cnbc--2020-06-30--Joe Biden rips Trump as coronavirus surges: 'The wartime president has surrendered'

`` Remember back in March when he called himself a wartime president ? ''
Biden said in his remarks .
`` Remember when he exhorted the nation to 'sacrifice together ' to face an 'invisible enemy ' ?
What happened ?
Now it 's almost July , and it seems the wartime president has surrendered — has waved the white flag and left the field of battle . ''
`` All of the steps you 've taken so far have n't gotten the job done , Mr. President , '' Biden said of Trump , who still insists that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader testing and not a resurgence of the virus itself .
Biden 's remarks also came as Dr. Anthony Fauci , the administration 's leading voice on the virus , warned Tuesday that the U.S. could top 100,000 cases a day .
But with coronavirus cases surging across the country and several states rolling back their reopening plans , Biden 's most effective lines against Trump were his critiques of the president 's response to a pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 125,000 Americans since February .
Speaking in Wilmington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Biden also staked out positions on a range of hot-button issues , including the alleged Russian bounties paid for dead American troops in Afghanistan , the removal of Confederate monuments and his own cognitive ability .
WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Joe Biden laid out his most comprehensive , detailed case to date against President Donald Trump on Tuesday , saying the president `` has waved the white flag and left the field of battle '' against the resurgent coronavirus pandemic .
`` Today we 're facing a serious threat , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
But this president gives us no direction .
He pits us against one another , '' said Biden .
Biden used the speech to lay out his own five-point plan to address the pandemic , one of several contrasts he drew between Trump and himself .
The former vice president said he would provide free nationwide coronavirus testing , deploy 100,000 contact tracers , establish national standards for reopening , use the Defense Production Act to further increase protective equipment manufacturing , and provide additional federal support to the elderly and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially hard-hit by the virus .
Months of lockdowns that have crippled the U.S. economy , Biden said , `` were intended to buy us the time to get our act together .
But instead of using that time to prepare ourselves — Donald Trump squandered it . ''
`` The American people did n't make enormous sacrifices over the past four months so you could waste your time with late night ranting and tweets , '' said the former vice president , addressing Trump .
`` They did n't make these sacrifices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn responsible steps like wearing a mask into a political statement . ''
`` You 've called yourself a 'cheerleader ' for the nation .
We do n't need a cheerleader .
We need a president , '' said Biden .
Biden also took questions from the press for the first time in more than two months .
In doing so , he deprived the rival Trump campaign of a consistent point of attack they have used against him , namely that he has avoided scrutiny so far in the race by evading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address effectively crystallized his campaign 's most potent argument against Trump heading into the backstretch of a presidential race that has so far been defined by Trump 's failure to stem the tide of coronavirus .
It is a major factor in Biden 's significant lead over Trump in national polls right now of almost 10 points , according to the Real Clear Politics polling average .
Biden dismissed his lead , saying , `` I know the polling data is very good , but I think it 's really early .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judgment .
I think we 've got a whole lot more work to do . ''
Biden also confirmed that he will not be holding campaign rallies , saying , `` I 'm going to follow the doc 's orders , not just for me , but for the country .
And that means that I am not going to be holding rallies ... as soon as I finish this , I 'll put my mask back on . ''
The comments drew another contrast between Biden 's plans over the coming months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which earlier Tuesday said on a call with reporters that Trump is very much looking forward to future campaign rallies .
Asked about future rally plans , however , Trump 's campaign declined to announce the dates or locations of any upcoming rallies .

"Remember back in March when he called himself a wartime president?" Biden said in his remarks. "Remember when he exhorted the nation to 'sacrifice together' to face an 'invisible enemy'? What happened? Now it's almost July, and it seems the wartime president has surrendered — has waved the white flag and left the field of battle."
"All of the steps you've taken so far haven't gotten the job done, Mr. President," Biden said of Trump, who still insists that the recent surge in cases is due to broader testing and not a resurgence of the virus itself.
Biden's remarks also came as Dr. Anthony Fauci, the administration's leading voice on the virus, warned Tuesday that the U.S. could top 100,000 cases a day .
But with coronavirus cases surging across the country and several states rolling back their reopening plans, Biden's most effective lines against Trump were his critiques of the president's response to a pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 125,000 Americans since February.
Speaking in Wilmington, Delaware, over about an hour, Biden also staked out positions on a range of hot-button issues, including the alleged Russian bounties paid for dead American troops in Afghanistan, the removal of Confederate monuments and his own cognitive ability.
WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Joe Biden laid out his most comprehensive, detailed case to date against President Donald Trump on Tuesday, saying the president "has waved the white flag and left the field of battle" against the resurgent coronavirus pandemic.
"Today we're facing a serious threat, and we must meet it — as one country. But this president gives us no direction. He pits us against one another," said Biden.
Biden used the speech to lay out his own five-point plan to address the pandemic, one of several contrasts he drew between Trump and himself.
The former vice president said he would provide free nationwide coronavirus testing, deploy 100,000 contact tracers, establish national standards for reopening, use the Defense Production Act to further increase protective equipment manufacturing, and provide additional federal support to the elderly and people of color, who have been especially hard-hit by the virus.
Months of lockdowns that have crippled the U.S. economy, Biden said, "were intended to buy us the time to get our act together. But instead of using that time to prepare ourselves — Donald Trump squandered it."
"The American people didn't make enormous sacrifices over the past four months so you could waste your time with late night ranting and tweets," said the former vice president, addressing Trump. "They didn't make these sacrifices so you could ignore the science and turn responsible steps like wearing a mask into a political statement."
"You've called yourself a 'cheerleader' for the nation. We don't need a cheerleader. We need a president," said Biden.
Biden also took questions from the press for the first time in more than two months. In doing so, he deprived the rival Trump campaign of a consistent point of attack they have used against him, namely that he has avoided scrutiny so far in the race by evading the press.
For Biden, the address effectively crystallized his campaign's most potent argument against Trump heading into the backstretch of a presidential race that has so far been defined by Trump's failure to stem the tide of coronavirus.
It is a major factor in Biden's significant lead over Trump in national polls right now of almost 10 points, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average.
Biden dismissed his lead, saying, "I know the polling data is very good, but I think it's really early. It's much too early to make any judgment. I think we've got a whole lot more work to do."
Biden also confirmed that he will not be holding campaign rallies, saying, "I'm going to follow the doc's orders, not just for me, but for the country. And that means that I am not going to be holding rallies ... as soon as I finish this, I'll put my mask back on."
The comments drew another contrast between Biden's plans over the coming months and the president's reelection campaign, which earlier Tuesday said on a call with reporters that Trump is very much looking forward to future campaign rallies.
Asked about future rally plans, however, Trump's campaign declined to announce the dates or locations of any upcoming rallies.


cnbc--2020-06-30--Pence donors, allies helped finance vice president's legal defense fund for Mueller probe

Vice President Mike Pence listens during a briefing n the Oval Office of the White House on May , 28 , 2020 .
Many of Vice President Mike Pence 's longtime donors and allies in the business world helped back a legal fund intended to help the Indiana Republican defend himself during special counsel Robert Mueller 's Russia probe .
The fund , established by his former chief of staff , Jim Atterholt , spent just under $ 480,000 in 2019 on legal counsel for Pence , according to the vice president 's latest financial disclosure report .
The filing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington , shows that the fund was used for the `` legal expenses incurred by Michael R. Pence ( the sole beneficiary ) in connection with the 2016 presidential election and related matters . ''
The document notes that Pence himself did not solicit any of the contributions .
USA Today reported last year that Pence 's allies were using the fund to help pay for the vice president 's legal fees during Mueller 's investigation into whether Russia interfered with the 2016 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say who had given to the organization .
Pence , at the time , had retained Richard Cullen , a partner at McGuireWoods .
Yet , the newly released filing reveals for the first time who financed the defense operation .
People who gave to the fund have a history of backing political groups with ties to Pence himself .
Atterholt , who organized the effort , said he created the fund because he did n't believe that Pence had the financial means to pay for his legal fees .
`` I believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honorable person , but he is not someone of great financial means .
I started the trust because I believe significant legal bills should not be the cost of public service , '' Atterholt said in an email to CNBC .
A spokeswoman for Pence declined to comment , and Cullen deferred any questions about his work to the vice president 's office .
One of the donors listed on the form is Martin Obst , Pence 's longtime political advisor , who gave $ 20,000 .
Herbert Simon , co-founder of shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also among the donors .
He also owns the Indiana Pacers basketball team of the NBA .
Simon donated $ 100,000 to the fund and contributed at least $ 15,000 to Pence 's 2012 successful Indiana gubernatorial campaign , according to data from the National Institute on Money in Politics .
Simon , who also has a history of giving big to Democrats , previously contributed to Pence 's brother Greg Pence 's congressional campaign , according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics .
Ronald Weiser , a $ 50,000 supporter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Michigan-based firm McKinley Inc. Two years before donating to the fund , Weiser donated $ 200,000 to a pro-Trump super PAC .
Michael Hayde and Laura Khouri , executives at investment firm Western National Group , combined to give $ 200,000 to the defense fund .
They have previously given millions to Republican causes in the 2020 election cycle , according to the Orange County Register .
Hayde gave Trump 's reelection campaign $ 2,800 last year , the most an individual can give directly to a campaign .
All the donors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a request for comment .

Vice President Mike Pence listens during a briefing in the Oval Office of the White House on May, 28, 2020.
Many of Vice President Mike Pence's longtime donors and allies in the business world helped back a legal fund intended to help the Indiana Republican defend himself during special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe.
The fund, established by his former chief of staff, Jim Atterholt, spent just under $480,000 in 2019 on legal counsel for Pence, according to the vice president's latest financial disclosure report.
The filing, first made public Tuesday by the government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, shows that the fund was used for the "legal expenses incurred by Michael R. Pence (the sole beneficiary) in connection with the 2016 presidential election and related matters." The document notes that Pence himself did not solicit any of the contributions.
USA Today reported last year that Pence's allies were using the fund to help pay for the vice president's legal fees during Mueller's investigation into whether Russia interfered with the 2016 election. The report last year did not say who had given to the organization. Pence, at the time, had retained Richard Cullen, a partner at McGuireWoods.
Yet, the newly released filing reveals for the first time who financed the defense operation. People who gave to the fund have a history of backing political groups with ties to Pence himself.
Atterholt, who organized the effort, said he created the fund because he didn't believe that Pence had the financial means to pay for his legal fees.
"I believe the Vice President is a decent and honorable person, but he is not someone of great financial means. I started the trust because I believe significant legal bills should not be the cost of public service," Atterholt said in an email to CNBC.
A spokeswoman for Pence declined to comment, and Cullen deferred any questions about his work to the vice president's office.
One of the donors listed on the form is Martin Obst, Pence's longtime political advisor, who gave $20,000.
Herbert Simon, co-founder of shopping mall developer Simon Property Group, is also among the donors. He also owns the Indiana Pacers basketball team of the NBA. Simon donated $100,000 to the fund and contributed at least $15,000 to Pence's 2012 successful Indiana gubernatorial campaign, according to data from the National Institute on Money in Politics. Simon, who also has a history of giving big to Democrats, previously contributed to Pence's brother Greg Pence's congressional campaign, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
Ronald Weiser, a $50,000 supporter of the Pence defense fund, is founder of Michigan-based firm McKinley Inc. Two years before donating to the fund, Weiser donated $200,000 to a pro-Trump super PAC.
Michael Hayde and Laura Khouri, executives at investment firm Western National Group, combined to give $200,000 to the defense fund. They have previously given millions to Republican causes in the 2020 election cycle, according to the Orange County Register. Hayde gave Trump's reelection campaign $2,800 last year, the most an individual can give directly to a campaign.
All the donors mentioned in this story did not return a request for comment.


cnbc--2020-07-01--Democrats lead in three key Senate races, CNBC/Change Research poll finds

Retired Navy Capt .
Mark Kelly , husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords , D-Ariz. , testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on `` What Should America Do About Gun Violence ? ''
on Wednesday , Jan. 30 , 2013 .
In Arizona , Democratic former astronaut Mark Kelly leads Republican Sen. Martha McSally by a 53 % to 44 % margin , according to the CNBC/Change Research poll .
The senator , appointed to fill the late John McCain 's seat after she lost a 2018 election in the state to Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema , has consistently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took the pulse of competitive Senate elections in Arizona , Michigan and North Carolina — three of the six 2020 election swing states featured in the poll released Wednesday .
The other states — Florida , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — do not have Senate contests this year .
Democrats lead in three pivotal U.S. Senate races as President Donald Trump falls into a deeper hole in his reelection bid , according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll .
Senator Gary Peters , a Democrat from Michigan , speaks during a Senate Subcommittee on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.C. , U.S. , on Tuesday , Feb. 4 , 2020 .
Meanwhile , Democratic Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan — one of the few Democratic senators facing a strong Republican challenge this year — holds a 49 % to 42 % edge over GOP Army veteran John James , the survey found .
While Trump narrowly won the state on his way to the White House in 2016 , recent polls have showed a challenging environment in Michigan for both the president and James .
In North Carolina , Democratic former state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 41 % advantage over Republican Sen. Thom Tillis , according to the CNBC/Change Research poll .
A RealClearPolitics average of recent polls shows a much closer race for the Senate seat .
The Senate survey results largely mirror the presidential race in an election year that increasingly looks like a referendum on Trump and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden leads the president by 7 , 5 and 7 percentage points in Arizona , Michigan and North Carolina , respectively , the poll found .
Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and White House while keeping their House majority in November 's elections .
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate , meaning Democrats would have to net four GOP-held seats to gain control .
If Biden wins the White House , his ability to push any of his priorities through Congress will depend on whether his party takes control of the Senate .
Democrats will get many opportunities to win a majority : Republicans have to defend 23 seats , while Democrats control only 12 up for grabs this year .
Among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alabama faces a more difficult path to reelection than Peters .
On the Republican side , Sens .
Cory Gardner of Colorado , Joni Ernst of Iowa , Susan Collins of Maine and Steve Daines of Montana will have to hold off potentially competitive challenges .

Retired Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "What Should America Do About Gun Violence?" on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. Bill Clark | CQ Roll Call
Democrats lead in three pivotal U.S. Senate races as President Donald Trump falls into a deeper hole in his reelection bid, according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll. The survey took the pulse of competitive Senate elections in Arizona, Michigan and North Carolina — three of the six 2020 election swing states featured in the poll released Wednesday. The other states — Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — do not have Senate contests this year. In Arizona, Democratic former astronaut Mark Kelly leads Republican Sen. Martha McSally by a 53% to 44% margin, according to the CNBC/Change Research poll. The senator, appointed to fill the late John McCain's seat after she lost a 2018 election in the state to Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, has consistently trailed Kelly in polls.
Senator Gary Peters, a Democrat from Michigan, speaks during a Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020. Stefani Reynolds | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan — one of the few Democratic senators facing a strong Republican challenge this year — holds a 49% to 42% edge over GOP Army veteran John James, the survey found. While Trump narrowly won the state on his way to the White House in 2016, recent polls have showed a challenging environment in Michigan for both the president and James. In North Carolina, Democratic former state Sen. Cal Cunningham holds a 51% to 41% advantage over Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, according to the CNBC/Change Research poll. A RealClearPolitics average of recent polls shows a much closer race for the Senate seat.
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cnbc--2020-06-30--Democrats slam Trump after White House briefing for suggesting reports of Russian bounties are a 'ho

Democrats slam Trump after White House briefing for suggesting reports of Russian bounties are a 'hoax'

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) speaks to reporters next to U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer ( D-MD ) as House Democrats respond to a White House briefing on reports Russia paid the Taliban bounties to kill U.S. troops during a news conference following the briefing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington , U.S. , June 30 , 2020 .
House Democrats came out of a closed-door White House briefing Tuesday taking swings at President Donald Trump 's response to reports that Russia paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants in Afghanistan to target and kill U.S. troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoax publicly .
Nothing in the briefing that we have just received led me to believe it is a hoax , '' Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , the No .
2 Democrat in the House , told reporters after leaving the briefing .
`` There may be different judgments as to the level of credibility [ of the reports ] , but there was no assertion that the information we had was a hoax , '' he added .
House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , another attendee in the briefing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in light of these very public allegations that the president has n't come before the country and assured the American people that he will get to the bottom of whether Russians are putting a bounty on the heads of American troops . ''
The briefing for the group of less than a dozen Democrats , all of whom have prior experience in national security or intelligence issues , came a day after the White House briefed a separate group of Republicans on the reported findings that a Russian military intelligence unit covertly offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One Republican , Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana , left that briefing with harsh words for The New York Times , which broke the story .
`` The real scandal : We 'll likely never know the truth … Because the @ nytimes used unconfirmed intel in an ONGOING investigation into targeted killing of American soldiers in order to smear the President , '' Banks tweeted .
`` The blood is on their hands . ''
At a Tuesday morning presser , however , GOP Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being briefed by the White House .
Hoyer said he told chief of staff Mark Meadows , who invited him to the briefing , that he wanted to hear directly from intelligence sources about the `` very , very troubling '' reports .
`` We did not receive any new substantive information '' from the briefing , Hoyer said .

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) speaks to reporters next to U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) as House Democrats respond to a White House briefing on reports Russia paid the Taliban bounties to kill U.S. troops during a news conference following the briefing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., June 30, 2020.
House Democrats came out of a closed-door White House briefing Tuesday taking swings at President Donald Trump's response to reports that Russia paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants in Afghanistan to target and kill U.S. troops.
"The president called this a hoax publicly. Nothing in the briefing that we have just received led me to believe it is a hoax," Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, told reporters after leaving the briefing.
"There may be different judgments as to the level of credibility [of the reports], but there was no assertion that the information we had was a hoax," he added.
House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., another attendee in the briefing, said, "I find it inexplicable in light of these very public allegations that the president hasn't come before the country and assured the American people that he will get to the bottom of whether Russians are putting a bounty on the heads of American troops."
The briefing for the group of less than a dozen Democrats, all of whom have prior experience in national security or intelligence issues, came a day after the White House briefed a separate group of Republicans on the reported findings that a Russian military intelligence unit covertly offered Afghan militants rewards for killing coalition forces.
One Republican, Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, left that briefing with harsh words for The New York Times, which broke the story.
"The real scandal: We'll likely never know the truth … Because the @nytimes used unconfirmed intel in an ONGOING investigation into targeted killing of American soldiers in order to smear the President," Banks tweeted. "The blood is on their hands."
At a Tuesday morning presser, however, GOP Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas said he "of course" has additional questions after being briefed by the White House.
Hoyer said he told chief of staff Mark Meadows, who invited him to the briefing, that he wanted to hear directly from intelligence sources about the "very, very troubling" reports.
"We did not receive any new substantive information" from the briefing, Hoyer said.


cnbc--2020-06-30--Amy McGrath beats Charles Booker in tight Kentucky Democratic Senate primary, NBC News projects

Amy McGrath address supporters after her loss during her Election Night Event at the EKU Center for the Arts on @ @ @ @ @ Richmond , Kentucky .
Democrat Amy McGrath defeated Charles Booker in a close Senate primary @ @ @ @ @ its final stretch by a reckoning over systemic racism , NBC News projected .
McGrath @ @ @ @ @ percentage points as the state counted the final mail-in ballots a week after the election @ @ @ @ @ unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in a November election closely watched by Democrats who @ @ @ @ @ the top Republican senator .
McGrath , a 45-year-old White Marine veteran , once seemed @ @ @ @ @ on the election on the strength of more than $ 40 million in fundraising .
@ @ @ @ @ Black state representative , gained traction as he joined recent protests against police violence and @ @ @ @ @ police shooting of Breonna Taylor , a 26-year-old Black woman , in his hometown of @ @

Amy McGrath address supporters after her loss during her Election Night Event at the EKU Center for the Arts on November 6, 2018 in Richmond, Kentucky.
Democrat Amy McGrath defeated Charles Booker in a close Senate primary race in Kentucky shaped in its final stretch by a reckoning over systemic racism, NBC News projected.
McGrath led Booker by about 2 percentage points as the state counted the final mail-in ballots a week after the election. She will try to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in a November election closely watched by Democrats who hold a special ire for the top Republican senator.
McGrath, a 45-year-old White Marine veteran, once seemed to have a tight grip on the election on the strength of more than $40 million in fundraising. But Booker, a 35-year-old Black state representative, gained traction as he joined recent protests against police violence and racism — including the March police shooting of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, in his hometown of Louisville.


cnbc--2020-06-30--Supreme Court says Constitution protects Montana scholarship program that indirectly funds religious

Supreme Court says Constitution protects Montana scholarship program that indirectly funds religious schools

People wait in line outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington , March 18 , 2019 .
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Tuesday that a Montana scholarship program that indirectly provided state funds to religious schools is protected by the Constitution , weighing in on a high-profile dispute over the separation of church and state .
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court .
He was joined by fellow conservative Justices Clarence Thomas , Samuel Alito , Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh .
The court 's four Democratic appointees dissented .
Roberts wrote that a decision by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program on the basis that it would provide funding to religious schools in addition to secular schools `` bars religious schools from public benefits solely because of the religious character of the schools . ''
`` The provision also bars parents who wish to send their children to a religious school from those same benefits , again solely because of the religious character of the school , '' Roberts wrote .
Roberts wrote that no state is required to subsidize private education , but if it does , `` it can not disqualify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious . ''
The decision comes after a string of cases in which Roberts sided with the court 's liberal wing on issues involving LGBT rights , immigration and abortion .
The case concerned a scholarship program enacted in Montana in 2015 , which provided individuals and businesses with up to $ 150 in tax credits to match donations to private , nonprofit scholarship organizations .
Shortly after the program was enacted , the Montana Department of Revenue put in place a rule that barred scholarship recipients from using funds from the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule was intended to comply with a provision of the Montana Constitution , which forbids `` any direct or indirect appropriation or payment from any public fund or monies … for any sectarian purpose , '' including `` to aid any church , school , academy , seminary , college , university , or other literary or scientific institution . ''
Similar prohibitions , known as Blaine Amendments , exist in the constitutions of 36 other states , and in many cases stemmed from anti-Catholic sentiments .
Three mothers who relied on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children 's tuition at a nondenominational Christian school challenged the department 's rule , arguing that it violated the First Amendment 's religious protections .
A trial court in Montana sided with the mothers , but the Montana Supreme Court reversed the decision , reasoning that the tax-credit program was in effect indirectly paying for tuition at religious schools , in violation of the state constitution .
The Montana court struck down the tax-credit program in its entirety .
The mothers took the case to the Supreme Court , arguing that the lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Prohibiting all religious options in otherwise generally available student-aid programs rejects that neutrality and shows inherent hostility toward religion , '' their attorney , Richard Komer , told the justices in a filing .
The Montana Department of Revenue countered that the state Supreme Court decision `` protects religious freedom . ''
The state constitution 's prohibition on funding religious schools `` does not restrain individual liberty , '' wrote Adam Unikowsky , an attorney for the state .
`` Rather , it restrains the government by barring state aid to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scholarship program was similar to programs run in 18 states , according to a friend-of-the-court brief submitted to the justices .
Brian Burch , the president of Catholic Vote , a national faith-based advocacy organization , said the ruling was `` long overdue victory for American families and a defeat for anti-Catholic bigotry . ''
Kristen Waggoner , an attorney at the religious liberty group Alliance Defending Freedom , said `` the Supreme Court sent a message loud and clear : Equal opportunity does n't hinge on your religious beliefs and practices .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
On the other side , American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten condemned the court 's move , saying calling it `` a seismic shock that threatens both public education and religious liberty . ''
`` Never in more than two centuries of American history has the free exercise clause of the First Amendment been wielded as a weapon to defund and dismantle public education , '' Weingarten said .
Daniel Mach , an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union , said the decision was the `` the latest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacking the very foundations of the separation of church and state . ''
`` In the past , the court used to guard against government-funded religion .
Today , the court has not only allowed , but actually required taxpayers to underwrite religious education , '' Mach said .
The majority 's decision also came under attack from the court 's liberal wing , with multiple justices penning dissents .
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , joined by Justice Elena Kagan , argued that the Montana Supreme Court 's decision to strike down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than just restricting its benefits for religious schools , meant that the state was not discriminating against those with religious views .
`` Under that decree , secular and sectarian schools alike are ineligible for benefits , so the decision can not be said to entail differential treatment based on petitioners ' religion , '' Ginsburg wrote .
`` Put somewhat differently , petitioners argue that the Free Exercise Clause requires a State to treat institutions and people neutrally when doling out a benefit—and neutrally is how Montana treats them in the wake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Justice Sonia Sotomayor relied on similar reasoning in a separate dissent .
She added that the top court had `` never before held unconstitutional government action that merely failed to benefit religious exercise . ''
Justice Stephen Breyer , in a dissent joined by Kagan , wrote that the `` majority 's approach and its conclusion in this case , I fear , risk the kind of entanglement and conflict that the Religion Clauses are intended to prevent . ''
The case is Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue , No .
@ @

People wait in line outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, March 18, 2019.
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Tuesday that a Montana scholarship program that indirectly provided state funds to religious schools is protected by the Constitution, weighing in on a high-profile dispute over the separation of church and state.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. He was joined by fellow conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. The court's four Democratic appointees dissented.
Roberts wrote that a decision by the Montana Supreme Court to invalidate a scholarship program on the basis that it would provide funding to religious schools in addition to secular schools "bars religious schools from public benefits solely because of the religious character of the schools."
"The provision also bars parents who wish to send their children to a religious school from those same benefits, again solely because of the religious character of the school," Roberts wrote.
Roberts wrote that no state is required to subsidize private education, but if it does, "it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious."
The decision comes after a string of cases in which Roberts sided with the court's liberal wing on issues involving LGBT rights, immigration and abortion.
The case concerned a scholarship program enacted in Montana in 2015, which provided individuals and businesses with up to $150 in tax credits to match donations to private, nonprofit scholarship organizations.
Shortly after the program was enacted, the Montana Department of Revenue put in place a rule that barred scholarship recipients from using funds from the program to pay for religious schools.
That rule was intended to comply with a provision of the Montana Constitution, which forbids "any direct or indirect appropriation or payment from any public fund or monies … for any sectarian purpose," including "to aid any church, school, academy, seminary, college, university, or other literary or scientific institution."
Similar prohibitions, known as Blaine Amendments, exist in the constitutions of 36 other states, and in many cases stemmed from anti-Catholic sentiments.
Three mothers who relied on the scholarship program to help pay for their children's tuition at a nondenominational Christian school challenged the department's rule, arguing that it violated the First Amendment's religious protections.
A trial court in Montana sided with the mothers, but the Montana Supreme Court reversed the decision, reasoning that the tax-credit program was in effect indirectly paying for tuition at religious schools, in violation of the state constitution.
The Montana court struck down the tax-credit program in its entirety.
The mothers took the case to the Supreme Court, arguing that the lower court decision was impermissibly hostile to religion.
"Prohibiting all religious options in otherwise generally available student-aid programs rejects that neutrality and shows inherent hostility toward religion," their attorney, Richard Komer, told the justices in a filing.
The Montana Department of Revenue countered that the state Supreme Court decision "protects religious freedom."
The state constitution's prohibition on funding religious schools "does not restrain individual liberty," wrote Adam Unikowsky, an attorney for the state. "Rather, it restrains the government by barring state aid to religious schools."
Montana's tax-credit scholarship program was similar to programs run in 18 states, according to a friend-of-the-court brief submitted to the justices.
Religious groups celebrated the Supreme Court's decision.
Brian Burch, the president of Catholic Vote, a national faith-based advocacy organization, said the ruling was "long overdue victory for American families and a defeat for anti-Catholic bigotry."
Kristen Waggoner, an attorney at the religious liberty group Alliance Defending Freedom, said "the Supreme Court sent a message loud and clear: Equal opportunity doesn't hinge on your religious beliefs and practices. That's what the First Amendment means."
On the other side, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten condemned the court's move, saying calling it "a seismic shock that threatens both public education and religious liberty."
"Never in more than two centuries of American history has the free exercise clause of the First Amendment been wielded as a weapon to defund and dismantle public education," Weingarten said.
Daniel Mach, an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, said the decision was the "the latest in a disturbing line of Supreme Court cases attacking the very foundations of the separation of church and state."
"In the past, the court used to guard against government-funded religion. Today, the court has not only allowed, but actually required taxpayers to underwrite religious education," Mach said.
The majority's decision also came under attack from the court's liberal wing, with multiple justices penning dissents.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, joined by Justice Elena Kagan, argued that the Montana Supreme Court's decision to strike down the scholarship program in its entirety, rather than just restricting its benefits for religious schools, meant that the state was not discriminating against those with religious views.
"Under that decree, secular and sectarian schools alike are ineligible for benefits, so the decision cannot be said to entail differential treatment based on petitioners' religion," Ginsburg wrote. "Put somewhat differently, petitioners argue that the Free Exercise Clause requires a State to treat institutions and people neutrally when doling out a benefit—and neutrally is how Montana treats them in the wake of the state court's decision."
Justice Sonia Sotomayor relied on similar reasoning in a separate dissent. She added that the top court had "never before held unconstitutional government action that merely failed to benefit religious exercise."
Justice Stephen Breyer, in a dissent joined by Kagan, wrote that the "majority's approach and its conclusion in this case, I fear, risk the kind of entanglement and conflict that the Religion Clauses are intended to prevent."
The case is Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, No. 18-1195.


cnbc--2020-06-30--Mothers of military sons killed in Afghanistan want probe of Russian death bounties

These images provided by the U.S. Marine Corps show , from left , Sgt .
Benjamin S. Hines , 31 , of York , Pa. , Staff Sgt .
Christopher K.A .
Slutman , 43 , of Newark , Del.
, and Cpl .
Robert A. Hendriks , 25 , of Locust Valley , N.Y. All three were killed on Monday , April 8 , 2019 , when a roadside bomb hit their convoy near Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan .
The mothers of two members of the U.S. military killed in Afghanistan last year say they want a thorough investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unit offered bounties to Taliban-linked fighters for the deaths of American soldiers .
One of service members was among three Marines who died in an attack that reports have said may have been related to a bounty that was actually paid .
Felicia Arculeo , whose son Cpl .
Robert Hendriks died in the April 8 , 2019 , attack , also told CNBC `` that the parties who are responsible should be held accountable , if that 's even possible . ''
Arculeo , who lives in Long Island , N.Y. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. intelligence or military officials since Friday .
That was the day that The New York Times broke the news that American intelligence agencies had assessed that a Russian intelligence unit last year offered bounties to Islamist fighters in Afghanistan who killed U.S. soldiers .
Another mom , Shawn Gregoire , whose Army paratrooper son Spc .
Michael Isaiah Nance was killed last July in a so-called insider attack by an Afghan soldier in Tarin Kowt , in southern Afghanistan , said she and other parents of killed soldiers should have been notified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No reports have identified her son 's death as a possible case of a Russian-bounty-motivated killing .
But Gregoire said the fact that the attack was committed by an insider , who was captured after the shooting , makes her suspicious that a bounty may have played a role .
`` I really want someone to get to the bottom of this , '' Gregoire told CNBC .
The Times has also reported that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the intelligence months ago , but as of yet had not decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia after being presented with a menu of options .
The Associated Press , meanwhile , reported that Trump was briefed on the alleged bounties in March 2019 , the month before Hendriks and the two other Marines were killed .
Other news outlets , including NBC News , have confirmed that there is intelligence backing up the claim that a Russian unit offered bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan .
`` I just happened to randomly see '' the news about the report , Arculeo said .
Her 25-year-old son , Hendriks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sgt .
Benjamin Hines , 31 , and 43-year-old Staff Sgt .
Christopher Slutman , were killed by a car bomb near Bagram Air Field .
The three Marines , who had been assigned to the 25th Marine Regiment , 4th Marine Division , died just days before they were scheduled to return home from Afghanistan .
On Sunday , The Associated Press reported that officials said the intelligence community was investigating whether the attack was linked to the suspected Russian bounty offer .
An official familiar with the intelligence told NBC News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing that Russian operatives paid bounties for killing American soldiers to the Taliban , and that members of the U.S. military , along with Afghan civilians , died as a result of attacks launched to collect those cash rewards .
Arculeo said that the possible link of the attack that killed her son to Russian bounties should continue to be probed despite the White House 's claim that the intelligence about the bounties is not verified .
`` Absolutely , that should be investigated , '' she said .
Asked what should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid a bounty for the killing of her son , Arculeo said , `` Look , that 's a tough question . ''
`` At the end of the day , my son is still gone .
He 's still not coming home , '' she said .
Gregoire , whose son was known by his middle name , Isaiah , was fatally shot July 29 , 2019 , with another soldier , Pfc .
Brandon Jay Kreischer , by an Afghan soldier who was being trained by U.S. military .
Nance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the verge of re-enlisting in the Army , where he served with the 82nd Airborne , for another three-year-stint , and planned to make the military his career , his mom said .

These images provided by the U.S. Marine Corps show, from left, Sgt. Benjamin S. Hines, 31, of York, Pa., Staff Sgt. Christopher K.A. Slutman, 43, of Newark, Del., and Cpl. Robert A. Hendriks, 25, of Locust Valley, N.Y. All three were killed on Monday, April 8, 2019, when a roadside bomb hit their convoy near Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.
The mothers of two members of the U.S. military killed in Afghanistan last year say they want a thorough investigation of reports that a Russian military intelligence unit offered bounties to Taliban-linked fighters for the deaths of American soldiers.
One of service members was among three Marines who died in an attack that reports have said may have been related to a bounty that was actually paid.
Felicia Arculeo, whose son Cpl. Robert Hendriks died in the April 8, 2019, attack, also told CNBC "that the parties who are responsible should be held accountable, if that's even possible."
Arculeo, who lives in Long Island, N.Y., said she has not been contacted by U.S. intelligence or military officials since Friday.
That was the day that The New York Times broke the news that American intelligence agencies had assessed that a Russian intelligence unit last year offered bounties to Islamist fighters in Afghanistan who killed U.S. soldiers.
Another mom, Shawn Gregoire, whose Army paratrooper son Spc. Michael Isaiah Nance was killed last July in a so-called insider attack by an Afghan soldier in Tarin Kowt, in southern Afghanistan, said she and other parents of killed soldiers should have been notified of the intelligence about the bounties.
No reports have identified her son's death as a possible case of a Russian-bounty-motivated killing.
But Gregoire said the fact that the attack was committed by an insider, who was captured after the shooting, makes her suspicious that a bounty may have played a role.
"I really want someone to get to the bottom of this," Gregoire told CNBC.
The Times has also reported that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the intelligence months ago, but as of yet had not decided on whether or how to retaliate against Russia after being presented with a menu of options. The Associated Press, meanwhile, reported that Trump was briefed on the alleged bounties in March 2019, the month before Hendriks and the two other Marines were killed.
Other news outlets, including NBC News, have confirmed that there is intelligence backing up the claim that a Russian unit offered bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
"I just happened to randomly see" the news about the report, Arculeo said.
"I got pretty upset."
Her 25-year-old son, Hendriks, and the other two Marines, Sgt. Benjamin Hines, 31, and 43-year-old Staff Sgt. Christopher Slutman, were killed by a car bomb near Bagram Air Field. The three Marines, who had been assigned to the 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, died just days before they were scheduled to return home from Afghanistan.
On Sunday, The Associated Press reported that officials said the intelligence community was investigating whether the attack was linked to the suspected Russian bounty offer.
An official familiar with the intelligence told NBC News that the United States has gathered information showing that Russian operatives paid bounties for killing American soldiers to the Taliban, and that members of the U.S. military, along with Afghan civilians, died as a result of attacks launched to collect those cash rewards.
Arculeo said that the possible link of the attack that killed her son to Russian bounties should continue to be probed despite the White House's claim that the intelligence about the bounties is not verified.
"Absolutely, that should be investigated," she said.
Asked what should be done if it is determined that Russia paid a bounty for the killing of her son, Arculeo said, "Look, that's a tough question."
"At the end of the day, my son is still gone. He's still not coming home," she said.
Gregoire, whose son was known by his middle name, Isaiah, was fatally shot July 29, 2019, with another soldier, Pfc. Brandon Jay Kreischer, by an Afghan soldier who was being trained by U.S. military.
Nance, who was 24 years old, was on the verge of re-enlisting in the Army, where he served with the 82nd Airborne, for another three-year-stint, and planned to make the military his career, his mom said.


cnbc--2020-06-30--Judge orders Mary Trump to explain why her tell-all shouldn't be barred from publication

A Dutchess County , New York judge on Tuesday ordered attorneys for President Donald Trump 's niece to respond to a lawsuit filed by Robert Trump , the president 's brother , seeking to halt the publication of her forthcoming tell-all memoir .
Judge Hal Greenwald of the New York Supreme Court in also issued an order prohibiting Simon & Schuster from publishing the book before the case is decided and scheduled a hearing in the matter as soon as July 10 .
The book , `` Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is scheduled for release July 28 .
The book `` shines a bright light on the dark history of their family in order to explain how her uncle became the man who now threatens the world 's health , economic security , and social fabric , '' according to Simon & Schuster .
The order temporarily bars Mary Trump and Simon & Schuster from `` publishing , printing or distributing any book or any portions thereof '' that contain `` descriptions or accounts of Mary L. Trump 's relationship with Robert S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Barry . ''
Maryanne Trump Barry , the president 's eldest sister , retired as a federal appeals court judge last year .
The publisher and an attorney for Mary Trump said they planned to appeal the order immediately .
Robert Trump challenged the publication of the book on the grounds that a nondisclosure agreement reached in connection with litigation over his father 's will prohibits those involved from from publishing anything `` concerning the litigation or their relationship with each other . ''
In a statement , Charles Harder , Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` very pleased '' with the order .
`` We look forward to vigorously litigating this case , and will seek the maximum remedies available by law for the enormous damages caused by Mary Trump 's breach of contract and Simon & Schuster 's intentional interference with that contract , '' Harder said .
`` Short of corrective action to immediately cease their egregious conduct , we will pursue this case to the very end . ''
Harder has represented President Trump in high-profile cases , including in litigation against the adult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has said that his niece is subject to a nondisclosure agreement and is `` not allowed '' to publish the book .
In a statement , Simon & Schuster said it was `` disappointed '' in the order .
`` We plan to immediately appeal this decision to the Appellate Division , and look forward to prevailing in this case based on well-established precedents regarding prior restraint , '' the publisher said .
Theodore Boutrous Jr. , an attorney for Mary Trump , said in a statement that the order `` is only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restraint on core political speech that flatly violates the First Amendment . ''
`` We will immediately appeal .
This book , which addresses matters of great public concern and importance about a sitting president in an election year , should not be suppressed even for one day , '' Boutrous said .
An earlier effort by Robert Trump to halt publication of the book failed in Queens County Surrogate 's Court , a venue that typically hears cases involving wills , the administration of estates , and adoptions .

A Dutchess County, New York judge on Tuesday ordered attorneys for President Donald Trump's niece to respond to a lawsuit filed by Robert Trump, the president's brother, seeking to halt the publication of her forthcoming tell-all memoir.
Judge Hal Greenwald of the New York Supreme Court also issued an order prohibiting Simon & Schuster from publishing the book before the case is decided and scheduled a hearing in the matter as soon as July 10.
The book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man" by Mary Trump, is scheduled for release July 28.
The book "shines a bright light on the dark history of their family in order to explain how her uncle became the man who now threatens the world's health, economic security, and social fabric," according to Simon & Schuster.
The order temporarily bars Mary Trump and Simon & Schuster from "publishing, printing or distributing any book or any portions thereof" that contain "descriptions or accounts of Mary L. Trump's relationship with Robert S. Trump, Donald Trump, or Maryanne Trump Barry."
Maryanne Trump Barry, the president's eldest sister, retired as a federal appeals court judge last year.
The publisher and an attorney for Mary Trump said they planned to appeal the order immediately.
Robert Trump challenged the publication of the book on the grounds that a nondisclosure agreement reached in connection with litigation over his father's will prohibits those involved from from publishing anything "concerning the litigation or their relationship with each other."
In a statement, Charles Harder, Robert Trump's attorney, said his client was "very pleased" with the order.
"We look forward to vigorously litigating this case, and will seek the maximum remedies available by law for the enormous damages caused by Mary Trump's breach of contract and Simon & Schuster's intentional interference with that contract," Harder said. "Short of corrective action to immediately cease their egregious conduct, we will pursue this case to the very end."
Harder has represented President Trump in high-profile cases, including in litigation against the adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The president has said that his niece is subject to a nondisclosure agreement and is "not allowed" to publish the book.
In a statement, Simon & Schuster said it was "disappointed" in the order.
"We plan to immediately appeal this decision to the Appellate Division, and look forward to prevailing in this case based on well-established precedents regarding prior restraint," the publisher said.
Theodore Boutrous Jr., an attorney for Mary Trump, said in a statement that the order "is only temporary but it still is a prior restraint on core political speech that flatly violates the First Amendment."
"We will immediately appeal. This book, which addresses matters of great public concern and importance about a sitting president in an election year, should not be suppressed even for one day," Boutrous said.
An earlier effort by Robert Trump to halt publication of the book failed in Queens County Surrogate's Court, a venue that typically hears cases involving wills, the administration of estates, and adoptions.


cnbc--2020-06-30--Op-ed: Corporate leaders need to 'talk sense with Trump' about the spread of Covid-19

Healthcare workers from University of South Florida ( USF ) Health administer coronavirus testing at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25 , 2020 in Tampa , Florida .
BOSTON – The inert capital city of Massachusetts last Friday underscored the degree to which the coronavirus has affected the country not just medically but economically .
There was virtually no commuter traffic because most of Boston 's office towers were empty .
Not only was n't there baseball at Fenway Park but it was n't even open for public tours .
Most of the surrounding restaurants were closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ famed Cask ' n Flagon , had no customers at high noon .
A friend who flew in to town to visit his sick mother at a nearby hospital drove from Milwaukee to Chicago to catch a direct flight because of reduced airline service in his hometown .
The effects of Covid-19 are far-reaching and , without better testing , contact tracing and mask-wearing , its re-emergence nationally is already exacting a second round of economic damage on the United States .
That 's something neither workers nor companies can afford , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation 's business leaders to talk sense with President Donald Trump .
They must make clear he can no longer minimize this virus but has to redouble the nation 's efforts to bring it under control .
Corporate CEOs from Apple 's Tim Cook on down may be the only people left who can make this clear to the president .
They are non-politicians who speak a language understood by the real estate developer-turned-president .
Their bottom-line is the nation 's , and it 's hemorrhaging cash .

Healthcare workers from University of South Florida (USF) Health administer coronavirus testing at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center on June 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida.
BOSTON – The inert capital city of Massachusetts last Friday underscored the degree to which the coronavirus has affected the country not just medically but economically.
There was virtually no commuter traffic because most of Boston's office towers were empty. Not only wasn't there baseball at Fenway Park but it wasn't even open for public tours. Most of the surrounding restaurants were closed and one that was open, the famed Cask'n Flagon, had no customers at high noon.
A friend who flew in to town to visit his sick mother at a nearby hospital drove from Milwaukee to Chicago to catch a direct flight because of reduced airline service in his hometown.
The effects of Covid-19 are far-reaching and, without better testing, contact tracing and mask-wearing, its re-emergence nationally is already exacting a second round of economic damage on the United States.
That's something neither workers nor companies can afford, and it's why it's time for the nation's business leaders to talk sense with President Donald Trump. They must make clear he can no longer minimize this virus but has to redouble the nation's efforts to bring it under control.
Corporate CEOs from Apple 's Tim Cook on down may be the only people left who can make this clear to the president. They are non-politicians who speak a language understood by the real estate developer-turned-president.
Their bottom-line is the nation's, and it's hemorrhaging cash.


cnbc--2020-06-30--Trump was briefed on Russian bounties earlier than thought, reports say

U.S. President Donald Trump walks to Air Force One from the Marine One helicopter as he departs on a day trip to Arizona and a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border , leaving Washington from Joint Base Andrews , Maryland , U.S. , June 23 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump and the White House knew earlier than was previously reported about alleged Russian bounties offered to Afghan militants to kill American service members , according to new reports Monday night .
Trump received a written briefing in February about intelligence regarding the alleged bounties , The New York Times reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowledge of the matter .
The Associated Press , citing officials with direct knowledge of the matter , also reported that the White House was aware of the matter much earlier , in early 2019 .
Then-national security advisor John Bolton told colleagues that he briefed Trump on the matter in March 2019 , the AP added .
Bolton has published a tell-all memoir about his time in the White House .
The narrative is full of withering condemnations of the president and unflattering anecdotes about him .
Trump has slammed the book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration unsuccessfully sought to block the book 's publication .
Bolton declined to comment on the AP 's report , NBC News reported .
Trump and the White House have denied that the president had been briefed on the intelligence assessment regarding the Russian bounties .
The White House had also said that the intelligence underpinning the claim was unverified .
National security advisor Robert O'Brien , in a statement Monday night , condemned the leaks and asserted that the president had not been briefed .
`` Because the allegations in recent press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Intelligence Community , President Trump had not been briefed on the items , '' O'Brien said .
`` Nevertheless , the Administration , including the National Security Council staff , have been preparing should the situation warrant action . ''
Chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement to NBC News , `` The Department of Defense continues to evaluate intelligence that Russian GRU operatives were engaged in malign activity against United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan . ''
`` To date , DOD has no corroborating evidence to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports , '' he said .
`` Regardless , we always take the safety and security of our forces in Afghanistan – and around the world - most seriously and therefore continuously adopt measures to prevent harm from potential threats . ''
The Times said the investigation has homed in on a car bombing in April 2019 that killed three Marines .
That attack occurred the month after Bolton reportedly briefed Trump about the bounties .
Bolton 's briefing for Trump did n't have `` actionable intelligence , '' officials told the Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cpl .
Robert Hendriks , 25 , died in the attack , told CNBC earlier Monday that she wanted an investigation into the claims that the victims were targeted by Taliban fighters who may have been offered bounties by Russian military intelligence agents .
Sgt .
Benjamin Hines , 31 , and Staff Sgt .
Christopher Slutman , 43 , were the other Marines killed in the attack , which came days before they were due to return home from Afghanistan .
The Times on Friday first reported that U.S. intelligence agencies had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year offered bounties to Islamist fighters in Afghanistan who killed U.S. soldiers .
The Times also reported that Trump had been briefed on the matter in March , but as of yet had not decided on whether or how to retaliate against Russia after being presented with a menu of options .
However , Monday , The Times reported that Trump had access to the information earlier , in February .
The newspaper reported that one of the officials it cited had said it appeared in the president 's daily brief on Feb. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McEnany said during a press briefing Monday that the president had not been briefed .
Pressed on the matter by reporters , including whether that applied to the president 's daily briefing , she said : `` He was not personally briefed on the matter .
That is all I can share with you today , is that both the CIA director , the national security advisor , and the chief of staff can all confirm neither the president or the vice president was briefed . ''

U.S. President Donald Trump walks to Air Force One from the Marine One helicopter as he departs on a day trip to Arizona and a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, leaving Washington from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., June 23, 2020.
President Donald Trump and the White House knew earlier than was previously reported about alleged Russian bounties offered to Afghan militants to kill American service members, according to new reports Monday night.
Trump received a written briefing in February about intelligence regarding the alleged bounties, The New York Times reported Monday night, citing two officials with knowledge of the matter.
The Associated Press, citing officials with direct knowledge of the matter, also reported that the White House was aware of the matter much earlier, in early 2019. Then-national security advisor John Bolton told colleagues that he briefed Trump on the matter in March 2019, the AP added.
Bolton has published a tell-all memoir about his time in the White House. The narrative is full of withering condemnations of the president and unflattering anecdotes about him. Trump has slammed the book as full of lies, while the administration unsuccessfully sought to block the book's publication. Bolton declined to comment on the AP's report, NBC News reported.
Trump and the White House have denied that the president had been briefed on the intelligence assessment regarding the Russian bounties. The White House had also said that the intelligence underpinning the claim was unverified.
National security advisor Robert O'Brien, in a statement Monday night, condemned the leaks and asserted that the president had not been briefed.
"Because the allegations in recent press articles have not been verified or substantiated by the Intelligence Community, President Trump had not been briefed on the items," O'Brien said. "Nevertheless, the Administration, including the National Security Council staff, have been preparing should the situation warrant action."
Chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement to NBC News, "The Department of Defense continues to evaluate intelligence that Russian GRU operatives were engaged in malign activity against United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan."
"To date, DOD has no corroborating evidence to validate the recent allegations found in open-source reports," he said. "Regardless, we always take the safety and security of our forces in Afghanistan – and around the world - most seriously and therefore continuously adopt measures to prevent harm from potential threats."
The Times said the investigation has homed in on a car bombing in April 2019 that killed three Marines. That attack occurred the month after Bolton reportedly briefed Trump about the bounties. Bolton's briefing for Trump didn't have "actionable intelligence," officials told the Associated Press.
Felicia Arculeo, whose son Cpl. Robert Hendriks, 25, died in the attack, told CNBC earlier Monday that she wanted an investigation into the claims that the victims were targeted by Taliban fighters who may have been offered bounties by Russian military intelligence agents.
Sgt. Benjamin Hines, 31, and Staff Sgt. Christopher Slutman, 43, were the other Marines killed in the attack, which came days before they were due to return home from Afghanistan.
The Times on Friday first reported that U.S. intelligence agencies had assessed that a Russian intelligence unit last year offered bounties to Islamist fighters in Afghanistan who killed U.S. soldiers.
The Times also reported that Trump had been briefed on the matter in March, but as of yet had not decided on whether or how to retaliate against Russia after being presented with a menu of options.
However, Monday, The Times reported that Trump had access to the information earlier, in February. The newspaper reported that one of the officials it cited had said it appeared in the president's daily brief on Feb. 27.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said during a press briefing Monday that the president had not been briefed. Pressed on the matter by reporters, including whether that applied to the president's daily briefing, she said: "He was not personally briefed on the matter. That is all I can share with you today, is that both the CIA director, the national security advisor, and the chief of staff can all confirm neither the president or the vice president was briefed."
Read the full Times report here.


cnbc--2020-06-30--Interpol shuts down Iran's request for Trump arrest

Interpol has resoundingly rejected the Iranian government 's request for help in carrying out an arrest warrant for U.S. President Donald Trump , in a statement sent to CNBC late Monday .
`` Under Article 3 of INTERPOL 's constitution 'it is strictly forbidden for the Organization to undertake any intervention or activities of a political , military , religious or racial character ' , '' the Lyon-based international organization said in the emailed statement .
`` Therefore , if or when any such requests were to be sent to the General Secretariat , in accordance with the provisions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not consider requests of this nature . ''
Iran on Monday issued an arrest warrant for Trump over the killing of its top commander , Gen. Qasem Soleimani , in January .
Tehran Attorney General Ali Alghasi-Mehr was quoted in local press as naming Trump and 35 other people , who Iran has accused of involvement in Soleimani 's death , as facing `` murder and terrorism charges . ''
He also reportedly asked Interpol to issue `` red notices '' for them — the highest-level notice the organization can issue on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notices enable local law enforcement authorities to arrest individuals on behalf of the requesting country , though they ca n't force countries ' governments to arrest or extradite suspects .
Still , they can cause diplomatic problems and restrict the travel and free movement of suspects .
U.S. Special Envoy for Iran , Brian Hook , called the Iranian announcement a `` propaganda stunt that no-one takes seriously , '' describing it as `` political '' and having `` nothing to do with national security . ''
Soleimani led Iran 's Quds Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elite paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps .
The Trump administration labeled him a terrorist , and Washington deemed him responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. troops in Iraq — but in Iran , he was widely revered as a hero .
The 62-year-old Soleimani was killed in a drone strike directed by Trump in early January while in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad .
News of his death sent regional tensions and oil prices soaring and triggered a retaliatory attack by Iran and its proxies on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops @

Interpol has resoundingly rejected the Iranian government's request for help in carrying out an arrest warrant for U.S. President Donald Trump, in a statement sent to CNBC late Monday.
"Under Article 3 of INTERPOL's constitution 'it is strictly forbidden for the Organization to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character'," the Lyon-based international organization said in the emailed statement.
"Therefore, if or when any such requests were to be sent to the General Secretariat, in accordance with the provisions of our constitution and rules, INTERPOL would not consider requests of this nature."
Iran on Monday issued an arrest warrant for Trump over the killing of its top commander, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, in January. Tehran Attorney General Ali Alghasi-Mehr was quoted in local press as naming Trump and 35 other people, who Iran has accused of involvement in Soleimani's death, as facing "murder and terrorism charges." He also reportedly asked Interpol to issue "red notices" for them — the highest-level notice the organization can issue on an individual to pursue their arrest.
Red notices enable local law enforcement authorities to arrest individuals on behalf of the requesting country, though they can't force countries' governments to arrest or extradite suspects. Still, they can cause diplomatic problems and restrict the travel and free movement of suspects.
U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, Brian Hook, called the Iranian announcement a "propaganda stunt that no-one takes seriously," describing it as "political" and having "nothing to do with national security."
Soleimani led Iran's Quds Force, the foreign operations wing of the elite paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Trump administration labeled him a terrorist, and Washington deemed him responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. troops in Iraq — but in Iran, he was widely revered as a hero.
The 62-year-old Soleimani was killed in a drone strike directed by Trump in early January while in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. News of his death sent regional tensions and oil prices soaring and triggered a retaliatory attack by Iran and its proxies on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops.


cnbc--2020-06-30--Trump spends millions on battleground TV ads as his campaign sees warning signs in key states

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers an `` Address to Young Americans '' at the Dream City Church in Phoenix , Arizona , U.S. , June 23 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump 's campaign , facing a growing disadvantage in polls , has started reserving spots for a television ad blitz set to run in several swing states during the final months of the race .
The ad buy , worth more than $ 90 million , comes as some in the Trump campaign see warning signs in multiple key states , including Michigan , Georgia and North Carolina , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ad tracking firms Advertising Analytics and Medium Buying announced that Trump 's campaign is reserving ad time starting in September in the key states of Arizona , Florida , Ohio , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania and North Carolina .
Trump won all six states in 2016 .
The ad buy comes on top of the ads currently airing against Joe Biden in North Carolina .
Advertising Analytics originally said on Monday that the buy is worth over $ 16 million .
Later , they noted that the buy across all of the states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move comes after Trump pulled ahead of Biden last week with his Facebook ad spending .
The new investment in these states comes as polls show Trump behind Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee .
A New York Times Upshot/ Sienna College survey has Biden ahead of Trump in Arizona , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , North Carolina and Florida .
Trump won these states by slim margins against the 2016 Democratic nominee , Hillary Clinton .
Trump has been under siege by critics who argue he has n't done enough to combat the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show empathy during the nationwide protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd .
The development also follows news that the Trump campaign reserving ad space in Georgia , a traditionally reliable state for Republican presidential candidates .
A recent Fox News poll had Biden ahead of Trump there by two points .
A spokesman for the Trump campaign did not return a request for comment .
The new spending indicates that the Trump campaign is ramping up its defense in states he needs to win a second term .
Elsewhere , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every recent public poll .
That matches the campaign 's current crop of data , according to people familiar with the matter .
These people declined to be named as these internal results have yet to be made public .
Trump won Michigan in 2016 .
Some on the campaign are convinced that the president faces hurdles even in Georgia and North Carolina , these people said .
The campaign , however , sees New Hampshire , Minnesota and Nevada as states that are all in play for Trump , these people added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Trump campaign 's data shows that Trump is ahead of Biden by wide margins in Texas , Ohio and Florida , despite Biden being ahead of Trump in some of the statewide public polls , these people added .
Still , the Trump campaign data shows that Biden has a slight edge over Trump in the Electoral College , one of these people said .
The struggles on the campaign trail for Trump also appears to reflect the edge Biden and Democrats had over the president and the Republican National Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the RNC combined to raise $ 74 million last month while Biden , along with the Democratic National Committee brought in $ 80 million .
Trump and the RNC , however , had $ 265 million on hand going into June .
Note : This story was updated after Advertising Analytics published new spending figures .

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers an "Address to Young Americans" at the Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., June 23, 2020.
President Donald Trump's campaign, facing a growing disadvantage in polls, has started reserving spots for a television ad blitz set to run in several swing states during the final months of the race.
The ad buy, worth more than $90 million, comes as some in the Trump campaign see warning signs in multiple key states, including Michigan, Georgia and North Carolina, according to people familiar with the matter.
Ad tracking firms Advertising Analytics and Medium Buying announced that Trump's campaign is reserving ad time starting in September in the key states of Arizona, Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Trump won all six states in 2016. The ad buy comes on top of the ads currently airing against Joe Biden in North Carolina.
Advertising Analytics originally said on Monday that the buy is worth over $16 million. Later, they noted that the buy across all of the states was worth $95 million. The move comes after Trump pulled ahead of Biden last week with his Facebook ad spending.
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The new investment in these states comes as polls show Trump behind Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee. A New York Times Upshot/ Sienna College survey has Biden ahead of Trump in Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida. Trump won these states by slim margins against the 2016 Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.
Trump has been under siege by critics who argue he hasn't done enough to combat the coronavirus pandemic and that he failed to show empathy during the nationwide protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd.
The development also follows news that the Trump campaign reserving ad space in Georgia, a traditionally reliable state for Republican presidential candidates. A recent Fox News poll had Biden ahead of Trump there by two points.
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A spokesman for the Trump campaign did not return a request for comment.
The new spending indicates that the Trump campaign is ramping up its defense in states he needs to win a second term.
Elsewhere, in Michigan, Trump is down in every recent public poll. That matches the campaign's current crop of data, according to people familiar with the matter. These people declined to be named as these internal results have yet to be made public. Trump won Michigan in 2016.
Some on the campaign are convinced that the president faces hurdles even in Georgia and North Carolina, these people said.
The campaign, however, sees New Hampshire, Minnesota and Nevada as states that are all in play for Trump, these people added. Clinton won those states in 2016. The Trump campaign's data shows that Trump is ahead of Biden by wide margins in Texas, Ohio and Florida, despite Biden being ahead of Trump in some of the statewide public polls, these people added.
Still, the Trump campaign data shows that Biden has a slight edge over Trump in the Electoral College, one of these people said.
The struggles on the campaign trail for Trump also appears to reflect the edge Biden and Democrats had over the president and the Republican National Committee in their May fundraising haul.
Trump and the RNC combined to raise $74 million last month while Biden, along with the Democratic National Committee brought in $80 million. Trump and the RNC, however, had $265 million on hand going into June.
Note: This story was updated after Advertising Analytics published new spending figures.


cnbc--2020-06-30--Biden tells donors: I'm going to get rid of most of Trump's tax cuts 'and a lot of you may not like

Biden tells donors: I'm going to get rid of most of Trump's tax cuts 'and a lot of you may not like that'

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden told potential donors to his campaign that his administration would end most of President Donald Trump 's multitrillion-dollar tax cuts – even though `` a lot of you may not like that . ''
Biden 's warning to his backers came as the candidate laid out an ambitious suite of policy goals during a virtual campaign fundraiser on Monday .
The event raised at least $ 2 million , CNBC reported .
Biden , who has largely avoided in-person campaign events throughout the coronavirus pandemic , said the recovery from the health crisis could present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle class and make sweeping investments in clean energy and infrastructure .
`` Folks , this is going to be really hard work and Donald Trump has made it much harder to foot the bill , '' Biden said , according to a Wall Street Journal reporter 's press pool report about the event .
But even before the coronavirus crisis effectively froze the U.S. economy and sent unemployment skyrocketing , Trump 's `` irresponsible sugar-high tax cuts had already pushed us into a trillion-dollar deficit , '' Biden said .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bulk of Trump 's $ 2 trillion tax cut , '' Biden continued , `` and a lot of you may not like that but I 'm going to close loopholes like capital gains and stepped-up basis . ''
Biden also said he would raise the corporate tax rate to 28 % , which he said would raise an estimated $ 1.3 trillion over the next decade .
The Trump tax cuts had shrunk corporate taxes to 21 % from 35 % .
`` We have to think as big as the challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is nothing we can not do if we do it together , '' Biden said .
`` But I think the country is ready . ''
The Trump campaign did n't immediately reply to a request for comment .

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden told potential donors to his campaign that his administration would end most of President Donald Trump's multitrillion-dollar tax cuts – even though "a lot of you may not like that."
Biden's warning to his backers came as the candidate laid out an ambitious suite of policy goals during a virtual campaign fundraiser on Monday.
The event raised at least $2 million, CNBC reported.
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Biden, who has largely avoided in-person campaign events throughout the coronavirus pandemic, said the recovery from the health crisis could present an "opportunity" to strengthen the middle class and make sweeping investments in clean energy and infrastructure.
"Folks, this is going to be really hard work and Donald Trump has made it much harder to foot the bill," Biden said, according to a Wall Street Journal reporter's press pool report about the event.
But even before the coronavirus crisis effectively froze the U.S. economy and sent unemployment skyrocketing, Trump's "irresponsible sugar-high tax cuts had already pushed us into a trillion-dollar deficit," Biden said.
"I'm going to get rid of the bulk of Trump's $2 trillion tax cut," Biden continued, "and a lot of you may not like that but I'm going to close loopholes like capital gains and stepped-up basis."
Biden also said he would raise the corporate tax rate to 28%, which he said would raise an estimated $1.3 trillion over the next decade. The Trump tax cuts had shrunk corporate taxes to 21% from 35%.
"We have to think as big as the challenge we face. But this is America, there is nothing we cannot do if we do it together," Biden said. "But I think the country is ready."
The Trump campaign didn't immediately reply to a request for comment.
—CNBC's Brian Schwartz contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-06-29--Supreme Court strikes down Louisiana law that would have limited state to one abortion clinic

A placard saying , Abortion is a Human Right , is seen during the `` Stop The Bans Day of Action for Abortion Rights '' rally in front of the Supreme Court in Washington , DC .
The Supreme Court on Monday voted 5-4 to strike down a restrictive Louisiana abortion measure in a major win for reproductive rights activists , with Chief Justice John Roberts siding with the court 's four liberals .
Justice Stephen Breyer , who authored an opinion joined by his fellow Democratic appointees , wrote that the law placed an undue burden on women seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his thinking was based on the court 's 2016 decision to strike down a similar law in Texas .
The case involved a Louisiana abortion law requiring doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their clinic .
Challengers of the law alleged the restriction would limit the state to just one abortion provider at a single clinic .
Breyer wrote that the law posed a `` substantial obstacle '' on women and provided `` no significant health-related benefits , '' and therefore was unconstitutional .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be argued before President Donald Trump 's two appointees , Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh .
Nancy Northup , president of the Center for Reproductive Rights , which challenged the Louisiana abortion law at the top court , said in a statement that `` we 're relieved that the Louisiana law has been blocked today but we 're concerned about tomorrow . ''
`` With this win , the clinics in Louisiana can stay open to serve the one million women of reproductive age in the state .
But the Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more restrictive laws when clarity is needed if abortion rights are to be protected , '' Northup said .
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry , a Republican said in a statement that the top court had `` continued its heartbreaking line of decisions that places 'access ' to abortion above the health and safety of women and girls . ''
`` It is deeply disappointing that the Chief Justice continues a pattern of inconsistent and groundless decisions , '' Landry said .
`` In his misguided effort to convince the public that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Roberts shows how political it actually is . ''
Gov .
John Bel Edwards , a Democrat who voted in favor of the abortion law while in the Louisiana House of Representatives , said in a statement that he was `` disappointed '' with the Supreme Court 's ruling but that he respected the decision `` and trust that Louisiana and our nation will continue to move forward . ''
Marjorie Dannenfelser , the president of the Susan B. Anthony List , called the ruling a `` bitter disappointment . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court to allow the American people to protect the well-being of women from the tentacles of a brutal and profit-seeking abortion industry , '' Dannenfelser said .
Dannenfelser said the Supreme Court decision `` reinforces just how important Supreme Court judges are to advancing the pro-life cause '' and called it `` imperative that we re-elect President Trump and our pro-life majority in the U.S. Senate so we can further restore the judiciary , most especially the Supreme Court . ''
The case is the third in a string of major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have come in the midst of an election battle between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
Earlier this month , Roberts joined the court 's four Democratic appointees rebuffing the Trump administration 's effort to terminate the Obama-era immigration program known as DACA .
Also in June , Roberts and Gorsuch sided with the four liberals in a decision that held that gay and transgender workers ca n't be fired on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity .
Trump campaigned on nominating justices who would `` automatically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ v. Wade , and the Department of Justice supported Louisiana in the case .
`` States have legitimate interests in regulating any medical procedure — including abortions — to protect patient safety , '' McEnany said in a statement .
`` Instead of valuing fundamental democratic principles , unelected Justices have intruded on the sovereign prerogatives of State governments by imposing their own policy preference in favor of abortion to override legitimate abortion safety regulations '' A federal judge declared the Louisiana law unconstitutional in 2017 , but that decision was reversed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Circuit Court of Appeals .
The Supreme Court put the appeals court ruling on hold last year while it considered the case .

A placard saying, Abortion is a Human Right, is seen during the "Stop The Bans Day of Action for Abortion Rights" rally in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, DC.
The Supreme Court on Monday voted 5-4 to strike down a restrictive Louisiana abortion measure in a major win for reproductive rights activists, with Chief Justice John Roberts siding with the court's four liberals.
Justice Stephen Breyer, who authored an opinion joined by his fellow Democratic appointees, wrote that the law placed an undue burden on women seeking abortions. Roberts wrote separately to say his thinking was based on the court's 2016 decision to strike down a similar law in Texas.
The case involved a Louisiana abortion law requiring doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their clinic. Challengers of the law alleged the restriction would limit the state to just one abortion provider at a single clinic.
Breyer wrote that the law posed a "substantial obstacle" on women and provided "no significant health-related benefits," and therefore was unconstitutional.
The dispute was the first over abortion to be argued before President Donald Trump's two appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which challenged the Louisiana abortion law at the top court, said in a statement that "we're relieved that the Louisiana law has been blocked today but we're concerned about tomorrow."
"With this win, the clinics in Louisiana can stay open to serve the one million women of reproductive age in the state. But the Court's decision could embolden states to pass even more restrictive laws when clarity is needed if abortion rights are to be protected," Northup said.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican said in a statement that the top court had "continued its heartbreaking line of decisions that places 'access' to abortion above the health and safety of women and girls."
"It is deeply disappointing that the Chief Justice continues a pattern of inconsistent and groundless decisions," Landry said. "In his misguided effort to convince the public that the Supreme Court is not political, Justice Roberts shows how political it actually is."
Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who voted in favor of the abortion law while in the Louisiana House of Representatives, said in a statement that he was "disappointed" with the Supreme Court's ruling but that he respected the decision "and trust that Louisiana and our nation will continue to move forward."
Anti-abortion groups immediately criticized the decision.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, called the ruling a "bitter disappointment."
"It demonstrates once again the failure of the Supreme Court to allow the American people to protect the well-being of women from the tentacles of a brutal and profit-seeking abortion industry," Dannenfelser said.
Dannenfelser said the Supreme Court decision "reinforces just how important Supreme Court judges are to advancing the pro-life cause" and called it "imperative that we re-elect President Trump and our pro-life majority in the U.S. Senate so we can further restore the judiciary, most especially the Supreme Court."
The case is the third in a string of major victories for liberals at the high court that have come in the midst of an election battle between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Earlier this month, Roberts joined the court's four Democratic appointees rebuffing the Trump administration's effort to terminate the Obama-era immigration program known as DACA.
Also in June, Roberts and Gorsuch sided with the four liberals in a decision that held that gay and transgender workers can't be fired on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Trump campaigned on nominating justices who would "automatically" overturn the landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade, and the Department of Justice supported Louisiana in the case.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany called the ruling "unfortunate."
"States have legitimate interests in regulating any medical procedure — including abortions — to protect patient safety," McEnany said in a statement. "Instead of valuing fundamental democratic principles, unelected Justices have intruded on the sovereign prerogatives of State governments by imposing their own policy preference in favor of abortion to override legitimate abortion safety regulations"
A federal judge declared the Louisiana law unconstitutional in 2017, but that decision was reversed by a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court put the appeals court ruling on hold last year while it considered the case.