cnbc--2020-11-11--Saudis worry, Iran and Palestinians hope: What a Biden presidency could mean for the Middle East

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates — Joe Biden 's presidential election victory is set to usher in significant foreign policy changes , and above all , a dramatically different communication style when it comes to U.S. allies and adversaries .
The world can likely prepare to see a return to standard official procedures under Biden , rather than the `` decree-by-tweet '' policy often seen under President Donald Trump .
But while Biden 's victory elicited collective sighs of relief for many leaders in Europe , with several experiencing fractious relations with Trump , the reaction in the Middle East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because while some countries benefited from Trump 's transactional , business-like approach to diplomacy that largely left issues like human rights alone — particularly for Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates , Egypt and Israel — Trump 's hard line toward Iran and lack of support for the Palestinians also fostered heightened acrimony and tension from others in the region .
`` Biden and his foreign policy team see the world completely differently than Trump does , '' said Hussein Ibish , senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the systematic , institutionalized , alliance-centered and rules-based international order the U.S. carefully built since the end of World War II .
Trump does n't respect any of that . ''
At the same time , there will be areas of continuity .
`` Both Biden and Trump share the goal of reducing the U.S. footprint in terms of military presence in the Middle East , and that includes reducing the funding and the manpower , '' Kirsten Fontenrose , director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` Both are looking for ways to reduce the cost of being involved in the Middle East but not reduce the U.S. 's influence .
And that will be the challenge . ''
A looming question is the Biden approach to Saudi Arabia , a partner of the United States since the 1940s .
`` It is no longer guaranteed that Riyadh will remain in Washington 's good graces , '' analysts at political risk consultancy AKE Group wrote in an article late September .
Indeed , during a Democratic primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his administration would make Saudi Arabia `` the pariah that they are . ''
Officials working in the Saudi government have quietly expressed concern over less favorable policies than under Trump and what they anticipate will be a return to former President Barack Obama-era policies — particularly the Iranian nuclear deal known as the JCPOA — and the risk that could present to Gulf Arab states who see Tehran as their primary threat .
U.S.-Saudi relations saw a dramatic cooling under Obama , who supported Arab Spring uprisings , oversaw rapprochement with Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kingdom 's human rights record .
The U.S. election was followed closely in Iran , with some officials hopeful about a Biden administration 's possible willingness to revive the JCPOA and lift crushing economic sanctions in exchange for new parameters in the nuclear deal .
But that is thus far uncertain , as it 's unclear how much Iran would be willing to compromise .
Leaders 'burned ' by Trump being 'so unpredictable' But that does n't mean it was all rainbows for the past four years , said Michael Stephens , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute .
`` Some of the more powerful Middle Eastern states prefer Trump , but they 've been burned quite significantly by Trump being so unpredictable , '' Stephens said .
`` With Biden , I think they will get four years of a policy that they will understand and do n't really like and will do a lot to undermine . ''
Biden is also likely to adopt a strategic framework that includes Europe , in a significant change from Trump 's unilateral approach , analysts say .
`` Arab states like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their close relationship with the United States weakens , '' said Ryan Bohl , Middle East and North Africa analyst at Stratfor .
This is already evident in the UAE and Bahrain 's establishment of ties with Israel , something analysts expect a Biden administration to encourage , though perhaps not with the same intensity as under the direction of Trump advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner .
`` For the Biden administration , they will be looking at Saudi Arabia as the big prize on ( Israeli ) normalization , '' Fontenrose said @

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden speaks to reporters about efforts to confront the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic after meeting with members of his "Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board" in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., November 9, 2020. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Joe Biden's presidential election victory is set to usher in significant foreign policy changes, and above all, a dramatically different communication style when it comes to U.S. allies and adversaries. The world can likely prepare to see a return to standard official procedures under Biden, rather than the "decree-by-tweet" policy often seen under President Donald Trump. But while Biden's victory elicited collective sighs of relief for many leaders in Europe, with several experiencing fractious relations with Trump, the reaction in the Middle East is far less uniform. That's because while some countries benefited from Trump's transactional, business-like approach to diplomacy that largely left issues like human rights alone — particularly for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Israel — Trump's hard line toward Iran and lack of support for the Palestinians also fostered heightened acrimony and tension from others in the region. "Biden and his foreign policy team see the world completely differently than Trump does," said Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. "They want to return to the systematic, institutionalized, alliance-centered and rules-based international order the U.S. carefully built since the end of World War II. Trump doesn't respect any of that."
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At the same time, there will be areas of continuity. "Both Biden and Trump share the goal of reducing the U.S. footprint in terms of military presence in the Middle East, and that includes reducing the funding and the manpower," Kirsten Fontenrose, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council, told CNBC's "Capital Connection." "Both are looking for ways to reduce the cost of being involved in the Middle East but not reduce the U.S.'s influence. And that will be the challenge."
The big question mark: Saudi Arabia
A looming question is the Biden approach to Saudi Arabia, a partner of the United States since the 1940s. "It is no longer guaranteed that Riyadh will remain in Washington's good graces," analysts at political risk consultancy AKE Group wrote in an article late September. Indeed, during a Democratic primary debate in late 2019, Biden said his administration would make Saudi Arabia "the pariah that they are."
U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd L) and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (C) at the the Arabic Islamic American Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 21, 2017. Bandar Algaloud | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Officials working in the Saudi government have quietly expressed concern over less favorable policies than under Trump and what they anticipate will be a return to former President Barack Obama-era policies — particularly the Iranian nuclear deal known as the JCPOA — and the risk that could present to Gulf Arab states who see Tehran as their primary threat. U.S.-Saudi relations saw a dramatic cooling under Obama, who supported some Arab Spring uprisings, oversaw rapprochement with Iran and was somewhat critical of the Saudi kingdom's human rights record. The U.S. election was followed closely in Iran, with some officials hopeful about a Biden administration's possible willingness to revive the JCPOA and lift crushing economic sanctions in exchange for new parameters to the nuclear deal. But that is thus far uncertain, as it's unclear how much Iran would be willing to compromise.
Leaders 'burned' by Trump being 'so unpredictable'
Trump's administration was widely perceived as giving the Saudi kingdom a pass over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in late 2018. It also downplayed reported human rights abuses and signed massive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates despite congressional opposition.
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But that doesn't mean it was all rainbows for the past four years, said Michael Stephens, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. "Some of the more powerful Middle Eastern states prefer Trump, but they've been burned quite significantly by Trump being so unpredictable," Stephens said. "With Biden, I think they will get four years of a policy that they will understand and don't really like and will do a lot to undermine." Biden is also likely to adopt a strategic framework that includes Europe, in a significant change from Trump's unilateral approach, analysts say.
Israeli normalization and Palestinian relations
"Arab states like Saudi Arabia will be seeking allies as their close relationship with the United States weakens," said Ryan Bohl, Middle East and North Africa analyst at Stratfor. This is already evident in the UAE and Bahrain's establishment of ties with Israel, something analysts expect a Biden administration to encourage, though perhaps not with the same intensity as under the direction of Trump advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner. "For the Biden administration, they will be looking at Saudi Arabia as the big prize on (Israeli) normalization," Fontenrose said.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed display their copies of signed agreements as they participate in the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and some of its Middle East neighbors, in a strategic realignment of Middle Eastern countries against Iran, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., September 15, 2020. Tom Brenner | Reuters
Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are longtime supporters of Israel, but some Israeli officials worry, given the deterioration in U.S.-Israel relations under Obama. While Biden is unlikely to reverse any of Trump's major Israel policy moves like moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, he has voiced his aim of restoring support for Palestinians that was cut under the current administration. That includes "immediate steps to restore economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, reopen the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem, and work to reopen the PLO mission in Washington," Harris said in early November. And according to the Israel-UAE normalization deal, the former has pledged to freeze annexation efforts in the West Bank through 2024, the length of the next presidential term. More likely, however, the president-elect "will simply move away from Trump's pro-annexation policies and return to the traditional U.S. theoretical endorsement of a two-state solution without doing much to advance it, because there's nothing to work with on either side," Ibish said. "Palestinian leaders are definitely counting on Biden ... so that they can repair relations with Washington, which is really important to them."


cnbc--2020-11-11--Supreme Court appears willing to leave Obamacare in place

`` I think it 's hard for you to argue that Congress intended the entire act to fall if the mandate was struck down , '' Roberts told Hawkins , noting that the same Congress `` did not even try to repeal the rest of the act . ''
Roberts was appointed by President George W. Bush .
But Roberts and Kavanaugh suggested that would not doom the rest of the law .
The court 's six conservatives seemed sympathetic to arguments made by Kyle Hawkins , the Texas solicitor general , and acting Justice Department Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was stripped of an accompanying penalty .
The Trump administration , via the Department of Justice , argued in favor of the red states ' challenge .
The Supreme Court upheld the mandate in 2012 under Congress 's taxing power , but Texas and other Republican-led states argued that the reduction of the penalty made that justification no longer workable , and as a result the whole Affordable Care Act must be struck down .
The individual mandate provision , as enacted in 2010 , requires most Americans to obtain health insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress reduced the penalty to $ 0 in 2017 .
`` Today , I think the winner in this case was the Affordable Care Act and Congress , '' Michele Goodwin , a law professor at the University of California , Irvine , said in an interview after arguments concluded .
Such a decision would leave in place the central aspects of the 900-plus page legislation , which collectively have transformed American health-care over the past decade , from the expansion of Medicaid in dozens of states to the requirement that insurers cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Roberts , who cast the key vote in 2012 upholding Obamacare , and Justice Brett Kavanaugh , an appointee of President Donald Trump , suggested that the court may cast aside a challenged provision of the law , known as the individual mandate , while leaving the rest of it standing .
During arguments in a case seeking to eliminate Obamacare , two of the court 's conservatives on Tuesday signaled they would not strike down the landmark legislation .
The Affordable Care Act seems likely to withstand its third challenge at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some Republican lawmakers may have wanted the Supreme Court to strike down the law , `` but that 's not our job . ''
Kavanaugh told Donald Verrilli , who was solicitor general under former President Barack Obama , that `` I tend to agree with you that this is a very straightforward case '' and that under the court 's precedents `` we would excise the mandate and leave the rest of the act in place . ''
Verrilli was arguing on behalf of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives , which along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by California was defending Obamacare .
Michael Mongan , the solicitor general of California , argued on behalf of the blue states .
Later , Kavanaugh told Hawkins that it `` sure seems '' like Congress in 2017 wanted to lower the individual mandate penalty without getting rid of the Affordable Care Act 's other provisions , such as its protections for those with preexisting conditions .
While Republicans in Congress repeatedly threatened to repeal the entire Affordable Care Act , the party was never able to muster a majority in the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An effort at the `` skinny repeal '' of certain provisions , including the individual mandate , failed in 2017 after the late GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona cast a vote against the effort .
Michael Kimberly , a partner at the law firm McDermott Will & Emery who co-chairs the firm 's Supreme Court and appellate practice group , said that Kavanaugh 's comments were `` strikingly direct . ''
Kimberly said that Kavanaugh 's comments were out of character , suggesting the judge was trying to signal how he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think the defenders have reason for cautious optimism , '' Kimberly said .
The court 's three liberals , Justices Stephen Breyer , Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan appeared ready to side with the blue states and the House of Representatives .
It takes five votes to gain a majority on the nine-judge panel .
The Democratic-appointees seemed skeptical of the red states ' argument that the mandate was unconstitutional , and sympathetic to California 's claim that those states lacked even the ability to sue , given their failure to prove that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The only thing that changed is something that made the law less coercive , '' Kagan said .
Breyer suggested that allowing the red states to bring their claim could open up challenges to all sorts of laws that would be unlawful if they included penalties , such as hypothetical statutes calling for citizens to plant trees , clean up yards or buy war bonds .
The court 's conservatives seemed more amenable to the claim from red states and the Justice Department that the law 's challengers had been harmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a law requiring everyone to mow their lawn once a week , even if there was no penalty , there `` will certainly be injury '' to those who did n't comply .
Justice Clarence Thomas said that such a law could still have a `` chilling effect . ''
A ruling siding with the red states by invalidating the individual mandate , but with the blue states by allowing the bulk of the Affordable Care Act to remain standing , would represent a win for Democrats .
Health-care activists said that if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Care Act , more than 20 million people could lose their insurance .
The dispute , which was argued in the shadow of last week 's presidential election , was a central focus of Democrats during the confirmation hearings for Justice Amy Coney Barrett last month .
After the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , a liberal , died in September , Democrats sought to turn the fight for her replacement , Barrett , into a referendum on the law .
In that regard , Barrett 's questioning on Tuesday was anticlimactic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into her thinking about the legal issues .
The case had also become a political flash point in the race between Trump and President-elect Joe Biden , who have sketched out vastly different visions for the future of American health care .
Trump pushed to gut the Affordable Care Act , while Biden 's agenda calls for building on the law , which the former vice president played a role in shepherding through Congress in the first place .
The political stakes were amplified by the pandemic , which has killed more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care a more salient issue .
Efforts to contain the pandemic also caused a devastating recession , which has resulted in millions losing their health-care coverage .
`` The elephant in the room happens to be the political tenor behind all of these issues , '' Goodwin said .
She noted that given Trump 's attacks on the federal judiciary , the chief justice has had to project an air of neutrality more than previous leaders of the court .
`` The chief justice is having to call balls and strikes , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear the court does abide by the rule of law , and the court under his jurisdiction will not be partisan , '' Goodwin said .
`` How much of that he controls is limited , '' she added .
`` The reality is this is a court that has been affected by the political tenor of these times . ''
Ahead of the case coming to the Supreme Court , two lower courts sided with Texas , including the 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals court , and agreed that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court , though , did not say whether the rest of the Affordable Care Act would also have to be struck down .
Arguments , which were scheduled to last for 80 minutes , began at 10 a.m .
ET and concluded around noon .
They were conducted by phone as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and streamed live to the public .
A decision in the case , known as California v. Texas , No .
19-840 , is expected toward the end of June .

"I think it's hard for you to argue that Congress intended the entire act to fall if the mandate was struck down," Roberts told Hawkins, noting that the same Congress "did not even try to repeal the rest of the act." Roberts was appointed by President George W. Bush.
But Roberts and Kavanaugh suggested that would not doom the rest of the law.
The court's six conservatives seemed sympathetic to arguments made by Kyle Hawkins, the Texas solicitor general, and acting Justice Department Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall that the individual mandate became unconstitutional when it was stripped of an accompanying penalty.
The Trump administration, via the Department of Justice, argued in favor of the red states' challenge.
The Supreme Court upheld the mandate in 2012 under Congress's taxing power, but Texas and other Republican-led states argued that the reduction of the penalty made that justification no longer workable, and as a result the whole Affordable Care Act must be struck down.
The individual mandate provision, as enacted in 2010, requires most Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a penalty. The GOP-controlled Congress reduced the penalty to $0 in 2017.
"Today, I think the winner in this case was the Affordable Care Act and Congress," Michele Goodwin, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, said in an interview after arguments concluded.
Such a decision would leave in place the central aspects of the 900-plus page legislation, which collectively have transformed American health-care over the past decade, from the expansion of Medicaid in dozens of states to the requirement that insurers cover those with preexisting conditions.
Chief Justice John Roberts, who cast the key vote in 2012 upholding Obamacare, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, an appointee of President Donald Trump, suggested that the court may cast aside a challenged provision of the law, known as the individual mandate, while leaving the rest of it standing.
During arguments in a case seeking to eliminate Obamacare, two of the court's conservatives on Tuesday signaled they would not strike down the landmark legislation.
The Affordable Care Act seems likely to withstand its third challenge at the Supreme Court.
Roberts acknowledged that some Republican lawmakers may have wanted the Supreme Court to strike down the law, "but that's not our job."
Kavanaugh told Donald Verrilli, who was solicitor general under former President Barack Obama, that "I tend to agree with you that this is a very straightforward case" and that under the court's precedents "we would excise the mandate and leave the rest of the act in place."
Verrilli was arguing on behalf of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, which along with a coalition of Democratic states led by California was defending Obamacare. Michael Mongan, the solicitor general of California, argued on behalf of the blue states.
Later, Kavanaugh told Hawkins that it "sure seems" like Congress in 2017 wanted to lower the individual mandate penalty without getting rid of the Affordable Care Act's other provisions, such as its protections for those with preexisting conditions.
While Republicans in Congress repeatedly threatened to repeal the entire Affordable Care Act, the party was never able to muster a majority in the House and Senate willing to do so. An effort at the "skinny repeal" of certain provisions, including the individual mandate, failed in 2017 after the late GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona cast a vote against the effort.
Michael Kimberly, a partner at the law firm McDermott Will & Emery who co-chairs the firm's Supreme Court and appellate practice group, said that Kavanaugh's comments were "strikingly direct."
Kimberly said that Kavanaugh's comments were out of character, suggesting the judge was trying to signal how he would rule in the case.
"I think the defenders have reason for cautious optimism," Kimberly said.
The court's three liberals, Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan appeared ready to side with the blue states and the House of Representatives. It takes five votes to gain a majority on the nine-judge panel.
The Democratic-appointees seemed skeptical of the red states' argument that the mandate was unconstitutional, and sympathetic to California's claim that those states lacked even the ability to sue, given their failure to prove that they had been harmed by the law.
"The only thing that changed is something that made the law less coercive," Kagan said.
Breyer suggested that allowing the red states to bring their claim could open up challenges to all sorts of laws that would be unlawful if they included penalties, such as hypothetical statutes calling for citizens to plant trees, clean up yards or buy war bonds.
The court's conservatives seemed more amenable to the claim from red states and the Justice Department that the law's challengers had been harmed.
Roberts noted that if Congress passed a law requiring everyone to mow their lawn once a week, even if there was no penalty, there "will certainly be injury" to those who didn't comply. Justice Clarence Thomas said that such a law could still have a "chilling effect."
A ruling siding with the red states by invalidating the individual mandate, but with the blue states by allowing the bulk of the Affordable Care Act to remain standing, would represent a win for Democrats.
Health-care activists said that if the Supreme Court struck down the Affordable Care Act, more than 20 million people could lose their insurance.
The dispute, which was argued in the shadow of last week's presidential election, was a central focus of Democrats during the confirmation hearings for Justice Amy Coney Barrett last month.
After the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal, died in September, Democrats sought to turn the fight for her replacement, Barrett, into a referendum on the law.
In that regard, Barrett's questioning on Tuesday was anticlimactic, as it didn't provide much insight into her thinking about the legal issues.
The case had also become a political flash point in the race between Trump and President-elect Joe Biden, who have sketched out vastly different visions for the future of American health care.
Trump pushed to gut the Affordable Care Act, while Biden's agenda calls for building on the law, which the former vice president played a role in shepherding through Congress in the first place.
The political stakes were amplified by the pandemic, which has killed more than 230,000 in the U.S. and made health care a more salient issue. Efforts to contain the pandemic also caused a devastating recession, which has resulted in millions losing their health-care coverage.
"The elephant in the room happens to be the political tenor behind all of these issues," Goodwin said. She noted that given Trump's attacks on the federal judiciary, the chief justice has had to project an air of neutrality more than previous leaders of the court.
"The chief justice is having to call balls and strikes, and in such a way that it is clear the court does abide by the rule of law, and the court under his jurisdiction will not be partisan," Goodwin said.
"How much of that he controls is limited," she added. "The reality is this is a court that has been affected by the political tenor of these times."
Ahead of the case coming to the Supreme Court, two lower courts sided with Texas, including the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals court, and agreed that the individual mandate was unlawful. The appeals court, though, did not say whether the rest of the Affordable Care Act would also have to be struck down.
Arguments, which were scheduled to last for 80 minutes, began at 10 a.m. ET and concluded around noon. They were conducted by phone as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and streamed live to the public.
A decision in the case, known as California v. Texas, No. 19-840, is expected toward the end of June.


cnbc--2020-11-12--Saudis worry, Iran and Palestinians hope: What a Biden presidency could mean for the Middle East

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates — Joe Biden 's presidential election victory is set to usher in significant foreign policy changes , and above all , a dramatically different communication style when it comes to U.S. allies and adversaries .
The world can likely prepare to see a return to standard official procedures under Biden , rather than the `` decree-by-tweet '' policy often seen under President Donald Trump .
But while Biden 's victory elicited collective sighs of relief for many leaders in Europe , with several experiencing fractious relations with Trump , the reaction in the Middle East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because while some countries benefited from Trump 's transactional , business-like approach to diplomacy that largely left issues like human rights alone — particularly for Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates , Egypt and Israel — Trump 's hard line toward Iran and lack of support for the Palestinians also fostered heightened acrimony and tension from others in the region .
`` Biden and his foreign policy team see the world completely differently than Trump does , '' said Hussein Ibish , senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the systematic , institutionalized , alliance-centered and rules-based international order the U.S. carefully built since the end of World War II .
Trump does n't respect any of that . ''
At the same time , there will be areas of continuity .
`` Both Biden and Trump share the goal of reducing the U.S. footprint in terms of military presence in the Middle East , and that includes reducing the funding and the manpower , '' Kirsten Fontenrose , director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` Both are looking for ways to reduce the cost of being involved in the Middle East but not reduce the U.S. 's influence .
And that will be the challenge . ''
A looming question is the Biden approach to Saudi Arabia , a partner of the United States since the 1940s .
`` It is no longer guaranteed that Riyadh will remain in Washington 's good graces , '' analysts at political risk consultancy AKE Group wrote in an article late September .
Indeed , during a Democratic primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his administration would make Saudi Arabia `` the pariah that they are . ''
Officials working in the Saudi government have quietly expressed concern over less favorable policies than under Trump and what they anticipate will be a return to former President Barack Obama-era policies — particularly the Iranian nuclear deal known as the JCPOA — and the risk that could present to Gulf Arab states who see Tehran as their primary threat .
U.S.-Saudi relations saw a dramatic cooling under Obama , who supported some Arab Spring uprisings , oversaw rapprochement with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saudi kingdom 's human rights record .
The U.S. election was followed closely in Iran , with some officials hopeful about a Biden administration 's possible willingness to revive the JCPOA and lift crushing economic sanctions in exchange for new parameters to the nuclear deal .
But that is thus far uncertain , as it 's unclear how much Iran would be willing to compromise .
Leaders 'burned ' by Trump being 'so unpredictable' But that does n't mean it was all rainbows for the past four years , said Michael Stephens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research Institute .
`` Some of the more powerful Middle Eastern states prefer Trump , but they 've been burned quite significantly by Trump being so unpredictable , '' Stephens said .
`` With Biden , I think they will get four years of a policy that they will understand and do n't really like and will do a lot to undermine . ''
Biden is also likely to adopt a strategic framework that includes Europe , in a significant change from Trump 's unilateral approach , analysts say .
`` Arab states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as their close relationship with the United States weakens , '' said Ryan Bohl , Middle East and North Africa analyst at Stratfor .
This is already evident in the UAE and Bahrain 's establishment of ties with Israel , something analysts expect a Biden administration to encourage , though perhaps not with the same intensity as under the direction of Trump advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner .
`` For the Biden administration , they will be looking at Saudi Arabia as the big prize on ( Israeli ) normalization , '' Fontenrose @ @


cnbc--2020-11-12--Trump bans investments in companies that White House says aid China's military

U.S. President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with China 's President Xi Jinping during the G-20 leaders summit in Osaka , Japan , June 29 , 2019 .
That investment `` continues to allow the PRC to directly threaten the United States homeland and United States forces overseas , including by developing and deploying weapons of mass destruction , advanced conventional weapons , and malicious cyber-enabled actions against the United States and its people . ''
`` The People 's Republic of China ( PRC ) is increasingly exploiting United States capital to resource and to enable the development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and other security apparatuses , '' the president said in the order .
The order prohibits American companies and individuals from owning shares — outright or through investment funds — in companies the administration says help the advancement of the People 's Liberation Army .
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order barring Americans from investing in a collection of Chinese companies that the White House believes support Beijing 's military .
The ban will take effect starting 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 11 , 2021 , and targets 31 companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Communist Chinese military compan [ ies ] . ''
The list of firms includes large state-run aerospace and construction companies , as well as technology and communications companies such as Inspur Group , Huawei and China Telecommunications Corp .
The U.S. contends that these companies enable China 's military evolution through access to advanced technologies and expertise , and as a result , have in part led to Beijing 's aggressive global expansion .
An official for President-elect Joe Biden 's transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman for BlackRock , the globe 's largest asset manager , said the firm is still reviewing the details of the order .
The order comes after months of warnings from Trump 's national security and economic teams that more drastic measures could be taken to curb Americans ' exposure to companies that either support China 's military ambitions or fail to meet U.S. disclosure and audit standards .
National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow and national security advisor Robert O'Brien have led the administration 's calls for a crackdown on U.S. investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's action serves to protect American investors from unintentionally providing capital that goes to enhancing the capabilities of the People 's Liberation Army and People 's Republic of China intelligence services , '' O'Brien said in a statement on Thursday .
Beijing 's intelligence services `` routinely target American citizens and businesses through cyber operations , and directly threaten the critical infrastructure , economy , and military of America and its allies and partners around the world , '' he added .
In May , Trump and the U.S. Labor Department directed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retirement dollars to stop plans to invest in Chinese companies .
Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia warned the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board at the time that its current plan to invest federal savings would place `` billions of dollars in retirement savings in risky companies that pose a threat to U.S. national security . ''
The labor secretary , who cited bipartisan calls to restrict U.S. investment in Chinese stocks , wrote that the president is opposed to the board 's 2017 decision to allow its international fund to track an index that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security and investor risk concerns .
To invest in funds that include Chinese companies would `` place millions of federal employees in the untenable position of choosing between forgoing any investment in international equities , or placing billions of dollars in retirement savings in risky companies that pose a threat to U.S. national security , '' Scalia wrote .

U.S. President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G-20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019.
That investment "continues to allow the PRC to directly threaten the United States homeland and United States forces overseas, including by developing and deploying weapons of mass destruction, advanced conventional weapons, and malicious cyber-enabled actions against the United States and its people."
"The People's Republic of China (PRC) is increasingly exploiting United States capital to resource and to enable the development and modernization of its military, intelligence, and other security apparatuses," the president said in the order.
The order prohibits American companies and individuals from owning shares — outright or through investment funds — in companies the administration says help the advancement of the People's Liberation Army.
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order barring Americans from investing in a collection of Chinese companies that the White House believes support Beijing's military.
The ban will take effect starting 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2021, and targets 31 companies identified by the Department of Defense as "Communist Chinese military compan[ies]."
The list of firms includes large state-run aerospace and construction companies, as well as technology and communications companies such as Inspur Group, Huawei and China Telecommunications Corp.
The U.S. contends that these companies enable China's military evolution through access to advanced technologies and expertise, and as a result, have in part led to Beijing's aggressive global expansion.
An official for President-elect Joe Biden's transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the newly signed order. A spokesman for BlackRock, the globe's largest asset manager, said the firm is still reviewing the details of the order.
The order comes after months of warnings from Trump's national security and economic teams that more drastic measures could be taken to curb Americans' exposure to companies that either support China's military ambitions or fail to meet U.S. disclosure and audit standards.
National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow and national security advisor Robert O'Brien have led the administration's calls for a crackdown on U.S. investment in Chinese companies.
"The President's action serves to protect American investors from unintentionally providing capital that goes to enhancing the capabilities of the People's Liberation Army and People's Republic of China intelligence services," O'Brien said in a statement on Thursday.
Beijing's intelligence services "routinely target American citizens and businesses through cyber operations, and directly threaten the critical infrastructure, economy, and military of America and its allies and partners around the world," he added.
In May, Trump and the U.S. Labor Department directed the board tasked with overseeing billions in federal retirement dollars to stop plans to invest in Chinese companies.
Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia warned the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board at the time that its current plan to invest federal savings would place "billions of dollars in retirement savings in risky companies that pose a threat to U.S. national security."
The labor secretary, who cited bipartisan calls to restrict U.S. investment in Chinese stocks, wrote that the president is opposed to the board's 2017 decision to allow its international fund to track an index that includes China-based stocks, based on national security and investor risk concerns.
To invest in funds that include Chinese companies would "place millions of federal employees in the untenable position of choosing between forgoing any investment in international equities, or placing billions of dollars in retirement savings in risky companies that pose a threat to U.S. national security," Scalia wrote.
— CNBC's Christina Wilkie contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-11-12--Senior GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley says Biden should receive classified intelligence briefings from Trum

Senior GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley says Biden should receive classified intelligence briefings from Trump administration

U.S .
Senator Chuck Grassley ( R-IA ) speaks during U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett 's confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington , D.C. , October 13 , 2020 .
NBC News and other outlets projected over the weekend that Biden would defeat President Donald Trump 's reelection bid .
But Trump has not conceded , and the Democrat 's transition efforts have been stymied by a key federal agency 's refusal to sign a letter of `` ascertainment `` that acknowledges Biden as the winner .
Spokesmen from the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to CNBC 's requests for comment on Grassley 's remarks .
The White House did not immediately provide comment .
`` I would think — especially on classified briefings — the answer is yes , '' Grassley said when asked if Biden should have access to the Presidential Daily Brief , or PDB , during his transition into the White House .
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence told NBC in a statement this week that it will not get involved with Biden 's transition efforts until that key agency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determination .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , asked in a Fox News interview earlier Thursday whether Biden should be allowed to read the PDBs , said , `` That would be a question more for the White House . ''
Speaking to NBC later in the morning , McEnany added : `` We are following all statutory requirements .
That 's that . ''
Grassley , the most senior Republican in the Senate and the chairman of its powerful Finance Committee , is not the only member of his party to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily intelligence briefings .
Sen. James Lankford , R-Okla. , said in a radio interview Wednesday that he would intervene if the president-elect is not receiving the briefings by the end of the week .
`` If that 's not occurring by Friday , I will step in as well and to be able to push them and say , 'This needs to occur , ' so that regardless of the outcome of the election whichever way that it goes , people can be ready for that actual task , '' said Lankford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs panel .
While a handful of Republicans in Congress have acknowledged Biden as president-elect , most have said that the Trump campaign is within its rights to pursue legal action in the battleground states that helped Biden win the election .
The campaign has filed lawsuits in Michigan , Pennsylvania , Nevada , Georgia and Arizona — all states where Biden either leads Trump or is projected to win .
Trump , meanwhile , has amplified a barrage of conspiracy theories to suggest that widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election against him .
No evidence of widespread voter fraud has surfaced .

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) speaks during U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., October 13, 2020.
NBC News and other outlets projected over the weekend that Biden would defeat President Donald Trump's reelection bid. But Trump has not conceded, and the Democrat's transition efforts have been stymied by a key federal agency's refusal to sign a letter of " ascertainment " that acknowledges Biden as the winner.
Spokesmen from the Trump and Biden campaigns did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment on Grassley's remarks. The White House did not immediately provide comment.
"I would think — especially on classified briefings — the answer is yes," Grassley said when asked if Biden should have access to the Presidential Daily Brief, or PDB, during his transition into the White House.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence told NBC in a statement this week that it will not get involved with Biden's transition efforts until that key agency, the General Services Administration, makes its determination.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, asked in a Fox News interview earlier Thursday whether Biden should be allowed to read the PDBs, said, "That would be a question more for the White House."
Speaking to NBC later in the morning, McEnany added: "We are following all statutory requirements. That's that."
Grassley, the most senior Republican in the Senate and the chairman of its powerful Finance Committee, is not the only member of his party to insist Biden be granted access to the daily intelligence briefings. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said in a radio interview Wednesday that he would intervene if the president-elect is not receiving the briefings by the end of the week.
"If that's not occurring by Friday, I will step in as well and to be able to push them and say, 'This needs to occur,' so that regardless of the outcome of the election whichever way that it goes, people can be ready for that actual task," said Lankford, who chairs a key oversight subcommittee on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs panel.
While a handful of Republicans in Congress have acknowledged Biden as president-elect, most have said that the Trump campaign is within its rights to pursue legal action in the battleground states that helped Biden win the election. The campaign has filed lawsuits in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia and Arizona — all states where Biden either leads Trump or is projected to win.
Trump, meanwhile, has amplified a barrage of conspiracy theories to suggest that widespread voter fraud has "rigged" the election against him. No evidence of widespread voter fraud has surfaced.


cnbc--2020-11-12--Billionaire Trump donors Liz and Dick Uihlein test positive for coronavirus

Elizabeth Uihlein ( L ) and Jacob Peters arrive for the State Dinner at The White House honoring Australian PM Morrison on September 20 , 2019 in Washington , DC .
Liz and Dick Uihlein , billionaire owners of the shipping supply company Uline , and two of the Republican Party 's biggest donors , have tested positive for the coronavirus , a family spokesman confirmed Thursday to CNBC .
Liz Uihlein , who with her husband is a prominent backer of President Donald Trump , has been critical of government restrictions issued in response to the Covid-19 pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID .
After all these long months , I thought we 'd never get it , '' Liz Uihlein , Uline 's president and CEO , wrote employees in a statement Wednesday , which was obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel .
Liz Uihlein 's statement referenced Trump 's own infection with the coronavirus last month , in the weeks before the presidential eleciotn .
`` Well , Trump go ( sic ) it ...
If we had not been around people with COVID , we would not have been tested , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Pleasant Prairie , Wisconsin .
A Uihlein family spokesman told CNBC , `` The email being reported in the media is authentic and was distributed to Uline staff on Nov. 11 on behalf of Liz Uihlein . ''
`` Liz was exposed to Covid-19 by a personal friend , '' the spokesman said .
`` Upon the discovery of the exposure , Liz was tested . ''
The spokesman also said that , despite media reports to the contrary , `` Neither Liz nor Dick attended an event at the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election night party was held in the East Room of the White House on that day .
Since then , several people who did attend that event have since tested positive for Covid-19 .
They include White House chief of staff Mark Meadows , Trump campaign advisor Corey Lewandowski , Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson , conservative activist David Bossie , and White House political affairs director Brian Jack .
The Uihleins , who are in their 70s , are ranked by the donation-tracking site OpenSecrets.org as the fifth largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political spending organizations , having contributed a whopping $ 62.8 million to conservative groups this election cycle .
In 2018 , when the Uihleins donated almost $ 40 million to such groups , The New York Times published a profile of them under the headline , `` The Most Powerful Conservative Couple You 've Never Heard Of . ''
Richard Uihlein is a descendant of a founder of the Schlitz beer company .
Liz Uihlein , in an interview with The Guardian newspaper last April , criticized Wisconsin 's stay-at-home orders issued in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
`` It 's overhyped , '' Uihlein said of the virus in that interview .
`` And I do n't wish anybody ill will .
You know I do n't wish that , but I think it hurts certain ages in certain places and largely in a lot of parts of the world .
In the country it 's not as rampant as the press would have you make it . ''
That interview came weeks after the Times reported in late March — as numerous countries around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Covid-19 concerns — that Uline had `` kept its work force going through the week , despite complaints from employees , including those crowded into its call centers , working side-by-side in cubicles . ''
`` Nothing 's really changed , '' said a Uline worker quoted by the Times .
`` It 's just nerve-racking . ''
The Times reported in that same article that Uline employees had received an email from the Uihlein family touting `` huge orders '' from the White House in the past week .
On the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspaper reported , a Uline call center manager sent workers a note saying , `` If you , or family members , are under the weather with cold/allergies — or anything aside from Covid-19 ... please do NOT tell your peers about the symptoms & your assumptions .
By doing so , you are causing unnecessary panic in the office . ''
In August , Liz Uihlein was reportedly granted an exemption from Canada 's two-week mandatory quarantine for foreign visitors when she flew there on a private jet to visit a Uline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told CBC News in Canada that Liz Uihlein and two company executives were given formal exemptions from the rules , which had been in effect since March .
Canada 's minister of public safety later said that the decision to allow Uline executives to visit without quarantining was made by Canada Border Services Agency officers and that their `` entry should not have been provided . ''
`` CBC News has learned that Halton Regional Police officers were sent to the Uline offices in Milton on the morning of Aug. 26 to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitors were holding large group meetings where no one was wearing a mask , '' the outlet reported .
In a statement issued to CNBC on Thursday before the family spokesman issued the statement confirming that the Uihleins have Covid-19 , Uline said , `` The health and safety of Uline employees continues to be our top priority . ''
`` Uline has instituted numerous changes to normal operating policies to respond to COVID-19 with health and safety in mind , '' the company said .
`` As we are made aware of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to promptly notify others who may be exposed to the virus , so the proper protocols can be quickly put into place , '' the company said .
Trump tested positive for Covid-19 in early October , as did first lady Melania Trump , their son Barron , and more than 30 other people connected to the White House , to the president 's reelection campaign and to a White House event held in late September formally announcing his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
Trump has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handling of the coronavirus crisis , which has led to more than 10 million infections in the United States , and more than 240,000 deaths .
In the past week , the number of daily new cases of Covid-19 has shattered records .
Trump , who originally said the virus would not spread , has said at times that the virus would miraculously disappear , condemned state restrictions designed to limit the spread of the virus , and suggested absurd ideas for treating Covid-19 , including injecting disinfectants into people .

Elizabeth Uihlein (L) and Jacob Peters arrive for the State Dinner at The White House honoring Australian PM Morrison on September 20, 2019 in Washington, DC.
Liz and Dick Uihlein, billionaire owners of the shipping supply company Uline and two of the Republican Party's biggest donors, have tested positive for the coronavirus, a family spokesman confirmed Thursday to CNBC.
Liz Uihlein, who with her husband is a prominent backer of President Donald Trump, has been critical of government restrictions issued in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Dick and I tested positive for COVID. After all these long months, I thought we'd never get it," Liz Uihlein, Uline's president and CEO, wrote employees in a statement Wednesday, which was obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Liz Uihlein's statement referenced Trump's own infection with the coronavirus last month, in the weeks before the presidential election.
"Well, Trump [got] it ... If we had not been around people with COVID, we would not have been tested," she wrote. The company is based in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
A Uihlein family spokesman told CNBC, "The email being reported in the media is authentic and was distributed to Uline staff on Nov. 11 on behalf of Liz Uihlein."
"Liz was exposed to Covid-19 by a personal friend," the spokesman said. "Upon the discovery of the exposure, Liz was tested."
The spokesman also said that, despite media reports to the contrary, "Neither Liz nor Dick attended an event at the White House on Nov. 3."
An election night party was held in the East Room of the White House on that day.
Since then, several people who did attend that event have tested positive for Covid-19. They include White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Trump campaign advisor Corey Lewandowski, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, conservative activist David Bossie and White House political affairs director Brian Jack.
The Uihleins, who are in their 70s, are ranked by the donation-tracking site OpenSecrets.org as the fifth-largest donors in the United States to outside political spending organizations, having contributed a whopping $62.8 million to conservative groups this election cycle.
In 2018, when the Uihleins donated almost $40 million to such groups, The New York Times published a profile of them under the headline, "The Most Powerful Conservative Couple You've Never Heard Of."
Richard Uihlein is a descendant of a founder of the Schlitz beer company.
Liz Uihlein, in an interview with The Guardian newspaper in April, criticized Wisconsin's stay-at-home orders issued in the early weeks of the pandemic in the United States.
"It's overhyped," Uihlein said of the virus in that interview.
"And I don't wish anybody ill will. You know I don't wish that, but I think it hurts certain ages in certain places and largely in a lot of parts of the world. In the country it's not as rampant as the press would have you make it."
That interview came weeks after the Times reported in late March — as numerous countries around the world told workers to stay home because of Covid-19 concerns — that Uline had "kept its work force going through the week, despite complaints from employees, including those crowded into its call centers, working side-by-side in cubicles."
"Nothing's really changed," said a Uline worker quoted by the Times. "It's just nerve-racking."
The Times reported in that same article that Uline employees had received an email from the Uihlein family touting "huge orders" from the White House in the past week.
On the same day as that email, the newspaper reported, a Uline call center manager sent workers a note saying, "If you, or family members, are under the weather with cold/allergies — or anything aside from Covid-19 ... please do NOT tell your peers about the symptoms & your assumptions. By doing so, you are causing unnecessary panic in the office."
In August, Liz Uihlein was reportedly granted an exemption from Canada's two-week mandatory quarantine for foreign visitors when she flew there on a private jet to visit a Uline office and warehouse.
A company spokesman told CBC News in Canada that Liz Uihlein and two company executives were given formal exemptions from the rules, which had been in effect since March.
Canada's minister of public safety later said that the decision to allow Uline executives to visit without quarantining was made by Canada Border Services Agency officers and that their "entry should not have been provided."
"CBC News has learned that Halton Regional Police officers were sent to the Uline offices in Milton on the morning of Aug. 26 to follow up on a complaint that the American visitors were holding large group meetings where no one was wearing a mask," the outlet reported.
In a statement issued to CNBC on Thursday, before the family spokesman issued the statement confirming that the Uihleins have Covid-19, Uline said, "The health and safety of Uline employees continues to be our top priority."
"Uline has instituted numerous changes to normal operating policies to respond to COVID-19 with health and safety in mind," the company said.
"As we are made aware of positive cases among Uline personnel, we continue to promptly notify others who may be exposed to the virus, so the proper protocols can be quickly put into place," the company said.
Trump tested positive for Covid-19 in early October, as did first lady Melania Trump, their son Barron, and more than 30 other people connected to the White House, to the president's reelection campaign and to a White House event held in late September formally announcing his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Trump has been blasted since early this year for his handling of the coronavirus crisis, which has led to more than 10 million infections and more than 240,000 deaths in the United States. In the past week, the number of daily new cases of Covid-19 has shattered records.
Trump, who originally said the virus would not spread, has said at times that the virus would miraculously disappear, condemned state restrictions designed to limit the spread of the virus, and suggested absurd ideas for treating Covid-19, including injecting disinfectants into people.


cnbc--2020-11-13--DOJ says ex-prosecutor Acosta showed poor judgment in 2007 sweetheart deal with sex criminal Jeffrey

DOJ says ex-prosecutor Acosta showed poor judgment in 2007 sweetheart deal with sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein

Charges against Jeffery Epstein were announced on July 8 , 2019 in New York City .
Epstein will be charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors .
An internal Justice Department investigation found that a top federal prosecutor `` exercised poor judgment '' in cutting a no-plea prosecution deal with alleged child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein in 2007 but concluded that prosecutors had not broken the law or engaged in professional misconduct .
The report by the Justice Department 's Office of Professional Responsibility also found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miami , Alexander Acosta , had closed the federal investigation into Epstein at that time `` before significant investigative steps were completed . ''
Sen. Ben Sasse , R-Neb.
, blasted the Justice Department for its report on prosecutors including Acosta , who resigned last year as U.S. Labor secretary after outrage over the non-prosecution deal .
`` Letting a well-connected billionaire get away with child rape and international sex trafficking isn ’ t 'poor judgment ' — it is a disgusting failure , '' Sasse said in a statement .
`` Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be rotting behind bars today , but the Justice Department failed Epstein 's victims at every turn , '' said Sasse , who is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Oversight Subcommittee .
The OPR investigation was launched after Sasse requested it in late 2018 , on the heels of an explosive report in the Miami Herald about the non-prosecution agreement .
At the time of that 2007 deal , Epstein , who had been friends with President Donald Trump and Bill Clinton , Britain 's Prince Andrew and other wealthy people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of teenage girls in West Palm Beach , Florida .
In his agreement with Acosta , who at the time was U.S. attorney for South Florida , Epstein was required to plead guilty to state crimes in Florida , including one related to paying an underage girl for sexual services .
In exchange , Acosta agreed not to prosecute Epstein or several suspected co-conspirators on federal charges related to alleged sexual misconduct with minors .
Epstein , who pleaded guilty in the state case in 2008 , ended up serving just 13 months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each day on work release .
As a result of his conviction , he was registered as a sex offender .
The Justice Department , in a statement Thursday , said , `` While OPR did not find that Department attorneys engaged in professional misconduct , OPR concluded that the victims were not treated with the forthrightness and sensitivity expected by the Department . ''
`` OPR also concluded that former U.S. Attorney Acosta exercised poor judgment by deciding to resolve the federal investigation through the non-prosecution agreement and when he failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intended to and would notify victims identified through the federal investigation about the state plea hearing , '' the department said .
The Miami Herald in late 2018 had reported that at the time of the deal in 2007 , Acosta had `` agreed , despite federal law to the contrary that the deal would be kept from the victims . ''
`` As a result , the non-prosecution agreement was sealed until after it was approved by the judge , thereby averting any chance that the girls — or anyone else — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to derail it , '' the Herald reported in 2018 .

Charges against Jeffrey Epstein were announced on July 8, 2019 in New York City. Epstein will be charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors.
An internal Justice Department investigation found that a top federal prosecutor "exercised poor judgment" in cutting a no-plea prosecution deal with alleged child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein in 2007 but concluded that prosecutors had not broken the law or engaged in professional misconduct.
The report by the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility also found that the former top federal prosecutor in Miami, Alexander Acosta, had closed the federal investigation into Epstein at that time "before significant investigative steps were completed."
Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., blasted the Justice Department for its report on prosecutors including Acosta, who resigned last year as U.S. Labor secretary after outrage over the non-prosecution deal.
"Letting a well-connected billionaire get away with child rape and international sex trafficking isn’t 'poor judgment' — it is a disgusting failure," Sasse said in a statement.
"Americans ought to be enraged. Jeffrey Epstein should be rotting behind bars today, but the Justice Department failed Epstein's victims at every turn," said Sasse, who is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Oversight Subcommittee.
The OPR investigation was launched after Sasse requested it in late 2018, on the heels of an explosive report in the Miami Herald about the non-prosecution agreement.
At the time of that 2007 deal, Epstein, who had been friends with President Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, Britain's Prince Andrew and other wealthy people, was suspected of having sexually abused dozens of teenage girls in West Palm Beach, Florida.
In his agreement with Acosta, who at the time was U.S. attorney for South Florida, Epstein was required to plead guilty to state crimes in Florida, including one related to paying an underage girl for sexual services.
In exchange, Acosta agreed not to prosecute Epstein or several suspected co-conspirators on federal charges related to alleged sexual misconduct with minors.
Epstein, who pleaded guilty in the state case in 2008, ended up serving just 13 months in jail, but spent hours free each day on work release. As a result of his conviction, he was registered as a sex offender.
The Justice Department, in a statement Thursday, said, "While OPR did not find that Department attorneys engaged in professional misconduct, OPR concluded that the victims were not treated with the forthrightness and sensitivity expected by the Department."
"OPR also concluded that former U.S. Attorney Acosta exercised poor judgment by deciding to resolve the federal investigation through the non-prosecution agreement and when he failed to make certain that the state of Florida intended to and would notify victims identified through the federal investigation about the state plea hearing," the department said.
The Miami Herald in late 2018 had reported that at the time of the deal in 2007, Acosta had "agreed, despite federal law to the contrary that the deal would be kept from the victims."
"As a result, the non-prosecution agreement was sealed until after it was approved by the judge, thereby averting any chance that the girls — or anyone else — might show up in court and try to derail it," the Herald reported in 2018.


cnbc--2020-11-12--Biden speaks with Pope Francis, the latest world leader to acknowledge the new president-elect

Pope Francis is joined by Vice President Joseph Biden after addressing Congress on his first U.S. visit on Sept 24th , 2015 .
WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Thursday , adding to the list of world leaders who have acknowledged the incoming administration .
According to a readout of the call , Biden thanked the pope for his `` blessings and congratulations . ''
`` The president-elect expressed his desire to work together on the basis of a shared belief in the dignity and equality of all humankind on issues such as caring for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis of climate change , and welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees into our communities , '' the readout added .
Biden will become the second Roman Catholic president , 60 years after Democrat John F. Kennedy became the first member of the faith to hold the office .
The call between Biden and Francis comes as President Donald Trump challenges the integrity of the presidential election with a series of legal actions across battleground states .
Legal experts have called the challenges meritless .
Trump has not conceded the election Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threshold needed to win the presidency .
In September , the Holy See denied Secretary Mike Pompeo an audience with Pope Francis .
The Vatican accused Pompeo , who was traveling on a diplomatic mission , of using the meeting to attract voters ahead of the election .
The Trump administration has had multiple diplomatic rows with the Vatican and has called on the pontiff to take a harder line on China .
On Tuesday , Pompeo refused to acknowledge Biden 's victory and gave little insight about what he has told diplomats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Other top Trump administration officials , such as Vice President Mike Pence , have publicly insisted that the election is not over despite Biden 's victory .
Prime Ministers Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom , Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga of Japan have also spoken to Biden , as have South Korean President Moon Jae-in , Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven , New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron .
Throughout his political career , Biden has been proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a campaign address , Biden told Americans to `` be not afraid , '' evoking a passage of scripture frequently quoted by Pope John Paul II .
In his victory speech , Biden offered a Catholic hymn that he reflected on after the death of his son Beau Biden .
The hymn `` On Eagle 's Wings '' is based on Psalm 91 and for Catholics is often said at funerals .
`` In the last days of the campaign , I began thinking about a hymn that means a lot to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deceased son Beau .
It captures the faith that sustains me and which I believe sustains America , '' Biden said .
`` My heart goes out to each and every one of you , '' he said to those who had lost a loved one to coronavirus .
`` Hopefully this hymn gives you solace as well .
It goes like this , '' he said before launching into the refrain .
`` And He will raise you up on eagle 's wings , bear you on the breath of dawn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and hold you in the palm of his hand , '' Biden said .

Pope Francis is joined by Vice President Joseph Biden after addressing Congress on his first U.S. visit on Sept 24th, 2015.
WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Thursday, adding to the list of world leaders who have acknowledged the incoming administration.
According to a readout of the call, Biden thanked the pope for his "blessings and congratulations."
"The president-elect expressed his desire to work together on the basis of a shared belief in the dignity and equality of all humankind on issues such as caring for the marginalized and the poor, addressing the crisis of climate change, and welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees into our communities," the readout added.
Biden will become the second Roman Catholic president, 60 years after Democrat John F. Kennedy became the first member of the faith to hold the office.
The call between Biden and Francis comes as President Donald Trump challenges the integrity of the presidential election with a series of legal actions across battleground states. Legal experts have called the challenges meritless. Trump has not conceded the election Biden, who on Saturday cleared the 270-electoral vote threshold needed to win the presidency.
In September, the Holy See denied Secretary Mike Pompeo an audience with Pope Francis. The Vatican accused Pompeo, who was traveling on a diplomatic mission, of using the meeting to attract voters ahead of the election. The Trump administration has had multiple diplomatic rows with the Vatican and has called on the pontiff to take a harder line on China.
On Tuesday, Pompeo refused to acknowledge Biden's victory and gave little insight about what he has told diplomats around the world about the transition process. Other top Trump administration officials, such as Vice President Mike Pence, have publicly insisted that the election is not over despite Biden's victory.
Prime Ministers Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom, Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga of Japan have also spoken to Biden, as have South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Throughout his political career, Biden has been proud of his Catholicism.
In September, during a campaign address, Biden told Americans to "be not afraid," evoking a passage of scripture frequently quoted by Pope John Paul II.
In his victory speech, Biden offered a Catholic hymn that he reflected on after the death of his son Beau Biden. The hymn "On Eagle's Wings" is based on Psalm 91 and for Catholics is often said at funerals.
"In the last days of the campaign, I began thinking about a hymn that means a lot to me and my family, particularly my deceased son Beau. It captures the faith that sustains me and which I believe sustains America," Biden said.
"My heart goes out to each and every one of you," he said to those who had lost a loved one to coronavirus. "Hopefully this hymn gives you solace as well. It goes like this," he said before launching into the refrain.
"And He will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand," Biden said.


cnbc--2020-11-12--Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn asks Supreme Court to halt New York's Covid-19 church restrictions

Church goers pray keeping social distancing at the St. Sanislaus Kostka Catholic Church in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn , New York on June 11 , 2020 .
The Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to block New York 's Covid-19 restrictions on houses of worship , saying the rules unfairly target religion .
The group is challenging an executive order signed by Gov .
Andrew Cuomo on October 6 that limits attendance at churches to 10 people in the state 's `` red '' zones , and 25 in `` orange '' zones .
Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a filing , `` expressly singles out 'houses of worship ' by that name for adverse treatment relative to secular businesses , and does so in a way that is not narrowly tailored to any compelling government interest , in direct violation of the First Amendment 's Free Exercise Clause . ''
The Roman Catholic diocese , which operates in Brooklyn and Queens , asked the justices to step in while it pursues its appeals in the lower courts .
If the justices do not do so , it said , thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their core Free Exercise rights on a daily basis . ''
The Supreme Court has rejected similar challenges by religious groups in California , in May , and Nevada , in July .
In both cases , the decisions split narrowly by 5-4 margins , with Chief Justice John Roberts siding with the court 's four liberals .
Those decisions came before the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September .
In the California case , known as South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom , Roberts wrote that matters of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political branches .
`` The precise question of when restrictions on particular social activities should be lifted during the pandemic is a dynamic and fact-intensive matter subject to reasonable disagreement , '' he wrote .
`` Our Constitution principally entrusts ' [ t ] he safety and the health of the people ' to the politically accountable officials of the States 'to guard and protect . '
'' In contrast , Justice Brett Kavanaugh , who was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch , wrote that `` The Church and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comparable secular businesses . ''
`` California already trusts its residents and any number of businesses to adhere to proper social distancing and hygiene practices .
The State can not 'assume the worst when people go to worship but assume the best when people go to work or go about the rest of their daily lives in permitted social settings , '' he wrote .
In California , Gov .
Gavin Newsom , a Democrat , ordered houses of worship to limit their congregations to either 100 or 25 % , whichever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought by Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley , a church located in a rural part of the state , prompted even sharper dissents from the court 's conservative bloc .
`` The world we inhabit today , with a pandemic upon us , poses unusual challenges , '' Gorsuch wrote .
`` But there is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel . ''
The Nevada challenge concerned a 50-person limit on houses of worship .
Some other secular businesses , including casinos and restaurants , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of their capacity .
There is reason to suspect the latest challenge could be more successful .
The court has not issued a decision in such a case since the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett .
Barrett , a conservative , is expected to shift the bench to the right .
In its filing , the diocese notes that secular businesses are not under the same restrictions as houses of worship .
In red zones , the group wrote , essential businesses that are allowed to remain open include `` everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardware stores to brokers ' offices . ''
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`` In 'orange ' zones , even the vast majority of nonessential businesses , including department stores , can remain open without limitation—yet churches can not , '' the group added .
The group also cited Cuomo 's comments about clusters of the virus spreading among Orthodox Jewish communities around the city .
Thursday 's filing was submitted to Justice Stephen Breyer , who has jurisdiction over emergency appeals stemming from New York , but will likely be considered by the full court .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals , have rejected the religious organization 's effort to block the state 's Covid-19 restrictions while it pursues its case .
The case comes as coronavirus infections are on the rise in New York , though they remain at a lower level than other parts of the country .
On Wednesday , Cuomo ordered new restrictions on dining , bars and gyms .
The governor 's office did not respond to a request for comment on the Supreme Court challenge .

Church goers pray keeping social distancing at the St. Sanislaus Kostka Catholic Church in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York on June 11, 2020.
The Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to block New York's Covid-19 restrictions on houses of worship, saying the rules unfairly target religion.
The group is challenging an executive order signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on October 6 that limits attendance at churches to 10 people in the state's "red" zones, and 25 in "orange" zones.
Cuomo's order, the diocese wrote in a filing, "expressly singles out 'houses of worship' by that name for adverse treatment relative to secular businesses, and does so in a way that is not narrowly tailored to any compelling government interest, in direct violation of the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause."
The Roman Catholic diocese, which operates in Brooklyn and Queens, asked the justices to step in while it pursues its appeals in the lower courts. If the justices do not do so, it said, thousands of parishioners "will continue to be deprived of their core Free Exercise rights on a daily basis."
The Supreme Court has rejected similar challenges by religious groups in California, in May, and Nevada, in July. In both cases, the decisions split narrowly by 5-4 margins, with Chief Justice John Roberts siding with the court's four liberals. Those decisions came before the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September.
In the California case, known as South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom, Roberts wrote that matters of public health were better left to the political branches.
"The precise question of when restrictions on particular social activities should be lifted during the pandemic is a dynamic and fact-intensive matter subject to reasonable disagreement," he wrote. "Our Constitution principally entrusts '[t]he safety and the health of the people' to the politically accountable officials of the States 'to guard and protect.'"
In contrast, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, wrote that "The Church and its congregants simply want to be treated equally to comparable secular businesses."
"California already trusts its residents and any number of businesses to adhere to proper social distancing and hygiene practices. The State cannot 'assume the worst when people go to worship but assume the best when people go to work or go about the rest of their daily lives in permitted social settings," he wrote.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, ordered houses of worship to limit their congregations to either 100 or 25%, whichever was lower.
The Nevada case, brought by Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, a church located in a rural part of the state, prompted even sharper dissents from the court's conservative bloc.
"The world we inhabit today, with a pandemic upon us, poses unusual challenges," Gorsuch wrote. "But there is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel."
The Nevada challenge concerned a 50-person limit on houses of worship. Some other secular businesses, including casinos and restaurants, had a different limit, of 50% of their capacity.
There is reason to suspect the latest challenge could be more successful.
The court has not issued a decision in such a case since the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Barrett, a conservative, is expected to shift the bench to the right.
In its filing, the diocese notes that secular businesses are not under the same restrictions as houses of worship. In red zones, the group wrote, essential businesses that are allowed to remain open include "everything from supermarkets to pet stores, huge hardware stores to brokers' offices." .
"In 'orange' zones, even the vast majority of nonessential businesses, including department stores, can remain open without limitation—yet churches cannot," the group added.
The group also cited Cuomo's comments about clusters of the virus spreading among Orthodox Jewish communities around the city.
Thursday's filing was submitted to Justice Stephen Breyer, who has jurisdiction over emergency appeals stemming from New York, but will likely be considered by the full court.
Two lower courts, including the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, have rejected the religious organization's effort to block the state's Covid-19 restrictions while it pursues its case.
The case comes as coronavirus infections are on the rise in New York, though they remain at a lower level than other parts of the country. On Wednesday, Cuomo ordered new restrictions on dining, bars and gyms.
The governor's office did not respond to a request for comment on the Supreme Court challenge.


cnbc--2020-11-12--Joe Biden's climate change agenda faces an uncertain future in the Senate

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden discusses the importance of protecting the Affordable Care Act ( ACA ) as he speaks to reporters about his health care plan during a news conference in Wilmington , Delaware , U.S. , November 10 , 2020 .
Many of Biden 's climate policies would be blocked by Senate Republicans , who typically oppose climate legislation .
If there 's a divided Congress , Biden would need to rely on executive authority to implement climate measures — a similar move to former President Barack Obama — and potentially more modest deals to push his agenda .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ enormous constraint if Democrats do n't win control of the U.S. Senate .
In Georgia , two Senate runoff races on Jan. 5 will decide which party controls the Senate .
President-elect Joe Biden has boasted a bold agenda on tackling global climate change — from vowing to rejoin the Paris climate agreement to spending more than $ 2 trillion on shifting the country from fossil fuels to clean energy and green jobs .
Biden has called climate change the number one problem facing humanity , and his campaign 's transition website lists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues the country is facing .
That 's at stark odds with President Donald Trump , who has denied the science of climate change and during his four years in office dismantled more than 70 major environmental regulations , with nearly 30 more in progress .
Biden 's massive $ 2 trillion investment plan to mitigate climate change and create jobs only stands a chance if Democrats win the Senate , according to legal experts .
Furthermore , replacing the president 's regulatory agenda with new climate initiatives will be especially difficult without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In addition , a conservative majority on the Supreme Court could uphold challenges in the courts .
`` If Democrats control the Senate , the first thing you 'd see is Biden taking action on the economic recovery package ... a lot of that would be focused on clean energy , '' said Anthony Leiserowitz , director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication .
`` There 's a lot Biden can do immediately in terms of executive action , but really advancing the ball is dependent on Senate control .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump 's environmental rollbacks using executive powers with a Republican-controlled Senate .
The Environmental Protection Agency under Trump weakened Obama-era regulations on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and methane leaks from oil and gas fields , among other things .
The Interior Department has curbed protections for wildlife to open protected land for oil and gas projects .
More from CNBC Environment : In most years , hurricane activity would have wound down by now .
Not in 2020 ' I lost everything ' : In hurricane-ravaged Louisiana , people struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change .
Now it 's starting to have an effect on their career choices Biden 's team already plans to implement oil and gas drilling restrictions on public lands ; block certain polluting pipelines across the country ; and rescind a great deal of Trump 's executive orders on energy .
`` Many of Trump 's deregulatory efforts are on legally shaky ground , '' said Michael Burger , head of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University .
`` All of Trump 's deregulatory efforts can be reversed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , but there is no question it can and will be done . ''
Burger said he maintains a `` wait and see '' attitude on what sort of climate legislation Biden could pass if the GOP holds on to the Senate , but he emphasized that `` none of the Trump administration 's environmental policies are likely to be around very long . ''

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden discusses the importance of protecting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as he speaks to reporters about his health care plan during a news conference in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., November 10, 2020.
Many of Biden's climate policies would be blocked by Senate Republicans, who typically oppose climate legislation. If there's a divided Congress, Biden would need to rely on executive authority to implement climate measures — a similar move to former President Barack Obama — and potentially more modest deals to push his agenda.
But his climate legislation will face potentially enormous constraint if Democrats don't win control of the U.S. Senate. In Georgia, two Senate runoff races on Jan. 5 will decide which party controls the Senate.
President-elect Joe Biden has boasted a bold agenda on tackling global climate change — from vowing to rejoin the Paris climate agreement to spending more than $2 trillion on shifting the country from fossil fuels to clean energy and green jobs.
Biden has called climate change the number one problem facing humanity, and his campaign's transition website lists it as one of the four main issues the country is facing.
That's at stark odds with President Donald Trump, who has denied the science of climate change and during his four years in office dismantled more than 70 major environmental regulations, with nearly 30 more in progress.
Biden's massive $2 trillion investment plan to mitigate climate change and create jobs only stands a chance if Democrats win the Senate, according to legal experts. Furthermore, replacing the president's regulatory agenda with new climate initiatives will be especially difficult without a Democrat-controlled Senate to pass such legislation. In addition, a conservative majority on the Supreme Court could uphold challenges in the courts.
"If Democrats control the Senate, the first thing you'd see is Biden taking action on the economic recovery package ... a lot of that would be focused on clean energy," said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. "There's a lot Biden can do immediately in terms of executive action, but really advancing the ball is dependent on Senate control."
Still, Biden could undo many of Trump's environmental rollbacks using executive powers with a Republican-controlled Senate.
The Environmental Protection Agency under Trump weakened Obama-era regulations on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and methane leaks from oil and gas fields, among other things. The Interior Department has curbed protections for wildlife to open protected land for oil and gas projects.
More from CNBC Environment:
In most years, hurricane activity would have wound down by now. Not in 2020
'I lost everything': In hurricane-ravaged Louisiana, people struggle to rebuild
Gen Z grew up with climate change. Now it's starting to have an effect on their career choices
Biden's team already plans to implement oil and gas drilling restrictions on public lands; block certain polluting pipelines across the country; and rescind a great deal of Trump's executive orders on energy.
"Many of Trump's deregulatory efforts are on legally shaky ground," said Michael Burger, head of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. "All of Trump's deregulatory efforts can be reversed and redirected. It will take some time, but there is no question it can and will be done."
Burger said he maintains a "wait and see" attitude on what sort of climate legislation Biden could pass if the GOP holds on to the Senate, but he emphasized that "none of the Trump administration's environmental policies are likely to be around very long."


cnbc--2020-11-12--Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski tests positive for coronavirus

Corey Lewandowski , a top Trump campaign advisor who has helped lead efforts to undermine President-elect Joe Biden 's victory , has tested positive for the coronavirus .
Lewandowski , 47 , confirmed in a text to CNBC on Thursday that he tested positive for Covid-19 a day earlier .
Asked if he was experiencing symptoms of the virus , Lewandowski told CNBC : `` I feel great . ''
The New York Times first reported Lewandowski 's diagnosis .
Lewandowski was recently in Philadelphia , where the Trump campaign is mounting legal challenges to election officials ' vote-counting procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a news conference in the city on Saturday at Four Seasons Total Landscaping , alongside President Donald Trump 's lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi .
While NBC News and other outlets have projected that Biden defeated Trump in the presidential race , the president has refused to concede and is falsely claiming himself the winner .
The campaign has filed lawsuits in Michigan , Pennsylvania , Nevada , Georgia and Arizona — all states where Biden either leads Trump or is projected to win .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 cases reported in the U.S. hits record highs .
More than 10.41 million cases have been reported in the U.S. and at least 241,907 people have died , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
Lewandowski , who was Trump 's campaign manager in 2016 , is only the latest person in Trump 's orbit to have contracted the virus .
Just this week , multiple people who are with connected to Trump 's campaign or had attended an in-person , indoors election night party at the White House have tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bossie , who was recently put in charge of leading Trump 's effort to challenge the projected results of the presidential election after NBC and other outlets called it for Biden .
On Wednesday , it was revealed that two more people who attended the White House gathering — White House political director Brian Jack and former Trump aide Healy Baumgardner — also tested positive .
Lewandowski was also present at the White House on election night .
Less than an hour after Lewandowski 's diagnosis was first reported , NBC reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican National Committee , had also tested positive .
A White House spokesman declined to comment when CNBC asked about any contact tracing or notification process the White House was conducting in light of the positive tests of people who had been at the event .
The spokesman also declined comment when asked if Walters attended the election night party , which was held in the East Room of the White House .
In early October , Lewandowski was seen at a children 's flag football game in New Hampshire without wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that game came a day after he had said in a TV interview that , `` I think people should wear masks , '' and two days before he appeared on NBC 's `` Today '' show wearing a mask .
`` Covid is a very , very dangerous disease , '' Lewandowski told the `` Today '' show .

Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski, with former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (L), speaks outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center on November 5, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kena Betancur | AFP | Getty Images
Corey Lewandowski, a top Trump campaign advisor who has helped lead efforts to undermine President-elect Joe Biden's victory, has tested positive for the coronavirus. Lewandowski, 47, confirmed in a text to CNBC on Thursday that he tested positive for Covid-19 a day earlier. Asked if he was experiencing symptoms of the virus, Lewandowski told CNBC: "I feel great." The New York Times first reported Lewandowski's diagnosis. Lewandowski was recently in Philadelphia, where the Trump campaign is mounting legal challenges to election officials' vote-counting procedures. He was reportedly also present at a news conference in the city on Saturday at Four Seasons Total Landscaping, alongside President Donald Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Former campaign senior adviser Of U.S. president Donald Trump, Corey Lewandowski uses a megaphone as supporters of U.S. president Donald Trump rally as votes continue to be counted following the 2020 U.S. presidential election, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., November 5, 2020. Eduardo Munoz | Reuters
While NBC News and other outlets have projected that Biden defeated Trump in the presidential race, the president has refused to concede and is falsely claiming himself the winner. The campaign has filed lawsuits in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia and Arizona — all states where Biden either leads Trump or is projected to win. The legal challenges come as the number of Covid-19 cases reported in the U.S. hits record highs. More than 10.41 million cases have been reported in the U.S. and at least 241,907 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Lewandowski, who was Trump's campaign manager in 2016, is only the latest person in Trump's orbit to have contracted the virus. Just this week, multiple people who are with connected to Trump's campaign or had attended an in-person, indoors election night party at the White House have tested positive for Covid-19. That group includes David Bossie, who was recently put in charge of leading Trump's effort to challenge the projected results of the presidential election after NBC and other outlets called it for Biden. On Wednesday, it was revealed that two more people who attended the White House gathering — White House political director Brian Jack and former Trump aide Healy Baumgardner — also tested positive. Lewandowski was also present at the White House on election night.
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Less than an hour after Lewandowski's diagnosis was first reported, NBC reported that Richard Walters, chief of staff for the Republican National Committee, had also tested positive. A White House spokesman declined to comment when CNBC asked about any contact tracing or notification process the White House was conducting in light of the positive tests of people who had been at the event. The spokesman also declined comment when asked if Walters attended the election night party, which was held in the East Room of the White House. In early October, Lewandowski was seen at a children's flag football game in New Hampshire without wearing a mask. Lewandowski's attendance at that game came a day after he had said in a TV interview that, "I think people should wear masks," and two days before he appeared on NBC's "Today" show wearing a mask. "Covid is a very, very dangerous disease," Lewandowski told the "Today" show.
Man identified as Corey Lewandowski at a football game in Pelham, N.H., October 3, 2020.