cnbc--2020-05-01--Mitt Romney proposes hazard pay raise of up to $12 an hour for essential workers

Sen. Mitt Romney on Friday proposed a hazard pay raise of up to $ 12 an hour for essential workers such as health-care and grocery store employees facing greater risks during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Utah Republican 's office said the wage bump , funded one-quarter by employers and three-quarters through a refundable payroll tax credit , would last through July .
Senate Democrats released a similar plan last month for a $ 13 per hour raise for front-line workers , but the pay hike would go through the rest of the year .
It is unclear how quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation to try to limit the damage from the outbreak , as they will have to agree on a range of issues from hazard pay to state and local government support and liability protection for employers .
Democrats and Republicans in Congress have lionized the essential employees who face more exposure to the coronavirus than Americans who can work from home .
But lawmakers have not approved a raise for those workers in the four bills passed so far to try to combat the economic and health damage caused by the outbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , food processors , and many others—the unsung patriots on the frontline of this pandemic—every day risk their safety for the health and well-being of our country , and they deserve our unwavering support , '' Romney said in a statement Friday .
The payroll tax credit would start to phase out for workers making above $ 50,000 per year and go away fully at a cap of $ 90,000 .
The biggest difference between Romney 's plan and Democrats ' proposal is the duration : the Republican 's measure would give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months .
The Democratic plan would also include a $ 15,000 incentive to recruit essential workers .
Congress will consider at least one more relief bill as the pandemic continues to tear across the country .
Covid-19 cases in the U.S. now top 1 million , and the disease has killed at least 63,000 people in the country , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
Efforts to slow its spread have left tens of millions of people laid off or furloughed .
Democrats have called for financial relief for state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S .
Postal Service and expanded broadband access , among other measures , in the next bill .
Republicans want liability protection for businesses as Americans start to go back to work and face a heightened risk of getting sick .
The Senate will return to Washington next week .
The House will not come back to work until the week of May 11 at the earliest .
Romney , the only Republican who voted to convict President Donald Trump after his Senate impeachment trial , was also the sole GOP senator left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening the economy .
Clarification : This story has been updated to clarify how Romney 's plan would work .

Sen. Mitt Romney on Friday proposed a hazard pay raise of up to $12 an hour for essential workers such as health-care and grocery store employees facing greater risks during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Utah Republican's office said the wage bump, funded one-quarter by employers and three-quarters through a refundable payroll tax credit, would last through July. Senate Democrats released a similar plan last month for a $13 per hour raise for front-line workers, but the pay hike would go through the rest of the year.
It is unclear how quickly lawmakers can pass the next piece of legislation to try to limit the damage from the outbreak, as they will have to agree on a range of issues from hazard pay to state and local government support and liability protection for employers.
Democrats and Republicans in Congress have lionized the essential employees who face more exposure to the coronavirus than Americans who can work from home. But lawmakers have not approved a raise for those workers in the four bills passed so far to try to combat the economic and health damage caused by the outbreak.
"Health care professionals, grocery store workers, food processors, and many others—the unsung patriots on the frontline of this pandemic—every day risk their safety for the health and well-being of our country, and they deserve our unwavering support," Romney said in a statement Friday.
The payroll tax credit would start to phase out for workers making above $50,000 per year and go away fully at a cap of $90,000.
The biggest difference between Romney's plan and Democrats' proposal is the duration: the Republican's measure would give the workers a raise for five fewer months. The Democratic plan would also include a $15,000 incentive to recruit essential workers.
Congress will consider at least one more relief bill as the pandemic continues to tear across the country. Covid-19 cases in the U.S. now top 1 million, and the disease has killed at least 63,000 people in the country, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Efforts to slow its spread have left tens of millions of people laid off or furloughed.
Democrats have called for financial relief for state and local governments, funding for the U.S. Postal Service and expanded broadband access, among other measures, in the next bill. Republicans want liability protection for businesses as Americans start to go back to work and face a heightened risk of getting sick.
The Senate will return to Washington next week. The House will not come back to work until the week of May 11 at the earliest.
Romney, the only Republican who voted to convict President Donald Trump after his Senate impeachment trial, was also the sole GOP senator left off a White House task force on reopening the economy.
Clarification: This story has been updated to clarify how Romney's plan would work.
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cnbc--2020-05-01--Trump tells Biden to 'fight' Tara Reade sexual assault allegation

President Donald Trump , who has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women , advised former Vice President Joe Biden to `` fight '' a sexual assault allegation against him from 27 years ago .
Tara Reade recently filed a complaint with Washington , D.C. , police saying that Biden sexually assaulted her while he served in the Senate in 1993 .
Police have moved the complaint to `` inactive '' status .
Biden on Friday denied the allegation , saying that `` it never , never happened . ''
Trump weighed in after Biden 's denial , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the matter .
`` I would just say to Joe Biden , 'Just go out and fight it , ' '' Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Dan Bongino .
`` He 's going to have to make his own decision , I 'm not going to be telling him what to do , '' Trump added .
`` Biden is going to have to go out and fight his own battles . ''
Trump , who is set to face Biden in the presidential election in November , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview , but suggested that in dealing with allegations like hers , he likes `` to get in front of it and I just deny it . ''
Trump himself has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women .
He has denied the allegations , repeatedly .
He won the White House in 2016 despite the bombshell disclosure of an old tape from the TV program `` Access Hollywood '' that revealed how he had bragged about groping women 's genitals without their consent .
The tape came to light weeks before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused of sexually groping and harassing multiple women .
One accuser , the writer E. Jean Carroll , claims in a civil defamation lawsuit that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s .
Trump has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct .
`` I 've been falsely accused by people that I 've never even seen , I 've never even seen many of these people .
And some of these people , I met them – zero interest , OK ?
Like zero , '' Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you become a wealthy guy , you 're a famous guy , then you become president , and people just – people that you 've never seen , that you 've never heard of make charges .
So I guess in a way you could say I 'm , I 'm sticking up for him , '' he said , referring to Biden .
Reade shook up Biden 's presidential campaign in March when she claimed on a podcast that Biden pinned her to a wall and used his fingers to penetrate her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he was a senator from Delaware .
Trump allies have been using Reade 's allegations against the former vice president .
Biden himself , breaking weeks of silence on the issue , addressed the allegation Friday morning in an interview with MSNBC .
In a statement released just before the interview , Biden cited `` the full and growing record of inconsistencies '' in the accusations and said : `` They are n't true .
This never happened . ''
Multiple other women have accused Biden of inappropriate and unwanted touching since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
-- CNBC 's Dan Mangan , Tucker Higgins and Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report .

President Donald Trump, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, advised former Vice President Joe Biden to "fight" a sexual assault allegation against him from 27 years ago.
Tara Reade recently filed a complaint with Washington, D.C., police saying that Biden sexually assaulted her while he served in the Senate in 1993. Police have moved the complaint to "inactive" status.
Biden on Friday denied the allegation, saying that "it never, never happened."
Trump weighed in after Biden's denial, which marked the Democrat's first public statement on the matter. "I would just say to Joe Biden, 'Just go out and fight it,'" Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Dan Bongino.
"He's going to have to make his own decision, I'm not going to be telling him what to do," Trump added. "Biden is going to have to go out and fight his own battles."
Trump, who is set to face Biden in the presidential election in November, called Reade "credible" in the interview, but suggested that in dealing with allegations like hers, he likes "to get in front of it and I just deny it."
Trump himself has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. He has denied the allegations, repeatedly.
He won the White House in 2016 despite the bombshell disclosure of an old tape from the TV program "Access Hollywood" that revealed how he had bragged about groping women's genitals without their consent. The tape came to light weeks before the election.
Trump has also been accused of sexually groping and harassing multiple women. One accuser, the writer E. Jean Carroll, claims in a civil defamation lawsuit that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct.
"I've been falsely accused by people that I've never even seen, I've never even seen many of these people. And some of these people, I met them – zero interest, OK? Like zero," Trump said.
"And all of a sudden you become a wealthy guy, you're a famous guy, then you become president, and people just – people that you've never seen, that you've never heard of make charges. So I guess in a way you could say I'm, I'm sticking up for him," he said, referring to Biden.
Reade shook up Biden's presidential campaign in March when she claimed on a podcast that Biden pinned her to a wall and used his fingers to penetrate her in an office building on Capitol Hill when he was a senator from Delaware.
Trump allies have been using Reade's allegations against the former vice president.
Biden himself, breaking weeks of silence on the issue, addressed the allegation Friday morning in an interview with MSNBC. In a statement released just before the interview, Biden cited "the full and growing record of inconsistencies" in the accusations and said: "They aren't true. This never happened."
Multiple other women have accused Biden of inappropriate and unwanted touching since he launched his campaign a year ago.
-- CNBC's Dan Mangan, Tucker Higgins and Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-05-01--Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen denied planned prison release day after getting warning about 'tel

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen denied planned prison release day after getting warning about 'tell-all' book

Michael Cohen , former attorney and fixer for President Donald Trump , gets emotional listening to Rep. Elijah Cummings ( D-MD ) give his closing statement after Cohen testified before the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill February 27 , 2019 in Washington , DC .
Michael Cohen , former personal lawyer and fixer for President Donald Trump , was denied a promised early release from prison Friday , a day after an attorney from the Trump Organization sent him a threatening letter warning against him publishing a reported `` tell-all '' book before the 2020 election .
White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' when asked at a news conference whether the White House directly or indirectly interfered in the decision to delay Cohen 's planned early released from a federal prison in New York state .
Cohen was due to be set free into home confinement Friday from the facility in Otisville because of concerns about the coronavirus spreading among inmates and guards .
He has completed a 14-day quarantine required for that release .
But the 53-year-old ex-lawyer , who was in the midst of serving a three-year criminal sentence , was told he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his family in Manhattan , according to people familiar with the situation .
It is not clear if Cohen 's release , which was originally approved by the federal Bureau of Prisons , has been permanently rescinded .
Cohen 's original release date , which is possibly now his current release date , was in November 2021 .
The BOP did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Cohen 's lawyer , Roger Adler , told CNBC in an email , `` I am disappointed that Michael was not released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` It is my understanding that compassionate release applications are being reviewed by the BOP central office , '' Adler wrote .
`` It is my hope that following that review that Michael Cohen will be released either on a furlough , or transferred to home confinement . ''
On Thursday , Charles Harder , a lawyer for the Trump Organization , sent Cohen a letter warning him that he would be at legal risk if he wrote a book about his time working for Trump , according to several people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment from CNBC .
The letter came 11 days after The Daily Beast reported that Cohen had been `` writing an explosive tell-all book about his stint '' as Trump 's lawyer `` and plans on releasing it before the election . ''
`` The actor and comedian Tom Arnold , who has been in regular contact with Cohen while he has been in prison , says Cohen told him the book would pull no punches , '' The Daily Beast reported .
Arnold told the news site , `` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much , but you hear the music , and for Trump he knows Michael is coming and Trump better hear the 'Jaws ' music . ''
`` He told me he 's been writing a book and he 's pissed .
He told me he is going to spill the beans .
What has he got to lose now ? ''
Arnold said , according to The Daily Beast .

Michael Cohen, former attorney and fixer for President Donald Trump, gets emotional listening to Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) give his closing statement after Cohen testified before the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill February 27, 2019 in Washington, DC.
Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer and fixer for President Donald Trump, was denied a promised early release from prison Friday, a day after an attorney from the Trump Organization sent him a threatening letter warning against him publishing a reported "tell-all" book before the 2020 election.
White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said "absolutely not" when asked at a news conference whether the White House directly or indirectly interfered in the decision to delay Cohen's planned early released from a federal prison in New York state.
Cohen was due to be set free into home confinement Friday from the facility in Otisville because of concerns about the coronavirus spreading among inmates and guards.
He has completed a 14-day quarantine required for that release.
But the 53-year-old ex-lawyer, who was in the midst of serving a three-year criminal sentence, was told he would not be going home on Friday to his family in Manhattan, according to people familiar with the situation.
It is not clear if Cohen's release, which was originally approved by the federal Bureau of Prisons, has been permanently rescinded.
Cohen's original release date, which is possibly now his current release date, was in November 2021.
The BOP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cohen's lawyer, Roger Adler, told CNBC in an email, "I am disappointed that Michael was not released after the 14 day quarantine period."


cnbc--2020-05-01--Harvard donates Jeffrey Epstein cash to victim groups, says some faculty asked to resume accepting m

Harvard donates Jeffrey Epstein cash to victim groups, says some faculty asked to resume accepting money from sex criminal in 2013

Harvard University donated more than $ 200,000 remaining from a total of $ 9.1 million in gifts from convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein to groups that support victims of sex trafficking and assault , the Ivy League school said Friday as it released a report detailing the wealthy investor 's extensive and sometimes embarassing connections there .
Harvard 's report , prepared by general counsel Diane Lopez , revealed that some faculty unsuccessfully tried to get the university to resume taking money from the now-deceased Epstein in 2013 .
That was both five years after the school stopped considering donations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation into him , and five years after he had pleaded guilty to sex crimes in Florida , one of which involved paying for sex from an underage girl .
The report said , in a footnote , that `` A number of the Harvard faculty members we interviewed also acknowledged that they visited Epstein at his homes in New York , Florida , New Mexico or the Virgin Islands , visited him in jail or on work release , or traveled on one of his planes . ''
And a Harvard program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an office for Epstein 's use and granted him keycard and passcode access '' to the program 's off-campus location even after his 2008 conviction , `` findings which raise questions about possible violations of Harvard policies , '' according to the report .
Professor Michael Nowak , the leader of that effort , the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics , has been placed on paid administrative leave from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences , according to Harvard .
The dean of FAS , in a statement , said , `` The actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the report warrant review to determine whether FAS policies and standards of professional conduct were violated and if additional steps must be taken . ''
`` We do not take this step lightly , but the seriousness of the matter leads us to believe it is not appropriate for Professor Nowak to continue in his role , other than what he will be asked to do to complete the semester , '' wrote Dean Claudine Gay .
Nowak did not immediately return a request for comment .
The report , among other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Epstein played a role in helping Nowak obtain unrestricted gifts in 2011 and 2014 totaling $ 6 million from Apollo Global Management CEO Leon Black and his wife Debra , and another $ 1 million in gifts from the Black Family Foundation in 2015 .
A representative for Black told Harvard for its report , `` Jeffrey Epstein introduced Mr. Black to the research that was being undertaken by Professors Church and Nowak . ''
`` Mr. Black met with Professors Nowak and Church to discuss their research in Cambridge , Massachusetts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also at Mr. Black 's New York office , '' the represenative for Black said , according to Harvard 's report .
`` The gifts made in support of Professor Church 's and Professor Nowak 's research were made by Mr. Black .
None of the funds were provided by Mr. Epstein and no attempt was made to conceal the source of these gifts . ''
Black 's lawyer declined to comment Friday when contacted by CNBC .
Harvard 's report came almost nine full months after Epstein killed himself in jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child sex trafficking charges .
A former friend of Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton , as well as of Britain 's Prince Andrew , Epstein was arrested last July after prosecutors accused of him of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls at his luxurious residences in New York City and Palm Beach , Fla. , from 2002 through 2006 .
In its new report , Harvard also admitted Epstein as a visiting fellow in the university 's Psychology Department for the 2005-2006 academic year despite the fact that he `` lacked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his application proposed a course of study Epstein was unqualified to pursue , '' the report found .
Harvard President Lawrence Bacow in a statement said , `` The report issued today describes principled decision-making but also reveals institutional and individual shortcomings that must be addressed — not only for the sake of the University but also in recognition of the courageous individuals who sought to bring Epstein to justice . ''
Bacow said that a full review of Epstein 's donations to the university confirmed the money man , who never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in combined gifts from 1998 through 2008 , `` to support a variety of research and faculty activities . ''
Bacow said that a `` review found that $ 200,937 of gifts [ to Harvard ] received from Epstein remained unspent . ''
`` In line with the commitment I shared in September , those funds have been divided equally between My Life My Choice , based in Boston , and Girls Educational & Mentoring Services ( GEMS ) , based in New York , '' Bacow wrote .
`` These organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault , and Harvard is proud to support their important and valuable work , '' he added .
The review found that no gifts were received from Epstein following his conviction in 2008 in Florida on state charges , one of which involved soliciting sex for pay from an underage girl .
`` In 2008 , shortly after taking office as President , Drew G. Faust was asked to consider a new gift from Epstein , '' Lopez wrote in a letter to Bacow .
`` Though she had not heard of him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefed on the nature of the allegations against him , she determined that Harvard should no longer accept gifts from him . ''
The largest single gift made by Epstein , one for $ 6.5 million in 2003 , `` established Harvard 's Program for Evolutionary Dynamics , '' led by Nowak , the report said .
`` Epstein 's $ 6.5 million gift to PED enabled Harvard and Professor Nowak to create and pay for a separate research facility for PED in a Harvard Square office building leased from a private owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The report also said that `` it is likely that he visited PED 's offices more than 40 times between 2010 and 2018 , including visits as recently as October 2018 . ''
`` His visits ended after a number of PED researchers complained to Professor Nowak about Epstein 's con-tinuing relationship with PED , '' according to the report overseen by Lopez .
But before that , the report said , `` In 2013 , Epstein 's publicist sought to burnish Epstein 's reputation by asking PED to post on PED 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' websites , which included both flattering descriptions of Epstein as a science philanthropist and false claims about the level of support he provided to Harvard . ''
`` In 2014 , Epstein 's publicist asked Professor Nowak to feature Epstein in a full page on PED 's Harvard website .
Professor Nowak approved each of these requests , '' the report said .
`` We found no evidence that University or FAS leadership knew about these postings.. PED removed the Epstein page from its website after PED and Harvard received complaints in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group .
These findings also raise questions about possible violations of Harvard policies . ''
The report , found that even after his conviction and subsequent 13-month stint in jail , `` Some members of the Harvard community continued their relationships with Epstein , '' Lopez noted in a letter to Bacow released Friday .
Lopez also wrote , `` In 2013 , several faculty members requested that Harvard reconsider accepting donations from Epstein . ''
`` That request was put before then-Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences , Michael D. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Epstein , reached the same conclusion as President Faust , and denied the request to entertain the possibility of gifts from Epstein , '' Lopez wrote .
`` In his interview , Dean Smith explained that he concluded at the time that it would be inconsistent with Harvard 's commitment to address sexual assault and harassment at our institution to accept gifts from Epstein , '' Lopez wrote .
Harvard 's endowment last year was valued at more than $ 40 billion , making it the largest endowment of any university in @ @ @ @

Harvard University donated more than $200,000 remaining from a total of $9.1 million in gifts from convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein to groups that support victims of sex trafficking and assault, the Ivy League school said Friday as it released a report detailing the wealthy investor's extensive and sometimes embarassing connections there.
Harvard's report, prepared by general counsel Diane Lopez, revealed that some faculty unsuccessfully tried to get the university to resume taking money from the now-deceased Epstein in 2013.
That was both five years after the school stopped considering donations from him because of concerns about an investigation into him, and five years after he had pleaded guilty to sex crimes in Florida, one of which involved paying for sex from an underage girl.
The report said, in a footnote, that "A number of the Harvard faculty members we interviewed also acknowledged that they visited Epstein at his homes in New York, Florida, New Mexico or the Virgin Islands, visited him in jail or on work release, or traveled on one of his planes."
And a Harvard program funded by an Epstein gift "maintained an office for Epstein's use and granted him keycard and passcode access" to the program's off-campus location even after his 2008 conviction, "findings which raise questions about possible violations of Harvard policies," according to the report.
Professor Michael Nowak, the leader of that effort, the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, has been placed on paid administrative leave from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, according to Harvard.
The dean of FAS, in a statement, said, "The actions taken by" Nowak "as described in the report warrant review to determine whether FAS policies and standards of professional conduct were violated and if additional steps must be taken."
"We do not take this step lightly, but the seriousness of the matter leads us to believe it is not appropriate for Professor Nowak to continue in his role, other than what he will be asked to do to complete the semester," wrote Dean Claudine Gay.
Nowak did not immediately return a request for comment.
The report, among other things, said that Nowak acknowledged that Epstein played a role in helping Nowak obtain unrestricted gifts in 2011 and 2014 totaling $6 million from Apollo Global Management CEO Leon Black and his wife Debra, and another $1 million in gifts from the Black Family Foundation in 2015.
A representative for Black told Harvard for its report, "Jeffrey Epstein introduced Mr. Black to the research that was being undertaken by Professors Church and Nowak."
"Mr. Black met with Professors Nowak and Church to discuss their research in Cambridge, Massachusetts and, in the case of Professor Church, also at Mr. Black's New York office," the represenative for Black said, according to Harvard's report.
"The gifts made in support of Professor Church's and Professor Nowak's research were made by Mr. Black. None of the funds were provided by Mr. Epstein and no attempt was made to conceal the source of these gifts."
Black's lawyer declined to comment Friday when contacted by CNBC.
Harvard's report came almost nine full months after Epstein killed himself in jail in Manhattan while awaiting trial on federal child sex trafficking charges.
A former friend of Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as of Britain's Prince Andrew, Epstein was arrested last July after prosecutors accused of him of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls at his luxurious residences in New York City and Palm Beach, Fla., from 2002 through 2006.
In its new report, Harvard also admitted Epstein as a visiting fellow in the university's Psychology Department for the 2005-2006 academic year despite the fact that he "lacked the academic qualifications Visiting Fellows typically possess, and his application proposed a course of study Epstein was unqualified to pursue," the report found.
Harvard President Lawrence Bacow in a statement said, "The report issued today describes principled decision-making but also reveals institutional and individual shortcomings that must be addressed — not only for the sake of the University but also in recognition of the courageous individuals who sought to bring Epstein to justice."
Bacow said that a full review of Epstein's donations to the university confirmed the money man, who never attended Harvard, had donated $9.1 million in combined gifts from 1998 through 2008, "to support a variety of research and faculty activities."
Bacow said that a "review found that $200,937 of gifts [to Harvard] received from Epstein remained unspent."
"In line with the commitment I shared in September, those funds have been divided equally between My Life My Choice, based in Boston, and Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS), based in New York," Bacow wrote.
"These organizations support victims of human trafficking and sexual assault, and Harvard is proud to support their important and valuable work," he added.
The review found that no gifts were received from Epstein following his conviction in 2008 in Florida on state charges, one of which involved soliciting sex for pay from an underage girl.
"In 2008, shortly after taking office as President, Drew G. Faust was asked to consider a new gift from Epstein," Lopez wrote in a letter to Bacow.
"Though she had not heard of him at the time, after she was briefed on the nature of the allegations against him, she determined that Harvard should no longer accept gifts from him."
The largest single gift made by Epstein, one for $6.5 million in 2003, "established Harvard's Program for Evolutionary Dynamics," led by Nowak, the report said.
"Epstein's $6.5 million gift to PED enabled Harvard and Professor Nowak to create and pay for a separate research facility for PED in a Harvard Square office building leased from a private owner," according to the report.
The report also said that "it is likely that he visited PED's offices more than 40 times between 2010 and 2018, including visits as recently as October 2018."
"His visits ended after a number of PED researchers complained to Professor Nowak about Epstein's con-tinuing relationship with PED," according to the report overseen by Lopez.
But before that, the report said, "In 2013, Epstein's publicist sought to burnish Epstein's reputation by asking PED to post on PED's Harvard website links to Epstein's foundations' websites, which included both flattering descriptions of Epstein as a science philanthropist and false claims about the level of support he provided to Harvard."
"In 2014, Epstein's publicist asked Professor Nowak to feature Epstein in a full page on PED's Harvard website. Professor Nowak approved each of these requests," the report said.
"We found no evidence that University or FAS leadership knew about these postings.. PED removed the Epstein page from its website after PED and Harvard received complaints in 2014 from a sexual assault survivor's group. These findings also raise questions about possible violations of Harvard policies."
The report, found that even after his conviction and subsequent 13-month stint in jail, "Some members of the Harvard community continued their relationships with Epstein," Lopez noted in a letter to Bacow released Friday.
Lopez also wrote, "In 2013, several faculty members requested that Harvard reconsider accepting donations from Epstein."
"That request was put before then-Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Michael D. Smith, who, after being briefed about Epstein, reached the same conclusion as President Faust, and denied the request to entertain the possibility of gifts from Epstein," Lopez wrote.
"In his interview, Dean Smith explained that he concluded at the time that it would be inconsistent with Harvard's commitment to address sexual assault and harassment at our institution to accept gifts from Epstein," Lopez wrote.
Harvard's endowment last year was valued at more than $40 billion, making it the largest endowment of any university in the United States.


cnbc--2020-05-01--House Judiciary Committee asks Jeff Bezos to testify about whether Amazon misled Congress

The House Judiciary Committee demanded on Friday that Jeff Bezos testify after Democratic leaders said they suspected Amazon of lying to Congress .
The Democratic-led committee threatened to subpoena Bezos if he does not comply .
Seven bipartisan members of the committee said in a letter to Bezos that a recent Wall Street Journal report on Amazon 's use of third-party seller data appears to show that Amazon may have misled Congress in previous statements .
`` If the reporting in the Wall Street Journal article is accurate , then statements Amazon made to the Committee about the company 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and possibly criminally false or perjurious , '' they wrote .
Amazon 's stock fell 7.6 % Friday , a day after the company reported earnings .
The company has pledged to invest its expected $ 4 billion Q2 profit into coronavirus-related efforts .
The Journal investigation found Amazon employees used nonaggregated or easily identifiable data from third-party sellers to figure out which products to make on its own .
The report was based on interviews with more than 20 former Amazon employees and documents reviewed by the Journal .
The report appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general counsel Nate Sutton at a July hearing before the House Antitrust Subcommittee , which is investigating Amazon and three of its peers on antitrust grounds .
At the hearing , Sutton said Amazon does not use individual seller data to determine its strategy , a tactic that would likely be considered anti-competitive .
Advocates for strong antitrust enforcement , like Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, have argued that companies should not be able to own and compete on a marketplace because it could encourage unfair practices .
Bezos is the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Amazon , Apple , Google and Facebook — who has never before testified in front of Congress .
The company has faced scrutiny over the past year as lawmakers and regulators assess issues of privacy and dominance among tech companies .
In addition to the House Antitrust Subcommittee investigation , Amazon also faces a probe by the Federal Trade Commission , according to Bloomberg .
House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline , D-R.I. , who is one of the seven signatories of the letter , said last week the report shows that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' in its previous testimony to the subcommittee .
House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler , D-N.Y. , who also signed the letter , previously said that if true , the Journal 's report `` raises deep concerns about Amazon 's apparent lack of candor before the Committee regarding an issue that is central to our investigation . ''
Friday 's letter said it was important for Bezos to testify as CEO and would `` reserve the right to resort to compulsory process if necessary . ''
The letter was also signed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin , subcommittee Vice Chairman Joe Neguse D-Colo. , and Reps. Pramila Jayapal D-Wash. , Ken Buck , R-Colo. , and Matt Gaetz , R-Fla .
The top Republican on the full committee , Rep. Jim Jordan , R-Ohio , is not listed as one of the signatories .
Jordan was newcomer to the antitrust probe after replacing Rep. Doug Collins , R-Ga. , in the position as Collins pursues a Senate bid .
A Republican spokesperson for the Judiciary Committee said in a statement , `` Of course our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get answers for the American people .
But we wonder what Judiciary Democrats ' true motivations are .
Earlier this year , they said companies like Amazon should not exist and should be broken up simply because they are large successful businesses . ''
Collins and Sensenbrenner threatened in February to `` not participate in an investigation with pre-conceived conclusions that America 's large tech companies are inherently bad , can not be allowed to exist in society , and must be broken up . ''
The comment came after a video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about `` changing the distribution of power '' and `` breaking up all the large companies , '' though not specifically referring to the tech industry .
An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the letter .
A spokesperson previously told CNBC , `` It 's simply incorrect to suggest that Amazon was intentionally misleading in our testimony . ''
WATCH : Amazon sellers are transforming their businesses to sell protective equipment to hospitals

The House Judiciary Committee demanded on Friday that Jeff Bezos testify after Democratic leaders said they suspected Amazon of lying to Congress.
The Democratic-led committee threatened to subpoena Bezos if he does not comply.
Amazon's stock fell after the announcement.
Seven bipartisan members of the committee said in a letter to Bezos that a recent Wall Street Journal report on Amazon's use of third-party seller data appears to show that Amazon may have misled Congress in previous statements.
"If the reporting in the Wall Street Journal article is accurate, then statements Amazon made to the Committee about the company's business practices appear to be misleading, and possibly criminally false or perjurious," they wrote.
Amazon's stock fell 7.6% Friday, a day after the company reported earnings. The company has pledged to invest its expected $4 billion Q2 profit into coronavirus-related efforts.
The Journal investigation found Amazon employees used nonaggregated or easily identifiable data from third-party sellers to figure out which products to make on its own. The report was based on interviews with more than 20 former Amazon employees and documents reviewed by the Journal.
The report appeared to contradict testimony by Amazon's associate general counsel Nate Sutton at a July hearing before the House Antitrust Subcommittee, which is investigating Amazon and three of its peers on antitrust grounds.
At the hearing, Sutton said Amazon does not use individual seller data to determine its strategy, a tactic that would likely be considered anti-competitive. Advocates for strong antitrust enforcement, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have argued that companies should not be able to own and compete on a marketplace because it could encourage unfair practices.
Bezos is the only CEO of the big four tech firms — Amazon, Apple , Google and Facebook — who has never before testified in front of Congress. The company has faced scrutiny over the past year as lawmakers and regulators assess issues of privacy and dominance among tech companies. In addition to the House Antitrust Subcommittee investigation, Amazon also faces a probe by the Federal Trade Commission, according to Bloomberg.
House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline, D-R.I., who is one of the seven signatories of the letter, said last week the report shows that Amazon "may have lied to Congress" in its previous testimony to the subcommittee. House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., who also signed the letter, previously said that if true, the Journal's report "raises deep concerns about Amazon's apparent lack of candor before the Committee regarding an issue that is central to our investigation."
Friday's letter said it was important for Bezos to testify as CEO and would "reserve the right to resort to compulsory process if necessary."
The letter was also signed by the top Republican on the subcommittee, Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, subcommittee Vice Chairman Joe Neguse D-Colo., and Reps. Pramila Jayapal D-Wash., Ken Buck, R-Colo., and Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
The top Republican on the full committee, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is not listed as one of the signatories. Jordan was newcomer to the antitrust probe after replacing Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., in the position as Collins pursues a Senate bid. A Republican spokesperson for the Judiciary Committee said in a statement, "Of course our Members have questions for Amazon and want to get answers for the American people. But we wonder what Judiciary Democrats' true motivations are. Earlier this year, they said companies like Amazon should not exist and should be broken up simply because they are large successful businesses."
Collins and Sensenbrenner threatened in February to "not participate in an investigation with pre-conceived conclusions that America's large tech companies are inherently bad, cannot be allowed to exist in society, and must be broken up." The comment came after a video from a fundraising event showed Nadler talking about "changing the distribution of power" and "breaking up all the large companies," though not specifically referring to the tech industry.
An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the letter. A spokesperson previously told CNBC, "It's simply incorrect to suggest that Amazon was intentionally misleading in our testimony."
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WATCH: Amazon sellers are transforming their businesses to sell protective equipment to hospitals


cnbc--2020-05-02--New White House press secretary breaks with Trump tradition by holding a traditional briefing

WASHINGTON – Newly minted White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany gave the first formal White House daily press briefing in more than a year on Friday .
McEnany , a 32-year-old Harvard Law School graduate and former Trump campaign spokeswoman , fielded questions on a range of subjects from oil reserves to vaccines for coronavirus .
Breaking with the combative model of press briefings adopted by her predecessors in the Trump administration , McEnany maintained a calm and friendly tone with reporters .
She answered the questions she could , and she did not denigrate individual news outlets or journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ herself from previous Trump press secretaries , who were widely criticized for lying to reporters .
`` I 'll never lie to you , '' said McEnany , whose first day on the job was April 7 .
`` You have my word on that . ''
At one point , McEnany declined to answer a question about Trump 's campaign travel plans , clearly aware that White House officials are prohibited by law from using their official platforms to engage in political campaigning .
Nonetheless , there were several moments in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a Trump campaign spokeswoman shone through .
The last time a Trump press secretary answered reporters questions live on camera was on March 11 , 2019 , while Sarah Huckabee Sanders was still in the job .
Sanders ' successor , Stephanie Grisham did not hold a single on-camera briefing in her nine months as press secretary .
On Friday , McEnany said the administration planned to do more daily briefings .
`` I will announce timing of that forthcoming , '' she said , `` but we do plan to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of more than a year during which Trump has served as the only de facto spokesperson for his entire administration .
The coronavirus pandemic has only served to highlight the president 's role as the chief communicator for the White House .
Since mid-March , Trump has held near daily live , on-camera briefings about the pandemic , often using the time to spar with reporters and defend his administration against perceived criticism .
By contrast , Friday 's briefing with McEnany felt more like a press briefing from the pre-Trump era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the press the `` enemy of the people . ''
The half hour Q & A contained none of the bitterness that had come to characterize White House briefings towards the end of both Sanders tenure and that of her predecessor , Sean Spicer , Trump 's first press secretary .
McEnany began Friday 's briefing with the sort of announcement that traditionally starts off daily briefings – important enough to sound newsy , but not so newsworthy that the president himself should be the one announcing it .
In this case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus pandemic .
Where her training as a Trump campaign spokesperson was most apparent Friday was in McEnany 's effusive praise of the president .
One question concerned the victorious tone that was recently adopted by some administration officials when speaking about the coronavirus pandemic , and whether it was appropriate when the virus continues to kill more than 1,000 Americans a day .
McEnany did n't just defend the congratulatory style of her White House colleagues , she adopted it .
When senior adviser Jared Kushner `` talked about his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the story of this administration , which is a story of mobilization for the American people , the greatest mobilization of American industry since World War II , '' she said .
`` The fact that this president can look the American people in the eye and say , ' I am producing 100,000 ventilators this year alongside the private sector ...
I 'd consider that a great success on behalf of the American people . ''
In another nod to campaign style messaging , McEnany had two large screens set up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House event earlier in the week , one that had been covered by many of the same reporters when it happened .
The clip was of an employee from a company that received congressional funding profusely thanking Trump for the help .
And despite McEnany 's pledge not to lie , near the end of the briefing she gave a misleading assessment of new developments in the federal case against former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn .
Flynn was fired in early 2017 , after lying to the vice president and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He later pleaded to guilty to lying to the FBI and cooperated at length with the Mueller investigation .
Newly released FBI documents reveal an internal discussion in early 2017 about how to interview Flynn .
McEnany on Friday said the documents contained , `` a handwritten FBI note that says 'We need to get Flynn to lie , ' and get him fired . ''
But that 's not what the note said .
The note was part of a series of questions about what the aim of Flynn 's FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's prosecution `` a case of injustice . ''
But she dodged follow-up questions about why the president fired Flynn , and why Flynn pleaded guilty .

WASHINGTON – Newly minted White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany gave the first formal White House daily press briefing in more than a year on Friday.
McEnany, a 32-year-old Harvard Law School graduate and former Trump campaign spokeswoman, fielded questions on a range of subjects from oil reserves to vaccines for coronavirus.
Breaking with the combative model of press briefings adopted by her predecessors in the Trump administration, McEnany maintained a calm and friendly tone with reporters. She answered the questions she could, and she did not denigrate individual news outlets or journalists.
She was also quick to distance herself from previous Trump press secretaries, who were widely criticized for lying to reporters. "I'll never lie to you," said McEnany, whose first day on the job was April 7. "You have my word on that."
At one point, McEnany declined to answer a question about Trump's campaign travel plans, clearly aware that White House officials are prohibited by law from using their official platforms to engage in political campaigning.
Nonetheless, there were several moments in the briefing when McEnany's most recent experience as a Trump campaign spokeswoman shone through.
The last time a Trump press secretary answered reporters questions live on camera was on March 11, 2019, while Sarah Huckabee Sanders was still in the job. Sanders' successor, Stephanie Grisham did not hold a single on-camera briefing in her nine months as press secretary.
On Friday, McEnany said the administration planned to do more daily briefings. "I will announce timing of that forthcoming," she said, "but we do plan to continue these."
The briefing marked the end of more than a year during which Trump has served as the only de facto spokesperson for his entire administration.
The coronavirus pandemic has only served to highlight the president's role as the chief communicator for the White House. Since mid-March, Trump has held near daily live, on-camera briefings about the pandemic, often using the time to spar with reporters and defend his administration against perceived criticism.
By contrast, Friday's briefing with McEnany felt more like a press briefing from the pre-Trump era, before the president had ever labeled the press the "enemy of the people."
The half hour Q&A contained none of the bitterness that had come to characterize White House briefings towards the end of both Sanders tenure and that of her predecessor, Sean Spicer, Trump's first press secretary.
McEnany began Friday's briefing with the sort of announcement that traditionally starts off daily briefings – important enough to sound newsy, but not so newsworthy that the president himself should be the one announcing it. In this case, the announcement was about hospital funding related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Where her training as a Trump campaign spokesperson was most apparent Friday was in McEnany's effusive praise of the president.
One question concerned the victorious tone that was recently adopted by some administration officials when speaking about the coronavirus pandemic, and whether it was appropriate when the virus continues to kill more than 1,000 Americans a day. McEnany didn't just defend the congratulatory style of her White House colleagues, she adopted it.
When senior adviser Jared Kushner "talked about his success story, he was talking about the story of this administration, which is a story of mobilization for the American people, the greatest mobilization of American industry since World War II," she said. "The fact that this president can look the American people in the eye and say, 'I am producing 100,000 ventilators this year alongside the private sector...I'd consider that a great success on behalf of the American people."
In another nod to campaign style messaging, McEnany had two large screens set up to play a video clip from a White House event earlier in the week, one that had been covered by many of the same reporters when it happened. The clip was of an employee from a company that received congressional funding profusely thanking Trump for the help.
And despite McEnany's pledge not to lie, near the end of the briefing she gave a misleading assessment of new developments in the federal case against former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Flynn was fired in early 2017, after lying to the vice president and the FBI about his contacts with foreign ambassadors. He later pleaded to guilty to lying to the FBI and cooperated at length with the Mueller investigation
. Newly released FBI documents reveal an internal discussion in early 2017 about how to interview Flynn. McEnany on Friday said the documents contained, "a handwritten FBI note that says 'We need to get Flynn to lie,' and get him fired."
But that's not what the note said. The note was part of a series of questions about what the aim of Flynn's FBI interview should be.
McEnany called Flynn's prosecution "a case of injustice." But she dodged follow-up questions about why the president fired Flynn, and why Flynn pleaded guilty.


cnbc--2020-05-02--Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen denied planned prison release day after getting warning about 'tel

Michael Cohen , former attorney and fixer for President Donald Trump , gets emotional listening to Rep. Elijah Cummings ( D-MD ) give his closing statement after Cohen testified before the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill February 27 , 2019 in Washington , DC .
Michael Cohen , former personal lawyer and fixer for President Donald Trump , was denied a promised early release from prison Friday , a day after an attorney from the Trump Organization sent him a threatening letter warning against him publishing a reported `` tell-all '' book before the 2020 election .
White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' when asked at a news conference whether the White House directly or indirectly interfered in the decision to delay Cohen 's planned early released from a federal prison in New York state .
Cohen was due to be set free into home confinement Friday from the facility in Otisville because of concerns about the coronavirus spreading among inmates and guards .
He has completed a 14-day quarantine required for that release .
But the 53-year-old ex-lawyer , who was in the midst of serving a three-year criminal sentence , was told he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his family in Manhattan , according to people familiar with the situation .
It is not clear if Cohen 's release , which was originally approved by the federal Bureau of Prisons , has been permanently rescinded .
Cohen 's original release date , which is possibly now his current release date , was in November 2021 .
The BOP did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Cohen 's lawyer , Roger Adler , told CNBC in an email , `` I am disappointed that Michael was not released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''


cnbc--2020-05-04--Obama campaign bosses Plouffe and Axelrod urge Biden to beef up digital operations to battle Trump

David Axelrod and David Plouffe , enjoy the view from a cherry picker as President Barack Obama makes a campaign stop at Living History Farms in Urbandale , Iowa , on Saturday , September 1 , 2012 .
Former President Barack Obama 's top campaign architects are telling Joe Biden to improve his digital operation if he wants to defeat President Donald Trump this fall .
David Axelrod , who served as Obama 's chief campaign strategist in 2008 and 2012 , and David Plouffe , who ran the 2008 campaign , wrote an op-ed in The New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign 's overall digital effort and to move on from relying solely on scripted speeches from his basement .
All campaigns have been forced to get off the trail and go fully virtual due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic .
The two men led the way in crafting Obama 's digital effort , with a large focus on using data to craft messages that appealed to a large swath of the electorate .
The column shows that top Democratic strategists believe Biden 's campaign is still a long way from having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ juggernaut of a campaign that has been established over the course of four years .
`` Online speeches from his basement wo n't cut it .
Written pronouncements on this issue or that may have won attention during his many years in office , but will get little pickup now , '' Axelrod and Plouffe wrote .
Obama endorsed his former running mate for president last month after Sen. Bernie Sanders withdrew from the race .
Biden 's campaign has at least 25 people on staff focused on the digital side , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former vice president 's operation must start hiring more digital advisors if they want to compete with Trump .
Biden 's campaign has been in touch with at least three top digital consulting firms , including Mike Bloomberg 's tech company , Hawkfish .
They pointed to Trump 's use of Twitter and his ability to use it as a messaging platform to pummel his enemies .
They suggested the apparent Democratic nominee could take Trump 's efforts and use them against him .
`` Mr. Biden can turn the tables on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the challenger needs to behave more like an insurgent , building the capacity to wield facts , humor and mockery at lightning speed in those surreal moments of opportunity that Mr. Trump regularly provides , '' they said .
Axelrod and Plouffe pointed to Trump 's recent suggestion that perhaps disinfectants could be injected into a person to kill coronavirus as a prime target for such mockery .
The former Obama campaign advisors also pushed Biden to start turning more to his surrogates as a way to connect to voters online , instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on him .
They called on the creation of a `` virtual content production studio and establish a unique content calendar for each major social media platform , '' something Trump already has established .
They argued for Biden , in the absence of traditional door knocking , to start calling on his supporters to help organize .
These supporters could then potentially reach out to voters that are on the fence about participating in the general election , especially those in battleground states such as Wisconsin , Arizona , Pennsylvania , North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is an urgent need , as Mr. Trump is far ahead of Mr. Biden organizationally in the battleground states , '' the two advisors said .
The Biden campaign did n't immediately respond to a request for comment .

David Axelrod and David Plouffe, enjoy the view from a cherry picker as President Barack Obama makes a campaign stop at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa, on Saturday, September 1, 2012.
Former President Barack Obama's top campaign architects are telling Joe Biden to improve his digital operation if he wants to defeat President Donald Trump this fall.
David Axelrod, who served as Obama's chief campaign strategist in 2008 and 2012, and David Plouffe, who ran the 2008 campaign, wrote an op-ed in The New York Times on Monday encouraging Biden to expand his campaign's overall digital effort and to move on from relying solely on scripted speeches from his basement.
All campaigns have been forced to get off the trail and go fully virtual due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The two men led the way in crafting Obama's digital effort, with a large focus on using data to craft messages that appealed to a large swath of the electorate.
The column shows that top Democratic strategists believe Biden's campaign is still a long way from having the necessary tools to overcome Trump's juggernaut of a campaign that has been established over the course of four years.
"Online speeches from his basement won't cut it. Written pronouncements on this issue or that may have won attention during his many years in office, but will get little pickup now," Axelrod and Plouffe wrote. Obama endorsed his former running mate for president last month after Sen. Bernie Sanders withdrew from the race.
Biden's campaign has at least 25 people on staff focused on the digital side, but the two former senior Obama strategists said the former vice president's operation must start hiring more digital advisors if they want to compete with Trump.
Biden's campaign has been in touch with at least three top digital consulting firms, including Mike Bloomberg's tech company, Hawkfish.
They pointed to Trump's use of Twitter and his ability to use it as a messaging platform to pummel his enemies. They suggested the apparent Democratic nominee could take Trump's efforts and use them against him.
"Mr. Biden can turn the tables on Mr. Trump. To do this, the challenger needs to behave more like an insurgent, building the capacity to wield facts, humor and mockery at lightning speed in those surreal moments of opportunity that Mr. Trump regularly provides," they said. Axelrod and Plouffe pointed to Trump's recent suggestion that perhaps disinfectants could be injected into a person to kill coronavirus as a prime target for such mockery.
The former Obama campaign advisors also pushed Biden to start turning more to his surrogates as a way to connect to voters online, instead of the virtual events being focused solely on him.
They called on the creation of a "virtual content production studio and establish a unique content calendar for each major social media platform," something Trump already has established. They argued for Biden, in the absence of traditional door knocking, to start calling on his supporters to help organize. These supporters could then potentially reach out to voters that are on the fence about participating in the general election, especially those in battleground states such as Wisconsin, Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan and Florida.
"This is an urgent need, as Mr. Trump is far ahead of Mr. Biden organizationally in the battleground states," the two advisors said.
The Biden campaign didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.


cnbc--2020-05-05--Coronavirus deaths projected to hit 3,000 per day by June, internal Trump administration analysis sa

Coronavirus deaths projected to hit 3,000 per day by June, internal Trump administration analysis says

The sobering projections come as President Donald Trump has pushed to start reopening the country , and expressed support for protesters against state restrictions on businesses and social gatherings in the face of the coronavirus outbreak .
The interagency report from the U.S. departments of Homeland Security , and Health and Human Services , also reportedly forecasts that the U.S. will see about 200,000 new Covid-19 cases each day by the end of this month .
An analysis prepared by several Trump administration departments projects that the number of coronavirus deaths will increase to about 3,000 each day by early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times first reported on the internal report , White House spokesman Judd Deere said , `` This is not a White House document nor has it been presented to the Coronavirus Task Force or gone through interagency vetting . ''
`` This data is not reflective of any of the modeling done by the task force or data that the task force has analyzed , '' Deere said .
`` The President 's phased guidelines to open up America again are a scientific driven approach that the top health and infectious disease experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The health of the American people remains President Trump 's top priority and that will continue as we monitor the efforts by states to ease restrictions . ''
The Washington Post reported Monday that the creator of the model cited in the report , Justin Lessler , an associate professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , said that the numbers in the report are uncompleted projections shown to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a work in progress .
`` I had no role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presented and shown .
This data was presented as an FYI to CDC … it was not in any way intended to be a forecast , '' Lessler told the newspaper .
But The Post reported that Lessler also said that the numbers show the risk of accelerating the rate of Covid-19 cases if U.S. begin reopening .
Lessler said that seeing 100,000 cases per day by the end of the May is possible .
Lessler did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment on the reports .
Trump , during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said that the U.S. death toll from the pandemic could reach 100,000 .
But he also said , `` I really believe that you can go to parks , you can go to beaches '' if `` you stay away a certain amount . ''
Less than a month earlier , Trump had said that the country will see `` substantially '' fewer than 100,000 dead from the disease .
Federal agencies such as the CDC , which is part of HHS , use multiple models for projecting the number of cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience .
Those projections can change significantly , and some models , such as the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation 's model , have been criticized as unreliable .

The sobering projections come as President Donald Trump has pushed to start reopening the country, and expressed support for protesters against state restrictions on businesses and social gatherings in the face of the coronavirus outbreak.
The interagency report from the U.S. departments of Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services, also reportedly forecasts that the U.S. will see about 200,000 new Covid-19 cases each day by the end of this month.
An analysis prepared by several Trump administration departments projects that the number of coronavirus deaths will increase to about 3,000 each day by early June.
After the The New York Times first reported on the internal report, White House spokesman Judd Deere said, "This is not a White House document nor has it been presented to the Coronavirus Task Force or gone through interagency vetting."
"This data is not reflective of any of the modeling done by the task force or data that the task force has analyzed," Deere said.
"The President's phased guidelines to open up America again are a scientific driven approach that the top health and infectious disease experts in the federal government agreed with. The health of the American people remains President Trump's top priority and that will continue as we monitor the efforts by states to ease restrictions."
The Washington Post reported Monday that the creator of the model cited in the report, Justin Lessler, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that the numbers in the report are uncompleted projections shown to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a work in progress.
"I had no role in the process by which that was presented and shown. This data was presented as an FYI to CDC … it was not in any way intended to be a forecast," Lessler told the newspaper.
But The Post reported that Lessler also said that the numbers show the risk of accelerating the rate of Covid-19 cases if U.S. begin reopening.
Lessler said that seeing 100,000 cases per day by the end of the May is possible.
Lessler did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the reports.
Trump, during an interview with Fox News on Sunday, said that the U.S. death toll from the pandemic could reach 100,000.
But he also said, "I really believe that you can go to parks, you can go to beaches" if "you stay away a certain amount."
Less than a month earlier, Trump had said that the country will see "substantially" fewer than 100,000 dead from the disease.
Federal agencies such as the CDC, which is part of HHS, use multiple models for projecting the number of cases and deaths the U.S. is likely to experience. Those projections can change significantly, and some models, such as the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation's model, have been criticized as unreliable.


cnbc--2020-05-04--Biden bundlers start focusing on raising cash for party fundraising machine

Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to the media and a handful of supporters at Berston Field House on March 9 , 2020 , in Flint , Michigan .
Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee have told their big-money fundraisers to start raising cash for the joint fundraising operation that will largely give resources to the party as a whole for this fall 's elections .
Since at least last week , bundlers helping Biden 's campaign have been asked to start encouraging their networks to back the `` Biden Victory Fund , '' a committee that 's dedicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DNC and the campaign itself , according to people with direct knowledge of the matter .
These people declined to be named as the discussions were held in private .
The committee allows donors to give up to $ 360,600 .
Of that max contribution , $ 5,600 goes directly to the Biden campaign .
Many of Biden 's donors have already had success getting their networks to give the maximum individual contribution of $ 2,800 to the campaign , and they are looking to the team effort with the DNC .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our networks for the $ 2,800 per person , and we 're now focusing on the bigger dollars through the joint vehicle , '' a Biden fundraiser said .
One of the people noted that most of the upcoming virtual fundraising events will be focused on raising funds for the committee , particularly as the party gears up for the general election versus President Donald Trump and Republicans up and down the ballot .
The organization has one of its first events this week featuring Biden , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to an invitation .
All campaigns have been forced to go virtual during the coronavirus pandemic .
Representatives for Biden and the DNC did not return a request for comment .
Biden 's campaign and the DNC have a great deal of fundraising ground to make up .
The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee , along with their joint fundraising committees , combined to raise $ 63 million in March .
They 've been preparing for Trump 's reelection battle since he was inaugurated .
During the first quarter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from six-figure donations from wealthy financiers such as GOP megadonor Robert Mercer and Steve Wynn , the former CEO of Wynn Casinos , who resigned from the company after being accused of sexual misconduct .
Biden 's campaign surged in the wake of his run of primary victories on Super Tuesday in March , leading to the former vice president becoming the apparent Democratic nominee .
He raised over $ 46 million that month .
The DNC outraised the RNC with a $ 32 million haul over the same time period .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the Real Clear Politics polling average showing him up over the commander in chief by just over four points .
`` The DNC is where the action will be , '' John Morgan , a Florida businessman backing Biden , recently told CNBC .
He pointed to former campaign manager Greg Schultz becoming the go-between for the Biden team and the DNC as a sign that large parts of the fundraising will be tailored to the committee .
Biden 's allies in the business community are becoming involved with pushing donors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blair Effron , a co-founder of the investment firm Centerview Partners , has signaled to his associates that he 's looking to help organize future events and corral donors toward giving to the committee , one of the people said .
He has been helping raise money for Biden since Sen. Kamala Harris dropped out of the race late last year .
Effron did not respond to a request for comment .
Ron Conway , a Silicon Valley investor , told CNBC on Monday that he 's looking to participate in some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he will probably co-host a few of the gatherings .
He has given $ 250,000 to the pro-Biden super PAC Unite the Country and over $ 17,000 to the DNC so far in the 2020 election cycle , records show .
The invitation to the Newsom-Plouffe event calls on potential co-chairs to write a check of $ 100,000 and for other attendees to give up to $ 5,600 .
Plouffe co-authored an op-ed on Monday in The New York Times with fellow former Obama strategist David Axelrod that called on Biden 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they want to beat Trump this fall .

Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to the media and a handful of supporters at Berston Field House on March 9, 2020, in Flint, Michigan.
Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee have told their big-money fundraisers to start raising cash for the joint fundraising operation that will largely give resources to the party as a whole for this fall's elections.
Since at least last week, bundlers helping Biden's campaign have been asked to start encouraging their networks to back the "Biden Victory Fund," a committee that's dedicated to helping raise money both for the DNC and the campaign itself, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. These people declined to be named as the discussions were held in private.
The committee allows donors to give up to $360,600. Of that max contribution, $5,600 goes directly to the Biden campaign. Many of Biden's donors have already had success getting their networks to give the maximum individual contribution of $2,800 to the campaign, and they are looking to the team effort with the DNC.
"Most of us have already tapped out our networks for the $2,800 per person, and we're now focusing on the bigger dollars through the joint vehicle," a Biden fundraiser said.
One of the people noted that most of the upcoming virtual fundraising events will be focused on raising funds for the committee, particularly as the party gears up for the general election versus President Donald Trump and Republicans up and down the ballot. The organization has one of its first events this week featuring Biden, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Obama campaign boss David Plouffe, according to an invitation.
All campaigns have been forced to go virtual during the coronavirus pandemic.
Representatives for Biden and the DNC did not return a request for comment.
Biden's campaign and the DNC have a great deal of fundraising ground to make up. The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee, along with their joint fundraising committees, combined to raise $63 million in March. They've been preparing for Trump's reelection battle since he was inaugurated.
During the first quarter, the Trump Victory joint fundraising committee benefited from six-figure donations from wealthy financiers such as GOP megadonor Robert Mercer and Steve Wynn, the former CEO of Wynn Casinos, who resigned from the company after being accused of sexual misconduct.
Biden's campaign surged in the wake of his run of primary victories on Super Tuesday in March, leading to the former vice president becoming the apparent Democratic nominee. He raised over $46 million that month. The DNC outraised the RNC with a $32 million haul over the same time period. Biden currently leads Trump in most national polls, with the Real Clear Politics polling average showing him up over the commander in chief by just over four points.
"The DNC is where the action will be," John Morgan, a Florida businessman backing Biden, recently told CNBC. He pointed to former campaign manager Greg Schultz becoming the go-between for the Biden team and the DNC as a sign that large parts of the fundraising will be tailored to the committee.
Biden's allies in the business community are becoming involved with pushing donors to give to the joint effort.
Blair Effron, a co-founder of the investment firm Centerview Partners, has signaled to his associates that he's looking to help organize future events and corral donors toward giving to the committee, one of the people said. He has been helping raise money for Biden since Sen. Kamala Harris dropped out of the race late last year. Effron did not respond to a request for comment.
Ron Conway, a Silicon Valley investor, told CNBC on Monday that he's looking to participate in some of the joint virtual fundraising events and noted that he will probably co-host a few of the gatherings. He has given $250,000 to the pro-Biden super PAC Unite the Country and over $17,000 to the DNC so far in the 2020 election cycle, records show.
The invitation to the Newsom-Plouffe event calls on potential co-chairs to write a check of $100,000 and for other attendees to give up to $5,600. Plouffe co-authored an op-ed on Monday in The New York Times with fellow former Obama strategist David Axelrod that called on Biden's team to improve their overall digital strategy if they want to beat Trump this fall.


cnbc--2020-05-04--Italy's Fincantieri will build newest class of US Navy warships

WASHINGTON — Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri Marine has been awarded $ 5.5 billion to develop the U.S. Navy 's newest class of warships .
The contract , announced last week , is for the design and construction of the lead frigate , with an option to buy nine more .
If the U.S. Navy exercised all options on the contract , delivery of the 10th ship would be delivered in the mid-2030s .
The Pentagon estimated the first ship would cost $ 1.2 billion .
The nine subsequent ships would cost up to approximately $ 781 million , in 2018 constant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call with reporters .
The Italian Fregata Europea Multi-Missione , or FREMM , is a multi-mission warship that was one of five contenders for the lucrative U.S. Navy contract .
In February 2018 , the U.S. Navy awarded $ 15 million design contracts to Fincantieri Marine , General Dynamics Bath Iron Works , Huntington Ingalls , Austal , and Lockheed Martin .
The competition slimmed to Fincantieri , Huntington Ingalls , Austal and a joint venture between General Dynamics and Spanish shipbuilder Navantia .
CNBC spent a day aboard the Italian Navy 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vessel toured the U.S. East Coast .
The visit was organized to introduce the vessel to U.S. Navy leadership , sailors and lawmakers .
The tour began with a brief overview of the nearly 550-foot long vessel , its crew , capabilities and an espresso from one of several machines aboard the vessel .
`` I showed my ship to some American sailors and they told me that this is the ship of the future .
I had a hard time believing that because I come from a little Italian town and our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States Navy , '' Mario Olivieri , an Italian sailor assigned to the FREMM Alpino , told CNBC aboard the vessel .
`` So , I 'm proud of my ship , '' Olivieri said walking along the ship 's noticeably wide passageways .
The Italian warship , which would be modified to meet U.S. Navy specifications and requirements , is capable of conducting anti-submarine warfare , point-defense anti-air warfare , electronic warfare , anti-surface warfare and special operation insertion .
`` It 's a proven design operating at sea with both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French have taken it and have launched in combat , '' a spokesperson for Fincantieri Marinette Marine told CNBC , referring to the 2018 retaliatory strikes in Syria .
The targeted strikes , carried out by the United States , United Kingdom and France , were aimed at destroying the Syrian regime 's chemical weapons infrastructure days after a suspected chemical attack by Syrian forces .
On April 13 , 2018 , the French used one of its Fincantieri-built ships to successfully launch naval cruise missiles against a chemical weapons production site .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are shown how the missiles were launched during the April strike .
Fincantieri 's design is equipped with a 16-cell vertical launch system , or VLS , for holding and firing missiles .
Other armaments include two Oto-Breda 76mm guns , two three-tube torpedo launchers positioned both port and starboard , two Oto-Breda 25mm machine guns and two NH-90 helicopters .
In terms of payload , the vessel can carry MU90 torpedoes , surface-to-air missiles , surface-to-surface missiles , anti-ship missile and anti-submarine missiles , and missiles on each of the helicopters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inflatable fast boat that can be deployed from a controlled door and ramp system .
This feature is a crucial design element that can be used for special operations insertion missions .

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The Italian navy's Alpino FREMM frigate. Amanda Macias/CNBC
WASHINGTON — Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri Marine has been awarded $5.5 billion to develop the U.S. Navy's newest class of warships. The contract, announced last week, is for the design and construction of the lead frigate, with an option to buy nine more. If the U.S. Navy exercised all options on the contract, delivery of the 10th ship would be delivered in the mid-2030s. The Pentagon estimated the first ship would cost $1.2 billion. The nine subsequent ships would cost up to approximately $781 million, in 2018 constant dollars, Navy officials said in a call with reporters.
An exterior view of the Italian warship Alpino. Amanda Macias | CNBC
The Italian Fregata Europea Multi-Missione, or FREMM, is a multi-mission warship that was one of five contenders for the lucrative U.S. Navy contract. In February 2018, the U.S. Navy awarded $15 million design contracts to Fincantieri Marine , General Dynamics Bath Iron Works , Huntington Ingalls , Austal , and Lockheed Martin . The competition slimmed to Fincantieri, Huntington Ingalls, Austal and a joint venture between General Dynamics and Spanish shipbuilder Navantia.
A look inside
CNBC spent a day aboard the Italian Navy's Fincantieri-built Alpino warship in 2018 while the vessel toured the U.S. East Coast. The visit was organized to introduce the vessel to U.S. Navy leadership, sailors and lawmakers. The tour began with a brief overview of the nearly 550-foot long vessel, its crew, capabilities and an espresso from one of several machines aboard the vessel.
An espresso aboard the Italian Alpino warship. Amanda Macias | CNBC
"I showed my ship to some American sailors and they told me that this is the ship of the future. I had a hard time believing that because I come from a little Italian town and our navy is not as big as the United States Navy," Mario Olivieri, an Italian sailor assigned to the FREMM Alpino, told CNBC aboard the vessel. "So, I'm proud of my ship," Olivieri said walking along the ship's noticeably wide passageways.
A view of a passageway on the Italian frigate Alpino. Amanda Macias/CNBC
The Italian warship, which would be modified to meet U.S. Navy specifications and requirements, is capable of conducting anti-submarine warfare, point-defense anti-air warfare, electronic warfare, anti-surface warfare and special operation insertion. "It's a proven design operating at sea with both the Italian and French navies. The French have taken it and have launched in combat," a spokesperson for Fincantieri Marinette Marine told CNBC, referring to the 2018 retaliatory strikes in Syria. The targeted strikes, carried out by the United States, United Kingdom and France, were aimed at destroying the Syrian regime's chemical weapons infrastructure days after a suspected chemical attack by Syrian forces. On April 13, 2018, the French used one of its Fincantieri-built ships to successfully launch naval cruise missiles against a chemical weapons production site. From the bridge of the ship, we are shown how the missiles were launched during the April strike. Fincantieri's design is equipped with a 16-cell vertical launch system, or VLS, for holding and firing missiles.
A view of the Italian warship Alpino's 16-cell vertical launch system where missiles are held and launched from. Amanda Macias | CNBC
Other armaments include two Oto-Breda 76mm guns, two three-tube torpedo launchers positioned both port and starboard, two Oto-Breda 25mm machine guns and two NH-90 helicopters. In terms of payload, the vessel can carry MU90 torpedoes, surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missile and anti-submarine missiles, and missiles on each of the helicopters. The ship also carries a rigid-hull inflatable fast boat that can be deployed from a controlled door and ramp system. This feature is a crucial design element that can be used for special operations insertion missions.
A naval gun aboard the Italian navy warship Alpino. Amanda Macias | CNBC


cnbc--2020-05-04--Op-Ed: Local bars and restaurants face extinction because of coronavirus – and government needs to s

Op-Ed: Local bars and restaurants face extinction because of coronavirus – and government needs to step up

Bars and restaurants share a lot in common .
Often they both serve drinks and many restaurants have bars , too .
The same is true for food .
When I visit Erin Rose in New Orleans , I crave a muffaletta sandwich or , at Trick Dog in San Francisco , their signature `` Trick Dog '' ( a burger in a sesame seed hot dog roll ) .
Then there are bars and restaurants that blur the distinction by serving culinary cocktails such as Aviary in Chicago or BarMini in Washington , D.C .
There is one other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common : they are both facing extinction .
In a survey by the Independent Restaurant Coalition , for which I serve on a subcommittee , 80 % of bars and restaurants surveyed believe they can not reopen after the pandemic without help .
I can relate as an owner of the Columbia Room in Washington , D.C. We may be luckier than most , but we are facing the real prospect of losing our business .
To-go cocktails and a charity-based food pop-up have helped us regain some ground and rehire a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , business interruption insurance payouts , and a stabilization fund , there is little chance that we will enter a full year in the books .
Scarier than the revenue we are down now is the percentage we expect to be down for the foreseeable future .
There will be seat reduction required to facilitate social distancing and a lack of consumer confidence .
To be frank , it is scary walking into a bar where bartenders look dressed for surgery and door people are taking temperatures as well as IDs .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Administration 's Paycheck Protection Program , which offers low interest , short-term loans with the potential of forgiveness .
That relief is not nearly enough .
According to the IRC and James Beard Foundation , only 9 % of the $ 349 billion offered in the first round of PPP went to independent bars and restaurants .
That is despite those bars and restaurants accounting for 60 % of lost jobs .
Together , we employ 11 million people .
Chains and corporations took the lion 's share of the first round , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 million in loans , though they produced $ 660.9 million in revenue in 2019 .
( The company said it would give back the money . )
With the second round , which went into effect last week , there remains much uncertainty , and other needs that have not been addressed .
Bars and restaurants took the initial brunt of the impact because we are consumer-facing .
Even as we reopen , the prospect of being busy seems unlikely .
There will be social distancing regulations and tiered opening .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic is only happening to us .
Not all , mind you , but many are unwilling to share the pain financially that we are taking with the forced closures of our business and ongoing restrictions .
We are all in business together and rely on each other for survival .
Empty storefronts help no one .
Bars and restaurants need rent abatement while they are shuttered and to renegotiate the terms of their leases in the face of unprecedented losses .
We have also been hung out to dry by insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interruption coverage covered forced closure by the government .
It did not , according to insurance companies , basing their claims on often confusing clauses that allow room for ambiguity or even contradict each other .
Bars and restaurants are fighting back by taking insurance firms such as Hartford Insurance to court in class action suits .
We believe that we should not leave it to insurance firms to interpret contracts for their own benefit .
Discernment is better left for the courts .
And , lastly , through organizations like the IRC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to establish a $ 120 billion dollar stabilization fund .
This grant would help bars and restaurants reopen .
On top of the financial hit we have taken from rents , utilities , and past due bills , there will be upfront costs to reopening our spaces .
There is one last thing bars and restaurants share in common .
We are the places where love , friendship , joy , and solace happen .
In a recent tweet , I asked people to recall their favorite recollections of bars .
They wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting engaged , celebrating victories , meeting life-long friends , mourning tragedy , and just grabbing a seat at the bar after a hard day at work .
We have served so many people ; it is hard work but it is also rewarding work .
All we want is to do our job .
Without ongoing help , I fear that we will not be able to .
And , though the pandemic has caused our temporary shutdown , our landlords , insurance firms , and the government may be the reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is president of Drink Company , an owner and founder of the award-winning cocktail bar , Columbia Room , in Washington , D.C. and author of Spirits , Sugar , Water , Bitters : How the Cocktail Conquered the World .
He is also a spirits judge at the prestigious San Francisco World 's Spirit Competition and works with many charities and organizations in a role as advisor .
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @ ideasimprove .

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is seen on the television conducting a news conference on the coronavirus at Kellys Irish Times on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call | via Getty Images
Bars and restaurants share a lot in common. Often they both serve drinks and many restaurants have bars, too. The same is true for food. When I visit Erin Rose in New Orleans, I crave a muffaletta sandwich or, at Trick Dog in San Francisco, their signature "Trick Dog" (a burger in a sesame seed hot dog roll). Then there are bars and restaurants that blur the distinction by serving culinary cocktails such as Aviary in Chicago or BarMini in Washington, D.C. There is one other thing independent bars and restaurants have in common: they are both facing extinction. In a survey by the Independent Restaurant Coalition, for which I serve on a subcommittee, 80% of bars and restaurants surveyed believe they cannot reopen after the pandemic without help. I can relate as an owner of the Columbia Room in Washington, D.C. We may be luckier than most, but we are facing the real prospect of losing our business. To-go cocktails and a charity-based food pop-up have helped us regain some ground and rehire a few employees. But, without rent relief, business interruption insurance payouts, and a stabilization fund, there is little chance that we will enter a full year in the books.
An alcohol takeout sign hangs on the bar at Chef Geoff's restaurant in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, March 26, 2020. Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg via Getty Image
Scarier than the revenue we are down now is the percentage we expect to be down for the foreseeable future. There will be seat reduction required to facilitate social distancing and a lack of consumer confidence. To be frank, it is scary walking into a bar where bartenders look dressed for surgery and door people are taking temperatures as well as IDs. We found some relief in the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program, which offers low interest, short-term loans with the potential of forgiveness. That relief is not nearly enough. According to the IRC and James Beard Foundation, only 9%of the $349 billion offered in the first round of PPP went to independent bars and restaurants. That is despite those bars and restaurants accounting for 60% of lost jobs. Together, we employ 11 million people. Chains and corporations took the lion's share of the first round, including Fiesta Restaurant Group who received $15 million in loans, though they produced $660.9 million in revenue in 2019. (The company said it would give back the money.) With the second round, which went into effect last week, there remains much uncertainty, and other needs that have not been addressed. Bars and restaurants took the initial brunt of the impact because we are consumer-facing. Even as we reopen, the prospect of being busy seems unlikely. There will be social distancing regulations and tiered opening.
Megan Kyker assists a customer at Cotton & Reed rum distillery in Union Market on Friday, April 3, 2020. Many bars and restaurants are open for takeout orders during the coronavirus outbreak. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
Meanwhile, some landlords and lenders pretend that the pandemic is only happening to us. Not all, mind you, but many are unwilling to share the pain financially that we are taking with the forced closures of our business and ongoing restrictions. We are all in business together and rely on each other for survival. Empty storefronts help no one. Bars and restaurants need rent abatement while they are shuttered and to renegotiate the terms of their leases in the face of unprecedented losses. We have also been hung out to dry by insurance companies. We believed that our business interruption coverage covered forced closure by the government. It did not, according to insurance companies, basing their claims on often confusing clauses that allow room for ambiguity or even contradict each other. Bars and restaurants are fighting back by taking insurance firms such as Hartford Insurance to court in class action suits. We believe that we should not leave it to insurance firms to interpret contracts for their own benefit. Discernment is better left for the courts. And, lastly, through organizations like the IRC, independent bars and restaurants are hoping to establish a $120 billion dollar stabilization fund. This grant would help bars and restaurants reopen. On top of the financial hit we have taken from rents, utilities, and past due bills, there will be upfront costs to reopening our spaces.
Chairs and tables are seen outside a closed restaurant in Washington D.C., the United States, on April 24, 2020. Liu Jie | Xinhua via Getty Images


cnbc--2020-05-04--Trump says China made a 'mistake' and tried to cover up coronavirus outbreak

U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a live Fox News Channel virtual town hall called `` America Together : Returning to Work '' with hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum about the response to the coronaviru pandemic being broadcast from inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington , U.S. May 3 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump said Sunday that he believed that a `` mistake '' in China was the cause of the spreading coronavirus pandemic , though he did not present any evidence for the claim .
`` I think they made a horrible mistake and did n't want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The comments , which came during a Fox News town hall at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington , came hours after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that `` a significant amount of evidence '' suggested that the virus emerged from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan .
`` My opinion is they made a mistake .
They tried to cover it , they tried to put it out .
It 's like a fire , '' Trump said .
`` You know , it 's really like trying to put out a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fire . ''
Trump said the government was putting together a report that will be `` very conclusive . ''
The nation 's top spy agency said Thursday that it had determined that the virus was not man made but was still investigating whether it was caused by `` an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan . ''
A Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated Friday , however , found that officials in China `` intentionally concealed the severity '' of the contagion , according to the Associated Press , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report found that the country hid details about coronavirus in order to horde medical supplies .
China has rejected claims that the virus escaped a research center in Wuhan .
Attention has been focused on the Wuhan Institute of Virology , a research center located near where the coronavirus outbreak is thought to have emerged , though scientists have said for weeks that it is extremely unlikely that the virus was created in a lab setting .
Michael Morell , former acting director of the CIA , said last week that the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on coronaviruses , the Associated Press reported .
`` So if it did escape , we 're all in this together , '' Morell said .
The U.S. and China , the world 's two largest economies , have been waging competing propaganda battles amid the public health crisis , with leaders in each country seeking to pin the blame elsewhere and claim the mantle of global leadership .
Trump has had a complicated relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping , whom he has long referred to as a friend , even as @ @ @ @ @

U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a live Fox News Channel virtual town hall called "America Together: Returning to Work" with hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum about the response to the coronaviru pandemic being broadcast from inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, U.S. May 3, 2020.
President Donald Trump said Sunday that he believed that a "mistake" in China was the cause of the spreading coronavirus pandemic, though he did not present any evidence for the claim.
"I think they made a horrible mistake and didn't want to admit it," Trump said.
The comments, which came during a Fox News town hall at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, came hours after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that "a significant amount of evidence" suggested that the virus emerged from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan.
"My opinion is they made a mistake. They tried to cover it, they tried to put it out. It's like a fire," Trump said. "You know, it's really like trying to put out a fire. They couldn't put out the fire."
Trump said the government was putting together a report that will be "very conclusive."
The nation's top spy agency said Thursday that it had determined that the virus was not man made but was still investigating whether it was caused by "an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan."
A Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated Friday, however, found that officials in China "intentionally concealed the severity" of the contagion, according to the Associated Press, which reported on the document Sunday. The report found that the country hid details about coronavirus in order to horde medical supplies.
China has rejected claims that the virus escaped a research center in Wuhan.
Attention has been focused on the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a research center located near where the coronavirus outbreak is thought to have emerged, though scientists have said for weeks that it is extremely unlikely that the virus was created in a lab setting.
Michael Morell, former acting director of the CIA, said last week that the U.S. had been funding the center's research on coronaviruses, the Associated Press reported.
"So if it did escape, we're all in this together," Morell said.
The U.S. and China, the world's two largest economies, have been waging competing propaganda battles amid the public health crisis, with leaders in each country seeking to pin the blame elsewhere and claim the mantle of global leadership.
Trump has had a complicated relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, whom he has long referred to as a friend, even as trade tensions have flared.