cnbc--2020-02-14--Anti-Trump social media posts by Roger Stone jury forewoman fuel controversy in case

Roger Stone , former adviser to Donald Trump 's presidential campaign , and his wife Nydia Stone arrive at federal court in Washington , D.C. , on Monday , Nov. 4 , 2019 .
Lawyers for President Donald Trump 's longtime friend and advisor Roger Stone are eyeing anti-Trump and other social media posts by a woman who says she served as the forewoman of the jury in his case .
Stone in November was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering .
The posts by the forewoman , Tomeka Hart , which included one referring to Stone 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day he was convicted , came to light Wednesday night and added more fuel to a firestorm of controversy over the upcoming sentencing of the Republican operative .
Trump himself on Thursday morning in a Twitter post called out Hart , a Democrat who once ran for Congress , for what he said appeared to be her `` significant bias . ''
Trump has repeatedly blasted the prosecution of his former advisor Stone , and has refused to rule out pardoning him .
One of Stone 's lawyers , Grant Smith , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are reviewing all of the recently posted new information , and we will evaluate and take the appropriate action . ''
Smith declined to say whether such action could include a request for a new trial for Stone , who is due to be sentenced Feb. 20 .
Joseph Tacopina , a New York criminal defense lawyer who is not connected to the case , told CNBC that getting a judge to grant Stone a new trial based on Hart 's posts is `` going to be monumentally difficult . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ value , it does n't rise to the level of automatic reversal , '' Tacopina said .
He said the defense would face extremely long odds of getting a new trial if it could be shown that Hart did not give false statements during jury selection , and if her social media posts could have been discovered by Stone 's lawyers during the selection process but failed to do so .
Michael Caputo , a New York Republican strategist who worked on Trump 's 2016 campaign , and a friend of Stone 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he closely watched Hart from the moment she disclosed in jury selection that she had once run for Congress until the verdict came in .
`` `` She said [ during jury seletction that ] Donald Trump did n't interest her that much and felt that she could be fair considering justice for one of his aides , '' Caputo recalled .
`` We suspected that she was biased , '' Caputo said , referring to himself and Stone 's family .
`` When I heard that she was selected the foreman I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` I was stunned '' to learn that Hart had public social media posts critical of Trump that were not discovered or raised by the defense during jury selection in an effort to keep Hart off the panel .
`` If this was n't discovered it means it was n't sought , '' Caputo said .
Caputo , who has organized a committee to push Trump to pardon Stone , said that Stone 's sentencing should be postponed pending an inquiry into Hart 's answers during jury selection .
Hart did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her Facebook page was deactivated as of Thursday morning , but her Twitter account remained public .
Hart 's LinkedIn page identifies her as a senior program officer at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation .
She previously served as president and CEO of the Memphis Urban League , and on the Memphis , Tenn. , school board .
CNN reported Wednesday that Hart , in a Facebook post this week , said she wanted to `` stand up '' for the four prosecutors who quit Stone 's case after the Department of Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone serve between seven and nine years in prison .
The DOJ 's move , which came after Trump harshly criticized the first recommendation , outraged congressional Democrats , who accused Trump of improper political interference in the department by pushing for a lighter sentence for Stone .

Roger Stone, former adviser to Donald Trump's presidential campaign, and his wife Nydia Stone arrive at federal court in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2019.
Lawyers for President Donald Trump's longtime friend and advisor Roger Stone are eyeing anti-Trump and other social media posts by a woman who says she served as the forewoman of the jury in his case.
Stone in November was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering.
The posts by the forewoman, Tomeka Hart, which included one referring to Stone's arrest last year and one made the day he was convicted, came to light Wednesday night and added more fuel to a firestorm of controversy over the upcoming sentencing of the Republican operative.
Trump himself on Thursday morning in a Twitter post called out Hart, a Democrat who once ran for Congress, for what he said appeared to be her "significant bias."
Trump has repeatedly blasted the prosecution of his former advisor Stone, and has refused to rule out pardoning him.
Tweet
One of Stone's lawyers, Grant Smith, in an interview with CNBC, said, "We are reviewing all of the recently posted new information, and we will evaluate and take the appropriate action."
Smith declined to say whether such action could include a request for a new trial for Stone, who is due to be sentenced Feb. 20.
Joseph Tacopina, a New York criminal defense lawyer who is not connected to the case, told CNBC that getting a judge to grant Stone a new trial based on Hart's posts is "going to be monumentally difficult."
"Even taking her posts at face value, it doesn't rise to the level of automatic reversal," Tacopina said.
He said the defense would face extremely long odds of getting a new trial if it could be shown that Hart did not give false statements during jury selection, and if her social media posts could have been discovered by Stone's lawyers during the selection process but failed to do so.
Michael Caputo, a New York Republican strategist who worked on Trump's 2016 campaign, and a friend of Stone's, told CNBC that during the trial he closely watched Hart from the moment she disclosed in jury selection that she had once run for Congress until the verdict came in.
""She said [during jury seletction that] Donald Trump didn't interest her that much and felt that she could be fair considering justice for one of his aides," Caputo recalled.
"We suspected that she was biased," Caputo said, referring to himself and Stone's family. "When I heard that she was selected the foreman I expected the worst."
Caputo said that "I was stunned" to learn that Hart had public social media posts critical of Trump that were not discovered or raised by the defense during jury selection in an effort to keep Hart off the panel.
"If this wasn't discovered it means it wasn't sought," Caputo said.
Caputo, who has organized a committee to push Trump to pardon Stone, said that Stone's sentencing should be postponed pending an inquiry into Hart's answers during jury selection.
Hart did not immediately return a request for comment.
Her Facebook page was deactivated as of Thursday morning, but her Twitter account remained public.
Hart's LinkedIn page identifies her as a senior program officer at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She previously served as president and CEO of the Memphis Urban League, and on the Memphis, Tenn., school board.
CNN reported Wednesday that Hart, in a Facebook post this week, said she wanted to "stand up" for the four prosecutors who quit Stone's case after the Department of Justice said it would reduce their recommendation that Stone serve between seven and nine years in prison.
The DOJ's move, which came after Trump harshly criticized the first recommendation, outraged congressional Democrats, who accused Trump of improper political interference in the department by pushing for a lighter sentence for Stone.


cnbc--2020-02-14--How Mike Bloomberg's meme blitz was engineered to go viral

Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg waits by his tour bus ahead of adressing his supporters at Central Machine Works in Austin , Texas on January 11 , 2020 .
Mike Bloomberg 's presidential campaign is taking a page out of President Donald Trump 's book and trying to meet voters where they are .
In this case , in the Instagram posts of accounts like `` TrashCanPaul '' or `` S***headSteve . ''
A slew of popular Instagram accounts unleashed a blitz of sponsored Bloomberg posts on Wednesday in the form of satirical messages between the Democratic candidate and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his campaign .
`` Can you make a viral meme to let the younger demographic know I 'm the cool candidate ? ''
one on the @ sonny5ideup account reads .
Some of the posts refer to the sponsored nature of the posts ( i.e .
`` yes this is really # sponsored '' by the Bloomberg campaign ) .
The stunt drew widespread and immediate attention .
A post on one of Jerry Media 's popular accounts , @ F***Jerry , had drawn nearly 384,000 likes by Thursday afternoon , while Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 47,000 new followers on Thursday -- the first time that daily growth figure had topped 7,000 this month , according to social media analytics site Social Blade .
Bloomberg 's campaign has been playing in new spaces to reach younger consumers .
The candidate 's Twitter account made waves last month during a Democratic debate with a slew of `` weird '' posts , like one reading `` SPOT THE MEATBALL THAT LOOKS LIKE MIKE '' with a photo of Bloomberg 's face transposed onto a meatball .
The Daily Beast also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitching to `` micro-influencers '' with between 1,000 to 100,000 followers to create sponsored content .
As traditional TV is losing dominance , it makes sense for candidates to try and reach potential voters where they are .
As Trump 's campaign found a receptive audience on Facebook in 2016 , this is Bloomberg 's way of finding its audiences and trying to speak their language -- in this case on Instagram , which is owned by Facebook .
`` While a meme strategy may be new to presidential politics , we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach people where they are and compete with President Trump 's powerful digital operation , '' a Bloomberg spokesperson told CNBC .

Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg waits by his tour bus ahead of adressing his supporters at Central Machine Works in Austin, Texas on January 11, 2020.
Mike Bloomberg's presidential campaign is taking a page out of President Donald Trump's book and trying to meet voters where they are. In this case, in the Instagram posts of accounts like "TrashCanPaul" or "S***headSteve."
A slew of popular Instagram accounts unleashed a blitz of sponsored Bloomberg posts on Wednesday in the form of satirical messages between the Democratic candidate and the various account holders asking for help promoting his campaign.
"Can you make a viral meme to let the younger demographic know I'm the cool candidate?" one on the @sonny5ideup account reads. Some of the posts refer to the sponsored nature of the posts (i.e. "yes this is really #sponsored" by the Bloomberg campaign).
The stunt drew widespread and immediate attention. A post on one of Jerry Media's popular accounts, @F***Jerry, had drawn nearly 384,000 likes by Thursday afternoon, while Mike Bloomberg's Instagram account had drawn more than 47,000 new followers on Thursday -- the first time that daily growth figure had topped 7,000 this month, according to social media analytics site Social Blade.
Bloomberg's campaign has been playing in new spaces to reach younger consumers. The candidate's Twitter account made waves last month during a Democratic debate with a slew of "weird" posts, like one reading "SPOT THE MEATBALL THAT LOOKS LIKE MIKE" with a photo of Bloomberg's face transposed onto a meatball. The Daily Beast also recently reported that his campaign had been pitching to "micro-influencers" with between 1,000 to 100,000 followers to create sponsored content.
As traditional TV is losing dominance, it makes sense for candidates to try and reach potential voters where they are. As Trump's campaign found a receptive audience on Facebook in 2016, this is Bloomberg's way of finding its audiences and trying to speak their language -- in this case on Instagram, which is owned by Facebook.
"While a meme strategy may be new to presidential politics, we're betting it will be an effective component to reach people where they are and compete with President Trump's powerful digital operation," a Bloomberg spokesperson told CNBC.


cnbc--2020-02-14--Coronavirus, nukes and 5G will be hot topics as global leaders gather in Germany

A camera over the banner of Munich Security Conference is pictured on February 15 , 2019 in Munich , Germany .
MUNICH — More than 500 global leaders gather here over the weekend to discuss everything from the development of 5G networks to nuclear weapons to the recent coronavirus outbreak .
The 56th Munich Security Conference , held at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel , brings together more than 35 heads of state , 100 foreign and defense ministers as well as leaders from business and international organizations .
The conference will run Friday through Sunday .
This year 's attendees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO Mark Zuckerberg , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg , Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi , Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif .
The theme of the conference , highlighted in the 2020 Munich Security Report , focuses on the feeling of `` westlessness '' — a widespread uneasiness that Western countries are becoming `` less Western . ''
`` Recent years have seen estrangement and diverging positions on crucial policy challenges — ranging from arms control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the role of international institutions , '' wrote the authors of the report .
This year 's conference is expected to gauge international reaction to the Trump administration 's unpredictable foreign policy , frequent trade battles and use of military force as the U.S. braces for a presidential election .
The Trump administration has pulled the U.S. back from global commitments while pushing for the denuclearization of North Korea , escalating tensions with Iran , engaging in a bitter trade war with China and continuing efforts to negotiate the end of the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge will be to agree on a common transatlantic or broader Western approach , as the ongoing difficulties in dealing with Russia , China or Iran demonstrate , '' the Munich Security Report authors wrote .

A camera over the banner of Munich Security Conference is pictured on February 15, 2019 in Munich, Germany.
MUNICH — More than 500 global leaders gather here over the weekend to discuss everything from the development of 5G networks to nuclear weapons to the recent coronavirus outbreak.
The 56th Munich Security Conference, held at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel, brings together more than 35 heads of state, 100 foreign and defense ministers as well as leaders from business and international organizations. The conference will run Friday through Sunday.
This year's attendees include French President Emmanuel Macron, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
The theme of the conference, highlighted in the 2020 Munich Security Report, focuses on the feeling of "westlessness" — a widespread uneasiness that Western countries are becoming "less Western."
"Recent years have seen estrangement and diverging positions on crucial policy challenges — ranging from arms control and global trade to climate change or the role of international institutions," wrote the authors of the report.
This year's conference is expected to gauge international reaction to the Trump administration's unpredictable foreign policy, frequent trade battles and use of military force as the U.S. braces for a presidential election.
The Trump administration has pulled the U.S. back from global commitments while pushing for the denuclearization of North Korea, escalating tensions with Iran, engaging in a bitter trade war with China and continuing efforts to negotiate the end of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
"The prime challenge will be to agree on a common transatlantic or broader Western approach, as the ongoing difficulties in dealing with Russia, China or Iran demonstrate," the Munich Security Report authors wrote.


cnbc--2020-02-16--More than 1,000 Justice Department alumni call for Barr's resignation after intervention in Stone se

More than 1,000 Justice Department alumni call for Barr's resignation after intervention in Stone sentencing

US President Donald Trump ( L ) shakes hands with US Attorney General William Barr ( R ) during the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor presentation ceremony at the White House in Washington , DC on May 22 , 2019 .
More than 1,000 alumni of the Justice Department on Sunday released a letter condemning Attorney General William Barr over his intervention in the prison sentence of Roger Stone , a close associate of President Donald Trump .
Prosecutors recommended Stone receive 7-9 years in prison this week for lying to Congress about contacts with the document disclosure group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That night , the recommendation drew ire from Trump on Twitter .
The next day , the DOJ filed a revised recommendation asking for `` far less '' time in prison for Stone .
Four prosecutors working on Stone 's case quit after the Justice Department reversed their recommendation , and one of the prosecutors left the department altogether .
Stone is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in federal court in Washington , but his lawyers have asked the judge for a new trial .
The judge has scheduled a conference call for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss scheduling issues .
The Justice Department 's actions sparked heated criticism , with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for the inspector general to launch an investigation into `` improper political interference in a criminal prosecution . ''
Barr , in an interview with ABC , said the initial recommendation of 7-9 years had `` surprised '' him and once it became public , he had made plans to amend it prior to Trump 's criticisms on Twitter .
He said President Trump had not intervened in the case , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I will make those decisions based on what I think is the right thing to do , and I 'm not going to be bullied or influenced by anybody ... whether it 's Congress , a newspaper editorial board , or the president , '' Barr said .
The DOJ alumni rejected Barr 's explanations and called his for resignation .
`` We welcome Attorney General Barr 's belated acknowledgment that the DOJ 's law enforcement decisions must be independent of politics , '' they wrote .
`` But Mr. Barr 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bidding , unfortunately , speak louder than his words .
Those actions , and the damage they have done to the Department of Justice 's reputation for integrity and the rule of law , require Mr. Barr to resign . ''
The alumni said it is unheard of for top DOJ officials to overrule line prosecutorsin order to give preferential treatment to a close associate of the president .
`` It is even more outrageous for the Attorney General to intervene as he did here — after the President publicly condemned the sentencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in court , '' they wrote .
`` Such behavior is a grave threat to the fair administration of justice , '' the former officials continued .
`` In this nation , we are all equal before the law .
A person should not be given special treatment in a criminal prosecution because they are a close political ally of the President . ''
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to request for comment .
Read the full letter here .

US President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with US Attorney General William Barr (R) during the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor presentation ceremony at the White House in Washington, DC on May 22, 2019.
More than 1,000 alumni of the Justice Department on Sunday released a letter condemning Attorney General William Barr over his intervention in the prison sentence of Roger Stone, a close associate of President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors recommended Stone receive 7-9 years in prison this week for lying to Congress about contacts with the document disclosure group WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential election. That night, the recommendation drew ire from Trump on Twitter. The next day, the DOJ filed a revised recommendation asking for "far less" time in prison for Stone. Four prosecutors working on Stone's case quit after the Justice Department reversed their recommendation, and one of the prosecutors left the department altogether.
Stone is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in federal court in Washington, but his lawyers have asked the judge for a new trial. The judge has scheduled a conference call for Tuesday with prosecutors and Stone's lawyers to discuss scheduling issues.
The Justice Department's actions sparked heated criticism, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for the inspector general to launch an investigation into "improper political interference in a criminal prosecution."
Barr, in an interview with ABC, said the initial recommendation of 7-9 years had "surprised" him and once it became public, he had made plans to amend it prior to Trump's criticisms on Twitter. He said President Trump had not intervened in the case, but his tweets were "disruptive."
"I will make those decisions based on what I think is the right thing to do, and I'm not going to be bullied or influenced by anybody ... whether it's Congress, a newspaper editorial board, or the president," Barr said.
The DOJ alumni rejected Barr's explanations and called his for resignation.
"We welcome Attorney General Barr's belated acknowledgment that the DOJ's law enforcement decisions must be independent of politics," they wrote. "But Mr. Barr's actions in doing the President's personal bidding, unfortunately, speak louder than his words. Those actions, and the damage they have done to the Department of Justice's reputation for integrity and the rule of law, require Mr. Barr to resign."
The alumni said it is unheard of for top DOJ officials to overrule line prosecutorsin order to give preferential treatment to a close associate of the president.
"It is even more outrageous for the Attorney General to intervene as he did here — after the President publicly condemned the sentencing recommendation that line prosecutors had already filed in court," they wrote.
"Such behavior is a grave threat to the fair administration of justice," the former officials continued. "In this nation, we are all equal before the law. A person should not be given special treatment in a criminal prosecution because they are a close political ally of the President."
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Read the full letter here.


cnbc--2020-02-15--Mike Bloomberg builds an 'army' of elite business leaders to act as surrogates for his campaign

Dozens of elite business leaders have joined Mike Bloomberg 's `` army '' of surrogates in a bid to help him win the Democratic presidential nomination .
The leaders have signed onto a group called the Committee for Mike , whose organizers call on participants to publicly endorse Bloomberg 's campaign , push their networks to vote for him , appear at events and potentially attend briefings with Bloomberg himself , according to people with direct knowledge of the matter .
Several of the people in the surrogate program have known Bloomberg for years .
Former Morgan Stanley CEO John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bloomberg Philanthropies board of directors .
Bloomberg once called former American Express CEO Ken Chenault , another member of the program , a `` friend '' in a 2013 interview with New York Magazine .
CNBC acquired a partial list of surrogates from these people , who declined to be named due to the decisions having been made in private .
Since Bloomberg , who has a net worth of about $ 60 billion , is self-funding his campaign , the support from these business leaders could take money off the board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these supporters have donated to rival campaigns , such as former Vice President Joe Biden 's and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg 's .
`` I am fully committed to Mike , '' Mack told CNBC .
Mack was on a guest list for a fundraising event featuring former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday but he noted he did not go to the gathering because of his support for Bloomberg .
The development comes as Bloomberg surges in polls while one-time front-runner Biden sinks .
Since Bloomberg jumped into the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from seventh place to third , according to a Real Clear Politics polling average .
Meanwhile , Biden has dropped into second behind Sen. Bernie Sanders .
Biden placed fourth in the Iowa caucuses and fifth in the New Hampshire primary .
He is seeking to rebound with decisive wins in Nevada and South Carolina , which hold their nominating contests later this month .
Bloomberg himself wo n't be on any state ballot until Super Tuesday , March 3 , when delegate-rich states like Texas and California hold their primaries .
Others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rockefeller , Loews CEO James Tisch , BET co-founder Sheila Johnson and Ariel Investments co-CEO Mellody Hobson , who is married to `` Star Wars '' creator George Lucas .
John Rogers , the other CEO of Ariel , is also part of the organization and has publicly acknowledged that he is supporting Bloomberg after he previously backed Sen. Kamala Harris , who withdrew from the race in December .
Rogers reportedly attended a Bloomberg rally in Chicago in early February as the billionaire former New York mayor opened campaign offices throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign aide to Hillary Clinton who was also once finance chair of the Democratic National Committee , is also part of the program .
Committee member Gilbert Garcia , a managing partner at a Texas-based asset management firm , said he first got to know Bloomberg at a 2015 New York award ceremony where he , Bloomberg and other business leaders were honored for their work helping young people develop a career on Wall Street .
Garcia explained in an interview that the committee was the equivalent to Bloomberg 's `` ground troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one out there , in the day to day trenches for him . ''
`` I 've been listening to the calls , I talk to a lot of the senior staff and at the end of the day , when he is in Dallas , I call my contacts to go show .
When he is going to Houston , I tell my contacts to go , '' he said .
`` This committee is essentially his army and they are all top-notch players . ''
Garcia added he believes Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump out of all the other Democratic primary contenders .
A spokeswoman for the Bloomberg campaign declined to comment .
The other business leaders mentioned in this story either did not return a request for comment or could not be reached .
The Committee for Mike development also comes as Bloomberg racks up endorsements from leaders across the country .
This support includes backing from black leaders like Reps. Lucy McBath of Georgia , Gregory Meeks of New York and Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands , as well as multiple black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his role in enforcing a controversial policy known as stop and frisk .
It allowed the New York Police Department to randomly stop , search and frisk people .
People in black and Latino communities were most routinely targeted .
Bloomberg apologized for the policy before he announced his presidential run .
Bloomberg , a group of fundraising consultants that he recently hired and other campaign aides have been meeting with various community and business leaders to convince them that the former New York mayor has the best chance at winning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group .
The meetings appear to have a been a success .
Chenault 's wife was at a December gathering with some of New York 's wealthiest Democratic donors .
Bloomberg called on participants to support his campaign without them writing a check and to start giving to the DNC , which has often been heavily outraised by the Republican National Committee .

Dozens of elite business leaders have joined Mike Bloomberg's "army" of surrogates in a bid to help him win the Democratic presidential nomination.
The leaders have signed onto a group called the Committee for Mike, whose organizers call on participants to publicly endorse Bloomberg's campaign, push their networks to vote for him, appear at events and potentially attend briefings with Bloomberg himself, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter.
Several of the people in the surrogate program have known Bloomberg for years. Former Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack, for instance, is on the Bloomberg Philanthropies board of directors. Bloomberg once called former American Express CEO Ken Chenault, another member of the program, a "friend" in a 2013 interview with New York Magazine. CNBC acquired a partial list of surrogates from these people, who declined to be named due to the decisions having been made in private.
Since Bloomberg, who has a net worth of about $60 billion, is self-funding his campaign, the support from these business leaders could take money off the board for other Democratic candidates. Some of these supporters have donated to rival campaigns, such as former Vice President Joe Biden's and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg's.
"I am fully committed to Mike," Mack told CNBC. Mack was on a guest list for a fundraising event featuring former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday but he noted he did not go to the gathering because of his support for Bloomberg.
The development comes as Bloomberg surges in polls while one-time front-runner Biden sinks. Since Bloomberg jumped into the primary race in November, he has jumped from seventh place to third, according to a Real Clear Politics polling average.
Meanwhile, Biden has dropped into second behind Sen. Bernie Sanders. Biden placed fourth in the Iowa caucuses and fifth in the New Hampshire primary. He is seeking to rebound with decisive wins in Nevada and South Carolina, which hold their nominating contests later this month. Bloomberg himself won't be on any state ballot until Super Tuesday, March 3, when delegate-rich states like Texas and California hold their primaries.
Others in the Bloomberg surrogate group include Susan Rockefeller, Loews CEO James Tisch, BET co-founder Sheila Johnson and Ariel Investments co-CEO Mellody Hobson, who is married to "Star Wars" creator George Lucas.
John Rogers, the other CEO of Ariel, is also part of the organization and has publicly acknowledged that he is supporting Bloomberg after he previously backed Sen. Kamala Harris, who withdrew from the race in December. Rogers reportedly attended a Bloomberg rally in Chicago in early February as the billionaire former New York mayor opened campaign offices throughout the state. Beth Dozoretz, a former campaign aide to Hillary Clinton who was also once finance chair of the Democratic National Committee, is also part of the program.
Committee member Gilbert Garcia, a managing partner at a Texas-based asset management firm, said he first got to know Bloomberg at a 2015 New York award ceremony where he, Bloomberg and other business leaders were honored for their work helping young people develop a career on Wall Street. Garcia explained in an interview that the committee was the equivalent to Bloomberg's "ground troops" who "are going to be the one out there, in the day to day trenches for him."
"I've been listening to the calls, I talk to a lot of the senior staff and at the end of the day, when he is in Dallas, I call my contacts to go show. When he is going to Houston, I tell my contacts to go," he said. "This committee is essentially his army and they are all top-notch players."


cnbc--2020-02-15--Official says US, Taliban reach Afghan truce agreement

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks to U.S. troops in an unannounced visit to Bagram Air Base , Afghanistan , November 28 , 2019 .
REUTERS/Tom Brenner A senior U.S.official said Friday the United States and the Taliban have reached a truce agreement that will take effect `` very soon '' and could lead to withdrawals of American troops from Afghanistan .
The official said the agreement for a seven-day `` reduction in violence '' to be followed by the start of all-Afghan peace talks within 10 days is `` very specific '' and covers the entire country including Afghan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper met Friday in Munich with Afghanistan 's President Ashraf Ghani .
They spoke on the sidelines of an international security forum in Munich .
A truce had been widely anticipated , and President Donald Trump has agreed in principle to the deal , which could lead to the start of significant U.S. troop withdrawals from Afghanistan , according to U.S. officials .
The final details were hammered out in recent days by U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban representatives in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Munich and attended Pompeo and Esper 's meeting as did Gen. Scott Miller , the commander of the U.S.-led international force in Afghanistan .
People familiar with the plan 's outlines say it calls for the successful conclusion of the weeklong truce to be followed within 10 days by the start of all-Afghan negotiations to set the road map for the country 's political future .
U.S. officials have brushed aside claims that a Taliban ultimatum forced their hand .
And they noted that , despite Trump 's campaign pledge to withdraw American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican president has nixed previous deals that appeared close in response to attacks on U.S. forces .

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks to U.S. troops in an unannounced visit to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, November 28, 2019. REUTERS/Tom Brenner
A senior U.S.official said Friday the United States and the Taliban have reached a truce agreement that will take effect "very soon" and could lead to withdrawals of American troops from Afghanistan.
The official said the agreement for a seven-day "reduction in violence" to be followed by the start of all-Afghan peace talks within 10 days is "very specific" and covers the entire country including Afghan forces.
The developments come as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper met Friday in Munich with Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani. They spoke on the sidelines of an international security forum in Munich.
A truce had been widely anticipated, and President Donald Trump has agreed in principle to the deal, which could lead to the start of significant U.S. troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, according to U.S. officials.
The final details were hammered out in recent days by U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar. Khalilzad was in Munich and attended Pompeo and Esper's meeting as did Gen. Scott Miller, the commander of the U.S.-led international force in Afghanistan.
People familiar with the plan's outlines say it calls for the successful conclusion of the weeklong truce to be followed within 10 days by the start of all-Afghan negotiations to set the road map for the country's political future.
U.S. officials have brushed aside claims that a Taliban ultimatum forced their hand. And they noted that, despite Trump's campaign pledge to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan and elsewhere, the Republican president has nixed previous deals that appeared close in response to attacks on U.S. forces.


cnbc--2020-02-15--German president says Trump's 'America First' policy creates unstable world

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier addresses the opening speech of the 56th Munich Security Conference in Munich , southern Germany , on February 14 , 2020 .
`` Our closest ally , the United States of America , under the current administration , rejects the very concept of the international community , '' he said .
`` 'Great again ' but at the expense of neighbors and partners , '' Steinmeier added without naming Trump but referring to his `` Make America Great Again '' campaign slogan .
In his opening remarks , German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the expense of allies .
MUNICH — Germany 's president kicked off the annual Munich Security Conference on Friday by taking a swipe at President Donald Trump 's `` America First '' foreign policy approach .
`` Thinking and acting this way hurts us all , '' he said .
Attending Steinmeier 's speech , delivered at the 56th Munich Security Conference , were Secretary of Defense Mark Esper , Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Adam Schiff along with other representatives , making it the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Read more : Nuclear weapons and 5G among national security topics at Munich Security Conference Steinmeier also accused Russia and China of amplifying global insecurity in pursuit of `` great power '' competition .
`` In this scenario , the security of one is the insecurity of others , '' he said , adding that European leaders must create a unified policy to deal with increasing threats posed by Russia and China .
The former German foreign minister also placed emphasis on the importance of NATO , the world 's most powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dressed down by Trump .
In December , Trump reiterated at the NATO leaders meeting that too many members were still not paying enough and threatened to reduce U.S. military support if allies do not increase spending .
At the meeting in London , Trump singled out German Chancellor Angela Merkel for not meeting the 2 % of GDP spending goal set in the 2014 NATO summit in Wales .
Read more : What each NATO country contributes financially to the world 's strongest military alliance '' So we 're paying 4 [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's paying 1 [ % ] to 1.2 % at max 1.2 % of a much smaller GDP .
That 's not fair , '' Trump said at the time .
Germany is only one of 19 NATO members that have not met the 2 % GDP spending goal set at the 2014 summit .
Steinmeier said that while Germany should continue to raise its defense spending , it should not be `` the be-all end-all for our security . ''
Correction : This article has been corrected to accurately reflect the names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Steinmeier 's speech .

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier addresses the opening speech of the 56th Munich Security Conference in Munich, southern Germany, on February 14, 2020.
"Our closest ally, the United States of America, under the current administration, rejects the very concept of the international community," he said. "'Great again' but at the expense of neighbors and partners," Steinmeier added without naming Trump but referring to his "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan.
In his opening remarks, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that the United States would put its own interests first at the expense of allies.
MUNICH — Germany's president kicked off the annual Munich Security Conference on Friday by taking a swipe at President Donald Trump's "America First" foreign policy approach.
"Thinking and acting this way hurts us all," he said.
Attending Steinmeier's speech, delivered at the 56th Munich Security Conference, were Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Adam Schiff along with other representatives, making it the largest U.S. delegation to attend the forum.
Read more: Nuclear weapons and 5G among national security topics at Munich Security Conference
Steinmeier also accused Russia and China of amplifying global insecurity in pursuit of "great power" competition.
"In this scenario, the security of one is the insecurity of others," he said, adding that European leaders must create a unified policy to deal with increasing threats posed by Russia and China.
The former German foreign minister also placed emphasis on the importance of NATO, the world's most powerful military alliance, which has been frequently dressed down by Trump.
In December, Trump reiterated at the NATO leaders meeting that too many members were still not paying enough and threatened to reduce U.S. military support if allies do not increase spending.
At the meeting in London, Trump singled out German Chancellor Angela Merkel for not meeting the 2% of GDP spending goal set in the 2014 NATO summit in Wales.
Read more: What each NATO country contributes financially to the world's strongest military alliance
"So we're paying 4[%] to 4.3% when Germany's paying 1[%] to 1.2% at max 1.2% of a much smaller GDP. That's not fair," Trump said at the time.
Germany is only one of 19 NATO members that have not met the 2% GDP spending goal set at the 2014 summit.
Steinmeier said that while Germany should continue to raise its defense spending, it should not be "the be-all end-all for our security."
Correction: This article has been corrected to accurately reflect the names of the U.S. officials who were present at Steinmeier's speech.


cnbc--2020-02-18--Sanders leads by double digits in latest NBC/WSJ poll as Biden sinks, Bloomberg rises

WASHINGTON — Bernie Sanders has opened up a double-digit lead nationally over his closest rivals in the Democratic presidential primary , where Michael Bloomberg 's rise appears to have scrambled the race , according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Tuesday .
The Vermont senator has the support of 27 % of Democratic primary voters , a figure which is unchanged from January , the survey found .
Sanders ' unchanged support comes despite having won a decisive victory in New Hampshire 's first-in-the-nation primary last week , and an apparent win in Iowa 's chaotic caucuses the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the NBC/WSJ results for support among likely Democratic primary voters , followed by the shift in support since the poll was last conducted in January .
• Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg : 14 % , up 5 pts Twelve points behind Sanders is former Vice President Joe Biden , whose support in the poll has plummeted to 15 % in the past month , down from a previous figure of 26 % .
Following closely behind Biden is the billionaire former mayor of New York City , with 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren , D-Mass .
During the past month , Bloomberg has climbed 5 points in the poll , a rise fueled in part by Bloomberg 's decision to spend more than $ 400 million on a barrage of national TV and internet ads .
Warren 's support , meanwhile , has fallen 4 points nationally since December .
Behind Warren and Bloomberg , former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg grew his national support to 13 % in February , up 5 points from the previous NBC/WSJ poll .
Sanders ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.7 point margin of error of the new survey , which was conducted between Feb 14-17 on a sample size of 900 registered voters .
Preliminary analysis of the results indicates that the biggest beneficiaries of Biden 's tumbling numbers were Bloomberg and Buttigieg , both moderates who are working hard to offer voters an alternative to the stridently progressive message coming from Sanders .
Bloomberg will be making his first appearance on the Democratic primary debate stage this week in Nevada , despite the fact that his is not competing in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Hampshire , Nevada and South Carolina .
Instead , Bloomberg has focused on Texas and other states that vote on Super Tuesday , March 3 .
His ads , however , appear to have made an impression : In January , 59 % of poll respondents said they remember seeing an ad from Bloomberg on TV or social media .
The survey also measured comfort levels among voters with certain qualities in a presidential candidate for the first time this month .
These include a candidate `` who self-funds their campaign with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own money '' and a candidate who `` is a socialist . ''
Among Democratic primary voters , just 16 % said they would be `` very uncomfortable '' voting for a candidate who used his or her personal fortune to fund their campaign .
Among registered voters of both parties , the survey found the same number , 16 % , reported they would be `` very uncomfortable '' voting for a self-funded candidate .
But on the question of whether they would be comfortable voting for `` a socialist , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all registered voters was a stark one .
Only 17 % of Democratic primary voters said they would be `` very uncomfortable '' casting their ballot for a socialist .
But when interviewers posed the same question to all registered voters , not just Democrats , this `` uncomfortable '' number more than doubled , to 46 % of respondents saying they 'd be `` very uncomfortable '' voting for a socialist .
Sanders is a self-described democratic socialist , a position he describes as being primarily concerned with correcting economic inequality .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he 's an independent senator who caucuses with Democrats .
If Sanders continues to dominate the Democratic primary field , these distinctions could begin to make a big difference in Sanders ' long-term prospects for the presidency .

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders laughs as he addresses supporters during a campaign stop at a coffee chop in Iowa City, Iowa, February 1, 2020. Mike Segar | Reuters
WASHINGTON — Bernie Sanders has opened up a double-digit lead nationally over his closest rivals in the Democratic presidential primary, where Michael Bloomberg's rise appears to have scrambled the race, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Tuesday. The Vermont senator has the support of 27% of Democratic primary voters, a figure which is unchanged from January, the survey found. Sanders' unchanged support comes despite having won a decisive victory in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary last week, and an apparent win in Iowa's chaotic caucuses the week before.
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Below is a list of the NBC/WSJ results for support among likely Democratic primary voters, followed by the shift in support since the poll was last conducted in January. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.: 27%, unchanged.
Former Vice President Joe Biden: 15%, down 11 pts
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg: 14%, up 5 pts
Sen Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.: 14%, down 1 pt
Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg: 13%, up 6 pts
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.: 7%, up 2 pts
Tom Steyer: 2%, unchanged
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii: 1%, down 1 pt Twelve points behind Sanders is former Vice President Joe Biden, whose support in the poll has plummeted to 15% in the past month, down from a previous figure of 26%. Following closely behind Biden is the billionaire former mayor of New York City, with 14% support, tied with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. During the past month, Bloomberg has climbed 5 points in the poll, a rise fueled in part by Bloomberg's decision to spend more than $400 million on a barrage of national TV and internet ads. Warren's support, meanwhile, has fallen 4 points nationally since December. Behind Warren and Bloomberg, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg grew his national support to 13% in February, up 5 points from the previous NBC/WSJ poll.
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Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., billionaire Tom Steyer and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, all trailed Buttigieg. Sanders' 12 point lead is well outside the 4.7 point margin of error of the new survey, which was conducted between Feb 14-17 on a sample size of 900 registered voters. Preliminary analysis of the results indicates that the biggest beneficiaries of Biden's tumbling numbers were Bloomberg and Buttigieg, both moderates who are working hard to offer voters an alternative to the stridently progressive message coming from Sanders. Bloomberg will be making his first appearance on the Democratic primary debate stage this week in Nevada, despite the fact that his is not competing in the first four nominating states: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Instead, Bloomberg has focused on Texas and other states that vote on Super Tuesday, March 3. His ads, however, appear to have made an impression: In January, 59% of poll respondents said they remember seeing an ad from Bloomberg on TV or social media. The survey also measured comfort levels among voters with certain qualities in a presidential candidate for the first time this month. These include a candidate "who self-funds their campaign with hundreds of millions of dollars of their own money" and a candidate who "is a socialist." Among Democratic primary voters, just 16% said they would be "very uncomfortable" voting for a candidate who used his or her personal fortune to fund their campaign. Among registered voters of both parties, the survey found the same number, 16%, reported they would be "very uncomfortable" voting for a self-funded candidate.
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cnbc--2020-02-18--Warren says Bloomberg's debate presence will allow Democrats to show how they'd take on an 'egomania

Warren says Bloomberg's debate presence will allow Democrats to show how they'd take on an 'egomaniac billionaire' like Trump

Sen. Elizabeth Warren tore into rival Mike Bloomberg on Tuesday , forecasting that his appearance on the Democratic debate stage in Las Vegas will allow his rivals to demonstrate their skills at taking on an `` egomaniac billionaire '' such as President Donald Trump .
`` It 's a shame Mike Bloomberg can buy his way into the debate , '' wrote Warren , D-Mass .
`` But at least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire . ''
Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him down on Wednesday after qualifying for his first debate since entering the 2020 race .
The business titan is estimated to be worth more than $ 60 billion .
Bloomberg , a former New York mayor , has rapidly ascended in the polls — he 's now in third place in national surveys — despite forgoing the first four nominating contests in order to devote resources to the more delegate-rich states that start voting in March .
Warren , for her part , is facing pressure to make a mark at Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire , the first states to host nominating contests .
Warren came in third in Iowa and fourth in New Hampshire .

Sen. Elizabeth Warren tore into rival Mike Bloomberg on Tuesday, forecasting that his appearance on the Democratic debate stage in Las Vegas will allow his rivals to demonstrate their skills at taking on an "egomaniac billionaire" such as President Donald Trump.
"It's a shame Mike Bloomberg can buy his way into the debate," wrote Warren, D-Mass. "But at least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire."
Bloomberg will face five Democrats eager to take him down on Wednesday after qualifying for his first debate since entering the 2020 race. The business titan is estimated to be worth more than $60 billion.
Warren tweet
Bloomberg, a former New York mayor, has rapidly ascended in the polls — he's now in third place in national surveys — despite forgoing the first four nominating contests in order to devote resources to the more delegate-rich states that start voting in March.
Warren, for her part, is facing pressure to make a mark at Wednesday's debate after sliding in the polls following poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first states to host nominating contests. Warren came in third in Iowa and fourth in New Hampshire.


cnbc--2020-02-18--Trump pardons Michael Milken, face of 1980s insider trading scandals

President Donald Trump issued a pardon Tuesday to Michael Milken , the former junk bond king who was a face @ @ @ @ @ of the 1980s .
Trump , in announcing the pardon , cited the `` incredible @ @ @ @ @ done supporting cancer research since pleading guilty in 1990 to racketeering and securities fraud charges @ @ @ @ @ this and he suffered greatly , '' Trump said .
`` He paid a big @ @ @ @ @ tough price . ''
Milken , 73 , originally was sentenced to 10 years in @ @ @ @ @ heading the bond department at the investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert and fined $ 600 @ @ @ @ @ was later reduced to two years locked up after he cooperated with federal investigators .
@ @ @ @ @ life from working in the securities industry .
The pardon does not affect the lifetime @ @ @ @ @ told CNBC on Tuesday .

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President Donald Trump issued a pardon Tuesday to Michael Milken, the former junk bond king who was a face of the insider trading scandals of the 1980s. Trump, in announcing the pardon, cited the "incredible job" that Milken has done supporting cancer research since pleading guilty in 1990 to racketeering and securities fraud charges. "He's done this and he suffered greatly," Trump said. "He paid a big price; paid a very tough price." Milken, 73, originally was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his crimes while heading the bond department at the investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert and fined $600 million. But that punishment was later reduced to two years locked up after he cooperated with federal investigators. Milken also is banned for life from working in the securities industry. The pardon does not affect the lifetime ban, the White House told CNBC on Tuesday.
Financier and philanthropist Michael Milken visits "Mornings With Maria" at Fox Business Network Studios on August 23, 2018 in New York City. John Lamparski | Getty Images
That pardon, which had been considered for as long as two years, was one of 11 acts of executive clemency issued Tuesday by Trump. The president also granted pardons to former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik and ex-San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. And Trump commuted the lengthy prison sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Milken, in a prepared statement, said that he and his wife, Lori, with whom he "recently celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary, along with our children and grandchildren, are very grateful to the President." "We look forward to many more years of pursuing our efforts in medical research, education and public health," Milken said.
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Supporters of Milken's pardon included Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and media baron Rupert Murdoch, as well as casino operator Sheldon Adelson, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. Last month, the private government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a request to the Treasury Department for all communications between Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and anyone else that contain the words "pardon" or "pardoning" from January 2018 until last month. CREW noted in its Freedom of Information Act request that several news outlets had reported that Mnuchin was advocating for a pardon for Milken, and that The New York Times had reported last year that Mnuchin flew on Milken's private airplane from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles. A statement issued by Trump's press secretary Stephanie Grisham detailed the rationale for the pardon for Milken, and called him "one of America's greatest financiers" for his pioneering of "the use of high-yield bonds in corporate finance." Grisham said in that statement that "the charges filed against Mr. Milken were truly novel." "In fact, one of the lead prosecutors later admitted that Mr. Milken had been charged with numerous technical offenses and regulatory violations that had never before been charged as crimes," Grisham said. "Since his release, Mr. Milken has dedicated his life to philanthropy, continuing charitable work that he began before his indictment," the press secretary said. "Over the years, Mr. Milken — either personally or through foundations he created — has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in critical funding to medical research, education, and disadvantaged children. Mr. Milken's philanthropy has been particularly influential in the fight against prostate cancer and has been credited with saving many lives." — CNBC's Eamon Javers contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-02-18--Trump commutes sentence of ex-Illinois Gov. Blagojevich, pardons ex-NY police commissioner Kerik, ex

Trump commutes sentence of ex-Illinois Gov. Blagojevich, pardons ex-NY police commissioner Kerik, ex-49ers owner DeBartolo — and Michael Milken

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich waves to supporters outside his home after returning from his sentencing hearing December 7 , 2011 in Chicago .
President Donald Trump granted executive clemency Tuesday to former Illinois Gov .
Rod Blagojevich , as well as to ex-New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and to Edward DeBartolo Jr. , former owner of the San Francisco 49ers football team .
Trump also announced that he had pardoned Michael Milken , the former junk bond king who became a face of the insider trading financial scandals of the 1980s .
In all , Trump granted some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , according to the White House .
Trump commuted the remainder of Blagojevich 's 14-year prison term .
The Illinois Democrat had begun serving that sentence in 2012 after he was found guilty of attempting to trade the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama for money or favors .
Blagojevich was scheduled for release on March 13 , 2024 , according to the Bureau of Prisons .
Trump has floated the possibility of commuting Blagojevich 's sentence for nearly two years .
In a joint statement , the former U.S. attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecuted Blagojevich stressed that the former governor 's crimes were `` very serious '' and deserved to be punished .
`` That has to be the case in America : a justice system must hold public officials accountable for corruption .
It would be unfair to their victims and the public to do otherwise , '' they said .
Sen. Dick Durbin , D-Ill. , said that Blagojevich `` betrayed the people of Illinois and engaged in a pattern of corrupt behavior for which he was held accountable and which cost him more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Durbin called for the enactment of `` stricter ethics requirements , including the full detailed disclosure of income , net worth , and income tax returns by all elected officials . ''

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich waves to supporters outside his home after returning from his sentencing hearing December 7, 2011 in Chicago. Getty Images
President Donald Trump granted executive clemency Tuesday to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, as well as to ex-New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and to Edward DeBartolo Jr., former owner of the San Francisco 49ers football team. Trump also announced that he had pardoned Michael Milken, the former junk bond king who became a face of the insider trading financial scandals of the 1980s. In all, Trump granted some form of executive clemency to 11 individuals Tuesday, according to the White House. Trump commuted the remainder of Blagojevich's 14-year prison term. The Illinois Democrat had begun serving that sentence in 2012 after he was found guilty of attempting to trade the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama for money or favors.
Blagojevich was scheduled for release on March 13, 2024, according to the Bureau of Prisons. Trump has floated the possibility of commuting Blagojevich's sentence for nearly two years. In a joint statement, the former U.S. attorney in Chicago and the ex-federal attorneys who prosecuted Blagojevich stressed that the former governor's crimes were "very serious" and deserved to be punished. "That has to be the case in America: a justice system must hold public officials accountable for corruption. It would be unfair to their victims and the public to do otherwise," they said. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said that Blagojevich "betrayed the people of Illinois and engaged in a pattern of corrupt behavior for which he was held accountable and which cost him more than seven years of freedom." Durbin called for the enactment of "stricter ethics requirements, including the full detailed disclosure of income, net worth, and income tax returns by all elected officials."
Kerik oversaw the NYPD under then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is now the president's personal lawyer, during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Kerik was nominated in 2004 to lead the Department of Homeland Security under then-President George W. Bush.
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Kerik pleaded guilty in 2009 to charges of felony tax fraud and lying to the government; He was released from federal prison in 2013. "I think it's long overdue," Kerik's lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, told CNBC after he heard the news of Trump's plan to pardon Kerik. "It's something that I've been fighting for for several years," Parlatore said. Kerik thanked Trump profusely later Tuesday in a statement he posted on Twitter: "With the exception of the birth of my children, today is one of the greatest days in my life — being made a full and whole American citizen again." Kerik tweet Earlier Tuesday, the White House said that Trump had signed an executive order granting DeBartolo a full pardon related to a decades-old corruption charge. The wave of clemency came as Trump has hinted that he might be considering a pardon for his longtime friend Roger Stone, who was convicted last fall of lying to Congress about his contacts during the 2016 presidential election with the document disclosure group WikiLeaks. Federal prosecutors last week recommended that a judge give Stone a harsh sentence of seven to nine years in prison. Trump raged against that recommendation on Twitter hours after their sentencing memo was made public in Washington, D.C., federal court. The next day, the Department of Justice led by Attorney General William Barr revised its recommended sentence for Stone, asking Judge Amy Berman Jackson for "far less" time in prison for the Republican operative. "I think he's being treated unfairly," Trump said when asked if he was planning to pardon Stone as well. But Trump did grant full pardons and commutations to other figures, the White House revealed in a statement later Tuesday. Pardons were given to former Symplicity CEO Ariel Friedler, who in 2014 admitted conspiring to hack into his competitors' computer systems; Paul Pogue, who pleaded guilty to underpaying on his taxes over a three-year period; David Safavian, who was convicted of perjury; and Angela Stanton, a Trump-supporting television personality. Trump also granted commutations to Tynice Nicole Hall and Crystal Munoz, both of whom were given lengthy prison sentences for drug-related offenses. He also signed an order granting a commutation for Judith Negron, who was sentenced to 35 years behind bars for Medicare fraud. Correction: Rod Blagojevich began serving his prison sentence in 2012. An earlier version misstated the year.


cnbc--2020-02-18--Mike Bloomberg sees Bernie Sanders as the only 2020 Democratic candidate who threatens his possible

Mike Bloomberg sees Bernie Sanders as the only 2020 Democratic candidate who threatens his possible nomination

Mike Bloomberg 's campaign said on Tuesday that it sees Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , as the only threat to Bloomberg winning the Democratic nomination and defeating Donald Trump in 2020 .
Dan Kanninen , the lead state strategist for Bloomberg 's campaign , led off a briefing with reporters by saying Bloomberg and his team view Sanders as the only other candidate who has a shot at being `` sworn into office next year . ''
When asked why former Vice President Joe Biden was not on his list of candidates who could beat Trump in November , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling , including in Florida , that he described as showing former front-runner Biden 's status had `` collapsed . ''
`` It 's consistent [ with ] what we are seeing from our own numbers .
It 's consistent [ with ] what we are seeing on the ground , '' the Bloomberg advisor said about Biden 's struggles , while noting the growing crowd size at rallies for the former New York mayor in Florida , Virginia , Arkansas and Oklahoma .
Biden has dropped in recent surveys since his disappointing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Sanders and Bloomberg have surged .
A Real Clear Politics polling average has Sanders in first , followed by Biden and Bloomberg , who started the race in seventh .

Mike Bloomberg's campaign said on Tuesday that it sees Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as the only threat to Bloomberg winning the Democratic nomination and defeating Donald Trump in 2020.
Dan Kanninen, the lead state strategist for Bloomberg's campaign, led off a briefing with reporters by saying Bloomberg and his team view Sanders as the only other candidate who has a shot at being "sworn into office next year."
When asked why former Vice President Joe Biden was not on his list of candidates who could beat Trump in November, Kanninen pointed to a new round of polling, including in Florida, that he described as showing former front-runner Biden's status had "collapsed."
"It's consistent [with] what we are seeing from our own numbers. It's consistent [with] what we are seeing on the ground," the Bloomberg advisor said about Biden's struggles, while noting the growing crowd size at rallies for the former New York mayor in Florida, Virginia, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Biden has dropped in recent surveys since his disappointing fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, while Sanders and Bloomberg have surged. A Real Clear Politics polling average has Sanders in first, followed by Biden and Bloomberg, who started the race in seventh.


cnbc--2020-02-18--U.S. credit card debt has soared to $930 billion. Here's what some presidential candidates would do

U.S. credit card debt has soared to $930 billion. Here's what some presidential candidates would do to help

If you 're like many Americans , you 're carrying a balance on your credit cards .
And the candidate you choose in November for president could have an effect on how well you grapple with those debts .
The latest numbers from the Federal Reserve show that credit card balances climbed to $ 930 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019 — a $ 46 billion increase from the previous quarter .
Average credit card debt per household is now $ 8,701 , according to the latest estimates from personal finance website WalletHub .
An analysis by the Urban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southern states — particularly Mississippi — are more likely to be delinquent on their credit cards .
Those who are behind on their balances also tend to be young , between the ages of 18 and 34 , low income and lacking in financial knowledge , the Washington , D.C.-based think tank found .
As Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , has emerged as a Democratic front-runner in the 2020 presidential race , he has also set himself apart as the candidate who has made credit issues the biggest priority , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` He seems to have the most to say and the most specific things to say about credit , '' Rossman said .
That 's after he teamed up with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y. , last year to propose a bill that would put a 15 % interest rate cap on credit cards , an idea he has also carried over to his presidential campaign platform .
`` That bill has n't gone anywhere in the current climate , but it definitely bears watching , '' Rossman said .
`` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a Democratic Congress , then it would have a more realistic chance of passing . ''
More from Personal Finance : Here are the winners and losers of the Trump tax cuts Why Social Security is personal for presidential candidates Democratic candidates take aim at small-business tax break That would be a big change from today 's rates .
Individuals with good credit have an average interest rate of 17 % , while those with poor credit face average rates of 25 % .
Meanwhile , more expensive store credit cards hover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders ' platform calls for putting a stop to predatory debt collection practices .
He also wants to replace existing credit reporting firms with a government public credit registry .
That move is aimed at eliminating inherent economic and racial bias , according to Rossman .
`` The con of this is that a lot of people say , 'What 's to say the government is going to do it better than the free market ? '
'' Rossman said .
Critics also say taking over private credit reporting companies would put about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not the only candidate who has touted policies to try to help borrowers , however .
Last year , Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, teamed up with other Senate Democrats to propose a bill that would let states cap credit card interest rates for residents .
The risk with that proposal is that any time you leave something up to the states , rules will vary from state to state , said Matt Schulz , chief industry analyst at CompareCards.com .
`` Both of these proposals are dead in the water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , '' Schulz said .
One candidate on the opposite end of the spectrum , according to Rossman , is former vice president Joe Biden .
`` Biden has really been accused by a lot of Democrats of being in cahoots with the financial industry , '' Rossman said .
`` This goes back to his time as a senator from Delaware , because so many credit card companies are based in Delaware . ''
A lot of banks are drawn to the state because it has loose usury laws , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be charged on loans .
Biden and Warren previously clashed over a 2005 bankruptcy bill that made it more difficult for individuals to get out of debt by filing for bankruptcy .
Biden voted yes to the bill , which was passed .
Warren , who was a Harvard law professor at the time , spoke out against the initiative .
In an essay published earlier this year , Warren wrote that the bill 's passage caused bankruptcy filings to permanently fall by 50 % and the number of insolvent people to rise @ @ @ @

skynesher | E+ | Getty Images
If you're like many Americans, you're carrying a balance on your credit cards. And the candidate you choose in November for president could have an effect on how well you grapple with those debts. The latest numbers from the Federal Reserve show that credit card balances climbed to $930 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019 — a $46 billion increase from the previous quarter. Average credit card debt per household is now $8,701, according to the latest estimates from personal finance website WalletHub. An analysis by the Urban Institute found that individuals who live in southern states — particularly Mississippi — are more likely to be delinquent on their credit cards. Those who are behind on their balances also tend to be young, between the ages of 18 and 34, low income and lacking in financial knowledge, the Washington, D.C.-based think tank found.
As Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has emerged as a Democratic front-runner in the 2020 presidential race, he has also set himself apart as the candidate who has made credit issues the biggest priority, according to Ted Rossman, industry analyst at CreditCards.com. "He seems to have the most to say and the most specific things to say about credit," Rossman said. That's after he teamed up with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., last year to propose a bill that would put a 15% interest rate cap on credit cards, an idea he has also carried over to his presidential campaign platform. "That bill hasn't gone anywhere in the current climate, but it definitely bears watching," Rossman said. "If Sanders is president, and if there is a Democratic Congress, then it would have a more realistic chance of passing." More from Personal Finance:
Here are the winners and losers of the Trump tax cuts
Why Social Security is personal for presidential candidates
Democratic candidates take aim at small-business tax break That would be a big change from today's rates. Individuals with good credit have an average interest rate of 17%, while those with poor credit face average rates of 25%. Meanwhile, more expensive store credit cards hover around 30% for all borrowers. Sanders' platform calls for putting a stop to predatory debt collection practices. He also wants to replace existing credit reporting firms with a government public credit registry. That move is aimed at eliminating inherent economic and racial bias, according to Rossman. "The con of this is that a lot of people say, 'What's to say the government is going to do it better than the free market?'" Rossman said. Critics also say taking over private credit reporting companies would put about 20,000 people out of work.
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Sanders is not the only candidate who has touted policies to try to help borrowers, however. Last year, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., teamed up with other Senate Democrats to propose a bill that would let states cap credit card interest rates for residents. The risk with that proposal is that any time you leave something up to the states, rules will vary from state to state, said Matt Schulz, chief industry analyst at CompareCards.com. "Both of these proposals are dead in the water unless things change significantly after the November election," Schulz said.
Biden is a wild card
Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 2, 2019. Steve Marcus | Reuters
One candidate on the opposite end of the spectrum, according to Rossman, is former vice president Joe Biden. "Biden has really been accused by a lot of Democrats of being in cahoots with the financial industry," Rossman said. "This goes back to his time as a senator from Delaware, because so many credit card companies are based in Delaware." A lot of banks are drawn to the state because it has loose usury laws, which dictate the amount of interest that can be charged on loans. Biden and Warren previously clashed over a 2005 bankruptcy bill that made it more difficult for individuals to get out of debt by filing for bankruptcy. Biden voted yes to the bill, which was passed. Warren, who was a Harvard law professor at the time, spoke out against the initiative. In an essay published earlier this year, Warren wrote that the bill's passage caused bankruptcy filings to permanently fall by 50% and the number of insolvent people to rise by 25%.
Other candidates to watch
Democratic presidential hopeful Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks in Rochester, New Hampshire, on November 11, 2019, as he continues his 4-day bus tour of the state. Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images
Pete Buttigieg, who served as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is known to have grappled with credit card balances himself, Rossman said. Buttigieg and his husband still reportedly have six-figure student loan debt. "He empathizes with the plight of people in their 20s and 30s who have student debt and credit card debt," Rossman said. Buttigieg's policy calls for putting an end to mandatory arbitrations, where disputes are often resolved in favor of credit card companies. Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg's plan calls for curbing high overdraft fees and aggressive debt collection practices. He also wants to make credit reporting firms more responsible for Americans' personal financial data. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., co-sponsored a bipartisan bill last year that would make it easier to fix errors on credit reports.


cnbc--2020-02-18--Trump pushes for new Roger Stone trial as judges call emergency meeting on political pressure

Roger Stone , a former adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump , leaves the Prettyman United States Courthouse after a hearing February 1 , 2019 in Washington , DC .
President Donald Trump joined calls on Tuesday for a new trial for his friend Roger Stone as a group of federal judges prepared to hold an emergency meeting on concerns of political pressure on the judiciary .
Trump 's tweets of a Fox News commentator 's remarks that a new trial is warranted for the Republican operative came hours before the judge in his case said on a conference call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled Thursday in federal court in Washington .
But Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she would postpone imposing the terms of that sentencing pending her decision on Stone 's request for a new trial .
The tweets also came less than a week after Attorney General William Barr said Trump 's tweeting about pending federal cases such as Stone 's was making it `` impossible '' for Barr to do his job .
A group of more than 1,000 former Justice Department employees on Sunday called on Barr to resign .
The former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommend a lower prison sentence for Stone than what the trial prosecutors had first recommended last week .
Trump used his Twitter feed to harshly criticize the first suggested prison term for Stone , of seven to nine years , hours after the recommendation was made .
Four Justice Department prosecutors quit the Stone case after Barr sharply reduced their sentencing recommendation , with one of those prosecutors resigning altogether from the DOJ .
Stone was convicted in November of lying to Congress about his contacts with WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it was revealed that the jury forewoman in his case had a number of social media posts critical of Trump , and retweeted another user 's posts commenting on Stone 's arrest in early 2019 .

Roger Stone, a former adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, leaves the Prettyman United States Courthouse after a hearing February 1, 2019 in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump joined calls on Tuesday for a new trial for his friend Roger Stone as a group of federal judges prepared to hold an emergency meeting on concerns of political pressure on the judiciary.
Trump's tweets of a Fox News commentator's remarks that a new trial is warranted for the Republican operative came hours before the judge in his case said on a conference call that Stone's sentencing will proceed as scheduled Thursday in federal court in Washington.
But Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she would postpone imposing the terms of that sentencing pending her decision on Stone's request for a new trial.
The tweets also came less than a week after Attorney General William Barr said Trump's tweeting about pending federal cases such as Stone's was making it "impossible" for Barr to do his job.
A group of more than 1,000 former Justice Department employees on Sunday called on Barr to resign. The former employees criticized Barr for his decision to recommend a lower prison sentence for Stone than what the trial prosecutors had first recommended last week.
Trump used his Twitter feed to harshly criticize the first suggested prison term for Stone, of seven to nine years, hours after the recommendation was made
. Four Justice Department prosecutors quit the Stone case after Barr sharply reduced their sentencing recommendation, with one of those prosecutors resigning altogether from the DOJ.
Stone was convicted in November of lying to Congress about his contacts with WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential election and of witness tampering.
Last week, it was revealed that the jury forewoman in his case had a number of social media posts critical of Trump, and retweeted another user's posts commenting on Stone's arrest in early 2019.


cnbc--2020-02-18--Mike Bloomberg releases plan to rein in Wall Street

Presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg on Tuesday rolled an ambitious plan to rein in Wall Street , echoing platforms of some of his more liberal Democratic rivals .
Bloomberg 's plan would bolster many of the reforms either put in place or strengthened as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act in response to the Great Recession , a crisis that some blamed on Wall Street banks .
The billionaire , who made his own fortune on Wall Street , has now spent at least $ 400 million in advertising for his campaign , according to Kantar Media .
Bloomberg was mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , during the financial crisis and its aftermath .
During that time , he pushed back against certain proposals to tighten banking oversight , calling them `` shortsighted '' and contending they would `` provide major advantages '' to foreign competitors .
As presidential candidate , Bloomberg appears to be moving to the left of that stance .
He said in a statement Tuesday , `` The financial system is n't working the way it should for most Americans . ''
Here are the priorities in Bloomberg 's Wall Street plan , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strengthen reforms put in place following the Great Recession to regulate banks and protect consumers , including the Volcker Rule and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau .
• Restore funding to the Office of Financial Research that monitors bank riskiness .
• Enable the Department of Justice to put individuals in jail for `` infractions . ''
Bloomberg said as president he would toughen the Volcker rule , which limits banks ' proprietary trading , or trading stocks for their own gain .
Merging mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would make the two institutions more efficient .
Bloomberg would `` restore and strengthen '' the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect consumers , '' after the agency has been weakened under President Donald Trump 's administration .
The call for increased oversight in some ways mirrors proposals from fellow presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren , an advocate of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act , who played a key roll in launching the CFPB .
Warren has made financial reform a key part of her presidential platform , including a push to increase oversight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has called `` fundamentally broken . ''

Presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg on Tuesday rolled an ambitious plan to rein in Wall Street, echoing platforms of some of his more liberal Democratic rivals.
Bloomberg's plan would bolster many of the reforms either put in place or strengthened as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act in response to the Great Recession, a crisis that some blamed on Wall Street banks.
The billionaire, who made his own fortune on Wall Street, has now spent at least $400 million in advertising for his campaign, according to Kantar Media.
Bloomberg was mayor of New York from 2002 to 2013, during the financial crisis and its aftermath. During that time, he pushed back against certain proposals to tighten banking oversight, calling them "shortsighted" and contending they would "provide major advantages" to foreign competitors.
As presidential candidate, Bloomberg appears to be moving to the left of that stance. He said in a statement Tuesday, "The financial system isn't working the way it should for most Americans."
Here are the priorities in Bloomberg's Wall Street plan, according to a campaign press release:
Strengthen reforms put in place following the Great Recession to regulate banks and protect consumers, including the Volcker Rule and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Restore funding to the Office of Financial Research that monitors bank riskiness.
Enable the Department of Justice to put individuals in jail for "infractions."
Introduce a 0.1% financial transaction tax.
Bloomberg said as president he would toughen the Volcker rule, which limits banks' proprietary trading, or trading stocks for their own gain. Merging mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into a single entity, according to the proposal, would make the two institutions more efficient.
Bloomberg would "restore and strengthen" the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect consumers," after the agency has been weakened under President Donald Trump's administration.
The call for increased oversight in some ways mirrors proposals from fellow presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren, an advocate of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, who played a key roll in launching the CFPB. Warren has made financial reform a key part of her presidential platform, including a push to increase oversight of bank deals, a process she has called "fundamentally broken."


cnbc--2020-02-18--OpEd: Think Trump is tough on Twitter? Meet Ambassador Richard Grenell

U.S. envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue , Richard Grenell speaks during a joint press conference held with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic ( not seen ) following their meeting in Belgrade , Serbia on January 24 , 2020 .
When it comes to members of the Trump administration , Twitter giveth and Twitter taketh away .
Most of the political wags and the news media have focused on the downside of President Trump 's Twitter presence since 2015 .
They 've refused to see how Trump justifiably feels the need to bypass a highly critical news media and communicate directly with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointees and other staffers , the president 's tweets can be a major problem .
Attorney General William Barr openly complained last week about how Trump 's tweets about ongoing investigations and prosecutions make it `` impossible '' to do his job .
Yet while Twitter is clearly a problem for Barr , Trump has found his ultimate tweeting wingman in U.S .
Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell .
As followers of Grenell 's Twitter feed already know , it 's a strong source of condensed and contentious pro-Trump arguments .
That includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way not all that different from Trump 's own nasty social media encounters .
Grenell may be a top diplomat , but there 's very little that 's diplomatic about his bare-fisted approach on Twitter .
Grenell 's personal story makes his conspicuous Twitter presence an even bigger asset to the White House .
As the highest ranking openly gay member of the Trump administration , Grenell proves he 's far from an example of tokenism with every statement and slamming tweet .
He 's clearly a part of the team , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's taken an aggressive lead role in the administration 's battle to decriminalize homosexuality across the globe .
Grenell also has a long history of more aggressive online behaviors , something that emerged during his brief and tumultuous tenure as the foreign policy spokesman for Mitt Romney 's 2012 presidential campaign .

U.S. envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Richard Grenell speaks during a joint press conference held with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (not seen) following their meeting in Belgrade, Serbia on January 24, 2020.
When it comes to members of the Trump administration, Twitter giveth and Twitter taketh away.
Most of the political wags and the news media have focused on the downside of President Trump's Twitter presence since 2015. They've refused to see how Trump justifiably feels the need to bypass a highly critical news media and communicate directly with the public.
But for Trump's appointees and other staffers, the president's tweets can be a major problem. Attorney General William Barr openly complained last week about how Trump's tweets about ongoing investigations and prosecutions make it "impossible" to do his job.
Yet while Twitter is clearly a problem for Barr, Trump has found his ultimate tweeting wingman in U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell. As followers of Grenell's Twitter feed already know, it's a strong source of condensed and contentious pro-Trump arguments. That includes getting into some sharper-tongued tussles online in a way not all that different from Trump's own nasty social media encounters.
Grenell may be a top diplomat, but there's very little that's diplomatic about his bare-fisted approach on Twitter.
Grenell's personal story makes his conspicuous Twitter presence an even bigger asset to the White House. As the highest ranking openly gay member of the Trump administration, Grenell proves he's far from an example of tokenism with every statement and slamming tweet.
He's clearly a part of the team, not just for show, as he's taken an aggressive lead role in the administration's battle to decriminalize homosexuality across the globe.
Grenell also has a long history of more aggressive online behaviors, something that emerged during his brief and tumultuous tenure as the foreign policy spokesman for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign.


cnbc--2020-02-18--These four challenges threaten Germany's role as defacto EU leader

MUNICH— Is it time to start worrying about Germany again ?
This past weekend 's Munich Security Conference ( MSC ) – the most significant gathering of its kind – focused on great power competition , China 's relentless rise and the West 's assumed division and decline ( captured by the MSC 's provocative theme of `` Westlessness '' ) .
What was most missing , in this Bavarian city dripping with history , was an urgently required focus on the quadruple shock challenging Germany 's role as Europe 's pillar of stability and irreplaceable leader .
Those four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of importance – are Brexit 's hit to the European balance , President Trump 's transatlantic test , Germany 's political fragmentation , and its slowing , endangered economy .
Each of those four forces tears at the fabric of the political and economic certainties that have defined post-Cold War Europe and Germany , coming in the thirtieth anniversary year of the country 's reunification .
They also raise what has been known historically as `` the German Question '' for a new era .
In short , the German Question pertains to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either been too weak ( 17th and 18th centuries ) or too strong ( late 19th and first half of 20th century ) , to live easily beside other European powers .
With the country 's unification in 1871 , a nation was born at Europe 's heart that ultimately became too powerful to be balanced by its neighbors .
Only after two world wars and the rise of European and transatlantic institutions , was this dilemma settled for a time .
Following its 1990 reunification , today 's Germany remains too weak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geopolitically ) and too strong ( economically ) to be an equal partner with the other 27 EU members .
It has grown too inwardly focused to shoulder European responsibility in the face of great power competition among the U.S. , Russia , and China .
A brief look at the quadruple shocks Germany confronts is a useful prism to study the problem .
It also makes clear how high the stakes are for its partners , European and American , in the German future .
`` Without the UK , Germany is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' writes Andreas Kluth in Bloomberg .
`` It loses a liberal soulmate , a counterweight to France , above all a counterweight to itself . ''
Little attention has been given to one of the most significant questions of Brexit , and that is how it could influence Germany and upset the European balance .
The United Kingdom 's departure makes Germany stronger and weaker simultaneously .
It is much stronger economically , and thus it will be more tempted to exert its leverage , as its share of total European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 21 % .
It will be weaker in that the political weight of the continent will move south and east to countries that are more `` dirigiste '' in their belief in state intervention .
On these issues , the UK was Germany 's crucial ally .
The most disturbing moment of MSC for me , an American son of German immigrants , was the indirect rhetorical conflict between German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
Without mentioning names , President Steinmeier used his largely ceremonial position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for disregarding alliances , which was answered a little later by Secretary Pompeo 's riposte that such thinking `` does n't reflect reality . ''
Lost in Munich was sufficient recognition that the two countries were bound both by history and the future .
Three U.S. cabinet secretaries and 41 members of Congress were in Munich over the weekend , yet even that could n't reignite the flame of common cause .
`` The democratic and peace-loving Germany everyone knows and loves today grew up in the particular circumstances of the U.S.-dominated international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' writes the historian Robert Kagan in Foreign Affairs .
Four elements had been crucial to that outcome , all of which are now in some degree of doubt .
They included unquestioned U.S. commitment to European security ; the emergence of a European and international economic system of free trade ; a Europe where democracies were ascendant and nationalism was in check ; and the establishment of European and transatlantic institutions that integrated Germany and provided a collective identity .
The erosion of the German political middle has always been perilous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1918-1933 .
With both the country 's leading political parties eroding , the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats , Germany 's political landscape is in growing question .
This week provided a reminder that Chancellor Angela Merkel 's record four terms and 14 years is nearing a close without any clear idea of what follows .
Her hand-picked successor , Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer ( known as AKK ) , announced on Monday she would step aside following a scandal in the federal state of Thuringia that involved her local party officials turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to elect a state premier .
What 's likely to follow are many months of German political uncertainty and inward-looking at a time when this year 's U.S. elections , Russia 's continued regional meddling , and a forthcoming EU-Chinese summit in Leipzig this September all require Berlin 's leadership .
European populism and nationalism have been more muted in Germany than elsewhere , but the increased weakness of the center could further feed the fringe .

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Thomas Lohnes
MUNICH— Is it time to start worrying about Germany again? This past weekend's Munich Security Conference (MSC) – the most significant gathering of its kind – focused on great power competition, China's relentless rise and the West's assumed division and decline (captured by the MSC's provocative theme of "Westlessness"). What was most missing, in this Bavarian city dripping with history, was an urgently required focus on the quadruple shock challenging Germany's role as Europe's pillar of stability and irreplaceable leader. Those four challenges – listed here in no order of importance – are Brexit's hit to the European balance, President Trump's transatlantic test, Germany's political fragmentation, and its slowing, endangered economy. Each of those four forces tears at the fabric of the political and economic certainties that have defined post-Cold War Europe and Germany, coming in the thirtieth anniversary year of the country's reunification. They also raise what has been known historically as "the German Question" for a new era. In short, the German Question pertains to the problem of a Germany that has either been too weak (17th and 18th centuries) or too strong (late 19th and first half of 20th century), to live easily beside other European powers. With the country's unification in 1871, a nation was born at Europe's heart that ultimately became too powerful to be balanced by its neighbors. Only after two world wars and the rise of European and transatlantic institutions, was this dilemma settled for a time. Following its 1990 reunification, today's Germany remains too weak to effectively lead Europe (militarily and geopolitically) and too strong (economically) to be an equal partner with the other 27 EU members. It has grown too inwardly focused to shoulder European responsibility in the face of great power competition among the U.S., Russia, and China. A brief look at the quadruple shocks Germany confronts is a useful prism to study the problem. It also makes clear how high the stakes are for its partners, European and American, in the German future.
Brexit and Germany
"Without the UK, Germany is pushed into an EU role it hates," writes Andreas Kluth in Bloomberg. "It loses a liberal soulmate, a counterweight to France, above all a counterweight to itself." Little attention has been given to one of the most significant questions of Brexit, and that is how it could influence Germany and upset the European balance. The United Kingdom's departure makes Germany stronger and weaker simultaneously. It is much stronger economically, and thus it will be more tempted to exert its leverage, as its share of total European Union GDP will grow to 25% from 21%. It will be weaker in that the political weight of the continent will move south and east to countries that are more "dirigiste" in their belief in state intervention. On these issues, the UK was Germany's crucial ally.
Trump and Germany
The most disturbing moment of MSC for me, an American son of German immigrants, was the indirect rhetorical conflict between German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Without mentioning names, President Steinmeier used his largely ceremonial position to take a swipe at President Trump for disregarding alliances, which was answered a little later by Secretary Pompeo's riposte that such thinking "doesn't reflect reality." Lost in Munich was sufficient recognition that the two countries were bound both by history and the future. Three U.S. cabinet secretaries and 41 members of Congress were in Munich over the weekend, yet even that couldn't reignite the flame of common cause. "The democratic and peace-loving Germany everyone knows and loves today grew up in the particular circumstances of the U.S.-dominated international liberal order established after World War II," writes the historian Robert Kagan in Foreign Affairs. Four elements had been crucial to that outcome, all of which are now in some degree of doubt. They included unquestioned U.S. commitment to European security; the emergence of a European and international economic system of free trade; a Europe where democracies were ascendant and nationalism was in check; and the establishment of European and transatlantic institutions that integrated Germany and provided a collective identity.
German political fragmentation
The erosion of the German political middle has always been perilous, dating back to the Weimar Republic in 1918-1933. With both the country's leading political parties eroding, the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats, Germany's political landscape is in growing question. This week provided a reminder that Chancellor Angela Merkel's record four terms and 14 years is nearing a close without any clear idea of what follows. Her hand-picked successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (known as AKK), announced on Monday she would step aside following a scandal in the federal state of Thuringia that involved her local party officials turning to the far-right Alternative for Germany party to elect a state premier. What's likely to follow are many months of German political uncertainty and inward-looking at a time when this year's U.S. elections, Russia's continued regional meddling, and a forthcoming EU-Chinese summit in Leipzig this September all require Berlin's leadership. European populism and nationalism have been more muted in Germany than elsewhere, but the increased weakness of the center could further feed the fringe.
The German economy