cnbc--2020-05-11--'A bill has to come due for China': White House advisor Navarro threatens coronavirus retaliation

`` They inflicted tremendous damage on the world which is still ongoing , '' Navarro said .
`` We 're up to close to $ 10 trillion we 've had to appropriate to fight this battle . ''
He declined to say whether he was advising the president to impose new tariffs or scrap the `` phase one '' trade deal reached between the two countries earlier this year .
Navarro is one of the chief China hawks in President Donald Trump 's administration and serves as the director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy .
`` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Navarro said during an interview on CNBC 's `` Squawk Box . ''
`` It 's not a question of punishing them , it 's a question of holding China accountable , the Chinese Communist Party accountable . ''
White House advisor Peter Navarro on Monday threatened retaliation against China for its role in the spread of the coronavirus pandemic as tensions between the world 's two largest economies continue to rise .
Trade negotiations between the two countries have been complicated by Covid-19 , which spread around the globe and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade deal took effect in February .
The deal requires China to up its purchases of U.S. goods including agricultural products by $ 200 billion over two years .
In addition to slumping global demand , the public health crisis has spawned a war of words between the two nations , which have each sought to lay blame at the other 's feet .
Trump , who has said he believes coronavirus was caused by a Chinese `` mistake , '' said on Friday that he was `` very torn '' over whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Scientists and the U.S. intelligence community have said that the virus emerged naturally and China has denied allegations that it came from a laboratory .
Chinese officials have said the country has been transparent about its handling of the outbreak .
`` I 'm very — I 'm very torn as to — I have not decided yet , if you want to know the truth , '' Trump said during an interview on Fox News when asked if he would scrap the deal .
Despite the president 's comments , trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He about the agreement .
The three officials agreed to move forward with phase one `` in spite of the current global health emergency , '' according to a statement put out by the American side .
It 's not clear , however , whether talks on future phases are still in the works .
At the time the phase one deal was reached in January , U.S. officials said that lingering issues between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successive phases .
Thursday 's statement from Lighthizer and Mnuchin did not mention the prospect of future deals .
Trump , who has touted the trade agreement with China as one of his top achievements , will face reelection in November .

"They inflicted tremendous damage on the world which is still ongoing," Navarro said. "We're up to close to $10 trillion we've had to appropriate to fight this battle."
He declined to say whether he was advising the president to impose new tariffs or scrap the "phase one" trade deal reached between the two countries earlier this year.
Navarro is one of the chief China hawks in President Donald Trump's administration and serves as the director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy.
"A bill has to come due for China," Navarro said during an interview on CNBC's " Squawk Box ." "It's not a question of punishing them, it's a question of holding China accountable, the Chinese Communist Party accountable."
White House advisor Peter Navarro on Monday threatened retaliation against China for its role in the spread of the coronavirus pandemic as tensions between the world's two largest economies continue to rise.
Trade negotiations between the two countries have been complicated by Covid-19, which spread around the globe and tanked world markets after the phase one trade deal took effect in February. The deal requires China to up its purchases of U.S. goods including agricultural products by $200 billion over two years.
In addition to slumping global demand, the public health crisis has spawned a war of words between the two nations, which have each sought to lay blame at the other's feet.
Trump, who has said he believes coronavirus was caused by a Chinese "mistake," said on Friday that he was "very torn" over whether to stay in the phase one deal.
Scientists and the U.S. intelligence community have said that the virus emerged naturally and China has denied allegations that it came from a laboratory. Chinese officials have said the country has been transparent about its handling of the outbreak.
"I'm very — I'm very torn as to — I have not decided yet, if you want to know the truth," Trump said during an interview on Fox News when asked if he would scrap the deal.
Despite the president's comments, trade negotiators have continued to talk.
On Thursday, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He about the agreement. The three officials agreed to move forward with phase one "in spite of the current global health emergency," according to a statement put out by the American side.
It's not clear, however, whether talks on future phases are still in the works. At the time the phase one deal was reached in January, U.S. officials said that lingering issues between the two countries would be hammered out in successive phases.
Thursday's statement from Lighthizer and Mnuchin did not mention the prospect of future deals. Trump, who has touted the trade agreement with China as one of his top achievements, will face reelection in November.


cnbc--2020-05-11--US commitment to Gulf allies' security 'not at all changed' despite Patriot systems drawdown, Iran e

US commitment to Gulf allies' security 'not at all changed' despite Patriot systems drawdown, Iran envoy says

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates — Washington 's commitment to the security of its Gulf allies is unchanged despite what appears to be a shift in force posture in the region , U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook told CNBC .
`` Our mission is not at all changed .
We 're standing with our partners and our allies in the region .
We 're doing everything we can to protect American interests , '' Hook told CNBC 's Hadley Gamble in an exclusive interview Friday .
The comments come on the back of news that the Pentagon is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arabia along with a number of military personnel , deployed last year in the wake of attacks in the region that Riyadh and Washington blame on Iran .
The move is being seen as a scaling down of last year 's large military build-up designed to deter Iran .
Hook disputed the suggestion that this meant the U.S. no longer viewed its longtime adversary Iran as a threat .
`` No , it does n't mean that Iran is no longer a threat , '' Hook said .
`` Our troop levels go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the mission set is the same .
Our mission is not at all changed .
We 're standing with our partners and our allies in the region .
We 're doing everything we can to protect American interests . ''
Amid Iran 's economic crisis — the worst in the Islamic Republic 's 41-year history — and the coronavirus outbreak that 's made it the regional epicenter of the disease , many U.S. officials believe the regime is , for now , on the back foot .
Hook emphasized what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in restoring `` a credible military deterrent to act in self-defense , which is something that had been lost , '' noting the January killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani .
`` Deterrence is something which is easy to lose , '' he said .
`` But maintaining it is ... a policy you 'd have to implement every day , and we 're going to continue working with the Saudis , the Emiratis , all of our partners in the region . ''
The Trump administration has sent some 14,000 additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of last year in response to dramatically heightened tensions with Iran .
The U.S. accuses Iran of carrying out multiple sabotage attacks on foreign tankers in Gulf waters last year and of precision strikes on Saudi Aramco oil facilities in September , attacks the government in Tehran denies .
Last year also saw a buildup of U.S. Navy vessels and patrols in and around the Strait of Hormuz , the vital conduit for 30 % of the world 's seaborne oil .
Some of the president 's supporters have criticized the amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend Saudi Arabia .
That criticism has grown louder amid a crisis in oil markets that saw Saudi Arabia temporarily slash its oil prices as demand for the commodity was crushed by the coronavirus — a move that dealt a severe blow to the U.S. shale industry .
Asked whether U.S. taxpayers would continue to accept the cost burden of defending Gulf allies , particularly amid the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression , Hook emphasized the administration 's efforts toward burden-sharing .
`` What the president has tried to do is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomat said .
`` The president has demanded more from our partners and allies so that America does n't have to do the lion 's share of the work .
And we 've been very successful . ''
Hook pointed to the International Maritime Security Construct , a consortium of countries led by the U.S. and formed last year to monitor regional waters in the Gulf and ensure freedom of navigation .
`` We 've got a coalition together , which we think has done a good job of disrupting and deterring Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of initiatives in the region that we 're going to continue to work on . ''
Force posture 'goes up and down' Hook also stressed the administration 's determination to renew a U.N. arms embargo on Iran set to expire in October .
Iran last month launched its first-ever military satellite into space , and while the State Department has not confirmed whether it was in operation , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the launch .
Friday 's discussion with Hook coincided with the two-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump 's `` maximum pressure '' campaign against Iran .
Given the escalation in attacks and force posturing since then , many criticize it as only having emboldened Iran to act out more aggressively .
Hook denies that assertion , maintaining that support for allies and deterrence against Tehran are at all-time highs — despite the removal of the Patriot systems and a reported troop reduction .
`` Troop levels and our force posture sort of goes up and down as the circumstances warrant , '' Hook said .
`` But we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American diplomats , American troops , and also to supporting our partners and allies in the region .
Over the last almost year , you 've seen us move around troops and also equipment around the region .
But the mission set does n't change . ''
Several rocket strikes by Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have targeted U.S. forces in Iraq since the January killing of Soleimani , and in April , the U.S. Navy accused Iran 's Revolutionary Guard of conducting `` harassing '' approaches of its ships with 11 Iranian navy gunboats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days later on Twitter , writing : `` I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea . ''

watch now
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Washington's commitment to the security of its Gulf allies is unchanged despite what appears to be a shift in force posture in the region, U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook told CNBC. "Our mission is not at all changed. We're standing with our partners and our allies in the region. We're doing everything we can to protect American interests," Hook told CNBC's Hadley Gamble in an exclusive interview Friday. The comments come on the back of news that the Pentagon is removing two Patriot anti-missile batteries from Saudi Arabia along with a number of military personnel, deployed last year in the wake of attacks in the region that Riyadh and Washington blame on Iran. The move is being seen as a scaling down of last year's large military build-up designed to deter Iran. Hook disputed the suggestion that this meant the U.S. no longer viewed its longtime adversary Iran as a threat. "No, it doesn't mean that Iran is no longer a threat," Hook said. "Our troop levels go up and down depending on the circumstances, but the mission set is the same. Our mission is not at all changed. We're standing with our partners and our allies in the region. We're doing everything we can to protect American interests."
A first military satellite named Noor is launched into orbit by Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, in Semnan, Iran April 22, 2020. WANA | Sepah News via Reuters
Amid Iran's economic crisis — the worst in the Islamic Republic's 41-year history — and the coronavirus outbreak that's made it the regional epicenter of the disease, many U.S. officials believe the regime is, for now, on the back foot. Hook emphasized what he saw as President Donald Trump's role in restoring "a credible military deterrent to act in self-defense, which is something that had been lost," noting the January killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani. "Deterrence is something which is easy to lose," he said. "But maintaining it is ... a policy you'd have to implement every day, and we're going to continue working with the Saudis, the Emiratis, all of our partners in the region." The Trump administration has sent some 14,000 additional troops to the Gulf region since May of last year in response to dramatically heightened tensions with Iran. The U.S. accuses Iran of carrying out multiple sabotage attacks on foreign tankers in Gulf waters last year and of precision strikes on Saudi Aramco oil facilities in September, attacks the government in Tehran denies. Last year also saw a buildup of U.S. Navy vessels and patrols in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the vital conduit for 30% of the world's seaborne oil.
'Increase the burden-sharing' of defending Gulf allies
Some of the president's supporters have criticized the amount of U.S. manpower and taxpayer money sent to defend Saudi Arabia. That criticism has grown louder amid a crisis in oil markets that saw Saudi Arabia temporarily slash its oil prices as demand for the commodity was crushed by the coronavirus — a move that dealt a severe blow to the U.S. shale industry. Asked whether U.S. taxpayers would continue to accept the cost burden of defending Gulf allies, particularly amid the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, Hook emphasized the administration's efforts toward burden-sharing.
watch now
"What the president has tried to do is to increase the burden-sharing," the diplomat said. "The president has demanded more from our partners and allies so that America doesn't have to do the lion's share of the work. And we've been very successful." Hook pointed to the International Maritime Security Construct, a consortium of countries led by the U.S. and formed last year to monitor regional waters in the Gulf and ensure freedom of navigation. "We've got a coalition together, which we think has done a good job of disrupting and deterring Iranian maritime aggression. We have a number of initiatives in the region that we're going to continue to work on."
Force posture 'goes up and down'
Hook also stressed the administration's determination to renew a U.N. arms embargo on Iran set to expire in October. Iran last month launched its first-ever military satellite into space, and while the State Department has not confirmed whether it was in operation, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the launch. Friday's discussion with Hook coincided with the two-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal and the start of Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran. Given the escalation in attacks and force posturing since then, many criticize it as only having emboldened Iran to act out more aggressively. Hook denies that assertion, maintaining that support for allies and deterrence against Tehran are at all-time highs — despite the removal of the Patriot systems and a reported troop reduction.
Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy vessels conducted unsafe and unprofessional actions against U.S. military ships by crossing the ships' bows and sterns at close range while operating in international waters of the North Arabian Gulf.


cnbc--2020-05-11--Federal watchdog finds top vaccine doctor should be reinstated, lawyers say

Rick Bright , deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response for Health and Human Services ( HHS ) , listens during a House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing in Washington , D.C. , March 8 , 2018 .
A government watchdog has found that there is evidence that federal scientist Rick Bright was ousted as head of a health agency for pushing back against a controversial coronavirus drug treatment embraced by President Donald Trump , Bright 's lawyers said Friday .
The watchdog , the Office of Special Counsel , will ask the Health and Human Services Department to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's lawyers said .
Bright was booted last month as head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority , a unit of HHS , after what he said was his resistance to embracing expansion of the use of hydroxychloroquine , the anti-malarial drug touted by Trump .
Bright has claimed in a whistleblower complaint filed this week to the Office of Special Counsel that he was transferred to a job in the National Institutes of Health `` without warning or explanation '' over his refusal to increase access to the drug .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prosecutorial agency , which , among other things , investigates alleged violations of the federal Whistleblower Protection Act .
Bright 's attorneys , Debra Katz and Lisa Banks , in a statement said that on Thursday afternoon they `` were notified by the Office of Special Counsel ... that it had determined there were 'reasonable grounds ' to believe that Dr .
Bright had been subjected to a prohibited personnel practice – i.e.
, that there was sufficient evidence to believe that his involuntary removal as '' BARDA director `` was retaliatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in light of this determination , it would contact the Department of Health and Human Services ... to request that it stay Dr .
Bright 's removal as Director of BARDA for 45 days to allow OSC sufficient time to complete its investigation of Bright 's allegations , '' the lawyers said .
A spokesman for the Office of Special Counsel declined to comment .
`` OSC can not comment on or confirm the status of open investigations , '' the spokesman said .
Caitlin Oakley , a spokeswoman for HHS , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is currently under review . ''
`` However , HHS strongly disagrees with the allegations and characterizations in the complaint from Dr .
Bright , '' Oakley added .
Katz and Banks said they `` strongly '' urge HHS Secretary Alex Azar `` to agree to this request '' to stay Bright 's transfer .
`` Dr .
Bright should not be denied the right to have his complaint investigated fully and fairly before he is formally transferred to NIH — a move that will harm not only him , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` This country is in an unprecedented health crisis and needs the expertise of Dr .
Bright to lead the nation 's efforts to combat COVID-19 , '' the attorneys said .
`` We hope the Secretary will grant the Special Counsel 's request and allow Dr .
Bright , one of nation 's leading vaccine scientists , to return to his position leading BARDA and serving his country . ''
Trump , when asked about the finding on Friday , said , `` I do n't know .
To me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't know who he is . ''
`` But to me , he 's a disgruntled employee .
And if people are that unhappy they should n't work , '' Trump said .
`` If you 're unhappy with a company you should n't work there , go out and get something else , but to me he 's a disgruntled guy , and I had n't heard great things about him . ''

Rick Bright, deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response for Health and Human Services (HHS), listens during a House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., March 8, 2018.
A government watchdog has found that there is evidence that federal scientist Rick Bright was ousted as head of a health agency for pushing back against a controversial coronavirus drug treatment embraced by President Donald Trump, Bright's lawyers said Friday.
The watchdog, the Office of Special Counsel, will ask the Health and Human Services Department to stay his removal from the job, Bright's lawyers said.
Bright was booted last month as head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, a unit of HHS, after what he said was his resistance to embracing expansion of the use of hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug touted by Trump.
Bright has claimed in a whistleblower complaint filed this week to the Office of Special Counsel that he was transferred to a job in the National Institutes of Health "without warning or explanation" over his refusal to increase access to the drug.
The OSC is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency, which, among other things, investigates alleged violations of the federal Whistleblower Protection Act.
Bright's attorneys, Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, in a statement said that on Thursday afternoon they "were notified by the Office of Special Counsel ... that it had determined there were 'reasonable grounds' to believe that Dr. Bright had been subjected to a prohibited personnel practice – i.e., that there was sufficient evidence to believe that his involuntary removal as" BARDA director "was retaliatory."
"OSC further advised that in light of this determination, it would contact the Department of Health and Human Services ... to request that it stay Dr. Bright's removal as Director of BARDA for 45 days to allow OSC sufficient time to complete its investigation of Bright's allegations," the lawyers said.
A spokesman for the Office of Special Counsel declined to comment. "OSC cannot comment on or confirm the status of open investigations," the spokesman said.
Caitlin Oakley, a spokeswoman for HHS, said, "This is a personnel matter that is currently under review."
"However, HHS strongly disagrees with the allegations and characterizations in the complaint from Dr. Bright," Oakley added.
Katz and Banks said they "strongly" urge HHS Secretary Alex Azar "to agree to this request" to stay Bright's transfer.
"Dr. Bright should not be denied the right to have his complaint investigated fully and fairly before he is formally transferred to NIH — a move that will harm not only him, but the country as well," the lawyers said.
"This country is in an unprecedented health crisis and needs the expertise of Dr. Bright to lead the nation's efforts to combat COVID-19," the attorneys said. "We hope the Secretary will grant the Special Counsel's request and allow Dr. Bright, one of nation's leading vaccine scientists, to return to his position leading BARDA and serving his country."
Trump, when asked about the finding on Friday, said, "I don't know. To me he looks like a disgruntled employee. I don't know who he is."
"But to me, he's a disgruntled employee. And if people are that unhappy they shouldn't work," Trump said.
"If you're unhappy with a company you shouldn't work there, go out and get something else, but to me he's a disgruntled guy, and I hadn't heard great things about him."


cnbc--2020-05-11--Justice Department drops criminal case against former Trump aide Michael Flynn

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

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


cnbc--2020-05-12--Trump abruptly ends press conference after reporters challenge him on coronavirus testing

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump stormed out of a coronavirus press conference at the White House on Monday after becoming angry with two reporters , one who asked a question about testing , and another who did n't get to ask a question at all .
The event in the Rose Garden was meant to give the president a chance to boast about the recent increases in testing , and Trump spoke and answered questions for nearly an hour .
The briefing got off to a bumpy start when the president misstated the dollar amount that would be allocated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are sending $ 1 billion to American states , territories and tribes , '' Trump announced , in what officials had told reporters would be a high-point of the event .
But those same officials said the amount would be $ 11 billion , not $ 1 billion .
Moreover , the $ 11 billion was appropriated in the CARES Act passed by Congress and signed into law in April , calling into question why it was being held up almost three weeks later as a major success point .
A White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the amount is in fact , $ 11 billion .
For the remainder of his remarks , the president ran through the numbers of personal protective equipment , ventilators and other essential gear that the U.S. has produced and distributed to fight the virus .
But it was in the question and answer session that tempers erupted .
At around 5:15 p.m. , CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang asked Trump , `` You have said many times that the U.S. is doing far better than any other country when it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , `` Yes . ''

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump stormed out of a coronavirus press conference at the White House on Monday after becoming angry with two reporters, one who asked a question about testing, and another who didn't get to ask a question at all.
The event in the Rose Garden was meant to give the president a chance to boast about the recent increases in testing, and Trump spoke and answered questions for nearly an hour.
The briefing got off to a bumpy start when the president misstated the dollar amount that would be allocated to states to help with testing. "We are sending $1 billion to American states, territories and tribes," Trump announced, in what officials had told reporters would be a high-point of the event.
But those same officials said the amount would be $11 billion, not $1 billion. Moreover, the $11 billion was appropriated in the CARES Act passed by Congress and signed into law in April, calling into question why it was being held up almost three weeks later as a major success point.
A White House spokesman later confirmed to CNBC that the amount is in fact, $11 billion.
For the remainder of his remarks, the president ran through the numbers of personal protective equipment, ventilators and other essential gear that the U.S. has produced and distributed to fight the virus.
But it was in the question and answer session that tempers erupted.
At around 5:15 p.m., CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang asked Trump, "You have said many times that the U.S. is doing far better than any other country when it comes to testing," to which Trump said, "Yes."


cnbc--2020-05-12--Trump says he would 'certainly consider' mandating states to test all nursing home residents

President Donald Trump said Monday that he would `` certainly consider '' mandating governors to test all nursing home residents for the coronavirus .
`` I will mandate it if you like , '' Trump told a reporter who asked why the White House had not issued such an order .
Nursing homes have in some states become hotbeds for the spread of the disease .
In New York , the state hardest hit by the pandemic , more than 5,300 people living in nursing homes have died from the virus , according to the Associated Press .
In nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 26,000 people have died of the virus , the AP reported .
Those deaths count for more than one-quarter of all coronavirus deaths in the U.S. so far , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
A federal mandate to test nursing home residents would mark the Trump administration 's first national coronavirus order .
Experts have noted that trying to impose coronavirus-related restrictions at a national level may be legally murky .
The White House declined to provide additional comment on the president 's remarks .
`` I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing home residents tested , Trump said at a White House press conference meant to highlight nationwide Covid-19 testing efforts .
`` I think , frankly , some of the governors were very lax with respect to nursing homes , '' Trump said .
`` It was obvious right from the beginning . ''

President Donald Trump said Monday that he would "certainly consider" mandating governors to test all nursing home residents for the coronavirus.
"I will mandate it if you like," Trump told a reporter who asked why the White House had not issued such an order.
Nursing homes have in some states become hotbeds for the spread of the disease.
In New York, the state hardest hit by the pandemic, more than 5,300 people living in nursing homes have died from the virus, according to the Associated Press. In nursing homes and long-term care facilities nationwide, more than 26,000 people have died of the virus, the AP reported.
Those deaths count for more than one-quarter of all coronavirus deaths in the U.S. so far, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
A federal mandate to test nursing home residents would mark the Trump administration's first national coronavirus order. Experts have noted that trying to impose coronavirus-related restrictions at a national level may be legally murky. The White House declined to provide additional comment on the president's remarks.
"I think it's important" to have all nursing home residents tested, Trump said at a White House press conference meant to highlight nationwide Covid-19 testing efforts.
"I think, frankly, some of the governors were very lax with respect to nursing homes," Trump said. "It was obvious right from the beginning."


cnbc--2020-05-12--White House issues memo requiring staff to wear masks in West Wing

White House advisor Jared Kushner ( C ) and others wear face masks while attending a press briefing about coronavirus testing in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 11 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
The White House is requiring all staffers to wear masks or facial coverings when entering the West Wing of the building , NBC News reported Monday , citing two sources familiar with the matter .
The new precaution comes days after two staffers close to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence tested positive for the coronavirus .
The directive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laid out in a memo to staffers Monday afternoon , NBC reported .
The White House said it will make masks available for employees who need them , according to NBC .
The memo also asked staff members to avoid visiting the West Wing , where the Oval Office is located , unless it is necessary , the sources told NBC .
Trump and Pence have both resisted wearing masks in public or at the White House .
Trump did not wear a mask last week while touring a Honeywell factory in Phoenix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
A White House official said at the time that Honeywell had told the White House that Trump and other visitors did not need to wear masks .
When asked Friday at a roundtable event with Republican members of Congress why White House staffers were not seen wearing masks by the reporters stationed at the building , Trump said , `` They are ... the people that are serving me are . ''
Pence was criticized for refusing to wear a mask during an April 28 visit to the Mayo Clinic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two days later , during a visit to a General Motors plant in Indiana .

White House advisor Jared Kushner (C) and others wear face masks while attending a press briefing about coronavirus testing in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 11, 2020 in Washington, DC.
The White House is requiring all staffers to wear masks or facial coverings when entering the West Wing of the building, NBC News reported Monday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
The new precaution comes days after two staffers close to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence tested positive for the coronavirus.
The directive from the White House management office was laid out in a memo to staffers Monday afternoon, NBC reported. The White House said it will make masks available for employees who need them, according to NBC.
The memo also asked staff members to avoid visiting the West Wing, where the Oval Office is located, unless it is necessary, the sources told NBC.
Trump and Pence have both resisted wearing masks in public or at the White House. Trump did not wear a mask last week while touring a Honeywell factory in Phoenix, Arizona, that was producing N95 masks. A White House official said at the time that Honeywell had told the White House that Trump and other visitors did not need to wear masks.
When asked Friday at a roundtable event with Republican members of Congress why White House staffers were not seen wearing masks by the reporters stationed at the building, Trump said, "They are ... the people that are serving me are."
Pence was criticized for refusing to wear a mask during an April 28 visit to the Mayo Clinic. The vice president did wear a mask two days later, during a visit to a General Motors plant in Indiana.


cnbc--2020-05-12--Trump may let workers take Social Security benefits early in exchange for reduced payments later. Re

Trump may let workers take Social Security benefits early in exchange for reduced payments later. Retirement advocate calls it 'harebrained idea'

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering another way to get more money to struggling Americans by letting them take an advance on their Social Security benefits .
Many Americans are eager for more financial help from the effects of the coronavirus as the government wraps up sending millions of $ 1,200 checks to individuals who qualify .
However , some Republican lawmakers are digging in their heels at the thought of sending more money , due to the high price tag .
The Trump administration is said to be considering prepaying Social Security retirement benefits to workers before they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Generally , workers have to be at least 62 and have worked and paid into the system for at least 10 years in order to collect benefits .
More from Personal Finance : Consumer advocate Richard Cordray fears rise of 'vehement ' debt collectors 130 million stimulus checks have gone out .
Here 's which states got the most money It pays to stay unemployed .
That might be a good thing One proposal the White House is reportedly considering calls for letting Americans take up to $ 5,000 from Social Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the future .
The $ 5,000 would be structured as a loan with a government-set interest rate that would reimburse the Social Security trust fund with interest .
Individuals who opt into the program would pay that money back when they start collecting Social Security benefits .
Their first checks would go toward repaying the loan , for a period of up to three months .
After that , they would receive normal benefits .
The plan was developed by Andrew Biggs of the American Enterprise Institute and Joshua Rauh of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security advocates fear this could be the beginning of efforts to curtail the program .
Currently , about 45 million retired workers depend on Social Security , with average monthly benefits totaling $ 1,503 .
In a statement , Richard Fiesta , executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans , slammed the proposal .
`` Asking working Americans to give up even one dime of their future Social Security benefits to survive today 's economic crisis is a harebrained idea that would hurt families for decades to come , '' Fiesta said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the idea of borrowing against Social Security benefits has been proposed , said Richard Johnson , director of the program on retirement policy at the Urban Institute , a non-partisan think tank .
One proposal would have allowed people to borrow against their future benefits in order to obtain paid parental leave .
But those ideas do n't coincide with the fundamental reason Social Security was created in the first place — to provide protection against disability and financial security in old age , Johnson said .
`` These proposals kind of fundamentally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security , '' Johnson said .
Joe Elsasser , president of Covisum , a Social Security software company , said he is skeptical of the idea .
`` I am not a fan , primarily because I think it is the most vulnerable people that would be impacted , '' Elsasser said .
That would include those who need Social Security the most for longevity protection and old age insurance , he said .
And while such a plan could be structured so it was actuarially fair , and therefore not hurt Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be harmful to Americans ' bottom lines .
`` People are always surprised at how much it costs in 40 years ' down the road 's money to get $ 5,000 today , '' Elsasser said .

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Republican members of Congress in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 8, 2020. Tom Brenner | Reuters
President Donald Trump is reportedly considering another way to get more money to struggling Americans by letting them take an advance on their Social Security benefits. Many Americans are eager for more financial help from the effects of the coronavirus as the government wraps up sending millions of $1,200 checks to individuals who qualify. However, some Republican lawmakers are digging in their heels at the thought of sending more money, due to the high price tag.
watch now
The Trump administration is said to be considering prepaying Social Security retirement benefits to workers before they are eligible, according to The Washington Post. Generally, workers have to be at least 62 and have worked and paid into the system for at least 10 years in order to collect benefits. More from Personal Finance:
Consumer advocate Richard Cordray fears rise of 'vehement' debt collectors
130 million stimulus checks have gone out. Here's which states got the most money
It pays to stay unemployed. That might be a good thing One proposal the White House is reportedly considering calls for letting Americans take up to $5,000 from Social Security now in exchange for delaying their benefits in the future. The $5,000 would be structured as a loan with a government-set interest rate that would reimburse the Social Security trust fund with interest. Individuals who opt into the program would pay that money back when they start collecting Social Security benefits. Their first checks would go toward repaying the loan, for a period of up to three months. After that, they would receive normal benefits. The plan was developed by Andrew Biggs of the American Enterprise Institute and Joshua Rauh of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
watch now
Social Security advocates fear this could be the beginning of efforts to curtail the program. Currently, about 45 million retired workers depend on Social Security, with average monthly benefits totaling $1,503. In a statement, Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, slammed the proposal. "Asking working Americans to give up even one dime of their future Social Security benefits to survive today's economic crisis is a harebrained idea that would hurt families for decades to come," Fiesta said. This isn't the first time the idea of borrowing against Social Security benefits has been proposed, said Richard Johnson, director of the program on retirement policy at the Urban Institute, a non-partisan think tank. One proposal would have allowed people to borrow against their future benefits in order to obtain paid parental leave. But those ideas don't coincide with the fundamental reason Social Security was created in the first place — to provide protection against disability and financial security in old age, Johnson said. "These proposals kind of fundamentally change the way we think about Social Security," Johnson said. Joe Elsasser, president of Covisum, a Social Security software company, said he is skeptical of the idea. "I am not a fan, primarily because I think it is the most vulnerable people that would be impacted," Elsasser said. That would include those who need Social Security the most for longevity protection and old age insurance, he said. And while such a plan could be structured so it was actuarially fair, and therefore not hurt Social Security's funding, it could still be harmful to Americans' bottom lines. "People are always surprised at how much it costs in 40 years' down the road's money to get $5,000 today," Elsasser said. The White House declined to comment.


cnbc--2020-05-12--Supreme Court justices appear divided in arguments over Trump tax records

Chief Justice of the US John Roberts and Patrick Strawbridge , an attorney for US President Donald Trump , speak via an audio feed of Supreme Court oral arguments in Trump v. Mazars and Trump v. Deutche Bank AG , dealing with the subpoenas from the US Congress to obtain Trump 's financial records , as the Court holds arguments via teleconference , due to COVID-19 , known as coronavirus , as seen on a laptop in Washington , DC , May 12 , 2020 .
The Supreme Court appeared divided on Tuesday during arguments in a set of cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his tax records from state and congressional investigators .
The justices considered subpoenas from Democratic-led congressional committees and Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. to Trump 's banks and accounting firm for the president 's personal and business financial records .
Lower courts in Washington and New York have upheld the subpoenas .
Attorneys for the president faced skepticism from both liberals and conservatives over whether allowing Trump to keep his tax records shielded would unconstitutionally limit the power of Congress or put the president above the law .
The president 's personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Vance case , said that Trump can not be criminally charged by a state prosecutor while in office , much less subjected to a grand jury subpoena .
`` The president is n't above the law , '' Justice Elena Kagan told him .
Several of the court 's conservatives , though , expressed concern that rulings against Trump could open up the presidency to a wave of burdensome investigations and requests for documents .
Decisions are expected over the summer , in the midst of the bruising election battle between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump is the first major party candidate not to release his tax returns in four decades .
The nine-member court has a 5-4 conservative majority .
The court 's four Democratic appointees appeared skeptical of the president 's arguments .
The votes of Chief Justice John Roberts , a George W. Bush appointee , and Trump 's two appointees , Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , could be key .
Arguments are being conducted over the phone and streamed live to the public as a result of health precautions taken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the first argument of the day , over the congressional subpoenas , Roberts and Gorsuch joined the court 's four Democratic appointees in pressing Trump 's personal attorney Patrick Strawbridge and a Justice Department lawyer about their arguments for allowing Trump to keep the documents from investigators .
The cases involve subpoenas for Trump 's financial records issued by Democratic-led congressional committees to the president 's accounting firm , Mazars USA , and banks , Deutsche Bank and Capital One .
The committees have said they are pursuing investigations into potential money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and whether Trump has properly disclosed his assets .
Attorneys for Trump have asked the Supreme Court to reject the subpoenas on the basis that House Democrats lack a legitimate reason for investigating him .
`` The committees have not even tried to show any critical legislative need for the documents these subpoenas seek , '' Strawbridge told the justices in his opening statement .
But Gorsuch and Roberts pressed Strawbridge , as well as DOJ attorney Jeffrey Wall , on why the court should not defer to Congress on whether it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Why should we not defer to the House 's views about its own legislative purposes ? ''
Gorsuch pointedly asked Strawbridge at one point .
`` Why is this subpoena not supported by a substantial legislative need ? ''
Roberts skeptically asked Wall whether the court should `` be probing the mental processes of the legislators . ''
`` Should members of House committees be subject to cross examination on why you were really seeking the documents ? ''
Roberts asked .
Douglas Letter , an attorney for the House of Representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the justices over whether a loss for Trump could enable a flood of partisan investigations that could burden the presidency .
`` How can we both protect the House 's interest in obtaining information it needs to legislate , but also protect the presidency ? ''
Kavanaugh , Trump 's second appointee , asked at one point .
Letter emphasized that the subpoenas were not directed at the president , but instead to third parties .
`` There 's no way that these can interfere with the president , because he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to them , Letter said .
In its second argument of the day , the Supreme Court heard a case involving state prosecutors , rather than Congress .
Vance is investigating potential violations of state law related to hush-money payments made to two women who have alleged affairs with the president .
A federal appeals court in New York upheld the subpoenas , but Trump 's attorneys argued that he is immune from criminal investigation while in office .
`` No county district attorney in the nation 's history has issued criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States and for good reason , '' Sekulow said .
`` The Constitution does not allow it . ''
Roberts suggested in the case that the burden on state and local prosecutors seeking the president 's records should be higher than the one imposed on Congress .
`` Should n't there be a higher standard than in the separation of powers dispute ? ''
Roberts asked .
The consolidated congressional cases are Trump v. Mazars , No .
19-715 and Trump v. Deutsche Bank , No .
19-760 .
The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
19-635 .

Chief Justice of the US John Roberts and Patrick Strawbridge, an attorney for US President Donald Trump, speak via an audio feed of Supreme Court oral arguments in Trump v. Mazars and Trump v. Deutche Bank AG, dealing with the subpoenas from the US Congress to obtain Trump's financial records, as the Court holds arguments via teleconference, due to COVID-19, known as coronavirus, as seen on a laptop in Washington, DC, May 12, 2020.
The Supreme Court appeared divided on Tuesday during arguments in a set of cases over whether President Donald Trump can shield his tax records from state and congressional investigators.
The justices considered subpoenas from Democratic-led congressional committees and Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. to Trump's banks and accounting firm for the president's personal and business financial records. Lower courts in Washington and New York have upheld the subpoenas.
Attorneys for the president faced skepticism from both liberals and conservatives over whether allowing Trump to keep his tax records shielded would unconstitutionally limit the power of Congress or put the president above the law.
The president's personal lawyer, Jay Sekulow, who argued in the Vance case, said that Trump cannot be criminally charged by a state prosecutor while in office, much less subjected to a grand jury subpoena.
"The president isn't above the law," Justice Elena Kagan told him.
Several of the court's conservatives, though, expressed concern that rulings against Trump could open up the presidency to a wave of burdensome investigations and requests for documents.
Decisions are expected over the summer, in the midst of the bruising election battle between Trump and apparent Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Trump is the first major party candidate not to release his tax returns in four decades.
The nine-member court has a 5-4 conservative majority. The court's four Democratic appointees appeared skeptical of the president's arguments. The votes of Chief Justice John Roberts, a George W. Bush appointee, and Trump's two appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, could be key.
Arguments are being conducted over the phone and streamed live to the public as a result of health precautions taken to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
In the first argument of the day, over the congressional subpoenas, Roberts and Gorsuch joined the court's four Democratic appointees in pressing Trump's personal attorney Patrick Strawbridge and a Justice Department lawyer about their arguments for allowing Trump to keep the documents from investigators.
The cases involve subpoenas for Trump's financial records issued by Democratic-led congressional committees to the president's accounting firm, Mazars USA, and banks, Deutsche Bank and Capital One.
The committees have said they are pursuing investigations into potential money laundering, foreign interference in U.S. politics and whether Trump has properly disclosed his assets. Attorneys for Trump have asked the Supreme Court to reject the subpoenas on the basis that House Democrats lack a legitimate reason for investigating him.
"The committees have not even tried to show any critical legislative need for the documents these subpoenas seek," Strawbridge told the justices in his opening statement.
But Gorsuch and Roberts pressed Strawbridge, as well as DOJ attorney Jeffrey Wall, on why the court should not defer to Congress on whether it has a valid reason for its subpoenas.
"Why should we not defer to the House's views about its own legislative purposes?" Gorsuch pointedly asked Strawbridge at one point. "Why is this subpoena not supported by a substantial legislative need?"
Roberts skeptically asked Wall whether the court should "be probing the mental processes of the legislators."
"Should members of House committees be subject to cross examination on why you were really seeking the documents?" Roberts asked.
Douglas Letter, an attorney for the House of Representatives, also faced skeptical questions from some of the justices over whether a loss for Trump could enable a flood of partisan investigations that could burden the presidency.
"How can we both protect the House's interest in obtaining information it needs to legislate, but also protect the presidency?" Kavanaugh, Trump's second appointee, asked at one point.
Letter emphasized that the subpoenas were not directed at the president, but instead to third parties.
"There's no way that these can interfere with the president, because he doesn't have to do anything" to respond to them, Letter said.
In its second argument of the day, the Supreme Court heard a case involving state prosecutors, rather than Congress.
Vance is investigating potential violations of state law related to hush-money payments made to two women who have alleged affairs with the president.
A federal appeals court in New York upheld the subpoenas, but Trump's attorneys argued that he is immune from criminal investigation while in office.
"No county district attorney in the nation's history has issued criminal process against the sitting president of the United States and for good reason," Sekulow said. "The Constitution does not allow it."
Roberts suggested in the case that the burden on state and local prosecutors seeking the president's records should be higher than the one imposed on Congress.
"Shouldn't there be a higher standard than in the separation of powers dispute?" Roberts asked.
The consolidated congressional cases are Trump v. Mazars, No. 19-715 and Trump v. Deutsche Bank, No. 19-760. The New York case is Trump v. Vance, No. 19-635.


cnbc--2020-05-12--House Democrats unveil new $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill

House Democrats released their latest bill Tuesday designed to blunt the coronavirus pandemic 's devastating effects on the economy and health-care system .
Party leaders expect to vote on the more-than-1,800-page package on Friday , along with a plan to allow proxy voting on legislation during the crisis .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday said Congress had a `` momentous opportunity '' to meet people 's needs , contending that `` not acting is the most expensive course '' as the GOP grows weary of taxpayer spending .
It includes , according to a summary : • Nearly $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local governments • A second round of direct payments of $ 1,200 per person , and up to $ 6,000 for a household • About $ 200 billion for hazard pay for essential workers who face heightened health risks during the crisis • $ 75 billion for coronavirus testing and contact tracing — a key effort to restart businesses • An extension of the $ 600 per week federal unemployment insurance benefit through January ( the provision approved in March is set to expire after July ) • Subsidies and a special Affordable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose their employer-sponsored health coverage • More money for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , including a 15 % increase in the maximum benefit • Measures designed to buoy small businesses and help them keep employees on payroll , such as $ 10 billion in emergency disaster assistance grants and a strengthened employee retention tax credit • Money for election safety during the pandemic and provisions to make voting by mail easier • Relief for the U.S .
Postal Service Democrats say rising Covid-19 infection rates and an unemployment rate unseen since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprecedented emergency government response .
The new bill is set to cost more than $ 3 trillion , which easily tops the $ 2 trillion cost of the late March stimulus package — the biggest emergency spending measure in U.S. history .
If it passes the House , the Democratic-written plan will face roadblocks in the Senate .
It is unclear when both Democrats and Republicans would sign off on a proposal for more relief , as the GOP downplays the need to spend more federal money on a rescue bill now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all are with the administration , if we reach a decision along with the administration to move to another phase , that 'll be the time to interact with the Democrats , '' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Tuesday .
He continued : `` But what you 've seen in the House is not something designed to deal with reality , but designed to deal with aspirations . ''
In a tweeted statement , House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called the bill a `` liberal wishlist '' and `` waste of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue with Pelosi 's priority of passing relief for state and local governments , which could soon have to scale back payrolls and programs as they spend more money and take in less revenue during the pandemic .
Democrats , on the other hand , have opposed the GOP goal of passing liability protections for businesses as they restart in the shadow of the outbreak .
The U.S. now has more than 1.3 million Covid-19 cases , and the disease has led to more than 80,000 American deaths , according to data compiled @ @ @ @ @

House Democrats released their latest bill Tuesday designed to blunt the coronavirus pandemic's devastating effects on the economy and health-care system.
Party leaders expect to vote on the more-than-1,800-page package on Friday, along with a plan to allow proxy voting on legislation during the crisis. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday said Congress had a "momentous opportunity" to meet people's needs, contending that "not acting is the most expensive course" as the GOP grows weary of taxpayer spending.
It includes, according to a summary:
Nearly $1 trillion in relief for state and local governments
A second round of direct payments of $1,200 per person, and up to $6,000 for a household
About $200 billion for hazard pay for essential workers who face heightened health risks during the crisis
$75 billion for coronavirus testing and contact tracing — a key effort to restart businesses
An extension of the $600 per week federal unemployment insurance benefit through January (the provision approved in March is set to expire after July)
$175 billion in rent, mortgage and utility assistance
Subsidies and a special Affordable Care Act enrollment period to people who lose their employer-sponsored health coverage
More money for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including a 15% increase in the maximum benefit
Measures designed to buoy small businesses and help them keep employees on payroll, such as $10 billion in emergency disaster assistance grants and a strengthened employee retention tax credit
Money for election safety during the pandemic and provisions to make voting by mail easier
Relief for the U.S. Postal Service
Democrats say rising Covid-19 infection rates and an unemployment rate unseen since the Great Depression require adding to an already unprecedented emergency government response. The new bill is set to cost more than $3 trillion, which easily tops the $2 trillion cost of the late March stimulus package — the biggest emergency spending measure in U.S. history.
If it passes the House, the Democratic-written plan will face roadblocks in the Senate. It is unclear when both Democrats and Republicans would sign off on a proposal for more relief, as the GOP downplays the need to spend more federal money on a rescue bill now.


cnbc--2020-05-12--Democrats propose to keep $600 unemployment checks rolling until 2021

A store stands closed near Wall Street as the coronavirus keeps financial markets and businesses mostly closed on May 08 , 2020 in New York City .
In the massive legislative package House Democrats unveiled on Tuesday to inject more relief into an economy battered by the coronavirus , unemployed Americans would get an extra $ 600 a week through the end of the year .
In the stimulus bill Congress passed in March , many jobless Americans became eligible for that weekly payment on top of their state benefit .
The hope was to roughly replace the average person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't come out to even half of people 's weekly salaries .
However , the extra $ 600 payment is currently slated to stop after July 31 .
Some states are ending it a week earlier , on July 25 .
The virus has destroyed more than 20 million jobs in the U.S. , leaving 15 % of Americans unemployed .
This is breaking news .
Check back for updates .
More from Personal Finance : IRS sets May 13 deadline to submit direct deposit data for stimulus checks 130 million stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which states got the most Families of dead Covid-19 victims may have to give back stimulus checks

In the massive legislative package House Democrats unveiled on Tuesday to inject more relief into an economy battered by the coronavirus, unemployed Americans would get an extra $600 a week through the end of the year.
In the stimulus bill Congress passed in March, many jobless Americans became eligible for that weekly payment on top of their state benefit. The hope was to roughly replace the average person's pre-pandemic earnings. State benefits often don't come out to even half of people's weekly salaries.
However, the extra $600 payment is currently slated to stop after July 31. Some states are ending it a week earlier, on July 25.
The virus has destroyed more than 20 million jobs in the U.S., leaving 15% of Americans unemployed.
This is breaking news. Check back for updates.
More from Personal Finance:
IRS sets May 13 deadline to submit direct deposit data for stimulus checks
130 million stimulus checks have gone out. Here's which states got the most
Families of dead Covid-19 victims may have to give back stimulus checks


cnbc--2020-05-12--George Soros says US should not work closely with China on the coronavirus crisis

`` There are a lot of people who say we should be working very closely with China ( on tackling the crisis ) — but I am not in favor of doing that , '' he said .
`` We must protect our democratic open society .
At the same time , we must find a way to cooperate on fighting climate change and the novel coronavirus .
That wo n't be easy . ''
However , Soros himself was not an advocate of closer relations with Beijing .
In an interview published on Monday by German newspaper Augsburger Allgemeine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world 's two largest economies and President Donald Trump 's blaming of China for the Covid-19 pandemic were complicating potential joint efforts to eradicate the virus .
The U.S. should be wary of working too closely with China in order to protect its own democracy , according to billionaire George Soros .
Soros told Augsburger Allgemeine he sympathized with the Chinese people who he claimed were `` under the domination of a dictator . ''
However , he predicted that the coronavirus crisis was adding pressure to Chinese President Xi Jinping 's hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are deeply angry at the party leadership for hiding the coronavirus for so long , '' Soros said .
`` When Xi abolished term limits and named himself , in essence , president for life , he destroyed the political future of the most important and ambitious men in a very narrow and competitive elite , '' Soros said .
`` It was a big mistake on his part .
So , yes , he is very strong in a way , but at the same time extremely weak , and now perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus was first reported to the World Health Organization in late December after an outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan .
Experts widely believe the virus originated earlier in one of the city 's wildlife markets , known as wet markets .
China has been criticized throughout the Covid-19 crisis for a lack of transparency and mishandling the initial outbreak .
The country has denied any wrongdoing , with Chinese Vice Premier Le Yucheng telling NBC in April that China `` did not cover anything up and did not delay any efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blaming individual countries for the spread of Covid-19 , warning that pointing fingers at nations with a high number of cases could discourage accurate reporting on domestic outbreaks .
Despite facing international criticism , a report from the Economist Intelligence Unit on Thursday claimed the coronavirus crisis could accelerate a shift in global power from the West to the East , tilting the balance of power away from Washington in Beijing 's favor .
A spokesperson for China 's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told CNBC on May 6 that the country had `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a timely , transparent , open , and efficient manner , and actively carried out global anti-epidemic cooperation . ''

"There are a lot of people who say we should be working very closely with China (on tackling the crisis) — but I am not in favor of doing that," he said. "We must protect our democratic open society. At the same time, we must find a way to cooperate on fighting climate change and the novel coronavirus. That won't be easy."
However, Soros himself was not an advocate of closer relations with Beijing.
In an interview published on Monday by German newspaper Augsburger Allgemeine , Soros said ongoing tensions between the world's two largest economies and President Donald Trump's blaming of China for the Covid-19 pandemic were complicating potential joint efforts to eradicate the virus.
The U.S. should be wary of working too closely with China in order to protect its own democracy, according to billionaire George Soros.
Soros told Augsburger Allgemeine he sympathized with the Chinese people who he claimed were "under the domination of a dictator." However, he predicted that the coronavirus crisis was adding pressure to Chinese President Xi Jinping's hold on power.
"Many well-educated Chinese are deeply angry at the party leadership for hiding the coronavirus for so long," Soros said.
"When Xi abolished term limits and named himself, in essence, president for life, he destroyed the political future of the most important and ambitious men in a very narrow and competitive elite," Soros said. "It was a big mistake on his part. So, yes, he is very strong in a way, but at the same time extremely weak, and now perhaps vulnerable."
The new strain of coronavirus was first reported to the World Health Organization in late December after an outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Experts widely believe the virus originated earlier in one of the city's wildlife markets, known as wet markets.
China has been criticized throughout the Covid-19 crisis for a lack of transparency and mishandling the initial outbreak. The country has denied any wrongdoing, with Chinese Vice Premier Le Yucheng telling NBC in April that China "did not cover anything up and did not delay any efforts."
The WHO has cautioned against blaming individual countries for the spread of Covid-19, warning that pointing fingers at nations with a high number of cases could discourage accurate reporting on domestic outbreaks.
Despite facing international criticism, a report from the Economist Intelligence Unit on Thursday claimed the coronavirus crisis could accelerate a shift in global power from the West to the East, tilting the balance of power away from Washington in Beijing's favor.
A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told CNBC on May 6 that the country had "briefed the outbreak to the international community in a timely, transparent, open, and efficient manner, and actively carried out global anti-epidemic cooperation."


cnbc--2020-05-12--House Democrats' stimulus bill rolls back $10,000 SALT cap for 2 years

U.S. Representative , Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) at the ceremonial swearing in of Representative Elect Kweisi Mfume ( D-MD ) .
A new coronavirus relief bill has been proposed — and it will restore a big chunk of the state and local tax deduction for two years .
House Democrats released the text Tuesday for its latest proposed Covid-19 relief measures .
The $ 3 trillion Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act — or HEROES Act — calls for another round of economic stimulus payments to Americans , plus enhancements to the employee retention tax credit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ House weighs pushing tax deadline to September States need revenue .
These taxes could rise How are unemployment benefits taxed ?
Tucked away in the bill is a measure that will reinstate the so-called SALT itemized deduction for 2020 and 2021 .
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act , which went into effect in 2018 , limited the amount of state and local tax deductions filers could claim on their tax returns to $ 10,000 .
This write-off includes income taxes paid at the state and local level , so it hit taxpayers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yorkers who itemized deductions in 2017 and claimed a SALT write-off took an average deduction of $ 23,804 , according to the Tax Policy Center .
The new proposal does n't specify what 's supposed to happen after 2021 .
Under the original language of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act , the SALT cap is supposed to remain in place from 2018 to the end of 2025 , when most of the individual provisions of the tax overhaul are set to expire .
Observers do n't think easing the SALT cap is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a starting point in the negotiation , '' said Ed Zollars , CPA at Thomas Zollars & Lynch in Phoenix .
`` There are some points in here that are drafted to become law and other points you know they wo n't be getting . ''
`` Repealing the SALT cap ?
It 's not too likely they 'll get that , '' he said .
`` But we know they [ Democrats ] want it . ''

U.S. Representative, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) at the ceremonial swearing in of Representative Elect Kweisi Mfume (D-MD).
A new coronavirus relief bill has been proposed — and it will restore a big chunk of the state and local tax deduction for two years.
House Democrats released the text Tuesday for its latest proposed Covid-19 relief measures.
The $3 trillion Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act — or HEROES Act — calls for another round of economic stimulus payments to Americans, plus enhancements to the employee retention tax credit.
More from Smart Tax Planning:
White House weighs pushing tax deadline to September
States need revenue. These taxes could rise
How are unemployment benefits taxed?
Tucked away in the bill is a measure that will reinstate the so-called SALT itemized deduction for 2020 and 2021.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which went into effect in 2018, limited the amount of state and local tax deductions filers could claim on their tax returns to $10,000.
This write-off includes income taxes paid at the state and local level, so it hit taxpayers in high-tax states the hardest.
New Yorkers who itemized deductions in 2017 and claimed a SALT write-off took an average deduction of $23,804, according to the Tax Policy Center.
The new proposal doesn't specify what's supposed to happen after 2021.
Under the original language of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the SALT cap is supposed to remain in place from 2018 to the end of 2025, when most of the individual provisions of the tax overhaul are set to expire.
Observers don't think easing the SALT cap is likely to go anywhere.
"This is a starting point in the negotiation," said Ed Zollars, CPA at Thomas Zollars & Lynch in Phoenix. "There are some points in here that are drafted to become law and other points you know they won't be getting."
"Repealing the SALT cap? It's not too likely they'll get that," he said. "But we know they [Democrats] want it."


cnbc--2020-05-12--Op-Ed: Taking Trump's word on the US Postal Service is key to saving it

The backpedaling might have something to do with the fact that the USPS has been rated America 's favorite federal agency every year Gallup has included it in its survey of voter sentiment on federal institutions .
Or perhaps , not being one for figures , there was someone who explained how important a role USPS plays in rural towns across the country – many of which Trump carried in 2016 and will need to win again in November .
Much like the president 's relationship with the truth , his relationship with the United States Postal Service is complicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said , `` The Postal Service is a joke because they 're handing out packages for Amazon and other Internet companies . ''
Three hours later , perhaps at the urging of his aides , Trump tweeted : `` I will never let our Post Office fail . ''
Confusion about injecting toxins aside , his recent outburst against the U.S .
Postal Service , combined with his party 's refusal to provide USPS much-needed funds in recent COVID-19 relief legislation , is a true disaster .
The U.S .
Postal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across America , particularly for rural communities .
The Republican Party 's inability to understand this vital lifeline does not bode well for our country .
I have given up trying to decipher whether the words coming out of the president 's mouth have any semblance of truth – or even resemble his actual position on an issue .
Four years into Donald Trump 's presidency , we must resign ourselves to the fact that what he says one minute can change – or be denied entirely – the next .
After all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors could look into injecting people with disinfectants to treat coronavirus only to turn around and say he was being `` sarcastic . ''
Being in the midst of a pandemic , as we are , and with an election looming , reliable mail service will enable Americans across the country to remain safe at home while still participating in democracy come November .
The president has acknowledged , as recently as April 5 , that rural America has an internet accessibility problem .
This likely contributes to the fact that 18 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – a not insignificant portion of the population , and a larger group than those who pay bills via online banking .
There are reasons beyond convenience to support a well-funded and competently managed national postal service – reliable mail service quite literally saves lives .
With fewer and fewer health care facilities in rural communities , 20 percent of Americans rely on the mail system to receive prescription medications .
In 2019 alone , the USPS delivered 1.2 billion prescriptions , including nearly 100 percent of the prescriptions ordered by the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health benefits to having access to the USPS .
Being in the midst of a pandemic , as we are , and with an election looming , reliable mail service will enable Americans across the country to remain safe at home while still participating in democracy come November .
USPS has a longstanding policy of delivering ballots even without correct postage – neither snow nor rain keeps our nation 's hardworking postal workers from ensuring the voices of the public are heard .
But this can only continue to happen if Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is why it is so concerning that the integrity of the USPS seems wholly reliant on the president 's ever-changing mood .
If President Trump is concerned with public health , why not empower people to stay home ?
Encouraging vote-by-mail and shoring up the USPS so it can fulfill their critical role during a presidential election would go a long way in achieving this end .
( We saw a preview of in-person voting during a pandemic with the Wisconsin primary . )
And if he is concerned with voter fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justify ) , he might consider asking his party to pass the not one , not two , but three election security bills they rejected last year .
Of course , we could take Trump at his word : he 's scared increased vote-by-mail means he will lose .
And he 's willing to trade the wellness of those who rely on the mail for prescription medicine , families and small businesses that use the mail to pay bills , and the public health of an entire country to stop that from happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take anything he says at face value , but the president is nothing if not self-serving – so this time , I 'll make an exception .
Heidi Heitkamp served as the first female senator elected from North Dakota from 2013-2019 and is co-founder of the One Country Project .
For more insight from CNBC contributors , follow @ CNBCopinion on Twitter .

The backpedaling might have something to do with the fact that the USPS has been rated America's favorite federal agency every year Gallup has included it in its survey of voter sentiment on federal institutions. Or perhaps, not being one for figures, there was someone who explained how important a role USPS plays in rural towns across the country – many of which Trump carried in 2016 and will need to win again in November.
Much like the president's relationship with the truth, his relationship with the United States Postal Service is complicated. In a freewheeling bill signing ceremony , he said, "The Postal Service is a joke because they're handing out packages for Amazon and other Internet companies." Three hours later, perhaps at the urging of his aides, Trump tweeted : "I will never let our Post Office fail."
Confusion about injecting toxins aside, his recent outburst against the U.S. Postal Service, combined with his party's refusal to provide USPS much-needed funds in recent COVID-19 relief legislation, is a true disaster. The U.S. Postal Service provides a vital lifeline for many across America, particularly for rural communities. The Republican Party's inability to understand this vital lifeline does not bode well for our country.
I have given up trying to decipher whether the words coming out of the president's mouth have any semblance of truth – or even resemble his actual position on an issue. Four years into Donald Trump's presidency, we must resign ourselves to the fact that what he says one minute can change – or be denied entirely – the next. After all, this is a man who said doctors could look into injecting people with disinfectants to treat coronavirus only to turn around and say he was being "sarcastic."
Being in the midst of a pandemic, as we are, and with an election looming, reliable mail service will enable Americans across the country to remain safe at home while still participating in democracy come November.
The president has acknowledged, as recently as April 5, that rural America has an internet accessibility problem. This likely contributes to the fact that 18 percent of Americans pay their bills by mail – a not insignificant portion of the population, and a larger group than those who pay bills via online banking.
There are reasons beyond convenience to support a well-funded and competently managed national postal service – reliable mail service quite literally saves lives. With fewer and fewer health care facilities in rural communities, 20 percent of Americans rely on the mail system to receive prescription medications. In 2019 alone, the USPS delivered 1.2 billion prescriptions, including nearly 100 percent of the prescriptions ordered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
There are other health benefits to having access to the USPS. Being in the midst of a pandemic, as we are, and with an election looming, reliable mail service will enable Americans across the country to remain safe at home while still participating in democracy come November. USPS has a longstanding policy of delivering ballots even without correct postage – neither snow nor rain keeps our nation's hardworking postal workers from ensuring the voices of the public are heard.
But this can only continue to happen if Trump and congressional Republicans allow it to happen, which is why it is so concerning that the integrity of the USPS seems wholly reliant on the president's ever-changing mood.
If President Trump is concerned with public health, why not empower people to stay home? Encouraging vote-by-mail and shoring up the USPS so it can fulfill their critical role during a presidential election would go a long way in achieving this end. (We saw a preview of in-person voting during a pandemic with the Wisconsin primary.) And if he is concerned with voter fraud (which there is scant evidence to justify), he might consider asking his party to pass the not one, not two, but three election security bills they rejected last year.
Of course, we could take Trump at his word: he's scared increased vote-by-mail means he will lose. And he's willing to trade the wellness of those who rely on the mail for prescription medicine, families and small businesses that use the mail to pay bills, and the public health of an entire country to stop that from happening. Normally, I would be disinclined to take anything he says at face value, but the president is nothing if not self-serving – so this time, I'll make an exception.
Heidi Heitkamp served as the first female senator elected from North Dakota from 2013-2019 and is co-founder of the One Country Project.
For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.