to five names.
"I will announce it either Friday or Saturday and then the work begins," Trump said.
Trump over the weekend said he planned to name a nominee some time this week. He has said he will nominate a woman.
Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, said on CBS earlier in the day that it was likely Trump could name a nominee by Wednesday.
But Trump said that he wanted to allow for time for Ginsburg's funeral services to take place first.
"We want to pay respect," Trump said.
Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., are in a hurry to place Ginsburg's successor before Election Day, which is just 43 days away.
Democrats, including presidential nominee Joe Biden, have said that any new nominee must be named after the election.
Ginsburg passed on Friday at 87-years-old after suffering from pancreatic cancer. She was the senior member of the court's liberal wing.
Whether Republicans will be able to muster the votes necessary to confirm a nominee ahead of Nov. 3 remains to be seen. Already over the weekend, cracks in the party's unity began to show.
Two moderate Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, said they did not support holding a vote on a new nominee before the electorate decides whether Trump will hold office for a second term.
Democrats need to peel off just two more of the 53 GOP members in the Senate to stymie the president's effort.
On Monday, Trump repeated his call to have the vote before Election Day.
"We have every right to do it, and we have plenty of time," Trump said. "Now if this took place one day, if we had one day or five days or 10 days .... that would start to look a little bit bad," he added.
Pressed on McConnell's 2016 stonewalling of Merrick Garland, former President Barack Obama's nominee to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Trump said "there's a difference."
"When you have the Senate, when you have the votes, you can sort of do what you want as long as you have it," Trump said.
Among the judges thought to be likely candidates are Amy Coney Barrett, a favorite of social conservatives who sits on the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and Barbara Lagoa, a recent addition to the 11th Circuit, which is located in Atlanta.
Lagoa, previously a justice on the Florida Supreme Court, is seen as potentially helpful for Trump politically in the crucial battleground state.
Trump said he tried not to make politics a part of the selection, but "I think probably automatically it is."
"Even if you're not wanting to do that, it becomes a little automatic," he said.
-- CNBC's Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report