cnbc--2020-05-06--GOP fundraisers scored cash from big donors Wynn and Mercer, who had gone quiet in Trump reelection

GOP fundraisers scored cash from big donors Wynn and Mercer, who had gone quiet in Trump reelection push

U.S. President Donald Trump tours the assembly line of a Honeywell facility manufacturing protective face masks for the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) pandemic in Phoenix , Arizona , U.S. , May 5 , 2020 .
Allies of President Donald Trump have been quietly reaching out for help to big donors who had previously limited their financial support of his reelection push .
Those targeted included Steve Wynn , who resigned as CEO of Wynn Casinos after being accused of sexual misconduct , and Robert Mercer , the former co-CEO of hedge fund Renaissance Technologies and investor in the now-defunct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the effort .
These people declined to be named because the outreach was conducted in private .
The pitch to these influential donors started last year , one of the people said .
The effort , geared toward helping Trump defeat apparent Democratic nominee Joe Biden this fall , appears to have been a success .
Wynn has given more than $ 1 million to Republican-related entities in the 2020 election cycle .
Mercer wrote a $ 360,600 check in February to one of the Trump-GOP joint fundraising committees .
Until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly dark in financing Trump 's reelection .
His family foundation , however , was spending millions on conservative causes that closely align with the president 's agenda .
In other cases , there was a push to get new donors who were not Trump supporters during his last campaign .
Stephen Rosenberg , a New York real estate executive who supported Hillary Clinton 's campaign , has previously contributed over $ 360,000 to Trump Victory , a joint fundraising operation with the president 's reelection campaign and the RNC .
The RNC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 .
That same month , Trump 's campaign manager , Brad Parscale , said the effort would cost at least $ 1 billion .
`` I definitely think we 're looking at a billion-dollar operation , minimum , '' Parscale told Eric Bolling in an interview at the time .
The campaign is largely focused on expanding the digital infrastructure going into November and is connecting with voters through an all-out virtual campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic .
In the first quarter of 2020 , the Trump campaign , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , raised $ 212 million .
They have over $ 240 million on hand .
Still , despite the GOP financial dominance , Democrats are seeing strong support from wealthy donors .
Of the top 10 financiers this cycle , including couples who have each given to various groups , six have given to Democrats and four to Republicans , according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics .
The top Republican donors include Richard Uihlein , founder of shipping supply company Uline , and his wife , Elizabeth ; Blackstone CEO Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founder of Susquehanna International Group .
For Democrats , it 's business executives such as Tom Steyer , Mike Bloomberg and Donald Sussman .
A lawyer for Wynn said the former casino CEO is not giving interviews and did not return a request for comment on his recent donations .
Representatives for Mercer , the RNC and Trump campaign did not return repeated requests for comment .
Wynn was the Republican National Committee 's finance chair before he resigned in 2018 , when he was accused of sexual misconduct that he has vehemently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Chair Ronna McDaniel , have publicly defended Wynn , arguing that he has never been charged with a crime and that his denials stand for themselves .
Wynn did not donate to Republican candidates the year he came under fire .
Starting last year , however , the former casino magnate started giving big to the RNC , the National Republican Senatorial Committee and , most recently , to Trump Victory .
Mercer , meanwhile , had previously pumped money into a super PAC , Make America Number 1 , that supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also embroiled in a scandal involving his daughter Rebekah Mercer , former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon , and the data firm they ran , Cambridge Analyica .
The company was accused of improperly harvesting users ' personal data from Facebook , which was then used to craft ads that critics say unfairly influenced voters against Clinton .
Before becoming chief executive of the Trump 2016 campaign , Bannon was vice president of Cambridge Analytica .
Mercer 's daughter was on the board of the data company .
Many in Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mercer to start writing bigger checks to Trump and other GOP movements after her father 's most recent contribution .
A Biden spokesperson did not return a request for comment .

U.S. President Donald Trump tours the assembly line of a Honeywell facility manufacturing protective face masks for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., May 5, 2020.
Allies of President Donald Trump have been quietly reaching out for help to big donors who had previously limited their financial support of his reelection push.
Those targeted included Steve Wynn, who resigned as CEO of Wynn Casinos after being accused of sexual misconduct, and Robert Mercer, the former co-CEO of hedge fund Renaissance Technologies and investor in the now-defunct Cambridge Analytica, according to people familiar with the effort. These people declined to be named because the outreach was conducted in private.
The pitch to these influential donors started last year, one of the people said. The effort, geared toward helping Trump defeat apparent Democratic nominee Joe Biden this fall, appears to have been a success. Wynn has given more than $1 million to Republican-related entities in the 2020 election cycle. Mercer wrote a $360,600 check in February to one of the Trump-GOP joint fundraising committees.
Until the most recent contribution, Mercer had gone mostly dark in financing Trump's reelection. His family foundation, however, was spending millions on conservative causes that closely align with the president's agenda.
In other cases, there was a push to get new donors who were not Trump supporters during his last campaign. Stephen Rosenberg, a New York real estate executive who supported Hillary Clinton's campaign, has previously contributed over $360,000 to Trump Victory, a joint fundraising operation with the president's reelection campaign and the RNC.
The RNC started receiving checks from Wynn in April 2019. That same month, Trump's campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said the effort would cost at least $1 billion. "I definitely think we're looking at a billion-dollar operation, minimum," Parscale told Eric Bolling in an interview at the time.
The campaign is largely focused on expanding the digital infrastructure going into November and is connecting with voters through an all-out virtual campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the first quarter of 2020, the Trump campaign, along with the RNC and their joint fundraising committees, raised $212 million. They have over $240 million on hand.
Still, despite the GOP financial dominance, Democrats are seeing strong support from wealthy donors. Of the top 10 financiers this cycle, including couples who have each given to various groups, six have given to Democrats and four to Republicans, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
The top Republican donors include Richard Uihlein, founder of shipping supply company Uline, and his wife, Elizabeth; Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman; and Jeffrey Yass, a founder of Susquehanna International Group. For Democrats, it's business executives such as Tom Steyer, Mike Bloomberg and Donald Sussman.
A lawyer for Wynn said the former casino CEO is not giving interviews and did not return a request for comment on his recent donations. Representatives for Mercer, the RNC and Trump campaign did not return repeated requests for comment.
Wynn was the Republican National Committee's finance chair before he resigned in 2018, when he was accused of sexual misconduct that he has vehemently denied. Leaders of the RNC, including Chair Ronna McDaniel, have publicly defended Wynn, arguing that he has never been charged with a crime and that his denials stand for themselves.
Wynn did not donate to Republican candidates the year he came under fire. Starting last year, however, the former casino magnate started giving big to the RNC, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and, most recently, to Trump Victory.
Mercer, meanwhile, had previously pumped money into a super PAC, Make America Number 1, that supported Trump's run in 2016.
Mercer was also embroiled in a scandal involving his daughter Rebekah Mercer, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, and the data firm they ran, Cambridge Analyica. The company was accused of improperly harvesting users' personal data from Facebook , which was then used to craft ads that critics say unfairly influenced voters against Clinton.
Before becoming chief executive of the Trump 2016 campaign, Bannon was vice president of Cambridge Analytica. Mercer's daughter was on the board of the data company.
Many in Republican circles explained that they now expect Rebekah Mercer to start writing bigger checks to Trump and other GOP movements after her father's most recent contribution.
A Biden spokesperson did not return a request for comment.


cnbc--2020-05-06--Klobuchar, Warren urge FTC to take more steps to help small businesses avoid coronavirus scams

Sens .
Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , and Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, are pushing the Federal Trade Commission to take more steps to shield small businesses from scams as they try to access aid during the coronavirus pandemic .
In a Wednesday letter to agency Chairman Joseph Simons , 11 Democrats led by Klobuchar and Warren raised concerns about scammers `` exploiting '' the popularity of the Paycheck Protection Program , Small Business Administration assistance designed to keep employees on payroll at distressed small businesses .
They pointed to reports of people sending fake offers of SBA loans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Given the seriousness of this issue , we urge the FTC to take action to better inform small businesses about fraud and assist victims in understanding how they can get help and avoid falling victim to exploitation , '' the senators wrote to Simons , who leads the agency charged with protecting consumers and rooting out deceptive business practices .
The lawmakers asked what additional steps the FTC would take to inform small business owners about deceptive practices , prevent scams and assist victims .
They also questioned what the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owned by women , minorities and veterans , as well as small companies in rural areas , which they said are more vulnerable to scams because they are more likely to lack access to capital .
Late last month , the FTC published a list of tips on how business owners seeking SBA assistance can identify scams .
Klobuchar and Warren , among apparent Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's 2020 running mate choices , have repeatedly pushed for tougher oversight of the U.S. economic and health-care response to the pandemic .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request for comment on the senators ' letter .
As efforts to slow the pandemic 's spread ravage the economy , the federal government took steps to swiftly dole out an unprecedented $ 2 trillion aid package passed in March .
The effort led to a range of issues , as the first round of $ 350 billion in small business aid funding evaporated in days .
Several large public companies got assistance and some companies without an existing banking relationship found themselves shut out of loan access .
The spending bonanza has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first two people were charged Tuesday with fraudulently applying for assistance by making false statements to influence the SBA .
The Senate returned to Washington this week as Congress considers its next moves to blunt the damage from the outbreak .
The House will head back to the Capitol as soon as next week .
Looming fights in Congress include whether to send federal aid to state and local governments and pass liability protections for businesses as they reopen during the pandemic .

Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., are pushing the Federal Trade Commission to take more steps to shield small businesses from scams as they try to access aid during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a Wednesday letter to agency Chairman Joseph Simons, 11 Democrats led by Klobuchar and Warren raised concerns about scammers "exploiting" the popularity of the Paycheck Protection Program, Small Business Administration assistance designed to keep employees on payroll at distressed small businesses. They pointed to reports of people sending fake offers of SBA loans to companies in order to steal personal information.
"Given the seriousness of this issue, we urge the FTC to take action to better inform small businesses about fraud and assist victims in understanding how they can get help and avoid falling victim to exploitation," the senators wrote to Simons, who leads the agency charged with protecting consumers and rooting out deceptive business practices.
The lawmakers asked what additional steps the FTC would take to inform small business owners about deceptive practices, prevent scams and assist victims. They also questioned what the agency is doing specifically to protect small businesses owned by women, minorities and veterans, as well as small companies in rural areas, which they said are more vulnerable to scams because they are more likely to lack access to capital.
Late last month, the FTC published a list of tips on how business owners seeking SBA assistance can identify scams.
Klobuchar and Warren, among apparent Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's 2020 running mate choices, have repeatedly pushed for tougher oversight of the U.S. economic and health-care response to the pandemic.
The FTC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the senators' letter.
As efforts to slow the pandemic's spread ravage the economy, the federal government took steps to swiftly dole out an unprecedented $2 trillion aid package passed in March. The effort led to a range of issues, as the first round of $350 billion in small business aid funding evaporated in days. Several large public companies got assistance and some companies without an existing banking relationship found themselves shut out of loan access.
The spending bonanza has also opened opportunities for fraud. The first two people were charged Tuesday with fraudulently applying for assistance by making false statements to influence the SBA.
The Senate returned to Washington this week as Congress considers its next moves to blunt the damage from the outbreak. The House will head back to the Capitol as soon as next week.
Looming fights in Congress include whether to send federal aid to state and local governments and pass liability protections for businesses as they reopen during the pandemic.
Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.


cnbc--2020-05-06--Supreme Court justices clash over Trump rules allowing religious employers to deny contraceptive cov

Supreme Court justices clash over Trump rules allowing religious employers to deny contraceptive coverage

Supporters of women 's health rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington , DC , March 23 , 2016 , as the Court hears oral arguments in 7 cases dealing with religious organizations that want to ban contraceptives from their health insurance policies on religious grounds .
Liberal justices , including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who called in from Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore after being treated for a benign gallbladder condition on Tuesday , argued that the Trump administration was unlawfully departing from Congress 's intention to provide women with free contraceptive coverage when it passed the Affordable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic rival , Joe Biden , was vice president at the time the provision that would become the contraceptive coverage mandate was signed into law as part of the Affordable Care Act , the health-care overhaul commonly known as Obamacare .
The high-profile case comes as President Donald Trump is seeking reelection in November .
Trump campaigned in 2016 on opposing the contraceptive coverage mandate and won with broad support among religious groups .
It was not immediately clear which side will garner enough votes to form a majority .
If the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could lose their contraceptive coverage , according to government estimates .
Arguments , which were conducted by phone as a precaution against the spreading coronavirus , lasted nearly two hours and concluded shortly before noon .
A decision is expected over the summer .
Pennsylvania and New Jersey successfully halted implementation of the regulations in the lower courts .
The Trump administration , via the Department of Justice , and the Catholic nonprofit Little Sisters of the Poor asked the Supreme Court to reverse those rulings .
The justices of the Supreme court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a dispute over Trump administration rules that would allow employers with sincerely held moral or religious objections to deny their employees access to free contraceptive coverage .
`` You have just tossed entirely to the wind what Congress thought was essential -- that women receive these services with no cost , no hassle to them , '' Ginsburg told Solicitor General Noel Francisco , who argued on behalf of the Trump administration .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh , a Trump appointee , said the case was `` difficult , '' noting that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides . ''
Under rules put out under President Barack Obama , churches and other houses of worship were exempted from the contraceptive coverage mandate .
Religious nonprofits were entitled to an `` accommodation '' in which their employees would receive contraceptive coverage , but they would not have to pay for it .
The Supreme Court expanded the accommodation to some for-profit businesses in the 2014 case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores , though religious employers have argued ever since that even having to notify the government or their insurer of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in providing the coverage .
In 2016 , the Supreme Court declined to issue a substantial ruling in a case involving those objections .
The justices instead urged the Obama administration to work on a compromise with religious objectors .
The administration said shortly before Trump took office that it was unable to do so `` while still ensuring that the affected women receive full and equal health coverage , including contraceptive coverage . ''
Chief Justice John Roberts , who was part of the 5-4 majority in Hobby Lobby , seemed exasperated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out a compromise .
`` The problem is that neither side in this debate wants the accommodation to work , '' Roberts told Paul Clement , an attorney for the Little Sisters of the Poor .
The argument was the third of 10 to be heard virtually during the first two weeks of May , the first virtual arguments in the court 's history .
As in the prior two arguments , Justice Clarence Thomas , who is known for his silence , asked questions .
The case appears to be the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ element of the discussion .
Justice Sonia Sotomayor , an Obama appointee , asked Clement if it would be lawful , hypothetically , for religious groups to object to a mandatory requirement to provide Covid-19 vaccines .
`` In the context of Covid-19 , I think the government might be able to meet its burden '' of requiring the vaccine to be provided , Clement said .
Clement and Francisco argued that the exemptions for religious employers are required under the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act .
The RFRA prohibits the government from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of religion unless it can show that it is using the least onerous means of doing so .
Pennsylvania Chief Deputy Attorney General Michael Fischer , who argued on behalf of the states , argued that the administration failed to follow the Administrative Procedure Act , which governs agency rulemaking , when it came up with the new rules .
`` The prior rules struck a balance that permitted objecting employers to opt out but still allowed their female employees to receive coverage , '' Fischer said .
Arguing that the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that even publicly traded companies could claim exemptions under them , despite the fact that none had publicly said they were seeking one .
The cases are known as Donald Trump v. Pennsylvania , No .
19-454 , and The Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania , No .
19-431 .

Supporters of women's health rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, March 23, 2016, as the Court hears oral arguments in 7 cases dealing with religious organizations that want to ban contraceptives from their health insurance policies on religious grounds.
Liberal justices, including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who called in from Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore after being treated for a benign gallbladder condition on Tuesday, argued that the Trump administration was unlawfully departing from Congress's intention to provide women with free contraceptive coverage when it passed the Affordable Care Act in 2010.
Trump's Democratic rival, Joe Biden, was vice president at the time the provision that would become the contraceptive coverage mandate was signed into law as part of the Affordable Care Act, the health-care overhaul commonly known as Obamacare.
The high-profile case comes as President Donald Trump is seeking reelection in November. Trump campaigned in 2016 on opposing the contraceptive coverage mandate and won with broad support among religious groups.
It was not immediately clear which side will garner enough votes to form a majority. If the Trump administration wins, more than 125,000 women could lose their contraceptive coverage, according to government estimates.
Arguments, which were conducted by phone as a precaution against the spreading coronavirus, lasted nearly two hours and concluded shortly before noon. A decision is expected over the summer.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey successfully halted implementation of the regulations in the lower courts. The Trump administration, via the Department of Justice, and the Catholic nonprofit Little Sisters of the Poor asked the Supreme Court to reverse those rulings.
The justices of the Supreme court on Wednesday clashed along largely partisan lines in a dispute over Trump administration rules that would allow employers with sincerely held moral or religious objections to deny their employees access to free contraceptive coverage.
"You have just tossed entirely to the wind what Congress thought was essential -- that women receive these services with no cost, no hassle to them," Ginsburg told Solicitor General Noel Francisco, who argued on behalf of the Trump administration.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee, said the case was "difficult," noting that there were "very strong interests on both sides."
Under rules put out under President Barack Obama, churches and other houses of worship were exempted from the contraceptive coverage mandate. Religious nonprofits were entitled to an "accommodation" in which their employees would receive contraceptive coverage, but they would not have to pay for it.
The Supreme Court expanded the accommodation to some for-profit businesses in the 2014 case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, though religious employers have argued ever since that even having to notify the government or their insurer of their religious objection makes them "complicit" in providing the coverage.
In 2016, the Supreme Court declined to issue a substantial ruling in a case involving those objections.
The justices instead urged the Obama administration to work on a compromise with religious objectors. The administration said shortly before Trump took office that it was unable to do so "while still ensuring that the affected women receive full and equal health coverage, including contraceptive coverage."
Chief Justice John Roberts, who was part of the 5-4 majority in Hobby Lobby, seemed exasperated that the government still had not worked out a compromise.
"The problem is that neither side in this debate wants the accommodation to work," Roberts told Paul Clement, an attorney for the Little Sisters of the Poor.
The argument was the third of 10 to be heard virtually during the first two weeks of May, the first virtual arguments in the court's history. As in the prior two arguments, Justice Clarence Thomas, who is known for his silence, asked questions.
The case appears to be the first virtual argument in which Covid-19 became an element of the discussion. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, an Obama appointee, asked Clement if it would be lawful, hypothetically, for religious groups to object to a mandatory requirement to provide Covid-19 vaccines.
"In the context of Covid-19, I think the government might be able to meet its burden" of requiring the vaccine to be provided, Clement said.
Clement and Francisco argued that the exemptions for religious employers are required under the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The RFRA prohibits the government from imposing a substantial burden on the exercise of religion unless it can show that it is using the least onerous means of doing so.
Pennsylvania Chief Deputy Attorney General Michael Fischer, who argued on behalf of the states, argued that the administration failed to follow the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs agency rulemaking, when it came up with the new rules.
"The prior rules struck a balance that permitted objecting employers to opt out but still allowed their female employees to receive coverage," Fischer said.
Arguing that the Trump administration rules swept too broadly, Fischer noted that even publicly traded companies could claim exemptions under them, despite the fact that none had publicly said they were seeking one.
The cases are known as Donald Trump v. Pennsylvania, No. 19-454, and The Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania, No. 19-431.


cnbc--2020-05-06--Most 2020 swing state voters want more direct payments during coronavirus, CNBC/Change Research poll

Most 2020 swing state voters want more direct payments during coronavirus, CNBC/Change Research poll finds

About three-quarters of likely voters in 2020 election battleground states support sustained direct payments to Americans during the coronavirus pandemic , according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll .
Across the key states of Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , 74 % of respondents approve of continuing government relief payments to Americans until the country can safely resume economic activity , the States of Play survey found .
Only 22 % of likely voters in those states disapprove .
The poll surveyed 3,544 likely voters across the six states from May 1 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error of plus or minus 1.7 percentage points .
The $ 2 trillion package passed in March , which aimed to rescue a U.S. economy ravaged by efforts to contain the outbreak , included direct deposits or checks of up to $ 1,200 for individuals and $ 500 for every child .
As Congress considers its next potential relief bill in the coming weeks , Democratic leaders will likely push for at least one more stimulus payment to Americans — though Republican lawmakers have grown more wary of massive federal spending to respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research poll , Democratic and Republican voters diverged on a range of topics , from how concerned they are about the coronavirus to whether the economy is in a recession and what precautions they are taking during the pandemic .
Even so , respondents across the ideological spectrum backed more direct payments as the economy crumbles .
Nearly all Democrats surveyed , 96 % , said they support sustained payments , as did 74 % of independents .
A majority of GOP respondents , 53 % , also said they approve of more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , not all of those voters who expect to get money as part of the March package have received it .
About 6 in 10 respondents , 61 % , said they have received their direct payment .
Another 24 % said they expect to get one in the future , while 11 % responded that they do not expect to receive one .
The push for more stimulus payments comes as business shutdowns designed to slow the Covid-19 infection rate and ease the burden on the health-care system devastate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April , dropping by more than 20 million in the worst month ever for ADP 's jobs report .
The U.S. employment report for April is due for release Friday .
The CNBC/Change survey illustrates the economic carnage the coronavirus has left in swing states .
Across the six battlegrounds , 37 % of respondents said they or a member of their household lost a job or were furloughed because of the outbreak .
Half of likely voters said they or someone in their household has lost wages or seen their salary cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania felt the effects most keenly .
In Michigan and Pennsylvania , 46 % and 40 % of respondents , respectively , said they or a member of their household has lost a job or been furloughed .
People of color have taken the biggest hit in the job market in the six states .
Nearly half , or 47 % , of black voters surveyed said they or a family member have lost a job or been furloughed .
More than a third , or 39 % , of Hispanic respondents said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of white respondents .

People hold signs as they take part in a "reopen" Pennsylvania demonstration on April 20, 2020 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images
About three-quarters of likely voters in 2020 election battleground states support sustained direct payments to Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll. Across the key states of Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, 74% of respondents approve of continuing government relief payments to Americans until the country can safely resume economic activity, the States of Play survey found. Only 22% of likely voters in those states disapprove. The poll surveyed 3,544 likely voters across the six states from May 1 to 3, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.7 percentage points.
The $2 trillion package passed in March, which aimed to rescue a U.S. economy ravaged by efforts to contain the outbreak, included direct deposits or checks of up to $1,200 for individuals and $500 for every child. As Congress considers its next potential relief bill in the coming weeks, Democratic leaders will likely push for at least one more stimulus payment to Americans — though Republican lawmakers have grown more wary of massive federal spending to respond to the crisis. Throughout the CNBC/Change Research poll, Democratic and Republican voters diverged on a range of topics, from how concerned they are about the coronavirus to whether the economy is in a recession and what precautions they are taking during the pandemic. Even so, respondents across the ideological spectrum backed more direct payments as the economy crumbles. Nearly all Democrats surveyed, 96%, said they support sustained payments, as did 74% of independents. A majority of GOP respondents, 53%, also said they approve of more money going directly to Americans. At the same time, not all of those voters who expect to get money as part of the March package have received it. About 6 in 10 respondents, 61%, said they have received their direct payment. Another 24% said they expect to get one in the future, while 11% responded that they do not expect to receive one.
President Donald Trump's name appeared on coronavirus economic assistance checks that sent to citizens across the country April 29, 2020. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images


cnbc--2020-05-06--Trump says coronavirus task force will keep working 'indefinitely,' focusing on vaccines and reopeni

Trump says coronavirus task force will keep working 'indefinitely,' focusing on vaccines and reopening

Dr. Deborah Birx , White House coronavirus response coordinator , and National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci listen as President Donald J. Trump speaks with the coronavirus task force during a briefing in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Friday , March 20 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
Sources told CNBC and other outlets earlier Tuesday that White House staff had signaled to task force officials that a phase-out was forthcoming .
Pence appeared to confirm those reports , suggesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` all a reflection of the tremendous progress we 've made as a country . ''
On Tuesday , Trump said he was winding down the task force `` because we ca n't keep our country closed for the next five years . ''
`` We may add or subtract people to it , as appropriate .
The Task Force will also be very focused on Vaccines & Therapeutics .
Thank you ! ''
Trump added .
`` Because of this success , the Task Force will continue on indefinitely with its focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AGAIN , '' the president wrote .
The group , led by Vice President Mike Pence , `` has done a fantastic job of bringing together vast highly complex resources , '' such as ventilators , face masks and testing systems , Trump tweeted .
While the task force is not going away , it may replace some members and will shift its focus toward an economic reopening in the U.S. , Trump said in a series of tweets .
He told reporters at the White House later Wednesday that `` we 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the group by next week .
The Trump administration was having conversations with the Federal Emergency Management Agency about transitioning the coronavirus response to other federal agencies , Pence said Tuesday .
The White House was looking at starting that transition as soon as late May , the vice president had said .
Asked on Wednesday afternoon about the reversal , Trump said , `` I thought we could wind it down sooner . ''
`` But I had no idea how popular the task force is until actually yesterday when I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told reporters in the Oval Office .
`` It is appreciated by the public . ''
The task force , which includes response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci , was formed in late January and put in charge of the administration 's efforts to slow the spread of the deadly disease in the United States .
More than 1.2 million Covid-19 cases and at least 71,078 deaths from the disease have been confirmed in the U.S. , according to data from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counted more cases and deaths from the virus than any other country .
State and regional leaders have imposed unprecedented measures , such as ordering residents to stay home and closing nonessential businesses , to try to prevent transmission of the coronavirus and keep health-care facilities from being overrun with patients .
The economy has been suffocated as a result : Private payrolls suffered by far their worst monthly drop in history in April , hemorrhaging 20.2 million jobs , according to an ADP report Wednesday .
Trump , who is up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the country is due an economic rebound later in the year .
Despite warnings from health experts in his own administration that the virus will likely persist through the fall and winter , Trump has pushed for states to start to relax their strict social distancing rules and begin the process of restarting their economies .
`` I 'm not saying anything is perfect , '' Trump said at a roundtable event in Phoenix , Arizona , on Tuesday afternoon .
`` Will some people be affected ?
Yes .
Will some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But we have to get our country opened and we have to get it open soon . ''
As the president turns his attention toward reinvigorating the ailing U.S. economy , the task force has been nudged from the national spotlight .
On-camera press briefings with the task force , once a near-daily occurrence , have not been held since April 24 , and a source told CNBC on Tuesday that the operation has been meeting less frequently .
`` Mike Pence and the task force have done a great job , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit of a different form , '' Trump said in Phoenix .
`` That form is safety and opening , and we 'll have a different group probably set up for that . ''
But while the coronavirus appears to be on the decline in so-called hot spots in the U.S. such as New York , some states have seen an uptick in cases as they start to lift restrictions .
In an ABC News interview that aired Tuesday evening , Trump acknowledged that reopening parts of the country would inevitably cost some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible there will be some [ deaths ] because you wo n't be locked into an apartment or house or whatever it is , '' Trump said in the interview .
`` But at the same time , we 're going to practice social distancing , we 're going to be washing hands , we 're going to be doing a lot of the things that we 've learned to do over the last period of time . ''

Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, and National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci listen as President Donald J. Trump speaks with the coronavirus task force during a briefing in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Friday, March 20, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Sources told CNBC and other outlets earlier Tuesday that White House staff had signaled to task force officials that a phase-out was forthcoming. Pence appeared to confirm those reports, suggesting that winding down the task force is "all a reflection of the tremendous progress we've made as a country."
On Tuesday, Trump said he was winding down the task force " because we can't keep our country closed for the next five years ."
"We may add or subtract people to it, as appropriate. The Task Force will also be very focused on Vaccines & Therapeutics. Thank you!" Trump added.
"Because of this success, the Task Force will continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN," the president wrote.
The group, led by Vice President Mike Pence, "has done a fantastic job of bringing together vast highly complex resources," such as ventilators, face masks and testing systems, Trump tweeted.
While the task force is not going away, it may replace some members and will shift its focus toward an economic reopening in the U.S., Trump said in a series of tweets. He told reporters at the White House later Wednesday that "we'll be adding two or three members" to the group by next week.
The Trump administration was having conversations with the Federal Emergency Management Agency about transitioning the coronavirus response to other federal agencies, Pence said Tuesday. The White House was looking at starting that transition as soon as late May, the vice president had said.
Asked on Wednesday afternoon about the reversal, Trump said, "I thought we could wind it down sooner."
"But I had no idea how popular the task force is until actually yesterday when I started talking about winding down," he told reporters in the Oval Office. "It is appreciated by the public."
The task force, which includes response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, was formed in late January and put in charge of the administration's efforts to slow the spread of the deadly disease in the United States.
More than 1.2 million Covid-19 cases and at least 71,078 deaths from the disease have been confirmed in the U.S., according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. has counted more cases and deaths from the virus than any other country.
State and regional leaders have imposed unprecedented measures, such as ordering residents to stay home and closing nonessential businesses, to try to prevent transmission of the coronavirus and keep health-care facilities from being overrun with patients.
The economy has been suffocated as a result: Private payrolls suffered by far their worst monthly drop in history in April, hemorrhaging 20.2 million jobs, according to an ADP report Wednesday.
Trump, who is up for reelection in November, has repeatedly predicted that the country is due an economic rebound later in the year. Despite warnings from health experts in his own administration that the virus will likely persist through the fall and winter, Trump has pushed for states to start to relax their strict social distancing rules and begin the process of restarting their economies.
"I'm not saying anything is perfect," Trump said at a roundtable event in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday afternoon. "Will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes. But we have to get our country opened and we have to get it open soon."
As the president turns his attention toward reinvigorating the ailing U.S. economy, the task force has been nudged from the national spotlight.
On-camera press briefings with the task force, once a near-daily occurrence, have not been held since April 24, and a source told CNBC on Tuesday that the operation has been meeting less frequently.
"Mike Pence and the task force have done a great job, but we're now looking at a little bit of a different form," Trump said in Phoenix. "That form is safety and opening, and we'll have a different group probably set up for that."
But while the coronavirus appears to be on the decline in so-called hot spots in the U.S. such as New York, some states have seen an uptick in cases as they start to lift restrictions.
In an ABC News interview that aired Tuesday evening, Trump acknowledged that reopening parts of the country would inevitably cost some Americans their lives.
"It's possible there will be some [deaths] because you won't be locked into an apartment or house or whatever it is," Trump said in the interview. "But at the same time, we're going to practice social distancing, we're going to be washing hands, we're going to be doing a lot of the things that we've learned to do over the last period of time."


cnbc--2020-05-06--Listen live: Supreme Court hears arguments over whether companies can limit contraceptive coverage

[ The stream is slated to start at 10:00 a.m .
ET .
Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time . ]
Obamacare 's contraceptive coverage mandate returns to the Supreme Court on Wednesday in a high-profile case that will force the justices to once again consider which businesses may deny their employees access to free birth control .
The fight over the mandate , included in the 2010 health-care overhaul legislation formally known as the Affordable Care Act , has spanned nearly a decade and two presidential administrations .
It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — once , in 2016 , during an election year — though never quite like this time .
As a result of health precautions taken in the midst of the spreading coronavirus , Wednesday 's oral argument will be the third in the history of the court to be broadcast live to the public .
The audio feed will be available at 10 a.m .
ET on this page .
The two previous cases that came to the Supreme Court over the coverage mandate concerned whether Obama administration requirements imposed too harsh a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing or facilitating contraceptive coverage .
Wednesday 's case , the first to reach the Supreme Court under President Donald Trump , asks the opposite question : whether Trump administration rules released in 2017 provide too wide a carve-out for religious and moral objectors to deny women coverage .
The stakes in the latest case are higher than the previous two , according to Nelson Tebbe , a law professor at Cornell Law School who studies constitutional law and religious freedom .
In those cases , female employees whose benefits were at stake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after their employers gained exemptions .
`` This is a very different kind of religious exemption because it does not provide alternative coverage for female employees or female dependents of male employees , '' Tebbe said .
Possibly more than 100,000 women stand to lose their contraceptive coverage , he said .

[The stream is slated to start at 10:00 a.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.]
Obamacare's contraceptive coverage mandate returns to the Supreme Court on Wednesday in a high-profile case that will force the justices to once again consider which businesses may deny their employees access to free birth control.
The fight over the mandate, included in the 2010 health-care overhaul legislation formally known as the Affordable Care Act, has spanned nearly a decade and two presidential administrations.
It has come to the Supreme Court twice before — once, in 2016, during an election year — though never quite like this time.
As a result of health precautions taken in the midst of the spreading coronavirus, Wednesday's oral argument will be the third in the history of the court to be broadcast live to the public. The audio feed will be available at 10 a.m. ET on this page.
The two previous cases that came to the Supreme Court over the coverage mandate concerned whether Obama administration requirements imposed too harsh a burden on employers with religious objections to providing or facilitating contraceptive coverage.
Wednesday's case, the first to reach the Supreme Court under President Donald Trump, asks the opposite question: whether Trump administration rules released in 2017 provide too wide a carve-out for religious and moral objectors to deny women coverage.
The stakes in the latest case are higher than the previous two, according to Nelson Tebbe, a law professor at Cornell Law School who studies constitutional law and religious freedom. In those cases, female employees whose benefits were at stake still retained coverage, via third parties, after their employers gained exemptions.
"This is a very different kind of religious exemption because it does not provide alternative coverage for female employees or female dependents of male employees," Tebbe said. Possibly more than 100,000 women stand to lose their contraceptive coverage, he said.


cnbc--2020-05-07--Justice Department drops criminal case against former Trump aide Michael Flynn

The Justice Department on Thursday dropped its prosecution of former national security advisor Michael Flynn , who had pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about his conversations with a Russian diplomat in the weeks before President Donald Trump 's inauguration .
The bombshell move comes more than two years after Flynn 's guilty plea and agreement to cooperate with the then-ongoing investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
But it also comes nearly a year after Flynn hired a new lawyer , Sidney Powell , who was a harsh critic of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn to seek a withdrawal of his guilty plea and ultimately to challenge the legitimacy of the case on the claim that federal prosecutors had withheld potentially exculpatory material from him and his lawyers .
Previously undisclosed documents that were released in late April bolstered Powell 's argument , and led to the Justice Department 's decision to abandon the case .
One such document suggested that the FBI might try to `` get him [ Flynn ] to lie '' to agents during an interview .
Judge Emmet Sullivan , who presided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign off on the Justice Department 's motion to dismiss the prosecution of Flynn .
The move to drop the case against the retired U.S. Army lieutenant general was approved by Attorney General William Barr on the recommendation of a top federal prosecutor whom Barr recently tasked to review the case .
In an interview with CBS News that aired Thursday evening , Barr said he and his department believed it was `` our duty '' to dismiss Flynn 's case .
`` A crime can not be established here , '' Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a basis for a counterintelligence investigation against Flynn at that stage . ''
When reminded that Flynn had admitted to lying , Barr responded : `` People sometimes plead to things that turn out not to be crimes . ''
Barr said he wanted `` to make sure that we restore confidence in this system , '' but added that he was `` prepared '' for his decision to spark a major backlash .
`` I also think it 's sad that nowadays these partisan feelings are so strong that people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barr said .
Trump had strongly criticized Flynn 's prosecution in the past — even after Flynn twice admitted in court proceedings that he had falsely told FBI agents in January 2017 that he did not ask Russia 's ambassador to the U.S to refrain from escalating sanctions in response to the imposition of sanctions against Russia by the Obama administration .
`` He was an innocent man .
He is a great gentleman , '' Trump told reporters Thursday at the White House .
`` Now in my book he 's an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who said he had not known beforehand of the decision to drop the case , said , `` He was targeted by the Obama administration and he was targeted in order to try and take down a president . ''
`` And I hope a lot of people are going to pay a big price , because they 're dishonest crooked people , they 're scum , and I say it a lot , they 're scum , they 're human scum .
This should never have happened in this country , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Very dishonest people , but much more than — it 's treason .
It 's treason . ''
Flynn later Thursday tweeted a video of his young grandson reciting the Pledge of Allegiance , with the final words , `` with liberty and justice for all . ''
In court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Washington , the Justice Department said it wanted to end the prosecution of Flynn after `` a considered review of all the facts and circumstances of this case , including newly discovered and disclosed information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the interview of Mr. Flynn was untethered to , and unjustified by , the FBI 's counterintelligence investigation into Mr. Flynn — a no longer justifiably predicated investigation that the FBI had , in the Bureau 's own words , prepared to close because it had yielded an 'absence of any derogatory information , ' '' the filing said .
`` The Government is not persuaded that the January 24 , 2017 interview was conducted with a legitimate investigative basis and therefore does not believe Mr. Flynn 's statements were material even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do ] not believe that the Government can prove either the relevant false statements or their materiality beyond a reasonable doubt . ''
Timothy Shea , U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia , said in the filing that although Flynn had pleaded guilty to making false statements , `` in the Government 's assessment , however , he did so without full awareness of the circumstances of the newly discovered , disclosed , or declassified information as to the FBI 's investigation of him . ''
Those new documents cited by Shea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then-FBI counterintelligence chief , dated Jan. 24 , 2017 , that was prepared before FBI agents questioned Flynn about his discussions with Russia 's then-ambassador to the United States , Sergey Kislyak .
`` What 's our goal ?
Truth/Admission or get him to lie , so we can prosecute him or get him fired ? ''
Priestap had written .
On the same note , Priestap had written , `` If we 're seen as playing games , WH will be furious .
Protect our institution by not playing games .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately respond to a request for comment about the dismissal of the case .
The documents unsealed in Flynn 's case last month were shared with Powell and Flynn 's other lawyers after Barr appointed the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri , Jeffrey Jensen , to review the case .
Jensen , in a statement , said , `` Through the course of my review of General Flynn 's case , I concluded the proper and just course was to dismiss the case .
I briefed Attorney General Barr on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclusions , and he agreed . ''
James Comey , who was FBI director at the time that Flynn lied to agents , on Twitter wrote that the Department of Justice `` has lost its way , '' but urged career staff at the DOJ to stay in the department `` because America needs you . ''
`` The country is hungry for honest , competent leadership , '' Comey wrote .
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said in a statement : `` The Department 's position that the FBI had no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its counterintelligence investigation is patently false , and ignores the considerable national security risk his contacts raised .
Moreover , the Department 's position contradicts the findings by both the Special Counsel and the Office of the Inspector General . ''
`` Today 's move by the Justice Department has nothing to do with the facts or the law— it is pure politics designed to please the president , '' McCabe said .
McCabe also said that the FBI had opened its Russia investigation `` to determine if the Russian government coordinated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Flynn `` had prominent , high level interactions with Russian officials , so we investigated whether he might be that point of coordination . ''
`` We received incontrovertible evidence that Mr. Flynn spoke to the Russian ambassador on more than one occasion , that he actively tried to influence the actions of Russian officials , and that those officials acceded to his requests , '' McCabe said .
`` The FBI was obligated to interview him to better understand why he was talking to Russian officials .
During the interview , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversations with those officials .
His lies added to our concerns about his relationship with the Russian government .
Later , under oath in Federal Court , he twice admitted to lying to the FBI . ''
But Trump 's son , Donald Trump Jr. , in a tweet wrote that he hoped that Flynn `` sues the s -- - out of those clowns at the FBI who put him through that nonsense for three years setting him up and flagrantly sitting on all of the exculpatory evidence for 3 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ away with this travesty of justice . ''
Shortly before the news broke about the dismissal , a top prosecutor in Flynn 's case withdrew from that case , according to a filing in federal court .
Flynn had spent just a handful of weeks as Trump 's national security advisor .
He resigned after admitting to lying to Vice President Mike Pence about the nature of his talks with Kislyak .
The advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said in a prepared statement , `` Attorney General Barr has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit of President Trump , rather than fulfilling his duty as chief law enforcement officer of the United States , and has even meddled in prosecutions to help the president 's friends and allies . ''
`` Today 's dismissal of the case against former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn , previously affirmed by prosecutors , the presiding judge , and a guilty plea from Flynn himself , needs to be seen through that lens , '' said CREW Executive Director Sarah Bookbinder .
`` We have to be deeply skeptical that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our criminal justice system for the benefit of the president , '' Bookbinder said .
`` The president does n't need to issue pardons to his cronies when his attorney general appears willing to terminate their cases before justice can be served . ''

The Justice Department on Thursday dropped its prosecution of former national security advisor Michael Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about his conversations with a Russian diplomat in the weeks before President Donald Trump's inauguration.
The bombshell move comes more than two years after Flynn's guilty plea and agreement to cooperate with the then-ongoing investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
But it also comes nearly a year after Flynn hired a new lawyer, Sidney Powell, who was a harsh critic of Mueller.
Powell laid the groundwork for Flynn to seek a withdrawal of his guilty plea and ultimately to challenge the legitimacy of the case on the claim that federal prosecutors had withheld potentially exculpatory material from him and his lawyers.
Previously undisclosed documents that were released in late April bolstered Powell's argument, and led to the Justice Department's decision to abandon the case.
One such document suggested that the FBI might try to "get him [Flynn] to lie" to agents during an interview.
Judge Emmet Sullivan, who presided over the case, has yet to sign off on the Justice Department's motion to dismiss the prosecution of Flynn.
The move to drop the case against the retired U.S. Army lieutenant general was approved by Attorney General William Barr on the recommendation of a top federal prosecutor whom Barr recently tasked to review the case.
In an interview with CBS News that aired Thursday evening, Barr said he and his department believed it was "our duty" to dismiss Flynn's case.
"A crime cannot be established here," Barr told CBS. "They did not have a basis for a counterintelligence investigation against Flynn at that stage."
When reminded that Flynn had admitted to lying, Barr responded: "People sometimes plead to things that turn out not to be crimes."
Barr said he wanted "to make sure that we restore confidence in this system," but added that he was "prepared" for his decision to spark a major backlash.
"I also think it's sad that nowadays these partisan feelings are so strong that people have lost any sense of justice," Barr said.
Trump had strongly criticized Flynn's prosecution in the past — even after Flynn twice admitted in court proceedings that he had falsely told FBI agents in January 2017 that he did not ask Russia's ambassador to the U.S to refrain from escalating sanctions in response to the imposition of sanctions against Russia by the Obama administration.
"He was an innocent man. He is a great gentleman," Trump told reporters Thursday at the White House. "Now in my book he's an even greater warrior."
Trump, who said he had not known beforehand of the decision to drop the case, said, "He was targeted by the Obama administration and he was targeted in order to try and take down a president."
"And I hope a lot of people are going to pay a big price, because they're dishonest crooked people, they're scum, and I say it a lot, they're scum, they're human scum. This should never have happened in this country," Trump said.
"They got caught. Very dishonest people, but much more than — it's treason. It's treason."
Flynn later Thursday tweeted a video of his young grandson reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, with the final words, "with liberty and justice for all."
Tweet
In court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, the Justice Department said it wanted to end the prosecution of Flynn after "a considered review of all the facts and circumstances of this case, including newly discovered and disclosed information."
"The Government has concluded that the interview of Mr. Flynn was untethered to, and unjustified by, the FBI's counterintelligence investigation into Mr. Flynn — a no longer justifiably predicated investigation that the FBI had, in the Bureau's own words, prepared to close because it had yielded an 'absence of any derogatory information,'" the filing said.
"The Government is not persuaded that the January 24, 2017 interview was conducted with a legitimate investigative basis and therefore does not believe Mr. Flynn's statements were material even if untrue. Moreover, we [do] not believe that the Government can prove either the relevant false statements or their materiality beyond a reasonable doubt."
Timothy Shea, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said in the filing that although Flynn had pleaded guilty to making false statements, "in the Government's assessment, however, he did so without full awareness of the circumstances of the newly discovered, disclosed, or declassified information as to the FBI's investigation of him."
Those new documents cited by Shea included a handwritten note by Bill Priestap, then-FBI counterintelligence chief, dated Jan. 24, 2017, that was prepared before FBI agents questioned Flynn about his discussions with Russia's then-ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak.
"What's our goal? Truth/Admission or get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?" Priestap had written.
On the same note, Priestap had written, "If we're seen as playing games, WH will be furious. Protect our institution by not playing games."
Flynn's lawyer Powell did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the dismissal of the case.
The documents unsealed in Flynn's case last month were shared with Powell and Flynn's other lawyers after Barr appointed the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, Jeffrey Jensen, to review the case.
Jensen, in a statement, said, "Through the course of my review of General Flynn's case, I concluded the proper and just course was to dismiss the case. I briefed Attorney General Barr on my findings, advised him on these conclusions, and he agreed."
James Comey, who was FBI director at the time that Flynn lied to agents, on Twitter wrote that the Department of Justice "has lost its way," but urged career staff at the DOJ to stay in the department "because America needs you."
"The country is hungry for honest, competent leadership," Comey wrote.
Twitter
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said in a statement: "The Department's position that the FBI had no reason to interview Mr. Flynn pursuant to its counterintelligence investigation is patently false, and ignores the considerable national security risk his contacts raised. Moreover, the Department's position contradicts the findings by both the Special Counsel and the Office of the Inspector General."
"Today's move by the Justice Department has nothing to do with the facts or the law— it is pure politics designed to please the president," McCabe said.
McCabe also said that the FBI had opened its Russia investigation "to determine if the Russian government coordinated with the Trump campaign." He noted that Flynn "had prominent, high level interactions with Russian officials, so we investigated whether he might be that point of coordination."
"We received incontrovertible evidence that Mr. Flynn spoke to the Russian ambassador on more than one occasion, that he actively tried to influence the actions of Russian officials, and that those officials acceded to his requests," McCabe said.
"The FBI was obligated to interview him to better understand why he was talking to Russian officials. During the interview, he lied about the substance of his conversations with those officials. His lies added to our concerns about his relationship with the Russian government. Later, under oath in Federal Court, he twice admitted to lying to the FBI."
But Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., in a tweet wrote that he hoped that Flynn "sues the s--- out of those clowns at the FBI who put him through that nonsense for three years setting him up and flagrantly sitting on all of the exculpatory evidence for 3 years. I truly hope they don't get away with this travesty of justice."
Tweet
Shortly before the news broke about the dismissal, a top prosecutor in Flynn's case withdrew from that case, according to a filing in federal court.
Flynn had spent just a handful of weeks as Trump's national security advisor. He resigned after admitting to lying to Vice President Mike Pence about the nature of his talks with Kislyak.
Flynn's criminal sentencing had been repeatedly postponed.
The advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said in a prepared statement, "Attorney General Barr has consistently acted for the personal and political benefit of President Trump, rather than fulfilling his duty as chief law enforcement officer of the United States, and has even meddled in prosecutions to help the president's friends and allies."
"Today's dismissal of the case against former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, previously affirmed by prosecutors, the presiding judge, and a guilty plea from Flynn himself, needs to be seen through that lens," said CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder.
"We have to be deeply skeptical that this is anything other than a further capturing of our criminal justice system for the benefit of the president," Bookbinder said. "The president doesn't need to issue pardons to his cronies when his attorney general appears willing to terminate their cases before justice can be served."


cnbc--2020-05-07--GOP groups to use Biden sex assault allegation, Kavanaugh treatment against Democrats in key Senate

GOP groups to use Biden sex assault allegation, Kavanaugh treatment against Democrats in key Senate races

Republican groups are aiming to use the sexual assault allegations against apparent Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in their battle with Democrats in key Senate races in this year 's campaign .
The GOP organizations are arguing that Democrats are applying a different standard to Biden , who has vehemently denied the accusation that he assaulted a former Senate staffer in 1993 , than they did to Justice Brett Kavanaugh a couple years ago when he was accused of sexual assault .
Kavanaugh denied those claims , and he was confirmed to the Supreme Court .
Some GOP outside groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to incorporate the allegations brought against Biden by Tara Reade into their conversations with voters and overall campaigns against Democrats in competitive Senate races in states such as Alabama , Maine , North Carolina , Colorado and Iowa .
Republicans hold a 53-47 edge in the Senate , but they have more incumbents up for reelection than Democrats do .
These states have a mix of contests involving Democratic and Republican incumbents , along with some newcomers , fighting for Senate seats .
Polls show that Democrats have a strong chance to flip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis site Cook Political Report .
The effort is largely being organized by the dark money GOP group The Article III Project , a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) organization , according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter .
Article III was formed after Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court and has been a staunch advocate of conservative judges being appointed to courts across the country .
The group is not required to disclose its donors .
Mike Davis , Article III Project 's founder , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats of hypocrisy is to excite the Republican base and possibly find a way to convince voters in line with Democrats to stay home .
Democrats , including many lawmakers up for reelection in 2020 , have continued to endorse and stand by Biden .
Reade , in an interview with former NBC News and Fox News host Megyn Kelly , stood by her story and called for Biden to drop out of the presidential race .
A spokesman for Biden 's campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school in the early 1980s .
He repeatedly denied the allegations .
Ford 's accusations against Kavanaugh led to a partisan battle both on the Senate Judiciary Committee and later during the buildup to the full Senate vote , with many Democrats arguing that Ford should be believed in the midst of the # MeToo movement and that Kavanaugh should n't be confirmed .
Republicans tried to make it seem that Democrats were only using Ford as a tool against their nominee without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manchin , D-W.V.
, was the only Democrat in the chamber who voted to confirm Kavanaugh .
The Article III Project 's leaders are crafting a letter intended for Democrats running for Senate seats in Maine , Michigan , Alabama and Kentucky .
The letter will call on them to treat Biden with the same standard the Republicans believe the Democrats applied to Kavanaugh .
`` Do you believe all women , or just Republican accusers ? ''
said the person familiar with the matter , in describing the letter .
This person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this has yet to be made public .
Article III has also been pitching this as a possible campaign issue to Republicans running for Senate and other outside groups , this person said .
The other groups include the Senate Leadership Fund , a super PAC that is defending the GOP majority in the U.S. , and Heritage Action for America , a lobbying and advocacy organization that often pushes for conservative policy proposals while conducting heavy engagement with grassroots voters .
They are also moving toward developing an ad campaign that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposed Kavanaugh , questioning whether they 're applying a double standard .
The ads will likely be either digital outlets or in print newspapers across the country , although a final decision has yet to be made .
The tactic to use the Reade allegations comes as Republicans are trying to fend off a surge by the opposing party .
Polls showing that Democrats are ahead of their Republican challengers in several of these races .
A Real Clear Politics polling average has Biden above Trump by about 5 points .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this fall with politicians like [ Sara ] Gideon as well as Mark Kelly in Arizona , who opposed Kavanaugh but now says he 's sticking with Biden , '' said Steven Law , the CEO of the Senate Leadership Fund , a super PAC dedicated to helping Republicans maintain their majority in the Senate .
`` How do you defend two totally different standards of dealing with these kinds of allegations , other than raw politics ? ''
When asked whether similar tactics would show up in Senate Leadership Fund ads , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Law , who was once a chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , also noted that this effort is about the Republican effort to ensure more conservative judges are appointed to the federal judiciary .
Gideon , who is currently the favorite to win her Democratic primary and take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine , has said that the lawmaker 's decision to support Kavanaugh 's confirmation was one of the reasons she decided to run .
Gideon has endorsed Biden and does n't appear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's allegations .
Mark Kelly , a former astronaut who is married to former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords , who was severely wounded in a mass shooting in 2011 , is taking on Sen. Martha McSally .
While it does n't appear he called out Kavanaugh over Ford 's allegations , he did oppose Kavanaugh 's nomination over his stances on gun rights .
Kelly has said in the wake of the Reade allegations that all accusers should be heard but that he and Giffords are standing by Biden .
`` These are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's really important that the person who is making these allegations has the opportunity to state the case and have it looked into , '' Kelly recently told a local radio show .
Sen. Doug Jones is preparing to fight off the eventual winner of the Alabama GOP primary .
Jones , a Biden supporter , recently questioned the validity of Reade 's comments in an interview with the Huffington Post .
He had previously spoke up for Ford during the Kavanaugh fight .
After CNBC interviewed the Senate Leadership Fund 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones in an email to supporters — a potential preview of how they will go after the Democrat , who is defending a seat in a reliably red state .
`` So when a Democrat is accused of sexual assault , Jones believes the accused , but when a Republican-nominated judge is accused of sexual assault , Jones says we must believe the alleged victim ? ''
the email said .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, left, speaks as U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, right, and U.S. President Donald Trump listen before the H.R. 748, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, is signed in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, March 27, 2020. Erin Schaff | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Republican groups are aiming to use the sexual assault allegations against apparent Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in their battle with Democrats in key Senate races in this year's campaign. The GOP organizations are arguing that Democrats are applying a different standard to Biden, who has vehemently denied the accusation that he assaulted a former Senate staffer in 1993, than they did to Justice Brett Kavanaugh a couple years ago when he was accused of sexual assault. Kavanaugh denied those claims, and he was confirmed to the Supreme Court. Some GOP outside groups told CNBC that they have been trying to incorporate the allegations brought against Biden by Tara Reade into their conversations with voters and overall campaigns against Democrats in competitive Senate races in states such as Alabama, Maine, North Carolina, Colorado and Iowa. Republicans hold a 53-47 edge in the Senate, but they have more incumbents up for reelection than Democrats do. These states have a mix of contests involving Democratic and Republican incumbents, along with some newcomers, fighting for Senate seats. Polls show that Democrats have a strong chance to flip many of the seats deemed toss-ups by analysis site Cook Political Report. The effort is largely being organized by the dark money GOP group The Article III Project, a 501(c)(4) organization, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Article III was formed after Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court and has been a staunch advocate of conservative judges being appointed to courts across the country. The group is not required to disclose its donors. Mike Davis, Article III Project's founder, said part of the reason they're accusing Democrats of hypocrisy is to excite the Republican base and possibly find a way to convince voters in line with Democrats to stay home. Democrats, including many lawmakers up for reelection in 2020, have continued to endorse and stand by Biden. Reade, in an interview with former NBC News and Fox News host Megyn Kelly, stood by her story and called for Biden to drop out of the presidential race. A spokesman for Biden's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
The Kavanaugh standard
Two years ago, Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school in the early 1980s. He repeatedly denied the allegations. Ford's accusations against Kavanaugh led to a partisan battle both on the Senate Judiciary Committee and later during the buildup to the full Senate vote, with many Democrats arguing that Ford should be believed in the midst of the #MeToo movement and that Kavanaugh shouldn't be confirmed. Republicans tried to make it seem that Democrats were only using Ford as a tool against their nominee without properly vetting her accusations. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., was the only Democrat in the chamber who voted to confirm Kavanaugh. The Article III Project's leaders are crafting a letter intended for Democrats running for Senate seats in Maine, Michigan, Alabama and Kentucky. The letter will call on them to treat Biden with the same standard the Republicans believe the Democrats applied to Kavanaugh. "Do you believe all women, or just Republican accusers?" said the person familiar with the matter, in describing the letter. This person declined to be named as all of this has yet to be made public.
Possible ad campaign
Article III has also been pitching this as a possible campaign issue to Republicans running for Senate and other outside groups, this person said. The other groups include the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC that is defending the GOP majority in the U.S., and Heritage Action for America, a lobbying and advocacy organization that often pushes for conservative policy proposals while conducting heavy engagement with grassroots voters. They are also moving toward developing an ad campaign that will target candidates who have endorsed Biden and opposed Kavanaugh, questioning whether they're applying a double standard. The ads will likely be either digital outlets or in print newspapers across the country, although a final decision has yet to be made. The tactic to use the Reade allegations comes as Republicans are trying to fend off a surge by the opposing party. Polls showing that Democrats are ahead of their Republican challengers in several of these races. A Real Clear Politics polling average has Biden above Trump by about 5 points. "I think it could be a real issue this fall with politicians like [Sara] Gideon as well as Mark Kelly in Arizona, who opposed Kavanaugh but now says he's sticking with Biden," said Steven Law, the CEO of the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC dedicated to helping Republicans maintain their majority in the Senate. "How do you defend two totally different standards of dealing with these kinds of allegations, other than raw politics?" When asked whether similar tactics would show up in Senate Leadership Fund ads, Law only would say "stay tuned." Law, who was once a chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, also noted that this effort is about the Republican effort to ensure more conservative judges are appointed to the federal judiciary. Gideon, who is currently the favorite to win her Democratic primary and take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, has said that the lawmaker's decision to support Kavanaugh's confirmation was one of the reasons she decided to run. Gideon has endorsed Biden and doesn't appear to have taken a public stance on Reade's allegations. Mark Kelly, a former astronaut who is married to former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was severely wounded in a mass shooting in 2011, is taking on Sen. Martha McSally. While it doesn't appear he called out Kavanaugh over Ford's allegations, he did oppose Kavanaugh's nomination over his stances on gun rights. Kelly has said in the wake of the Reade allegations that all accusers should be heard but that he and Giffords are standing by Biden. "These are often very complicated issues and I think it's really important that the person who is making these allegations has the opportunity to state the case and have it looked into," Kelly recently told a local radio show. Sen. Doug Jones is preparing to fight off the eventual winner of the Alabama GOP primary. Jones, a Biden supporter, recently questioned the validity of Reade's comments in an interview with the Huffington Post. He had previously spoke up for Ford during the Kavanaugh fight. After CNBC interviewed the Senate Leadership Fund's Law, the group took aim at Jones in an email to supporters — a potential preview of how they will go after the Democrat, who is defending a seat in a reliably red state. "So when a Democrat is accused of sexual assault, Jones believes the accused, but when a Republican-nominated judge is accused of sexual assault, Jones says we must believe the alleged victim?" the email said.


cnbc--2020-05-07--Trump says coronavirus tests are 'overrated,' but he will get tested daily

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as Vice President Mike Pence looks on during a meeting with Texas Governor Greg Abbott about coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) response in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington , U.S. , May 7 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump said Thursday that testing for the coronavirus is `` somewhat overrated '' shortly after announcing that he will be tested for the disease every single day .
Daily tests will also be conducted for `` everyone that comes into contact with the president , '' Vice President Mike Pence added to reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily testing policy for the president and those in his circle comes hours after the White House acknowledged that a personal valet for Trump tested positive for Covid-19 .
Trump and Pence have since been retested after coming into contact with the valet , who among things serves the president 's meals .
Both Trump and Pence tested negative for the coronavirus , the White House said .
`` I 've had very little personal contact with this gentleman , '' Trump said in the Oval Office alongside Pence .
`` I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I 've had very little contact . ''
Trump touted the quality and quantity of U.S. tests , which health experts say is a crucial component of the U.S. response to the pandemic .
`` But I have always said testing is somewhat overrated , '' Trump added .
`` Because what happens after somebody takes a test , what 's going on there ? ''
Trump had critiqued the idea of testing as an effective tool against the virus earlier in his remarks .
`` We were testing once a week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing once a day , but even when you test once a day , someone could , something happens where they catch something , '' Trump said .
`` What happens in between when you got tested , and just a couple of days later ? ''
Pence said in the Oval Office that , `` as the president indicated , the White House now has initiated an effort that the president and I not only will be tested every day , but I think everyone that comes into contact with the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as Vice President Mike Pence looks on during a meeting with Texas Governor Greg Abbott about coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 7, 2020.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that testing for the coronavirus is "somewhat overrated" shortly after announcing that he will be tested for the disease every single day.
Daily tests will also be conducted for "everyone that comes into contact with the president," Vice President Mike Pence added to reporters at the White House.
The new daily testing policy for the president and those in his circle comes hours after the White House acknowledged that a personal valet for Trump tested positive for Covid-19.
Trump and Pence have since been retested after coming into contact with the valet, who among things serves the president's meals.
Both Trump and Pence tested negative for the coronavirus, the White House said.
"I've had very little personal contact with this gentleman," Trump said in the Oval Office alongside Pence. "I know who he is, good person, but I've had very little contact."
Trump touted the quality and quantity of U.S. tests, which health experts say is a crucial component of the U.S. response to the pandemic.
"But I have always said testing is somewhat overrated," Trump added. "Because what happens after somebody takes a test, what's going on there?"
Trump had critiqued the idea of testing as an effective tool against the virus earlier in his remarks. "We were testing once a week, now we're going to go testing once a day, but even when you test once a day, someone could, something happens where they catch something," Trump said.
"What happens in between when you got tested, and just a couple of days later?"
Pence said in the Oval Office that, "as the president indicated, the White House now has initiated an effort that the president and I not only will be tested every day, but I think everyone that comes into contact with the president will be tested every day."
-- CNBC's Christina Wilkie contributed reporting.


cnbc--2020-05-07--Biden sex assault accuser Tara Reade calls for him to drop out of 2020 presidential race, says she'd

Biden sex assault accuser Tara Reade calls for him to drop out of 2020 presidential race, says she'd take polygraph if he 'takes one'

In this April 4 , 2019 , photo Tara Reade poses for a photo during an interview with The Associated Press in Nevada City , Calif .
The woman who says presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 called on him to withdraw from the 2020 election in a new interview , as she also declared that she would be willing to testify under oath and take a polygraph `` if Joe Biden takes one . ''
The woman , Tara Reade , also has retained a law firm that represents women who claim that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the fallen movie mogul whose serial abuse of women sparked the # MeToo movement , that firm announced .
Reade said in an interview with journalist Megyn Kelly that she wanted to tell Biden , who strongly denies her claim , `` You and I were there , Joe Biden .
Please step forward and be held accountable . '
`` '' You should not be running on character for the president of the United States , '' Reade said in a brief portion of the interview posted Thursday on Twitter by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's `` TODAY '' show .
Asked by Kelly if she wants Biden to quit the race for the White House , Reade said , `` I wish he would , but he wo n't . ''
`` But I wish he would , '' she said .
`` That 's how I feel emotionally . ''
Asked if she wants an apology from Biden , Reade answered , `` I think it 's a little late . ''
In another section of the interview tweeted by Kelly , Reade said that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testify under oath , and be subjected to cross-examination , about her claims regarding Biden .
She also said that she would be willing to take a polygraph , although she questioned the need for her to do so .
`` I 'm not a criminal .
Joe Biden should take the polygraph , '' Reade said .
`` What kind of precedent does that set for survivors of violence ?
Does that mean we 're presumed guilty and we all have to take polygraphs ? ''
Reade asked .
`` So I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one , '' she added .
`` But I 'm not a criminal . ''
In an interview with Tampa Bay News 9 on Thursday , Biden was asked to react to Reade 's interview and her call for him to drop his bid to unseat President Donald Trump .
Biden said that `` nothing ever happened with Reade . ''
The New York firm Wigdor LLP said in a statement Thursday that it had been retained by Reade as legal counsel .
`` We at Wigdor LLP firmly believe that every survivor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competent legal counsel , and we will represent Ms. Reade zealously , just as we would any other victim of sexual violence , '' said the statement issued by Douglas Wigdor , the firm 's name partner .
Biden , who served as vice president from 2009 through 2017 , last week in an extensive interview denied Reade 's claim that he assaulted his then-Senate staffer against her will in the 1993 when she allegedly was giving him a gym bag in a hallway on Capitol Hill .
`` I 'm saying unequivocally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Biden said in an interview last Friday on MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe . ''
Biden in that interview had referred to `` the full and growing record of inconsistencies '' in Reade 's accusations and said : `` They are n't true .
This never happened . ''
Wigdor , in his statement , said , `` Ms. Reade will be heard shortly in an interview conducted by Megyn Kelly and produced by Richard McHugh , and she will describe to the American public what happened to her . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by numerous 'outcry ' witnesses from decades ago . ''
McHugh is a former NBC News producer who worked with journalist and author Ronan Farrow on an expose of Weinstein 's sexual misconduct , which Farrow ultimately published in The New Yorker after NBC declined to air his work .
Reade rattled Biden 's presidential campaign in March with an interview on a podcast in which she said that Biden pinned her against a wall and penetrated her with his finger in a hallway when he was a senator from Delaware .
Reade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that she discussed details of the alleged assault with them in the 1990s .
But a number of people who worked in Biden 's Senate office at the same time as Reade have said that her claims do not jibe with their own experience working for him .
CNBC reported Thursday that Republican groups are aiming to use the sexual assault allegations against Biden in their battle with Democrats in key Senate races in this year 's campaign .
The GOP organizations argue that Democrats are applying a different standard to Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brett Kavanaugh when he was accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford during his Senate confirmation process .
Kavanaugh denied Ford 's claims .
Wigdor 's statement also said , `` It is inevitable that partisan politics will lead people to attack our firm and Mr. Wigdor specifically , particularly given his support of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign . ''
`` However , any objective view of Mr. Wigdor 's career and the history of the Firm ( which is comprised of partners , lawyers and staff from all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrative and make clear that our representation is simply a continuation of our objective support of all legitimate victims , '' the email said .

In this April 4, 2019, photo Tara Reade poses for a photo during an interview with The Associated Press in Nevada City, Calif.
The woman who says presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 called on him to withdraw from the 2020 election in a new interview, as she also declared that she would be willing to testify under oath and take a polygraph "if Joe Biden takes one."
The woman, Tara Reade, also has retained a law firm that represents women who claim that they were victims of convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein, the fallen movie mogul whose serial abuse of women sparked the #MeToo movement, that firm announced.
Reade said in an interview with journalist Megyn Kelly that she wanted to tell Biden, who strongly denies her claim, "You and I were there, Joe Biden. Please step forward and be held accountable.' "
"You should not be running on character for the president of the United States," Reade said in a brief portion of the interview posted Thursday on Twitter by Kelly, a former host of NBC's "TODAY" show.
Asked by Kelly if she wants Biden to quit the race for the White House, Reade said, "I wish he would, but he won't."
"But I wish he would," she said. "That's how I feel emotionally."
Twitter
Asked if she wants an apology from Biden, Reade answered, "I think it's a little late."
In another section of the interview tweeted by Kelly, Reade said that she "absolutely" would be willing to testify under oath, and be subjected to cross-examination, about her claims regarding Biden.
She also said that she would be willing to take a polygraph, although she questioned the need for her to do so.
"I'm not a criminal. Joe Biden should take the polygraph," Reade said.
"What kind of precedent does that set for survivors of violence? Does that mean we're presumed guilty and we all have to take polygraphs?" Reade asked.
"So I will take one if Joe Biden takes one," she added. "But I'm not a criminal."
Tweet
In an interview with Tampa Bay News 9 on Thursday, Biden was asked to react to Reade's interview and her call for him to drop his bid to unseat President Donald Trump.
Biden said that "nothing ever happened with Reade."
The New York firm Wigdor LLP said in a statement Thursday that it had been retained by Reade as legal counsel.
"We at Wigdor LLP firmly believe that every survivor of sexual assault has the right to competent legal counsel, and we will represent Ms. Reade zealously, just as we would any other victim of sexual violence," said the statement issued by Douglas Wigdor, the firm's name partner.
Biden, who served as vice president from 2009 through 2017, last week in an extensive interview denied Reade's claim that he assaulted his then-Senate staffer against her will in the 1993 when she allegedly was giving him a gym bag in a hallway on Capitol Hill.
"I'm saying unequivocally that it never, never happened," Biden said in an interview last Friday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
Biden in that interview had referred to "the full and growing record of inconsistencies" in Reade's accusations and said: "They aren't true. This never happened."
Wigdor, in his statement, said, "Ms. Reade will be heard shortly in an interview conducted by Megyn Kelly and produced by Richard McHugh, and she will describe to the American public what happened to her."
"Her harrowing account is credible and supported by numerous 'outcry' witnesses from decades ago."
McHugh is a former NBC News producer who worked with journalist and author Ronan Farrow on an expose of Weinstein's sexual misconduct, which Farrow ultimately published in The New Yorker after NBC declined to air his work.
Reade rattled Biden's presidential campaign in March with an interview on a podcast in which she said that Biden pinned her against a wall and penetrated her with his finger in a hallway when he was a senator from Delaware.
Reade's brother and a former neighbor have said that she discussed details of the alleged assault with them in the 1990s.
But a number of people who worked in Biden's Senate office at the same time as Reade have said that her claims do not jibe with their own experience working for him.
CNBC reported Thursday that Republican groups are aiming to use the sexual assault allegations against Biden in their battle with Democrats in key Senate races in this year's campaign.
The GOP organizations argue that Democrats are applying a different standard to Biden than they did to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he was accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford during his Senate confirmation process. Kavanaugh denied Ford's claims.
Wigdor's statement also said, "It is inevitable that partisan politics will lead people to attack our firm and Mr. Wigdor specifically, particularly given his support of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign."
"However, any objective view of Mr. Wigdor's career and the history of the Firm (which is comprised of partners, lawyers and staff from all political parties) belie such a false narrative and make clear that our representation is simply a continuation of our objective support of all legitimate victims," the email said.


cnbc--2020-05-07--Trump's pick for top Navy position pledges to fix 'failure in leadership'

Kenneth Braithwaite testifies on his nomination to be Secretary of the Navy before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the U.S. capital in Washington D.C. Thursday , May 7 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump 's nominee to lead the U.S. Navy told lawmakers Thursday that if confirmed , he would fix the depressed morale plaguing the service branch in the wake of what he called a series of leadership failures .
`` It saddens me to say that the Department of the Navy is in rough waters due to many factors but primarily the failure of leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ envoy to Norway , told the Senate Armed Services Committee in his opening remarks .
Braithwaite , who would be the fourth civilian to lead the Navy in about five months , listed several incidents in recent years , including the coronavirus outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier , the `` Fat Leonard '' corruption scandal and deadly Navy ship collisions .
`` They are all indicative of a breakdown in the trust of those leading the service , '' Braithwaite said , describing the culture in the Navy was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the Pentagon conducts a deeper investigation into the handling of a coronavirus outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt which subsequently led to the firing of U.S Navy Capt .
Brett Crozier and the resignation of then-acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly .

Kenneth Braithwaite testifies on his nomination to be Secretary of the Navy before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the U.S. capital in Washington D.C. Thursday, May 7, 2020.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Navy told lawmakers Thursday that if confirmed, he would fix the depressed morale plaguing the service branch in the wake of what he called a series of leadership failures.
"It saddens me to say that the Department of the Navy is in rough waters due to many factors but primarily the failure of leadership," Kenneth Braithwaite, currently U.S. envoy to Norway, told the Senate Armed Services Committee in his opening remarks.
Braithwaite, who would be the fourth civilian to lead the Navy in about five months, listed several incidents in recent years, including the coronavirus outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, the "Fat Leonard" corruption scandal and deadly Navy ship collisions.
"They are all indicative of a breakdown in the trust of those leading the service," Braithwaite said, describing the culture in the Navy was "tarnished."
Braithwaite's testimony comes as the Pentagon conducts a deeper investigation into the handling of a coronavirus outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt which subsequently led to the firing of U.S Navy Capt. Brett Crozier and the resignation of then-acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly.