cnbc--2020-08-14--Ex-FBI lawyer to plead guilty in Durham look at Russia probe

In this April 25 , 2006 file photo , U.S. Attorney John Durham speaks to reporters on the steps of U.S. District Court in New Haven , Conn. Former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith will plead guilty to making a false statement in the first criminal case arising from U.S. Attorney John Durham 's investigation into the probe of ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign .
A former FBI lawyer will plead guilty to making a false statement in the first criminal case arising from U.S. Attorney John Durham 's investigation into the probe of ties between Russia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Kevin Clinesmith is likely to be cheered by President Donald Trump and his supporters as they look to the Durham investigation to lift Trump 's wobbly reelection prospects and to expose what they see as wrongdoing as the FBI opened an investigation into whether the Trump campaign was coordinating with the Kremlin to sway the outcome of the 2016 election .
Clinesmith is being charged in federal court in Washington and is expected to plead guilty to one county of making a false statement , his attorney Justin Shur told The Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also examining the intelligence community 's assessment about Russian election interference , has caused deep concern among Democrats , who view it as a politically charged exercise meant to relitigate an already closed investigation and fear criminal charges or public reports issued so close to the 2020 election could be timed to affect November 's vote .
The investigation has proceeded alongside a parallel effort by Senate Republicans to discredit the Russia probe and as Attorney General William Barr has escalated his own criticism of the FBI 's probe .
Barr foreshadowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Channel interview on Thursday night in which he said there would be a development Friday that was `` not earth shattering '' but would be an indication that the investigation was moving along .
Justice Department policy directs prosecutors not to take investigative steps for the purpose of affecting an election and frowns upon taking public actions in the weeks before an election .
But Barr has said he did not feel constrained by that policy in part because the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , former Vice President Joe Biden , is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Barr has signaled that he will look to make Durham 's findings public before the election .
Clinesmith was referred for potential prosecution by the department 's inspector general 's office , which conducted its own review of the Russia investigation .
That review found that the Russia probe was opened for a legitimate reason and did not find proof of political bias , but it also concluded that the FBI made significant errors and omissions as it applied for secret national security warrants to eavesdrop on former Trump campaign adviser Carter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused Clinesmith , though not by name , of altering an email about Page to say that he was `` not a source '' for another government agency .
Page has said he was a source for the CIA .
The Justice Department relied on that assertion as it submitted a third and final renewal application in 2017 to eavesdrop on Page under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act .
Clinesmith told the inspector general that from his conversations he did not understand Page to be a source , or a `` recruited asset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship with another government agency .
But that relationship was seen as something important to disclose to the FISA court , especially if Page was being tasked by the government to have interactions with Russians .
`` Kevin deeply regrets having altered the email , '' Shur said .
`` It was never his intent to mislead the court or his colleagues , as he believed the information he relayed was accurate , but Kevin understands what he did was wrong and accepts responsibility . ''
Durham is the U.S. attorney for Connecticut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of special assignments from Washington .
Former Attorney General Eric Holder selected him during the Obama administration to investigate the CIA 's harsh interrogation techniques of terror suspects and the destruction of videotapes documenting that interrogation .
Barr appointed Durham just weeks after special counsel Robert Mueller concluded his nearly two-year investigation .
Mueller found significant contacts during the 2016 campaign between Russians and Trump associates but did not allege a criminal conspiracy between them .
Mueller also examined multiple episodes in which Trump sought to affect or choke off the Russia investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclusion on whether Trump had obstructed justice .
Barr signaled his skepticism with the Russia investigation right away , concluding that Trump had not obstructed justice even though Mueller had pointedly left that question unresolved .
More recently , Barr stepped in to dismiss the criminal case against former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn even though Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI , and Barr overruled prosecutors to seek a lighter prison term for Trump confidant Roger Stone .
The Republican president commuted Stone 's sentence last month .

In this April 25, 2006 file photo, U.S. Attorney John Durham speaks to reporters on the steps of U.S. District Court in New Haven, Conn.
A former FBI lawyer will plead guilty to making a false statement in the first criminal case arising from U.S. Attorney John Durham's investigation into the probe of ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign.
The case against Kevin Clinesmith is likely to be cheered by President Donald Trump and his supporters as they look to the Durham investigation to lift Trump's wobbly reelection prospects and to expose what they see as wrongdoing as the FBI opened an investigation into whether the Trump campaign was coordinating with the Kremlin to sway the outcome of the 2016 election.
Clinesmith is being charged in federal court in Washington and is expected to plead guilty to one county of making a false statement, his attorney Justin Shur told The Associated Press.
The Durham investigation, which is also examining the intelligence community's assessment about Russian election interference, has caused deep concern among Democrats, who view it as a politically charged exercise meant to relitigate an already closed investigation and fear criminal charges or public reports issued so close to the 2020 election could be timed to affect November's vote.
The investigation has proceeded alongside a parallel effort by Senate Republicans to discredit the Russia probe and as Attorney General William Barr has escalated his own criticism of the FBI's probe.
Barr foreshadowed the legal action in a Fox News Channel interview on Thursday night in which he said there would be a development Friday that was "not earth shattering" but would be an indication that the investigation was moving along.
Justice Department policy directs prosecutors not to take investigative steps for the purpose of affecting an election and frowns upon taking public actions in the weeks before an election. But Barr has said he did not feel constrained by that policy in part because the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, is not a target of Durham's investigation, and Barr has signaled that he will look to make Durham's findings public before the election.
Clinesmith was referred for potential prosecution by the department's inspector general's office, which conducted its own review of the Russia investigation.
That review found that the Russia probe was opened for a legitimate reason and did not find proof of political bias, but it also concluded that the FBI made significant errors and omissions as it applied for secret national security warrants to eavesdrop on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.
Specifically, the inspector general accused Clinesmith, though not by name, of altering an email about Page to say that he was "not a source" for another government agency. Page has said he was a source for the CIA. The Justice Department relied on that assertion as it submitted a third and final renewal application in 2017 to eavesdrop on Page under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Clinesmith told the inspector general that from his conversations he did not understand Page to be a source, or a "recruited asset," or to have a direct relationship with another government agency. But that relationship was seen as something important to disclose to the FISA court, especially if Page was being tasked by the government to have interactions with Russians.
"Kevin deeply regrets having altered the email," Shur said. "It was never his intent to mislead the court or his colleagues, as he believed the information he relayed was accurate, but Kevin understands what he did was wrong and accepts responsibility."
Durham is the U.S. attorney for Connecticut and a veteran prosecutor with a history of special assignments from Washington. Former Attorney General Eric Holder selected him during the Obama administration to investigate the CIA's harsh interrogation techniques of terror suspects and the destruction of videotapes documenting that interrogation.
Barr appointed Durham just weeks after special counsel Robert Mueller concluded his nearly two-year investigation. Mueller found significant contacts during the 2016 campaign between Russians and Trump associates but did not allege a criminal conspiracy between them.
Mueller also examined multiple episodes in which Trump sought to affect or choke off the Russia investigation, but he did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump had obstructed justice.
Barr signaled his skepticism with the Russia investigation right away, concluding that Trump had not obstructed justice even though Mueller had pointedly left that question unresolved.
More recently, Barr stepped in to dismiss the criminal case against former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn even though Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, and Barr overruled prosecutors to seek a lighter prison term for Trump confidant Roger Stone. The Republican president commuted Stone's sentence last month.


cnbc--2020-08-14--Appointments of acting Homeland Security chief and top aide are invalid, congressional watchdog says

Chad Wolf , acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) , speaks during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Thursday , Aug. 6 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — A U.S. government watchdog concluded Friday that the top two officials at the Department of Homeland Security were improperly appointed following a slew of hasty resignations at the federal agency .
The Government Accountability Office , or GAO , found that the appointments of Chad Wolf , acting secretary of Homeland Security , and Ken Cuccinelli , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not follow processes outlined in the Federal Vacancies Reform Act .
Therefore , the watchdog ruled , the appointments are invalid .
The Vacancies Reform Act allows for the temporary filling of vacant agency positions that require presidential appointment and Senate confirmation .
Because the department did not follow the proper chain of succession following the resignation of Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in 2019 , officials `` who assumed their positions under such amendments , including Chad Wolf and Kenneth Cuccinelli , were named by reference to an invalid order of succession , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The GAO , which conducted the investigation at the behest of lawmakers , added in its 12-page decision that it was referring its conclusions to the Department of Homeland Security inspector general .
The conclusion does not have the force of law , however .

Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), speaks during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020.
WASHINGTON — A U.S. government watchdog concluded Friday that the top two officials at the Department of Homeland Security were improperly appointed following a slew of hasty resignations at the federal agency.
The Government Accountability Office, or GAO, found that the appointments of Chad Wolf, acting secretary of Homeland Security, and Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary of Homeland Security, did not follow processes outlined in the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. Therefore, the watchdog ruled, the appointments are invalid.
The Vacancies Reform Act allows for the temporary filling of vacant agency positions that require presidential appointment and Senate confirmation.
Because the department did not follow the proper chain of succession following the resignation of Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in 2019, officials "who assumed their positions under such amendments, including Chad Wolf and Kenneth Cuccinelli, were named by reference to an invalid order of succession," according to the GAO's report.
The GAO, which conducted the investigation at the behest of lawmakers, added in its 12-page decision that it was referring its conclusions to the Department of Homeland Security inspector general. The conclusion does not have the force of law, however.


cnbc--2020-08-14--Trump will visit ill brother Robert in New York City hospital

Republican president-elect Donald Trump ( R ) hugs his brother Robert Trump after delivering his acceptance speech at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9 , 2016 in New York City .
President Donald Trump will travel to New York City on Friday to visit his ailing younger brother Robert Trump , who is back in a hospital there , the White House said .
`` I have a wonderful brother , we 've had a great relationship , '' Trump said at a press conference before departing for New York .
Robert Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most recent hospitalization was not disclosed by the White House .
President Trump `` has a very good relationship with his brother and his brother is very special to him , '' said a senior administration official who spoke with NBC News .
The Daily Beast reported in June that Robert Trump , 72 , spent at least 10 days in the neurosciences intensive care unit of Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan right before being released and promptly suing his and the president 's niece Mary Trump that month over her plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Robert Trump failed in several court actions to stop publication of that book , `` Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man . ''
Robert Trump argued that Mary Trump , in writing the book , had violated a nondisclosure agreement she signed with him , Donald Trump and their sister , retired federal appeals court Judge Maryanne Trump Barry .
The NDA stemmed from a legal brawl between Mary and her brother with their uncles and aunt over their share of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father of the president and Robert Trump , and of Mary 's dad , the late Fred Trump Jr. Mary Trump 's book has become a bestseller .
It contains scathing descriptions of the president .

Republican president-elect Donald Trump (R) hugs his brother Robert Trump after delivering his acceptance speech at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City.
President Donald Trump will travel to New York City on Friday to visit his ailing younger brother Robert Trump, who is back in a hospital there, the White House said.
"I have a wonderful brother, we've had a great relationship," Trump said at a press conference before departing for New York.
"He's having a hard time," the president added.
Robert Trump's condition or the date of his most recent hospitalization was not disclosed by the White House.
President Trump "has a very good relationship with his brother and his brother is very special to him," said a senior administration official who spoke with NBC News.
The Daily Beast reported in June that Robert Trump, 72, spent at least 10 days in the neurosciences intensive care unit of Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan right before being released and promptly suing his and the president's niece Mary Trump that month over her plan to publish a book about the Trump family.
Robert Trump failed in several court actions to stop publication of that book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man."
Robert Trump argued that Mary Trump, in writing the book, had violated a nondisclosure agreement she signed with him, Donald Trump and their sister, retired federal appeals court Judge Maryanne Trump Barry.
The NDA stemmed from a legal brawl between Mary and her brother with their uncles and aunt over their share of the estate of Fred Trump Sr., the father of the president and Robert Trump, and of Mary's dad, the late Fred Trump Jr.
Mary Trump's book has become a bestseller. It contains scathing descriptions of the president.
-- Additional reporting by CNBC's Kevin Breuninger.


cnbc--2020-08-14--New Jersey will send mail-in ballots to 'everybody' for 2020 election, despite Trump's attacks, gove

New Jersey will send mail-in ballots to 'everybody' for 2020 election, despite Trump's attacks, governor says

New Jersey will send mail-in ballots to all registered voters for the 2020 presidential election while still offering the option for voters to cast their ballots in person , Gov .
Phil Murphy said Friday .
`` As it relates to mail-in ballots , the good news is in a general election , it does n't matter what party you 're in , everybody gets a ballot , '' Murphy announced in a CNN interview .
`` So we 're going to have a hybrid model in November . ''
The Democratic governor 's embrace of a plan for widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has aggressively sought to undermine that voting model , claiming that it will lead to massive fraud in spite of assurances from election experts .
While experts say voter fraud is generally rare , Murphy acknowledged that some `` specific '' instances of alleged fraud have been seen in his state — particularly in an election in Paterson , which Trump has repeatedly claimed is a harbinger of what 's to come if universal mail-in voting is allowed in the November general election .
But the governor maintained to CNN that `` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probability of being hit by lightning than we do uncovering voter fraud . ''
New Jersey implemented the `` hybrid '' model for its July primary elections amid the coronavirus pandemic , as many voters who would otherwise vote in person were expected to steer clear of polling stations for fear of contracting or spreading the disease .
More than 5.2 million Covid-19 cases and at least 167,200 deaths have been reported in the U.S. , according to Johns Hopkins University .
`` We mailed ballots to folks who were registered in either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were n't and we also provided in-person voting capacity , '' Murphy said .
`` It was a success .
Not perfect , but overwhelmingly a success .
And so we 're going to announce , not to break too much news here later today , that we 're going to extend that model into the general election in November . ''
Murphy said that `` if you do vote in person , you 'll have to do what we call provisional voting , because the folks wo n't necessarily know at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually already mailed a ballot in .
That 's what we did in the primary , little bit more cumbersome but it works . ''
An official account of the Republican National Committee appeared to criticize Murphy 's comments by highlighting his admission that New Jersey saw some evidence of alleged fraud in recent elections .
The Garden State will join a handful of others already planning to mail ballots out to voters .
The Trump campaign has sued at least one state , Nevada , after its governor signed into law a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House declined to comment .
Representatives for the governor 's office and the Trump campaign did not immediately respond to CNBC 's requests for comment on Murphy 's remarks .
Democrats say they are far more likely than Republicans to vote for president by mail , according to a new Change Research/CNBC poll of likely voters in battleground states .
The poll , which was conducted between Friday and Sunday and surveyed 2,701 likely battleground voters , found 64 % of Democrats saying they expected to vote by mail , compared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 36 % of independents .
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points .

New Jersey will send mail-in ballots to all registered voters for the 2020 presidential election while still offering the option for voters to cast their ballots in person, Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday.
"As it relates to mail-in ballots, the good news is in a general election, it doesn't matter what party you're in, everybody gets a ballot," Murphy announced in a CNN interview. "So we're going to have a hybrid model in November."
The Democratic governor's embrace of a plan for widespread mail-in voting comes as President Donald Trump has aggressively sought to undermine that voting model, claiming that it will lead to massive fraud in spite of assurances from election experts.
CNNC NEWDAY TWEET
While experts say voter fraud is generally rare, Murphy acknowledged that some "specific" instances of alleged fraud have been seen in his state — particularly in an election in Paterson, which Trump has repeatedly claimed is a harbinger of what's to come if universal mail-in voting is allowed in the November general election.
But the governor maintained to CNN that "I'm pretty sure we have a higher probability of being hit by lightning than we do uncovering voter fraud."
New Jersey implemented the "hybrid" model for its July primary elections amid the coronavirus pandemic, as many voters who would otherwise vote in person were expected to steer clear of polling stations for fear of contracting or spreading the disease. More than 5.2 million Covid-19 cases and at least 167,200 deaths have been reported in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University.
"We mailed ballots to folks who were registered in either party, we mailed applications to those who weren't and we also provided in-person voting capacity," Murphy said.
"It was a success. Not perfect, but overwhelmingly a success. And so we're going to announce, not to break too much news here later today, that we're going to extend that model into the general election in November."
Murphy said that "if you do vote in person, you'll have to do what we call provisional voting, because the folks won't necessarily know at the voting location whether or not you actually already mailed a ballot in. That's what we did in the primary, little bit more cumbersome but it works."
An official account of the Republican National Committee appeared to criticize Murphy's comments by highlighting his admission that New Jersey saw some evidence of alleged fraud in recent elections.
RNC TWEET
The Garden State will join a handful of others already planning to mail ballots out to voters. The Trump campaign has sued at least one state, Nevada, after its governor signed into law a plan for statewide mail-in voting.
The White House declined to comment. Representatives for the governor's office and the Trump campaign did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment on Murphy's remarks.
Democrats say they are far more likely than Republicans to vote for president by mail, according to a new Change Research/CNBC poll of likely voters in battleground states.
The poll, which was conducted between Friday and Sunday and surveyed 2,701 likely battleground voters, found 64% of Democrats saying they expected to vote by mail, compared with just 14% of Republican respondents and 36% of independents. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.


cnbc--2020-08-14--Sen. Elizabeth Warren demands 'corruption' probe after report of Amazon options purchase by Postal S

Sen. Elizabeth Warren demands 'corruption' probe after report of Amazon options purchase by Postal Service chief Louis DeJoy

Senator Elizabeth Warren speaks at a campaign rally at the Seattle Center Armory in Seattle , Washington , February 22 , 2020 .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Thursday demanded that the U.S .
Postal Service 's internal ethics watchdog investigate what she suggested was `` corruption '' in the purchase of Amazon stock options by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy after his appointment to that job .
The Massachusetts Democrat Warren , in a tweet , wrote that DeJoy 's `` investments in @ USPS competitors were already deeply problematic . ''
`` But his purchase of @ Amazon stock options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she added .
`` The @ OIGUSPS must investigate this corruption , '' Warren wrote , using the Twitter address of the Postal Service 's Office of Inspector General .
A spokesperson for the OIG in an email to CNBC wrote , `` Inspector General Tammy L. Whitcomb received a congressional request last week and our office is reviewing it for appropriate response .
We can not comment on details of any ongoing work . ''
A USPS spokesman , when asked for comment about Warren 's tweet , in an email reply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week .
`` I take my ethical obligations seriously , and I have done what is necessary to ensure that I am and will remain in compliance with those obligations , '' DeJoy said in that statement .
Warren 's tweet linked to a CNN report on Wednesday , which said that DeJoy continues to hold at least at least $ 30 million in holdings in his former company XPO Logistics , which is a United States Postal Service contractor .
CNN reported that those holdings likely created `` a major conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial disclosures and ethics experts , '' who the news site said `` were shocked that ethics officials at the postal service approved this arrangement . ''
CNN , citing government financial disclosures , also reported that on the same day in June that `` DeJoy divested large amounts of Amazon shares , he purchased stock options giving him the right to buy new shares of Amazon at a price much lower than their current market price . ''
`` This could lead to a separate conflict , given President Donald Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort in 2018 to pressure DeJoy 's predecessor to raise prices on Amazon and other firms , while complaining about its founder Jeff Bezos , '' CNN noted .
DeJoy , who previously worked as chairman and CEO of New Breed Logistics , a company that had contracted with the U.S .
Postal Service , was selected as Postmaster General in May by the USPS 's board of governors .
DeJoy before his selection also had been a major Republican Party fundraiser .
In June , The Washington Post had reported that `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the ambassador-nominee to Canada , have between $ 30.1 million and $ 75.3 million in assets in USPS competitors or contractors , according to Wos 's financial disclosure paperwork filed with the Office of Government Ethics . ''
The Post noted that the `` vast majority '' of those holdings were in XPO Logistics , which acquired New Breed Logistics in 2014 .
But the couple 's `` combined stake in competitors UPS and trucking company J.B. Hunt is roughly $ 265,000 . ''
CNN 's article on Wednesday said that records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 265,000 and $ 550,000 in UPS stock , but divested them after becoming postmaster general . ''

Senator Elizabeth Warren speaks at a campaign rally at the Seattle Center Armory in Seattle, Washington, February 22, 2020.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Thursday demanded that the U.S. Postal Service's internal ethics watchdog investigate what she suggested was "corruption" in the purchase of Amazon stock options by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy after his appointment to that job.
The Massachusetts Democrat Warren, in a tweet, wrote that DeJoy's "investments in @USPS competitors were already deeply problematic."
"But his purchase of @Amazon stock options after his appointment is inexcusable," she added.
"The @OIGUSPS must investigate this corruption," Warren wrote, using the Twitter address of the Postal Service's Office of Inspector General.
Tweet
A spokesperson for the OIG in an email to CNBC wrote, "Inspector General Tammy L. Whitcomb received a congressional request last week and our office is reviewing it for appropriate response. We cannot comment on details of any ongoing work."
A USPS spokesman, when asked for comment about Warren's tweet, in an email reply pointed to a statement issued by DeJoy last week.
"I take my ethical obligations seriously, and I have done what is necessary to ensure that I am and will remain in compliance with those obligations," DeJoy said in that statement.
Warren's tweet linked to a CNN report on Wednesday, which said that DeJoy continues to hold at least at least $30 million in holdings in his former company XPO Logistics, which is a United States Postal Service contractor.
CNN reported that those holdings likely created "a major conflict of interest, according to newly obtained financial disclosures and ethics experts," who the news site said "were shocked that ethics officials at the postal service approved this arrangement."
CNN, citing government financial disclosures, also reported that on the same day in June that "DeJoy divested large amounts of Amazon shares, he purchased stock options giving him the right to buy new shares of Amazon at a price much lower than their current market price."
"This could lead to a separate conflict, given President Donald Trump's disdain for Amazon, and his reported effort in 2018 to pressure DeJoy's predecessor to raise prices on Amazon and other firms, while complaining about its founder Jeff Bezos," CNN noted.
DeJoy, who previously worked as chairman and CEO of New Breed Logistics, a company that had contracted with the U.S. Postal Service, was selected as Postmaster General in May by the USPS's board of governors. DeJoy before his selection also had been a major Republican Party fundraiser.
In June, The Washington Post had reported that "DeJoy and his wife, Aldona Wos, the ambassador-nominee to Canada, have between $30.1 million and $75.3 million in assets in USPS competitors or contractors, according to Wos's financial disclosure paperwork filed with the Office of Government Ethics."
The Post noted that the "vast majority" of those holdings were in XPO Logistics, which acquired New Breed Logistics in 2014.
But the couple's "combined stake in competitors UPS and trucking company J.B. Hunt is roughly $265,000."
CNN's article on Wednesday said that records show that "DeJoy owned between $265,000 and $550,000 in UPS stock, but divested them after becoming postmaster general."


cnbc--2020-08-14--Coronavirus stimulus stalemate could drag on for weeks as Congress leaves town

An impasse over the next round of coronavirus aid looks likely to drag on after Democrats and Republicans described themselves as hopelessly far apart on a deal to combat raging economic and health-care crises .
An agreement on legislation , let alone passage of a bill , looks weeks away .
The Senate wrapped up its session Thursday afternoon and will not return this month unless negotiators strike an agreement .
The House had already left Washington for all of August pending a deal on pandemic relief .
Leaders in Washington followed a familiar script Thursday .
They indicated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement .
They do not know when meaningful negotiations will restart .
They called the opposing party unreasonable as millions of Americans wonder whether they can afford food or housing in the coming days and weeks .
Negotiators ' path to resolving vast differences of opinion over the best tools to stabilize a country ravaged by the pandemic looks murkier than ever .
As the stalemate drags on , an ineffectual response from Congress risks hampering efforts to contain the world 's worst virus outbreak and blowing up positive steps toward an improved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conventions will consume their attention over the next two weeks .
If they return next month without an agreement , lawmakers will have to consider coronavirus aid while trying to avoid a government shutdown by Sept. 30 .
It is unclear now when Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will sit down with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to resume discussions .
Pelosi and Mnuchin last made contact by phone on Wednesday , when Mnuchin once again said the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1 trillion aid offer .
On Thursday , Pelosi said she does not have a timeline for when the sides will talk again .
`` I do n't know .
When they come in with $ 2 trillion , '' she told reporters at the Capitol .
`` We ca n't wait until Sept. 30 .
People will die , '' Pelosi said earlier in her news conference .

An impasse over the next round of coronavirus aid looks likely to drag on after Democrats and Republicans described themselves as hopelessly far apart on a deal to combat raging economic and health-care crises.
An agreement on legislation, let alone passage of a bill, looks weeks away. The Senate wrapped up its session Thursday afternoon and will not return this month unless negotiators strike an agreement. The House had already left Washington for all of August pending a deal on pandemic relief.
Leaders in Washington followed a familiar script Thursday. They indicated the sides have made no progress toward an agreement.
They do not know when meaningful negotiations will restart. They called the opposing party unreasonable as millions of Americans wonder whether they can afford food or housing in the coming days and weeks.
Negotiators' path to resolving vast differences of opinion over the best tools to stabilize a country ravaged by the pandemic looks murkier than ever. As the stalemate drags on, an ineffectual response from Congress risks hampering efforts to contain the world's worst virus outbreak and blowing up positive steps toward an improved economy.
The parties' 2020 political conventions will consume their attention over the next two weeks. If they return next month without an agreement, lawmakers will have to consider coronavirus aid while trying to avoid a government shutdown by Sept. 30.
It is unclear now when Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will sit down with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to resume discussions. Pelosi and Mnuchin last made contact by phone on Wednesday, when Mnuchin once again said the White House would not double the GOP's roughly $1 trillion aid offer.
On Thursday, Pelosi said she does not have a timeline for when the sides will talk again.
"I don't know. When they come in with $2 trillion," she told reporters at the Capitol.
"We can't wait until Sept. 30. People will die," Pelosi said earlier in her news conference.


cnbc--2020-08-15--'There's going to be a lot of angry people.' Despite Trump tweets, Americans still face weeks before

'There's going to be a lot of angry people.' Despite Trump tweets, Americans still face weeks before more stimulus money arrives

President Donald Trump is `` ready to send '' more coronavirus stimulus money .
But it remains unclear if that is enough to move stalled Congressional negotiations forward so that Americans can see more money in their pockets .
On Friday , Trump posted several tweets with one key message : `` Democrats are holding this up ! ''
In the tweets , he addressed direct payments to families , which would amount to $ 3,400 for a family of four ; additional Paycheck Protection Program funds to small businesses affected by the shutdown ; money for state and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs of firefighters , police officers , first responders and teachers ; funding for states to open schools safely ; and payments for rental assistance .
It is not clear if the president 's tweets will be enough to dislodge the political stalemate , which could last until September now that Congress is not in session and both parties are set to hold their national conventions in the coming weeks .
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle seem to be in agreement on the additional stimulus checks and small business funding .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a sticking point in negotiations between the parties .
Democrats want to fund state and local governments , while some Republican lawmakers have dug in their heels on providing the money .
Democrats are willing to spend more than $ 3 trillion on a new bill , while Republicans have said they want to keep the total cost down to about $ 1 trillion .
`` On the back of the envelope , that 's at least $ 1 trillion right there , '' Bill Hoagland , senior vice president at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priorities Trump mentioned in his tweets .
Trump needs Congress to authorize the aid spending , Hoagland said .
The executive orders he signed last weekend including extended unemployment insurance was possible because they were categorized as disaster rather than regular payments .
Key details , including who will get those unemployment benefits and when , are still unknown .
Millions of Americans will also have to wait for second stimulus checks , which both sides of the aisle have indicated they want , but would need to pass legislation in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of payments would likely be similar to the first checks , which were $ 1,200 per individual or $ 2,400 per married couple , plus $ 500 for eligible dependents .
Some changes have been proposed , including raising the dependent pay to $ 1,000 or $ 1,200 per person , raising the cap on the dependent eligibility age , and making it so that Americans who filed jointly with non-citizen spouses ( those without Social Security numbers ) would still get the money .
But action on that may not happen until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address appropriations for fiscal year 2021 , which begins in October .
A delay on that would prompt a partial government shutdown .
`` I can not imagine any way in which Republicans or Democrats want to have a government shutdown a month out from the election , '' Hoagland said .
The stimulus aid could get taken up in a continuing resolution , he said .
Meanwhile , Americans who are counting on more financial help will have to wait , Hoagland said .
That 's as Trump 's executive order did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the new extended unemployment benefits will be paid on a federal and state level is still getting sorted out .
`` I think there 's going to be some people that are going to be hurting between now and September , '' Hoagland said .
`` Come Labor Day , there 's going to be a lot of angry people . ''
If Congress signs off on the stimulus checks in September , Americans may have to wait until October or later to receive the money .

President Donald Trump in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Aug. 3. Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump is "ready to send" more coronavirus stimulus money. But it remains unclear if that is enough to move stalled Congressional negotiations forward so that Americans can see more money in their pockets. On Friday, Trump posted several tweets with one key message: "Democrats are holding this up!" In the tweets, he addressed direct payments to families, which would amount to $3,400 for a family of four; additional Paycheck Protection Program funds to small businesses affected by the shutdown; money for state and local governments, so that they can save jobs of firefighters, police officers, first responders and teachers; funding for states to open schools safely; and payments for rental assistance. Tweet It is not clear if the president's tweets will be enough to dislodge the political stalemate, which could last until September now that Congress is not in session and both parties are set to hold their national conventions in the coming weeks. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle seem to be in agreement on the additional stimulus checks and small business funding. Money for state and local governments has been a sticking point in negotiations between the parties. Democrats want to fund state and local governments, while some Republican lawmakers have dug in their heels on providing the money.
watch now
Democrats are willing to spend more than $3 trillion on a new bill, while Republicans have said they want to keep the total cost down to about $1 trillion. "On the back of the envelope, that's at least $1 trillion right there," Bill Hoagland, senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said of the priorities Trump mentioned in his tweets. Trump needs Congress to authorize the aid spending, Hoagland said. The executive orders he signed last weekend including extended unemployment insurance was possible because they were categorized as disaster rather than regular payments. Key details, including who will get those unemployment benefits and when, are still unknown. Millions of Americans will also have to wait for second stimulus checks, which both sides of the aisle have indicated they want, but would need to pass legislation in order to put in motion. The second round of payments would likely be similar to the first checks, which were $1,200 per individual or $2,400 per married couple, plus $500 for eligible dependents. Some changes have been proposed, including raising the dependent pay to $1,000 or $1,200 per person, raising the cap on the dependent eligibility age, and making it so that Americans who filed jointly with non-citizen spouses (those without Social Security numbers) would still get the money.
watch now
But action on that may not happen until September, when Congress also has to address appropriations for fiscal year 2021, which begins in October. A delay on that would prompt a partial government shutdown. "I cannot imagine any way in which Republicans or Democrats want to have a government shutdown a month out from the election," Hoagland said. The stimulus aid could get taken up in a continuing resolution, he said. Meanwhile, Americans who are counting on more financial help will have to wait, Hoagland said. That's as Trump's executive order did little to prevent evictions and details of how the new extended unemployment benefits will be paid on a federal and state level is still getting sorted out. "I think there's going to be some people that are going to be hurting between now and September," Hoagland said. "Come Labor Day, there's going to be a lot of angry people." If Congress signs off on the stimulus checks in September, Americans may have to wait until October or later to receive the money.
watch now
More from Personal Finance:
Trump wants stimulus checks to be more than $1,200
How HEALS Act stimulus checks would be different
How soon you can expect another stimulus check in the mail "Politically, some of the people in the White House might think it's a good thing to get a check signed by Donald Trump right before the election," Hoagland said. This time around, deploying millions of $1,200 payments will likely be easier for the IRS, which means people could receive the funds more quickly, said Kris Cox, senior tax policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "Despite decades of funding cuts, the IRS impressively got stimulus payments out the door within weeks of the CARES legislation passing," Cox said. "We expect the IRS is anticipating a second round and they're ready and equipped to get money out the door quickly." But that depends on lawmakers coming back to the negotiating table and agreeing, she said.


cnbc--2020-08-15--Appointments of acting Homeland Security chief and top aide are invalid, congressional watchdog says


cnbc--2020-08-16--Trump says UAE and Israel to normalize relations in deal that pauses West Bank annexations

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates — President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that the United Arab Emirates and Israel agreed to establish normal diplomatic relations in a development that will put on pause Israel 's efforts to annex parts of the West Bank claimed by Palestinians .
The president released a joint statement from the two countries and the United States on Twitter announcing the move .
Leaders of the three countries spoke earlier in the day , according to the statement .
The news comes amid years of warming ties between the UAE and Israel , which until now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relations .
The UAE , as with many Arab countries , has had an economic boycott against Israel since its founding and does not formally recognize it .
But cooperation between the two on issues like security and the increasing frequency of unofficial meetings by leaders , often aided by Washington , have been widely reported for some time .
The deal makes the UAE the first Persian Gulf state to normalize ties with Israel and only the third Arab country , after Egypt and Jordan , to have open diplomatic ties to @ @ @

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that the United Arab Emirates and Israel agreed to establish normal diplomatic relations in a development that will put on pause Israel's efforts to annex parts of the West Bank claimed by Palestinians.
The president released a joint statement from the two countries and the United States on Twitter announcing the move. Leaders of the three countries spoke earlier in the day, according to the statement.
The news comes amid years of warming ties between the UAE and Israel, which until now have not had official diplomatic or trade relations.
The UAE, as with many Arab countries, has had an economic boycott against Israel since its founding and does not formally recognize it. But cooperation between the two on issues like security and the increasing frequency of unofficial meetings by leaders, often aided by Washington, have been widely reported for some time.
The deal makes the UAE the first Persian Gulf state to normalize ties with Israel and only the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, to have open diplomatic ties to the country.


cnbc--2020-08-16--Democrats call for Postal chief to testify at 'urgent' Congress hearing over election concerns

U.S. Postmaster General Louis Dejoy arrives at a meeting at the office of Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) at the U.S. Capitol August 5 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
The House Oversight Committee will have an emergency hearing on Aug. 24 to address mail delivery delays and fears that the Trump administration is interfering with the U.S .
Postal Service in order to impact voting in the November presidential election .
House Democrats on Sunday called on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Postal Service board of governors Chairman Robert M. Duncan to testify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats previously called for the subpoena of DeJoy , an ally of President Trump who they allege is purposely creating problems with the Postal Service to undermine the election .
`` The postmaster general and top Postal Service leadership must answer to the Congress and the American people as to why they are pushing these dangerous new policies that threaten to silence the voices of millions , just months before the election , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , House Oversight Chair Carolyn B. Maloney D-N.Y. , Senate Minority Leader Charles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peters , D-Mich. wrote in a statement on Sunday .
Since beginning his role in June , DeJoy implemented a slew of major changes to the Post Office , including a move to prohibit overtime , curtailing late trips for mail carriers that ensure on-time delivery and changing leadership within the agency .
These changes have raised concern that the delivery of vital medical prescriptions and Social Security checks could face delays .
The Postal Service is removing hundreds of mail-processing machines across the country and has warned 46 states that it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots in time to be counted for the election , likely disqualifying votes .
President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic will lead to widespread voter fraud .
Trump suggested last week that he does not support billions of dollars for the Postal Service because he opposes mail-in voting .
Democrats , including former President Barack Obama , have accused Trump of trying to suppress the vote as he trails nominee Joe Biden in the polls .
Protesters in Washington D.C. called for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more than 100 people gathering outside his home .
The Postal Service 's inspector general has launched an investigation into the complaints Democrats have raised against DeJoy .
`` Your testimony is particularly urgent given the troubling influx of reports of widespread delays at postal facilities across the country — as well as President Trump 's explicit admission last week that he has been blocking critical coronavirus funding for the Postal Service in order to impair mail-in voting efforts for the upcoming elections in November , '' Maloney wrote in the letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interview on CNN on Sunday morning , White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said he is open to a standalone bill that funds the Postal Service as the agency grapples with an increase in mail voting , a statement at odds with Trump 's comments last week that he would possibly support more funding only through a broader stimulus package .
Meadows also said the Postal Service will not remove more mail-sorting machines between now and the November election : `` Sorting machines between now and Election Day will not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

U.S. Postmaster General Louis Dejoy arrives at a meeting at the office of Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) at the U.S. Capitol August 5, 2020 in Washington, DC.
The House Oversight Committee will have an emergency hearing on Aug. 24 to address mail delivery delays and fears that the Trump administration is interfering with the U.S. Postal Service in order to impact voting in the November presidential election.
House Democrats on Sunday called on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Postal Service board of governors Chairman Robert M. Duncan to testify at the upcoming hearing. Several House Democrats previously called for the subpoena of DeJoy, an ally of President Trump who they allege is purposely creating problems with the Postal Service to undermine the election.
"The postmaster general and top Postal Service leadership must answer to the Congress and the American people as to why they are pushing these dangerous new policies that threaten to silence the voices of millions, just months before the election," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., House Oversight Chair Carolyn B. Maloney D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.,and Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. wrote in a statement on Sunday.
Since beginning his role in June, DeJoy implemented a slew of major changes to the Post Office, including a move to prohibit overtime, curtailing late trips for mail carriers that ensure on-time delivery and changing leadership within the agency. These changes have raised concern that the delivery of vital medical prescriptions and Social Security checks could face delays.
The Postal Service is removing hundreds of mail-processing machines across the country and has warned 46 states that it may not be able to process all mail-in ballots in time to be counted for the election, likely disqualifying votes.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic will lead to widespread voter fraud. Trump suggested last week that he does not support billions of dollars for the Postal Service because he opposes mail-in voting. Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, have accused Trump of trying to suppress the vote as he trails nominee Joe Biden in the polls.
Protesters in Washington D.C. called for the resignation of DeJoy over the weekend, with more than 100 people gathering outside his home. The Postal Service's inspector general has launched an investigation into the complaints Democrats have raised against DeJoy.
TWEET
"Your testimony is particularly urgent given the troubling influx of reports of widespread delays at postal facilities across the country — as well as President Trump's explicit admission last week that he has been blocking critical coronavirus funding for the Postal Service in order to impair mail-in voting efforts for the upcoming elections in November," Maloney wrote in the letter on Sunday addressed to DeJoy.
In an interview on CNN on Sunday morning, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said he is open to a standalone bill that funds the Postal Service as the agency grapples with an increase in mail voting, a statement at odds with Trump's comments last week that he would possibly support more funding only through a broader stimulus package.
Meadows also said the Postal Service will not remove more mail-sorting machines between now and the November election: "Sorting machines between now and Election Day will not be taken off line," he said.


cnbc--2020-08-16--President Trump's younger brother, Robert, has died

Republican president-elect Donald Trump ( R ) hugs his brother Robert Trump after delivering his acceptance speech at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9 , 2016 in New York City .
Robert Trump , the younger brother of President Donald Trump , has passed away , the White House said in a statement late Saturday .
`` It is with heavy heart I share that my wonderful brother , Robert , peacefully passed away tonight , '' the president said in the statement .
`` He was not just my brother , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be greatly missed , but we will meet again . ''
There were conflicting reports about whether he was 71 or 72 , according to NBC News .
The president traveled to New York City on Friday to visit his ailing younger brother who was back in hospital .
It is not clear what the cause of his death was .
The White House did not disclose Robert Trump 's illness and the date of his most recent hospitalization .
He was one of Trump 's four siblings and recently filed a lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by their niece , Mary Trump .
The tell-all memoir , `` Too Much and Never Enough , How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man , '' was published ahead of schedule after Robert failed to stop its release .

Republican president-elect Donald Trump (R) hugs his brother Robert Trump after delivering his acceptance speech at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City.
Robert Trump, the younger brother of President Donald Trump, has passed away, the White House said in a statement late Saturday.
"It is with heavy heart I share that my wonderful brother, Robert, peacefully passed away tonight," the president said in the statement. "He was not just my brother, he was my best friend. He will be greatly missed, but we will meet again."
There were conflicting reports about whether he was 71 or 72, according to NBC News.
The president traveled to New York City on Friday to visit his ailing younger brother who was back in hospital.
It is not clear what the cause of his death was. The White House did not disclose Robert Trump's illness and the date of his most recent hospitalization.
He was one of Trump's four siblings and recently filed a lawsuit to block the publication of a book by their niece, Mary Trump. The tell-all memoir, "Too Much and Never Enough, How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man," was published ahead of schedule after Robert failed to stop its release.


cnbc--2020-08-15--House lawmakers met with White House on stalled coronavirus relief talks

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers spoke with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in an effort to advance stalled discussions on the coronavirus economic stimulus package , a person at the meeting told NBC News Saturday .
Seven members of the bipartisan `` Problem Solvers Caucus , '' who have previously met twice to try to advance negotiations , were present at the discussion which took place Friday morning .
The dialogue was `` respectful and productive '' and another meeting is possible , the person told NBC News .
The participants included Reps. Josh Gottheimer , D-N.J. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phillips , D-Minn. , Jimmy Panetta , D-Calif. , as well as Reps. Tom Reed , R-N.Y. , Anthony Gonzalez , R-Ohio and Pete Stauber , R-Minn. '' Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus spoke with Chief of Staff Meadows [ yesterday ] morning to discuss ways to help break the logjam between parties , get negotiators back in the room and help America in our response to the Covid crisis , '' a spokesperson for the Problem Solvers Crisis said .
Coronavirus aid talks between Democratic leaders and the Trump administration came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders have not made any progress since .
An agreement on legislation or even a passage of a bill appear to be weeks away .
The Senate ended its final session on Thursday and will not return this month unless an agreement is reached , and the House had already left Washington for all of August .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for the GOP to increase its aid offer by $ 1 trillion and said she would then lower her offer by $ 1 trillion , bringing about a deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other Republicans have repeatedly said the White House will not double the GOP 's $ 1 trillion offer .
`` Despite Congressional Democrats continued insistence on blocking coronavirus legislation in favor of their own political interests , the White House continues to evaluate all options on how we can deliver relief to the American worker , keep our schools safe and ignite our economy again , '' a White House spokesperson said .
After the talks collapsed , President Trump signed a series of executive orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move that will quickly face legal challenges because Congress , not the president , controls federal funding .
The president 's actions included extending unemployment benefits to at least $ 300 a week , providing some eviction protections , extending existing student loan relief and implementing a payroll tax holiday .
Correction : A bipartisan group of House lawmakers met with the White House chief of staff Friday morning .
Rep. Abigail Spanberger is a Democrat from Virginia .
A previous version of this story misstated the date of the meeting and Spanberger @ @ @

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers spoke with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in an effort to advance stalled discussions on the coronavirus economic stimulus package, a person at the meeting told NBC News Saturday.
Seven members of the bipartisan "Problem Solvers Caucus," who have previously met twice to try to advance negotiations, were present at the discussion which took place Friday morning. The dialogue was "respectful and productive" and another meeting is possible, the person told NBC News.
The participants included Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., Dean Phillips, D-Minn., Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., as well as Reps. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., Anthony Gonzalez, R-Ohio and Pete Stauber, R-Minn.
"Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus spoke with Chief of Staff Meadows [yesterday] morning to discuss ways to help break the logjam between parties, get negotiators back in the room and help America in our response to the Covid crisis," a spokesperson for the Problem Solvers Crisis said.
Coronavirus aid talks between Democratic leaders and the Trump administration came to a halt on Aug. 7 and leaders have not made any progress since.
An agreement on legislation or even a passage of a bill appear to be weeks away. The Senate ended its final session on Thursday and will not return this month unless an agreement is reached, and the House had already left Washington for all of August.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for the GOP to increase its aid offer by $1 trillion and said she would then lower her offer by $1 trillion, bringing about a deal with a $2 trillion price tag. However, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other Republicans have repeatedly said the White House will not double the GOP's $1 trillion offer.
"Despite Congressional Democrats continued insistence on blocking coronavirus legislation in favor of their own political interests, the White House continues to evaluate all options on how we can deliver relief to the American worker, keep our schools safe and ignite our economy again," a White House spokesperson said.
After the talks collapsed, President Trump signed a series of executive orders to extend some pandemic relief, a move that will quickly face legal challenges because Congress, not the president, controls federal funding.
The president's actions included extending unemployment benefits to at least $300 a week, providing some eviction protections, extending existing student loan relief and implementing a payroll tax holiday.
Correction: A bipartisan group of House lawmakers met with the White House chief of staff Friday morning. Rep. Abigail Spanberger is a Democrat from Virginia. A previous version of this story misstated the date of the meeting and Spanberger's state.


cnbc--2020-08-17--Jared Kushner defends administration's pandemic response, says Trump blames China for the virus

White House senior advisor and the U.S. president 's son-in-law , Jared Kushner , has defended the Trump administration 's strategy to combat the coronavirus pandemic , saying others have tried to use the crisis to `` play politics '' — but not President Donald Trump .
`` Some people have chosen to play politics with the pandemic , President Trump has opted not to politicize it and he 's done everything possible to try to figure how to help people get whatever care they need , '' Kushner told CNBC in an exclusive interview on Friday .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from China into our country .
It 's ravaged many countries throughout the world and I think President Trump has dealt with it in a very responsible way , '' he added .
In February , when there were just three cases of Covid-19 in the U.S. , Trump accused the Democrats of politicizing the virus and using it as a `` new hoax '' to damage his reputation .
Since then , the coronavirus has infected more than 21.5 million people worldwide and killed at least 773,000 people , according to data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. is the worst-hit nation and accounts for about 25 % of the global cases reported so far .
Since then , Trump has repeatedly downplayed the seriousness of the virus as the epidemic it has wrought in the United States — the worst in the developed world — has apparently damaged his re-election chances .
He has even claimed coronavirus will `` go away '' on its own , though those statements and countless others like them directly contradict the consensus among epidemiologists and other medical professionals .
Asked by CNBC 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistake for the U.S. not to have a national program to fight the virus , Kushner said the government oversaw the procurement , production and distribution of resources needed during the pandemic , such as masks and ventilators .
`` With regards to a national strategy , the job of the federal government was to get the resources that the country needed , '' he said .
`` You heard all these hysterical reports about doctors on the front lines not being able to get masks , not having enough ventilators , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than they needed , and again , every patient in America that needed a ventilator got a ventilator , President Trump distributed them properly , '' Kushner told CNBC 's Hadley Gamble .
The U.S. government has been criticized over its handling of the coronavirus epidemic , where over 5.4 million confirmed cases of the virus have now been recorded and where there have been over 170,000 deaths , according to Hopkins ' data on Sunday .
Kushner led a coronavirus response task force aimed at securing protective gear for medical workers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ task force , which parallels the government 's official task force spearheaded by Vice President Mike Pence , was accused of inexperience and a lack of transparency over its dealings .
It was widely reported that a national strategy over testing was dropped in favor of a state-by-state response to make the Democratic governors in some of the hardest-hit states look bad .
The White House denied those allegations .
Kushner insisted that the Trump administration had ensured an adequate supply of resources to states , but that it did not want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government has done a lot to stimulate the supply ( of resources ) .
Every governor that has needed resources , we 've dealt with them and we 've done it .
Governors run the states ... President Trump from Washington is not going to tell them how to run their states . ''
Asked if there were any regrets about the White House 's approach , Kushner said , `` there 's always things you could do differently . ''
He did not elaborate further .
`` But again , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's ( Trump 's ) made a lot of right decisions ... we have 50 states , which means you have 50 CEOs , and his job is to work with all of them , '' he added .

watch now
White House senior advisor and the U.S. president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has defended the Trump administration's strategy to combat the coronavirus pandemic, saying others have tried to use the crisis to "play politics" — but not President Donald Trump. "Some people have chosen to play politics with the pandemic, President Trump has opted not to politicize it and he's done everything possible to try to figure how to help people get whatever care they need," Kushner told CNBC in an exclusive interview on Friday. "This is a global pandemic, it came from China into our country. It's ravaged many countries throughout the world and I think President Trump has dealt with it in a very responsible way," he added. In February, when there were just three cases of Covid-19 in the U.S., Trump accused the Democrats of politicizing the virus and using it as a "new hoax" to damage his reputation. Since then, the coronavirus has infected more than 21.5 million people worldwide and killed at least 773,000 people, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. is the worst-hit nation and accounts for about 25% of the global cases reported so far.
Jared Kushner, senior advisor to President Trump, listens to the president during a listening session with cybersecurity experts in the Roosevelt Room the White House in Washington on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. Jabin Botsford | The Washington Post | Getty Images
Since then, Trump has repeatedly downplayed the seriousness of the virus as the epidemic it has wrought in the United States — the worst in the developed world — has apparently damaged his re-election chances. He has even claimed coronavirus will "go away" on its own, though those statements and countless others like them directly contradict the consensus among epidemiologists and other medical professionals. Asked by CNBC's Hadley Gamble whether it had been a mistake for the U.S. not to have a national program to fight the virus, Kushner said the government oversaw the procurement, production and distribution of resources needed during the pandemic, such as masks and ventilators. "With regards to a national strategy, the job of the federal government was to get the resources that the country needed," he said. "You heard all these hysterical reports about doctors on the front lines not being able to get masks, not having enough ventilators, you had governors requesting a lot more ventilators than they needed, and again, every patient in America that needed a ventilator got a ventilator, President Trump distributed them properly," Kushner told CNBC's Hadley Gamble. The U.S. government has been criticized over its handling of the coronavirus epidemic, where over 5.4 million confirmed cases of the virus have now been recorded and where there have been over 170,000 deaths, according to Hopkins' data on Sunday.
watch now


cnbc--2020-08-17--What to watch for on Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention

WASHINGTON – Four Republicans , two popular Democratic governors , one very progressive senator and former first lady Michelle Obama will all appear on stage Monday to kick off the first all-virtual Democratic National Convention .
The goal of the evening 's two-hour broadcast will be to showcase what a big tent Democrats have built in the age of Trump .
To do that , they have Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , a democratic socialist , speaking in the same hour as former Ohio Gov .
John Kasich , a Republican who sought his party 's presidential nomination in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lineup for Day 1 of the DNC They also have two Democratic governors , Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .
Both have won praise for capably leading their states through the coronavirus crisis , and for reaching across the aisle to work with Republicans when they needed to .
Kasich is not alone .
Three more Republicans are set to address the virtual convention Monday : Former New Jersey Gov .
Christine Todd Whitman , former Hewlett Packard CEO Meg Whitman and former New York Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the opposite party in a national nominating convention is virtually unheard of .
But it reflects the fact that national Democrats this year see their ticket of former Vice President Joe Biden and California Sen. Kamala Harris as a natural fit for Republican voters who are either exhausted or disgusted by three years of President Donald Trump .
`` I had always been hopeful , even after the convention and after the election , that perhaps we would see a change in the president , but we just never have , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I happen to think it 's the soul of our country that is being damaged , and that 's what I 'm concerned about . ''
Still , there 's a lot of rhetorical space between simply being `` concerned '' about Trump and actively endorsing Biden .
This will be a key dynamic to watch for on Monday night : Whether speakers representing the edges of what Democrats hope will be their 2020 coalition are all in for Biden , or whether they 're just afraid of Trump .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be wooing on Monday .
It 's also the progressives on the far left side of the proverbial tent , some of whom were disappointed last week that Biden did not choose a more traditionally progressive running mate .
For them , convention organizers are giving the nation 's most visible progressive lawmaker , Sanders , a prominent platform on Monday , where he will be the second-to-last speaker of the night .
Sanders was the last Democratic primary candidate to drop out , leaving Biden as the party 's presumptive nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afterwards , progressives will be looking to Sanders on Monday for a convincing argument why they should vote for Biden and Harris .
There are two ways that Sanders could use his time on Monday : He could either focus his remarks solely on Trump 's flaws and failings , essentially making the case not for Biden , but for anyone else besides Trump .
Or Sanders could step up and offer an affirmative endorsement of Biden and Harris because of who they are , not just because they 're not Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be warmly welcomed by Biden and by Democratic Party leaders , who privately acknowledge that the nominee still has an enthusiasm deficit among progressives that Trump is eager to exploit .
While Trump 's hyperbole may not capture exactly what 's going on , there were signs Monday that Democrats still have work to do if they plan to unite the various anti-Trump factions under one banner .
Before Kasich had taken the stage , he was already getting pushback from a prominent progressive after he mentioned her in an interview : New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unity are what Democrats need to project on Monday night , then there is no one better to do so than the night 's keynote speaker : former first lady Michelle Obama .
Three years out of the White House , polls still show Obama among the most admired and respected women in America .
She even wins approval among Republican women , a crucial voting bloc that Democrats hope to peel away from the president this year .
More importantly , Obama can deliver unifying and motivating `` big picture '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skill that earned her a memorable nickname during her husband 's 2008 presidential run – `` the closer . ''
On Monday afternoon , Obama released a clip of her remarks , which appear to have been pre-recorded .
`` I know Joe .
He is a profoundly decent man guided by faith , '' says Obama .
`` He was a terrific vice president .
He knows what it takes to rescue and economy , beat back a pandemic and lead our country . ''

Michelle Obama waves as she appears onstage during the first session at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, July 25, 2016. Jim Young | Reuters
WASHINGTON – Four Republicans, two popular Democratic governors, one very progressive senator and former first lady Michelle Obama will all appear on stage Monday to kick off the first all-virtual Democratic National Convention. The goal of the evening's two-hour broadcast will be to showcase what a big tent Democrats have built in the age of Trump. To do that, they have Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist, speaking in the same hour as former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican who sought his party's presidential nomination in 2016. Read more: Here's the lineup for Day 1 of the DNC They also have two Democratic governors, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Both have won praise for capably leading their states through the coronavirus crisis, and for reaching across the aisle to work with Republicans when they needed to.
Republicans for Biden
Kasich is not alone. Three more Republicans are set to address the virtual convention Monday: Former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, former Hewlett Packard CEO Meg Whitman and former New York Rep. Susan Molinari. Including this many members of the opposite party in a national nominating convention is virtually unheard of. But it reflects the fact that national Democrats this year see their ticket of former Vice President Joe Biden and California Sen. Kamala Harris as a natural fit for Republican voters who are either exhausted or disgusted by three years of President Donald Trump. "I had always been hopeful, even after the convention and after the election, that perhaps we would see a change in the president, but we just never have," Kasich told The New York Times. "I happen to think it's the soul of our country that is being damaged, and that's what I'm concerned about."
Former Ohio Governor John Kasich John Lamparski | Getty Images
Still, there's a lot of rhetorical space between simply being "concerned" about Trump and actively endorsing Biden. This will be a key dynamic to watch for on Monday night: Whether speakers representing the edges of what Democrats hope will be their 2020 coalition are all in for Biden, or whether they're just afraid of Trump.
Dividing lines
It's not just erstwhile Republicans whom the party will be wooing on Monday. It's also the progressives on the far left side of the proverbial tent, some of whom were disappointed last week that Biden did not choose a more traditionally progressive running mate. For them, convention organizers are giving the nation's most visible progressive lawmaker, Sanders, a prominent platform on Monday, where he will be the second-to-last speaker of the night. Sanders was the last Democratic primary candidate to drop out, leaving Biden as the party's presumptive nominee. While he officially endorsed Biden shortly afterwards, progressives will be looking to Sanders on Monday for a convincing argument why they should vote for Biden and Harris. There are two ways that Sanders could use his time on Monday: He could either focus his remarks solely on Trump's flaws and failings, essentially making the case not for Biden, but for anyone else besides Trump. Or Sanders could step up and offer an affirmative endorsement of Biden and Harris because of who they are, not just because they're not Donald Trump.
Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders rallies with supporters in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, February 26, 2020. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
An affirmative speech from Sanders would be warmly welcomed by Biden and by Democratic Party leaders, who privately acknowledge that the nominee still has an enthusiasm deficit among progressives that Trump is eager to exploit. TRUMP TWEET While Trump's hyperbole may not capture exactly what's going on, there were signs Monday that Democrats still have work to do if they plan to unite the various anti-Trump factions under one banner. Before Kasich had taken the stage, he was already getting pushback from a prominent progressive after he mentioned her in an interview: New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. CORTEZ TWEET
Michelle Obama's 'big picture'
If enthusiasm and unity are what Democrats need to project on Monday night, then there is no one better to do so than the night's keynote speaker: former first lady Michelle Obama. Three years out of the White House, polls still show Obama among the most admired and respected women in America. She even wins approval among Republican women, a crucial voting bloc that Democrats hope to peel away from the president this year. More importantly, Obama can deliver unifying and motivating "big picture" political speeches like few others, a skill that earned her a memorable nickname during her husband's 2008 presidential run – "the closer." On Monday afternoon, Obama released a clip of her remarks, which appear to have been pre-recorded. "I know Joe. He is a profoundly decent man guided by faith," says Obama. "He was a terrific vice president. He knows what it takes to rescue and economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country."


cnbc--2020-08-17--Pro-Biden super PAC hosting virtual convention pre-show for donors with guests including Mary Trump

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee former Vice President Joe Biden signs required documents for receiving the Democratic nomination for President at the Hotel DuPont on August 14 , 2020 in Wilmington , Delaware .
A pro-Biden super PAC is hosting a series of virtual convention pre-shows for donors and one of the featured guests is President Donald Trump 's niece , Mary Trump .
The invite shows a string of virtual events that start Monday and continue through Thursday , when the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden is scheduled to speak at the convention .
The flyer says the pre-show episodes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ super PAC backing Biden , and Media Matters , a left-leaning nonprofit watchdog that investigates Trump 's conservative media allies .
Both were founded by David Brock , who is listed as one of the co-hosts for the virtual gatherings .
Other hosts include former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick , who are co-chairing a nine figure joint effort between American Bridge and Unite the Country , another pro-Biden super PAC .
The two committees have spent millions backing Biden , including American Bridge 's effort targeting voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
Some donors who are participating have given over $ 50,000 to American Bridge each year for the last three years , according to people familiar with the matter , who declined to be named as the events had yet to be made public .
Trump 's niece , who recently published a best-selling book trashing her uncle , is scheduled to speak on Tuesday to donors , along with fellow author Tony Schwartz , the ghostwriter of `` Trump : The Art of the Deal . ''
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Brain : Understanding Donald Trump From Those Who Know Him Best . ''
Donors will also get an `` insider 's view of the Biden campaign , '' with veteran campaign strategists James Carville and Jim Messina giving donors a briefing on the state of the race .
A Real Clear Politics polling average shows Biden up by seven points .
Biden allies from congress will also be taking part in the pre-show festivities , with some already scheduled to speak at the virtual convention itself .
The PACs congressional speakers that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James Clybrun , D-S.C. , Reps. Haley Stevens , D-Mich , and Conor Lamb , D-Pa. Former Sen.Chris Dodd , D-Conn. , who was a member of Biden 's vice president selection committee , is listed as a featured speaker .
Governors Tom Wolf and Gretchen Whitmer will also be featured guests .

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee former Vice President Joe Biden signs required documents for receiving the Democratic nomination for President at the Hotel DuPont on August 14, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware.
A pro-Biden super PAC is hosting a series of virtual convention pre-shows for donors and one of the featured guests is President Donald Trump's niece, Mary Trump.
The invite shows a string of virtual events that start Monday and continue through Thursday, when the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden is scheduled to speak at the convention. The flyer says the pre-show episodes are presented by American Bridge, a super PAC backing Biden, and Media Matters, a left-leaning nonprofit watchdog that investigates Trump's conservative media allies.
Both were founded by David Brock, who is listed as one of the co-hosts for the virtual gatherings. Other hosts include former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, who are co-chairing a nine figure joint effort between American Bridge and Unite the Country, another pro-Biden super PAC.
The two committees have spent millions backing Biden, including American Bridge's effort targeting voters in the key swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Some donors who are participating have given over $50,000 to American Bridge each year for the last three years, according to people familiar with the matter, who declined to be named as the events had yet to be made public.
Trump's niece, who recently published a best-selling book trashing her uncle, is scheduled to speak on Tuesday to donors, along with fellow author Tony Schwartz, the ghostwriter of "Trump: The Art of the Deal." Their joint event is titled "Inside Trump's Brain: Understanding Donald Trump From Those Who Know Him Best."
Donors will also get an "insider's view of the Biden campaign," with veteran campaign strategists James Carville and Jim Messina giving donors a briefing on the state of the race. A Real Clear Politics polling average shows Biden up by seven points.
Biden allies from congress will also be taking part in the pre-show festivities, with some already scheduled to speak at the virtual convention itself. The PACs congressional speakers that are backing Biden include House Majority Whip James Clybrun, D-S.C., Reps. Haley Stevens, D-Mich, and Conor Lamb, D-Pa. Former Sen.Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who was a member of Biden's vice president selection committee, is listed as a featured speaker. Governors Tom Wolf and Gretchen Whitmer will also be featured guests.


cnbc--2020-08-17--Hillary Clinton slams Trump's response to coronavirus pandemic, decision to withdraw from WHO

WASHINGTON — Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton bashed the Trump administration 's response to the coronavirus pandemic and slammed its decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization .
`` There 's a lot of really important work that needs to be done , and the United States has to be in the middle of it , it can not sit on the sidelines being indifferent , or even contemptuous of international efforts and expect that we 're going to benefit ourselves , '' Clinton told a virtual audience during an interview hosted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be having intense diplomatic conversations with health experts , logistics experts and others about how we are going to finally get to a safe and effective vaccine or perhaps even more than one , and then manage the distribution of it so that we try to bring the world together around defeating the pandemic , not permit the vaccine nationalism that is taking place right now , '' Clinton said .
Last month , the Trump administration submitted to the U.N. secretary-general its notice to withdraw from the World Health Organization by July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official confirmed to CNBC .
The notice to the United Nations was the first step in a yearlong process that will rely on several factors outside of Trump 's control , including cooperation from Congress and the president 's own reelection in November , neither of which are assured .
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has previously said that he would have the U.S. rejoin the WHO on day one of his presidency , were he to defeat Trump this November .
Earlier this month , WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its decision to leave the United Nations ' health organization , adding that the coronavirus ca n't be defeated `` in a divided world . ''
`` The problem is not about the money .
It 's not the financing that 's the issue .
It 's actually the relationship with the U.S. that 's more important and its leadership abroad , '' Ghebreyesus told a virtual audience at the Aspen Security Forum .
The Trump administration 's move to withdraw from the WHO comes as coronavirus cases reach nearly 5.5 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins University tally .
Worldwide , the virus has infected about 21.7 million and killed more than 775,900 .
At least 170,000 have died in the U.S. alone .
`` Let us hope that individual nations will learn lessons .
But let us also hope that collectively we can put together a more robust and quick international response and get every nation to buy into it , so that you do n't have the role of any nation in the midst of a potential pandemic be too , you know , shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We need to be more open and transparent , '' Clinton said .

WASHINGTON — Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton bashed the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic and slammed its decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization.
"There's a lot of really important work that needs to be done, and the United States has to be in the middle of it, it cannot sit on the sidelines being indifferent, or even contemptuous of international efforts and expect that we're going to benefit ourselves," Clinton told a virtual audience during an interview hosted by the Atlantic Council.
"We should be having intense diplomatic conversations with health experts, logistics experts and others about how we are going to finally get to a safe and effective vaccine or perhaps even more than one, and then manage the distribution of it so that we try to bring the world together around defeating the pandemic, not permit the vaccine nationalism that is taking place right now," Clinton said.
Last month, the Trump administration submitted to the U.N. secretary-general its notice to withdraw from the World Health Organization by July 6, 2021, a senior administration official confirmed to CNBC.
The notice to the United Nations was the first step in a yearlong process that will rely on several factors outside of Trump's control, including cooperation from Congress and the president's own reelection in November, neither of which are assured.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has previously said that he would have the U.S. rejoin the WHO on day one of his presidency, were he to defeat Trump this November.
Earlier this month, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he hopes the United States will reconsider its decision to leave the United Nations' health organization, adding that the coronavirus can't be defeated "in a divided world."
"The problem is not about the money. It's not the financing that's the issue. It's actually the relationship with the U.S. that's more important and its leadership abroad," Ghebreyesus told a virtual audience at the Aspen Security Forum.
The Trump administration's move to withdraw from the WHO comes as coronavirus cases reach nearly 5.5 million in the United States, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally. Worldwide, the virus has infected about 21.7 million and killed more than 775,900. At least 170,000 have died in the U.S. alone.
"Let us hope that individual nations will learn lessons. But let us also hope that collectively we can put together a more robust and quick international response and get every nation to buy into it, so that you don't have the role of any nation in the midst of a potential pandemic be too, you know, shut down and exclude investigation from international experts. We need to be more open and transparent," Clinton said.


cnbc--2020-08-17--USPS chief Louis DeJoy agrees to testify before Congress next week

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , center , leaves the Capitol after meeting with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , on Wednesday , Aug. 5 , 2020 .
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee about his overhaul of the agency amid a growing pressure campaign to reverse his changes in the run-up to the 2020 election .
Oversight Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney , D-N.Y. , said in a press release she was `` pleased '' to report that DeJoy will appear before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The American people want their mail , medicines , and mail-in ballots delivered in a timely way , and they certainly do not want drastic changes and delays in the midst of a global pandemic just months before the election , '' Maloney said in the release .
Robert Duncan , chairman of the Postal Service 's Board of Governors , which selected DeJoy in May , has also agreed to testify on the same day , according to the release from the Oversight panel .
The hearing is scheduled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be livestreamed , the press release said .
A spokesman for USPS later confirmed that DeJoy and Duncan will testify .
On Monday afternoon , Trump complained on Twitter that Congress is meeting to discuss the post office next Monday , when the Republican National Convention is set to kick off , rather than during the week of the Democrats ' convention .
`` They are always playing games , '' Trump tweeted .
Since starting his role in mid-June , DeJoy , a major donor to Republicans and committees supporting President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of significant cost-cutting measures , which reportedly include major reductions in overtime and crackdowns on making late trips to deliver mail .
The changes have led to reports of widespread mail delays .
The hearing marks the first time DeJoy will answer directly to Democratic lawmakers who have raised concerns that his actions at USPS are undermining the government agency and could impact the presidential election between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
More ballots than ever before are expected to be cast by mail as Americans continue to socially distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
DeJoy insisted earlier this month that USPS has `` ample capacity '' to handle the anticipated flood of mail-in ballots .
But the agency has reportedly sent letters to most states warning that it can not guarantee all mail-in ballots will arrive in time to be counted in the presidential race .
Trump , meanwhile , has repeatedly criticized both the postal service and the prospect of widespread voting by mail in the November election .
Last week he said that negotiations on an additional coronavirus relief package were being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' demand for $ 25 billion in stimulus for USPS , as well as $ 3.6 billion in election funding .
Trump suggested he believes he can stop expanded mail-in voting plans if he refuses to agree to fund those efforts .
`` If we do n't make a deal , that means they do n't get the money , that means they ca n't have universal mail-in voting .
They just ca n't have it , '' Trump said .
The president has said in subsequent remarks that he is open to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Polls show Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to vote for president by mail , according to a new Change Research/CNBC poll of likely voters in battleground states .
Earlier Monday , seven leading senators sent a letter to the six-member USPS board – all of whom were appointed by Trump – urging them to reverse DeJoy 's changes .
`` Should he not cooperate with these efforts , you have the authority , under the Postal Reorganization Act , 'to remove the Postmaster General , ' with ' a favorable vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in office , ' '' said the letter , which was signed by senators including Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, and Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. After Maloney 's committee announced the hearing , Schumer once again called on Sen. Ron Johnson , the Republican head of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs panel , to schedule his own hearing with DeJoy and Duncan .
`` It is disappointing that Chairman Ron Johnson would rather spend time pushing Russian propaganda instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes at the Postal Service that adversely affect America 's veterans , seniors , and so many other people , '' Schumer said in a statement .
`` The Senate must also hold Postmaster General DeJoy accountable for his role in undermining one of America 's most important and sacred public institutions . ''
Meanwhile , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said Sunday she is calling the House back from summer recess in order to vote on Maloney 's bill to block DeJoy 's policies until after the Covid-19 pandemic has @ @

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, center, leaves the Capitol after meeting with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.,and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee about his overhaul of the agency amid a growing pressure campaign to reverse his changes in the run-up to the 2020 election.
Oversight Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said in a press release she was "pleased" to report that DeJoy will appear before her committee next Monday, Aug. 24.
"The American people want their mail, medicines, and mail-in ballots delivered in a timely way, and they certainly do not want drastic changes and delays in the midst of a global pandemic just months before the election," Maloney said in the release.
Robert Duncan, chairman of the Postal Service's Board of Governors, which selected DeJoy in May, has also agreed to testify on the same day, according to the release from the Oversight panel.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET and will be livestreamed, the press release said. A spokesman for USPS later confirmed that DeJoy and Duncan will testify.
On Monday afternoon, Trump complained on Twitter that Congress is meeting to discuss the post office next Monday, when the Republican National Convention is set to kick off, rather than during the week of the Democrats' convention.
"They are always playing games," Trump tweeted.
TWEET
Since starting his role in mid-June, DeJoy, a major donor to Republicans and committees supporting President Donald Trump, has implemented a slew of significant cost-cutting measures, which reportedly include major reductions in overtime and crackdowns on making late trips to deliver mail. The changes have led to reports of widespread mail delays.
The hearing marks the first time DeJoy will answer directly to Democratic lawmakers who have raised concerns that his actions at USPS are undermining the government agency and could impact the presidential election between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
More ballots than ever before are expected to be cast by mail as Americans continue to socially distance to try to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
DeJoy insisted earlier this month that USPS has "ample capacity" to handle the anticipated flood of mail-in ballots. But the agency has reportedly sent letters to most states warning that it cannot guarantee all mail-in ballots will arrive in time to be counted in the presidential race.
Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly criticized both the postal service and the prospect of widespread voting by mail in the November election.
Last week he said that negotiations on an additional coronavirus relief package were being held up in large part by Democrats' demand for $25 billion in stimulus for USPS, as well as $3.6 billion in election funding. Trump suggested he believes he can stop expanded mail-in voting plans if he refuses to agree to fund those efforts.
"If we don't make a deal, that means they don't get the money, that means they can't have universal mail-in voting. They just can't have it," Trump said.
The president has said in subsequent remarks that he is open to providing funding for the postal service.
Polls show Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to vote for president by mail, according to a new Change Research/CNBC poll of likely voters in battleground states.
Earlier Monday, seven leading senators sent a letter to the six-member USPS board – all of whom were appointed by Trump – urging them to reverse DeJoy's changes.
"Should he not cooperate with these efforts, you have the authority, under the Postal Reorganization Act, 'to remove the Postmaster General,' with 'a favorable vote of an absolute majority of the Governors in office,'" said the letter, which was signed by senators including Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
After Maloney's committee announced the hearing, Schumer once again called on Sen. Ron Johnson, the Republican head of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs panel, to schedule his own hearing with DeJoy and Duncan.
"It is disappointing that Chairman Ron Johnson would rather spend time pushing Russian propaganda instead of holding a hearing on the damaging operational changes at the Postal Service that adversely affect America's veterans, seniors, and so many other people," Schumer said in a statement. "The Senate must also hold Postmaster General DeJoy accountable for his role in undermining one of America's most important and sacred public institutions."
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Sunday she is calling the House back from summer recess in order to vote on Maloney's bill to block DeJoy's policies until after the Covid-19 pandemic has ended.